Man I hate when people use that arguement. If anything, it's less distraction, because it's harder to eat, talk on the phone, or do anything else, because it keeps your mind foucsed on the road.
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Volkswagen Reliability?
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Man I hate when people use that arguement. If anything, it's less distraction, because it's harder to eat, talk on the phone, or do anything else, because it keeps your mind foucsed on the road.
Aircooled VWs are pretty reliable, grow your hair out and buy a VW bus. Make your parents proud 
thats what I did.
thats what I did.Aircooled VWs are pretty reliable, grow your hair out and buy a VW bus. Make your parents proud
you know I do like the vdub bus/van/things.
oh another question, saw a diesel car in the paper. What do you think of that?
Most gas stations around here (Southern Indiana) have diesel pumps, but what about the rest of the US?
For diesel pumps at stations I would say its about 1/2 and 1/2 around here in CT. Most big gas stations will have them, but little ones don't. I don't think on the Merit Parkway any of the stations have diesel, but I might be wrong. That's probably because trucks aren't allowed on it. So if you ever consider working in NY or CT and living in Fairfield County don't expect to be able to easily pull off the highway at a rest stop and get diesel.
I would definitely look into a diesel. A lot of the time the fuel is cheaper and you get much better fuel economy.
I'm looking at cars and was looking at either the new toyota camry, rav4, or tundra/tacoma. (I get a nice discount on new toyota's cause my aunt works for Toyota, so the new car loosing it's value isn't a prob)
Well all was going good until I got into a friend's Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Hot damn that was a fun car. Now I can't get a stickshift cause the parents don't think I'm experienced enough...
so after my little story here comes my question:
Are jetta's / other vw reliable?
MSN auto's listed all was mostly good except for a few things I could fix myself, and have read reviews of owners having great experiences.
On the other end of the spectrum I get "VDubs suck! Don't buy, mine is in the shop all the time!" and consumer reports ranked them pretty harshly.
I'm confused with all this conflicting data.
I lost my $21,000 investment in a Passat SW because a VW engineer did not design the oil intake tube (from the crankcase) correctly. My engine went from running fine to total destruction in 10 minutes. VW knew of the problem. They could have informed all of us to bring our cars in for corrective action. But, they just decided to write a letter and tell us to use a different type of oil. The repair costs would have been over $7,000. VW refused to provide any any help. I ended up donating the car to a charity, to sell for used parts.
Engineering mistakes happen. I am willing to accept that. But, a company willing to see customers as a 'one sale' event, is not one I would ever do business with. I thought VW was a customer oriented company. I assure you, they are not. Even tough it is had to imagine, the final person I spoke to said, "F**k-off, and hung-up on me".
I think I would like I slightly used jetta 2006 tdi (diesel). Manual When I my parents are convinced its better. I'm think any major problems would have surfaced by 2x,xxx miles and the price should be real good at that point.
I'm a decent mechanic, my uncle was a car mechanic for some time, and now works as a mechanic for a construction company, and most problems sound minor from what I've read in general.
The reasoning behind this is that vw are ratted the safest and that top priority.
Its that or a new tacoma
I'm a decent mechanic, my uncle was a car mechanic for some time, and now works as a mechanic for a construction company, and most problems sound minor from what I've read in general.
The reasoning behind this is that vw are ratted the safest and that top priority.
Its that or a new tacoma
First off do not go for a car because it is fun to drive. It wears off after a while and most of the time you car will be used to get from point A to point B. Yes their will be times when having a fun to drive car is nice. I enjoy my car and it is a blast to drive. It was a factor in me choosing my car yes but if I had it to do over I would not get of gotten it.
You can get one hell of a deal on a toyta which means you could get a good deal on anything that Toyta owns for example Scoin TC would give you the fun to drive factor you are after and still keep the deal.
If you are wondering what I drive it is a 2004 Sentra Spec V and I can promise you it is a hell of a lot more fun to drive than the Jetta. As for manuals depends on the person I like them better but at the same time for a rookie driver I I think they are not the best thing to use. The reason for this is because it is just one more thing you have to think about while driving but I do love my 6 speed manual.
To look into getting a Scion TC
You can get one hell of a deal on a toyta which means you could get a good deal on anything that Toyta owns for example Scoin TC would give you the fun to drive factor you are after and still keep the deal.
If you are wondering what I drive it is a 2004 Sentra Spec V and I can promise you it is a hell of a lot more fun to drive than the Jetta. As for manuals depends on the person I like them better but at the same time for a rookie driver I I think they are not the best thing to use. The reason for this is because it is just one more thing you have to think about while driving but I do love my 6 speed manual.
To look into getting a Scion TC
I wouldn't assume that major problems would surface by 20,000 at all. People either seem to have very minor problems, or lots of little problems. To me that can just be generalized if 2/3 of the people here have had problems that make them feel like vw is unreliable.
But I guess you should get what you want, if you want a VW thats fine. They are nice cars, drive very well, and have beautiful fit and finish. I took my moms Touareg down a road at 120mph (in the middle of nowhere of course). Its funny, its such a quite idling car, when ever I drive it when I am stopped sometimes I think its stalled hahha. My Land Rover at idle is pretty loud, naturally.
Like I said, I guess its really what you want. It appears you want a VW more than I toyota, and I would probably feel the same way in your situation. V-dubs look a lot cooler, have much higher quality interiors, and are a lot more fun to drive. If you are looking for a pickup, I don't think there is any better pickup than the Tundra (2008 ones are kinda fulgy though). Reliability isn't everything, my Rover is probably one of the most unreliable cars on the road, but I love it a lot. I think you want a VW, just be aware of the repair costs. If you think you can afford to maintain one, then go for it.
i have not read the whole thread so i may be repeating what others have said here
i have a 2003 Jetta 1.8T Wolfsburg edition. its fun as hell to drive, very fast off the line, great acceleration, i love the styling, was a pretty good deal at about $18K/2% financing that i got it for, and has been a dream in terms of ride, handling, etc.
but
there have been a bunch of little stupid, non-disabling things go wrong. the passenger window fell into the door. the trunk would not open. the lights behind the dash shorted out. the louvers over the vents broke. bunch of little dumb crap like that. its enough, and especially now that i am out of warranty, that i would be hard pressed to go to another VW. the engines and actual stuff that has to do with driving are great, everything else, not so much.
i do love german cars and i think when i can afford it (not anytime soon) i would try an Audi. having said that, i have lost the boyish car fetish and have finally realized that they are basically just a money suck. so my next car will most likely be a Toyota Camry or something similar. i think that when you buy a german car you need to expect that repairs will be more frequent and cost more. personally, id rather have a car that is not as cool but always works and is cheap to keep.
i have a 2003 Jetta 1.8T Wolfsburg edition. its fun as hell to drive, very fast off the line, great acceleration, i love the styling, was a pretty good deal at about $18K/2% financing that i got it for, and has been a dream in terms of ride, handling, etc.
but
there have been a bunch of little stupid, non-disabling things go wrong. the passenger window fell into the door. the trunk would not open. the lights behind the dash shorted out. the louvers over the vents broke. bunch of little dumb crap like that. its enough, and especially now that i am out of warranty, that i would be hard pressed to go to another VW. the engines and actual stuff that has to do with driving are great, everything else, not so much.
i do love german cars and i think when i can afford it (not anytime soon) i would try an Audi. having said that, i have lost the boyish car fetish and have finally realized that they are basically just a money suck. so my next car will most likely be a Toyota Camry or something similar. i think that when you buy a german car you need to expect that repairs will be more frequent and cost more. personally, id rather have a car that is not as cool but always works and is cheap to keep.
In my experiance VW (Or anything German for that matter) is built like a tank, and is as reliable as a wood burning stove.
Ha!
My first VW smelled like a wood burning stove. I've owned 2 Beetles, 2 Super Beetles, a '68 microbus (all used), a '98 Golf (new), and have just made the last payment on my '02 Jetta GLS. The drive train warranty expired as well, so the question of reliability is suddenly relevant as I hope to keep the Jetta for a few more years.
The only probs I've had with any of the above cars that couldn't be explained by age and abuse is when the brake light sensor switch failed on the Jetta just before the bumper-to-bumper ran out. Because the sensor failed--NOT the brakes mind you--the car wouldn't go into gear. I had to call a tow truck to go back to the dealer. For a SENSOR SWITCH! I was with my wife and two kids in a mall parking lot. That's completely opposite to my earlier experiences, when the older cars were indestructable.
Of course they were simple enough to be fixed by anyone named "Bubba".
There was a recall on these for the Jettas just a few months ago. Were you charged for the replacement?Ha!
I've owned 2 Beetles, 2 Super Beetles, a '68 microbus (all used), a '98 Golf (new), and have just made the last payment on my '02 Jetta GLS. The drive train warranty expired as well, so the question of reliability is suddenly relevant as I hope to keep the Jetta for a few more years.
The only probs I've had with any of the above cars that couldn't be explained by age and abuse is when the brake light sensor switch failed on the Jetta just before the bumper-to-bumper ran out. Because the sensor failed--NOT the brakes mind you--the car wouldn't go into gear. I had to call a tow truck to go back to the dealer. For a SENSOR SWITCH! I was with my wife and two kids in a mall parking lot. That's completely opposite to my earlier experiences, when the older cars were indestructable.
Of course they were simple enough to be fixed by anyone named "Bubba".
Not sure if I'm reading this correctly as your argument was confusing and his was even worse, but...
...are you really claiming that talking on the phone or eating while driving makes you more aware?
i think her point was that its less distracting to drive a stick because you are forced to pay more attention to the act of driving and less attention to talking on the phone, etc..
i think its irrelevant personally.
i think its irrelevant personally.
VWs are garbage. My friend is a mechanic and always tell me so. Parts are very expensive.
They have lots of tranny and electrical problems. So do Audi's.
Since Toyota is amongst the top in reliability it's an easy choice for you. You only have to decide which one to get. The FJ Cruiser is hot! I also like the 2008 Highlander.
They have lots of tranny and electrical problems. So do Audi's.
Since Toyota is amongst the top in reliability it's an easy choice for you. You only have to decide which one to get. The FJ Cruiser is hot! I also like the 2008 Highlander.
My sisters New Beatle (2000 model) sucked. Something was always wrong with it. The passenger airbag stopped working once for no reason and it would have costed $500 to replace it. I won't step near VWs anymore after the nightmare my sister had.
I'm looking at cars and was looking at either the new toyota camry, rav4, or tundra/tacoma. (I get a nice discount on new toyota's cause my aunt works for Toyota, so the new car loosing it's value isn't a prob)
Well all was going good until I got into a friend's Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Hot damn that was a fun car. Now I can't get a stickshift cause the parents don't think I'm experienced enough...
so after my little story here comes my question:
Are jetta's / other vw reliable?
MSN auto's listed all was mostly good except for a few things I could fix myself, and have read reviews of owners having great experiences.
On the other end of the spectrum I get "VDubs suck! Don't buy, mine is in the shop all the time!" and consumer reports ranked them pretty harshly.
I'm confused with all this conflicting data.
I've had an 04 Golf (in pull-me-over-red) since 2005. Other than basic maintenance I've had no serious issues (knock on wood). It doesn't matter anyway, you get a warranty that lasts like 4 years or something like that - and a kick ass one at that.
I had a small problem where the car wouldn't start on the first try, so I took it in and it was the battery (was low). It was covered under warranty!
I bought a VW Jetta Wolfsburg Edition 07, in March. Only problem was top AC, I think some object got inside of it causing rattling noise but they replaced the whole AC. I love the car, its just me, fits me comfortable (long legs). I really like it, I knew that the car is high cost to repair once my warranty ends, thats why before I bought it I research local authorize VW mechanics, theres a bunch around me for repairs so no problem.
I think cars are not made to last as they use to.They want people buy a new car when their payments are done.
Anyway I had the same crisis as you did about car choice, all I have to say test drive them all. Because you want to drive a car your comfortable and makes driving easier.
Either way theres always cars with good and the bad issues, for me Toyota I know people to have problems, its more like if you take care of your car (regular check up) it will give you good performance.
For VW dealers, careful where you go because the few I went where very shady until I found one that was I think corporate. They call me ask me hows everything. They have a some Best Customer Service Plaque they kept since 05 so they try not to loose it every year. Also all the dealers I went, used VW is more expensive or equal than new one with similar package, that has to tell you price value on VW.
What sucks 07 VW Jetta, after I got mine, everyone started getting one at work.
I think cars are not made to last as they use to.They want people buy a new car when their payments are done.
Anyway I had the same crisis as you did about car choice, all I have to say test drive them all. Because you want to drive a car your comfortable and makes driving easier.
Either way theres always cars with good and the bad issues, for me Toyota I know people to have problems, its more like if you take care of your car (regular check up) it will give you good performance.
For VW dealers, careful where you go because the few I went where very shady until I found one that was I think corporate. They call me ask me hows everything. They have a some Best Customer Service Plaque they kept since 05 so they try not to loose it every year. Also all the dealers I went, used VW is more expensive or equal than new one with similar package, that has to tell you price value on VW.
What sucks 07 VW Jetta, after I got mine, everyone started getting one at work.
No, as the b2b was still in effect. Nevertheless, they still replaced the recalled part during scheduled service back in June. N/C.
Had a Rabbit, worst car I have ever owned (and that includes those Fords..)
Most times in the morning, it would have to be restarted 4 or 5 times before it would make it to the end of the block without stalling.
Our neighbour had a Golf Cabrio, 10 years newer, with exactly the same problem. 4 restarts to make it out of the driveway. They had it worked over repeatedly by "factory trained mechanics" who ended up telling them -- that's just the way it is, live with it. The thing that gets me is that in 10 years VW still couldn't engineer a motor that works...
Most times in the morning, it would have to be restarted 4 or 5 times before it would make it to the end of the block without stalling.
Our neighbour had a Golf Cabrio, 10 years newer, with exactly the same problem. 4 restarts to make it out of the driveway. They had it worked over repeatedly by "factory trained mechanics" who ended up telling them -- that's just the way it is, live with it. The thing that gets me is that in 10 years VW still couldn't engineer a motor that works...
Modern VWs are unreliable, as pretty much everybody has summed up here.
But my impression of the VW Buses from the 60s is that they were built to last forever, and if anything went wrong, you could usually fix it with random parts from your cupholder (think rubber band, gum, and a penny)
But my impression of the VW Buses from the 60s is that they were built to last forever, and if anything went wrong, you could usually fix it with random parts from your cupholder (think rubber band, gum, and a penny
)