New Beetle (2002) auto trans reliability?

[scottmandue]

We have been looking at old air cooled beetles, nice running ones seem to be around $4000-$5000

Well... wife starts thinking "for that money I could have a NEW beetle!"

That puts us into +100K miles 2000-2004 and she wants an auto...

Seems last time I asked about this someone said "new VW slushbox evil!!!"

Am I remembering that right?

[kaisen]

Yep

Pass

[porsche4life]

Great driving cars..... But service will drive you mad.... Try to change a headlight without breaking anything....

[Nostril Cheese]

Seriously, run. You do NOT want that headache.

Buy your wife a Hyundai or a Mazda.

[Por_sha911]

The VW electrical systems makes Lucas look good.
Only buy a V-Dub with a factory warranty. Dump it before the warranty is done.

[aigel]

I have personally met several people with transmission problems in this generation VW. I would only buy a stickshift.

G

[Jrboulder]

But hey, once you put a new trans in it you'll be good to go for a full 20k miles.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

But hey, once you put a new trans in it you'll be good to go for a full 20k miles.

That right there is funny, I don't care who you are .

[LSA]

Yeah the electrics and sensors are pretty miserable. I had a 00 passat great car but the cel was always on. Manual transmission was great got rid of it at 180k miles.

My sister got a 05 beetle I think one/two years ago I think it had around 50k miles. Fortunately she bought the extended warranty from the dealer as the transmission took a dump last year. Would randomly upshift and not find the next gear, change gears really hard or double upshift. The warranty covered a new transmission to the tune of 6K. They did not however cover the electric folding top which my dumbass sister broke and cost around 2k

[Oracle]

That tranny is not good... I had a jetta and an Audi with the same tranny and both crapped out.. I was very lucky I could sell them..

[bkreigsr]

The automatic in my (purchased new) 2002 Jetta TDI just turned 235,000 with no problems - I've changed the 'lifetime' fluid/filter pack at 50,000, 110,000 and 200,000 miles. - sorry but I love my VW. - and to echo others - most dealer service is the pits.
Bill K

[scottmandue]

Thank you everyone! PPOT has helped me dodge another automotive bullet...

Wife wants a bug sooooo bad... but an air cooled bug may be less of a headache...

Already have two Hyundai's (I have had four) so may look into a Mazda just for a little variety.

Thanks again!

[beepbeep]

I have 99' Polo with (what I believe) is same auto tranny as Beetle (Jatco 404E). Mine is currently at 150000 miles and counting, no problems.

Trick is to change "lifetime" fluid, otherwise the "lifetime" tends to be just after the factory warranty runs out.

[BeyGon]

My wife got a 2010 two door Golf new, it has 70k miles on it with no problems, the Auto works flawless, the car gets great mileage and is fun to drive. I think this is the same engine trans set up you get in the Beetle. The Golf is cheaper and I like it better but I think the running gear is the same.

[genrex]

The auto-trans Beetles do have issues. Some people have no problems with them, and I suspect this is because the auto-trans requires *patience* when shifting from Reverse to Drive, and most drivers don't have the patience to wait for it to shift, so their transmissions break down quickly.

Get a stick-shift Beetle as her daily driver. This is HER CAR, because her $5000 inheritance is for *her*.... it is not for you!

As a self-professed Christian, you should already know that...

_