Why do VW's Suck?

[RWebb]

Is it just the low cost? Maybe not, as the Japanese make cars at or below the same price points that can run a long time.

Of course, all cars have problems, but when you fix a MB, BMW, or Porsche, it stays fixed. Not so with VW. (Obviously, this is not true of the hapless Audi either.)

Now, I realize that many of started out on (and often, under) a VW, so the mark (who uses marque anymore) holds a special emotional appeal in our limbic systems. But move on up the brainstem and tell me... WHY do VW's suck?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Because they make Audi?

[kaisen]

In the US, Volkswagen products don't stand much of a chance going head to head with Toyota and Honda. They have to be different to stand out at the same price point.

It seems to me that VW has chosen driving dynamics and interior materials/design at the expense of robust materials elsewhere. And VW's mechanical/electrical complexity may showcase their German engineering skills, but it's been at the expense of reliability.

I'm not sure they suck, but I think that's why people may feel that way.

[ODDJOB UNO]

i think yer suffering from SYNCHRO - SYNDROME! or "why did i buy a BOX LIKE 911 VANAGON!"


we do feel yer pain. because we are stuffing an entire a/c system from an ancient westy into a 3 door DOKA SYNCHRO 4wd TRANSPORTER!

when done and blowing 32.9 degrees............we will be the "KINGS" of DOKA A/C!


and alot older for our efforts.

no we are not mounting evap on inside of roof(it would hurt when it fell and limit headroom). evap going under rear seat with (2) vents facing forward. should be some damn nice cold CFM coming out.


there is no difference btwn a WESTY and a 911 except for engine size/a radiator/and everything is bigger or longer.


we have bought so damn much from van cafe and gowesty that my head is spinning.


and none of it IS CHEAP! and i firmly believe VW SUCKS because of all the PLASTIC CRAP POO WATER FITTINGS AND LINES THEY USED on these westies and dokas. i swear they WANTED THEM TO FAIL IN AZ!

[Macroni]

Man, this is not my experience w/ my TDI sportswagen; 75,000 miles: 1 set of tires, 1 set of back brakes, two front day light driving bulbs, oil changes every 10,000 miles......

The car is a blast to drive it pulls freely up to 100MPH and can run at 90 comfortably all day and still delivers 30MPG. The DSG transmission is hands down the best automatic I have ever driven, it anticipates and in sport mode is uterly responsive. I am signed up for a track day at the end of the month and if my 911 is unavailable I would have no problem with driving my TDI!

Negatives; the 17" rims are fragile and I am not enthralled with servicing the car at the dealer so I don't.

My opinion is they are a great company poised for a very bright future......

[RWebb]

as Apollo Uno -- I mean oj uno - put it - I am tired of re-fixing the same things on the van- er- gun

bu that plus th Awdi thread cuz me to refleck on the VW

[ODDJOB UNO]

well here's a heads up re: VW.


we buy so many different parts in the course of a week sometimes here, we like to play "where in the HELL was it made???"


and today's EYEOPENER was:


put yer sparco's on:


a VW A/C DRIER BOTTLE(NEW-OEM) listed on box "BEHR-HELLA" ................MADE IN CHINA!


i am not bull-pooping ya!


it used to be VW parts were:



hecho in der vaterland the best and ONLY parts we put in the SCORE 1600 car.

hecho in messiko

or hecho in brasillia.



now its HECHO EN CHINO!


note to webbster. as a veteran of an 86 westy 4wd resto and now an 86 doka resto with CUSTOM ZOOMY A/C(never offered as far as we can find), the only way to KICK THEIR AZZ INTO SUBMISSION(listen beeeatttch this IS THE WAY ITS GONNA BE!) is to stop driving it.


1) place on jackstands

2) tear wheels/tires off

3) start with entire front end and tear it all off. then take to powdercoaters.

4) order all new front end parts. kill yer visa/amex

5) install all new front end parts with poly bushings instead of rubber.

6) drop motor tranny

7) tear entire rear end off take parts to powder coater. replace all bushings with poly.

8) order new parts kill wallet again

9) install new lobro cv's complete. clean the old ones later when bored and ya have spares. same with front if 4wd. beware of "BLACK BALLS OF DEATH!"

10) tear out crap plastic water lines and fittings and hoses.

11) order new parts really really kill yer wallet. stainless front to rear water lines and every damn stainless fitting and new zoomy hose ya can find

12) install all the h20 crap

13) attack engine, tear off everything plastic and rubber

14) order all new hoses and stainless fittings use all new otegars and zoomy hose clamps new water pump alternator etc. etc etc whatever winks at ya.

15) install all that crap . you will be drinking heavily by now cuz the fat lady aint sung yet but yer close.

16) attack tranny. any seals replace. if ya cant do it send it out for sealing and kill wallet again.

17) install motor and tranny

18)burb tranny with vanagon on jack stands. front end high. if that doesnt work reverse and jack rear end up. run motor and add coolant as needed.

19) if its electrical..................yer SCREWED call a electrical engineer

20) simple huh? just like a 911. the one statement that will make us scream..............."come on....... its ONLY a VW!"

21) drink boiler makers with FAT LADY when done.


thats the short condensed version trust me.


affordable german parts here in phx has quite a few wrecked ones if ya need NLA unobtanium parts. NOT RUSTED POS parts advertised elsewhere.

[NY65912]

We've had a 2002 New Beetle...........75K no problems.
2008 GTi......................30K " "
2011 GTi......................12K " "

No suck here.

[nostatic]

2007 GTi - didn't suck
2011 JSW TDI - doesn't suck

[sc_rufctr]

1994 VR6 Golf... Still going strong at 280,000kms. No major issues. (Assie Golfs are German manufactured)

Only regular maintenance and repairs that I would consider normal for a car its age.


I WOULD RATHER PUSH MY GOLF THAN DRIVE A TOYOTA!

[ramonesfreak]

first 3 really sucked. 1994 jetta, 2000 golf (most problematic car I have ever owned), 2008 rabbit

most recent 2011 golf (made in Germany) is great so far. best VW i have had. would love to trade it in for a 2013 GTI next year. i drive avg of 600 miles a week for work in it all over NY state and its a nice comfy and smooth ride. when i drive it after driving my 911 all weekend, i become immediately aware of the body roll around corners however....

seems to me VW has come a long way in the past 5 years

[JavaBrewer]

After getting hosed for a 3rd time with a water pumper VW I swore off the brand permanently. Now I drive an Audi...

[genrex]

I've had good reliability and ~ 30 mpg in my daily driver Jetta, but what I really like to see is the superb crash-worthiness of the VWs made in the last 10 years. Very safe in front collisions and side collisions.

1990-2010 Vehicles | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

_

[mreid]

TDIs don't suck, they blow.

As do all turbos and it is wonderful!

[aigel]

In my experience they did suck (1993 VW Passat VR6)
In my experience they don't suck any more (2011 Golf TDI)

I would still stay away from a base model rear drum brakes made in Mexico Jetta, but a made in Germany model Golf? The Golf is the most popular car in Germany (lead car in terms of new purchases in 2011 by far) - it can't suck, otherwise people would not buy it there ...

G

[john70t]

VWs suck only because they haven't made the 1984 GTI for the last two decades.

I consider them good plastic C cars for 50-100K miles.
Then replace, because they scrood the pooch with something obvious and expensive.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

After getting hosed for a 3rd time with a water pumper VW I swore off the brand permanently. Now I drive an Audi...

That's oxymoronic. Or maybe just moronic.

[Por_sha911]

Electrical systems that would make Lucas proud.

[Jeff Alton]

Suck?

Had an 07 GTI bought new, sold last year. 60K miles (100k kms) just changed brake pads when I sold it. Didn't need to do the rears but did anyways. Put new tires on at the same time. Before that I changed a rear tail light bulb and EGR piece. That was it. Great car.

I like it so much, I bought a new 2012 GTI a couple months back. Only have 4K miles on it but so far so good again. If you have any appreciation for driving dynamics, interior design, material selection, seating etc, there is no way you would buy a Japanese competitor at or near the same price point.

What is it's main competitor? The Mazdaspeed 3 I guess. But that thing is but ugly, has a cheap plastic interior, incredibly poor interior design. Yep, it may be a tick or two quicker to 60 but really?

[dad911]

My daughters jetta and my wife's a4 are the most reliable cars we ever owned.