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1998 Beetle

1998 Beetle
Overall rating:  Product Rating: 3.5

Reviewed by 33 users

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Safety, style, reliability, and fun!

by vwbeje07
Jun 14 '07 

Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes 

Pros: safety, durability, reliability, fun factor, style
Cons: back seat, no cool key, headlight assembly
The Bottom Line: If you need a car for a high school student or a new family, this is a fun, safe and smart choice.

In 2004, I just got my drivers license and needed a car that was good on gas, that looked good, and that I wouldnt feel guilty about having my grandparents by (cheap). We drove to a dealership in frederick maryland and looked at all the new cars, and I ...

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Small Car, Big price tag!!!!

by your_friend
Jan 28 '06 

Author's Product Rating: 10 Recommended: No 

Pros: Fun, great gas mileage.
Cons: realiabilty, and quality of design
The Bottom Line: Save yourself the pain; We know several VW owners whom have had all of the same problems beetles and all.

Bought the 98 Beetle for $8000 and 65,000 miles. I thought it was the best purchase ever. I had the cutest, zippiest, and easiest car to park in the city. We had no problems with the car for about a year. Then like everyone else the VW ghost appears ...

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Hope it doesn't break down...

by charietango123
Jan 29 '05 

Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes 

Pros: mileage mileage mileage I couldn't ask for any better mileage
Cons: maintenance is absolutely outrageous
The Bottom Line: Sure, go buy an '98 if you can find one, but be ready it is a first year model.

My wife bought the 1998 beetle the first day she could. She actually had to wait a couple months to get it. She was one of the first on the road...if only I had known. The car was fine, until the warranty ran out. How do warranties know?? At just ...

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LOVE IT!

by rothers27
Jan 02 '05 

Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes 

Pros: Cool, retro, and very powerful
Cons: Easy to get a lemon as they tend to be in wrecks a lot
The Bottom Line: If you are a happy type person this is a good car.

I love my VW! I just purchased my New Beetle, 1998 model and it is the cutest freaking thing probably in life. I recall once upon a time the internet was a new thing and I tested out the search option on a friends browser by typing in "New Beetle." I was ...

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Goodbye My Beetle

by nowdeadbeetle
Nov 04 '02 

Author's Product Rating: 10 Recommended: No 

Pros: Cute car....
Cons: ZERO RELIABILITY
The Bottom Line: Don't buy it!!!!!

Hello all,

Last Thursday, my beloved 1998 VW Beetle caught on fire and burned to a crisp, after a year and a half of over $3000 in repairs. I got out, but the car was totaled. I gave it so many chances and had so much hope for this car, in...

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About Average

by supercarz25
Sep 27 '02 

Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes 

Pros: Fast, styling, compact, great gas mileage
Cons: Electrical system
The Bottom Line: Good on gas mileage and for 2 people, but beware the electrical system.

My father owns one of these. We bought it from my uncle. At the start I didn't consider this car to be worth my attention. Then my parents sold our Ford Explorer and my dad went away to a job on an island in the Pacific. I wasn't allowed to use the...

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Never again!!!

by beetledeath
Oct 17 '01 

Author's Product Rating: 10 Recommended: No 

Pros: Cool retro/futuristic style; surprisingly roomy interior; huge dashboard; comfortable seating; solid body (virgin steel)
Cons: Electrical and mechanical problems galore; spotty pickup and heavy drag; TERRIBLE dealer service
The Bottom Line: Stay away. The '98 Beetle will leave you with nothing but frustration, an empty bank account, friends and family sick of lending you their cars, and too few pleasant memories.

It was with a naive optimism that I gave in to the hype and bought the New Beetle when it came out in '98. How I wish I'd listened to my father and bought a boring old Honda or Toyota instead.

My happiness with the car was all too...

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Good car, crummy dealer experience

by marmich123
Mar 11 '01 

Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes 

Pros: Looks great, handles well, solid performer
Cons: Service & support very disappointing, sometimes dishonest
The Bottom Line: Good car, lousy dealer network.

We purchased our silver 98 beetle for list price, and were able to negotiate a bit of a break on the CD player. Other than that, all list. Of course, at the time, the car was so hot that many were paying a substantial (like $1500+) premium. My wife was...

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Cute Car, Expensive and Unreliable

by damonw
Jan 25 '01 - Updated May 30 '01 

Author's Product Rating: 10 Recommended: No 

Pros: Style, Performance (when not running poor), options
Cons: Electrical, Dealer Customer Service, Horrible Warranty
The Bottom Line: Buy this car only if you are prepared for lots of trips to the dealer, random electrical problems, and if you have a cell phone, because you will need it!

My wife and I purchase a used 1998 Beetle. It had 16,000 miles, and the warranty covers it up to 20 or 24k.
Just as soon as the car went out of warranty, the problems began.

The windows are huge in this car. The power windows have a...

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Almost perfect!

by rkenneth
Dec 26 '00 

Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes 

Pros: Great style, lots of headroom, fun to drive.
Cons: VW dealer unwilling or unable to fix small problems.

I just sold my black on black Beatle and I am torn between relief and regret. I love having the cash and in many ways I loved the car, but there were one or two annoyances that just wouldn't go away.

I decided to test drive the Beetle because...

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A drain on your wallet. . .

by hilary_01
Nov 28 '00 

Author's Product Rating: 20 Recommended: No 

Pros: It's a good car, when nothing is wrong.
Cons: Something is always wrong.

I used to love Volkswagens. I bought my Beetle right after college to the dismay of my father, who had many reasons why I he didn't think I should make the purchase. I didn't listen. Now I wish I had.

Since I bought the car the heated...

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I love my car!

by ncsnobunny
Nov 09 '00 

Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes 

Pros: happiness abounds
Cons: everything is just slightly different, which some would call a con, but I just appreciate it and drive on

I love my car! My husband bought it for me for our anniversary and I wouldn't have any other. I always thought it was a cute car, but I like many thought it was unaffordable. One weekend we were riding around and we saw one for sale at a local car...

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Great Looks Poor Record

by Sud
Sep 02 '00 

Author's Product Rating: 10 Recommended: No 

Pros: It looks great!
Cons: Unreliable!

I bought my 1998 VW Beetle because I loved the looks. The car was peppy and handled well. Unfortunately, what's behind the looks has lead to a deluge of minor and major mechanical problems. Minor problems included security system not responding,...

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Somethings been bugging me

by MarriedGuy
Aug 17 '00 

Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes 

Pros: Comfortable, fun to drive, good on gas
Cons: Not a truck, attracts flying beer bottles

Way back in the day, I owned a 1971 VW Bug. It was small, noisy, had no heat or defroster, and the windshield wash was powered by the air in the spare tire under the hood. But I loved that car. For some reason many people fell in love with the VW Bug,...

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