Need some advice on sisters first car

"Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder" (pabuuu4) 07/30/2015 at 15:47 • Filed to: advice, family

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My sister is still looking at cars, and test drove a Jimny the other day and did not like the ride.

So now she decided the New Beetle is the next contender to be her first car. We test drove one today wich was a bit rough, but she now loves it.

I of course started reading in, and I read that it is based on the 4th gen Golf. (I thought 4th gen golfs and early 2000’s Volkswagens were a bit hit-or-miss with reliability?)

I read in many reviews that they are true problem cars, one that should be avoided. With transmission failure, electrical problems and all that. On the other hand I read they are nice cars, zero problems albeit not the most practical.

Does anyone from Oppo have experiences with these cars?

Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative car?

must seat 4, be small, fun and weigh around 1100-1200 kg.

RSI for your time!

Party-vi > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 15:50

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Don’t. At all. Just don’t. Those cars would be more reliable if they were all lit on fire and then put out from a tumble off a cliff into the ocean.

dogisbadob > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 15:52

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Price range?

My first choice would be the Echo, if a sunroof isn’t required.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > dogisbadob 07/30/2015 at 15:54

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max 3.800 euro.

Yes I have presented the Yaris, but she rather has the Beetle because it is more fun looking/unique

davedave1111 > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 15:55

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Like you said, underneath it’s an old Golf. Not the greatest car or the worst car in the world. But everyone gets hyperbolic about them because they either love or hate the styling. Personally I loathe it with a hatred I otherwise reserve for broccoli.

Nibby > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 15:56

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I don’t know much about them except for that time a friend of mine from high school drove me home in her yellow Bug with flowers inside the car itself.

Leon711 > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 15:58

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I had a high spec 2000 Polo and that was a good laugh if you drove the doors off it. Seats 4 and weighs 1000kg reliability was good,they did have a temperature sensor issue that is common but it costs €50 and 5 minutes for an inexperienced home mechanic. Mine was faultless.

RallyWrench > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 16:01

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Don’t do it. Some have good luck with them, and the non-turbo engines are really hard to kill, but they are a pain in the ass to work on, the automatic transmissions are garbage, the interiors are junk, and the Golf is a much better car, with more useable space.

TylerLinner > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 16:04

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Post-2000 Civic, or a Corolla/Prizm. Keep it simple. Mk4’s are enthusiast cars, much like Triumph TR7’s are enthusiast cars.

dogisbadob > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 16:09

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There’s probably some cool cute lil Honda that we don’t get that I don’t know about

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > dogisbadob 07/30/2015 at 16:14

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The Honda Logo maybe, but its not fun enough or unique enough for her.

Steve in Manhattan > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 16:23

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Imprezza

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 16:32

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When my wife and I first got together I didn’t have a car so I had to drive hers. It was a 2005 VW New Beetle convertible 2.0 5 speed. Just like this one:

It was fun to drive, and generally reliable until the timing belt went at 140k, but there was literally always something wrong with it.

Here’s a list of the non-essential problems that caused issues:

Catalytic converter burned up and clogged
Misfire on Cylinder 4 (2.0 ABA - apparently a known issues)
Power Window Regulators that failed intermittently
Noisy fuel pump - to the point that someone at the gas station asked if it was a Hybrid
Rear window separating from the top fabric
Surges in the headlamp circuit that blew out bulbs regularly and caused wires in the headlamp assembly to melt.

There was some other stuff but all in all not the worst car I’ve ever driven.

BobintheMtns > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 16:35

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I rocked a beetle for about 50K miles... I liked it, it was a good car. It was a 2000 model. It had one electrical issue where the door sensors that talked with the alarm would fuck up on occasion (apparently a lot of audis and vw’s used the same sensors during that time-period and the issue was seen in both brands) But other than that, it was a great car. I think the only time it left me stranded was when the alternator died at about 90K...... Other than that, solid, good fuel economy, and a nice ride- and it certainly didn’t mind getting flung around on curvy mountain roads...

TrickJos > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 16:38

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My fiancee has a 2004 Beetle convertible 2.0L with the six-speed tiptronic. It has 85,000 miles on it. It really is a lot of trouble. In the last year I have replaced a window regulator, door latch, ignition coil pack, timing/cam belt, timing belt tensioner, water pump, and the blower motor. I also traced down a bad misfire which happened to be caused by a poor ground for the ECU. That was really difficult one to figure out! It has recently developed a pretty severe oil leak at the crankshaft seal. As a result of the leak the new timing belt is soaked in oil which means I’ll be replacing that again when I fix the oil leak. I have to prioritize repairs because at any given time there are several things wrong with it. I’m capable of doing most car repairs so that helps keep the maintenance costs down. Still, she loves the car and somehow I can’t help but feel attached to it with all the time I spend working on it. When it is working well it is a joy to drive.

Patrick Nichols > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 16:42

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just stay away from the 1.8T. I currently have a mkV golf with the n/a 2.5 and its great. The 2.0 is dead reliable but there is a reason it is called the 2.slow. No idea on the VR6 (or if they ever did one in beetle form). I did hear 2.0T are alright on the mkV and VI, but have no personal experience.

TrickJos > TrickJos 07/30/2015 at 16:42

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I forgot to mention that the catalytic converter needs to be replaced. Also, the headlight lens just fell off one day for no apparent reason.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 16:42

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You’re in Europe and the best, small, cheap, fun, and unique car you can find is a crap-ass Beetle??

O_o

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 07/30/2015 at 17:03

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Hey this was not my idea, but my family isnt all that fond of French cars (me neither) and she and my dad have this idea of ‘’Muh German quality’’ and she likes how fun this car is. Suggest me a better one ! You can help in preventing this disaster that is the New Beetle.

MultiplaOrgasms > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 07/30/2015 at 17:05

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Contrary to popular (american) belief most european superminis are rather boring, particularly the ones from the 1990s/2000s.

DoctorNine > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 17:05

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If you want VW, don’t get anything in the 2000 to 2006 range except an R32 or TDI. You can probably find a really nice newer Golf TDI manual at a reasonable price. That would be my first recommendation. A little Audi TT would also be ok, but require a lot of attention. A Mini would be best probably though. You can find those everywhere, and they come in sporty, convertible or hard top form with/without manual.

MultiplaOrgasms > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 17:05

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Suzuki Swift is always the answer.

RustedSprinter > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 17:09

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Honda Logo is unique and fun! Your sister is picky. How about a Ford Ka. If I was in the UK I would have a Ka dude.

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 17:22

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An original beetle?

Or a 2000 Porsche Boxster I4. I here they’re REALLY cheap

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion 07/30/2015 at 17:27

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I like how you think, but it is not the most practical solution.

Alex from Toronto > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 18:14

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Honda Civic?

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 18:29

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If you were in the U.S., my answer would be a WRX, which can be found for about $6k USD. Do ya’ll get those in Urrup?

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 07/30/2015 at 18:37

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WRX is a big car, too big actually. and 6k is too much. 3.800 euros max.

We did get them, but AWD is not needed and gas is expensive so it never really sold much. My dad has a Forester though.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 20:54

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Never in my life did I ever think someone would call a wrx “too big”. :)

Isn't 3800 EUR about $6000 USD? Has the exchange rate really gotten worse?

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/30/2015 at 21:29

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Not much more practical then a New Beetle

Your boy, BJR > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/31/2015 at 17:55

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“WRX is a big car, too big actually”

That’s ADOREABLE.

-someone who considers his 18 foot, 4000lb sedan “midsize”

Amoore100 > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/31/2015 at 18:07

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I would say get her a Volvo. The C30 and S40/V50 are great choices on the venerable Focus P1 platform, and all are relatively reliable, solid, safe, and fun to drive. JQJ213 has a C30 and I have a V50 and we are both very happy with them as cars for young drivers (for me it’s my first car). They are all pretty nice lookers, and she can get the C30 for extra chic. I have no idea of their cost/insurance over in Europe but around here you can get nice used ones for around $6K (approx. £3800) I would personally not go with a Beetle, as the ones I see around here are generally noisy, slow, and probably have a million things wrong with them. Also, the New Beetle dates back to VW’s malaise era of awfulness in the early 2000s, so expect problems if you get an older/more worn example.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Your boy, BJR 07/31/2015 at 18:07

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‘Midsize’? my dads Forester is considered a big car, and that is 14 foot, or 4.4 meter. your car is 5.4 meter. I have issues guiding that Forester sometimes, you probably have your own crew to navigate...

Your boy, BJR > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder 07/31/2015 at 18:45

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Oh you Europe people and your silly little cars.....