switched to toyota and
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…
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thomas_mck Said,
October 11, 2005 @ 2:15 am
Toyota Avalon vs. Passat (POS) – My wifes Toyota Avalon is a 2001.
Service work for defects/problems/etc. $0
Routine maintenance only.
My 2003 Passat (POS)
Service work for defects/problems/etc. $3,500+
Fuel sensor failure
Cruise control failure
Oil pump failure
Misc. sensor failures
Fuel pump failure
Towed 3 times from side of road.
The absolute worst car I’ve ever owned in my life, and I’ve owned about 18.
I now own a Toyota……
Beck Said,
October 11, 2005 @ 2:44 am
switched to toyota and – Zero Problems! that’s just a pipe dream for most European car makers these days. Worse is, VW in particular must just flatly deny that it ever happens with Toyotas. They list it with items like Bigfoot, UFOs, Leprechauns, Quality Control, Warranty, Customer Service, Common sense Engineering approach, Customer Courtesy, Lochness Monster, Snipe hunts, Len Hunt????, Plastic and Rubber UV protection, The Bermuda Triangle………etc…etc…etc…
YupOldBull Said,
October 11, 2005 @ 9:10 am
Our 2000 Jetta vs. our 2002 Camry……. – Jetta Repair List…..5 years and it exceeds $12,000
2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS L4-1984cc 2.0L SOHC (AEG) 5 speed 4 door $20,500 new in September 1999
Here is the history to date. 100k (September 99 to January 05)
Over $12,000 in repairs. Terrible! (Repair bills almost equal the car payments)
Air conditioning leak (after 1 week)
Rear defroster has two strands that dont work (after 3 months)
Cloth Front Floor Mats ripped out (3 times)
Replaced cheap cloth mats with heavy duty VW rubber mats (no problem with the $120 rubber mats) Hope it wasnt we give you cheap ones that tear out .but we could sell you the good ones for $120.
Check engine light came on (4 times)
(2nd time engine light came on VW Dealership told me it would cost $100 to scope)
Rear brake pads wore out at 40k (front pads showed no wear?)
Rear rotors scored and replaced by premature pad failure. Poor brake proportioning
Gear shift knob loose. Still loose after first attempt. Second attempt fixed it.
2.0 litre engine burning oil (1 quart every 1,000 miles) Yellowish white goop inside valve cover and oil filler cap. (later went on to burn only 1 quart every 2,000 miles)
2.0 litre engine cylinder walls deglazed and new rings installed (didnt work)
Informed that 1 quart every 2k is normal. First VWOA rep. said the oil burning was normal. One year later, second VWOA rep. (different district) said these cars had defective rings. Which one do you believe?
VW Mass Air Flow sensor recall
Interior armrest soft rubbery coating (cosmetics) poor clean ability Cant clean the dirt smudges and the finger nail scrapes/gouges are impossible to remove.
Glove box right side hinge broke (3 times) Still broken.
Replaced Clutch (should /could go to 150k.replaced at 93k)
Seat belt recall from VW
Plastic undercarriage splash pan broke off (3 times) finally just removed.
Only one heated mirror works
Mirror glass are beginning to brown up on bottom edge. Cheap silvering?
Crayon smell and greasy black build-up on internal fender seams
Brake light pedal switch recall from VW
Numerous calls to the VW #800 line (No help)
Replaced Coolant flange on engine (told these are known to break)
Sunroof broke
Young VWOA rep. taught me how to read an oil dipstick.
Armrest release pull broke (cheap plastic hinge)
Warranty extension from VW on oxygen sensors
Replaced spark plug wires
Replaced battery
Drivers Seat squeaks. Seatbelt receiver rubs the side of the seat.
Mystery rear window (Comes down 6 inches on its own when it wants to)
Replaced engine vacuum hoses
Letter to Dealership, they get VWOA involved, both combined offer no help
Front of plastic cup holder falls off
Front windows crashed down inside of door (4 times)
2.0 litre engine (now) burning 1 quart every 2,000 miles (over 45 quarts in 93k)
2.0 litre engine completely replaced
Water pump replaced
Temperature gauge sensor replaced (silent VW recall item)
Received Mass Air Flow sensor warranty extension from VW
Car wouldnt pass State inspection (replaced 2 oxygen sensors $360)
Received window regulator litigation notice
Loud explosion (Like a 410 shotgun) in cabin while driving at 55mph on smooth 4 lane highway. Airbag went off? Or was it the seat spring letting loose?
Drivers seat spring shearing off (height adjuster)
When it is 32 degrees or colder the door lock makes no beep sound
Dash light failure (works Ok for 2 weeks and then Off for 2 weeks)
Intermittent trunk light. Some times it works. Sometime it doesnt.
Compensated by VW for oxygen sensors
Replace rear brake pads. 93k
Replace front pads. 93k
Every other night the clock stops (resets to 12:00) and the odometer resets to 0.0 (even with new battery)
Glove box light remains on when lights are turned on.
Turn signals intermitting remain solid on
4 way flashers occasionally remain solid on
Plus the other expected normal repairs.
Planning to get rid of this car, because now that it is getting older we can expect everything to start breaking.
Hard on gas. (MPG)
Mid 20s is terrible for a small engine (2.0 litre 5 speed) and a small car. Should/could be in the low 30s.
Hard on brakes.
40k on rear brake pads is terrible! Our 99 Honda Prelude has 80k original OEM brake pads and will need them soon. Bad proportioning, rear wear out at 40k and fronts get replaced at 93k? Where else in the industry do you see these proportions? Does NHTSA know? Is it poor design or a braking defect?
Hard on rubber
(60k tires only go 45k) Original set went to 45k. Second set went to 93k. And now we have the third set on. 3 sets 93k. Our 99 Honda Prelude went 80k with original tires.
Over 20 trips to the dealership in 48 months.
There have been 74 stinking Technical Service Bulletins issued on this vehicle.
There have been only 5 stinking recalls and 3 warranty extensions.
Terrible.
Camry repair list……..3 years and not one problem. $0.00
50k……only normal maintenance. Wonderful vehicle.
V-dubber Said,
October 11, 2005 @ 9:59 am
switched to toyota and – Not trying to defend VW on the issues above, but what kind of scheduled maint. did your ‘yota need for those three years?
Besides oil changed every 3k instead of every 5k, what other service intervals did they have? I’m interested in hearing what you’ve spent on scheduled maint. far.
My guess is at 50K, a dealer serviced VW would need:
10 oil changes.
5 @ $35
5 @ $150 (every 10K the manual recommends tires rotated & some other stuff).
Tack on another $250 to the price of an oil change for the 40K major service.
$1175 (roughly). That is assuming you had no repairs needed.
YupOldBull Said,
October 11, 2005 @ 12:15 pm
Only normal service…… – “”Camry repair list……..3 years and not one problem. $0.00
50k……only normal maintenance. Wonderful vehicle.”"
The point is……Nothing on the Camry has broken! It has needed “”only”" the normal service items. (Oil, filters, washer fluid, wiper blades, etc.)
Post edited 10/11/05 12:17 PM by YupOldBull