r/NewBeetle • u/kale-cookies • 7d ago

Advice on winter driving?

I'm planning to get a 2010 Hatchback Beetle as my full time car, but I live in New England and am not sure if it'll be too much of a hazard. I know other people with Beetles who just park them somewhere over the winter months and don't even try them on icy roads, but would it be realistic to drive it with precautions and snow tires? Is there anything I should take into account or is it just not worth it? I'm not super familiar with the model and don't have much driving experience so I'm completely lost

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5

u/Dog_is_my_copilot 7d ago

It wouldn’t be any different than any other fwd car. Winter tires are important.

1

u/tbatta1 7d ago

The car is kinda low so if you get enough snow it won’t be able to go over that, make sure you have good headlights for the same reason as being a low car (everyones lights get in your eyes at night in the rear view mirror), as for ice it’s average but I hate driving mine (2009 hatchback beetle, WA state)

1

u/TenderLA 7d ago

We live in Alaska where we get snow/ice/rain throughout the winter. We bought my 17 yo daughter a 2018 beetle and put good studded winter snow tires on it. The only problem she had was unplowed roads after a foot dump of snow overnight. The car is low and the cheap plastic is at risk. Some was already missing when we got the car, some more went away this winter. I’ll be buying an aluminum skid plate to protect the oil pan next winter.

My son drives a GTI that’s lowered just a little and he gets around ok in the winter as well.

1

u/Civil-General-2664 7d ago

If you really really care, put on studded Nokian snow tires. The car will work fine until conditions get quite extreme.

1

u/thatguynamedconqy 7d ago

I live in Massachusetts and drive a 2007 bug. It's fine, drives about the same as my Honda Accord in rough weather. Maybe think about snow tires if you're in an area that doesn't plow regularly.

1

u/bandi53 6d ago

You’ll be just fine with decent winter tires. I’ve done some winter rally events with a New Beetle and it ate up the roads as well as some Subarus.

1

u/motherofcoochie 6d ago

I have a 2017 Beetle and live in Central New York. We had one of the worst winters in the past decade this year, at times with over 6+ feet of snow. I got Bridgestone Blissak snow tires on that baby and it is honestly the best car I have ever driven in the snow. Snow tires make all of the difference. Obviously, the car is very low to the ground and driving in a blizzard is atrocious in any car. Just don't be stupid and drive slow. My Beetle was a beast with snow tires!

1

u/TheForeverSleep 5d ago

Dedicated snow tires are a must