Is a VW Beetle a good First car ?

Is a VW Beetle a good First car ?

im on my permit now but im getting a car so i can park and stuff in a car i feel comfortable with ( other cars in my house im not comfortable driving) i was wondering if a VW beetle was a good car for a 16 year old. i have sat in it and i can see the road and see fine . i am a very good driver but i know that accidents can happen. so please just tell me if you think its a good First car ?

please don't recommend fords,Honda's or hyundai or anything like that i really don't like them.

Asked by: CheerCutieO8 @ 2009-07-02 19:22:33

Answers ::
I just turned 16 also..I was wanted a VW beetle but my uncle changed my mind when he said that if you get in a reck then you want much proctection.. So i would pre-fer something bigger & better..

I have a hummer & i love it.. :)

Ashley:)

The beetle is ok as far as a driving experience, but they have a bad record for computer problems in the earlier models. Try to get one post 2002. Or, if you were looking for something a bit earlier (thus cheaper) there's always the GTI ; )

Chaos Theory

I think it would make a great 1st car for you. Heres why;
In its class (the compact car class) the New Beetle is the safest car you can buy. It has powerful disc brakes with ABS. Wide , name brand tires. 5 -star crash-test rating. Suspension is designed to help driver avoid an accident .
Remember VWs were engineered in Germany where the Autobahns have unlimited speeds; they are serious abt. safety.
My wife drove a 1999 New Beetle for 90K fun-filled super reliable miles. We sold it because we needed a 4-door car (got a Jetta) . She still misses her Beetle.!
I know 3 other friends who have New Beetles and none of them have had any problems. In fact they love owning and driving them.
When you get your New Beetle, make sure it has been well-maintained. Ask for the cars original Maintenance Booklet or get receipts for oil and filter changes, etc. Have a qualified Mechanic check it too.
Hope you get yours soon......

fenton

Email me and I will give you my answer later tonight or tomorrow. It is very long. And I mean very long.

Prime

i'm 17 and just got my first car. its an '05 jetta; similar to a beetle underneath (the engine, etc.) it is truly an amazing car. great for new drivers. they're worth every penny and i have no regrets. like someone else already pointed out; VWs are german where the quality of the car itself and how the car is driven is beyond important.

don't just buy a car just to have it. like i said, im 17; i waited a year and a half to find what i consider the perfect car for me. of course be looking for cars but be patient and you will find the right car for you. always make a background check on a car before you purchase it (carfax, etc.). you dont want to buy a car and find several problems with it the first week you're driving it.

good luck :)

(if your brave enough, get a stick shift. if you don't know how to drive one, be open to learning how. in my opinion, and from talking to professional race car drivers, it gives you so much more control over your car and it makes driving that much more enjoyable.)

uptempo229

YES, absolutely! But get a 71 or 72.

I got a 1972 VW beetle for my first car when I was 17 and I've had it now for 9 years. I don't know who I would be without it and I'll never sell it.

Here's why they are great:
- Cheap insurance
- Decent on gas mileage
- Easy to work on/repair
- replacement parts readily available
- they don't go super fast so you won't really get a speeding ticket or be going 120 on the freeway.
- they are super cute and historically classic

The downside is that they are old so the safety features are lacking. Make sure that your seatbelts are in proper working order! New tires, make sure headlights/tail work, windshield wipers....

Here's the best tip I can give you in buying your VW beetle. Don't get one any older than a 1970. For your first VW, one that you'll be driving regularly, you want a SuperBeetle (71 & 72 are the best years). They have more modern safety features without the bulbous body style of the 73-79 beetles. Don't get a convertible, the roofs are expensive to repair. And finally, you'll need to buy the book, "How to own a volkswagen without spending your life savings". It's the bible of Beetle books and will step-by-step tell you how to maintain your car.

ShyGirl

I need cute VW Beetle Personalized License Plates, know any?

Hey there, I just got a Sundown Orange New Volkswagen Beetle Convertible and CANNOT think of any cute license plates to do. The color looks orange in the day and a burnt orang/red at night, like a sunset so that's why i wanted to do SUN BUG, but it was taken. Any ideas on cute license plates that maybe go with the color or just anything!? Help please :]

Asked by: Elisabeth @ 2009-07-02 19:45:25

Answers ::
Beetlejuice

Wubbles

bug off

crazzy

sun stelr-sun stealer
flamer
spr nova- super nova
lil flame

thats the best i got, good luck!

Ryfucious

bugsme2

Greg

no raid

Shane A

Personally i wouldn't be asking anyone on the internet cause whose to say that they don't have there's on there licence plate?:)

But i like that one below---> Bug off;)

Ashley:)

Where can I get a 1970's Volkswagen Van?

I really want one. Anyone knows where to get one?
It will be great if you find a seller in California! No where out of the country please.
Okay, a bus. Sorry for my "ignorance".

Asked by: Ida @ 2009-07-02 19:18:11

Answers ::
ebay

Tsunami

www.ebaymotors.com

gotpatience_with2girls

http://www.vintagevwcars.com/vw-buses-for-sale.htm

http://www.sunsetclassics.com/1977-vwbus-westfalia/

http://www.classicaldrives.com/50226711/time_warp_1973_vw_van_with_only_33_kilometers_offered_in_auction.php

LK

Ida, Volkswagen did not make a van until the 80's. In a van, the motor is located in the front. I believe you are interested in a bus. In a bus, the motor is in the back. Please note the differences because anyone who loves Volkswagen buses will not accept your ignorance. I've even seen people get hit for calling them vans. I hope you find what you're looking for either way. Good luck.

Rob

There is still a strong second-hand market for these vehicles. If you really want one in reasonable condition, the best place to look is the classifieds on SAMBA
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/

Be prepared to pay for it, as they seem to becoming more and more attractive as they get scarcer. You know the old saying, "the market dictates the price", well that is very true in this case.

I would also look at Craigslist and local papers. If you are mechanically inclined, then the answer is to look for one that needs to be done up, but be careful, as doing them up can turn out to be more expensive that a reasonable looking and running bus (not van) on Samba.

.

Replica

Is 141,000 a good mileage good for a used 1995 Volkswagen Cabrio?

I don't know much about cars but I've heard a lot of mileage is bad to have because they won't last, or they'll be lemons, or they'll just have problems. But I heard Volkswagens last long...so is that mileage terrible or okay for such a car.

Asked by: chelsea @ 2009-07-03 09:45:35

Answers ::
The real question here is how well was this car treated and how well was it maintained.

Dr. Strangelove

The Dr. is right!
My sister has a 2000 VW with 170,000 super-reliable miles on it.
Try hard to get a maintenance history for the Cabrio. Oil changes, timing belt should have been changed at 100,000 miles too.
Have the car checked by a trusted mechanic too.
I had a glorious, fun and sun filled time in my trusty little 1998 Cabrio, and hope the same for you...

fenton

If it is a diesel (TDI), that is high but I'm sure, with some TLC, it will be okay.

If it is a petrol (petrol/fsi/tsi/gti) that is WAY too high and it WILL be a lemon!

Mr Answers

to much milles bay another car

nit

depend how expensive is it

littlemike

opinions on 1971 VW bus?

i want to buy this

1971 Volkswagen VW bus. VW Van. Runs great. Tons of fun. A true classic. New tires. Just spent $3,000 on Engine, New Tires, Brakes, Exhaust, New Battery and Regulator. All seats including the middle seat! $3,950"

do you guys think it is a good deal do vw buses waste alot of gas low/high maintance.

thanks!
how much do they usually go for
it has 2000 miles on a new engine thanks

Asked by: <3 @ 2009-07-02 16:25:48

Answers ::
Sure, as long as you can verify the 3K

Spydr

Too much of a gas-hogger.

mug

Hey , <3 , you have brought back many fond memories of my childhood . It was my first car . I miss it terribly , Hold on to it , it's a great car .

Kojak

that thing will last. it may be a little pricey at the pump but if you want a large car that's universal.

don_horaldo

Sounds like a good deal to me. They aren't any worse on gas than a lot of modern cars.

Angel70

Are vw beetles good cars?

i want to buy a new beetle but i wanted to know are they all around good cars....i really know nothing about cars...i have read up on them but im still not sure

Asked by: Candice @ 2009-07-02 15:13:39

[Best Answer]You asked for info on New Beetles.
Why is DesertEa.. asking you to view crash tests of a 1960's OLD beetle? Same site shows a 1980's car being tested. These cars were built 30 & 40 years ago!!! Of course they were not as safe as todays cars; I would not drive one today either.
But your question was abt. the New Beetle. It is a thoroughly modern, safe, reliable car. I bought one for my wife; I would never let her drive anything unsafe. Therefore, I got a Consumer Reports Magazine and looked up the New Beetle's safety crash-tests. It recieved a 5-Star rating in both frontal and side impacts. (This is the best rating a car can get). Also, the New Beetle was engineered in Germany where they still have no speed limits on the Autobahns; they would not design a car without testing its body integrity in the event of an accident. The New Beetle passed Germany's strict safety requirements.
Aside from being safe, our New Beetle was super reliable, too. We drove it for 90,000 care-free happy miles. It never once let us down. Plus ,3 of our friends own New Beetles and they all love them. No problems at all!!
The only reason we sold our New Beetle is we needed a 4-door car; we bought a VW Jetta, also a great car.
So thats our story . No rumors or gossip, just facts....

By : fenton @ 1246634462

Answers ::
no they are like the smart cars
Good Gas Economy
Bad Safety features

Volkswagon New Bettle Review
http://www.myride.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/action/quicklook/make_vch/Volkswagen/make_id_int/38/model_vch/New%20Beetle/newUsed/new/series_id_int/51648/breadcrumbs/hp%2CResearch%2Ccatsearch/virsection/summary
Crash Test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRbwTutw-Hk&feature=PlayList&p=4485719138A7EC4C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=16

DesertEagle540

The new ones suck. The aircooled ones are reliable, easy to fix, easy to get parts for, prestigious, very durable, and overall fun to drive.

Prime

they are good cars and they run great and get good gas mileage and the engine is japenese so it will last you along time as long as you take care of it

BEASTY

You asked for info on New Beetles.
Why is DesertEa.. asking you to view crash tests of a 1960's OLD beetle? Same site shows a 1980's car being tested. These cars were built 30 & 40 years ago!!! Of course they were not as safe as todays cars; I would not drive one today either.
But your question was abt. the New Beetle. It is a thoroughly modern, safe, reliable car. I bought one for my wife; I would never let her drive anything unsafe. Therefore, I got a Consumer Reports Magazine and looked up the New Beetle's safety crash-tests. It recieved a 5-Star rating in both frontal and side impacts. (This is the best rating a car can get). Also, the New Beetle was engineered in Germany where they still have no speed limits on the Autobahns; they would not design a car without testing its body integrity in the event of an accident. The New Beetle passed Germany's strict safety requirements.
Aside from being safe, our New Beetle was super reliable, too. We drove it for 90,000 care-free happy miles. It never once let us down. Plus ,3 of our friends own New Beetles and they all love them. No problems at all!!
The only reason we sold our New Beetle is we needed a 4-door car; we bought a VW Jetta, also a great car.
So thats our story . No rumors or gossip, just facts....

fenton

Problem with VW Polo oil light?

I have a VW Polo, V reg 1999. Halfway through my journey my oil light started beeping and flashing red, then it kept flashing, then in 5 minutes time it started beeping again. I completed my journey but when a friend and I checked the oil it was at the right level. Unscrewing the oil cap revealed a beige gunk if that helps. Any ideas how I can fix this? (Note: I'm not very mechanically minded!)

Asked by: trosmiskintosa @ 2009-07-04 09:42:02

Answers ::
Take it to a garage for advice. It may just be a sensor thing that needs resetting (they will have the equipment to do this) or it could be something more serious. When did you last change the oil filter?

Answers Gerbil

How long since oil and filter changed? Would suggest you take it very soon to a garage to have these actions carried out. The gunge in the cap suggests oil not changed for many a year. It does deteriorate over time.

collegeboy

first change your oil and filter but might be a head gasket problem has your car over heating oil an dcoolant mix wil be milky or beige like peanut butter color an dmost likely whats it is but oil change might be needed as well an dif light doesnt go off can replace oil pressure switch might want to check with a shop

kelly_f_1999