Cybertoad's Blog

UPDATE Ah! The check-engine light came back on less than 24 hours later. I’ve made another apointment for Monday. This is ridiculous!

Well, Betty almost made it a year without going back to the dealership! Last time she went was back at the end of March 2004.

This time it had to do with her turbo. A few weeks back I noticed some hesitation and her acceleration was definitely not “up to speed” (ha, ha, pun intended). Soon after her check engine light went on. The darn light though would then turn off a couple of days later. This pattern continued and the acceleration issues would reappear whenever the light was on but would seemingly disappear when it was off. This happened enough times so I finally called the dealership and set up an appointment to drop her off and have a loaner car ready for me to use.

Thank goodness for the super-uber extended warranty though! I dropped her off at 8 AM yesterday and she was ready by mid-afternoon, all under warranty so it cost me nada. The culprit seems to have been a turbo cut-off valve, whatever that thing does.

All I can say is that even though I love my Bug in concept , it just is nowhere near as reliable as my Honda. Betty has not left me stranded and none of her repairs have been major nor have they damaged my wallet but it’s a nuisance to have to take her in this many times in under two years. That being said, I am grateful she is back home and she seems to be driving wonderfully once again – because despite it all, she is a fun, smooth ride!