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My daughter when she graduated from college and was teaching wanted to buy a "sporty car" something with a cool look and fast--and she could drive a stick--
so she bought a VW Jetta--the Wolfensberg edition made in Germany to get better quality control...had a sunroof--looked cool and hot--and was fast...
She had it about a year and one day opened her truck to find water in it--
she parked outside/no roof protection and there had been rain...
After she got the wet vac and suctioned out the water and dried the carpet in trunk
She and her dad checked the seal on the trunk but it seemed ok--
car had not been in any rear-ender accident to cause trunk to buckler or anything...
she thought OK--maybe I didn't close it all the way the last time I was shopping--
next time it rained she got water in trunk again...
took it to dealer--
couldn't find anything wrong with it--they thought she was a dumb blond because she was cute and a blond...
next time it rained same thing--
finally discovered that it was the seal on the sunroof that was messes up and allowing rain to seep in and run through the roof section into area over the rear window and funnel into the truck--
they wanted like 1500 to fix it--
said she must have damaged the mechnism for the sunroof--
never buying a Volkeswagon again
All because of clogged sunroof drain holes. Depending on WHERE the clog is you never know where the water may want to go. All too common malady in VWs. In owning well over 2 dozen cars with sunroofs over my lifetime the VWs are the ONLY ones Ive ever experienced this issue with. Poor design of the drains and their location being the culprit.
To address the 1.8T engine issues...if owners followed the instructions from VW it was NOT an issue with the sludge. When we bought the car new in '04 they suggested that we use synthetic oil so we did. A year later they sent out a sticker to put in the owners manual that changed that to synthetic oil required. The engine has been absolutely flawless but we have always changed the oil right on time and always, always used premium fuel.
This winter in Bemidji my son's 1.8T Passat started right up in -35 degrees while he watched Toyotas, Mazdas, Fords, Chevy's ect have to get jump started and towed.
Some of you guys crowing about all the miles you put on your cars, you live in places like California and Florida and don't see the climate swings we do or is your car covered in salt all winter long.
Again, I was never a big fan of VW's tried to stop my wife from buying one and failed. Tried to get my daughter to choose anything else and failed. But they turned out to be great cars.
You want northern climates with mileage? My wife's corolla had 184,000 miles on it when she sold it. My expedition had 234,000 miles when I sold it. My camry has 104,000 miles and sees an 80 round trip. These vehicles spend significant time in cold and snow with no issues.
I researched Volkswagen before buying a toyota. There was a pattern on just about each one I looked at. That affirmed my choice.
To address the 1.8T engine issues...if owners followed the instructions from VW it was NOT an issue with the sludge. When we bought the car new in '04 they suggested that we use synthetic oil so we did. A year later they sent out a sticker to put in the owners manual that changed that to synthetic oil required. The engine has been absolutely flawless but we have always changed the oil right on time and always, always used premium fuel.
This winter in Bemidji my son's 1.8T Passat started right up in -35 degrees while he watched Toyotas, Mazdas, Fords, Chevy's ect have to get jump started and towed.
Some of you guys crowing about all the miles you put on your cars, you live in places like California and Florida and don't see the climate swings we do or is your car covered in salt all winter long.
Again, I was never a big fan of VW's tried to stop my wife from buying one and failed. Tried to get my daughter to choose anything else and failed. But they turned out to be great cars.
Say that all you want, but it doesn't make it true. My Audi ALWAYS had synthetic oil in it. Still had the sludge issue. I live in Alabama so no salt has ever been on my car. Climate swings have absolutely nothing to do with the car's lack of reliability. Engineering does. Climate has nothing to do with the issues my car had, (which again are all verifiable if you Google it). The cars are junk.
And there's no point in saying that VW and Audi should be kept separate. They're the same car. And you'll find many of the issues are shared across both platforms. Glad you got two good ones. I don't know anyone on our local car forum that was happy with their VW/Audi.
You want northern climates with mileage? My wife's corolla had 184,000 miles on it when she sold it. My expedition had 234,000 miles when I sold it. My camry has 104,000 miles and sees an 80 round trip. These vehicles spend significant time in cold and snow with no issues.
I researched Volkswagen before buying a toyota. There was a pattern on just about each one I looked at. That affirmed my choice.
But Toyota's are so damn boring and ugly, like driving a Soviet Era Skoda. Just sit in a VW sometime compared to a Toyota. I would drive a Ford or Chevy before a Toyota, stats on websites be damned.
2001 Audi TT 225 quattro (basically a rebadged VW). Engine failed at just over 65k miles. It was one of the worst experiences with a car (as much as I liked it). I've had POS built vehicles hit at least 100k without major issues.
2001 Audi TT 225 quattro (basically a rebadged VW). Engine failed at just over 65k miles. It was one of the worst experiences with a car (as much as I liked it). I've had POS built vehicles hit at least 100k without major issues.
Never again.
Everyone has bad luck with cars at times. I have a buddy with over 400,000 miles on a Chevy Malibu. Who would have thought that possible? He just put new struts on it and plans on keeping going. Never has touched the exhaust, the engine or the tranny.
Our '04 Passat already needs some exhaust work (some flex pipe under the passenger area)
I'm not saying VW's are perfect cars, they are just a hell of a lot better than I gave them credit for.
But who's to say this thing won't implode next week and then even with 105,000 miles of trouble free driving, that would still make it a bad car IMO. If my son get's a few more years out of it then it's officially a great car IMO.
But Toyota's are so damn boring and ugly, like driving a Soviet Era Skoda. Just sit in a VW sometime compared to a Toyota. I would drive a Ford or Chevy before a Toyota, stats on websites be damned.
I'm at the point where ascetics are secondary to having something reliable, something that will make it to 200,000 miles without going through 3 engines and 4 transmissions and no electrical bugs. The denial of data doesn't validate your anecdotal experiences.
I've owned a MkIV 1999.5 Jetta for over 15 years. Here is my running list that I update with all issues noted. Some failures, normal wear and tear, etc.
Problems fixed:
Window Regulators x2 (front doors, one dealer, one self $690)
Alternator x2 (gone out twice $600)
Side Airbag trim B-pillar (recall)
O2 sensors x2 (one recall, gone out twice $500)
MAF x2 (gone out twice $300)
Fuel door motor (warranty)
Broken cup holder and faceplate ($45 used and new)
New interior door grab handle (passenger) ($30)
Valve Cover gasket/coolant flange/Coolant Temp Sensor ($417)
Timing belt ($650)
Brakes front x3 ($750)
Brakes rear x 2 ($490)
Tires ($900)
Battery x2 ($240)
Center cap, wheel left rear ($27)
Headlamp bulbs ($100)
Rear taillamp bulbs ($20)
License frame bulbs ($9)
Center console bulbs ($5)
Glove box hinge repair kit ($21)
Mirror cap, passenger side x2 ($205)
Front Suspension/struts ($493)
Reupholstered arm rest (Bottle of Gin)
Sway bar bushings and brackets ($30)
Windshield ($100)
A/C Recharge ($37)
Airbag ignitor fault/Clock spring ($400)
Timing belt/Waterpump/belts: $830
I am a fan of air cooled VW's. Have owned one of them and loved it. Would love to find another one. many of these 60's era cars cost more than the new VW cars selling today. Thise early cars were easy to work on. remove 4 bolts and two guys can get that engine out of the car and onto the work bench. Basic transportation at its best.
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