2012 Volkswagen Beetle consumer reviews

I purchased a 2013 dark gray beetle 2.5. It has a panaramic roof, pseudo leather interior, retro wheels and 6 spd cvt auto transmission. This is my 3rd volkswagen. My 2 previous vw's were a 2009 eos (which I drove for 35K miles and sold for $2,500 less than I paid for it) and a 2010 Golf (which I really liked and traded it for the 2013 Beetle). I owned a 1972 VW squareback but it was too many years ago to remember if I liked it. The 2013 beetle is very similar to my 2010 golf. However the panaramic roof on the beetle has a small opening but a very large glass surface. The golf sunroof opens 2x as much. Same engine and transmission as golf. Gas mileage is similar 20 to 33 mpg. Golf was peppier and handled more precisely. However, the Beetle is THE vw and I have always wanted one. This car looks great despite the fact that it is the least flashy car on the road. Less IS more. I use this car as my only vehicle. I have taken a 1800 mile trip and had no problems. No problems with road noise, window switches. The car could use a better interior mirror (bigger with auto dimmer). I was suprised there was no compass and the interior ambient lighting is stupid (who gives a care if it is red, blue or white?). Carpets are always cheap. Rear hatch is great but not as roomy as golf. Rear seat headrests impede rear visibility and there is a blind spot behind the c pillar. Sirius radio will not receive nfl games - no matter how much you are willing to pay (Don't let dealer lie to you, you CAN get the NFL channel, but you CANNOT get NFL games) No sirius channels above 220. So MLB fans are OK but if you want to listen to all the NFL games you are out of luck. 2.5L inline 5 is great. 6 spd cvt auto transmission cannot be beat. If you compare gm cars (and why would you?), hyundai, honda, toyota, kia of similar size, none seems as substantial as a vw beetle. Small volvo is $6K more, so pay more if you want the nameplate. VW service is OK. But don't act like your doing me favors. Overall - buy this car.

I wanted to post a follow-up regarding my earlier posting about my window issue. I took my new Beetle to the dealership service department & within two hours my window was repaired & not only was it repaired it works completely correctly now with no glitches! It will roll down & go completely back up when I hit the switch to roll the window back up. I was told that the window issue has something to do with the child protective mechanism & this was replaced within the window motor unit. Hopefully I will have no further issues. I did talk to the service staff about the second rock chip in my fog light & he recommended that I call the corporate Volkswagen office & speak to them with an "open mind" & express my concern to them & he told me that likely I will be given a voucher to replace my fog light since this is my second need within 2 months for a replacement due to a rock chip. The service man @ my dealership told me that Volkswagen cares that much about customer satisfaction & that he believes my concerns will be listened to & that they will offer me a voucher for the repair. I certainly hope so! I have not placed that call yet, but I intend to & I am going to also ask them to consider eventually coming out with a new replacement fog light that uses the same material that is used on the headlight for the fog light instead of glass so that a rock chip would less likely cause enough damage to shatter the fog light. I just wanted others of you with window issues to know that mine has been repaired to my satisfaction & I am hopeful & that the window issue is now behind me. I hope the same for everyone else that is experiencing any issues with their windows!

I purchased a 2012 Beetle this past June & I have been reading other reviews about the windows & I am not sure that others have been given a fix to use while Volkswagen works out a solution for the windows. If the window doesn't go up all the way up - push the window button until the window is fully in place & then hold it for 2- 3 seconds & after that the window will work perfectly until it is rolled down again. Any time the window is rolled down? It has to be reset! I figured that out on my own & my dealership confirmed it. Yesterday? My window stopped working completely & I will take it in to the dealer & I am confident it will be repaired to my satisfaction. I had a 1998 Beetle & both windows in it had be to be repaired & I had no further problems with them. I love my car, I enjoy driving it & I think it is the most beautiful car I have ever owned - the metallic platinum gray is just beautiful & classy! I would still purchase my Beetle even with the flawed windows...they can be repaired. The only other issue I have had is rock chips cracking the fog lights...I have had one fog light replaced & got another rock chip just this past week...that is annoying & I wish they could use shatter proof glass {if there is such a thing} in those lights...but that is not a malfunction of the car - perhaps a design flaw? I am considering whether to replace this fog light as it has not been two months since I replaced the other one & got another rock chip! The dealership told me that 90% of rock chips hit that area of a vehicle - it is disappointing but that is life & rock chips happen especially when you live in a area where there is currently a lot of road work going on in every direction.

My husband bought me my beetle in July. It has been in the shop every month since we've purchased it. My bumper on my beetle has peeled three times. Third still waiting to be fixed. It has also had the carpet and electrical replaced in it due to the window not rolling up then to have the window fixed. Volkswagen is sending us a months payment back for our troubles with the car. Unfortunately we've been waiting two and a half months for that check. VERY displeased with volkswagen but very happy with our dealership. Its unfortunate because im in love with the car even though we've had so many issues with it. The design I think is beautiful and the power and ride is incredible. Performance wise the car is spectacular. I personally feel they rushed it out to the public. Having two recalls on it already and having it in the shop more then we've had it home is really making us want to take it back and buy the Golf R.We have always been a Volkswagen family. Husband had a CC, I previously owned a Jetta, and I believe we will continue to purchase our cars from Volkswagen, Just may wait longer for the "bugs" to be worked out. Love the idea of this car, not the reliability I was expecting from Volkswagen.

I wouldn't be caught dead in, say..a 2000 Beetle, so to see this redesign, I was pretty stoked. A few people I know have VW's and love them, so I thought I'd check a 2012 out. I test drove and took home a 2.5L model with the moonroof, heritage wheels, and platinum gray finish at the beginning of August. Previously I was driving a 2000 Taurus SE wagon with alignment issues, so the handling and acceleration was pretty much a dream in the Beetle. I don't drive like a maniac to start with, so performance-wise, it's just about perfect. I'm getting 33mpg and saving on gas weekly, so that's also a plus. Then, of course, there's the looks. It looks awesome, turns heads, and inspires strangers to begin conversations (which I don't really enjoy, but it's neat having the best looking car in the parking lot at work). It really is a fun car to drive-it would be better if the moonroof went back further, but either way-turn on some Booker T. and the MGs, throw it all the way back, n' you're having a good time. Anyway, my drivers side window worked like it's supposed to for two days. Then I got that up-down-up-down-up-down-finally up dance that everybody else has (which I detailed in the VW survey emailed to me about two weeks later). I also heard a noise from the undercarriage while driving slowly over these horrific PA roads, which has gone away, thank cripes. Another strange noise, that seems to be coming from the right side of the car and resembles a playing card in bicycle spokes appears every now and then for 15 seconds and goes away, but I haven't heard that for a week or two, so..that's good. Then in late September, my engine light came on. Oh boy. I checked the gas cap, and it was still on, so I brought it to the dealer. The instant I pulled into their garage, it went out. They checked it out, and didn't find anything, so they sent me on my way. About two weeks later, there it is again. Ug. So I took it back in. They said it was a valve open in the EVAP system and they took care of it. OK. Exactly one week later, there's that engine light again. Now I'm cranky. I sent them an email stating if it didn't go out before my next day off, I was bringin' it right down. I also sent VW America an email expressing my great displeasure. I see no reason a 2012 model car should get an engine light so early in it's ownership. They emailed me back with their apology and blah blah, confirmed that I'm going to the dealer Wednesday (Nov. 7) and I'd hear from them before November 9. So, I go to the dealer and sit there for 3 hours. They find that it's the pump in the EVAP system, and they have to order the part, and it will be here by Friday. So here I am early Saturday morning, and nobody from the dealership has called, and VW America's regional case manager left a voicemail, but they're still waiting for information regarding my Beetle, so who knows what's goin' on. I certainly better not be paying for any of this nonsense, though. It's a shame, because I really do love the car, and my local dealership has been great so far, as far as friendliness and efficiency go, and I'd really hate to tell 'em that they can keep the car (I'd also be up the creek, because I have no other vehicle). Other than that, the car would be just fine. I can work around the other imperfections, like cup holder position-my coffee stays in there, I just have to contort myself in an odd manner to grab my cup, and there's no ashtray, so I have one of those auto-put out things in my other cup holder (VW charges $50 for one-dollar general charges $2.99; you do the math). I can deal with my window taking 3 minutes to close (my Taurus's passenger window didn't open or close from the control on the drivers door)...as long as it closes all the way, and both of mine do. The real issue I have with the window is after it rains, when you open the door, some water gets inside. Also, the ambient lighting should light more than just the ring around the speaker and the light in the door-i.e. the letters on the gear shift, etc. In closing, the performance and exterior are perfect. Interior needs a couple of slight tweaks (slight, because you DO get used to them-that's called becoming one with your car), and I'd like to say it's reliable, but if I have an engine light off and on in less than two months on a NEW one, what's going to happen in one year?

I bought a 2012 Turbo Beetle with sunroof package with a 6 speed manual. I absolutely love the car. It is super fast and turns heads everywhere. I drove it to the east coast and was blown away by the power and economy. Averaged 33 mpg over 3260 miles with some city mixed in. So I will now talk about the windows. Yes I too have had the same issues with the power windows. They will go up every single time so no tape needed( I am not sure what one the owners on here meant) They go up and then back down so you have to hold the power window switch up until they go up. However, I hear there is a fix now. I can 't image this being a reason that I would not recommend this. It will be fixed and some the reviews need to get a life! This is an amazing car that I would recommend to anyone.

I too have the window problem. The car is great but securing it from the elements and vandals is a nightmare. I complained to VW customer care after waiting months for the "fix". Many owners have been promised a correction is available or in progress. Those owners have all found the parts are replaced and the problem persists.

Love the look, received many compliments. Interior is larger than I thought originally. Only problem is the electric windows. They do not raise all the way, and sometimes rain will get in. Has several nice extras.

Wish I'd checked the reviews here. I went near 4 months with the window issues. VW has been knowingly selling a car that does not work properly, and should be made to take these things back. It's a shame because the car is really fun to drive, but there are honestly so many issues with it that it shouldn't be sold... so, in addition to the windows you can expect: intermittent shut downs and problems starting up (being locked out by the security system). bad speed wobbles at 60+ on anything but a smooth road. no valet key in package (absolutely needed for watersports). gas mileage far under what is advertised. dealerships that will scratch & dent your car while it sits waiting for instructions on how to fix the window. insanely terrible customer service. So my advice is to go elsewhere and buy something else. This car isn't even worth looking at.

I purchased this car new with 11 miles and right away I found that I had issues with not only the driver side window but also the passenger side. I took the car to my dealership and was told there was nothing they could do I just had to deal with it until a fix was done by VW. I'm very dissapointed by the way the dealership handled the situation. I'm on my 4th VW and have had issues with each and every beetle. I could kick myself for getting rid of my Jetta and going with the new beetle. The Jetta was the best car I've owned through VW. Be sure and think twice before buying the beetle.