Who Stayed with VW

[scottyrocks]

I bought a '79 Rabbit with 40-some-odd thou miles on it in '84, and drove it about another 40-thou before I totaled it. In that time, it never gave me any problems.

Up until getting my '63 almost a year ago, I haven't had one since.
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“If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch'

[kirk1015]

I guess I chime back in again, being that I started this.

Every car manufacturer has its issues. This INCLUDES Toyota, Honda and the BIG THREE. They all have their LEGACY cars. Corolla, Civic, Impala, Mustang, Charger, respectively and other models.
All of which are still in production.
No automaker is what they were back in the day so to speak.
They have all had their share of shoddy work over the years and VW is no
different.
I have chosen to stay with VW because I like their products. The 2012
Beetle gave me no problems at all. It only had 61,000 miles on it also.

Would I buy a Ford, Toyota or Honda? Yes, because I like the designs
of some of the cars. The 18 Camry looks really nice. The Civic, well get rid of
those ridiculous fake vents on the bumpers and it might consider one. The Mustang is still muscle carl, as it should be.

Out of the BIG THREE, Ford was the only one who didn't NEED the handout
from UNCLE SAM. Some of that can be attributed to Alan Mulally and his management team.They were already making changes when the house bubble burst in 2008. However GM and Chrysler thought they were
invincible. They failed to realize they were making cars that no one wanted.
They are also partly responsible for the SUV disease (man I hate those things ) that we have in the states now.
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Jim Douglas....I am Not.

[Cusser]

November 1972 for my 1970

Mid-1976 for my 1971

None since.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[KentABQ]

So the question is who "stayed with" VW. Well, certainly not me. I started off with a tin top Westy in the early 80's, then traded it for a '74 bug and $1000 in '88. That was a mistake, but only did it to pay for college. Loved the Westy; hated the bug, and never liked them since.

Boomer, my first VW:

Then in the early '90s, I bought a new Jetta to replace my '68 Camaro (what was I thinking?!?) since I was commuting 75 miles each day for work. I liked the Jetta a bit better than the bug, but a gutless engine with manual transmission on the steep, wet hills in downtown Seattle traffic is a major source of ulcers and grey hair.

So it was 25 years without a VW until the desire to have a Westy again got too great to ignore. In the interim, I didn't know the popularity had skyrocketed. I think I paid $1k or $2k for my '71 tin top. And last year, I felt incredibly lucky to buy a '76 Riviera for $3100, non running and rusty in places but not too bad. It's now running and a fun daily driver when the temps are below 105 or so. And the looks, honks, hoots, and thumbs-ups I get are a lot of fun!

Chloe, camping at the Grand Canyon:

Now that I'm approaching 60, it's a good bet this will be my last VW. But it doesn't stop me from checking The Samba classifieds every week!

The best part about this last VW purchase was finding the incredible resource of The Samba. If it weren't for the great archival information and the support of the Bay Window community, I doubt I would have been able to get her running. My hope is to pay it forward when/if I gain more knowledgable.
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-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[mark tucker]

[busman78]

Had too many to list, latest acquisition is my mom's original 71 bug that has been parked in my brothers back yard for ten years since dad died, really not an acquisition for the bro gave it to me. Although I will always keep this one I doubt it will be the last air cooled that finds a way into my driveway.

[raygreenwood]

I have stayed with VW....and half my family have. I have driven a HUGE range of cars (lots of rent a cars and friends cars). But its vehicle specific.

It always is...even with American cars. I would not own a GM CAR if you held me at gunpoint. I would own a Ford first....and I would own a Ford or GM TRUCK....if I needed a truck. Outside of that Fords sedan design (not build quality) are mediocre and GM's sedan designs are abysmal. See below to see what I mean by "design"

The reliability and engineering quality of American cars in general is about as good as it been in decades...but material, fit and finish, ergonomics and general design are still poor compared to most European and Japanese cars and anything in the VAG lineup in general. And...I do not mean "styling".

A side fro ma couple of Mk 2 vehicles....I have had a 2006 Jetta (sold at 105k miles) and am on my 2012 Golf now (114k miles) with no major problems and only few minor problems (back latch replacement at 60k...$119 and two tire pressure sensors).

I will agree that SPECIFIC engines and transmissions in the VAG line are over-engineered and problematic.

The late 90's Passat with the 1.8 turbo...engine was good...but the automatic tiptronic had a known seal design flaw that could waste your transmission near the 70-80k mile mark.

The 2.0L turbo oil usage issue....affects about 1-2%...has a class action running now.

But....the five cylinder inline, twin cam chain driven engines (an upgrade of the ancient Audi inline five)....are superb and sadly I think 2016 was the last year for it.

I know a handful of VW dealer techs....and when asked which car/engine combo would they buy for reliability...all immediately state..."5 cylinder with 5 speed...and if you have to choose a car...the Golf".

Both my Jetta and Golf were five cylinder and five speed. Superb cars.

I got half my family into VW's...and they still love them .My mom and dad I got them out of their Ford/Mercury into a fully loaded passat, sport packaged, V-6 engined with all wheel drive...brand new in 2000. They drove it to 185k with no major problems....and then when the passats had been downsized...they just moved up the line to an Audi A-4 in 2010.

My sister....I couldn't pry her out of her 1996 5 speed, VR-6 passat. Closest thing she could find she liked...2008 or 2009 Audi A-4 with the last of the V-6's (bought at 10k miles from dealer). She just sold her old 1996 passat last year to a guy in DC...who has three of them.

I am worried about VW's current lineup. All engines are based around the four cylinder turbo charged engine...while while generally reliable...is highly complex and all are DI. Do not own one without an extended warranty.

Very expensive to fix. Ray

[Zundfolge1432]

For the last 30 years I've worked at a maintenance depot which employs several thousand mechanics. We talk amongst ourselves and surprisingly I've found that rather than making rational decisions based on repair history and reliability most make choices based on styling or out of habit, because that's the way they've always done it. To follow one brand or product line is ignorant because it ignores information on which are the most reliable over time. Fact is most every manufacturer has had models which exceed average reliability stats by being over engineered and or built to a higher standard. There was a Volvo engine made in the 60s which fell into this category and it was not unheard of for those engines to get over a million miles without major maintenance. Over the years I've owned Fords,Chevys, Chrysler, VWs of course, Toyotas, Nissan, even a Sunbeam and that was a shitty car design. Don't put all your eggs in one basket and don't just fall lockstep into buying one make. Be smart enough to separate style from engineering. Oh and screw VW made after about 1975, unless its one of those bulletproof designs that they released by mistake.

[Jon Schmid]

I've never officially owned an ACVW but I grew up with and drove a few. I would not buy a new VW, based on my experiences with my daughter's 2006 "new" Beetle. They cut corners everywhere including plastic water pump impeller blades. The AC went out and it just seems these cars have a limited life span by design. She got rid of the Beetle for a Subaru. The VW is not missed.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[raygreenwood]

[raygreenwood]

[richardc]

2010 Jetta TDI
Tried for license plate " Hi NOX" but was already taken
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1970 Ghia vert
1970 Beetle sedan

[ach60]

My job sometimes required me to work at other facilities for 2 to 9 months.
We use rentals for these Jobs, you get a "new" rental every month, so it's a bit like Russian Roulette.
Also there are short trips about every month, that required a rental car.
You used to really not have any control over what you get.
But for me it's always interesting to just go with the luck of the draw.
All the really horrible cars used to show up in rental fleets.
I will tell use that mostly anything from GM and Chrysler in the rental car fleets was/is pure garbage.
In 92 I went through every color Ford Taurus made working in western New York State,
once the snows and bad weather hit, Hertz switch me to Subaru Legacy AWD wagons.
Subaru was the only time I've ever asked for "My" rental car back' the last month of my contract.
So Hertz serviced "my" Subaru, and gave it back to me.
Around 2009-2010 I did another long term gig, out of the 6 cars I had, the VW Jetta was the nicest.
The worst was a toss up between a Chrysler Sebring or Chevy HHR.
So in the 41 years of being a VW guy, I've not limited myself to only VWs, as much as
I've made informed consumer decisions each time I've bought a new/newer car.
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Good Luck
Al

[Sharp64]

I've driven a fairly wide range of vehicles and seem to run against the experience others have at times. One of the most reliable vehicles I have ever owned was generally panned as a pos and I loved it was the Isuzu Rodeo that I had for 15 years. Yeah it had some small issues here and there, but in general it was bulletproof. One of the worst in my opinion was the 04 Honda Civic that I inherited. Multiple issues and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. A few of the other higher mileage vehicles I drove were a Dodge Avenger. Mechanically ok, but the fit and finish were terrible IMO. Pontiac minivan. Hated it, but was generally reliable until the AC went out. Dodge Durango... started to rust at only a few years old and the electrical was wacky at times. Had several others but most were short term, low mileage cars. So far the two VWs I own have been reliable. My 2013 has almost 100k already and my wife's 2014 NB is good but still has under 30k miles. The 2010 Jetta I got for my daughter had an inherent issue with a shift valve and a fuel gauge gremlin. I haven't heard much else at this point about it.
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1960 Indigo Blue Ragtop (Blue Barry)
1967 Ghia
1985 Westy Money Pit
“...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” - Michael Caine

[SamboSamba22]

There isn't a nicer car interior wise, with performance for the price point as the MK7 GTI. I love the shit outta the car, sporty, fun to drive, and overall comfortable. I can get 40mpg + if I stay off of it.
Coming up to 6500 miles over the last ten months, first oil change is coming up next month. No oil consumption, no weird sounds, shutters, or worries.
Consumer and critic reviews average around 8.5/10 all around, that's pretty solid to me. I did tons of reviews and research prior to my purchase. It is a very safe and comfortable car, my sisters 06 Jetta though it leaked oil ran like a top well over 200k when she sold it.
Anything will have good and bad points but compared to domestic makes, the interior is simply night and day. Longevity concerns me for repair costs but I got a good deal $21,975 full finance cost over 60 months. I owe $17,400 on a car valued at $19k+ so when the 3 year make gets near I'll have some decisions to make if to keep my ride on upgrade with the joys of payments.

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The Bus Barn Ltd. Co.

Oct. ’67 Double Cab (’68 Crew Cab)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44412.png]Click to view image[/URL]
March '69 Delivery (Panel Bus)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44414.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[raygreenwood]

[rustfree1967bug]

Started with aircooleds at 16 and then also got into watercooleds along the way. I still own a collection of aircooleds and much prefer them but being in the rustbelt i sadly cannot drive them year round. I will never buy a vw after made after 2004, tried it once and the results were terrible. Girlfriend has a 2003 1.8t 5 speed jetta with 251k on the original engine and turbo and it is still going just fine. After the mk4/b5.5 vw really lost it.
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'70 ghia
'69 ghia
'65 singlecab
'66 sunroof beetle
'74 bus
'67 so-42


IDA's...well... they talk dirty -MURZI

[pyrOman]

[Dr OnHolliday]

LOL - I don't buy new cars...although given the chance to buy a new air-cooled Type 1 that wasn't full of plastic, I would....

Otherwise, I'll buy something approximating "made in America" (eg, maybe foreign make but manufactured in US, or outright US).

A turbo diesel mini truck with manual trans of any make would certainly entice me (but not one of those gutless VW Rabbit's like my parents had)

Being a hot rodder, I tend to build what I want, out of metal and not plastic (fiberglass excepted).....
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1965 Type 1 sunroof Baja / about 70k miles on self-rebuilt '74 1600 and counting / SP heads and aftermarket valve keepers / non-doghouse shroud with external cooler and filter / 1.5 qt extended sump / Weber 32/36 DFAV progressive carb / 009 dist with Pertronix / 1.25 ratio rockers and ball adjusters / 1.5" stainless steel J-pipes and carbon steel baja exhaust