Ok, this is not a thread for hating VWs. I'm just spreading the info on my experience with VW, since there has been 2 new ones (Mk4 - 2000 model year) in the family since new, and many more besides that including Audis.

Ok, so in Feb 1999, my bro bought a 1999.5 VW Jetta TDi, spectacular looking car. In August 1999 I got a 2000 VW Golf TDi to replace my Civic. So 3 weeks later, I decided TDi wasn't for me, and I traded my dad...I took my Civic back, and he got the brand new Golf. My Civic was 1 year old at this point, it was lowered already and had rims and a system. The car stank from the exhaust especially in the winter, it smells of diesel when it runs, it smokes, and it's loud....and it takes forever for the glow plugs to go out. Furthermore, I found that electrical problems were coming to light lately. I have tracked the problem down to coolant migration. The coolant leaks out of the overflow bottle through the sensor!!!!! and into the wiring harness, eventually contaminating the harness and shorting out the computer. Apparently this has been a known (but relatively rare) problem with all VW-made vehicles since 1986. Furthermore, the tail light on the car go out regularly every 3 months, first on the left side, then the right. On both cars! Then, the glove box door mechanism broke, and the coin tray broke too...the glow plug circuit is throwing a code now though there is nothing wrong with it. The right rear caliper seized up on the Golf after only 85,000 kms. The chrome off the shift **** is flaking off. The cars go through tires like none other...new tires at 50,000 kms on both cars. Alignments were done at the dealer...all within specs. The Jetta had many more problems....faulty turbo that was never tracked down...is just sometimes wouldn't give any boost at all. These cars are slow enough as it is, without the turbo they can get passed by a 4 year old on a bicycle. The Jetta was sold. The Golf is still around. On top of all this, the cars come with a 3 year/60,000 km warranty!!! WTF!??! Even Hyundai and Chrusler offer 7 year warranties now...and 5 years is the industry standard, so 3 years or 60,000kms??? Most TDi cars do 60,000kms in one year, since they are commuter cars....no one is dumb enough to buy one of these unless they need it for the gas mileage. All in all....VW = headaches. If anyone is considering buying one of these cars...consider this...your $25-35K can buy a lot more quality for the money if buying Japanese, or a lot more car for the money if buying american. I'm not one to push american cars, but let's just say my 1993 Saturn winter beater has had fewer problems than the VWs in the family. And they are expensive to own...an oil change is $80 and only the dealer has the filters...can't get them anywhere else, plus you MUST use 5W40 synthetic (also a dealer exclusive). Timing belts are to be done every 90K, ($$$$$$$) and various fuel filters ($100 a pop) every 40K, plus the lights that always go out, plus the rear pads always wear out early (50K), plus tires (50K), and so much more....let's just say, each car has taken over $1500/year in maintenance, for each year of ownership, whereas my Civic has taken.... hmmmm.....$250/year (and that includes synthetic oil since new and all Honda filters and fluids). There...I have ****** the word.... thanks for reading. Be smart, buy Japanese...or lease american.

 

I had a 16V Passat before my Civic. When it ran, it was beautiful. It was a rocket on the highway, handled great for a bigger car. Nice interior with lots of room. Power everything, comfortable seats. Looked good with the gunmetal paint, and its angular muscular look. BUT I had to have it towed 8 times in one year. Fuel pump, headgasket, timing belt, tranny, just to name a few. It did have 220000kms on it, so most of that stuff is expected. But the prices, wow! Ignition wires that only VW sold $300, rebulit head $1000, used rad $300, i wheel bearing $65. Ran like **** unless premium gas was used. Tons of little electical gremlins. Leaked when it rained causing about 1inch of water to gather on the floor in the back. I would not recommend one to anyone unless they had deep pockets. I would however recommed a late 80's Jetta or Golf for a beater. I had both, and they were tanks. Never any problems except for wear and tear stuff (brakes, struts, wheel bearings), and they both had well over 300000kms on them. A friend has a 94 Golf and a new Beetle, and has had no problems with either. The turbo Jettas and Golfs are real fast, but be prepared to pay the price if they break. IMO if you were interested in a new VW, save up a few bucks and buy an Audi or an Acura TSX. I still remember my first one...84 GTI. Weighed nothing, but had they same hp as my Jetta. Power nothing, Recaro seats. The original pocket rocket. Traded it for a 280Z

 

EXACTLY! THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING VW'S SUCK!!! Don't get me wrong their great when there fine but...... Too many Gremlin's! Had a Jetta Gt, at 40k had to raplace both wheel bearing's, one again at 95k, electronic prbs. rear brake cable's sticking thust replacing them both 3 times in 4 year's, airbag sensor tripping twice and they can't tell us why because they have to reset the computer to get reading's and then it clear's, wiper switch stuck off and couldn't turn wipers' on, all 4 door moldings coming off and the muffler needing to be replaced at 105k (pipe broke in half, half way between the cat and the muffler!) All this and the car wasn't even 4 years old.

 

My g/f has a 92 passat gl, and we've towed it at least 6-7 times in the past 3 months. It's also for sale by the way if anyone wants to buy it.

 

I think you should buy custom pleates for whoever buy's it..............
SUCKA
LOL

 

bbarbulo you should post that in all the VW forums, everything you said is 100% true...

its about time dub owners realise that...

 

every car has problems no mather what..im a vw lover but i have a accord exr in my family and it has problems too just like every car.

 

^^ true but VW parts are twice the cost of honda parts but supposily better quality

 

honda engines are more reliable than vw, yet vw's cost so much more than honda's, they look like **** too...like boxes with wheels

 

^^
so true, the only nice ones are the 97-98 VR6's the rest are disgusting. A VW is the last car i'll ever buy.

 

I posted in a VW board and almost all of them started crying! Even though it's common knowledge that they have all these probs. half the VW fanatics won't agree.

 

I totally agree. My bro in law has one and it is so ugly!

 

I used to own a 1990 Jetta GL before I got my Civic and although it didn't have as many problems as some of yours has, I can attest to the high cost of parts for it.

I ended up selling it in the end coz all in the period of about 6 months, the A/C stopped working properly, muffler went kaput, door molding fell off and numerous other problems too! The worst thing was when it rained and you had to drive over a puddle, the engine would make a funny squeaking noise! lol

 

VW = under-engineered car with Audi interior and costs.

I nearly bought 2k2 Golf before settling on the 2k2 vic coupe lx.

interior drew me, but that was about it.

 

my sis had a golf and it had all or most of the above mentioned probs...the worst were the electrical probs....she let me borrow it and i had the windows down when and when it started to rain the windows, power windows, would not close....and lets just say i got real mad and real wet....

 

Yeah, my buddy has one that you park someplace, come back and the windows are all down The pwr windows like to operate themselves Another one caught fire (electrical)... and another one has an alarm that likes to arm while driving along, so you'll be sitting at a light and it will start honking at the car in front These three are all 96-99 VR6 cars.

 

bbarb you're a joke. learn where to buy your parts. most the stuff you mentioned i can get cheaper. and some are OEM. and don't even start w/me on Saturns=POS

 

My Saturn has over 320,000 kms....and it runs not bad. I'm not saying they are the best, but it's rust free and it gets me around. Not a bad winter car if you ask me. Show me a VW with that many kms. As for parts...mom took it to the dealer....not me. As for me being a joke.... I am.... I'm all jokes Hey, you wanna get me cheap parts, get me RC injectors 450cc... LOL

 

Very interesting thread.

The fiance and I bought an 02 Golf 2.0L. We have 61,000 kms on it. Small minor trim issues, nothing significant. The fit and finish of this car, is comparable to a 3 series BMW, or a C-class Mercedes. Simply flawless.

Our 2.0L consumes too much oil, and is currently in a consumption test.

The reason we bought the VW, was because a buddy of mine has an 01 TDI. He was trying to sell us on getting the diesel, but I decided against.

PRO DIESEL:

1) Fuel cost and travel distance
2) Highway driving gear puts the car in its PEAK HP and TQ curve the instant you put your foot down. 2.0L needs to rev to the peak.
3) Gas and go. No plugs, wires, ignition etc....

CON DIESEL:

1) $1000 timing belt every 60,000 kms.
2) Glow plugs can go, without warning (albeit cheap to replace)
3) Not as fun to rev and drive.

It all came down to her having fun driving the car, and the 2.0L won. It has been an amazing car to drive. I feel comfortable and confident (although it BADLY needs a rear sway bar), in it.

I'll keep my VW, and add a Civic, thanks.

 

Just you wait 2-3 years. I used to think the same thing...it's brakes are confidence inspiring, and it has a great level of grip for such a comfy car. The chassis is sturdy and solid. But wait and see. I hope you do add a Civic to your garage, since in 3 years it'll be the only car you'll be able to rely on As for the rear sway bar, you can rotate the car easily by going into a turn hot, with a bit of pedal, then lift off the gas and brake slightly for a fraction of a second, then get back on the gas. If you hang onto the brakes too long ABS will kick in, or if not, you will go into a tail spin. No need for a sway bar in the rear, but you are right, it's very softly sprung. You could do the 1.8T GTi springs, or the TDI springs which are a bit heavier. My understanding is that VR6 springs don't fit our struts, but that's something I heard from a bunch of clowns so I don't know for sure. Your Z28 sounds fun... mmm... 355 cubic inches of Bow-Tie's best