Let me be horribly sexist and say “no”. They both sound like “girl” cars, and I do not want my college age daughter stuck on the side of a road somewhere. Toyota Solara, perhaps? Miata?

I still think about the college girl whose car broke down somewhere in the Midwest and she didn’t have a cell phone. 1990s. I don’t recall the details.

Anonymous wrote:No.

You could get a modest new car for the amount the repairs will eventually cost on the VW.

VW parts / repairs are expensive. It will just be a money pit.

Carmax gives little to nothing (won’t buy) German cars over eight years old because of the electrical issues. Would you buy a car that Carmax won’t touch?

No.

You could get a modest new car for the amount the repairs will eventually cost on the VW.

Anonymous wrote:

You seem to only want cars that are very expensive to maintain, which is a strange choice when buying used. But if your options are a high-mileage VW and a high-mileage BMW, just flip a coin or decide on color.

Agree....but am asking for my college age kid who has own money to spend and at over 18 there's only so much I can say....tried steering towards used Toyota, etc....but as with many young adults...they will learn by their mistakes.

They will end up stranded on the side of a road somewhere. Ask me how I know. If they must get something flashy and sporty, get a used Scion or Mazda 6 (both featured in the Fast and Furious franchises). Buying a used VW or BMW or really any German or British car with that age and mileage is literally flushing money down the toilet.

Anonymous wrote:

You seem to only want cars that are very expensive to maintain, which is a strange choice when buying used. But if your options are a high-mileage VW and a high-mileage BMW, just flip a coin or decide on color.

Agree....but am asking for my college age kid who has own money to spend and at over 18 there's only so much I can say....tried steering towards used Toyota, etc....but as with many young adults...they will learn by their mistakes.

If he is old enough to make his own decision, he is old enough to do the research by himself. Doing research himself is a life skill that will do him good. I would but neither vw/mini.

You seem to only want cars that are very expensive to maintain, which is a strange choice when buying used. But if your options are a high-mileage VW and a high-mileage BMW, just flip a coin or decide on color.

Agree....but am asking for my college age kid who has own money to spend and at over 18 there's only so much I can say....tried steering towards used Toyota, etc....but as with many young adults...they will learn by their mistakes.

You seem to only want cars that are very expensive to maintain, which is a strange choice when buying used. But if your options are a high-mileage VW and a high-mileage BMW, just flip a coin or decide on color.

OP Here - Cost of one nearby was just posted for sale for $2,795.

Other option is a used 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible - higher cost of $4,800 but low mileage of 74K.

It depends on the cost.

My husband works on our VWs (both vintage and new), but we do not have a beetle.

No.

depends on the cost.

no - VW has a horrible record of electrical issues.

My trusted mechanic recommends getting rid of VWs at around 100 - 125K miles as after that (expensive) items start to go.

Also - since VW is no longer making the Beetle, getting parts will be hard. I had a VW minivan that took a month to get parts - and it was only a few years after they stopped making it.

Sure, if it was cheap and that was what I could afford. I might work on building a “car repair” fund.

Would you buy used 2006 VW Beetle Convertible with say 133K mileage?? It's in good shape...passed VA emissions inspection and overall in good shape. No exterior damage - everything working.