Old New Beetle

Designed by a pair of young American car stylists, the Volkswagen New Beetle reignited Volkswagen sales in the United States - and proved to American automakers that retro styling equaled massive sales. Of you like the modern Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and BMW Mini, you can thank Volkswagen’s New Beetle. Here, Steve explores a 2000 model and its “blumenvasen”.

[@SolamenteVees]

There are people who can decode a Mopar fender tag, and there are people who can list all six engines available in the New Beetle. Very few can do both.

[@marioncobaretti2280]

When you don't have woman in your life but you date Mary palmer you'll find the creation of a human walking computer of vast knowledge. Usually there's an abundance of money in this person's life Too

[@darrenpremo7735]

@@marioncobaretti2280 Then their are keyboard warrior morins!!

[@ToesInTheSand6927]

I Named Four outta six. Lol Stumped on other two

[@dandeangelo98]

Listening to Steve's wealth of knowledge on practically every car ever made is so enjoyable.

[@jeffcarruthers2605]

I was a VW tech when this thing made its debut. Having owned several examples of the original Type 1 and Type 2, I thought this concept was a neat idea. The early examples of the new Beetle were plagued with quality control issues that resulted in very disappointed owners and frustrated techs. Anyone expecting the old VW build quality was in for a let down. It got to the point where I couldn't stand the sight of them. Same thing happened when the Rabbit was introduced. The first two years of production was a disaster. VW actually introduced an upgrade program to fix all the problems and I spent many hours on many cars to try and rectify the issues. We were told that marketing needed the Rabbit now and engineering said it's not ready. Engineering was right. I enjoy your channel Steve and your extensive automotive knowledge.

[@googleusergp]

VW hasn't made a good car since the original Beetle. The rest were all heaps.

[@UberLummox]

@@googleusergp Not since Joseph Ganz.

[@UberLummox]

What a turd. These must be kinda lame to service due to it's very inefficient body design I would think.

[@ChaChiVooDoo]

I agree. My new 2000 TDI one was a real turd. Always back to the dealer for sunroof leaks they never solved, wiring in the door, ducts in the dash, brake light switch, emergency flasher switch. Made them take it back and went with a Golf GL TDI Im still driving to this day. There is no middle ground on a VW. Its either very reliable or a total heap of shite

[@galencurrington8704]

Yeah I read the rabbit is why most of the old dealerships are gone because of sale of the rabbit. I remember the new bug came out and I saw early drawings and it had a motor in the back.

[@davidburman451]

Thanks Steve ! Old retired guy here ! A couple of years back I revived a 02 Beetle that had been parked for 5 years it was a 5 speed 2.0L for my wife. The car was super clean solid underneath ran great and was free ! So I took it on as a challenge. Basically I had to rebuild the entire suspension and braking system. Massive electrical problems soon showed up which took alot a research to sort out. Water leaks from the sunroof corroded numerous connectors and all the grounds. The drivers door latch micro switches acted up...the body control module was possessed. But its perfect now and we drive it everywhere ! It barely sips gasoline and is a ball to drive! I have $4,000 in parts and did all the labour so for a retired guy its a cheap ride. When I met Nancy 50 years ago this fall she was driving a bright orange MGB ! So in our 70's having a sporty little 5sp puts a bit of fun back in the old bones. I've always done all my own work so the Bug doesnt frighten me in the least. I will say unless your prepared to do 100% of the work DO NOT GET ONE. Heaven help you paying garage rates to sort an old one out. Truth be known the dealers and most mechanics will not work on their electrical issues period. And dont get an automatic.

[@jaybeemhardscrote7466]

That's really awesome! Thank you for doing that! I'm sure the car is thankful too. I'm in the process of resoring my 99 Beetle with the 2.0l and 5 speed. It too was parked for 5 years and I'm just now getting the engine up and running and will also be spending hundreds soon to refresh the entire brakes and suspension systems to get it road worthy again. It's a lot of fun, I bought this car in high school and I will own it for 10 years in January. I'm very much attached to my Beetle and love it. I don't ever want to let it go.

[@paulwoodman5131]

Yeah now you tell me about the automatic. I had a Jetta 2.5 with a 6-speed auto, good transmission until it wasn't. It drove okay when cold so I slow rolled to a dealer and traded it. (he knew the trans was gone) I imagine it ran perfect for the auctions.

[@stephengauthier8146]

Love Steve Mag’s encyclopedic knowledge of everything automotive. Enjoying his KZbin channel immensely!

[@my1vice]

I like that Steve is prepared and organized. Too many people just turn a camera on and fumble and stumble around and expect a successful channel. Well done.

[@SteveMagnante]

Hi Cliff, I'm no "expoit" with KZbin but I've always said "cars deserve more than a guess" so I do my research before I speak. Even at that I stomp-in-it from time to time. But again, a little preparation goes a long way. Thanks for noticing, Steve Magnante

[@haljohnson5729]

First cup of coffee with Steve's new video.

[@Dan23_7]

Owner of a 2003 yellow beetle tdi (pd) here It’s 19 years old and it’s a fantastic car, it’s only covered 111k miles, I bought it on 29/5/22 and had been hunting a yellow tdi for ages and ages. Had to be a hard top 💛💛

[@michaelmenard6088]

2 years ago, I purchased a 2003 Cabrio New Beetle for my wife (it's her dream car). I paid 500$ Canadian dollars with a blown 1.8t. For 1000$ I got an engine with 75000kms less than the body (223000kms on the body) and it's been a great car and real fun to drive. Great cars. Thanks Steve for the extra info on these car. You truly are a car encyclopedia! Keep these cool videos coming!

[@samholdsworth420]

I hope she appreciates you lmao

[@lilmike2710]

I bought my wife one of those new gen Beetles. I'm gonna have to admit that doing so was one of the worst car buying mistakes I've ever made. The fact that this car featured here still has all it's plastic interior pieces and panels still in place and not broken, missing or held in place with duct tape is surprising to be honest. The only positive things I can say about this car was that it got decent fuel mileage and it handled pretty good. Those 2 liter engines wear out rather quickly, and once you start having problems it's gonna be one issue after another. The thing eventually started leaking from basically everywhere. I've always been a huge fan of German engineering but I couldn't find anything about the engine and transmission designs that I could admire. And then there's the interior panels. All made from cheap and brittle plastic that gets demonstrably worse as it ages. All the Switches, buttons, knobs and levers are subject to breaking, stripping or just simply falling off. When I sold that thing I honestly felt sort of guilty. Not because I got rid of it, but because I couldn't help but feel as if I had sold someone a pile of crap for way more than it was worth. In spite of the fact that I took a giant loss. Anyway.... That car left a bad taste in my mouth for sure.

[@daynadiggle8169]

I always heard the transmissions were bad so I stayed away from new beetles . Could of bought a yellow one this past week but shied away from it . I collect P T Cruisers and have two four doors and two rag tops but wonder if I'm doing any better .

[@lilmike2710]

@@daynadiggle8169 My dad is in his late 70's and has been driving the same PT Cruiser since he bought it brand new. Other than regular maintenance it hasn't given him any problems to speak of. Other than issues with plastic interior parts and pieces. But since he bought it, it hasn't failed to start a single time.🤞 Of course virtually every type of car has it's lemons. But almost everyone I've spoken to that also owned a new gen Beetle has had basically the same complaints. I suppose a pampered, lightly driven and garage kept NGVWB would likely not give the owner too much to complain about. To each his own but I'd avoid buying one if my advice means anything.

[@lilmike2710]

@@daynadiggle8169 And yes.... We had transmission trouble. Specifically, it had issues with changing gears as it accelerated. Was to the point where we had to physically let off the pedal fully before it would change into a higher gear. Otherwise it would just keep the gear and the engine would damn near redline if we weren't careful. Hell the damned AC switch malfunctioned. AC worked fine but we simply couldn't turn the damned thing on. Something about the metal contacts behind the knob breaking and falling off. You have to practically take the entire dash panels off just to get to it. And taking the panels off is a gamble due to the cheap brittle plastic tabs breaking off when you attempt to remove them. Seriously it was a 💩 show from the beginning. Maybe later models were improved upon but I don't know. I'll never buy another one if I can help it.

[@daynadiggle8169]

@@lilmike2710 Yes , and now I'm having trouble with the 06 P T . Engine light comes on and auto trans . stays in first , refusing to shift . Have to drive home at 20 m.p.h. and at 2,000 rpm . Have been taking the negative batt. cable off for half hour so computer can reset . This is a pain in my ass every day ! When did they quit making cars great and start producing complete crap ? I paid $14,200.00 cash new for this one and could never get Chrysler to do anything for me . Feel like I was robbed .

[@daynadiggle8169]

@@lilmike2710 Enough with these crappy vehicles ... I'm going back to MATCHBOX CARS !

[@monroe7403]

The Keene State College sticker on the back window, that's about 10 minutes from me. I actually knew a kid whose mom had a yellow Beetle years ago.

[@dowen1511]

I feel so old now 😂. Even retro is classic now . lol.

[@2005portensie]

I'd like to see that Charger

[@dcamp3062]

I’m thinking the same thing👍

[@hillbilliesinthehood9472]

I found the plum crazy charger very distracting..🤪

[@paulwindisch1423]

I purchased one new in 1998 when they first launched it. At that time, there was a 6 month waiting list. I ordered a yellow one with leather and a sunroof. When my name came up on the list, I was told it would be several more months for the car I ordered. Ended up getting a blue one with the 2.0L gas engine and a 5 speed manual trans. It was a decent car and got okay gas mileage. It handled and braked VERY well. There were a few small quirks that bothered me though. It had a penchant for burning out headlight bulbs several times a year, and the door hinge bolts liked to work loose despite retorquing them multiple times. The other issue was the low glare coating (sort of rubber-like) on the door panels started peeling very early. Aside from those issues, it was a fun car to drive. Side note, they all came (at the time) with a dash mounted vase and a flower that matched the color of the car. So, mine had a blue flower. Ultimately, as our family grew that car got traded in for a Pontiac minivan in 2005 (which was just retired earlier this year). I do still have a traditional rear engined air cooled Beetle though. 😊

[@SteveMagnante]

Hello Paul Windisch, THANKS for the "owner testimony". If I had a time machine, I'd post each video, wait a day, read the helpful posts like YOURS then go back and re-shoot each video incorporating all of the Crowd Sourced Wisdom into the story for a cherry-on-top result! But alas, the Time Machine is "in the shop" so all I can do is say THANK YOU for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Ooh yeah the mk4 soft touch interior. Stuff comes off with denatured alcohol.

[@erikthorstensen5185]

My mother got one the very first ones you could get. And shout out to the dealer in Bedford, Massachusetts that didn't "market adjust " the price.

[@rustbeltpassion8573]

I remember when I first seen a new beetle. I wanted one when I was little. I've since owned a reflex yellow beetle which was 1 of 2000 made in 2000. My current beetle is 1 of 15,000 turbo s bugs.

[@scottywalker4312]

I sold my 1971 bug last year, and I miss her everyday!

[@gregfielder4763]

In 2011 I surprised my wife with a red 2010 Beetle. She loved it and drove it to work daily. We took it on a couple short trips (@500 miles) and I really enjoyed driving it. It had the 5 cylinder engine and was very peppy. It did have a bit of a rough ride, and not much cargo space, but was very enjoyable. In the 4 years we owned it we only put 14k miles on it. Bottom line is that it was not the type of vehicle we needed long term. BTW I went on eBay and bought the vase and flowers for the dash for her. 😍

[@jamesviehmann4291]

The new beetle was a cool retro-car when it came out and many who bought it "thought" they were buying into the old legend of design simplicity, durability, and old bug coolness.. What they got for their 15-21K was far from it! Kind of like comparing Woodstock 1969 to Woodstock 1999...They sold a lot of tickets based on nostalgia... A great sales tool, and all the people involved with the show made a lot of money but, the "Customers" ultimately got screwed in the end! There is a reason why there are more of these in the salvage yard than there are in the restoration shops or car shows... Great content Steve!

[@suzi_mai]

Nothing the Four Rings make are simple. Their engineers are true sadists..

[@ddellwo]

I have an acquaintance whose father is a technician at a VW dealership. His stern advice - NEVER own a VW unless it is under the factory warranty…….😮

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Mk4 was the last decent platform that was still repairable by folks in the backyard,somewhat. At least my backyard. So I got a ross-tech and went to town. I still see at least 5-7 mk4s daily going down the road. For a car where the newest one is like 17yrs old, that's a pretty good record if you ask me.

[@UberLummox]

@@MrTheHillfolk I assume you must live in California, no? I would say or maybe another state that cars don't rust, but those states are too conservative for that many VWs I bet.

[@UberLummox]

@@suzi_mai Likely designed by descendants of those Nazi doctors from the SS.

[@rixkafer56]

When i first started seeing these in junk yards i felt old lol... i drive a 65 bug

[@stephenyoutubin4476]

My girlfriend in 2000 bought a new black Bug (now my wife). It was a lemon from the get-go. Overheating problems, they could not and would not address? Head light failures, burning out. Finally, they took it back and it was a loss financially but no more headaches.

[@gulfy09]

Gotta Love the music at the end of every video

[@Slowgroovin]

Nice looking little cars. Can be dressed up either very retro or sporty.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Do a Smyth Ute kit,they look like miniature 50s pickup trucks. Have fun with the fiberglass so you don't get seasick from waves in panels but it's still a neat idea.

[@myexescallmetictac8297]

Vr6, hands down. Best engine exhaust note I’ve ever heard from a v6

[@davidgwin4540]

I remember being fairly young when that car came out and seeing it at the auto show in downtown San Diego. I was disappointed by the engine location being a huge bug fan back then and still. I told the representative there how I felt about that and he let me have it! Stuff like, " if the engine was in the back it wouldn't be affordable" and other stuff. I must have been the millionth person that said that about it back then to him. 😆

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

You know the engine in the back could have been done cheaply. Look at the Pontiac ferro. They were told they could build the car with only parts from other gm cars. I agree with you on that one.

[@miket.220]

Ha. What a cop out. As explained here, the New Beetle was just a Golf with a new body welded on top, and this car show guy knew that.

[@woska7493]

I remember one of the billboards, with a picture of the car and it read: “0 to 60? Yes.”

[@kmath50]

I really like these retro beetles. I also like the Mustang, Challenger, and Thunderbird that came from this retro period.

[@kevinangle7423]

I learned to drive and work on cars in a new beetle. Was a free car from my uncle, but was not roadworthy due to parking brake and other small malfunctions (including a surprising amount of rust for a clean looking car) that would cost more to repair than the car was worth. Manual transmission with a 1.9tdi engine - absolutely gutless, but still an absolute blast to drive and crazy reliable for 390,000km. It taught countless visitors to our place how to drive stick, and by the time a few years had passed, first gear was getting rough. Some hoses needed to be replaced due to age and pressure - an absolute nightmare of a job in such a tight engine bay and something I don’t look forward to doing again. Like others mentioned, the headlights were weak when I got it and soon burned out. It met its end when I drove over a hidden tree stump and it punched a hole in the aluminum oil pan and likely did some other damage. Maybe I’ll repair it and get it going again but my schedule is pretty tight lately. It makes a good toolbox for the time being.

[@nb7466]

When I was a kid I went to the international car show in New York. They had a beetle you could put your hands on it. It had a special paint job that changed colors with body heat. It was cool as a kid n

[@davidgalinat4257]

LOL at Steve propping the hood with a wiper arm.

[@Cstoreri]

I loved driving by my local Volkswagen dealer and seeing the colorful line up of bugs , it was a stark difference between the other manufacturers of the time who had lots full of bland colors tan/golds were big in the late 90’s. Volkswagen also had a golf at this time that every panel of the car was painted a different color!

[@AtomicReverend]

I remember them well. I was in my early twenties and I remember thinking who would buy a brand new car that looks like a teenagers beater with mismatched panels. I would imagine a good majority of those cars probably got painted within two or three years and are probably quite collectible today I forgot all about them.

[@volktales7005]

Those Golfs were called the "Harlequin" models. They were rare, and are worth some $$$ today.

[@roger628]

@@volktales7005 To whom? LOL!

[@charliesgrumma5388]

*BE CAREFUL OUT THERE STEVE* There's a prowler out there right behind you!

[@CORVAIRWILD]

Have you watched Adam, Rare Classic Cars And Automotive History? He just interviewed Wayne Caty(?) and John Manoogian, Cadillac (style) designers

[@GrippoMarx]

I had a 2002 Turbo, loved that car.

[@Mercmad]

When I firrt saw one in a car wreckers here in Australia, I knew I was getting old.... And Steve says 60% of buyers were women and were strippers...did I hear that right? 😁

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

Lol. No he ment strippers as in a stripped down car. Buy yea mabey alot of strppers bought them lol.

[@corvairjim1]

Steve, you missed the obvious title for this segment, something that I saw on a vanity plate on New Beetle about 20 years ago. I'm certain that it was a 2000 model like this one - that vanity plate said "Y2K BUG"! Is that great or what? 🙂

[@texan176]

It was such a different time around when these came out. Car builders still took risks and gave the public fun vehicles that were affordable. Maybe the only car like this left these days is the Miata. Now they are forcing electric vehicles on people and most all of them have no soul at all. During the entire run of the New Beetle it was just an ordinary car. They became beaters quickly and many were scrapped because something that exceeded 40% of what the whole car was worth needed fixing. Although I have never personally seen an enthusiast spare no expense to keep these preserved, I am sure people like that are out there and more power to them. These should not go fully extinct.

[@billlucas8124]

in the uk we got a 2.3 vr5 also in these. Dad had a golf with one in. beautiful noise.

[@alefgardhero]

Those headrests are worth something to the MK3 VW community!

[@MrTheHillfolk]

I'd like to scare up a set for my Mk4 Jetta Ute build,if I don't find some nice GTI seats or something.

[@BigMikesHooptyBarn]

Good info Sir but I want to see the 1st gen Charger in the background.

[@flashg67]

My Mom had one. She bought new in 2009 and kept it until 2012. It was a really pretty light green with a tan interior.

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Steve

[@brucejones7389]

I kept rewinding looking at the purple charger in the back!

[@ron486]

I love how you bring these vehicles to light from the grave. Junk yard crawl, a show like no other. Great job.

[@michaelbabella1103]

Nope, sorry...both my 2002 and 2004 Turbo S have/had the vase and flower from Volkswagen from the factory, so they were not discontinued in 2001 as you stated

[@edwardpate6128]

My parents bought a 2000 New Beetle and traveled all over the place in that car. It was very reliable and didn't seem to have the issues other folks reported.

[@kentpool7414]

I have a 1964 sitting in the garage. You have me thinking about putting one of these next to it.

[@TrashcanGarage]

I couldn't afford a Mustang in high school and Mopars grew too expensive. So when the retros hit? Yeah, I fell hard. Got one of each, Mustang 2011 and Challenger R/T 2015. Fun to drive. Reliable. And good looking for what they are. The Mustang was my daily driver and now has over 330k on the clock. The Challenge is hardly broke in at 19k.

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

I had a 68 with one bad cylinder and still drove it anywhere. No ac had a lever to let hot air in or close it off. Cool little car

[@jimc3688]

When re-introduced people were lining up to get “The first one” waiting for delivery and paying up to $1k over sticker price.

[@frogwizard5637]

The 2.0 crossflow engine that was the common VW engine at the time was a 115 hp dog. Dependable but no revs. A real long stroke engine.

[@tpetry1303]

The Ole 2.slow

[@Cohunnamatta]

I do like my retro styled 2016 v6 challenger.

[@joe6096]

I spy a 1966-67 Charger in the background!

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

I think he did that one.

[@kevinpatrick8788]

My Ex girlfriend owned a 2007 beetle with the 2.5 litre 5 cylinder and the 6 speed auto. The engine was indestructable and Canadian winters killed the body eventually. She never had any mechanical issues with it in the 10 years she owned it but electrical problems were pretty common.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

As a mk1 guy ,we used to rip the crap out of the Mk4 kids in the forums as the mk1 is the best anyway,no point in arguing. But the Mk4 has proven itself over the last 15-20yrs as a brick shithouse of a platform,it's really solid. I still see a good 5-7 of em on the road here in the northeast daily. Not bad for a car where the newest one is like 17yo.

[@LAGuitarnetwork]

I was 8 when these came out and super into classic aircooled beetles already. They were part of that era of the late 90s going into the new millennium and now remind me of those colorful apple computers that came out around the same time. Never ended up with one of these but have had a 1974 sun bug (sun roof model) and the last 5 years a 1961 beetle ive mechanically rebuilt. I hope their is another Generation of Beetle , that would be cool.

[@jongover4901]

Working on one of those right now!

[@dno5779]

I'd like to see them try to do a new Beetle with the engine in the rear - like the MR2, Fiero.

[@GlacialErratic]

Hella cool, man 25 years in the blink of an eye. 2009 I took delivery of and still own my 2010 Camaro. I never looked at it from this perspective, but it makes perfect sense.

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

My Neighbor has a Dune. Its a nice little car.

[@tony66au]

Thanks for the heads up on the Beetle, I recently sent my Hyundai shopping cart to the crushers and was thinking of a Beetle as a replacement because of its common underpinnings and driveline thinking of passing it to my youngest daughter after Id taught her to drive in it. Weirdly the same era Golf is half the price in the used car market....

[@thomasdearment3214]

they also had flower style wheels

[@aaron71]

just walked past that car Saturday! Love the videos!

[@SteveMagnante]

Very cool!

[@brucejones7389]

We test drove a 2001 Green Turboneum off the lot and it was suprising how fast it was!

[@mexicanspec]

The Beetle was in dealerships last year.

[@MikeTheSlacker]

Almost bought one, but initially the TDI couldn't be had with an automatic.

[@user-neo71665]

Might have been based on the golf but I've yet to see one of those that have lasted past 5 years with the original engine and/or any of the original plastic not falling apart.

[@Carcenomy]

The only thing I ever found that really let them down was the automatic trans... almost every New Beetle I've seen being wrecked has lost fourth. Beyond that though, they drive like a car a full size group bigger on the open road, really pleasant.

[@scottimusgarrett15]

Just so weird for me to see one of those in that kind of shape in a boneyard. ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦

[@knutbkristiansen]

Awesome episode

[@guilhermevalentim95]

I miss that old intro :( The one you are cleaning the yard lol

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man I remember well when those came out! What a frenzy it was then! I was a breakthrough design for Volkswagen! I remember going to the dealer to check them out, I test drove a 5 cylinder version. It was very cool looking at people looking at me driving around the new beetle!👌😂👍 but i didn’t buy one though! Like you said a lot of automakers owe VW a lot for reviving the retro designs. I just hope that if VW ever decides to come back out with the new beetle, they put the engine where it really belongs! In the rear!! But I know at this point it’s probably wishful thinking! That one still not in bad shape! I believe it should be restored! Great video Steve!👌😎👍

[@rupe53]

oh, it will be in the back, but ten to one odds it will be an electric motor.

[@tsvw2007]

I own a 2007 still looks and runs like a new car ,I'm 2nd owner

[@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793]

You will do the Mopar behind you?,🤙😀👍❤️

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

Had a 2000. Handled great. Power from the 2.0 was adequate. Interior trim was horrid, door handles peeled and plastic bits were prone to breaking. The gas cap also liked to freeze shut in the winter.

[@resetsetmefree478]

the one pictured here is automatic of course so that's why it's in "junkyard crawl"

[@kurt2022]

A buddy of mine runs an automotive shop and told me that the worst vehicle he ever attempted to repair was a diesel beetle. He decided to never work on a beetle again, he called them overpriced German junk.

[@gulfy09]

There made in Mexico

[@jimdean7335]

You the man, love this stuff

[@donaldwilson2620]

When it comes to retro cars from the late 90's to early 2000's era, the only one that still exists and remains popular today is the Mini. I was never a fan of the New Beetle, but I do like the Mini and even though they are not known for reliability, they are fun to drive.

[@josephdipalma5989]

I hauled a couple of loads of these cars when I was a carhauler. 10 at a time, the roof was very high on these cars, something you notice very quickly when your putting 10 on a car carrier and trying to keep your height below 13'6"

[@JakeDrives1]

Great video. However you are merging the generations of cars. The New Beetle ended production in its second (refreshed) iteration in mid 2011. It was then replaced by an all new car from 2012-2019 also known as the “12up”. These are two separate cars entirely. The “New Beetle” was named just that. Where the 2012+ is just “Beetle”. Love these cars. I just sold my 2017 convertible, I’m about to buy a 2002 Turbo S I’m pretty good condition. Valuable info here!! Thanks.

[@gregkellow4723]

My Sister has one, a 2000 model with the I5. It's was her must-have car. Now it's a spare car, cuz she can't seem to part with it.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Do a Smyth Ute kit 😁

[@terrystewart2070]

Hey Steve I spy a '67 (?) Charger in the background at 44 seconds in. How about a vid on that one?

[@mikemikemike9139]

Plymouth Prowler came out in 1997. I think they brought retro back.

[@fonziebulldog5786]

My neighbor have one of these in the VW Turbo edition. A really cool car. But i do prefer my Citroën C6 and DS3. Thats some nice ride for sure.

[@markbass7145]

I always thought it was a mistake that it wasn't rear engine. I think they should have taken the Porsche flat six and cut two cylinders off stick it in the back.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

I remember when VW announced they would be building these, there was a campaign to build excitement where they could send you a special package including a brochure and a VW pin which I still have. I believe they sent some other correspondence (I imagine) in hopes that it would get some extra sales. I still have not purchased one although the next bettle built impresses me more.

[@christopherwilliams9418]

I have a 1999 turbo that's in about the same condition as this lol... Cloth seats weirdly enough which I didn't think was a configuration they were sold in (I thought upgrading to the GLS trim to get the turbo gave you leatherette by default)

[@warhound7781]

Well the prowler cam out in 97 as well and that was a throwback to retro hot rods.

[@jeffclark2725]

Thumbs up,didnt know californians did the redesign job

[@SonnyGTA]

Stopped the video. Went to eBay. Bought the book. ($4). Returned to video.

[@aliassmithandjones9453]

a friend of mine bought one for his teen daughter. At some point it developed major transmission problems that made him deeply regret not getting a toyota

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Gotta love the Bug!! 👍👍

[@miket.220]

While I am a die-hard fan of the original Beetle, I did like the New Beetle, though it was clearly just a retro-styled Golf. But no matter, I liked the look and design. Test drove one and loved the ride. Unfortunately when they first came out, dealers were not only NOT negotiating, they were charging ABOVE sticker price. Nope. Turns out that every model year up to 2003 had QC issues galore, and even after they ironed out the bugs, it still had little issues here and there.

[@samiam5557]

I still think of any car 2000 and later "new" too. 😄

[@ispookedyou6172]

Does anyone know anything about the stripe on the door? I've been looking for that stripe for months to buy for my new beetle, but the only times I've seen it was on the beetle this video and on a super beetle model. So please, any knowledge about it respond, Thank you.

[@darrenbrisson4336]

I don't know about that mags plymouth came out with the prowler in 1997 and cpp magazine had pictures of concept cars and viper concept which is a cobra retro before 1997

[@googleusergp]

You could argue that the Prowler came first as the Prowler was a 1997 model year introduction and the Beetle was a 1998 model year introduction. When the Beetle came out in 1998, the ads stated, "The engine is in the front, but the heart is in the same place." as a homage to the original. The last VW Beetles imported to the US were for the 1979 model year. Emissions did in the old Beetle in the US, because fuel economy wasn't a problem, it easily made that. Keene State College is a liberal arts college in New Hampshire. These were produced either at the Wolfsburg, Germany plant or Puebla, Mexico plant.

[@SteveMagnante]

Hello Google User GP, THANKS as usual for your insightful commentary. I'm aware of the Prowler as a Mopar-at-the-core kinda guy. I simply didn't think of it when camera man Shane called "action". But yes, the Prowler was / is an early example of Retro Design for mass production (well, ok, semi-mass production). Amnd yes I've caught a little flack over off-market goodies like the Nissan Figaro. But I've NEVER seen one of those on these roads - except as a gray-market import. Anyhoo, yes indeed, Tom Gale / Kevin Verduyn did Chrysler "a solid" by launching the Prowler. As a side note, as you probably know Chip Foose lays claim to Prowler's basic shape from his display at a May 1990 "idea fair" at Chrysler's Pacifica Design in Carslbad, CA...and the Foose Roadster was his response. Thanks for writing, Steve Magnante

[@googleusergp]

@@SteveMagnante Sure thing. I was never a "custom car" fan. I think those guys like Foose ruin good original cars that look better stock. After all, GM, Ford and Chrysler spent millions (even back then) to make them look good and these "customizers" ruin them. That's my .02. I'm not much for aftermarket wheels, I'd rather stock wheels from another application be used. Give me a stock car any day over someone's "custom" work.

[@rickylaporte6750]

I see a lot of these VW and they all seem to have a water leak. I guess I will have to look into this deeper. Great video. God Bless.

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome thanks 👍

[@markbattista6857]

Great video Steve , do you have any hope for this one to continue life ? Thanks

[@stevejohnson1321]

I was going to buy one of these in 1999, but a better-equipped ford was $5000 less. Considering the ford rusted out within eight years, I'm not sure which was better or worse.