Car Thoughts

[yg17]

May I suggest you look at the latest info on VW as they have gone way up in reliability. We own a 2011 GTI with not a single issue other than Texas heat that killed my battery. We also own a Honda Civic 2008 and a 2009 Acura TL. Both of those cars have had MORE problems than the VW. As the VW has never even seen the shop yet.

Please do not spread false info as you are wrong about VW reliability.

I have a 2009 GTI now with 40,000 miles on it, and the only problem it had was a couple years ago, the sunroof motor crapped out which the dealer replaced under warranty with no problems. But pretty much every car I've ever owned has had a minor problem like that. And it conveniently broke when I had to take my car in for an oil change anyways (free for 3 years or 30,000 miles), so it wasn't even an inconvenience. Other than that, my car has been flawless and I love it.

Prior to that, I had an 08 GTI which had a very untimely death in an accident. The fact that I went out and bought the exact same car to replace it says a lot IMO. I had a chance to do it all over again and didn't even bother looking at other cars. Plus it's a safe car, I had to find that out the hard way.

 

[Queen of Spades]

May I suggest you look at the latest info on VW as they have gone way up in reliability. We own a 2011 GTI with not a single issue other than Texas heat that killed my battery. We also own a Honda Civic 2008 and a 2009 Acura TL. Both of those cars have had MORE problems than the VW. As the VW has never even seen the shop yet.

Please do not spread false info as you are wrong about VW reliability.

I'd expect a brand new (2011) car not to have issues as compared to two and three year old cars, no?

 

[nizmoz]

I'd expect a brand new (2011) car not to have issues as compared to two and three year old cars, no?

True, but if you view the latest ratings, VW has moved past many other cars that you wouldn't think it would. But the old VW history of issues isn't happening anymore and I just want to clarify that with that poster. They are reliable cars just like any other these days but the difference is, they are BUILT with better materials which is nice. No hard plastics anywhere in the interior like Honda/Toyota/Nissan.

 

[nizmoz]

I wish you the best of luck with your GTI, and am glad you like it. That said, your car is still practically new, and VW has an ugly history over the past decade or so. I'm not saying they can't change, but they've to a ways to go before they deserve the benefit of the doubt as being reliable.

Recent source: Consumer Reports via USA Today
They've had many issues. Just for one, try looking up "VW Coil Pack"--virtually every 12V VR6, etc had a massive flaw that VW never acknowledged/did a recall for. What fun. Similar issues continued with the common 1.8T engine as well as the 24V VR6, though they actually admitted fault there. It goes on and on. Or, try asking a New Beetle owner how they like the electronics in their car...

That was on the old engine. They are not going to make the VR6 anymore, and the FSI 2.0t was discontinued replaced with the TSI which is way more reliable. Like I said, over the past 5 years the VW cars are extremely reliable and the reports prove that.

 

[sysiphus]

True, but if you view the latest ratings, VW has moved past many other cars that you wouldn't think it would. But the old VW history of issues isn't happening anymore and I just want to clarify that with that poster. They are reliable cars just like any other these days but the difference is, they are BUILT with better materials which is nice. No hard plastics anywhere in the interior like Honda/Toyota/Nissan.

No hard plastics, eh? Did you take a look at the link I posted? The new Jetta's interior is a mess, and full of hard plastics.

 

[sysiphus]

That was on the old engine. They are not going to make the VR6 anymore, and the FSI 2.0t was discontinued replaced with the TSI which is way more reliable. Like I said, over the past 5 years the VW cars are extremely reliable and the reports prove that.

Hopefully you're right. I'm glad they ditched the proven mess engines (VR6, FSI 1.8T, 2.0T), but a new platform does not guarantee success. Give them a few years. I'd like to see them go really well, but given their track record, advising caution is reasonable.

 

[nizmoz]

No hard plastics, eh? Did you take a look at the link I posted? The new Jetta's interior is a mess, and full of hard plastics.

Again, not near as much as a Toyota or Honda. Give me a break. The Jetta interior is actually really nice. And BTW, for the cost of $17k, you can't complain how nice the Jetta is, it also won awards for being the best car in it's class for 2011. The GLI has nicer interior materials than the base model Jetta but you won't find any cheapness on any other car in VW lineup. Remember the Jetta was built to satisfy the America owner.

 

[sysiphus]

Again, not near as much as a Toyota or Honda. Give me a break. The Jetta interior is actually really nice. And BTW, for the cost of $17k, you can't complain how nice the Jetta is, it also won awards for being the best car in it's class for 2011. The GLI has nicer interior materials than the base model Jetta but you won't find any cheapness on any other car in VW lineup. Remember the Jetta was built to satisfy the America owner.

Well, I'm not saying the Jetta is a bad deal for the money, it isn't. However, it squarely refutes your claim of "no hard plastics in VW". And surely you'll admit that cutting corners on the new Jetta doesn't suggest good plans in store for their other affordable cars (Golf, Beetle). I'd guess the nice interiors will continue for the higher-end models (GTI, Jetta GLI, Passat, CC, Touareg), but the days of a guaranteed nice interior in a VW are clearly over. Personally, I'd buy a Mazda 3 over a Jetta, but to each his own.

One way or the other, I'm still at a loss as to how I'm spreading false information by pointing out that up until a couple years ago, VW was selling gobs of fundamentally flawed engines, not to mention the New Beetle's electrical foibles, and oh, yes, the lovely record held by the Touareg. Again, it's entirely possible they've turned on a dime, and everything is squeaky-clean perfect now...but an iota of caution after many many years of serious problems is warranted.

 

[iJohnHenry]

It still amazes me that you guys call the Ford Focus a "small" car.

This is Ford's small car, the Ka:

Great. A KIA, without the "I". Saves on weight, I guess.

 

[nizmoz]

Back to the topic at hand....we were giving recommendations not discussing these cars.

 

[stroked]

Back to the topic at hand....we were giving recommendations not discussing these cars.

I think discussion goes along with recommendations.

 

[sysiphus]

Back to the topic at hand....we were giving recommendations not discussing these cars.

Good timing to change the subject after I showed your accusation was without merit

 

[puma1552]

VW would be a dead-last buy for me.

It's also amusing seeing people sing the praises of reliability on cars that are newer than 5 years old. I would expect a Model T to have no problems if it was less than 5 years old, lol.

Want to talk reliability? See what's holding up at 10-15 years old with 125k+ miles, and that's when you have a right to talk about what's reliable and what's not.

EDIT: And what's wrong with hard plastics? They are inexpensive, durable, and flexible in the event of impact. Sounds like they fit the job to me. What would you rather have the interior be made out of? See how a leather or suede covered dash looks in 10 years' time, and you'll wish you had a plastic dash.

 

[Abstract]

Good timing to change the subject after I showed your accusation was without merit

Firstly, you weren't as convincing as you think. Your posts only show that you know nothing about VW's current engines/cars. You proved that they used hard plastics on the lowest end version of a rather budget car. It's not the car I'd recommend, but bringing up the VR6 to prove a point is pointless unless you always buy second-hand.



Secondly, nobody likes people like you. Who says things like that and has friends?

 

[iJohnHenry]

Good timing to change the subject after I showed your accusation was without merit

Secondly, nobody likes people like you. Who says things like that and has friends?

I was reading this thread, and a

broke out.

 

[sysiphus]

Firstly, you weren't as convincing as you think. Your posts only show that you know nothing about VW's current engines/cars. You proved that they used hard plastics on the lowest end version of a rather budget car. It's not the car I'd recommend, but bringing up the VR6 to prove a point is pointless unless you always buy second-hand.



Secondly, nobody likes people like you. Who says things like that and has friends?

Thanks for the advice. I don't really care about convincing you or anybody else that I'm right/wrong. I pointed out that VW has had shaky reliability, and was accused of spreading false information by someone tripping over himself to justify his own opinion. I don't like being called a liar, especially when the accusation is demonstrably false. Gosh, amazing that with an attitude like that, I have friends

 

[nizmoz]

Thanks for the advice. I don't really care about convincing you or anybody else that I'm right/wrong. I pointed out that VW has had shaky reliability, and was accused of spreading false information by someone tripping over himself to justify his own opinion. I don't like being called a liar, especially when the accusation is demonstrably false. Gosh, amazing that with an attitude like that, I have friends

Wasn't my opinion it was based on fact and the latest reports on the auto makers that VW has improved dramatically. And from experience and friends who own them with over 250k miles with very little repairs. You on the other hand probably have never owned one.

 

[sysiphus]

Wasn't my opinion it was based on fact and the latest reports on the auto makers that VW has improved dramatically. And from experience and friends who own them with over 250k miles with very little repairs. You on the other hand probably have never owned one.

Well, you're right about one thing, I have never owned one. Here's why:

Ex-girlfriend: New Beetle Turbo--started burning oil like crazy 1 year out of warranty, no permanent fix.
College roommate: New Beetle Diesel--electrical issues from day 1 of ownership
Cousin: 4-year-old GTI: gone through two transmissions (not manual, always left in full auto mode)
Neighbor: New Beetle gas N/A: electrical issues (see roommate)
Friend from high school: Passat VR6--he poured enough money into it to have paid for a decent used something else...

And just to show that VAG's commitment to quality extends all the way up the line:

Neighbor: Audi A6 Avant: burns through batteries, headlights at an alarming rate; dealer can't do anything to fix it.
Dad's golf partner: Audi RS6 has spent enough time in the shop they offered to buy it back from him.

I'm not saying they haven't improved, nor that they cannot continue to do so--but their track record is awful, and thus caution is reasonable

 

[nizmoz]

Well, you're right about one thing, I have never owned one. Here's why:

Ex-girlfriend: New Beetle Turbo--started burning oil like crazy 1 year out of warranty, no permanent fix.
College roommate: New Beetle Diesel--electrical issues from day 1 of ownership
Cousin: 4-year-old GTI: gone through two transmissions (not manual, always left in full auto mode)
Neighbor: New Beetle gas N/A: electrical issues (see roommate)
Friend from high school: Passat VR6--he poured enough money into it to have paid for a decent used something else...

And just to show that VAG's commitment to quality extends all the way up the line:

Neighbor: Audi A6 Avant: burns through batteries, headlights at an alarming rate; dealer can't do anything to fix it.
Dad's golf partner: Audi RS6 has spent enough time in the shop they offered to buy it back from him.

I'm not saying they haven't improved, nor that they cannot continue to do so--but their track record is awful, and thus caution is reasonable

Okay, on that list...

2007 Toyota Camry - 500 miles transmission failure. Replaced transmission, 2nd one failing. Car purchased back and new one built and sold.

2007 Camry replacement - 1500 miles another transmission DEAD. Toyota this time bought the car back and we bought a Acura RL.

Oh, look at all those recalls Toyota has had and all the press of issues they have had over the past 3-4 years. You really think they are reliable?

Oh my bad, Toyota is known for quality......guess not. Again, STOP ruining this guys topic dude. VW makes good cars, and so does Toyota. All cars will have issues. We have never owned a car that hasn't actually had some issues. For whatever reason you have some bad taste in your mouth from any VW product and really needs to be left out of this topic. Should we go on about the Chevy recommendation above on how so unreliable Chevy's are? LOL So EOD.

 

[iJohnHenry]

Just speak to a newer KIA owner. That's all.

 

[sysiphus]

Okay, on that list...

2007 Toyota Camry - 500 miles transmission failure. Replaced transmission, 2nd one failing. Car purchased back and new one built and sold.

2007 Camry replacement - 1500 miles another transmission DEAD. Toyota this time bought the car back and we bought a Acura RL.

Oh, look at all those recalls Toyota has had and all the press of issues they have had over the past 3-4 years. You really think they are reliable?

Oh my bad, Toyota is known for quality......guess not. Again, STOP ruining this guys topic dude. VW makes good cars, and so does Toyota. All cars will have issues. We have never owned a car that hasn't actually had some issues. For whatever reason you have some bad taste in your mouth from any VW product and really needs to be left out of this topic. Should we go on about the Chevy recommendation above on how so unreliable Chevy's are? LOL So EOD.

The purpose of the thread, so far as I could tell, was to solicit opinions on cars to buy/not to buy. I posted a negative opinion of VW, you disagree. So far, so good. And yet, I'm apparently posting false information, and when I refuted that claim (with both anecdotal and independent info), I'm then ruining the thread. Why make it personal? I'll reiterate, I'm glad you like your car, and I wish you all the best with it

OP:
The consensus among much of the automotive press seems to be that the Korean cars are a fantastic value--I'd be tempted to take a look there. Personally, I like the 5-door Ford Focus, but a lot of people aren't a fan of that body style...good luck and have fun

 

[nizmoz]

The purpose of the thread, so far as I could tell, was to solicit opinions on cars to buy/not to buy. I posted a negative opinion of VW, you disagree. So far, so good. And yet, I'm apparently posting false information, and when I refuted that claim (with both anecdotal and independent info), I'm then ruining the thread. Why make it personal? I'll reiterate, I'm glad you like your car, and I wish you all the best with it

OP:
The consensus among much of the automotive press seems to be that the Korean cars are a fantastic value--I'd be tempted to take a look there. Personally, I like the 5-door Ford Focus, but a lot of people aren't a fan of that body style...good luck and have fun

You always seem to need to get that last word in.

OP: I did get to see a new Ford Focus today at Xpel. It was actually a Ford owned car as it had Manufacture plates on it.

Nice car no doubt in and out. But who in there right mind would own a Ford since they are known to not be reliable (the cars that is)

 

[dukebound85]

OP:
The consensus among much of the automotive press seems to be that the Korean cars are a fantastic value--I'd be tempted to take a look there. Personally, I like the 5-door Ford Focus, but a lot of people aren't a fan of that body style...good luck and have fun

Order a fightingchance pdf on three models

1) 2011 Impreza
2) 2011 Mazda 3 Hatch
3) 2012 Hyundai Accent

I am strongly leaning towards the impreza for AWD mainly and am now debating if I can afford he extra 5k to get the WRX trim

 

[sysiphus]

Order a fightingchance pdf on three models

1) 2011 Impreza
2) 2011 Mazda 3 Hatch
3) 2012 Hyundai Accent

I am strongly leaning towards the impreza for AWD mainly and am now debating if I can afford he extra 5k to get the WRX trim

That's a great list to work off of--my sister LOVES her Mazda3 (though hers is a sedan). It was between that and an Impreza for her. Having driven both: the Mazda is a more refined cruiser (though still fun), whereas the Subie lets you feel the road a bit more (and feels more "stuck to" the road...thanks in large part to the AWD).

Regardless, great idea with the hatch--they're so much more practical!

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

The best cars... my take (which I'm sure nobody will read) on this matter.

In the short span of my life, I've noticed something. When I was really young - Japanese cars were a joke, a company who makes piston rings is going to make engines? People mocked them. Japan went from a curiosity, to a cute economy - to one that genuinely threatened the US with their superior productivity, quality and low costs. From the late 80s you could see Japan trying to show the world they wanted to be technological leaders. Hell, even my Honda scooter from 1984 had build quality and components that were a decade ahead of other offerings. But then, sometime in the late 1990s, Japan seemed to become complacent, or maybe they became more American - demanded more, produced a bit less - because they were padded by their previous achievements.

South Korea to Japan in the mid 1990s was Japan to the US in the 1980s. Made junk - but they got better, worked hard, went out to prove themselves - and now people don't compare Hyundais to weed-whackers while laughing - they now go up against Toyotas, Hondas and Chevys providing difficult decisions for consumers.

We'll be laughing at Chinese cars soon for the same reason... however it'll be very short lived, because they will rise to the top faster - as it's very easy to improve product, when you've got hundreds of millions of consumers living in your own country. Tack that along with massive infrastructure producing everything else the world already buys... Then Korea can join Japan and US in reminiscing about when they built the worlds best...

I drive a small German car, it's NOT 100% reliable - stupid window regulators, assy little devices. But I enjoy driving my diesel Golf, and drive train wise, has been very reliable. Germans seem to be out to prove things to themselves. Under the hood of a Toyota, you see efficiency, minimal material for maximum return. Not very pretty, not built like a tank - but built exactly to the level required for operation. German cars, seem to be built by engineers trying to impress other engineers with their clever designs. Pretty to look at, fun to figure out, and a royal @$$pain to work on. I think that's why I like them, I'm a glutton for punishment.

But yeah, small car, look at countries that value technology while embracing efficiency, I doubt you could go very wrong with something from Japan or Korea. Maybe even China in 5 or so years...