Well, in this cars case; you are having problems NOW! Don't buy that car; a number of the VW auto transmissions have problems with the valve body wearing out (a part of the transmission). Unless you are doing the work yourself; it can get expensive and its possible, there maybe other issues that would require more than just the valve body to repair.
The flaps on the early convertibles; were a problem and them breaking was a common issue, vw eliminated them, in later model years.
If you are new to the Volkswagen/New Beetle world; I would have any car you are thinking of purchasing; fully evaluated by a professional VW mechanic, to confirm the condition of the vehicle and any potential problems, it may have. A independent VW shop or a dealer. Keep in mind: you are looking at essentially a 10 year old car; there are going to be a whole laundry list of things that will probably need to be repaired and replaced on the car, to keep it on the road. Cars in general; require continual repairs to keep them reliable and more so for German cars, like a Volkswagen.
A general word of caution: these are not trouble free cars like one would expect from a Honda or Toyota (when they get old; they need work too!). You will be fixing/repairing Volkswagen cars, on a pretty consistent basis; they require persistent attention and regular maintenance, they cannot just be ignored and hope to run reliably long term. If you are someone; that cannot afford or are not willing/able to keep up with the constant maintenance that these cars require; I would say, look elsewhere! Look for a different car; this may not be the best fit for you. We all love to drive our New Beetles but they require quite a bit of attention and money, to keep on the road (especially, since they are getting pretty old). If you are just starting out and need reliable, inexpensive transportation; I would look at a honda civic or toyota corolla or other small cars that are on the market these days. Good luck and let us know; what your situation is, what you can afford, how much repairs you are willing to put up with and what your needs are going forward. Good luck!
The flaps on the early convertibles; were a problem and them breaking was a common issue, vw eliminated them, in later model years.
If you are new to the Volkswagen/New Beetle world; I would have any car you are thinking of purchasing; fully evaluated by a professional VW mechanic, to confirm the condition of the vehicle and any potential problems, it may have. A independent VW shop or a dealer. Keep in mind: you are looking at essentially a 10 year old car; there are going to be a whole laundry list of things that will probably need to be repaired and replaced on the car, to keep it on the road. Cars in general; require continual repairs to keep them reliable and more so for German cars, like a Volkswagen.
A general word of caution: these are not trouble free cars like one would expect from a Honda or Toyota (when they get old; they need work too!). You will be fixing/repairing Volkswagen cars, on a pretty consistent basis; they require persistent attention and regular maintenance, they cannot just be ignored and hope to run reliably long term. If you are someone; that cannot afford or are not willing/able to keep up with the constant maintenance that these cars require; I would say, look elsewhere! Look for a different car; this may not be the best fit for you. We all love to drive our New Beetles but they require quite a bit of attention and money, to keep on the road (especially, since they are getting pretty old). If you are just starting out and need reliable, inexpensive transportation; I would look at a honda civic or toyota corolla or other small cars that are on the market these days. Good luck and let us know; what your situation is, what you can afford, how much repairs you are willing to put up with and what your needs are going forward. Good luck!
