Why have I not had a problem?
I have had a few VW’s. First was a 1991 VW Fox. Loved the car, hated how it looked, had no problems. Then it was on to a 2001 GTI 1.8t, Loved the car and the looks. Then a 2002 Jetta GLS 1.8t, Loved that one too. Only repair was an O2 sensor. Next it was a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0, for my wife, her choice. Have had not one problem with it and we both love the car. Then I splurged and got a 2004 Passat GLX. Not one problem with the car. Next I am looking at getting a 2005 GLI, and let me fortell the future……probably not going to have any problems. My father drives a 2004 Touareg V8, has had no problems. My grandfather drives a 2004 Phaeton V8, no problems. I am beginning to see a pattern here.
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Beck Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Forget the sales talk Mr. Melton, being that you get your paycheck from VW, your intentions will always be suspect to me and a lot of ALREADY much dissatisfied Volksyugo owners. Sorry, Give us REAL neutral parties to listen to. Hope I don’t offend you too much, but I’m just saying it how it is. It must also help that you can get instant service on your car the moment it starts “itching”. I don’t blame you for doing so, Working in the service departments of VW dealerships must be the only way to keep most Volksyugos running decently.
chrismelton Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – First, my paycheck does not fully come from VW. Only the portion of warranty that I am paid on comes from VW. And for informational purposes I do not do a lot of warranty repairs in my shop. Most of the work that comes through is maintenance. The KEY to ANY vehicle lasting a long time. You are correct that I get service whenever my vehicle get an “itch”, but for some strang reason, they just don’t itch. I understand that there are people out there that have problems with their cars. We also have a japanese car line here and those people have the same amount of problems with their vehicles as do VW owners. There are a few key factors though. Let me list them for you. Maintenance is number one. I do not care what kind of car you own. Clearly listed in the owners manuals of most vehicles are recommended inspections and preventative replacement of parts (ie. spark plugs), that help us (the service department) keep your investment running for a long time. Next is the dealer you go to. If you do not go to a substandard dealer, you will get substandard service. Next is information. The key to the dealer and the manufacturer taking care of the customer. I will be the first to admit that VW has not always lived up to the customers expectations, the “come back” question is “what can ‘I’ the dealer do to exceed my customers expectations?” If you do not have a service manager asking himself that question on a daily basis, you get a substandard service department, because [his] responsibility is to do just that exceed customers expectations. Now I have been in this business my whole life. I have seen the good and the bad. But there is something that is always true and always repeats itself. There are customers out there that you just cannot please, no matter how hard you try. Now on to another note. If there is a warranty extension, use it. If you have questions ask. If you have a recall get it performed. If you want to know if you have a recall on your VW, email me and I will check and let you know. chrismelton@covad.net Let me say one thing though “beck” if you want to be respected give respect. The official name is VOLKSWAGEN, or VW. It is not VOLKSWAGON, (there is no ‘o’), nor is it Volksyugo. And “beck” you did not offend me. I work hard and long for my money, I have worked hard to get where I am and to get my service department where it is today. It is feedback from people like you, that make me want to work harder so that I can make the next person who buys a VW or enters my store, enjoy his ownership experience, and can guarantee that they will purchase another vehicle from my store no matter what the make is.
chrismelton Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – I made a mistake in my previous reply. I meant to say if you go to a substandard dealer you will get substandard service. So be careful where you go.
Beck Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – No amount of maintenance can fix problems in ANY car if the components were never designed correctly in the first place. 100% of the problems I had with my car can be traced to premature component failure due to it’s not holding up to regular use (bad design, no proper product development before releasing to the public). My family also has a lot of history with Volksyugo cars, from Air cooled Beetles, Combis, Brazilias, 411s, Dashers, and Passats, and let me tell everyone here, It’s the old Volkwagens, that gave us reliable, solid transportation(AC Beetles and Combi Westphalians) Starting from when my dad bought his 411, then his Dasher, then me and my brother’s Passats, They Volkswagens started turning into Volksyugos.
My dad owned over 60 cars in his lifetime, ranging from Peugeot, Fords, Nissans, Hondas, Fiats, MGs, Renaults, Mercedes, Holdens, and was very very meticulous in his maintenance of his cars, being a car collector as he was. He was most dissapointed in the Dasher and the 411 he bought back then with engines that never held a proper tune and interior parts like door handles and seat recliners controls, just falling off in your hands when you used them. and exterior parts like marker lamps, mirrors and bumpers falling off while he drove the car. He swore off buying VWs after that, knowing that there is a bad trend in quality on their cars developing.
I bought my Passat after my dad died and I was thinking that the Dasher and 911 nightmares were a thing of the past and Volkswagen has improved since that time. Till everything starts going wrong in my brother’s and my Passat (First Problem, after 260 miles, 2 weeks of ownership, the ECU fries out on the highway at speed, the engine cutting out with no brake boost and power steering and all electrics just shutting down). Name any system in my car and I can tell you a serious problem that cropped up. It got really ridiculous and almost hilarious when all the seat adjuster knobs fell off in my and my passengers hands, when we tried to use them within one month. I’m so sure my dad was turning in his grave when I was signing the contract to purchase my VOLKYUGO! I’ll call the company what it really is until they decide to fix themselves
chrismelton Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Yes maintenance will not stop parts from prematurely wearing, but the inspections performed during maintenance can help indentify prematurely wearing parts so that they can be addressed before they become a problem. Now there are VWs out there that I have seen, that have been a “hornets nest”. But there are hundreds probably thousands of VWs out there that are running great and people have had minimal, if not, no trouble at all with them. I am sure that other manufacturers have comparable numbers. But, there are always buts aren’t there, VW must be doing something right, they have been selling cars for decades, continue to have repeat and new buyers, their product is very appealing and exciting, and people are very dedicated to the brand. Now whether VW is to thank for that or the Dealers are to thank for that, that is a question you will have to answer yourself. I know that almost all of my customers come back and buy another, so that says something to me. VW is doing something right. You also must note that humans build cars. Humans are imperfect beings, so you cannot expect a “perfect” vehicle, no matter what manufacturer you turn to.
Beck Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Consistent low quality of components in the magnitude that used VW cars, is inexcusable, when a lot of people plunk down their hard earned $20K+ for what they percieve would be reliable transportation to get us to work and make a living in these hard times. VW should just start outsourcing their parts overseas if they keep coming up with parts with quality not any better that what’s found in cheap party favor toys from Red China!
Maintenance is to catch numerous failing low quality parts, What a Volksyugonesque reply if I heard one. I put much more effort in maintaining, oops, repairing my Passat more than any other vehicle than I ever owned, and all it does is insult me and my family with yet another problem, time after time after time. The check engine light in my car might soon be the first ever LED to fail because of it going on and off so many times and finally burning out! The ABS light won’t be far behind! Hah!
chrismelton Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Well I might add that these are not hard times. Hard times was the depression era. It is also amazing that people always have better ideas of how to do things. That is the beauty of being an American, the freedom of speech. Also as you take me out of context, I said quite clearly that “inspections performed during maintenance can HELP IDENTIFY PREMATURELY WEARING PARTS SO THAT THEY CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THEY BECOME A PROBLEM”. I never said it was to catch numerous failing low quality parts. Also as I said earlier there are some people out there that you will never make happy, you are one of them. And a question, if you are so unhappy with your vehicle, why do you not get rid of it? When I hated one of my vehicles, I got rid of it. I took a bath on it, but I got rid of it and moved on. But as my grandfather always told me, opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one. We both have opinions, we both have as*holes, and we both disagree.
Clint Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – All I have to say about this little fight is that I own a 1989 Honda civic… I have owned it for about 4 yrs now and given I have put a new engine in it for racing purposes, but I have not had any “major” problems with it yet… the only problems I have had is normal wear and tear… But I have just recently bought a 2001 Jetta Wolfsburg Edition and it has been good to me so far… its only had a few minor problems… 2 recalls and 2 faulty parts. Anyways the point I am trying to get across is that Chris is right… all cars have problems and every maker has just as many thing go wrong… Look at my mothers brand new Accord… with in the first yr…. A/C had to be drained and refilled… had too much 134A in it…headlights dim out when the air compressor comes on… reverse lights no longer work numerous rattles inside the car… breaks make a “clicking” sound when applied… I mean there is something wrong with every car… not just VW… but I do understand this website is here for ppl who think VW is a pile of crap and so everyone can complain… I did the same just a few weeks ago till I got my car fixed at the VW dealership in Tucson, AZ, where I received the best service I have ever received ever!! So now I am a very happy VWer… sorry I had to throw in my 2 cents in this post, but I get very irritated when one person thinks b/c their car has given them problems every car from that maker is crap. If it has so many problems then try to file your local lemon law against VW and see if your car qualifies, and if it doesnt then when stuff goes wrong with your car make the dealership fix it with no charge to you you tell them how you want it done, they will take a loss b/c they make plenty of money you just have to know how to work them! Oh yeah Chris check your e-mail I sent you one THANKS!!!
Beck Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Believe me, once I can get enough money together, it’s bye bye to this heap and Volksyugo forever. I have owned Hondas and Toyotas, and if any parts did fail or wear out, it would be the acceptable, regular wear parts like brake pads, batteries (10 years average) wiper blades, Alternator (again, 10 years average, 1 year on my Passhit) sparkplugs, tires, oil. That’s it! THAT’S IT! Don’t tell me you never heard of this before! This is what you mostly see out there when people describe their experiences with the big Japanese brands. It’s nothing like the Volksyugo SLOW (should I say quick) DEATH FOR MY PASSHIT. Get a load of this list of horrors. waterpump (3 years), ECU ((2 weeks), side window glass clips (3.5 years) thermostat housing (3.5 years), ABS system (less than 1 year), air conditioner (4 years) exterior door handle mechanisms (2 years), Headliner (4 years), Seat adjustment controls (3 years), brakes that always drag and howl, prematurely wearing out pads and discs, no matter what so many different VW service departments have done to fix them!, Alternator (1 f*&%king year, Thanks VW and Bosch!)….want more! I got a lot more but I’m tired of repeating all of them! Heck, even my cup holder assembly keeps falling apart because of the cheap quality rubber components they used on it (I’m on my third cup holder part and it’s ready to be replaced again!) CONSISTENT BAD DESIGN AND QUALITY FROM VOLKSYUGO! Read the posts on this list and the complaints in sites like Vortex and you have to be blind not to notice this consistent pattern of problems and bad quality of Volkyugo products. Good for you if you are indeed lucky and getting your money’s worth out of your car, but please do not ignore the tons of Volksyugo owners out there that have a genuine problems with their cars.
YupOldBull Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Oh boy…..I am new to this site and just one of many voices. I have a 2000 Jetta which was declared a lemon in 2001. I have had over twenty trips to the dealership for about 12 items that have broken. Forget the little items like windows (5 times)?.how about a ?ew engine?installed!
All the problems and recalls since 2001 reminds me of an old saying. “”You don’t know…. what you don’t know!”" It is easy now….I can find hundreds of people with the same inherent problems. This car was poorly built…..on a ?arge volume?and ?onsistent basis.?VWOA was slow to react to the problems back then and still won? admit it now.
Some dealerships work with you more than others, but that is the “”norm”" in the industry. It should be VWOA stepping up?.and they haven?. The ?ar?is the problem?.not the dealerships?
Has anyone taken the time to sit down and write all their problems out? You know ?rove it?..list it for all to see? See if there are any patterns? Maybe it is not as bad as you think? Maybe the problems are either ?ver?estimated or ?nder?estimated!
9/20/99 purchased a 2000 Jetta GLS 5sp 2.0 litre 115 hp 4 cylinder $20,614
First Month:
Air conditioner leaked and had to be recharged.
Check engine light came on.
Gear shift knob broke. (loose)
Check engine light on again…..Second time.
3 Months Later:
Burning oil at 3k……Dipstick was dry. Burning 1 quart every 1,000 miles.
Glove box hinge broke…..
Rear defroster had two strands that didn’t work.
Sunroof broke.
Front cloth floor mats broke.
Seatbelt recall from VW.
Front window fell out and crashed inside of the door.
Engine light came on…..Third time
Numerous calls to the VWOA #800 line?.no luck.
6/11/00 Wrote letter to VW Dealership outlining my concern about the oil consumption
Started oil consumption test at Dealership.
Talked with 2 Service Managers (one quit) and VWOA Rep. Both said oil consumption was “”normal”". Told by dealership and VWOA rep. that this was a “”break-in”" process and it would disappear at 15k. It didn?.
Dealership ignored me.
Young VWOA Rep. taught me how to read a dry dipstick. (I was rebuilding engines in the 60’s!)
Given VW Technical Service Bulletin #92-01 dated 1-31-92….said .85 quarts per 1,000 miles is Ok. I said 1 quart of oil per 1,000 miles is way too much! I was correct.
It is very? very easy to run one of these vehicles dry of oil in between oil changes. I can? imagine purchasing one of these Jetta? ?sed?without knowing the history.
6/22/00 Replace front cloth floor mats…..second time.
6/25/00 Check engine light (mil) on again…..3rd time
7/18/00 Contacted lawyer
Good reference source http://www.lemonlaw.com
8/3/00 Lemon Law / Breach of Warranty Case filed in court against VWOA.
8/22/01 Front window crashed into door…….second time.
9/25/01 Went to Arbitration Court
9/25/01 Negotiated Settlement just prior to court appearance.
9/25/01 Won Settlement (It took 14 months)
9/25/01 Told to start going to a different VW dealership with a different VWOA Rep.
Something is wrong with the brakes?.
10/19/01 Replaced the rear brake pads 40k……front pads were perfect! (?) Rear pads were completely worn out…..front pads still had 3/8″”……either defective pads or defective braking proportioning. This is a 5 speed…..the car stalls in first gear with just one click on the emergency brake! (and we don? ride the brake!)
Talked to new VWOA rep. He said it was known for the 2.0 liter engine to burn oil because of defective rings. He said the first VWOA rep. should have told me that and offered to fix the problem.
He said that deglazing the cylinder walls and new rings would fix the problem. It didn’t.
One of my biggest beefs with VW is that they are not honest with you. They extend ?arranties?..to original owners only (unless under 50k)? like with the oxygen sensors, but why not an outright ?ecall? Would this be the basis for a class action suit????? If thousands of vehicles had problems, and it had to recall all of the following items..?.the glove box hinge breaking , engine (mil) light remaining on, dash lights malfunction, rear brakes wear issues, clutch problems, broken sunroofs, oxygen sensors malfunctions, window regulators issues, ignition coil packs, cup holder breaking, oil consumption and ring problems, brake pedal switch, broken cloth front floor mats, temperature gauge sensor replacement, air conditioner leaks, seats with springs that pop through, and mass air flow sensors malfunctions. Thousands of people are having these same problems??Who is there to help us? It isn? VW?
12/22/02 42k?Oil consumption has tapered off a little?have added 21 quarts of oil since purchase. Average of 1 quart every 2,000 miles. Still too much.
1/07/02 43k New rings and deglazed cylinder walls…..part of the settlement to stop oil burning.
1/07/02 Replaced broken front mats (3rd time) with rubber mats.
1/07/02 Replaced temperature gauge sensor.
1/07/02 Replaced Mass Air Flow Sensor…..to fix engine light. This probably broke the oxygen sensors listed below.
1/07/02 Fix glove box hinge……second time.
1/07/02 Fix both front windows with new clips……3rd time.
1/07/02 VWOA Rep. refused to fix rear window defroster. (too costly!)
12/14/02 Glove box hinge broke…..third time.
5/13/03 Car wouldn’t pass state inspection…..2 Oxygen sensors……$360. (later reimbursed)
6/22/03 Waiting for official VWOA recall on glove box hinges. Mine has broken 3 times?.and is currently broken. We only use it 6 to 8 times per year! (Max.) Come on VWOA?It is ?ust like?the window regulators and mass air flow warranties!
7/24/03 Front window crashed down into door…….4th time
7/26/03 75k Talked with VWOA Rep. Told him the car had 75k and still burned oil at the rate of 1 quart per 2,000 miles and that the new rings and deglazing didn’t help. VWOA rep. said he couldn’t help with the oil burning. (Said that rings and deglazing cylinder walls usually was a ?ix?for oil consuming engines) Also told him the front window fell down into the door for the 4th time and the glove box hinge broke (3rd time) He said that he would pay for the windows…..”"now”" they had stronger plastic clips……but I would have to pay the labor for the glove box.
To file a complaint against VW http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
7/28/03 Car in shop to fix front windows……4th time.
7/28/03 Declined offer from VWOA rep. on repair of glove box hinge…..I wasn’t going to pay the labor. (Figured these people are stupid!?.why should I pay the labor for a repair?.if they keep putting the same defective hinge on?and getting the same failure!) Sure glad they don? work on the space shuttle.
10/1/03 VW Window Regulator Litigation notice received. My windows broke 4 times.
11/04/03 Dash lights blink…..sometimes they work…..sometimes they don’t.
11/22/03 Intermittent trunk light…..same way.
Time Magazine article on VW
http://www.time.com/time/globalbusiness/article/0,9171,1101031124-543826-1,00.html
11/28/03 Mass Air Flow Sensor Warranty Extension……noticed received from VW. Looks like they fail every 2 years….mine was replaced at 2 years…. 43k. The extension notice says 7 years or 70k. I am screwed again…..my car has 80k and broke at 43k. Wonderful.
3/12/04 Front of plastic cup holder brakes off?hardly ever used. I fixed it with a piece of stiff wire.
6/15/04 90k?I have added 45 quarts of oil since purchase! 1 quart every 2,000 miles.
7/19/04 91k Replaced plug and plug wires and oil change ($258)……(This should have been done at 50k…..kids!) …..No beef with this as it is normal (missed maintenance)……but $258 is very expensive for 4 plugs, plug wires, and an oil change.
7/19/04 Mentioned that the car still burned oil to the dealership ….They asked if I was the original owner……told to start an oil consumption test (again!) at 91k. Told to drive it 1,000 miles and come back.
8/24/04 92k….Drove it 1,000 miles…..Technician agreed that it burned oil at the rate of 1 quart per 2,000 miles and that the new rings were not helping. I was told it needed a new engine and that they would order one.
Did you know that the EPA now requires catalytic converters be placed on new lawnmowers and weed trimmers in CA! What about me burning 45 quarts in this Jetta in 91,000 miles? Does the EPA know this? Do they know that there could be thousands of cars that do this?
Minimum of at least 20 repair visits to the dealership so far?(That is 40 trips, down and back?correct?) I have only had it 48 months!
9/01/04 Source for legal opinion on VW oil consumption
http://www.lemonlawclaims.com/Volkswagenoilconsumption.htm
9/10/04 92k Dropped the car off at the Dealership to have an new engine installed.
9/11/04 Told that the new engine comes with a new water pump, timing belt, and plugs. (I just put new plugs in last month!) But they found the clutch to be 80% worn……20% good….so they would recommend replacing it…..($350) The first mechanic said the clutch should go to ?round?160k…..with normal usage. Now they get in there at 92k and say it is 80% worn out……With this cars history, and all the deceit, how can I believe what I am told? They also suggested replacing the vacuum hoses ($40) and the coolant flange at ($35)…..which is known to break (?). I have no beef with the alternator belt at ($55) that is normal at 92k or less.
9/17/04 93k Took the car in for tires?noticed the rear rotors were ?lightly grooved?and needed turning down. The grooving was more than likely from the first set of factory pads that wore out so quickly and got metal to metal ?or a day? Rear pads need replacing again (1/8?remaining)?first set of rear pads went 40k?.and now it has 93k. (Replacements were VW OEM pads! Oh great!) The fronts are original, need replacing (93k), no beef with this?but they still have a ? of meat remaining!(?) This cars wears out ?ear?pads twice as fast as the fronts! Something is wrong. This is ?nheard of?in cars with front wheel drive. Should be atleast ?qual?or slightly more wear on the front pads! (I feel wear on the brake pads should be closer to 60% front and 40% rear) That is why the front pads are always ?arger?(in surface area) than the rear pads. This car is wearing more like 70% rear and 30% front. Terrible. We don? ride the brake?.either! And it is mostly highway driving?.
Other than that?t drives nice!
Chombi Said,
September 21, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – No no no no! it’s not the car, can’t be! it’s designed in Germany, you know. Yes, superior, black forest Prussian Bavarian Wolfsburger Engineering! and all that good stuff, it’s it’s….the dealership!….or..maybe it’s you! yeah, you!, that’s the ticket you all, you wanted drivers hahahahahha! hahaha! farfernugen! Japanese cars? No! they’re no good! they’re just tin toys made by squinty eyed sub-human asians that do not know real good quality other than their puny rickshaws! No way they match our Panzerwa…., Excuse me, Volkswagen superior quality! Volkswagen will take all your money for the next thousand years! Buwhahahahaha! ;^=))
mailman Said,
September 22, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – So let me get this straight … you bought a new 2001, then a new 2002, then a new 2003, then a new 2004, and you’re looking at buying a new 2005.
I think I know why you don’t have any problems!! Brand new cars are very unlikely to break down in their first year of operation!
Most of us humble VW owners make a single purchase and expect that purchase to perform reliably for many years … which has apparently not been the case. The typical VW owner is in it for the long haul, and these cars have many common bad design or manufacture issues that surface in their lives. Electrical items such as switches and sensors that have virtually no mechanical wear are failing like crazy … completely unacceptable. I would be glad to list them all for your reading pleasure, but browsing thru these threads and also Fred’s TDI site will provide you will all you ever wanted to know (or maybe didn’t want to know) about VWs.
Happy reading, and enjoy your new 2005 VW!
Doug Said,
September 22, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – chrismelton: sorry dude. I don’t buy it.
VW:NEXT!
Chombi Said,
September 22, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – I’m sure Chris will enjoy his “long term” 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and on VW cars too. Hah!
chrismelton Said,
September 22, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Well I can only be honest with you all. The cars are only kept for about 1 year. But a lot of what I am reading is that most of the problems you all are complaining about happen mostly in the first year. I know from experience, like I said before, I have seen the Hornets Nests but, there are hundred if not thousands of other vehicles out there that have no problems. So the jury is out, there are only a few people on this site who are complaining…. where are the other millions of owners around the world, who are enjoying their VW’s?
Clint Said,
September 22, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – all the happy VW owners are on the VWvortex.com website.. only problem with that site is it isnt updated, and very hard to get around and understand what everything is… this site is good b/c it is very simple… someone needs to make a site just like this but for happy “VWers”… maybe even the person who made this one can make another one.. he does a good job in keeping this site running well.
297 Said,
September 23, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – VWVortex not updated? Vortexers happy?
You must be joking! I’ve seen more whining on Vortex than on this site on any given day.
Check the forums. That’s where you see all the new info first.
The big ones for technical info are for the engine-specific forums (1.8T, 2.0L, etc.). The MkIV forum should be avoided — it’s not at all informative.
Better yet, use the search. Works wonders.
Ronster Said,
September 24, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Oh, please. Nobody drives a Phaeton. How are things at the dealership these days, Chris?
Ronster Said,
September 24, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Almost forgot why I logged on today: The cheap plastic rocker latch on the armrest of my GTI (22K miles) fell off today. One of the tabs just broke. Yeah, it’s a little thing, like the peeling matte finish on the door handles. That makes about a dozen big things and 3 little ones.
Chombi Said,
September 24, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – I examined a Pheaton close up for the first time, about a month ago. It actually looks really good but somehow, the VW insignia doesn’t look right on it’s grille. Maybe VW should have started a Horch division for the Pheaton instead.
At least the concept does not sound as bad as the W8. They wasted that engine on the W8 by using a Passat body. So what’s the point in paying so much more for it when everyone will think your driving a regular Passat? VW didn’t think out the size of the W* engine, cause if I remember right, I have read that some of the servicing requires removal of the engine for access.
chrismelton Said,
September 26, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Yes, people do drive the Phaeton. It is a beautiful vehicle. Things are great at the dealership! The little latch on the armrest is covered by a TB. If you are still under warranty, go into a local dealership, they should fix it for you!
jasenm Said,
September 27, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – here we go again. every time someone chimes in about how good vw is, the rats come out and crap on the dinner table. if you think vw sucks, go buy another car. and enjoy, because like i say time after time, the grass is not always greener on the other side. chris, we vw fans are out in force and the ones who had a bad experience, im sorry it happened, but just imagine how screwed they would be in a mitsubishi, lmfao.
jasenm Said,
September 27, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – about the phaeton, vw/audi made one error, putting vw on the front. it should be phaeton by vw. a nice fancy p design on the grille woulda been tits. we are the peoples car and 88 grand is alot of cash to spend on something when you dont get the badge of a bmw or mercedes. its all status, our car may not be the best of them, but its right in the mix to be sure. in fact our cars comfort is by far the tops in the field.
chrismelton Said,
September 28, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Removing the engine for repairs to engine components is going to be a thing of the future, so look for it. Also the Phaeton, I do not fell it was a mistake. VW went out on a limb. Name one other car manufacturer that launched a luxury vehicle amongst it’s current line up. I can’t. Honda made Acura. Nissan made Infiniti. Toyota made Lexus. BMW is BMW. Benz is Benz. Ford has Lincoln/Mercury, (if that is even a comparison). Fact is they took a risk. Was it a good one? Time will tell. The Vehicle has had good press though, and bad. Think what you want. We have sold a few. My grandfather loves it. The other owners love theirs. We even sold one to an automobile manufacturer for evaluation, the executives argue about who is going to drive it. So, only time will tell. Maybe we will look back and regret it, maybe we won’t. But ask yourself a question, “would you have gotten to where you are today in your life, personal or business or both, if you would not have taken risks?” I know that I would not have met my wonderful, beautiful, wife, if I would not have taken the risk to ask her out. I know I would not have become a service manager if I would not have taken the risks I took as an advisor. Life is all about risks. What risk are you willing to take, to get what you want?
297 Said,
September 29, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – I personally think VW should maintain it’s economy car status… that’s the point of the brand name, isn’t it?
Of course, VWs in the States aren’t cheap, and they haven’t brought over the Polo to make up for it.
The Phaeton and Touareg.. I would not mind them were it not for the trend in VW to upscale all its models. As it is, I’d rather see a split like Toyota/Lexus or Nissan/Infiniti (Honda/Acura doesn’t work the same way). They can’t be Audis, so yeah, new brand.
V-dubber Said,
September 29, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – I think Paul’s last post identified the fact that VWoA is no longer trying to build & market “”The People’s Car”" in the US. My family went through three diesel Rabbits in the 1980’s with great success. They were simple in design, cheap to buy, cheap to operate and all very reliable.
Since the mid-1990’s VW has done an exceptional job marketing cars to 20-somethings (farfeugneugen sp?). Sadly, in my opinion this marketing success does not translate into making a better car. It only resulted in building a car with more cosmetic, superficial features that are desirable by some but prone to creating problems. I doubt VW would even exist today had the company failed to successfully market their cars as being hip & fun. A boring cheap car can be built more cheaply in Asia…fact.
I had a rough idea of what I was getting into when I bought my ‘02 GTI VR6. It was not cheap, has been somewhat disappointing in regards to being reliable, and like most new cars it is by no means a cheap car to operate. What ever happened to the GM sales pitch of 100K mile scheduled service?
My GTI is a blast to drive. With that said, VW customer service sucks. When I first called the “”customer care hotline”" it was a rude awakening. Anyone unlucky enough to have a VW plagued with problems (no doubt, there ae many) is faulked. If I have one more unpleasant incident with my car I assure you that I will never buy another VW again. Period. Having a car with poor quality is unfortunate, buying that car from a company that repeatedly demonstrates a lack of concern for customer satisfaction is just stupid.
BTW, What can a VW Phaeton offer that an Audi A8 cannot?
297 Said,
September 29, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Wood paneling?
Heh.
Frankly, I think the last fun car VW came out with was the New Beetle, so it’s not as if VW hasn’t done anything fun recently.
Beck Said,
September 29, 2004 @ 12:00 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – Beetle?! A little too tame looking and girly for most guys and too many quality problems with that one! I would say the last “seriously” fun car was the Corrado. Not perfect, but definitely a good performer on the road. Even though most car enthusiasts asked Volksyugo to reincarnate the Corrado in some better and newer form, I think the company looked at their bottom line and decided it was not a profitable model to continue. It’s weird that they decided to build the big money losers like the Pheaton and the W8 instead. Total disconnection with industry trends and the public IMO.
Chombi Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 1:42 am
Why have I not had a problem? – Mustangs, a Girly car??? Paul, I have a good friend who owns a Cobra GT and that happens to be a woman, that might take offense with that statement! At least you dont have to plumb in a hybrid turbo to it’s engine to make most “stangs” go fast!
YupOldBull Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 3:01 am
Why have I not had a problem? – The marketing ploy concerning the “”over-touted”" towing capacities with the Phaeton has given it a rough start with many custmers.
Reminds me when Volvo strengthed up the interior of their Role cage for a marketing experiment to improve safety awaraness. They did a fast back track….and quickly admitted to the error in judgement.
Here if the link on the Phaeton concerning towing issues.
http://www.crownvic.us/forum/showthread.php?t=2113
297 Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 4:26 am
Why have I not had a problem? – People keep bringing up the GT, SVT, Cobra models. A basic Mustang is an underpowered, heavy piece of crap. No one can contest that.
And yes, it’s girly. Hell, if you want to define girly correctly, as in, the majority of the drivers are women, then a Mustang is just as girly as a New Beetle. Just look at the Mustang next to you on the freeway. No. Really.
The R32 is not fun. It’s too luxurious and sedate in its handling. An M3 is more fun than an R32. An R32 is certainly an excellent car to handle, but you can’t honestly call it fun.
Beck Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 5:23 am
Why have I not had a problem? – I thought a heavy car is a good safe thing to drive! Aha… your splitting hairs too, Paul.
297 Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 7:47 am
Why have I not had a problem? – beck,
Underpowered and heavy. Don’t split the two.
297 Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 10:34 am
Why have I not had a problem? – Being a girly car has nothing to do with speed (you did note I said the S2000 and Z3).
If you’re friend takes offense, imagine how I feel when people look at the NB.
I am, however, a fan to the upcoming redesign.. those look good.
Clint Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 10:35 am
Why have I not had a problem? – Paul, i have to say this is the first part of a post you have said something wrong.. its about the mustang… besides the v6 models… that car is far from being a girly car… you can buy a cobra that is near 400hp… put about 1000 bucks into it and have a 500hp rocket! if thats is girly then shit maybe i should trade in this Jetta, b/c that is far more girly then a Mustang… all VW are in that sence… soory i took such offence to that.. i am a real big FORD person, but cant afford them… so i drive less of cars like VW’s…
V-dubber Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 10:36 am
Why have I not had a problem? – No Fun Cars recently? How about the R32? Sadly, the benefits of AWD & 240+ horses is are offset by the $30K+ price tag.
Driving a new R32 wouldn’t be that much fun for most people due to the fact that they’d have to live out of it.
Ronster Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 12:28 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – If VW can’t build a 23K GTI with, say, reliable AC (they can’t), why would anyone trust them to build a 75K car with AC seats? A quick look at JD Power’s findings on the Touareg suggests that buying any pricey VW is an ill-advised decision.
297 Said,
September 30, 2004 @ 12:46 pm
Why have I not had a problem? – The Corrado?
I would dearly love one myself, but even I know those things are a maintenance nightmare!
And yes, the NB is a fun car. The idea that it’s too girly is just about as bad as people calling Japanese cars tin cans, so don’t start.
Besides, Z3s, Miatas, S2000s, and Mustangs are far more “”girly”". Heh.
Matt Said,
October 1, 2004 @ 10:09 am
Why have I not had a problem? – Yes Paul I would dispute you saying a Mustang is a heavy piece of crap. AT LEAST IT’S RELIABLE!!!! That’s more then can be said for a HEAVY Passat that IS a piece of crap!!
chrismelton Said,
October 2, 2004 @ 2:46 am
Why have I not had a problem? – The Phaeton does not claim to tow anything, It is the Touareg. Research? Anyways the US Phaeton cannot be compared to the Audi A8, it has to be compared to the A8L, the long wheel base. And woodgrain is standard in both. Research? And the advertisement that was done that VW got in to a little mess with, was done by the advertising company, and VW did stand up and say it was wrong. So they can admit when they are wrong.
chrismelton Said,
October 5, 2004 @ 1:17 am
Why have I not had a problem? – So you do not know what “most” means?
linuxelf Said,
October 5, 2004 @ 2:21 am
Why have I not had a problem? – I’ve had about 15,000 dollars worth of work done to my VW since I bought it in 97. Most of it was at least partially covered by the extended warranty. None of it has been due to lack of maintenance.
linuxelf Said,
October 5, 2004 @ 3:34 am
Why have I not had a problem? – That being said, however, I believe that you will find good and bad VWs. I am perfectly willing to assume that I just got one of the really bad ones. In your experience working in the shop, I am sure that you see mostly repairs that can be attributed to lack of maintenance. You deal with many many different cars. In my dealings with the shop, however, I have only had experience with one car. So, naturaly my mileage will vary. I appologize for sounding rather crass before, I’m pretty frustrated with this vehicle. I do appreciate your taking your time to help people like me in the forum.
chrismelton Said,
October 5, 2004 @ 4:50 am
Why have I not had a problem? – I apologize for being rude and sarcastic in my comment. I have seen the bad and the good. I hope they get all of your problems resolved, so that you can enjoy your VW. I do not like to see people have problems with their vehicles and I try to help as much as possible. That is why my family has been in business for so long. My grandfather is one of the original VW dealers, even before there was VW of America. We have been in our current location for 43 years, and was in one prior to that for 4 years. So we have a long history with VW. I just have the brand in my gene’s I guess. I do love the product, even though I do see the problem car every once in a while, and I do see them. If you are ever in Michigan, stop by and say hello. I assume you can figure out which dealer I work for.
linuxelf Said,
October 5, 2004 @ 11:28 am
Why have I not had a problem? – chrismelton: Most of the work that comes through is maintenance. The KEY to ANY vehicle lasting a long time.
Just curious, what kind of maintenance should I have been doing that would have prevented my AC from dying twice, or my cruise control from dying three times now, or my driver’s side seat from completely falling apart, or my power steering fluid reservoir from getting eaten through by the battery that IT IS STRAPPED TO, or my driver’s side getting flooded every time it rains, or my transmission linkage breaking, or my driver’s side door lock snapping in two, or my door moldings from falling off whenever I park it in the sun, or any of the other numerous weird and expensive problems I’ve had with this car, none of which are related to any regular maintenance?