I just bought a 98 Beetle with 58000 miles on it (for only 3400)! It was apparently abandoned and sat around for some time at a car shop before being sold to me.
So here’s its weird problem: When I am driving in low gear (it’s an automatic), under 25 miles per hour or so, it feels like I’m driving with my brake on. For example, when I attempt to coast down a hill, I don’t even accelerate! Even on the steepest of hills, I’ll be slowly decelerating. This problem is most apparent after I start the car. After the car has shifted up past 25mph and back down, the problem is still there but not quite as extreme.
I have found that, when coasting down a hill, if I shift my car into neutral, it feels like I suddenly let go of the brake! I will suddenly begin to accelerate in neutral where as I am decelerating in drive (when driving under 25mph).
What also might be worthy of note is that it shifts -kind- of hard when going past the 25mph mark. I’ve seen cards shift harder so I don’t think it’s a big deal but it might be related.
I’m afraid this problem is having a negative affect on my gas mileage. I’m additionally afraid that it’s a problem that’ll get worse and cost me lots of money. Someone halp, and thanks so much!!