Welp, the ol’ New Beetle got smacked on the freeway today. A gray Mustang lost control on the lane left of me (me number 4, it on 3), started swerving about. I had just slowed because the truck ahead of me hit the brakes and had no safe out. For a split second it looked like it would go left and hit someone over there, then it returned to my sideview mirror’s field of vision heading straight for me. The 45-degree impact on the left side, rear passenger’s panel, sent both our cars, locked together, spinning 360 degrees, ending with us both on the number 5 lane, the Mustang in front of me.

Left side of my car looks absolutely horrible and one of the wheel spokes is chipped. The interior cabin has an intrusion at the point of impact behind me, but everything on my dashboard looked all right except for the steering wheel, sent horribly out of alignment and my left arm aching from the strain when holding it while spinning.

I’m okay, the driver of the Mustang’s okay (and fully insured). Car’s in the shop waiting for the claims adjustor. I’m just glad the frame didn’t get unsettled, no liquids are leaking, and the engine continues to purr.

Been 15 years since the last accident, which was in my ‘69 Beetle and a Cadillac hit me from behind. This was worse, seeing as the engine of that car, being in the rear, took all the damage. I managed to drive it 5 miles before it finally gave up, which was enough to get to pick up my sister at her school and coast into a gas station.

Now I get to see how well my insurance company will treat me, the no-fault driver. Odd little thought: the damage estimate is right about the same amount as all my monthly insurance payments put together. Go figure.

Post edited 10/29/05 11:06 AM by paultakeda

Hi all,

After about two years of ownership of my 2000 Jetta TDI, I can’t help but feel contempt every time I set eyes on it…grrrr. Every week my car provides me with a new gift of aggravation with “”the problem of the week.”"
Well VW, the gig is up and the car is going – as is your ‘good’ name in my books! I guarantee I will NEVER buy another VW as long as I live (unless I get struck stupid and then it is quite possible…)

I am looking for a replacement and was hoping to get some information on quality and reliability of Mazda and Saab products – specifically an ‘04 Mazda 3 and a 01′ Saab 9-5 wagon.

Any thoughts or personal experiences with these cars would be great!!

Let me preface this by saying that I am not exaggerating in any way, shape, or form. I have a 20 mile commute to work each day, and I see AT LEAST 2 VW’s (whether they be Jettas, Passats, or Beetles) with a headlight out. These are not old models either – some look brand new. I just shake my head and laugh, because I used to have a Passat and was cursed with electrical problems. As I drive by them in my Honda Accord (which will probably last me twice as long), I wonder why they put up with it.

I have asked my friends to humor me – whenever they notice a car with a headlight out, I ask them to see what make it is. I’ve told them I bet at least 2/3 will be VW’s.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/5159108/detail.html

Nice work, Paul… but you really don’t have to leave the old design and policies up if you wanna change it! They’re getting a little stale…

As a former VW owner and website guy may I say that I’m watching what this big redesign is all about. If they start producing good cars, that’d be a positive thing.

But I will never ever buy another one.

Rick

Len Hunt has moved on to KIA. This is a good move for Len Hunt. Foisting VW’s on unsuspecting victims can have a toll on a humans spirit. Good luck to Len Hunt and congratulations!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051014/ap_on_bi_ge/prius_recall_4

VW Oil Sludge Petition

Sign the petition to send to VW!

1. ROLLS ROYCE –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$2.16M
2. MAYBACH –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$1.97M
3. ASTON MARTIN –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$1.62M
4. FERARRI –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$1.25M
5. BENTLEY –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$1.11M
6. LAMBORGHINI –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$882K
7. MASERATI –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$393K
8. PANOZ –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$375K
9. PORSCHE –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$217K
10. MERCEDES –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$176K
11. BMW –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$120K
12. HUMMER –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$113K
13. AUDI –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$111K
14. JAGUAR –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$109K
15. LEXUS –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$102K
16. LAND ROVER –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$97.5K
17. CADILLAC –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$81.4K
18. INFINITY –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$76.4K
19. LOTUS –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$75.0K
20. SAAB –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$73.1K
21. ACURA –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$71.7K
22. VOLVO –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$70.2K
23. LINCOLN –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$68.7K
24. CHRYSLER –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$63.7K
25. VOLKSWAGEN –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$63.3K
26. BUICK –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$59.5K
27. MERCURY –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$55.8K
28. GMC –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$54.4K
29. MINI –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$52.9K
30. TOYOTA –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$52.5K
31. NISSAN –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$51.2K
32. JEEP –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$50.8K
33. PONTIAC –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$50.5K
34. HONDA –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$49.9K
35. SUBARU –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$46.8K
36. CHEVROLET –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$45.2K
37. FORD –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$42.8K
38. HYUNDAI –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$40.8K
39. MAZDA –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$39.8K
40. DODGE –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$39.7K
41. SCION –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$37.0K
42. MITSUBISHI –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$34.0K
43. ISUZU –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$33.3K
44. SATURN –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$30.3K
45. SUZUKI –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$29.7K
46. KIA –AVG CLINET ANNUAL INCOME–$29.2K

Post edited 10/11/05 6:55 PM by jasenm

Post edited 10/13/05 4:34 PM by jasenm

So after having a miserable experience with a 2000 golf (you know the standard laundry list of problems that pop up again and again from broken cup holders and windows to an engine that burns oil and multiple oxygen sensors etc. etc.) I traded it in for a toyota, and at 5000miles went in for my first oil change (have had no problems with the toyota, but haven’t had it that long). I am not writing to say how great the toyota is. It was the dealer. I travel a lot and have had problems with customer service in RI, upstate NY, chicago, and connecticut, and a common experience for me in a vw dealer is sharing “war stories” with the other customers in with car problems. At the toyota dealer, during the estimated 45 minutes I was in for the oil change I spoke to all 4 customers who came in. Three were in for routine maintenance and one was in for body work (she hit a deer). None of the three had been in for anything except routine maintenance AT ALL (mileages varied as high as 80k). I am due in for another oil change soon and will talk to every customer I can and let you know…. But so far they were all happy. This was the biggest contrast to my vw experience so far…