Are VW's really that bad?

[rootaxs]

Been looking at the GTI in particular, and have gone through myriad posts on various forums about VW in general.

So far, i'm not really seeing anything different between those posts and posts for issues on other car makes/models on other forums.

Are VW's really all that bad, or is the stigma brought about by general consensus from online forums? (Where negatives posts about anything will normally dominate over positives).

Thanks.

 

[angry hampster]

The new VWs are really good cars. The MKIV (99-05) Jettas and Golfs are plagued with problems..mainly that the manufacturer used cheap parts. The window regulators will break if you use them when there's ice on the windows, guaranteed. If you have a 1.8T motor, you will blow at least one coil pack per year. Aside from the 1.8T's coil packs, the motors are typically very reliable if you stay on top of maintenance.


However, if something does break, it's hell to repair and costs an absurd amount of cash. The timing chain my 2003 VR6-powered GTI stretched last month when it was starting. This caused all of the teeth of an upper timing gear to be sheered off, meaning the cams weren't turning when the pistons were moving. I got *very* lucky. My car wasn't moving and the cams got stuck in a good position evidently, so I had no piston-to-valve contact. I just had to have my timing chain, tensioners, cam gear, and oil pump replaced. No biggie. ....just $4200. :'( My car has only 67k miles.


I love the thing to death though. It drives great and it gets decent gas mileage for how much power it makes. But if something like that happens again, it's getting repo'd.

 

[vi edit]

VW had two or three very specific incidents that were very widespread and compounded by uncaring dealers and VW-USA corp.

To this day the plastic window clips in the 99-04 Jetta/Golfs and the coilpack issues that plagued the 1.8t's still haunt VW. VW's also suffer from overengineering where they have sensors and electrical gizmos everywhere. So if something does act up, it's very hard to track down and usually not cheap to replace. They also have much higher than average maintenance and repair costs.

There certainly is truth in the stereotype, but I do feel that there is some degree of hyperbole.

I had an '00 V6 Passat. I put almost 100k miles on it before trading in. The only thing I did was routine maint. I didn't do anything else to it. The V6 passats are the best car that VW makes. The GTi is probably second best since it (at least used to be) made in Germany where the Jetta & Golf were made in Mexico/Brazil. Those two plants tended to have more issues than the Germany ones.

 

[Vette73]

VW/Audi fans will say they are fine now but then something else comes up or thats just a couple of small cases and on and on.

I am sure they are better now, but that is not saying much. Kinda like if i said the old car would blow up and kill you. But its much better in the new car, it only blows off your legs, and you don;t die.

There are way to many other good cars out there that are more reliable.

I told my SiL this but she still got a Audi. It has now become MY monthly cycle. Whats that it stop running, ok fuel pump. Whats that its runs like shit, ok coil. Whats that, it makes loud grownign noise, ok replace all steering clamps and bleed system. and on and on.

European cars are no where near as reliable as American/Asian cars. My Saab was the same as was a freinds porsche, etc... let alone all the ones I saw in my shop when I was a tech.

 

[Mermaidman]

Our GTi was a nightmare. All kinds of problems, but to be fair
-It was sold as new, but was a leftover demo.
-It had an aftermarket AC unit.
-This was back in 1984. :awe:

I think my father paid less than $10,000. I can't believe the new 2010 GTi costs $30,000!

 

[fbrdphreak]

Ask amdhunter Hahahaha

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Ask amdhunter Hahahaha

His has been fine? The only problem he had was with the loose shifter, everything else was a result of the accident.

My 08 GTI was fine through my 2 year lease with 18k on it. My new Jetta TDI is getting 45 mpg

 

[PhoKingGuy]

VW had two or three very specific incidents that were very widespread and compounded by uncaring dealers and VW-USA corp.

To this day the plastic window clips in the 99-04 Jetta/Golfs and the coilpack issues that plagued the 1.8t's still haunt VW. VW's also suffer from overengineering where they have sensors and electrical gizmos everywhere. So if something does act up, it's very hard to track down and usually not cheap to replace. They also have much higher than average maintenance and repair costs.

There certainly is truth in the stereotype, but I do feel that there is some degree of hyperbole.

I had an '00 V6 Passat. I put almost 100k miles on it before trading in. The only thing I did was routine maint. I didn't do anything else to it. The V6 passats are the best car that VW makes. The GTi is probably second best since it (at least used to be) made in Germany where the Jetta & Golf were made in Mexico/Brazil. Those two plants tended to have more issues than the Germany ones.

MK5 and MK6 GTIs are made in wolfsburg , only thing made in mexico is the jetta and beetle

 

[ulukay]

well. i live in austria where ~40-50% of all cars are from the great VAG company. i know quite a lot of vw/audi/seat/skoda owners. i would rather get an alfa romeo than a VW. it'll break down too, but at least it doesn't look like a car made for a boring, 80 year old virgin.
want to hear some examples of how great the quality is?

vw eos? roof is leaky, interior build quality is crap -> is in the top ten worst cars 2009 (as are the audi tt and the vw touran)
vw golf? back window leaky. the car workshop tried to fix it ... three times ... (happened to a co-worker)
audi a4/6 and vw passat. on some models it's common that the rear window shatters if the outside temperature gets below -15° (happened to a co-worker)
vw passat. if you get leaves in the windshield basin (where the windshield wipers are mounted and water is supposed to gather) - you can end up with a engine failure due to stupid engineering
vw lupo 1.0 and 1.4 (and other models with the same engine) - engine failure can occur if it's cold outside, the engine literally freezes to death -> http://www.autobild.de/artikel/motorplatzer-bei-tiefen-temperaturen_833585.html
audi a6 -> poor axle mountings on some models, needs to be replaced regularly (happened to my uncle)
audi a5 -> electronic problems, some folks are trying to get out of their contracts and switching over to other cars

if you want a car with a great image and boring looks -> well, get some "germaaaan engineeeering"
if you want a reliable car -> get something else
if you want a good looking car -> get something else
if you want a sporty car -> get something else (with rwd)

and sorry for my bad english

 

[Kirby]

2000 jetta 1.8t with 125k miles.

only problems i've had is a turbo valve and water pump (nearly time to put a new timing belt, so not too bad although it left me stranded on a first date ).

*knocks on wood

my sister had a 2004 A4 1.8t that was a complete piece of garbage though.

 

[rootaxs]

Thank you, all, for the response! This is really good stuff.

angry_hampster, could you say it's an isolated issue with your car in particular? The car i'm looking at right now is actually a '10 GTI. So far people just compare it to the MKV which has its share of issues, but again it goes back to my point above.

vi_edit, when you say routine maintenance, are you referring to tried and true schedules of anywhere between 3-7k mile intervals (and everything in between), or VW's new "every 10k miles" schedule?

Marlin1975, your first statement got me thinking. Of the people that did say their VW has been great, most also post "however" then stating the issues they've had with their ride. I've seen Audi issues myself through co-workers. They're nightmares based on the handful of people here who own one.

Mermaidman, 1984 eh? I would hope things have gotten better since!

PhoKingGuy, no issues with your GTI at all? How's the TDI humming along?

ulukay, thanks for the input as well. All those sound rather disconcerting. I currently have a G35 and am considering the GTI as a replacement thus the curiosity. The GTI drives very well for what it is and i can already see how this will do at the road course -- plus it's great on mileage and more practical. I really can't find any other car that offers the same amount of balance* as the GTI for the price. I actually like how the MK6 looks, too.

*price, performance, modability, space, practicality, aesthetics, comfort, etc...

 

[rootaxs]

nkgreen, i take it it's just been regular maintenance for you, too?

I see a lot of posts about the PCV and pumps, are these expensive parts to replace? Can it be a DIY?

Also, does anyone know if the '10 GTI engine has a timing chain?

Thanks again!

 

[PhoKingGuy]

nkgreen, i take it it's just been regular maintenance for you, too?

I see a lot of posts about the PCV and pumps, are these expensive parts to replace? Can it be a DIY?

Also, does anyone know if the '10 GTI engine has a timing chain?

Thanks again!

The FSI engine (old not used anymore) had a plastic PCV valve that failed when people chipped their GTIs, with the new TSI engine its forged so no problem anymore. Also, the TSI adds on a timing chain.

My GTI was fantastic, no problems at all (not that many miles ill admit) but I got 32 freeway when I wanted to and was able to run the twisties when I wanted to as well. I'm still kinda sad to see it go. My TDI is fantastic as well so far, loving the VW navi interface and the ridiculously high MPG for the kinda car it is makes it a really sweet deal

 

[PhoKingGuy]

2000 jetta 1.8t with 125k miles.

only problems i've had is a turbo valve and water pump (nearly time to put a new timing belt, so not too bad although it left me stranded on a first date ).

*knocks on wood

my sister had a 2004 A4 1.8t that was a complete piece of garbage though.

The 1.8T engine generation VWs were shit, that whole drivetrain was crap. There was a shitstorm in management because of that and the newer MKV platform and MKVI platforms are leaps and bounds better. There's a reason why VW sells so many cars in Europe.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

well. i live in austria where ~40-50% of all cars are from the great VAG company. i know quite a lot of vw/audi/seat/skoda owners. i would rather get an alfa romeo than a VW. it'll break down too, but at least it doesn't look like a car made for a boring, 80 year old virgin.
want to hear some examples of how great the quality is?

vw eos? roof is leaky, interior build quality is crap -> is in the top ten worst cars 2009 (as are the audi tt and the vw touran)
vw golf? back window leaky. the car workshop tried to fix it ... three times ... (happened to a co-worker)
audi a4/6 and vw passat. on some models it's common that the rear window shatters if the outside temperature gets below -15° (happened to a co-worker)
vw passat. if you get leaves in the windshield basin (where the windshield wipers are mounted and water is supposed to gather) - you can end up with a engine failure due to stupid engineering
vw lupo 1.0 and 1.4 (and other models with the same engine) - engine failure can occur if it's cold outside, the engine literally freezes to death -> http://www.autobild.de/artikel/motorplatzer-bei-tiefen-temperaturen_833585.html
audi a6 -> poor axle mountings on some models, needs to be replaced regularly (happened to my uncle)
audi a5 -> electronic problems, some folks are trying to get out of their contracts and switching over to other cars

if you want a car with a great image and boring looks -> well, get some "germaaaan engineeeering"
if you want a reliable car -> get something else
if you want a good looking car -> get something else
if you want a sporty car -> get something else (with rwd)

and sorry for my bad english

Funny none of my euro friends have the complaints you do with VAG

 

[caspur]

..

 

[ulukay]

There's a reason why VW sells so many cars in Europe.

yeah, the same reason why people are voting for george w. bush or silvio (duce) berlusconi. because they are stupid (and their father and granfather drove VWs in the third reich, it's like a heritage)

 

[JS80]

No, they are actually worse than you think.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

yeah, the same reason why people are voting for george w. bush or silvio (duce) berlusconi. because they are stupid (and their father and granfather drove VWs in the third reich, it's like a heritage)

I dunno, I guess its seen as a "cool" car. Everyone I know has a TDI with the red "I" and loves the hell out of it

 

[JS80]

The 1.8T engine generation VWs were shit, that whole drivetrain was crap. There was a shitstorm in management because of that and the newer MKV platform and MKVI platforms are leaps and bounds better. There's a reason why VW sells so many cars in Europe.

Is it kind of like how Hyundai sells so many cars in Korea?

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Is it kind of like how Hyundai sells so many cars in Korea?

When the government puts a 100% import tax on everything then its a bit different.

 

[ulukay]

I dunno, I guess its seen as a "cool" car. Everyone I know has a TDI with the red "I" and loves the hell out of it

my grandfather bought a new vw lupo because his 25 year old vw kaefer (old beetle) never had a big problem (because it was in fact a pretty good car) (but that proves what he knows about modern cars - nothing)
he drove 10.000km in 4 years and got an engine failure ...

 

[PhoKingGuy]

my grandfather bought a new vw lupo because his 25 year old vw kaefer (old beetle) never had a big problem (because it was in fact a pretty good car) (but that proves what he knows about modern cars - nothing)
he drove 10.000km in 4 years and got an engine failure ...

Shrug, all I know is that my experiences have been positive as well as those of my friends who have VWs. I'm not going to go out and say that they're perfect though.

 

[SSSnail]

Yes, so are Audis.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Check out VWVortex, ask over there

I've had plenty of MK4 Jetta's (99.5-05) and I have to admit, the MK5's are much nicer on the interior.

Why not go all out, get an Audi? After having QUATTRO, i'll never go back to FWD.