(Cars) Volkswagen

I got my first VW a year and a half ago. The Passat is great imo, not sure I can tell you too much about the others.

 

Had a 2000 jetta. It was the most unreliable car I ever experienced. 20 major problems in the first 3 years of ownership including an engine going out in 50K miles.

German cars in general are not reliable especially after the first 2 years of ownership.

 

Had a VW for 5 years. First two years were great, then problems started.

Lots of work required during that time span. Even simple things like oil changes, headlight changes, etc. can be problematic at everyday mechanic shops because they don't have matching supplies. They can mess your car up with a normal oil filter. Using OEM parts in the car for simple things like a cam shaft sensor can be a nightmare. You'll end up going to either a dealership or a certified VW mechanic (and you hope the "certified" mechanic actually uses legit VW parts) and you get gauged on pricing. There was always another sensor failing that needed to be replaced at crazy prices. And the easy DIY stuff like replacing a headlight is impossible because they make their headlights ridiculously difficult to work with.

I will never own another VW again, even though the car was a lot of fun to drive.

 

$5500 for a new transmission in my wife's 2007 beetle. I never would have paid it if she didn't love that car. Now we're having electrical issues. arghhh.

Now the 72 super beetle, 70 karman ghia and 70 bus camper I had way back when were awesome!

The only VW I would buy would be an old air cooled VW.

 

Have had my wolfsburg for about 6 years.

You can't beat the technology for what you pay for, but they do require a certain extra love. For instance, only premium gas (sludge and gunk build up is a big problem if you neglect it).

Also, like mentioned above, certain things like oil changes can be a bit of a hassle. The 3 times I've taken it to 3 different places to get the oil changed, other than the dealership, all 3 times they stripped the oil filter housing or some crap like that, ( no they did not strip the oil drain plug, THE OIL FILTER HOUSING).

Honestly though, I don't regret buying it. The technology is so good that my car, 6 years old, is still better than say a new civic or other comparable sized new car.

 

My girlfriend has a 2007 VW. Has had a lot of problems in the past 3 years. Transmission, starter, A/C, etc. Granted, she doesn't take very good care of it and dings a lot of stationary objects. She goes into service it way more than I do for my Toyota.

It's decent when you have a warranty, but hers was only 5 years and she's been paying a lot out-of-pocket for these fixes.

 

I owna 2012 VW GTI with the complicated dual clutch transmission. Haven't had any problems in my 2 years of ownership even with some mods(intake, downpipe, tune, stiffer control arm bushings and a rear sway bar) I do take care of my vehicle though. Really fun car to drive.

 

The mk6 generation gti 2010-2013 have a pretty decent record. There were many issues with the dual clutch on the previous mk5 gti's but those problems have been resolved. The only issue is that the transmission needs special servicing every 40k miles. I would defenitly pull the trigger on the gti. Its probably the best bang for the buck fwd performance vehicle on the market.

Also, its always a good idea to get a vehicle towards the end of its generation run. Usually it takes a couple of years for manufacturers to iron out all the assembly kinks. The MK7 GTI is coming to the US this summer and you can expect some issues since it's the introductory year. Its a good time to get a used gti since the prices might drop a bit because of the new generation being released. The current mk6 generation ends this year. So I would get a used 2013 gti.

 

Had a 2000 bug for 11 years . . . only one real problem with the seal at the gas tank, easy fix. Have a 2012 Jetta . . . before the redesign . . . fabulous car. Just bought a Tiguan R Line and love it.

 

http://www.truedelta.com/Volkswagen-Golf/reliability-279

Volkswagens aren't as horrible as they used to be in terms of reliability, but they're still not all that, and the reliability varies among models.

 

All of my cousins/relatives who have owned a VW regret it. Constant issues and a lot of money/time in the shop to repair it.

If you're serious about purchasing a VW, pony up the extra money up front and buy something nicer and more reliable rather than wasting it on future repairs.

 

The Phaeton is awesome.

 

I had a 99 Passat for a year. So many issues. Also known a few other people with very unreliable Volkwagens.

I would be careful with which one you get and have every inch checked out.

 

Again majority of newer VW's are fine.

 

Had a 04 Passat that worked like a charm. Didn't really have issues with check engine light or drivetrain problems. I did keep up with its maintenance. The trick to avoiding major mechanical failures is getting something replaced ahead of time before it fails (timing belt) or keeping up with something as simple as an oil change.

Every car I've had I've never had major issues with and I don't think it's a coincidence. You just have to have work done in advance and really give it love by not driving it like an ******* and keeping up with its maintenance.

Now I have a 13 Passat and I love it. Take care of anything and it'll last

 

I'm thinking about getting a CC or EOS next year. If anyone has any experience with those, I'd appreciate the comments.

 

My first car was a 2000 Jetta. Never had a single problem with it. Gave it my younger bro after about 6 years. He still drives it today with no issue. Ironically, he's buying a new car this year actually.

 

lol dsgs arent that complicated. I have one in my wolfsburg. Great transmission.