2004 Volkswagen New Beetle Review and Specs

Summary

What Edmunds.com says

The image car in VW's lineup, the New Beetle offers a unique combination of safety, fun and upscale features for its price range.

Pros

Cute yet classic styling, range of engine choices, long list of standard features, good crash test scores.

Cons

Tight rear-seat accommodations, limited cargo room, high price of Turbo S model.

What's New for 2004

For 2004, the New Beetle is no longer available in GLX trim. There's an improved TDI engine and restyled 16- and 17-inch wheels. Turbo S models get uniquely styled 17-inch wheels as a late-year addition. New safety features include head curtain airbags and upgraded head restraints. The Monsoon audio system is now standard on the GLS and new GDL headlights are optional. Later in the model year a fixed rear spoiler will replace the power-operated unit and a CD player with MP3 capability will be added. Convertibles get new exterior colors and color combinations. All Beetles get a new fuel cap warning light this year. TDI models can be equipped with a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), which is a six-speed manual transmission with electronic control of the clutch and gearshifting. It can be operated in full automatic mode, like a traditional automatic, or shifted manually like a Tiptronic.

Consumer Ratings & Reviews

2004 convertible vw

Written by: cheryl gillespie on 01/24/2008

Detailed Ratings

Overall Rating


Performance:	8	Fun-to-Drive:	6	Build Quality:	2
Comfort:	5	Interior Design:	1	Reliability:	7
Fuel Economy:	8	Exterior Design:	9

Vehicle

2004 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Love the design of this car, but have had many problems. Interior beige leather seats impossible to clean. Stained within the first 2 weeks by a leather belt. Seat retractor broke 5 times. Airbag problems on three different ocacasions. Last one took 2 wks to fix. Car sits way too close to the ground. Damaged mine just going up a gravel driveway. Almost 7,000 for new transmission.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

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It was a grand 4 years

Written by: delta_queen on 11/08/2007


Performance:	6	Fun-to-Drive:	10	Build Quality:	9
Comfort:	9	Interior Design:	10	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	8	Exterior Design:	10

Would not have sold it yesterday had I not needed a 4X4. I owned this vehicle for 4 years and loved every minute of it. Always felt like I was in a high quality vehicle. The very few instances I needed minor servicing, the warranty work I got was top notch and ultra quick. (The only probs I had in 4 years were headlight wiring.)

The drop down top of course. Heated seats. Wind screen. Loved my stick shift drivetrain.

This was a pokey car. Very little get up and go. But then they made the turbo.

People's Car?? Not this one.

Written by: Virginia&George on 06/03/2007


Performance:	7	Fun-to-Drive:	6	Build Quality:	3
Comfort:	6	Interior Design:	4	Reliability:	2
Fuel Economy:	8	Exterior Design:	7

2004 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS TDI 2dr Hatchback (1.9L 4cyl Turbodiesel 5M)

Yes you change oil every 5000 miles, but you have to go to the dealer and buy SPECIAL VW oil?? To do any basic maintenance you need a degree in mechanics?! Even then, you may not be able to reach the fitting or part that you want to service because it is so cramped and difficult. Now after 3 years we have problems: (a) difficulty in starting cold engine in the morning, (b) things fall apart inside the cabin (ashtray, window controls, hand-brake knob, etc.), (c) when you start engine lots of white smoke is delivered by exhaust pipe.

Fuel economy.

Make the car RELIABLE as the old Beetle.

Listen to the lemons!

Written by: queromare on 04/26/2007


Performance:	3	Fun-to-Drive:	8	Build Quality:	1
Comfort:	6	Interior Design:	2	Reliability:	1
Fuel Economy:	4	Exterior Design:	4

Like many others, I couldn't list all the things that are wrong with this car. The most important one is it stalls constantly when its 100+ degrees outside. Completely unreliable, gas tank exploded one day and poured gasoline everywhere, numerous electrical problems. The car is adorable and pretty fun, but has no power, a terrible turning radius and is poorly designed for comfort inside. A vase isn't worth the hassle. I ignored the warnings, don't make the same mistake as I did! This stupid thing has cost me $6,000 so far! I now pay $500/month for it to sit on the driveway! I won't drive it past warranty! Doesn't even get good mileage ie 25/gallon!

The convertible top and amazing Monsoon stereo.

Love My Bug

Written by: ladybug on 03/12/2007


Performance:	10	Fun-to-Drive:	10	Build Quality:	10
Comfort:	10	Interior Design:	6	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	10	Exterior Design:	10

2004 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2dr Convertible (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

My dealer's service dept. has been pretty good to work with, I have no major complaints. I love driving my bug. It is fun and everyone justs loves it! It's been very reliable. Every day I want the roof down! The turbo is great for getting on highways! The interior cup holders are very poorly designed though and it didn't come with a CD player. The trunk is hard to close at times. These are minor issues. I would buy another one in a heartbeat!

It's so darn cute!

Give it better cup holders and trunk latch.

2004 Volkswagen New Beetle Consumer Ratings & Reviews