VW Beetle

johnnyrotten

Wife looking at a VW beetle 1.4
I was wondering if anyone was any comments or opinions on it
Thanks

crosstownk

Never driven a 1.4 Beetle - just the 2.0. But my wife has a 1.4 Bora which is grossly under powered. If power is not a concern then they are nice car - if your good lady likes it then let her have it.................Anything for brownie points

bazz26

johnnyrotten wrote:

Wife looking at a VW beetle 1.4
I was wondering if anyone was any comments or opinions on it
Thanks

From http://www.honestjohn.co.uk

What's Good

Golf Mk IV-based and an instant cult car in the USA and Europe. Standard engine is updated 8-valve 2.0 litre from Golf III, which is pleasantly torquey and suits town work. TDI 90 engine available and 100 bhp 1.6 petrol. Four-Star performance in NCAP crash safety tests. As with Golf Mk IV, gaines serious roadholding and handlign improvements for 2002 model year. Also a 150bhp 1.8T and a 170bhp V5, which is a hoot to drive. 100bhp TDI PD diesel from early 2001 with a/c. Engines will be the familiar 75bhp 1.4 16v, a 102bhp 1.6 16v or a 115bhp 2.0 8v. A 100bhp TDI PD 100 will come later. Joint top of 2002 Which reliability survey; came out 100% fault free.

What's Bad

No more than a Golf Mk IV in a beetle shell, which is nothing like as practical as that of the Golf. Very little room in the back seats. Small luggage capacity. UK prices started at £15,775 for LHD with a/c, alloys and a full spec including a bud vase. Strictly a fashion accessory 'fun' car. Difficult to park. Dull to drive before 2002 model year handling improvements. Enthusiasm seems to have switched to the MINI. All 1.8 20V turbos built from around August 2001 to October 2002 can suffer from failure of one or more of the four ignition coils, which lead to a dispute butween VAG and a supplier and asevere shortage of coils from November 2002 to January 2003. 1.8 20v timing belt drives waterpump and belts are difficult to replace on transverse engines. Lambda probe can fail, engine malfunction light goes on and you need a tow to a dealer to get it replaced. Plastic timing belt tensioners of 1.6 16v engines now failing regularly, though fortunately the belts are rarely flung off when this happens.

Recalls

May 1998, first 12,000 recalled in USA because wiring could become trapped by battery, overheat and catch fire. April 2002: German recall of all Beetles with standard ABS (no problem with those with ABS + EDS, ASR, ESP.) 9/5/2002: 24,703 Boras, Golfs and Beetles recalled because electrical fault in ABS ECU could cause overheating, possibly even leading to fire damage. (Undated) USA recall because on 2.0 litre petrol versions lambda probe prone to failure. No UK recall for this. 3-3-05 on LUPO,POLO,GOLF,BORA, TOURAN,NEW BEETLE,PASSAT AND SHARAN (WITH 2 PUMP INJECTOR ENGINE) built 1-3-04 to 31-8-04 bolts on tandem fuel pump may break. May 2004: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration institued a recall of 1998-2002 Beetles because brake light switch might malfunction due to incorrect installation.

As it is basically a MkIV Golf underneath most things that apply to the Golf will apply to the Beetle.

colm_mcm

They're a bit 7 years ago aren't they?