Survey: How long have you gone on your NB w/o having to repair anything?

1469 Views 12 Replies 11 Participants Last post by jeremiahh_, Feb 15, 2014

Austin99

Discussion Starter · Feb 7, 2014

Is it possible to own a NB and just enjoy driving it?

Are there any "trouble free" New Beetles out there ?

Aside from the necessary routine maintenence things how long have you gone on your Beetle without having to do a repair?

How long &/ or how many miles? For starters I have done a new oil filter housing gasket; oil change & transmission fluid change.

I am a new 2 week old owner of a '99 5 speed with 165,000 miles and aside from the previous owner I bought it from who only had it for 6 months and then got married and moved cross country I spoke with the PO before her and she says she always took care of the car. Her dad owned a small dealership in N. Carolina and got her the car from the original owner.

I do not mind having to fix things here and there as they age or wear out, but I also read about needs to "fix 1 thing and 2 more things break".

Do we own a 5 year disposable car ?

Thanks.

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ziptron

· #2 · Feb 7, 2014

Sorry, maybe I'm sensitive about all the negative posts, realize most people only post when something is broken, but it just appears your trolling- so here you go:

Is it possible to be in a relationship and just enjoy it?

Are there any "trouble free" relationships out there ?

Aside from the necessary routine maintenance things, how long have you gone in your relationship without having to do a repair?

How long &/ or how many dates between complaints? For starters I have done dinner and a movie, but I know they'll be more.

My new relationship comes from with a past that appears good, but I’m still concerned. They spent the early part of their life somewhere unknown, but thankfully had some quality time with doctors that kept them maintained. But now with twice the mileage of a typical relationship and I’m worried it wasn’t enough. Throw in their recent fling for six months before they were abounded, and the whole relationship is beginning to look questionable.
I do not mind having to fix things here and there as we age or wear out, but I also read about needs to "fix 1 thing and 2 more things break".

Do I own a 5 year disposable relationship?

Is possible to ignore the occasional slight and just live for the smile it puts on your face and the joy it adds to your life?

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CoriBug

· #3 · Feb 7, 2014

Some people define "taking care of their car" as changing the oil on time. I define it as checking coolant and oil regularly, keeping the tires properly inflated, oil changes with the correct oil on time, keeping it as clean as possible, taking it to a VW/TDI mechanic who knows what he's doing and uses only the best parts, and replacing parts before they cause destruction (timing belt and water pump). Hopefully the 2 PO of your NB were also mindful of car maintenance.

I don't keep track of how long between repairs. I did a lot of repairs around the 80k-160k mark, including 2 TB/WP, alternator, front suspension, battery, front brakes, N75 valve. That's all routine maintenance to me. Parts get old and the car needs new ones. Either repair/replace parts or replace the car.

Take care of the Beetle and don't worry so much. Happy driving!

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punchbug77

· #4 · Feb 8, 2014

I think you could take out the new in new beetle and just say "any" beetle. All of my Volkswagens have needed work. I have had several aircooled ones that required constant care. Yet I have loved driving all of them. I have had my New Beetle almost a year now and have had to repair a few things, but I have had a few good months where all I had to do was change the oil. I know it can be frustrating when things seem to constantly break, but we bought these cars because we love them, and I am willing to put up with a few problems to drive the car I love. Mine has 154000 miles on it, 19000 of them are mine. I hope to put another 150000 miles on it and smile the whole way.

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Austin99

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 8, 2014 (Edited)

ziptron said:
Sorry, maybe I'm sensitive about all the negative posts, realize most people only post when something is broken, but it just appears your trolling- so here you go:

Is it possible to be in a relationship and just enjoy it?

Are there any "trouble free" relationships out there ?

Aside from the necessary routine maintenance things, how long have you gone in your relationship without having to do a repair?

How long &/ or how many dates between complaints? For starters I have done dinner and a movie, but I know they'll be more.

My new relationship comes from with a past that appears good, but I’m still concerned. They spent the early part of their life somewhere unknown, but thankfully had some quality time with doctors that kept them maintained. But now with twice the mileage of a typical relationship and I’m worried it wasn’t enough. Throw in their recent fling for six months before they were abounded, and the whole relationship is beginning to look questionable.
I do not mind having to fix things here and there as we age or wear out, but I also read about needs to "fix 1 thing and 2 more things break".

Do I own a 5 year disposable relationship?

Is possible to ignore the occasional slight and just live for the smile it puts on your face and the joy it adds to your life?

I thought the people on the Porsche forum were idiots. I guess I just ran into the biggest ******* that owns a computer. Dude. You drive a Volkswagen, not a Lamborghini.
..

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Duffy

· #6 · Feb 8, 2014

A/C repaired day of delivery! Less than one hour.

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rayn

· #7 · Feb 8, 2014

This is a impossible question to answer. Mileage, maintenance, previous owners if any.

We have owned 5 NB and only one has ever really needed work, our first. It had electrical gremlins from day one, but the dealer gave us a good deal on a trade after the third time it left us stranded. 2,3,4 were all good to us with never a issue. 4th was rear ended and totaled, which gave us our 5th and the wife bought it used to replace number 4. Almost immediately we had to redo the ignition switch, but now 16,000 miles later we haven't had a issue.

I have a 2012 for about a year now with 0 issues.

It seems if you want a issue free car then you need to buy a new or newer one. It doesn't matter what you buy. but buy anything with 150,000 miles and it is going to need work, just expect it. If you buy a car like that and think it will go for another 150 with no work you are fooling yourself. Cars just don't do that, hey need TLC and attention to live that long.

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joep

· #8 · Feb 8, 2014

I have a '03 Beetle vert and after doing $1400.00 worth of repairs(catching up on normal maintenance) it has gone 1 year and 14K miles w/o any problems, knock on wood. I don't want to jinx it. My new one ('04 TDI has been a work in progress, new DSG trans and a bunch of little things) but it is a bonding moment for me and this car.

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Austin99

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 8, 2014

rayn said:
This is a impossible question to answer. Mileage, maintenance, previous owners if any.

We have owned 5 NB and only one has ever really needed work, our first. It had electrical gremlins from day one, but the dealer gave us a good deal on a trade after the third time it left us stranded. 2,3,4 were all good to us with never a issue. 4th was rear ended and totaled, which gave us our 5th and the wife bought it used to replace number 4. Almost immediately we had to redo the ignition switch, but now 16,000 miles later we haven't had a issue.

I have a 2012 for about a year now with 0 issues.

It seems if you want a issue free car then you need to buy a new or newer one. It doesn't matter what you buy. but buy anything with 150,000 miles and it is going to need work, just expect it. If you buy a car like that and think it will go for another 150 with no work you are fooling yourself. Cars just don't do that, hey need TLC and attention to live that long.

Hey Rayn,

Not looking for an issue free car , but your post is perfect and good to hear. I have owned many older Mercedes and these were cars that I was able to do mostof the upkeep on them myself. Aside from an orignal 71 Super Beetle we got new and lasted until the late 80's this is my only other VW.

I know there are running posts similar to this on the Benz forums and also on the Porcshe forums. I hope people dont take this the wrong way ( ie: above ) & maybe my error for not posting the thread differently.. I bought the car on a weekend where I needed to get back from Miami when my 924S was giving me a sensor issue. I really like the car and do not mind putting time & $ into it but it is a high mileage one and it may have been well maintained .. I do not expect to not have to do things but reading owner posts about hi maintenence is more than I see or hear for cars I have owned. Anyway, Thanks and I do like my round car.

.....

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Jeff2

· #10 · Feb 8, 2014

Our '05 NBC is primarily driven by my oldest daughter. Yes, I've fixed a few things on it, but it's a used car, so I expect that and do my own repairs. In the couple of years we've owned it, aside from maintenance (timing belt, water pump, oil changes, wipers, tires, and etc.) I have replaced both front window regulators and the stock radio (was draining the battery). For a car that's nearing 10 years old, it's about what I'd expect.

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cha2ga

· #11 · Feb 8, 2014

I've never had to fix the same thing twice. I bought my used tdi with 147k. I have 158k and in the last 11k I personally have performed:
Front and rear rotors and pads
Coolant temp sensor
Thermostat
Coolant
Air filter
Cabin air filter
Oil and filter changes
Manual tranny gear lube
Brake fluid flush
Power steering fluid flush
Front and rear shocks struts
Intake cleaning
Injection pump cleaning
Replaced antenna
New wipers
Recovered headliner
Recovered door cards
Power window switch bezels
Audi TT short shifter
Center caps

I outsourced:
Tinted windows
Alignment
Michelin tires

As you can see, a lot has been done to this car in the 8 months I have owned it. I have done almost all of it myself and would consider it caught up on maintenance. Upcoming in the next 10k miles is a timing belt service, that I will outsource. All of the above items needed repair on a 14 year old car. That's normal. I did not have one single thing break. Fixed them before they led to a bigger problem.

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05yellowbeetle

· #12 · Feb 9, 2014

My '05 has about 115,000 miles, bought it at 7,800 in 12/07.

Warranty: 3rd brake light & latch for hatch, transmission, rust spot on roof
Hit raccoon: grille & bumper trim, radiator, ac condenser
Maintenance: timing belt/water pump, spark plugs/wires, 2 sets of tires

Broken: cv boots, warped brake rotor, both front wheel bearings

It had many of the issues/maintence around 72-85,000.

My brother is about to do the timing belt/water pump again plus the coolant flange is leaking very slowly.

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jeremiahh_

· #13 · Feb 15, 2014

I have a 98 2.0 with 5 speed manual 146,6xx miles right now, no CELs and it's been the best car I've owned so far. I've only *had* to replace a small oil gasket that started to leak, besides that I've done spark plugs, installed new NGK ignition wires, a short ram intake and I thoroughly enjoy driving it

PS I take good care of it with 5w-40 Mobil1 synthetic oil and I replace/clean a lot of things but honestly all cars need maintenance and replacement parts

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