Used hatchbacks for sale near Plainfield, MA

I was initially looking for a used Golf, but the more I looked at the Beetle the more I liked it. When I found the one I ended up buying, it was love at first drive. This little car packs a punch with the 2.0T, and will throw you back in your seat. It’s an absolute blast to drive. Handles well around town and on the interstate, where it could easily get one in trouble since it wants to GO. The same engine as is found in the GTI, so this should be unsurprising. Easily gets 30+mpg on the highway when cruising along, typically around 20-25 city. These cars handle city driving just fine, but they are meant for the freeway in my opinion. I find the interior to be quite luxurious. Heated leather seats (not available in the Golf) with plenty of storage compartments. Not many frills, just a sleek and mostly practical dash. The trunk is big enough for grocery runs, and the rear seats fold forward for larger loads. It’s not going to haul large appliances or furniture, although it could possibly carry some bigger stuff on a roof rack. The Fender audio system is impressive, wouldn’t change a thing about it except it could benefit from an updated head unit with CarPlay. This hasn’t been an issue for me. I think the car is a real looker, it turns heads and has drawn the occasional compliment. My used model had some imperfections, but it’s still a great looking car that I want to look after and keep for as long as I can. It feels well built, the doors close with the satisfying weighty thud of a premium vehicle. Overall, I am very happy with my 2013 beetle. It’s not only fun, but it seems to be reliable with a couple caveats that some owners might not be aware of. The 2.0T engine is designed for premium fuel, using regular will eventually damage it. The 2.5 can run regular, but I believe the 1.8T will also want premium. The reason for this is lower octane fuel will cause detonation in these high compression engines. If you don’t know what detonation is, just know it’s bad. The oil needs changed more regularly than the manufacturer recommended 10k miles. 5k to be safe, 7k at a stretch. This is especially true for higher mileage vehicles. Speaking of stretch, there is a known issue with some 2.0T engines where the timing chain stretches over time and many miles, so if buying used that’s something I’d have a mechanic check out. This is an expensive maintenance item, but IF it’s needed, getting it done along with the tensioner and a new water pump for good measure will ensure that the new to you Beetle is reliable for many years and miles to come. The other issue is carbon build up. Getting it cleaned out is not as spendy as the timing chain but it’s also not a cheap fix. I believe this can largely be avoided by using top tier fuel (it contains detergents that help with this) as well as regular oil changes and some regular spirited driving. Would not recommend this car to someone who mainly does town or city driving, the 2.5 engine might be better suited for that. According to my research, the 2.5 is quite bulletproof BUT it’s not good for any engine to be driven at low RPM all the time.

Dores Bounphasaysonh at Lia Toyota in Northampton, Massachusetts, demonstrated superior understanding of my needs when my new Toyota was towed to the dealership following a collision. She was professionally friendly and supportive and assisted me in making the right decisions in negotiating procedures with my insurance company and then with the diagnosis of the damage that had been done to my car. Her positive manner and awareness of the stress I was feeling really helped me in a very difficult time. Dores Bounphasaysonh is an exceptionally fine person and Lia Toyota is fortunate in having her on the staff. I cannot thank her sufficiently. Craig Felton

Excellent vehicle using technology and consideration for human comforts. Lane keep assist is developing each year. Cruise control distance features are well designed. Would I buy it again? Absolutely.