VW Beetle for daugher's first car

[crusty]

Hi

My daughter would like a Beetle as her first car.

I have some insurance quotes and narrowed choice down to either 1.4, 1.6 or 1.9D

Looking at a 2005- 2009 vintage

Mainly used to get to college and back - 4 miles each way, plus various drives with her mates

MPG is important as she is paying for fuel

Parkers is quoting the following
1.4 39MPG
1.6 35MPG
1.9D 52MPG

So seems the diesel is one to go for?

I would like to know if the above is correct in the real world, and whether the 1.9D is right choice for the mileage and if there are any horror stories with that engine

Anything else I should consider?

Thanks

[WonkeyDonkey]

For 4 mile journeys then no way a diesel.

Edited by WonkeyDonkey on Friday 13th November 11:26

[TheAlastair34]

we have owned a 1.6 beetle cab for 12 years now

its underpowered and poor on fuel so id be buying a diesel i would think they might be pre DPF anyway

as much as ours has been good id rather have a mini of the same age, they can be had from the same money will be far better on fuel and a better drive

[DoubleD]

Why would you even consider a diesel for a 4 mile journey?

[Rozzers]

Diesel will be lucky to be warm in 4 miles, you’ll never see the benefit.

If its got a DPF you will ruin it.

At 50 miles a week the difference in cost of fuel is insignificant surely?

[littlebasher]

Only later ones will have a DPF i expect

1.9D as in the SDI or PD ?

SDI Indestructible but SLOW AF

[nunpuncher]

The PD 1.9 diesel of that vintage had plenty of issues.

An ex-girlfriend had a 1.4 beetle. I thought it was absolutely fine for driving around town and pretty much ideal power for anyone who isn't a powerfully built goatee sporting company director.

I'd still get a mini instead though. Its just better. Having recently owned the first generation mini I also saw a few crashed ones via the owners page and even the oldest ones take very good care of their occupants. Which would be priority 1 for a car for my daughter.

[KomodoWagon]

I had a 2004 1.6 Beetle way back when. Counterintuitive thing, and clearly crap from an objective standpoint, but I became rather attached to it.

I wouldn't bother with a diesel for eight miles a day. Even with some extra trips that's only about three thousand miles a year, surely. Factor in the increased cost of diesel at the pump, plus extra servicing costs, and I don't think you'd see much -- if any -- financial benefit. Plus if more cities introduce ULEZs she might find she's driving a car that's banned from (or additionally expensive to drive in) several city centres in the near future.

So I'd go with petrol. There's not much difference between the 1.4 and 1.6 in reality.

Worth mentioning -- they are quite weird to drive. Could take some getting used to, especially for a new(ish) driver. When you sit in the driver's seat you feel like you're sat low, and in the middle of the car's length instead of towards the front. And the dashboard top seems just enormous. It's difficult to know where the 'edges' of the car are once you're sat in it. It can make parking and manoeuvring a bit tricky.

I liked mine though. It always felt very solid and planted. It wasn't quick by any stretch. I don't remember much about economy. It is quite a heavy car (although less so by today's standards) so not outstanding. It was very reliable. There are many far worse first cars to have, I'd say.

[crusty]

Her sister had a mini - which was great(although they have plenty of mechanical issues), but she just likes the look of a beetle.

TBH - driving dynamics are not going to be important and roads round here are always congested.

Sounds like the 1.4 is one to go for

[nunpuncher]

KomodoWagon said:

I had a 2004 1.6 Beetle way back when. Counterintuitive thing, and clearly crap from an objective standpoint, but I became rather attached to it.

I wouldn't bother with a diesel for eight miles a day. Even with some extra trips that's only about three thousand miles a year, surely. Factor in the increased cost of diesel at the pump, plus extra servicing costs, and I don't think you'd see much -- if any -- financial benefit. Plus if more cities introduce ULEZs she might find she's driving a car that's banned from (or additionally expensive to drive in) several city centres in the near future.

So I'd go with petrol. There's not much difference between the 1.4 and 1.6 in reality.

Worth mentioning -- they are quite weird to drive. Could take some getting used to, especially for a new(ish) driver. When you sit in the driver's seat you feel like you're sat low, and in the middle of the car's length instead of towards the front. And the dashboard top seems just enormous. It's difficult to know where the 'edges' of the car are once you're sat in it. It can make parking and manoeuvring a bit tricky.

I liked mine though. It always felt very solid and planted. It wasn't quick by any stretch. I don't remember much about economy. It is quite a heavy car (although less so by today's standards) so not outstanding. It was very reliable. There are many far worse first cars to have, I'd say.

I forgot about the weird position. It's the only car I've driven where even at 6ft2 I couldn't lean forward in my seat and touch any part of the windscreen as it was so far away from me. I now remember it was like driving a car from the back seat.

[centralscot]

The 1.9 td pd is a great engine,but as others have said the driving position especially for a new driver isn't great at all.

[Tyre Smoke]

Have you looked at the insurance?

Or perhaps that isn't an issue?

[crusty]

Update, turns out college is going to be 11 miles each way

Does that change the decision or is the 1.4 petrol still the right choice?

[DoubleD]

crusty said:

Update, turns out college is going to be 11 miles each way

Does that change the decision or is the 1.4 petrol still the right choice?

I would still get a petrol. 11 miles isn't very far and diesels are clattery things.

[journeymanpro]

rather have the pd personally

[NelsonM3]

I would buy a Polo instead. Those 1st Beetles really are awful things, there is a reason why they are so cheap.

[crusty]

NelsonM3 said:

I would buy a Polo instead. Those 1st Beetles really are awful things, there is a reason why they are so cheap.

I don’t disagree, but I am not a 17 year old girl

[stevemcs]

I’d pick the diesel but not because of the mpg, on short trips you will probably find the diesel is worse on fuel than the petrol.

[steveo3002]

id get the tdi

check its not rotten ...alot are , and jacking damage on the sills carefully avoided on for sale pics

[len1964]

go for the diesel. lot of people giving advice, just stuff they read somewhere. been driving diesel for twenty years (and petrol twenty years before that). Google best diesel engine. the vw/Audi 1.9 is prominent..
y dpf ruined diesel but the beetle shouldn't have one