actually, form my experience as a mechanic....VWs relaibility has been crap for much longer than that. We used to get them in constantly...and alot of the times it was electrical problems...which were a booger to find and fix. and wouldnt you know it...it seems like every time, th epart that was needed had to be imported. If you want a small, high-mileage car...stick with Hondas or Toyotas or even a good domestic small car.(yes, they do exist you carsnobs)...hell....I get mid 20s in my big SS(around town)...so it doesnt hurt me much...I just have to restrain my right foot...that car goes way too fast too easy...
The reliability of all European cars have been called into question in the past two consumer reports ratings. Asia>US>your $40,000 beemer as far as staying outta the garage. I dont have a car anymore, but I am upset they raised the subway rates by $6 a month. I miss my G35.
Is is sad that I'm still waiting for the prices to go back down to 1.00-1.15 of a few years ago?? I used to have a diesel truck 4 years ago and I could get a gallon for UNDER 85 cents...
I have VW Jetta and it gets like 30 MPG on the highway, but it is a turbo. I don't know about the quality of the car, but it has been a blast to drive and I really haven't had any problems with it at all. I had an 2002 Mercury Mountaineer V8, but the gas was KILLING me. So when my dad got his Lexus SC430 he let me have the Jetta and we sold the Mountaineer. I like SUVs, but I don't think I will ever own one again unless I win the lotto.
All good points. I wonder what the resale value of any of these hybrids is - do they drop more slowly or quickly than regular cars?
actually i read in an automobile mag during my lunch break that BMW is one of the rare exceptions to the current state of german reliability. i know you were just making a point but i just thought i'd bring that fact up this mag also said that germans rated Benz, Audi, and VW near dead last in reliability.
Another thing to consider is the EPA ratings for MPG. I understand its not the actual miles per gallon but a formula based on the emissions. The formula was established long ago. I think the cleaner the emissions the higher the MPG when infact the real MPG are not as great. "EPA testing rates hybrids at 47 to 63 miles per gallon in combined city-highway driving, depending on model and equipment. Honda and Toyota, the only hybrid sellers, don't dispute that hybrids fail to deliver that. But they say hybrids' fuel-economy shortfall isn't much different from that of gas engines. "Most of our cars get 10% to 15% less than the EPA (rating) in the real world," says Toyota spokesman Mike Michels. "A 10% to 15% variance looks a lot bigger on a 55-mpg (hybrid) car than on (a gas-power) one that gets 15 or 20.""
