As I surpassed 150,000 miles, I decided it was time to address a big question: Are Volkswagen reliable? I've had great success with all of my VWs, except for one; and that one was a heap that I never should have touched over 20 years ago. See the video for more details...
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:13 - A New Milestone
00:31 - The Critics
01:08 - How I Define "Reliability"
03:26 - My Car's Condition
04:15 - My Luck with Volkswagens
05:52 - The Competition
06:55 - My Tips for Reliability
11:14 - Stay Stock
12:59 - Repair vs Replacement
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#stealthgti #150000
This man is preaching the truth. Amen
HAHA! THANKS!
I question all these people who love Tesla cars but nobody says what new battery costs . Look after your car it will last for a very long time.
@@georgevavoulis4758no always. Have you seen the Kia lawsuits with the engines.
Also "mismanaging time" thing is spot on !! Very wise
not many people keep there cars very long, so why would they care how long the battery lasts??? duh! and 2nd there is no such thing as the grass is 'greener' between EV's and gas cars! and 3rd, you said 'but nobody' says what batteries cost,! um NO! that is not true! you have a very WEAK point, so troll on else where! you trolls are a 'dime a dozen' @@georgevavoulis4758
My 2021 Jetta is my first and only VW. Had window rain shields put in and they fell off within a couple of days. The first year had brake issues. The second year had brake issues and didn't pass state inspection. The second year had gas tank issues - after getting fixed some gas pumps still don't work in gas tank. And, it takes forever to wait for car to be repaired. They let walk-ins have priority and keep bumping my appointment that turns into all day or several days as well as waiting for parts. Then they don't have loaners and won't pay for rental car. End up paying several hundreds of dollars for a rental car.
Yikes! Sounds like you have a bad dealer. BTW, modern cars are not very tolerant of "topping off" during refuel. That may have contributed to your fuel tank issues. BUT your subpar dealership may have just been taking your money without explaining that to you. I hope things are better for you today. Thanks for visiting!
Yeah your dealer stinks. In Mpls/St Paul RudyL has 3 dealers, Inver Grove is Okay, avoiding Schmells. Do most service now at private VW/Audi place, treated well. As for gas fills, I do auto shutoff 1, wait ten seconds, auto shutoff 2 and that is all.Filler neck needs air for vapor system. Listen to StealthGTI on that, he knows. BTW, my warranty expired April 30th, but I still had work done at private shop. Go to private VW shop for second opinion about work from dealer.
A lot of , Volkswagen mechanics would say generally they only see the bad vehicles because people don’t keep up maintenance on the , Volkswagen’s
European cars are not forgiving to owners who postpone or neglect to perform their required maintenance. That's for sure! Thanks for visiting!
Great video! A lot of good info and such a smart approach to long term VW ownership. Here’s to smooth sailing into 200k.
Fingers crossed! Thanks for visiting!
So far I have owned five Volkswagens so far (2 air cooled). I have always had good luck with them. I drove my 1972 Beetle for almost 34 years and my 2001 Jetta GL for 14 years. VW's hold up very well if taken care of properly. My 2020 Passat SE has also been trouble free at 35,000+ miles.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Loved my MK4 Jetta Wagon, it was golden as long as maintenance is up kept. The thing about Toyota vs VW reliability really just comes down to having a reliable owner or not. When I had my dad whipping me 100 miles/2 weeks away from maintenace, VW has never failed me. The second I left home, my Jetta died and replaced with a Passat which had tons of issue by 3rd year. Toyotas/Lexus on the other hand, I don't think I have ever done maintenance on time. Even with off roading and leaving the car as is when I go on 2-3 month vacations, don't hurt it too much.
Toyotas are benchmarks for reliability. Unfortunately, their pricing has crept skyward to the point of making all but the least of their offerings affordable to most consumers. I may consider a Subaru in the future. Thanks for visiting!
An excellent video and you make some very good points. My experience has not been so positive. I had 2 VW Golfs from new and they both had plenty of issues even though I maintained the cars perfectly with the dealer and drove them gently. I purchased Honda's subsequently, and they were better but not perfect. I have now purchased a new T-Roc (I'm in Australia) and hope that I have a better run with it.
Thanks for your report and visit!
Very interesting 👌 thanks for the tips on how to keep it going 👍
Thanks for watching to the end!
All great content, drive easy and keep those fluids changed and clean.
Thanks for visiting!
2021 Passat here, my fourth VW…my 13 tdi had issues I couldn’t resolve, so ended up with a Hyundai then as soon as I could I ran back to VW, lol. I think maintenance is key and I change my oil every 3000-5000 miles, and try my best to do the maintenance as prescribed. 52,000 miles and so far so good. I plan on having my transmission fluid changed early as well, and the timing chain too.
See my recent 7yr/200k video for comments about the timing chain. I need to change my transmission fluid! Thanks for visiting!
Thats exactly my philosophy with all my vehicles and none left me stranded. Well said everything you said about reliability. I currently driving 21 vw arteon and loving it. I plan to own and drive it as long as possible in factory specs
Very good. I like the Arteon. In fact, that long hatch back would clear my hitch mounted antenna! HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
Great vids, Scott. Thanks so much.
Glad you like them! Thanks for visiting!
I have a 2017 1.6 tdi Seat Leon. It’s a Uk car with VAG mechanicals. I’m at 95k miles. Only thing replaced on the car other than regular maintenance items was an inner driveshaft seal at 86k. In April it will have its Cambelt and water pump replaced on its 5th birthday. It’s been very reliable so far.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Take Care!
I've had three new GTI's, an A4 and R. The 01' VR6 was a POS (coils, window regulators, mass airflow, throttle body, sunroof leaks) all before 20k miles, '07 had carbon buildup issues at 30k, dsg failed at 32k, throttle body at 55k. 12' GTI was good only maint but I only put 17k on it before getting the 16' R. was great until it almost killed me when the EPC light came on on the highway four times (each time went to dealer and they couldn't replicate) the fifth time it happened I was almost killed by a truck. I dumped the car after that. I do love the way they drive though when they are not in the shop.
WOW! With each year you presented, I was thinking, "Yep, that's a Mk4; Yep, that's a Mk5; Yep, that's a Mk6." HAHA! The Mk7 seemingly fixed many of the things that were problems on the earlier generation cars. I don't know what the Mk8 improved. Time will tell. BTW, my GTI has 175,000 miles now. :-) Thanks for visiting.
First time owner VW '13 tiguan. Bouught out door shady corner lot 8k. 150k miles. In ten months for tires $500, water pump installed myself 400 bucks. New battery $200. Rear caliper complete 850. Brakes all the way around 400 bucks. Timing chain this spring $2500. For under $13 k i have an awesome, incredibly well-built and fun to drive luxury auto. When I asked a friends who specialize in these cars do they just break down? His response was no, they just need a little more attention in maintenance and preventative repairs. This vehicle is by far the finest driving machine i have ever owned. In 40 years and 20 some odd vehicles owned-including a number of exceedingly reliable Toyota products-the driving experience in this worn out VW outweighs these minor conveniences. Also I absolutely agree that reliability means stranded or keep going! this vehicle has not let me down yet! Peace friends!
Excellent report! Thanks for visiting!
Thank you man was debating about buying one or not thanks man!
Glad to help! What do you hope to purchase? The car market is crazy right now. Thanks for visiting!
Great way to explain everything, I found this to be quite helpful. I’m thinking about getting a new gli and thinking longevity wise if it’ll be worth it.
If I was shopping for a GLI, I'd get the DSG (which would be my first) and keep the car STOCK. Yes, they're fun when tuned, but it's tough to place blame on a part if it's functioning beyond its intended range. Good Luck!
2001 B5 Audi A4 w 1.8T here. 330,000 miles so far. It's needed the basic routine maintenance (brakes, suspension arms, timing belt, CV boots) and one new turbocharger. Very reliable car. Take care of VW products and they will take care of you.
That's fantastic! I thought the B5s (Audi and VW) were known for problems, especially with the suspension and axles. Glad you've had a good run! Thanks for visiting!
Ive had Rsx w over 180k and integra before. Got a golf 1.4 w low miles. Very impressed overall w this car. Might do stage 1 tune. Great info on your channel thanks!
My wife's car has a 1.4T. I thought about a tune, but only briefly. She doesn't use the power; plus, she'd be upset with needing premium fuel. So, stock it stays. Thanks for visiting!
I spent $500 for the 40k major service interval (iridium plugs), 5k oil changes. 2018 Jetta 1.4 SE 5sp now with 69k and a double warranty (6yrs 72k). Warranty fixes: dry coolant found on radiator seam (replaced radiator), oil leak (pcv related), drivers seat heater. That's all. I hate ethanol so I run ethanol free 91. Expensive? 39.1 mpg avg since day 1. Zero oil burn. I go to an Audi.VW specialty shop that uses Liqui Moly oil. Recently bought Rain-X silicone wiper driver side (Bosch was made in china, not buying it). Summer tires are Conti Extreme DSW, excellent in rain and rated at 168mph so I can do cloverleafs at 40+ if I want to. Winter tires are Michelin X-ice. Temp engine mod is Liquimoly Speed Tec for a 0.1 tune :-). Been on 1,000 and 1,500 mile road trips. Wanted to outrun a thunderstorm so I set cruise to 83 from Colorado towards Minnesota. Really like it so far, carplay needs Apple certified cable, Biggest gripe: the other drivers.
Agree with you 100% on reliability. If you ever come to WA state, do it after July 4 and before August. August usually wild fire month so air can be real smoky.
Thanks for the suggestion! Why "after July 4th?" I'm considering my trip before school lets out so that I might avoid some crowds. Take Care!
@@StealthGTI I assume you like sunshine. In Seattle, there is even a term Juneuary 🤣 where you have gloomy days for a few days straight. After July 4, is typically when the sunshine starts. You should check out Chuckanut drive to enjoy the GTi here. It’s a pretty drive towards Bellingham with tight turns. There is an oyster farm and shop as a bonus as well if you like oysters.
I have a 2019 base auto Jetta S. It does have the transmission 'growl' but other than some minor issues (distance sensor becoming misaligned), it's been trouble free for almost 5 years. I do take very good care of it and usually get the oil changed every 5,000 miles which is well before the maintenance minder alerts me that the oil needs replacement. I also periodically check the engine bay and verify all of the fluids, which is usually once a month.
Thanks for sharing that. I didn't think to mention my wife's 2018 Jetta SE. It's had two wheel sensor failures and one headlight housing LED failure, all covered under that model year's excellent warranty. I'm cleaning the sunroof drains now. Otherwise, a good car. Thanks for visiting!
For two years, I work as a mechanic in and Import shop. The most common major issue that I came across with four cylinder Volkswagen or Audi was timing chain issues or if someone did not replace the timing belt on schedule. Volkswagen went from a timing belt to a timing chain on the turbo 2.0 L engines and the chain tensioner was not built well. I would personally prefer a timing belt so that it gets replaced regularly and you are less likely to wind up with unexpected issues. My biggest gripe with Volkswagen and Audi was how difficult it was to work on them. The exception was the Jetta and golf. The transverse mounted engines were not as difficult to work on. The Audi TT was like that also. I think that they started mounting the engine transverse in more models in recent years.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! I'm told that the EA888-3 timing belt tensioners make some noise before failing. I hope that's true. Take Care!
My 2013 MK6 GTI MT @63k miles has only failed "reliably". i.e. The water pump failed, which I knew was an issue with these cars, and the intake manifold failed twice. All were replaced under warranty, the car has never left me stranded. The 2nd manifold failed at around 60k miles so while it was in the shop I had the valves cleaned. One other thing...the headfliner is starting to sag and I'm thinking about replacing it myself. I'm also planning on replacing the pcv valve and the injectors myself as preventative maintenance. I change the oil every 5k. I love this car.
I hate to say it, but the issues on the Mk5 and Mk6 GTIs were among the reasons I stayed away. The Mk7 was said to be a huge improvement over its predecessors, mechanically speaking. I think the same could be true of the Mk8 vs. the Mk7, but the verdict is still out on the electronics, though. Thanks for sharing.
Well, if your car haven't left you stranded with the issues it's a reliable car, I was a Honda owner at one point it had tons if issues but the engine kept going that's reliable. As long as your engine running and you can go from A to B despite all the issues we'll your car is reliable 👌
great videos scott!!!!!
Glad you like them! Thanks for visiting!
I have a 2019 4motion Sportwagen. I am approaching 100,000 km i love the thing. Ive had one warranty claim when the drivers door wire harness went bad. I do oil changes sooner than the suggested 15,000 km. The seems happy and when I am driving I have a smile on my face because it is a joy to drive.
Very nice! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Great video. My '12 Jetta has treated me very well so far. Only very minor issues. Interesting note - my Dad's and roommate both have Audis which have not been as reliable. You'd expect the premium brand of VW to perform better with higher quality parts, but I guess not! Appreciate the Sarah reference. I love her! Her videos kill me. :)
Back in the 1990's (and surrounding 2000s?), buying an Audi was a guaranteed headache! I can speak for today, but I'd hope the current generation of Audis are every bit as good as today's VW's. Thanks for visiting.
Audi sucks, My dad had a TT for 2.5 years out of which 6 months was leaving it in the repair shop. He sold it. He also sold his Pathfinder and bough a Toyota 4Runner new 2012 and still has it works like new. He even fell of a cliff and the car still works like a charm. Toyota is the best way to go for reliability.
Audi is a complete piece of crap
Love this video, nothing but truth. I love my VW’s. I have a 2018 Tiguan that I bought pre owned with 30k miles in 2022, I’ve had it 2 years now and have already put 50k miles on it😬 the engine, transmission, haldex all wheel drive and other mechanical parts have held up great. Due to driving it so much, of course I had to get new brakes all around, new tires, those are all common wear items. But the only issues I’ve really had are suspension related. I heard vw’s are known for bad coil springs, my front left one snapped a couple months ago, no big deal had it towed and it was fixed same day. I had to do a cv axle because I neglected to replace my torn cv boot which ultimately ran it dry from grease so it failed down the road. And finally I had to replace my control arm bushings in the front because the stock ones are known to crack and fail (rs3 bushings to the rescue). Besides that, a serpentine belt and a battery replacement under warranty, she’s a fantastic vehicle, drives great and doesn’t give me problem. The key to a long lasting vw is MAINTENANCE. Follow it by the book and you’ll be fine! Same with my mothers 2018 Beetle, only issues were a pcv valve and purge valve replacement, sway bar links and repair an exhaust clamp.
Import fans would say that's a lot of problems! ;-) I'm messing with you. The more complex cars can have a different slew of issues, unfortunately. I'm leaning toward a Crosstrek for my next vehicle (years from now, hopefully). No turbo and port injection should avoid at least a few problems. That and only half the horsepower of my GTI. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
I'm at 79,000 miles in my 17 sport. My car is the exact set up as your. is38 EQT tuned Reflex Silver. My car is DSG. My experience is the EA888 motor is a stout and reliable engine. The DSG gear box handles power and is the only automatic I have ever loved. However there are some weak supporting components that do fail. List of things I have replaced: Waterpump, PCV valve, secondary air valve TWICE, an injector, and I just replaced the coil packs. I'm 57 years old and love this car despite some of it's cheap components. Great review
Thanks for the note! I have wondered about how long my PCV and DV will last. But I've also read that the stock units are best. Take Care!
I just bought a single owner bone stock '17 Sport with 70K miles but an impeccable service history. Also the intake manifold and waterpump have both been replaced in the last 10k miles. Hopefully the PPI is all good.
@@Mk7Poorsche I recommend a carbon cleaning.
Scott thanks for video. My question to you do you have any regrets going to IS38? Or have you gotten use to it by now?
I cannot call it a "regret," but I wonder if I'd chose the IS20 over the IS38 if I drove them each daily for a week and then made my decision. Regardless, IS38 drives very well and unleashes good power when I want it. I think the IS38 is the way to go with DSG cars, though, without a doubt. Thanks for writing. -Scott
@@StealthGTI thanks for reply. I will be going with IS38 but with manual I already bought an upgraded clutch if I need it down the road. Thanks again 👍
It's because of your advice that I've been waiting for temps to reach 180F when I first drive off and I must thank you for that. I also feel that my Mk7 is very reliable and will continue to be so as long as I keep up with the maintenance. Thanks for the video. Cheers!
Glad to help! I hope yours last as long as mine or longer. Take Care!
My late dad was a diesel and hydraulics mechanic. His advice were to never over reverse a cold engine. Strangely my 2016 Volkswagen automatically limits my revs to 4000 after a cold start. But even that is too much for me. After starting up l wait for the engine to reach 90 degrees Celsius before allowing higher revolutions.
I am debating on my next car and I wasn't even considering a VW. You made some really good points. Thank you.
Glad to help! One word of caution, though: Make sure you test drive before you buy and make it a point to fiddle with the "buttons" on the steering wheel and touchscreen controls. I've read that they're WAY too sensitive and subject to lots of accidental selections. Thanks for visiting!
Get a Toyota, seriously.
@@novacolonel5287 I have considered that as well.
This is a great video! And I love his stile 😅
Thank you! 😄
I like your throttle management. I tried to be gentle until warmed but often "Give it the Sarah N Tuned Beans" not because I’m in a rush, but only for fun😃 I have a 2016 SQ5 (kind of a VW). At 90k miles, it’s drivetrain is rock solid. Only persistent annoyance has been the the door handles. The driver door had an electrical glitch and was clicking on and off when driving. That was replaced, now I hear clicking from the rear drivers door. Annoying.
Thanks for sharing! I'd love to have an SQ5. The Tiguan is attractive, but too much of a loss of power after this GTI. Power-wise, the SQ5 would give me what I crave; I just cannot justify the price. HAHA! The post right below yours mentioned Audis and problems. As for door handles, I've noticed that mine will unlock or lock if I'm close by and it's raining, snowing, or I'm washing the car. Some conveniences are inconvenient. LOL!
Great video. I am in the market for a daily running. What's your take on the golf trip & going. 2014, 2015 or 2016? Thanks
It depends on your location and your goals. If you're in the US, skip the 2014 since it's the Mk6 platform. The Mk7 is worth the upgrade! What about the infotainment system? Do you like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? If yes, then you need at least a 2017. Otherwise, just about anything 2015 and later will be good, so long as the car has been properly maintained. Good Luck!
Mine has been fine so far. I am at 78000 miles so far in my 2019 Jetta GLI Manual. I have had no actual problems that were reliability issues. I have just done routine oil changes, brakes and tires. The issue I have been dealing with was damage to the plastic oil pan. That was an issue with something in the road though not a car reliability issue. I have had a new oil pan installed but they put a third party oil drain plug in and they leak. Only use genuine OEM oil drain plugs and you should be ok. Overall I am very pleased with the reliability.
Excellent report. Check out ECS Tuning to see if they have a Street Shield for your car. I installed Street Shields on both my car and my daughter's Golf. Thanks for visiting!
Cars are consumables to be used. Take care of them and like your leak, you see the issues before they become massive problems and therefore reliability is maintained 🤷♂️ I wholeheartedly agree with you on all points and since reliability is my Paramount concern outside of just enjoying a decent, extremely versatile car, I have left my car completely stock outside of getting better than oem tires.
Agreed! Back when my 1998 Jetta TDI was new, I had a friend tell me that I shouldn't commute in it (50 miles each way) and that I should get a junker instead. Well, a junker could leave me stranded. I told him, "I bought this car to be driven." I had no idea that I'd keep it for 20 years and drive it 445,000 miles! I don't expect to keep this car for as long, but I do still feel that they're to be driven, not stored or trailered. ;-) I will really break some purists' hearts if I ever get my hands on a Golf R and treat it the way I do this GTI. HAHA!
@@StealthGTI I feel that. Pre covid I was averaging 20,000 miles a year so at this point I'd be closer to 60000 miles... I also live in Michigan with below-freezing temperatures and salt on the roads every single year so that tends to aggravate those same people you're talking about haha. I just don't want to maintain two vehicles at this point in my life. I want something with the most versatility and functionality coupled with enjoyment in a reasonably small footprint... to enjoy daily, not struggle through till the weekend. I work every day but Sunday right now 😅.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I have a 15 Autobahn that is about to hit 100k. Stage 2, but try to drive sensible. Only issue just recently was Alternator died. (Which still didn’t leave me stranded) Oil change every 5k with OEM hardware and LM. DSG every 40K. I’m extremely happy with the reliability so far. Hope I can say that at 150k? I appreciate your videos. I also appreciate that your car has more miles than mine for now. So, if you can go stage 3, maybe I can to. Lol
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hey Howss the Gti!
How have you enjoyed the is38? Compared to is20? I am sure you lost some low end, but does the top end worth the loss down low? What is your max boost on is38 Would you do it again? Or keep it juicy down low?
I have a 2019 Jetta SE and it has 80k on it. The only issue is the torque converter winds between 4 & 5 gear. I googled it and there’s a class action lawsuit because of that. So I drive in sport mode and don’t experience that noise. Hopefully it holds up in sport mode
I have a 2014 jetta tdi here in the philppines and it ages nicely, no issues. Imagine humid, hot heavy traffic, bad roads with potholes. Going 10 yrs old. Althouugh i do scotty kilmers at205 yearly on suspension rubbers. For most part been great car. Only thing broke was fuel lid actuator and that was because during covid time nobody went out, causing the lock servo to seized. Other than that great car. Just be stringent on following service scheds
European cars are not forgiving to those who don't keep up with prescribed maintenance. You seem to be someone who takes good care of their car. Thanks for visiting!
The only repair that caught me off guard.... was when the slave cylinder ruptured and leaked causing the clutch pedal to stop functioning and the car stopped as a result. $50 part cost almost $2k since I had to do the clutch as well since the transmission has to come out to get to the slave cylinder. Every other time that the car went down was my own error :P.
Ouch! That sounds unpleasant! Thanks for sharing!
On my ‘15 Jetta 2.Slow the slave cylinder is mounted outside the trans right on top!🙏🏼
Great advice, great video,thanks.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting!
Good video with common sense information. My wife and I have owned 6 VW's and 5 Audi's to date. Currently I have a 2019 GTi and she has a 2019 A4 Quattro. We're now both retired so our mileage is drastically down from the years when working. All of our VW's/Audi's have been reliable from a "never failing to start and get us where we needed to go" standpoint but one was much more problematic and that was my 2006 B6 Passat with the 3.6L. That was the first year VW separated the Passat from the Audi platform and frankly the B6 was not well sorted or ready for prime time. That was the only VW/Audi we owned with numerous nagging little issues and it was the only VW/Audi I was happy to get rid of. That car was turned in for a new 2009 A4 2.0T with the sport package which was a great car to drive and we kept that car until trading it for a 2017 A4. Our first VW's were a 2000 Passat GLX sedan and a 2000 Passat GLX wagon and both were trouble free. I moved to a 2003 Passat W8 sport package and the wife a 2004 A6 and again no issues. The W8 was a very enjoyable to drive and interesting car but frankly the engine did make me nervous for long term ownership mostly because it was difficult to service being crammed into the Passat's engine bay. The W8 was traded in for the 2006 B6 - ouch! Like you we drive our cars gently until fully warmed up and they are maintained by the book or ahead of schedule with VW/Audi parts with the one exception being our 2019 A4. We had chronic brake issues from delivery with that car but it sat on a dealers lot for 4 months without being moved and I believe that was the issue. The brakes squealed in cold weather when coming to a stop and when the dealer tried to correct the issue the brakes developed pulsation in the steering wheel when stopping. Several trips and lame attempts to fix by the dealer led me to buy new Zimmerman rotors for all 4 wheels and PowerStop Z17 ceramic pads. The Audi dealer wouldn't work with us on price but the VW dealer where we purchased my GTi has an exceptional service department and they did the labor for us with our parts in the trunk and the entire job cost less than $1,000. The brakes so far have been perfect but I took the time to do the recommended bedding-in process as specified by PowerStop. For certain Toyota's are the most trouble free vehicles manufactured but we find them boring and uninspiring. If you're looking to drive a nice vehicle that provides comfortable transportation at the lowest possible cost then Toyota is tough to beat. If you desire more from your vehicle, and are willing to respect it and service it properly then VW/Audi's can be a rewarding choice.
"Boring and uninspiring" is a great way to describe Toyotas. Toyota fans just don't understand. HAHA! Still, I may find myself in a Toyota someday. Hopefully, though, my GTI still has some years ahead of it. Thanks for visiting!
I totally agree, you are in rush- get up earlier or mismanaging time. ❤❤
Thanks for your support! Unfortunately, most modern people are too short-sighted and self-centered to think that far in advance. HAHA! Take Care!
You are as honest as they come , i love my VW
I appreciate you comments! Thanks for visiting!
Hi! I love my GTI but gas prices really high in my Area. I was in vw dealership to replace my throttle body I saw a fully electric Id.4 looks really good, I'm thinking going electric what are your thoughts? I'm not fully committed yet to trade but it's really hard decision for me right now.
I'd have to get a smoking deal on a trade before considering a move. Even at high fuel prices, I could buy A LOT of premium unleaded fuel for the cost of an ID.4. ;-) Thanks for visiting.
Great video. Thanks!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for visiting!
I want to travel with my 2018 vw golf gti pulling a camp/trailer like a scamp 13 or Nucamp 400 teardrop trailer I did some research and it looks like it's ok. What's your though about this.
I think they're both too heavy. VW of UK limits the towing limit to 1500 lbs on a trailer without brakes. If your trailers have brakes, then you'll need a brake controller unless you have surge brakes. VW of UK allows braked trailers up to 3500 lbs, but I would not do that with a small car in the US. Personally, 1500 lbs is as high as I'd go. Good luck and thanks for visiting!
Exactly all my thoughts as well, practically word for word.
Thanks for the advice, watching you from Down Under…
I appreciate your visit! Take Care!
I agree I used to own a 2008 Jetta 2.5 v5 150k miles , never had major issues bulletproof engine.
I'm quickly approaching 200,000 miles! I'll share a milestone video next month. Thanks for visiting!
On my 4th vw. A 99 Jetta GLX, just past the 200k mi mark. And yes, with anything German maintenance is key to a long happy life! A couple things to add or question on the video.. 1. The engineers for vehicle manufactures design the car to last the warranty period. After that it's more beneficial to them to have you buy another vehicle from them. Talk to some Porsche guys and more than some will tell you there were no problems until about the second the warranty ended; guess Porsche has it dialed in that way. We live in a disposable culture more now than ever unfortunately. 2. Why don't you recommend letting the car warm up idling? I can understand maybe not all the way up to perfect operating temperature, but you said 30 seconds then go. Genuinely curious about this. I always enjoy learning something new or a different way of thinking. Overall good video with lots of good information in here 👍 Thank you🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience! My Mk3 was great until rust attacked the front strut towers. I agree with your assessment of a "disposable culture." Unfortunately, cars have become so expensive that they're not conducive to a disposable culture. Thanks for visiting!
I used to own a 2017 vw golf gti and it was a great car I had it for 6 year before I had the gti I had a jette and before that a Passat and there were all really good cars but unfortunately my gti got rear ended a few months ago I was fine I had to go to the hospital but I’m okay I’m still really sad about it and now I’m getting a 2022 golf gti so that’s good
Yeah, I "pre-feel" your pain because an accident or fallen tree may be the only things that will get me out of this car! HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
I'm a DIY mechanic that work on 99% of car maintenance and repairs at home. You are really spot on about keeping the cars on the road longer.
Thanks! I'm past 211,000 miles now. I have minor reservations before a big trip, but I make sure the oil is good and let 'er rip! ;-) Thanks for visiting!
Yes they are reliable! I am driving a 2007 Golf my dad purchased new back in the day. Kept up with the maintenance and still buttery smooth both interior and exterior. My mom is driving a 2009 Audi Q7 with 300k miles on it and it’s still good. We’ve taken that on several cross country tours from coast to coast and to Canada!
Excellent report! I'm approaching 200,000 miles and will share an update. Thanks for visiting!
As long as you service your vw it will not have problems. Nice video man.
Thanks! There will come a point when the car is just done. I hope that won't be for a while. Thanks for visiting!
Im planning to do Apr stage 1 just the ecu tune nothing crazy..do you think apr stage 1 would effect the reliability my 2019 gti golf?
I think it all depends on how you use the car. I went Stage 1 at around 17,000 miles. I tow trailers, which is considered abusive by some, but I don't flog my car all the time. If you use the extra power on a frequent basis, then that MIGHT affect reliability. But if you just drive it normally and have a little fun from time to time, then I think the car can be fine. I have over 155,000 miles on the car now. I think my only parts failures fall within normal wear and tear, except for the expected clutch slip. Thanks for visiting!
@@StealthGTI thank you I appreciate your response and info im thinking apr 1 just for fun ecu flush..
I have an Audi that I purchased new in 2016. Haven't had a single issue with it yet. The Audi that I owned before that I kept for 5 years before selling it and that one also never had a single issue.
Thanks for your report!
when did you replace the timing chain/belt?
Timing chain and tensioner are original and WELL within their wear limits. Thanks for visiting!
I’d say you are in good shape mentally and your belongings reflect that I just sent my 09 Passat to the graveyard with 265,000 though It was expensive to keep on the road My current 2013 Tiguan is the most comfortable and most fun car I’ve ever driven After $3,500 in oil leak repairs it has another one but I’m just going to continue to add oil and enjoy driving it
Very nice. My next car may be a Tiguan. Or it may be a Crosstrek. Hard to say. I hope to keep driving this car for at least a few more years. Thanks for visiting!
I have a 2017 GTI S trim DSG with 65K miles and it’s been headache free (crossing my fingers). No rattles, no squeaking, no electrical issues. Non whatsoever. Engine is still torquey as heck and it’s still fun to drive. My only “complaint” is its catchy transmission. It seems to always want to upshift to lower the RPM. Annoying to be honest, but once you switch to sport mode, the car comes alive. I’d like some advice if the transmission issue is normal or if there’s something I could do to address it. Thanks
The factory programming will always favor maximum fuel economy, which will constantly drive the transmission into top gear. You'll either have to drive it in Sport mode to keep it in the gear that you want or consider a TCM program from a reputable tuner. I like APR. A TCM tune may keep the DSG in a gear that revs a hair higher. But I'm not sure since I drive a manual and have no DSG experience. Thanks for visiting!
Hello. I am Andrei from Romania . I have a gti7 like you . 75000 km . Only problems was the batery and colant leak. Did you ever clean the valves or did you ever check the timing chain ? it looks like the injectors fail at 150000 km ( my friends gti did). Only ting i did that make the car drive and handle bether was the summer tires . I had dunlop sport maxx and replece with michelin pilot sport 4 summer tire . Exeptional tire . Handle beter , smoother . My gti is base model manual ghearbox and simple shocs ( a litle rigid on a bumpy road ) .
Thanks for the note. I cleaned the valves as a preventative measure before a 6000-mile (10,000 km) road trip in 2020. They weren't terribly dirty. See details in this video: kzhead.info/sun/mMdpZ7OejKGhaI0/bejne.html. Take Care!
Can you please share a little review of B6 Passat 1.8 tsi petrol mt saloon model in comment section ?
Sorry, I don't know anything about the B6 Passat. Thanks for visiting!
Nobody ever asks "How well do you look after your car ?"
Exactly! The ones whose cars die young will never admit that they either postponed maintenance or used subpart supplies. Thanks for visiting!
I love VW and Audi. I might have never bought a German car if my wife did not accidentally get a Jetta then Beetle from her Dad just randomly when we were still dating. And I found them to be fairly decent and reliable overall. Now I jumped in an S4. But I know the problem areas and plan to take care of them ahead of time.
Yes, I've said in other videos to "fix problems when they're small" so that they don't get the chance to create greater problems. Thanks for visiting!
Hi I Recently took a Tiguan 2023 model , people started scaring me about its maintenance issues .. what are your thoughts?
VWs and most German cars are not forgiving of owners who skimp on scheduled maintenance. I've always had good luck with my VWs over the past 25+ years. My GTI just crossed 175,000 miles. Yes, it's had minor problems, but I've driven the heck out of it. Visit my website at StealthGTI.com and click "Problems" in the right margin. You'll see everything I've addressed; most of it is minor. Thanks for visiting!
Not sure if you know this or not but consumer reports does not count a blown speaker with the same severity as they would a blown headgasket. The exception is if blown speakers affected many more customers compared to an extremely small number of those who had a bad headgasket (like maybe due to a bad batch that affected a small number vs a bad design that affected a large number).
Thanks for sharing your report. I suspect CR has improved their metrics system. Thanks for visiting!
2015 tdi sel jetta 6sm. 133k no issues at all. Changed waterpump that was leaking at 96k so had timing belt changed. Too bad they stopped selling diesels in USA because of dieselgate. Still under warranty until 162k.
I drove TDIs for 20 years and was quite proud of my MPGs. The GTI immediately convinced me to wonder, "Why did I wait so long to get a GTI?" I don't care about economy now. HAHA! This thing is still fun, even after seven years and 213,000 miles! Thanks for visiting!
I have a 2023 VW Golf that has had software issues from he start. Gateway was replaced at 1500 miles and software updated, however problems continued. VW now saying issue does not show on their system even when I have video ro show the problem
That really stinks! Is there a good Lemon Law in your area? If yes, get an attorney and make it expensive for them to deny your problem. Good Luck!
My Dad still drives my Grandfathers 1960 VW Bug convertible. Its 62 years old, on its origianl engine and trans, and nothing but routine maintenance, which is allot due to everything being mechanical and needs manual adjustments. Cars can last if taken care of. "Reliability" is very subjective. I tell people, the only car that has ever left me stranded on the side of the road was a Toyota Corolla. Do I think Toyota's are not good? Of course not, its just to say, you can have a problem with any car. As a general rule of thumb, most cars will last if you take care of them.
I think I've said in other videos, "Take care of the car and it will take care of you." ;-) Thanks for sharing your experience!
I am on my second Jetta. Volkswagens are wonderful cars if you take care of them. I take my car to the dealer on time for all of the scheduled maintenance.
It can be a crap-shoot for sure. My wife's 2018 Jetta has had two wheel sensors fail, as well as an LED in one of the headlight housings (required a new housing). Thankfully, it's all been fixed under warranty, which will expire for us in May 2024. Thanks for visiting!
@@StealthGTI Nice video. You do good work!
So far I've one 1973 VW Super Beetle, 1980 Scirocco, 2015 Golf TDI, 2018 Golf TSI gas, manual, now-2021 Golf TSI gas manual....No problems. Treat them right, regular oil change, rotate tires, no jack rabbit off the line, don't push the red line, shift gears....these cars will last...thanks for a good video...
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I wish I could say the same about my 2015 TSI Golf. I have given the best treatment to this car and it have given me many problems in return. I have not have a good experience with these cars, old or new.
As the man said, it’s all about experience. I wouldn’t go into euro cara after owning GM or asian cars. I’ve been thru a 98 gol, 02’ polo, 09’ jetta, 13’ jetta, 14’ eos and finally 19’ gti. Gol and 09 jetta were sold because I didn’t use them most of the time. The 09 jettas only fault was a smelly a/c. The 02 polo is still running to this day, only clutch pump and windows actuators have need to be replaced . The 13 jetta had the intake manifold damaged from previous owner. Only fault Ive faced is throttle body and crankshaft sensor replacement. It’s sitting at 136k miles. Meanwhile my 2014 eos has had it’s problems, but again, all because my negligence. It comes with dsg transmission and I didn’t give it the proper maintenance. So the gearbox went out at around 45k miles. Had to get a new one. Second fault is I had to replace the 4 injectors because I used to use gas treatments and bad quality gas. So leaving aside negligence now with around 70k miles, the 2014 eos with the 2.0t and dsg is actually pretty reliable. Now, my 2019 gti is barely 56k miles and it’s only normal maintenance.
Thanks for your report! Take Care!
just bought a 2024 tiguan hope it runs as good as yours
Thanks for visiting!
I bought new VW GTI in 2012. I replaced battery and 2 water pumps. . 150K now and still original brake pads rotors, clutch. All I do regarding maintenance are engine oil changes. That all. 😅
I hope you replace your filters, too! ;-) Thanks for visiting!
Yes, oil filters, cabin filter, wiper blades and tires. It is a great car. Cheers
2014 Passat SE w/roof 1.8 EA888 auto trans, bought new Feb, 2014. Currently 165,093 Miles. ZERO squeaks and rattles repl pcv, 5K Oil changes . Not as fun as my new 2011 GTI w/DSG but rock solid. Thats my story
The GTI is a fun car, for sure. I suspect the Passat is quite comfortable. Too bad it's been discontinued in the US, though I suspect that today's Jetta is as large as the Passat that we had 20 years ago. Thanks for visiting!
@StealthGTI Got to tell you that I'm surprised at the quality, solidity, economy and reliability and totally sqeak/rattle free. Hope I can make it to 200K or maybe more. I think BG additives for oil ( ERP, MOA) and fuel (44K) might have helped. No association with them other than a customer of their products. 165,210 miles No, these B7 Passats are much larger than all generations of Jettas
I will say I would never do oil changes at 10k. Rule of thumb in my family for all our Toyotas and Hondas and Volkswagens and Fords alike has been every 5000 miles if using full synthetic oil, and 3000 if using standard. We’ve never had a breakdown and both my vehicles are running great at 104k for my Toyota and 227k for my ford. Meticulous maintenance will save you headache in the long run.
I will change my habit if Blackstone's report says that I should. As mentioned in the video, my TDI lasted over 445,000 miles on 10k drains and still had excellent compression when I sold it. Thanks for visiting!
3000k for standard oil is not needed, its not 1980 anymore, oils have improved and so have engines, your wasting your money doing it every 3000miles. you should be getting 5,000 miles out of standard oil.
Just replaced the thermostat housing last week @ 69000 km (43k miles) on my 2017 mk7 golf with OEM approved parts. As a VW owner for the first time, I have few questions and Ill be grateful if you answer them: 1- should I expect the thermostat / pump combo to fail again? When? 2- what other major issues should I expect? Up here in Toronto Canada, we get winters with temperatures of -21C (-5.8 F). My routine morning engine warming takes 12 to 16 minutes. I wouldn't dare drive off even so gently after 30 sec only. Drawing on my experience at power stations where we used to start steam and gas turbines sometimes from "cold iron" state, I learned how crucial it is to gradually warm up the machine till we reach operating temperature before loading the machine. This is for allowing gradual metal expansion to maintain proper clearances, and for protecting bearing surfaces we always warm up lube oil and pump it through the machine even before starting the turning gear. How much of that would apply to VWs? I always warm up my cars completely before putting it in "D". Thanks.
Thanks for the note, Nidal. The water pump has seen revisions over the lifecycle of the Mk7. Hopefully, you have the most recent revision (another reason why I prefer the dealer for some parts) and the new part will last longer than the original. As for slow warm-ups, you make a compelling point. I suspect that putting a load on your power generation units would be as similar for them as the strain of our cars cruising at 100 mph (160 kph). I certainly wouldn't advocate going 100 mph after just a brief warm-up. I'm sure the owner's manual says to "start and drive" (paraphrasing); but owner's manuals also have attorney intervention, environmental oversight, and want to have us do things that maximize fuel economy (which idling does not). If I lived where temps drop as far below freezing as you describe, I'd probably warm the car for about 5 minutes while clearing the car, then drive slowly, all with the heater OFF. Remember, any heat that you pull through your vents will take heat away from the cooling system. Yes, the cooling system keep the engine from overheating, but it also warms the engine when it's cold. I opt to leave as much heat in the coolant as I can until the temperature needle raises a bit. Thanks for visiting!
@@StealthGTI Thank you.
I got an OBDeleven partially because I wanted to turn on "central locking with ignition" which let's you start the car and then get out and lock it (I have push button start) I am not good at letting it warm up every time but I rarely ever rush when I first start it. I'm in Michigan and it's been single digits (°f) My sunroof had the bezel crack but my water pump gasket is still going strong (2018 Autobahn manufactured in mid 2017) @25,000 miles. It sat for 2 years before I bought it new in July of 2019 with exactly 300 miles intending to keep it long term so I'm not usually an ass to it lol. I do DEFINITELY give it the beans semi regularly though 😆
i wish people would put the YEAR of your car instead of the MK??? whatever, im not going to look up what year MK?? whatever either!! thanks!!
@@karmendimas5274 Kindly revisit my 1st paragraph. I clearly listed "2017 mk7".
I wanna get a 2023 jetta sport but the 1.5 is fairly new 😢
Oh, I forgot about the 1.5T. I guess the 1.4T was not enough. ;-) Look up the 1.5T production run. It's possible that it's been successful in Europe and may serve well in the US. Thanks for visiting!
Touareg 2016 with 225 000 km on it (V6 3.6), the only thing I changed its brake pad (Rotors still good) and spark plug I did it myself, and of course regular oil change every 7000 km with quality synthetic oil. That all I did in 100 000 km (from 126K when I buy it), I recently did a check up on my suv and the only thing to do was the cabin filter... So yeah its realible its my fith VW/Audi I bring to more then 200K, never see a check engine light in my life
Thanks for sharing that! My only check engine lights were resolved with easy fixes. Well, the injector issue wasn't easy, but that was over 100,000 miles ago. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
I just bought a 2012 golf with a 2.5 liter. I'm not concerned with aesthetics, just reliability. Will it go? Apparently it will...ty
Scotty Kilmer posted a video in which he discusses problem areas with the 2.5L. Search his channel for info. His thumbnails are pretty click-baity; so, don't be too alarmed when you see an image that'll make you feel like you bought a ticking time bomb. ;-) Watch the video (I haven't), note his remarks, and keep them tucked away i case you have troubles. Thanks for visiting!
appears to be an overly optimistic view towards VW … My wife owns a 2023 VW Atlas … we suspect a small head-gasket leak at 8,000 miles and the dealerships response was that all VW cars burn coolant …. A very shady response from someone that seemed to not be surprised to hear about missing coolant before. Additionally, I the windshield washer fluid level sensor is not compatible with a rainX additive and causes the add fuild indication to stay on. The dealership, wanted $400 to just replace the sensor. (Parts and labor are very very very high) Instead I took the car home … spent 5 minutes and used up all the windshield washer fuild and refilled without rainX and fixed the problem. Today I will have a tire pressure sensor alert looked at .. likely a false alert causing the car to come out of service for yet another day… An owners Reliability Summary after 14,000 miles …. Strike one-Missing Coolant Fluid …a few software bugs bugs Strike two- Part cost and repair costs inline with Porsche, BWM and Mercedes … Strike 3 - you need to be very mechanical savvy to unneeded work and incorrect repair diagnostics and advice from gold source VW/Audi/Porsche employee dealer mechanics and service team. I have I decided to increase the service interval from 10,000 per oil change to 4,000 -5,000 using only expensive OEM parts and oil from the dealer ship. Hopefully I can still buy an extended warranty as this car looks like major problem are coming.
Sorry to hear about your problems. Yes, the Atlas is known for head gasket issues, unfortunately. I had hoped that VW would have fixed that by now. So, the VR6 engine remains on my list of "avoid this." My car continues treat me well. I just passed the 220,000 mile mark. Fingers crossed! With that said, I don't know that my next car will be a VW. I'm considering a Subaru. Thanks for visiting!
For me 2017 GTI had more issues during 3 years/48k miles than 2012 Mazda 3 during 9 years/108k miles. For example turbo died at about 45k miles on VW :( Yes, it is beautiful car to drive when it works, but I would not get any other VW out of manufacturer's warranty. Now I am a 2021 Toyota Highlander owner. Too early to discuss any issues, but assembly quality is way worse than on GTI. However, I was ready for that
WOW! The early turbo failure is a surprise, especially on a 2017. But the subpar quality on the new Toyota is shocking! I'd never expect that. Thanks for sharing!
Sorry to hear that. I found my valves super dirty already at 50k miles. That's deadly on a turbo if it starts getting carbon deposits. There's some reports of air leaks that cause it to dirty up sooner (mine had a tiny sliver crack in the intake so that contributed lots). It costs 150-300$ to get it carbon cleaned and recommended to do every 30-60k miles in the community. Sooner if you drive it frequently on eco below 3k rpms. Apparently the casual "sport" mode revs it above 3krpm and helps it clean out a bit on rides longer than 15mins. Maintenance needs are alittle bit higher than average yes, but it is worth it. Aside from that the 5cyl golf is the most reliable and turbo version is more sensitive (the higher fail rates make more demand for this engine so it's more expensive too). These cars generally do well with maintenance. Only the 5cyl regular golf is the one that tolerates alot less maintenance.
Surprising… 2017 mk7 gti 6mt here. 89k miles. Apr stage 1, high performance clutch and anti sway bar upgrades. I Do all maintenance on schedule and keep it clean. Parked outside. No major issues. Runs like clockwork.
ive had 7 vws (4 passats), 1 bmw, 1camry, 1 opel. the 4 passats were new. the first one was crap. not the engine but the noises and strange ballbearing rolling sound went on until got a new car. and, once it didn't start because of the engine. the second a diesel lasted 180,000. still good to go, but I got tired of the slowest. third was 2002 wagon. overall a great car 180,000. the 4th a 2010 wagon overall is a great car. this car has been great but the repair cost and vw itself seems to have changed. 5 years ago I was told there were oil leaks $5000 to repair. i didn't do it. and now 2024 I haven't had a drop of oil on the garage floor or driveway. now 14 years later 128,000 miles I'll drive it until something major happens and then by another brand. the repair costs at a vw dealer are ridiculous. Wagons are great and i can't for the life of me understand why so many people do the SUV thing. i think short people have a Napoleonic complex and once they get to be tall they never want to go back..
Excellent report! Thanks for sharing.
2008 with 207,000 drives great, minimal repairs in the past 3 years. Well taken care of is the key.. I bought it in 2021 for 1200.00.. She owes me nothing.. going to buy a 2001 Passat GLX … original owner 95k miles…guy wants 2900.00… if it needs nothing it’s a deal. Just tires these days will set you back 700.00. I love my VW !
You're right about tires! I just bought a set of Conti's for my wife's Jetta for about $800, including the extra warranty stuff. My GTI will need tires before next winter. That'll cost even more. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!
A variable to consider is that highway driving is not nearly as stressful on a car as city driving. It sounds like this might be one reason why you're able to get so many miles on your VWs.
Yes, that is true! Thanks for visiting!
I got 200k only my 2015 GTI SE . It was good until I hit 180k or so . I had an oil leak , leaking coolant ( that was from the beginning ,and ac) and some other weird issues . not terrible but my 2 Hondas combined were at 500k with less issues . It really just the actual costs vs my Hondas are twice as much. Like the clutch from honda was 900 I think and the vw clutch replacement was 2.2 but it was an upgraded clutch
Thanks for sharing your comparisons. Real data is more valuable than "Yeah, Hondas are better!" ;-) I'd also consider the probability that today's labor rates may be higher than when your Hondas needed work. I can certainly say I spent less on repairs for my Mk3 Jetta 10 years ago than the Mk7 GTI last year. Take care!
My Jetta has over 150k and it's never broken down on me. But I do keep up with oil changes and routine maintenance
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve owned 7 VW’s over the years, never had any major issues. Maintain them and they keep going.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Like changing the transmission fluid and filter early changing the oil every 4000 miles and sticking with Castrol European car oil always using the recommended octane Little marvel mystery oil once a month under 5000 RPMs
I agree but use BG additives. Fabulous machine
I may drain my oil more frequently, but oil analysis indicates that the 10k drain intervals are working for me, possibly because of my driving style. Thanks for visiting!
These tips are not solely related to keeping a VW reliable but any car reliable. Apart from all that, gentle driving and regular maintenance really increases your fuel consumption and you are not holding up other drivers either. In 54 years of car ownership I've never had an unreliable car but there again, I never drove these cars like an idiot.
Thanks for sharing your tips and experience!
Any clue about 1.0 tsi
No idea since we don't have that engine in the US. Thanks for visiting!
I am on my 4th and I have had no issues on any of them. Ford, 2 blown transmissions, chrysler one blown engine sue to tuming chain breaking.
I hadn't counted mine before, but I've owned eight in my 40 years of driving. I've had two duds, one used (and neglected) and one new. The others were great. Thanks for visiting!
Finally someone made sense and told the truth i would choose a vw over a Toyota anytime don't get me wrong Toyota doesnt take nonsense when durability is in question but i say don't underestimate vw. One of my friends have a vw polo Vivo 1.4 litres and that car has just under 450.000 km on the clock and the radio has failed he just replaced it and the window washer jets have broken and the check engine light doesnt work but the gearbox and engine has not been touched not one of the problems left my friend stranded so stop saying vw is unreliable 😡😡
Thanks for sharing! My car crossed the 300,000 km mark this morning. I recorded a video and hope to share it tomorrow. Stay tuned!
My first VW was an '86 Jetta with the diesel motor and had 560,000 miles on it. Still the original clutch, engine and transmission. I now have a 2015 Jetta...and it's...meh. Nice when it works, a pain when it doesn't. And surprisingly expensive when it comes time to buy parts.
I had a pair of 2014 Jetta TDIs. They never had any show-stopping issues, but I had always been concerned about EGR plugging and intercooler sludge or icing. VW's new warranty for the "fixed" TDIs was not comforting. Being able to take the car for updated warranty work every time it had the same problem would be like going to a buffet with terrible food just because it was "all you can eat." ;-) I let VW buy those cars back from me, bought my current VWs with their payouts, and never looked back. Still, even though I've been a VW fan for a very long time, my next car might be something less complicated and (gasp) my very first automatic transmission. Thanks for visiting!
Cascade German is a great source for vw parts
Ah, yes! I had forgotten about Cascade! I knew the proprietor during his early days under the "Bora Parts" business name. He was focused on TDIs at the time. I had left the TDI community by the time he founded "Cascade German" and developed new, closer sources for my auto parts. I'll have to reach out and say hello to him. Thanks for visiting!
They have this reputation for a reason.
Well I have been a fan of the brand for a long time, but to be honest VWs haven't been that great to me. I had 99 1.8t Passat that had many problems but I bought that car used with a ton of miles, so it's condition was probably as a result of neglected maintenance from the previous owner. That Paasat needed around $3,000 in repairs so I decided to replace it with 2015 Golf. I bought this car with the mentality that if I would properly maintained it, it would last but apparently I was wrong. I have tried my best to properly maintain it, but since it was new, it always seems to have some kind of issue. In my ownership of this car I've had: coolant leaks, oil leaks, trans oil leaks, water pump replacement (x2), engine mount, trans mount (x2), dog bone replacement, ac failure, premature shocks failure (front and back), front axel replament, sway bar replacement, baterries wont last (i have to replace them every 2 years or less), transmission errors, harsh shifting since it was new, sporadic rough idle, an oil pressure issue that no one knew how to fix and now at 90,000 the transmission started to slip. I know the car now has some age, but I think It has been a bit too much. VW warranty wasn't been of any help because they never could replicate any of these issues. So yeah, VWs have been pretty crappy to me.
Yes, VW's can be a crappy deal in some cases. I was not surprised to read about your Passat. That era of Passats was a disaster. My GTI has been very good to me, but I think my next car will be normally-aspirated and port-injected, which means it won't be a VW. Thanks for visiting!
I'm always first past the traffic light, first to the onramp, first, first, first... but never had any problems with my cars. It's not hard to be first when everyone else these days drives like they're on valium or sound asleep.
Given the comatose nature of the drivers you describe, it's possible that you don't need to flog your car to get ahead. That's a good thing, regardless of whether you keep your cars long enough to have problems. Another reason why drivers seem asleep at the wheel is because they're using their phones. It drives me nutty to finally get around someone, only to see their eyes glued to "something" below the steering wheel. UGH! Thanks for visiting.
This is not a knock of Audi/VW but on DI engines in general. The issues with DI technology is so well known and documented at this point you would think some manufacturers would finally address the flaws in the design. I also disagree on your points about reliability. If an issue requires me to go into the dealer and be without my car then that’s a reliability issue. At what mileage did it occur? That’s a factor to consider. My CX5’s brake switch went out at about 100k. That left my car stranded (lol, it was at home but it also wouldn’t start sooo). I don’t count that as a knock against the car because it had 100k. Had it happened at 20k? I’d consider that an issue.
Yes, DI's definitely need additional maintenance. I'm past 200,000 miles now and have been happy overall. Thanks for visiting!