wife's VW is a POS - Page 3

SLO-BOB · 01-13-2006, 04:52 AM

Haha-you got it. Don't forget frozen fuel filler door actuator fluid. Real nice on a low tank at 10 degrees! Turn indicators just falling off the car, and bad wheel bearings. I'm sure I'm missing somthing as it was in te shop over 20 times in the first two years. Despite all that, we didn't spend a dime on repairs-just lots of inconvenience and lost time. VW really did back the car-except for giving me a new one to replace the lemon.

onewhippedpuppy · 01-13-2006, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sebring77
Nope-just tossed another 2.0 in that they prolly pulled out of some used pos on the next lot.

No, I meant within VW's product line. I think the base Jettas now have a 2.5 5 cylinder, I just wondered if they were discontinuing the 2.0 4 cylinder.

NICKG · 01-13-2006, 06:08 AM

2.0 is still in the beetles and the golf(till g5)

RobertsStole2nd · RobertsStole2nd's Garage

I checked the coolant expansion tank last night - the fluid is at the max line and bright pink, no contamination that I can see. Doesn't seem like there's any seepage between the head and the block, though it's oily around the valve cover gasket. Safe to say I can rule out a blown HG or a cracked head? I'm changing the oil tomorrow.

Nick - the CEL has been coming on constantly. So far, my mechanic has replaced two O2 sensors and recently, the fuel pressure regulator. So far, so good, it's been off for a week now.

Maybe I can talk my wife into a WRX or something. But for some reason, she still loves this thing...

SpeedracerIndy · 01-13-2006, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RobertsStole2nd
But for some reason, she still loves this thing...

That's the way everyone seems to be about VW's. Even with thier less than stellar reliability, people still love them and keep coming back.

Glad to hear that is sounds not quite so bad as you first thought.

RobertsStole2nd · RobertsStole2nd's Garage

Speedracer - yup i don't get it. They're a nice drive for an inexpensive car, but both the Porsche and even the Land Rover have been rock solid reliable. I would've thought the opposite.

Hey are you a Colts fan? Let's hope for a Pats/Colts AFC championship game. We'd like another crack at you guys...

Todd

jkarolyi · 01-13-2006, 09:48 AM

The 2.0 is the latest iteration of the original 1.7 liter engine that came in the '75 VW Rabbit, VWs first water-cooled car. It's notoriously long-lived and tough, but perhaps the quality of assembly has slipped in recent years.

Do they make the engines in Mexico or import them from Germany? I know that most New Beetles and Jettas/Golfs are made in Mexico. Perhaps the assembly quality isn't the same when you pay your workers $3 an hour rather than $30.

Jay H · 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SpeedracerIndy
That's the way everyone seems to be about VW's. Even with thier less than stellar reliability, people still love them and keep coming back.

My good friend has a 1.8 Turbo Jetta (MY2002). I car pool with him several times a week so I have a lot of seat time in this car. He's got 33,000 miles on it and it's been in 7 times for recalls and problems over the past three years and 33k miles. He bought it new.

He's had the bad coils, windows that powered down and didn't come back up (VERY cold ride to the dealership when this happened in February in WI), various electrical sensors fail, and on and on.

He loves the thing and will be buying a new Jetta when the time comes to get a new car.

Another co-worker had a 2000 Passat that was leased from new. Not as many problems, but it did have electrical problems. She bought a new 2003 Passat even with the problems she had with the '00.

People love 'em and keep buying them.

Jay

SpeedracerIndy · 01-13-2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RobertsStole2nd
Speedracer - yup i don't get it. They're a nice drive for an inexpensive car, but both the Porsche and even the Land Rover have been rock solid reliable. I would've thought the opposite.

Hey are you a Colts fan? Let's hope for a Pats/Colts AFC championship game. We'd like another crack at you guys...

Todd

Heck yea I'm a Colts fan!!! I am going to the game on Sunday, can't wait! I was hoping we would get to play the Patriots for the first game, but we'll take the Steelers. As long as the Colts don't play like they did against the Chargers, we should be in for a Pats/Colts championship!!!

SpeedracerIndy · 01-13-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jay H
People love 'em and keep buying them.

Jay

I'm guilty too. I have an Audi A4. Haven't had too much trouble with it yet. I can tell that it is a high maintenance car though. I've spent more in 10 months on it than I have on my 911 in 3 years. I am in love with it though. I can't explain it. It is just so satisfying to drive it to work every day.

Jay H · 01-13-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SpeedracerIndy
I'm guilty too. I have an Audi A4. I am in love with it though. I can't explain it. It is just so satisfying to drive it to work every day.

I'll fully admit that my friend's '02 Turbo Jetta is a hoot to drive (especially fast) even with an automatic. I would assume a manual trans car would be addicting. They are so solid at higher speeds. That's where you can really feel the German engineering.

Hats off to NICKG for all the help he's given to this thread.

RobertsStole2nd · RobertsStole2nd's Garage

Speedracer - have a good time at the game. I never thought I'd say this, but I'll be rooting for the Colts. I'll be on my recliner Saturday watching the Pats, should be a tough game against Denver, but you gotta like Tom Terrific and Bill Belichick when the game counts.

I also thank NickG and everyone else who gave great info and advice on this thread. As always, I'm very impressed by the camaraderie and knowledge on the Pelican BB.

Todd

NICKG · 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jkarolyi
The 2.0 is the latest iteration of the original 1.7 liter engine that came in the '75 VW Rabbit, VWs first water-cooled car. It's notoriously long-lived and tough, but perhaps the quality of assembly has slipped in recent years.

Do they make the engines in Mexico or import them from Germany? I know that most New Beetles and Jettas/Golfs are made in Mexico. Perhaps the assembly quality isn't the same when you pay your workers $3 an hour rather than $30.

the 2.0 as we know it was changed int the current style in 98 with the beetle. the iteration you are talking about was last used as a 16v "bubble block" in the Passat and 16v gti/gli from 90-92. the aba 2.0 in the a3 chassis cars is a derivation on the design with most everything save the bolt on items being different. The deck height was increased by 16 mm to allow designers to increase the stroke while keeping the same proven bore centers. The later 2.0 that is in the 01 jetta is is another derivative of this one, it is pretty far removed from the early 2.0's ...however it keeps the basic design. The quality is actually way up on these MX built units,really it is, but they sold a heck of alot more of these cars than they did the previous generations so the problems are more easily found. Mexican vw workers make a rather good pay for their industry level in Mx (about $12-17 hourly)and are probably better at their skills than most American Union people on a good day and at least equal on a bad one. I am a car guy through and through, I have always had Porsches and muscle cars as a fun car, but as a daily driver I would never be without my VW's. I am hoping to be able to afford a TDI or V8 Toureg when i get tired of my Tundra.

jkarolyi · 01-13-2006, 08:25 PM

Thanks for the info, NICKG. I was unaware the changes were that extensive.

notfarnow · 01-13-2006, 08:57 PM

Good thread... I find myself complaing about my Jetta sometimes, then realize that it has over 200k. It's such a nice, tight car that you forget it has a lot of years & miles under its belt.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-13-2006, 09:10 PM

Like any other car, you can get a lemon once in a while.

Had several bugs, always good cars never more than $200 or 2 days to fix.

had 2 914's. great cars when maintained

had a 1991 Jetta for a few months GREAT car, sold it for more than I bought it.

had a 1980 Rabbit diesel. The WORST car ever made. AM radio with one speaker, constant problems with water accumulation in the fuel, and icky blue vinyl interior

NICKG · 01-13-2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by notfarnow
Good thread... I find myself complaing about my Jetta sometimes, then realize that it has over 200k. It's such a nice, tight car that you forget it has a lot of years & miles under its belt.

that thing will go forever, have the flex go yet? those diesels are built to last...big time. My daily golf is a 96 with a 2.0, I have 443k on it, its ugly, but I drove it 80k miles last year doing parts marketing for dealer groups, I only needed a clutch(it was original) and another one 25k later when the input shaft decided to leak, just did the exhaust(the second on the car) and replaced the o2's on it because they were old and while not tossing a code, the mileage went down...I do regular maintenace and use synthetic rotella. the rustis getting a bit out of hand, not for vw's sake , but where it slammed in the ass and was poorly repaired. My oe cd changer crapped out, but I had another

notfarnow · 01-13-2006, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NICKG
that thing will go forever, have the flex go yet? those diesels are built to last...big time. My daily golf is a 96 with a 2.0, I have 443k on it, its ugly, but I drove it 80k miles last year doing parts marketing for dealer groups, I only needed a clutch(it was original) and another one 25k later when the input shaft decided to leak, just did the exhaust(the second on the car) and replaced the o2's on it because they were old and while not tossing a code, the mileage went down...I do regular maintenace and use synthetic rotella. the rustis getting a bit out of hand, not for vw's sake , but where it slammed in the ass and was poorly repaired. My oe cd changer crapped out, but I had another

Yes... freg. Just did the flex pipe in december, it was $400. 2 weeks later a company in British Columia started making 2.5" performance downpipes for $220. On the diesels, the exhaust is the best place to free up some hp.

I assume yours is a gas? The 1.9 TDs (AAZ code) they sold in Canada from 93-97 weren't available in the US, and I don't think you can import them... never passed emmisions. Just as well... they've had issues with the crank timing belt pulley coming loose... lots of dead ones around with valves firmly implanted in pistons.