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Except for the $3,500 timing replacement. depending on the years you're talking about. VW claimed it was a lifetime part, Apparently lifetime in german must mean 80,000mi. They made it brutally hard to change. I would avoid old VW's unless you have many funds available. Those and the audi's of similar years are so great when there new,but be prepared if you want to keep it.
I don't know of anyone gouged for $3500 for a timing belt change, on any 4-cylinder Volkswagen engine. Typically the parts cost around $200 or a little more, which includes the cam belt itself, the auxiliary belt, rollers or idlers, the tensioner, the water pump, and maybe a few single-use bolts. Depending on the engine, there is about 3-to-5 hours of labor. So there is no way this job should cost more than $1000. And on most VW engines since 1999, the replacement interval is about every 100,000 miles. So less than a penny a mile. And there is nothing especially complicated about the procedure for replacing the timing belt.
I am pretty sure that Volkswagen has never claimed that their timing belts are good for the life of the car. You'll have to provide more information.
My recommendation is based, in part, on my ownership of two Mk4 Golfs, both TDIs. I am familiar with them, and to a lesser extent to the 2.0 liter gas engine version. That gas engine is of a relatively simple design, durable if not ultra-efficient. It is the automatic transmissions used with that engine on that model that are not reliable. That's why I recommend ONLY the manual transmission models.
I second the Honda Fit. My son loves his, it has a "right side" camera that shows what's happening on the right side of the car. You can "fit" almost anything in that car.
I don't know of anyone gouged for $3500 for a timing belt change, on any 4-cylinder Volkswagen engine. Typically the parts cost around $200 or a little more, which includes the cam belt itself, the auxiliary belt, rollers or idlers, the tensioner, the water pump, and maybe a few single-use bolts. Depending on the engine, there is about 3-to-5 hours of labor. So there is no way this job should cost more than $1000. And on most VW engines since 1999, the replacement interval is about every 100,000 miles. So less than a penny a mile. And there is nothing especially complicated about the procedure for replacing the timing belt.
I am pretty sure that Volkswagen has never claimed that their timing belts are good for the life of the car. You'll have to provide more information.
My recommendation is based, in part, on my ownership of two Mk4 Golfs, both TDIs. I am familiar with them, and to a lesser extent to the 2.0 liter gas engine version. That gas engine is of a relatively simple design, durable if not ultra-efficient. It is the automatic transmissions used with that engine on that model that are not reliable. That's why I recommend ONLY the manual transmission models.
They called it a lifetime part. My neighbor doe's the books for a major garage up here. There between $2,700 and $3,500, I don't recall what the difference was. I also have a 20yr old son so you can imagine how many of his friends have had GTI's. When they went they were either replaced at that cost , or sent to the junk yard. You have to lift the engine. We must be talking different years as this is a common reason parents don't want to buy these.
They called it a lifetime part. My neighbor doe's the books for a major garage up here. There between $2,700 and $3,500, I don't recall what the difference was. I also have a 20yr old son so you can imagine how many of his friends have had GTI's. When they went they were either replaced at that cost , or sent to the junk yard. You have to lift the engine. We must be talking different years as this is a common reason parents don't want to buy these.
It is not a lifetime part, and never has been. I can show you You do not have to lift the engine, just support it while you remove the engine mount. I do not know what VW dealerships charge, but reputable mechanics charge $800-1000 including parts and labor for the TDI, and less for the 2.0 gasoline engine.
It is not a lifetime part, and never has been. I can show you You do not have to lift the engine, just support it while you remove the engine mount. I do not know what VW dealerships charge, but reputable mechanics charge $800-1000 including parts and labor for the TDI, and less for the 2.0 gasoline engine.
I just found a few quotes on line for 2k on a 2003, I believe the extra was due to the fact that while you had it apart there were other parts to replace. The TDI's And 1.8's were not the same. Quick edit, he also said it is more expensive after it fails as opposed to just replacing, due to other damage, so that probably figured in. also not that it matters but I thought they used a chain back then, hence there claim of lifetime.
What year? They called it a lifetime part untill they weren't able to anymore.
I have only been referring to the Mk4 Golfs in this thread: 1999-2006. None of the engines used in the Mk4 had a "lifetime" timing belt, nor did VW ever claim this.
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I just found a few quotes on line for 2k on a 2003, I believe the extra was due to the fact that while you had it apart there were other parts to replace. The TDI's And 1.8's were not the same. Quick edit, he also said it is more expensive after it fails as opposed to just replacing, due to other damage, so that probably figured in. also not that it matters but I thought they used a chain back then, hence there claim of lifetime.
Oh, well if you wait until the TB fails, then there is serious damage to the cylinder head (valves, cam, etc.). You really should try to avoid that, which is the reason for replacing the TB and related parts before failure. The extra parts that should be replaced at the same time are listed in the link I posted previously, all available in kits for $200+ from REPUTABLE online vendors.
The 1.8T engine in the GTIs of that era are different, and I don't know much about them. But the prices for parts and labor should not be significantly different. Here's a link to 1.8T timing belt kits. 1.8T Timing Belt DIY | Audi & VW 1.8T Timing Belt Kits
As for whether VW ever used a timing chain in a 4-cylinder engine -- not to my knowledge. But again, I'm only talking about the Mk4 Golf (and the same engines in the Jetta and New Beetle).
You can get a new Soul base with a stick or automatic for your price goal. They come with stability control, ABS, and the other required safety stuff. Rugged and reliable with an excellent warranty.
Get to a driving school. NOT driver ed, which in my day was a joke. One that goes beyond the basics.
He should get something big, even if it is not that great on gas mileage. Gas is cheap, hospital bills and funerals are expensive.
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