[billd]

I've had my 2000 GLX NB since July 2000 so I've had enough time to think about what I like and dislike about the car.
Likes:
1. Interior headroom. I am 6'4" tall and I can fit with a sunroof. This is the only car I've ever been able to fit into with a sunroof.
2. Styling. Compound curves are sweet.
3. Headlights. Really bright and well focused. I never realized how bad the headlights were on my Chryslers until I drove this car.
4. Heated seats. Sometimes it gets real cold in Colorado!
5. 1.8 Turbo engine. Damn this car is fast! You can never have too much horsepower!
6. Safety. I've seem posts of a few crashes and this is the safest small car.
7. Lighting of the instrument panel. The blue/red combo looks great.
Dislikes:
1. Radio. It should play both CDs and Tapes. Old guys like me play tapes but young people play CDs. A CD changer in the trunk is too complicated.
2. Speakers. Tend to cause the door to buzz with bass notes.
3. Brake pad dust. Wheels need to be cleaned weekly.
4. Not much storage. The console gets in the way of the shifter, so I just leave it up. My tapes go into a portable case that I keep on the back seat.
5. Drink holders. What were they thinking? I just use one to hold my cell phone. The others are pretty much useless.
6. Instrumentation. I really would like a temp gauge and a turbo boost gauge.
Any other thoughts?

 

[ASurroca]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (billd)

I've had a 2001 Beetle GLS TDI from March 2000 to August 2001, and got a second 2002 Beetle GLS TDI this past December.
And my thougths: I wouldn't notice interior headroom cause I'm 5'7" so any car gives me plenty of leg and headroom

What I like more than styling is the kinsmanship of Beetle enthusiasts. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif The only headlights better than the Beetle's are xenons on Audis and Bimmers and the like. I'm in Miami so heated seats aren't needed. But the leatherette seats are dang comfortable and I can make long drives without a problem. As for safety, I'm one of the people who posted about an accident, so I know firsthand. I rolled over at 70 MPH and was back to work the following day

Star Trek-looking lighting I'm used to, but it never ceases to amaze my friends

I love the "everything is standard" aspect of the Beetle, the 16"-17" rims, high quality tires and brakes versus the competition's 14"-15" rims regular tires and drum brakes

Never had a problem with build quality, except for one knob coming off. No squeaks, no rattles, nothing.
What I dislike is the headunit, because it is so nice that I would never replace it with a third-party headunit, and I want to switch to MP3 hard drive-based system. I noticed that my 2002 doesn't seem to rattle and buzz like my 2000 did. Wonder if they put more padding someplace

Shame on you! You should wash your car thrice weekly, meaning you should never see the break dust on your Beetle

Storage is pretty bleah, but it's a 2-door hatchback so I never expected much storage. What I dislike though is the glovebox, in which you can barely fit your owner's manual, let alone anything else. I love my 2002's swivel cup holders, and have already stuffed giant drinks in there using the swivel many times

I dislike the highway noise. Lots of highway noise, but I am told that any small car suffers from that.

 

[Brown E]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (ASurroca)

Ive had mine for about a year and 2 months already.
Likes: 1.8t power- excellent power delivery w/ current modifications.
Shape and Safety- cute looking car w/ RSI bumper with an awesome safety rating even in my last but which i had an accident in totalling it out and i walked away unhurt.
Excellent head room and heated seats.
Dislikes: Not great stock suspension, cup holders location, radio giving me problems from time to time. Boost gauge would have also been nice. Thats just about it.

 

[secretwatersTTurbo]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (billd)

The only dislikes about the Beetle for me is that it doesn't transform into Go Go Gadjet car into a TT quattro 6 speed manual charcoal with leather interior and a five inch display TV with Northstar navigation and badgless grill and Oettinger RZ rims with Pirrelli 7000 series tires...that's OK though...I transformed G14CLS enough to get a new TT......

 

[tzretusn]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (billd)

billd,
Seems like when I downshift my hand hits the console. But I'm learning how to avoid it... less energetic shifting.
George

 

[dhk]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (billd)

Bill: Funny, most of your dislikes are my likes on the NB. I'd list great standard sound system, with trunk-mounted CD changer, as one of my favorite features. Haven't noticed any buzzing in the doors, but I like the bass set all the way down, and +2 on the front fade.
I also like the center armrest, specifically because it can be adjusted down to the just the right height for comfortable shifting....VW was really thinking on this one. In fact, when I discovered this feature on my test drive, pretty much sold me on the car. Also, I like the cupholders. They hold a reasonable size drink just fine, and fit the design of the NB much better than some GM-looking popout arms. Also on the like list would be the excellent shifter/clutch action...a joy to drive.
Only dislike for me would be the limited ground clearance along with lack of suspension travel and the accompanying harsh/noisy ride. It's no Audi/BMW.
Dan 00nbglx

 

[DubLicious]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (dhk)

Ive only had my car since June and I love everything about it... almost everything.
Likes: The neato blue/red dashpanel lighting.
Ive got long legs even though im only 5'8 and on my friends cars, my knees hit the top when i shift, on my VW NB this never happens. (love the leg room!)
The fact that I can store stuff in that storage spot at the bottom of the door panel and I can see it cause of the netting. I always tend to put important books and papers there and when i get out of my car I Can see it and remember to grab it.
The way the seats pop up instead of just slides forward when people get in an out of the backseat. my friends LOVE this feature!
Lots of backseat room.

Dislikes: The cup holders!! I have to put my coffee cup every morning in the back holder cause its too tall to fit upfront. But I admit, they make good cell phone holders.
How easily lil things break here and there.
Brake pad dust, I wash my car often, and it still gets dirty pretty fast. But i usually take it to the dealer and they clean my actualy brake panels for free once a month.
And the gauges would have been nice but im just gonna add one on anyway so its all good.
Thats about it, I really like my car, its super cute and a lot of fun to drive, plus it always amazes people who have never been in one once they get inside. They like sit back and go ooooooh i like. (its great!)

 

[Slapshotnerd]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (DubLicious)

lotsa back seat room, eh? gonna have to keep that in mind

The brake dust thing is easily solved. Just get low-dust pads. Or Gunmetal wheels.

 

[Horrido Beetle]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (Slapshotnerd)

quote:[HR][/HR]lotsa back seat room, eh? gonna have to keep that in mind

The brake dust thing is easily solved. Just get low-dust pads. Or Gunmetal wheels. [HR][/HR]​

DubLicious - needs to post a picture of herself in the backseat of her car with her 5'8'' frame. Mine has enough backseat room for 3 barbie dolls and one is not in a seat belt. Anybody near 6 feet tall has there head jammed into the back glass when its closed. Hey, that's and idea.... a Bubble rear window. I wonder what that would look like?

Horrido!

 

[mdsune]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (billd)

Likes:
Handles like a dream with the 225/45/17" Potenza RE730's I added (the stock 16" 205 Michelins just couldn't cut it)
42-50mpg with the TDI and that's with my foot always in it

"Well Yeah"
Most comfortable seats I ever had, only ones that don't wreck my back on a long trip.
Stops on a dime with those 4 wheel discs and all that rubber.
Get's me into traffic on busy streets cause the fellow Beetlers are great folks.
Dislikes:
Hmm.....Haven't found any yet.

 

[secretwatersTTurbo]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (billd)

Not enough room for winter sessions of body boarding to put the boards. Two people is cool, 4 people is just a hassle...Now the GTi is sweet on room.....I think that I can fit a small couch in there....

 

[david]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (secretwatersTTurbo)

Dislikes
- cupholders
- rear windows should be pop outs like on my 67 Beetle
- window visors
david

 

[stuex]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (billd)

Like: Faster than most ppl realise
Dislike: Still not fast enough

 

[billd]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (david)

I'll also agree that the window visors don't help in blocking strong sum from the side. Is there an aftermarket visor available?

 

[mdsune]

Re: NB Likes and Dislikes (billd)

My RayBans do a Great Job and coincidently they fit any car

 

[porsche one]

My only really dislikes is "quality control" and the numberous blindspots this car has,even though I do not own a Beetle my girlfirend does and she luvs this car. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif