Tell me about the reliability of new VW's
 

My wife is looking for a new small SUV and the VW Tiguan is on the list of possibilities. It's built on the GTI platform with the 2.0 turbo. They look nice, the interior looks up scale compared to the competition and it is fun to drive.


Who has knowledge of how reliable the new VW's are, especially with the 2.0 turbo?

If it is assembled in Germany and has over 50% of German parts in it, I'd go for it. This is the biggest factor in VW reliability these days IMHO.

I have an 2011 Golf TDI and it is at 20k miles without a hitch. It is a class above its competitors in terms of fit, interior quality and road feel. It is assembled in Germany and has over 70% German parts.

G

2011 Jetta TDI here. 33k miles perfectly. Absolutely no complaints.

I'd avoid auto trans models, based on what I've read/seen.

Had an '07 GTI. No problems other than a bad coil pack (replaced under warranty). Currently have a '11 Jetta Sport Wagon TDI w/DSG. Love it. No issues so far.

Sounds encouraging so far. The Tiguan is built in Germany. There is a good video on YouTube showing the assembly line, they almost look hand built.

07 Passat Wagon 3.6 4Motion
Still under CPO warranty I have had few things replaced. 65,000 Miles

Fuel sensor
Airbag Wiring harness
couple other things

If the car was not under the certified preowned warranty I would be less than pleased.

The Chrome plated plastic stuff does not hold up well. The shifter bezel is de-laminating VW Price $357.00 :eek:I will not replace it.

I do like the car.

I can't speak to how much of the tiguan is taken off the Golf, but speaking for the Golf, it is the best selling car in its class in Europe. If it was an utter POS it would not be bought in these numbers.

Volkswagen Golf Remains European Best-Seller in 2011 | AutoGuide.com News

Why an SUV? You should look at a TDI Golf, Audi A3, Jetta wagon etc. as well. Fuel is only going to go up ...

G

We're looking at getting the s/o a more economical car and parking her Tacoma TRD most of the gime. Top candidate is a Golf TDI. A bit pricey, but the interior design is so much nicer than any of the equivalent Japanese imports (and the TDI kicks arse).

The Tiguan is immensely popular in Germany. When it came out it won the coveted "car of the year" award from the German motoring press. I have driven it twice as a rental and liked it very much. Beautiful fit and finish ( like all VW's these days) and great handling. You can't do much wrong with this car.

The TDI Golf is more $ up front but should hold its value quite well, especially with $5 gas around the corner. If it is $4k more than the gas model, it likely will sell for $4k more than the gas model in 3 years from now. I keep a record sheet in the car and will transfer the fuel data some time soon for the first year. I am significantly better than 40 mpg in mixed driving. We are talking half of it in stop and go traffic. If you go long distance interstate and keep it under 70 it easily gets over 50 mpg.

G

Had an 04 Jetta TDI,no problems and sold it at 100,000 miles.

Wifey now as a 2011 SPortwagen TDI.

Might need the entire dash cluster replaced under warranty.

Odometer (Not Trip-meter) resets itself - TDIClub Forums

HPFP is another issue on the newer TDI's that could start sending peices of metal thoughout the fuel system. I think it was corrected in 2011.

CR High Pressure Fuel Pump "HPFP" failure FAQ - $7,000 to $10,000 reapir cost

CR High Pressure Fuel Pump "HPFP" failure FAQ - Updated 2/8/2011 - TDIClub Forums

Probabaly as rare as the 996 IMS failure.


CR engine HPFP analysis - TDIClub Forums

Here is the video of the Tiguan being built in Germany. I would think the casual but deliberate pace would allow them to make sure everything is done properly and catch mistakes. Of course I wonder if these guys have several beers at lunch, so I want one built in the morning.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4SSomYu-P1s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I have a 2012 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagon with the DSG. I really like it! I did, however, spring for the extra warranty (5 years/100k miles). So far, nothing has gone wrong with it at all. I don't expect anything to go wrong with it, but the extra warranty is nice insurance.

Al

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Long Term Dependability

"The 2011 study takes into account problems experienced in the past 12 months by more than 43,700 original owners of three-year-old cars (2008 model year). JD Power determines the overall dependability by the level of Problems encountered Per 100 vehicles (PP100). A lower score reflects higher quality and the good news is the overall vehicle dependability averaged 151 PP100, the best value since the creation of the study.

If you search there's a recent thread about modern VWs and their "issues"... Not good.

Personally I've always liked VWs. They have character and are easy to live with.

A guy I know (salesman) has a '07 jetta diesel with high KM's on it (about 100K miles). He bought it new, always serviced by the dealer and has over $16K in out of warranty repairs. It was at my buddies shop (he finally gave up on the dealer) getting it's second camshaft replaced.
I had a basic '95 golf 1.8 gas with 500K on it and our present winter car is a '96 golf 1.8 gas with 270K km on it. I also had a '99 Passat 1.8T, what a total POS, the thing wore out the very expensive frontend components every 12-18 months.

I'm a VW nut, but I wouldn't buy a late model or new VW again.

Wife is on her second turbo-charged VW -- first was a 2003 New Beetle Turbo (1.8T), and her current ride is a 2009 Eos (2.0T). Both motors were strong, and the turbo motor in both can make those cars scoot!

The New Beetle had some issues with the headlights and tailights, and they were a pain to replace since everything is so compact in that car. (Example: you have to remove the battery and battery tray in order to get to the front driver's side headlight!) But knock on wood, the Eos has had no problems, except for one: the temp sensor on the DSG transmission oil was faulty, and was replaced under recall. Since then, there have been no problems. Did not have any issues witht the complex top, and no leaking issues either.

Speaking of DSG: while I am not a fan of the manu-matic transmission, the DSG double clutch transmission in the Eos is amazing. The shifts are precise and allow me to keep the revs up where the turbo is spooling! :cool:

-Z

for specific models, you can check Consumer Reports

VW is a German car company, BUT don't forget that it is the cheapest of the German car companies

We have an 09 Tiguan,it is my wife's DD .we initially leased the car and then bought it after the end of the lease with 27K miles, right now it has 36K,my wife loves it,so do I whenever I have a chance to drive the car.very good handling and for a 2.0T it has a lot of kick if you step on it.Only problem we had so far was that the first couple of months through the lease my wife complained about the jerky kick of the trany whenever she would come to stop ,took the car to dealer and they re flash the shifting points of the PCM and after that,no complaint and everything is smooth.and this is a basic model with no Navi,or P seats.
We plan to keep the car for couple of years at least.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1334343663.jpg

2007 GTI 2.0T 6 speed

owned since 2008, 33K miles

only significant problem has been turbo failure, replaced under warranty.


d.

Before buying our Q7, we test drove and really wanted a Touareg TDI - I really enjoyed how that thing drove, all the torque and power - is all there. In the 'Executive' trim, they would not budge at the $58K price tag. The lease deal was literally no different than financing it. Now if these cars truly hold their value, then why the heck don't they have solid residual projections to stand behind that?

We bought a 2012 GTI when they first came out in August last year and we love it. The interior quality is top-notch. I drive it like it's meant to be driven and every fill-up is right at 29mpg. So far so good....very good!
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I don't think you can compare a luxury SUV at $60k with a compact commuter that's less than half. That said, all other things being equal, don't you think the premium the diesel commands can largely be recovered, at least in percent of depreciation?

G

how about comparing the compact "commuter" with a Subaru??

An Impreza? I am not imprezad by that car. And that's not even in the same zip code as far as gas mileage goes. There certainly are better brands for value retention than VW. I wouldn't touch a gas Golf for that reason.

Anyways, I'd like to get back to OPs question and after getting some input from owners, see how the Tiguan should holds its value? Unfortunately it appears that no TDI tiguan is available in the US (WTF!?).


G

ive had 3. a 94 jetta, a 2000 golf and a 2008 rabbit.

regarding the 2008 rabbit, it was pretty nice except one thing

the bottom front corner of the door bent TWICE from ice damming. i opened the door, heard the sound of bending metal and ice crushing and looked down and couldnt believe it. after reading on line about how this is common, i took it in and had it fixed under warranty and they placed a rubber/foam block inside the door so ice couldnt damm

the following winter, it happened again. took it back and fixed it again under warranty.

i got rid of the car even though it was a big step up in ride and handling quality compared to my other 2

i wont talk to much about my older ones, except to say the 2000 golf i had, bought brand new, needed a new transmission after 1 week of owner ship and it only went down hill from there. what an expensive mistake. a total piece of garbage. looking back, it was obviously a lemon

that said, im in the market for a used DD to get to work and back and im considering buying a high mileage older VW as i just dont like honda, toyota etc... this will probably be another huge mistake

here is the bent door. i see you live in cali so this wont be a problem i guess :cool: but a warning to anyone that lives in a winter climate and has a newer model VW...be very careful

i also did not like at all, the way the car attempts to deal with water drainage and the way the leaves got stuck everywhere. the windshield wiper design was also horrible on the 2008.

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Diehard VW family! Right now we have '10 Jetta gas 2.5 and '11 Jetta Diesel. Also '11 Golf 2.5 with DSG - all have there own little quirks but all are solid cars and just a blast to drive! Friends and neighbours with there Hondas, Hyundis and Toyotas are bored with there cars. I started off with a '71 Beetle and graduated to a '76 Rabbit when they first came out. All just great cars! VW just drives better than the rest!

Just a few shots some of the VWs that have come through my garage! Also, had several Audis in between too!




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As I said earlier I like them for a lot of reasons but especially because...

You don't feel compelled to change a VW as often as anything else... Not the older ones anyway.

I wont be changing my current daily any time soon.

Here is a data point to consider. My wife and I leased a 2007 Toyota RAV4 FWD V6 and last year at the end of the lease we bought it. That 3.5 L. engine is fantastic. It is smooth, quiet , very powerful and gets 30 mpg on the highway with the two of us and using cruise control. Have had zero issues in 50,000 miles. Fit and finish are fantastic. No it does not have a " soul " but it is drop dead reliable and that's what I want in a daily driver. It is very easy to drive/park and good interior room. Good luck in your search for a vehicle.

I have a 2011 Jetta SE 2.5 DSG with 19k on it. My ONLY complaint is the climate control temp dial. If you turn it all the way cold it goes to Max AC. I just want fresh air.

The interior is a mix of cheap and nice. Its got a leather steering wheel and a hard plastic dash. I could definitly live without the giant useless TV that dominates the dash or maybe they could at least use it to let me know things like coolant temp and oil pressure.

2010 Jetta 2.5..bought new...daily work car with 70k on it NO ISSUES...Great car with wonderful handling on the mountain roads I travel.
I change the oil regularly and rotate the tires as needed; tune up at 50k.
One weird thing though, it does not tolerate aftermarket spark plugs. New ones lasted only about 8k and looked like they had 50k on them. My mileage went to around23mpg and had a rough idle. Spoke with a tech at VW and he told me that they really need VW plugs. I replaced the aftermarket ones with VW and all is well.

Love my TDI. Very reliable great power and space.......

We were very interested in the Tiguan when we were told it was coming in the TDI first, but then it went to gas only so we shopped a little harder

We are a VERY VW family, my wife had a 2005 Passat wagon, my dad has a 2002 Golf TDI, I have a daily driver 1990 Jetta GLI 16v, and there's a 79 GTI clone in the garage getting a partial resto.....and we go back from there with over 20 VW's back to the 1956 VW beetle that my dad bought new that I still own.

BUT, when we needed a new car in 2010, we bought the new Subaru Outback. We've got 50K miles on it and it's been literally flawless, it's got more room than the Tiguan and get's better mileage as well.

I would really like to get a VW TDI as my next car, but I can't get an AWD diesel (need AWD) from VW in anything cheaper than a Touareg, so I'm going to keep buying gas Subaru's till something better comes along.

Eric

today i bought a 2011 Golf in shark blue with only 12K miles on it. Test drove it and was very impressed. Fell in love with the car...seems a few nice improvements with the dashboard since my 2008 Rabbit

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A little older than you have requested - 2003 Passat 1.8T Manual - Owned from 60-140k miles

One CV joint boot ripped open (nasty job from corroded suspension bolts)
Coolant temp sensor failed.
Water pump failed at 75k
Fuel pump failed at 130k
Rear window squirtie thing failed - corrosion
Temp dials - Light bulb will not seat properly
"Minor" evaporative emission leak code is on intermittantly - gas cap sealing - I think
First coil pack just failed at 140k.
Plastic interior parts (e.g., caps/release buttons on top of headrests have come loose in the rear seat.
Original sunroof drain exit nipples are poor design and clog.
Paint on nose of hood had developed several quarter sized rust "circles" from chips that I don't see on other cars but have seen them on this model.

Still love the car. The 1.8 engine itself is great and has demonstrated zero maintenance issues. No boost leaks, no reduction in performance, great gas mileage.

Wife's 2002 New Beetle 1.8 T - 80k miles - owned since new.

CV joint boot failure
Coolant temp sensor and or coolant mix (S/B 50-50) throwing temp sensor code.
Coil packs replaced (twice under warranty)
Glove box door latch failure
Center arm rest hinge failure
Annual headlight bulb replacement
Melted diverter hose right above turbo - boost loss.
Have repaired stainless steel shrouds around cat twice. Corrosion.
Electrical terminal junction on top of battery corrodes/melts at the AC fuse female socket.
Key will not open the lock manually. Corrosion.

Never have been stranded in this car.

Love the snot out of it.

Edit: Both cars have the Air-bag light on and each car has common air bag weak links that you need a $275 VAG-COM and $100 service manual to DIY diagnose and reset after repair.