Ownership Cost for 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 1.8T
Estimated: $34602 over the next 5 years
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Total
Depreciation
$1072
$515
$450
$407
$365
$2809
Insurance
$1451
$1502
$1554
$1609
$1665
$7781
Fuel
$1592
$1640
$1697
$1765
$1844
$8538
Maintenance
$2763
$1966
$943
$549
$2291
$8512
Repairs
$977
$1138
$1298
$1417
$1627
$6457
Taxes & Fees
$341
$341
$341
$341
$341
$505
Total Ownership Costs
$8196
$6799
$5991
$5779
$7836
$34602
Air Bag Loc Front: 1st Row (Driver & Passenger)
Air Bag Loc Side: Driver Seat Only
Body Class: Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Displacement CC: 1781
Displacement CI: 108.683288232
Displacement L: 1.781000
Doors: 2
Engine Cylinders: 4
Engine HP: 150
Engine KW: 111.8550
Engine Manufacturer: Volkswagen
Fuel Type Primary: Gasoline
Make: VOLKSWAGEN
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA
Manufacturer Id: 1147
Model: Beetle
Model Year: 2001
Other Engine Info: 50-St./Can. LEV emission.
Emissions Certification Test Group: 1ADXV01.8346
Other Restraint System Info: Active Seat Belt
Plant City: Puebla
Plant Country: Mexico
Seat Belts All: Manual
Series: GLS
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I OWN A 2001 NEW BEETLE AND HAVE DILIGENTLY HAD ALL FACTORY SERVICE PERFORMED. AT THE 20,000 MILE SERVICE, WE REPORTED A METALLIC RUBBING SOUND FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE NOISE CONTINUED, AT 9,000 MILES LATER WE TOOK IT BACK FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. AT THAT TIME, THE DEALER INFORMED US WE NEEDED NEW REAR ROTORS AND PADS AT A COST OF $357.47. WE ASKED HOW THE BRAKES COULD BE FINE JUST 9,000 MILES PREVIOUSLY, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS WITH THESE NEW BEETLES; WHEN THE PADS WEAR OUT, YOU ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ROTORS. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE, MARY GENERA, WHO STATED THAT SHE BACKED UP WHATEVER THE DEALER SAID. SHE FURTHER INDICATED THAT SHE HAD NO TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE WHATSOEVER, AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A TECHNICAL CONTACT WITHIN THE COMPANY TO SPEAK TO. SHE SAID MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO WORK WITH THE DEALER. I CONTACTED A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE EXPERT, DAVE FINKELESTEIN, (ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH), WHO SUGGESTED, BUT COULD NOT CONFIRM, THAT VW MIGHT BE USING A SUBSTANDARD "SOFT" BRAKE ROTOR. A FOLLOWUP WRITTTEN COMPLAINT WITH THE DEALER YIELDED NO RESPONSE. I SUSPECT VW IS USING SUBSTANDARD PARTS ON THEIR NEW VEHICLES. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE REAR PADS WORE OUT AROUND 19,000 MILES, WHICH IS RIDICULOUSLY LOW FOR A NEW CAR. THIS CAR HAS HAD AN EXTEREMELY LARGE NUMBER OF MECHANICAL FAILURES, MOST OF THEM REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. IT GOT SO BAD, VW AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY AN ADDITIONAL 48,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS ADDITIONAL WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER BRAKE ROTORS. THE DEALER-PROVIDED SERVICE PROVIDED FOR THIS CAR HAS BEEN ABYSMAL AND I WOULD CAUTION ANYONE THINKING ABOUT BUYING A NEW VW TO THINK TWICE. THESE CARS ARE VERY POORLY MADE AND EVEN MORE POORLY SUPPORTED BY SO-CALLED "CUSTOMER SERVICE".
2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILS TO OPERATE OR OPERATES RANDOMLY. THE BLADE WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW AND GO NO FURTHER UNLESS I PHYSICALLY PUSH IT DOWN OR TURN THE SWITCH ON THE HIGHEST SPEED AND THEN IT MAY WORK SO I CAN PUT IT IN THE DOWN POSITION SO IT DOESN'T OBSTRUCT MY VIEW. *LA