How many Beetles have you seen?

[Cadenza_7o]

There are plenty of VW dealers in SoCal and 5 dealers within 20 miles. So far I've seen only ONE on the road... and that was 3 weeks ago.

[silverspeedbuggy]

Besides the one's I've test driven, I've only seen ONE on the road. It was a white Turbo Launch Edition and it was headed towards Asheville NC on some freeway (26?). It was last week when I was on vacation.

[dk601h]

here in maine not a single one, however the dealers do have some decent inventory in stock considering where i am. No non launch turbos though only loaded 2.5 models in a few colors.

Im excited to actually see someone driving one as i feel they are a pretty unique and fun car, hopefully a reliable one at that!

[homerdash]

DC area, I've seen NONE which is strange considering the demographics and income here.

[Rockerchick]

I saw one in the past few weeks. Driving behind one so I only saw it from the back

VW isn't doing the best job at promoting the car and making sure people know its out there, IMO. Those that have bought, seem to really enjoy the car, which is good news. I keep wanting to get to the dealer and at least see the full car in person. I'm liking it though. Not sure I'd ever buy one, unless it was a secondary car, but that goes for any of the Beetles really. Now that I have my GTI, its hard to give up the usable space. But the 6-speed manual standard on the TDI sounds pretty tempting...

[Cadenza_7o]

Hey R.Chick,

I too want a TDI Bug until I read up at tdiclub.com about problems that VW has not dealt with. The failure rate is low but the repair cost is so high that it will negate any savings associated with owning a TDI. Look up High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) and Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

From what I've gathered...

HPFP failure could contaminate the entire fueling system from the tank to the injectors. Replacement of all the parts can cost up to $6-7k.

DPF functions like a CAT convertor and burns off particulate every few hundred miles. VW says the DPF suppose to last 100k. However, there are TDI owners who have had their 2nd or 3rd DPF replaced already. Each costs up to $1k.

Hopefully, VW will have these issues fixed soon. I think there might be class action lawsuit against VWoA on the HPFP issue.

[IHC]

We live in a county of 100 000 and ours seems to be the only one. There are 4 dealers about 45 miles away. I have seen two new Passats in the last couple of days. Have not seen any advertisement in the past 2 weeks. what is VW thinking? The car is awesome. Nothing else on the road like it. I see a ton of the hamster cars on the road. Cramped little pos that look like any other box on four wheels but they do advertise them all the time. Wake up VW!

[KNEWBUG]

I have had mine since Sept 24th, have not seen any others, the dealer where I got mine had two come in Sept 21, Black Turbo Launch Editions, one delivered on Sept 23rd and mine on Sept 24. If I can find out how to post pictures I would post some of my Black Turbo, finally was able to put my "KNEWBUG" plates on yesterday. This is the third BEETLE the plates have been on, 1999 GLS, 2003 NBC and now 2012 BEETLE.



KNEWBUG

[moodylucy]

Other than the ones at the 2 close dealers, I have seen NONE on the road! A coworker saw one last week- black, not sure what kind. He said it looked really good!

[LindsayLowhan]

Because they are all on backorder!!!! LoL. Most of them are around Chicago thanks to Oprah buying 300 Beetles.

[dk601h]

Thanks alot opera......

[Cadenza_7o]

Because they are all on backorder!!!! LoL. Most of them are around Chicago thanks to Oprah buying 300 Beetles.

Either that or the owners are too busy washing, waxing and admiring them instead of driving them.

[Spasoje]

I haven't seen a single one on the road, either; only three 2.5's at the dealer.

By contrast, I've seen a couple of the less-anticipated 2012 Passats on the roads already.

[NoJetta]

I'm in Chicagoland...

I saw one in the burbs, one in the city, both were the so-called denim blue. I wonder if they were the same car, ha ha!

[LindsayLowhan]

Saw a red base 2.5 last night at the mall, broke a few necks of people passing it.

[jpbran]

"We live in a county of 100 000 and ours seems to be the only one."

You've seen ALL 100k residents' cars?

I've only seen one; a Demin Blue (BABY blue!) on the highway here in Nashville. Seen a few Passats, which may be expected being 80-ish miles from the plant.

[Rockerchick]

Hey R.Chick,

I too want a TDI Bug until I read up at tdiclub.com about problems that VW has not dealt with. The failure rate is low but the repair cost is so high that it will negate any savings associated with owning a TDI. Look up High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) and Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

From what I've gathered...

HPFP failure could contaminate the entire fueling system from the tank to the injectors. Replacement of all the parts can cost up to $6-7k.

DPF functions like a CAT convertor and burns off particulate every few hundred miles. VW says the DPF suppose to last 100k. However, there are TDI owners who have had their 2nd or 3rd DPF replaced already. Each costs up to $1k.

Hopefully, VW will have these issues fixed soon. I think there might be class action lawsuit against VWoA on the HPFP issue.

Oh I know about the HPFP problems. And there isn't much "could" about it. When it grenades, it WILL contaminate the entire fuel system. I haven't been seeing so much in the '11+ cars. Seems to be more in the '09 and '10 cars, but I have seen a couple. Instances are few, though serious. If you keep all of your fuel receipts it seems VW is more likely to take responsibility (as you can prove that you bought diesel and not gasoline as apparently a lot of dealers are saying is the cause). I wouldn't be buying new anyway. Can't afford it. So I'll wait and see what VW ends up doing about it.

[Angamie]

I haven't seen any. I'm in southern Maryland and my dealer is an hour away which makes them about 45 from DC. They only have the test model. No 12's in yet.

[IHC]

My wife tells me that about 4 people a day pull into her lot at work and check her car out. Lately its been people driving New Beetles. The even go to her office and ask questions. She also has people stop and talk to her at the mall and store all the time. Lots of interest in the car. She loves the car, glad she did not buy the Passat. Talked to a friend yesterday that is in the market for a new VW to replace his 02 Passat and he had not seen a beetle yet.
VW is doing a great job keeping this car a secret.

[ridgemanron]

My wife tells me that about 4 people a day pull into her lot at work and check her car out. Lately its been people driving New Beetles. The even go to her office and ask questions. She also has people stop and talk to her at the mall and store all the time. Lots of interest in the car. She loves the car, glad she did not buy the Passat. Talked to a friend yesterday that is in the market for a new VW to replace his 02 Passat and he had not seen a beetle yet.
VW is doing a great job keeping this car a secret.

Imagine how much longer we would have to wait for delivery of the MT cars if VW did a better
job of promoting them ! Part of the problem could be that each car has got to be loaded up with
a load of drugs before they can get the car out of the Puebla plant. Then if they're inspected
at the border they get impounded. My Mexicali connections have informed me that this is what
happened to my car. I think my dealer here in Brooklyn is secretly dismantling the cars when
they do arrive in the dead of night, looking for morsels that the drug inspectors might have missed,
but that's a story for another time.

[LindsayLowhan]

My 5-spd manual Denim Blue base model will be here in 2 weeks.

[moodylucy]

Congrats LL!
I still have not seen any on the road, but when I was at the dealer, the only one left is a yellow 2.5- which wasn't there a couple weeks ago. There were NO other Beetles there.
People have bought the others, but they aren't driving within a 10 mile radius of the dealer!

[Cadenza_7o]

Imagine how much longer we would have to wait for delivery of the MT cars if VW did a better
job of promoting them ! Part of the problem could be that each car has got to be loaded up with
a load of drugs before they can get the car out of the Puebla plant. Then if they're inspected
at the border they get impounded. My Mexicali connections have informed me that this is what
happened to my car. I think my dealer here in Brooklyn is secretly dismantling the cars when
they do arrive in the dead of night, looking for morsels that the drug inspectors might have missed,
but that's a story for another time.

Doped up Beetle

[vw93cc]

I saw one in Columbus, OH back in September. Bright yellow 2.5. Have not seen any since then.

[IHC]

Round trip between Portland and Eugene Oregon today with stops in Salem, did not see any. Saw a bunch of late model New Beetles , a couple driven by men !

[bandi53]

I've seen two red ones and a silver one...

All three were parked at VW Canada HQ. We're SUPPOSED to be getting one at the dealership this week.

[oidoglr]

Followed a blue turbo one on yesterday for a mile or so. Such a gorgeous color.

[aoj2108]

Haven't seen a single one yet

[Cadenza_7o]

Followed a blue turbo one on yesterday for a mile or so. Such a gorgeous color.

I test drove a Reef Blue, which comes only in Turbo with DSG. Me likes!!!

So far I still have seen ONLY ONE Beetle (RED) on the road.

[gtisponge]

Haven't seen any in Canada yet

[Old Bug Man]

I had heard that Beetles would be arriving soon about a month ago, so I went by the local dealer and they had just taken their very first one off the truck that morning, a bare bones Turbo, probably a Launch Edition. It was in the service department having some prep work done, and a few minutes later the salesman and I were pulling plastic covers off the seats so we could take it for a spin. He asked if I wanted to drive it, he drove a block away from the dealership, we switched seats, and I took it for a good spin. So I was (almost) the first person to drive one in this county, certainly the first to drive one at speed. I ordered one two days later. So far that's the only one I've seen, although my wife spotted one in San Francisco the following week. I'll let you know when I spot another.

[KNEWBUG]

Saw my first on the street today in Santa Barbara Ca. Was a Silver 2.5 with the all chrome retro wheels.

[KNEWBUG]

I have had my Black Turbo Launch Edition since Sept 24th. It arrived at the dealer on Sept 21st from the Port of San Diego. Today is the first day I have seen another on the street, a Silver 2.5 with the all chrome retro wheels.


KNEWBUG

[starbai]

saw my first one on the road yesterday, red... dont know which model but it looked pretty damn sharp...

[UTE]

There was a slightly used Oprah Beetle at the Salt Lake City dealership where I bought my Beetle. My sales rep said a woman won it and immediately drove it back home to trade in on a new Jetta. NO price break on the used Beetle at all (they are selling at MSRP here).

Bill