A thread on VW's. What do you guys think?

[RedTartan]

A close friend of mine is an avid VW fan. She owns an old bug, a thing, and two golfs. She drives whenever we go anywhere and her VW's don't sound like cars. They sound like machines! She gets around 30mpg in her golfs. One of her golf's has 230K miles on it and still drives great.

So I've been in these cars with her for awhile and my van is getting old, etc. I just saw an ad for a 2000 VW Passat with 150K mileage, add says it drives great, for around $3500.

I did some research and found that there's a lot of anti-VW stuff out there, and lots of devoted VW fans. My father always says that you can't beat anything German-made.

I decided to come here and see what you guys think. How many of you have owned VW's? Do you love them? Hate them? Why?

Thanks

ETA: Here's the link to the VW I'm looking at: Nevermind. It's sold already!

[SFM in KY]

I don't know anything about the current VWs but a VW "beetle" was the first brand new car I ever owned. Bought in in the 60s and drove it for years, think I had over 200,000 miles on it. Went to Spain with me and then back to the U.S. 5 years later. Ex ended up with it when we were divorced so don't know what the final disposition was, but I do know that we never had any major repairs or replacement work done on it in that time.

I know a couple of other people that had early VWs and have never heard any complaints from them. In fact, just finished a portrait commission for a "collector" who has one of the old ones ... complete with pink/rose paint job with blue flames!

[mnn2501]

I sold VW's for about a year (when I finally decided I was not a salesman) but they really are great cars, however in recent years U.S. VW's have been made in Mexico rather than Germany

[PhilJohnson]

Not real impressed with their newer stuff. Seems like some time in the early 90s quality went way down hill. My dad had a 91 Jetta which was a good car. I had a couple of friends that had the next style after that one and they were both unreliable. It isn't much of a secret that quality has been slipping for the past 15 years. There has been numerous articles about it in various automotive magazines. I'd steer clear myself of any VW made after the early 90s.

[texican]

If the Passat is a diesel, maybe. If not, with a 150K on it, I'd look at the tires and stereo, see how much they were worth, and make an offer based upon that. A VW gas engine, with 150K??? Unless it was driven by someone "you" know and trust implicitly, I'd run away, fast. Even if taken care of, everything on it is ready to break or fall off... Diesel engine, well if it were maintained properly (let a mechanic "you" trust look at it), might be a so so deal.

[next1]

Originally Posted by texican

If the Passat is a diesel, maybe. If not, with a 150K on it, I'd look at the tires and stereo, see how much they were worth, and make an offer based upon that. A VW gas engine, with 150K??? Unless it was driven by someone "you" know and trust implicitly, I'd run away, fast. Even if taken care of, everything on it is ready to break or fall off... Diesel engine, well if it were maintained properly (let a mechanic "you" trust look at it), might be a so so deal.

Yes, I agree with you entirely; diesel VW it's very good.
Check TDI forums, great sources of informations about models and performance. I own a TDI Beetle and is a very solid "machine"!
http://forums.tdiclub.com/

[working-mom]

My grandfather is/was a subaru and VW mechanic for 40+ years and he says the same... "the old school stuff is best and if you come across a deisel rabbit snatch it up cause those things are indestrucable." This coming from a man who still has 12 gallons of original green paint for the VW beetles.... who knows if it is any good anymore, but by golly he's got it! I love the sound of a 60's beetle coming up the street... he he he!
I would stick with the old school stuff, pre-'87 if possible, the ones I have driven have always gotten good gas mileage.

[FunnyRiverFarm]

Don't, just don't...

They do drive great when they actually run but the cost of maintaining these cars is simply outrageous in my experience. We have a diesel New Beatle and have had nothing but trouble with it since we got it...we are so far in the hole at this point that it makes no sense to even try to sell it...we can't afford to replace it with something decent right now. It does have about 180,000 miles on it (which is not all that many for a diesel engine) but we are in the process having the transmission rebuilt for the 3rd time (and it costs $4,000 to have this done...luckily it is under warranty this time). We have also had a mulitude of other problems with it including a problem with the glow plug relay that took 3 trips to the dealership and two more trips to a private auto shop to have resolved (and yes, we had to pay for every single "experiment" they tried to get things working). The supposed "experts" could not even figure out what was wrong with it and their only response was "well, it should be working". Nobs and dials just randomly break...the latch for the glove box...the sun roof...the radio....the mirror adjustments...the seat belt latch...one of the windshield wipers (like the actual metal broke in half like a crumpled soda can). There is a lot more that we've had go wrong but I am getting annoyed just thinking about it....so I am done. Please save yourself some heartache and do not buy a VW

[Stephen in SOKY]

I had a 1985 Jetta Diesel that was one of the best overall automobiles I've ever owned. 43-45 MPG regardless of A/C, suprisingly comfortable and solid feeling on the road and very few maintenance or reliability issues outside of routine oil changes. It did have a slight red color in the fuel system.....

[demeter]

We bought a 73 VW Beetle 10 years ago for $300.00. My husband has driven it to and from work, or anywhere else he wants, for the majority of that time. Other than routine maintenance, (oil change, tires, brakes,etc ) we have only replaced the turn signal switch, headlights, alternator (generator?) and the gas tank. I repeat, 10 years, $300.00.
On the other hand, I owned a VW Beetle, also a 73 right out of high school, (1981) and it was a piece of crap. But then, I only gave $200.00 for that one. Perhaps you get what you pay for? LOL

[RedTartan]

Ok, I'm going to walk away from this particular VW. I think I'll keep wait for a 1990 or older Jetta or Golf/Rabbit. I was concerned about the car's youth

Thanks much. Sometimes it's hard to wait until you have someone tell you what you need to hear.

[Helena]

Have a Jetta 1991 automatic VW. The speedometer stopped about 3 years ago at the mileage of 248,000 miles. Still have no body rust and all I do is wash it down maybe twice a year. Live up north where they put salt on the roads during the winter also. Still doesn't burn any oil..runs well . Use it as a second car now. Would not sell it ...It's like a little tank and gets around 31 miles a gallon on gas. We have always used the mid grade gas on all our cars and have always gotten great gas mileage and a lot of miles on all of them. I would buy a diesel standard VW but would stay away from the Passat ones. Was told by the VW mechanic that the automatic stationwagon ones aren't the best to buy and high cost in buying parts such as starter etc when they get older. there must be a lot still on the road becausewhenI we) check the the junk yards often and never can find any ..or very few ..with no parts left to take. I would buy a VW at any time. Good Luck with your decision.

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by RedTartan

Ok, I'm going to walk away from this particular VW. I think I'll keep wait for a 1990 or older Jetta or Golf/Rabbit.

Good choice Good luck with your old VW hunt!

[cbcansurvive]

I don't buy anything other than American made vehicles, but I always thought it would be neat to get a few of the old air cooled beetle engines and put them to work. Imagine the size of the pump you could put on a VW powered log splitter? Watch your fingers!

[Pelenaka]

Originally Posted by RedTartan

A close friend of mine is an avid VW fan. She owns an old bug, a thing, and two golfs.

I have Thing envy

There's a guy a few blocks over from me that has a diesel rabbit that he runs on fryer grease. He stopped at our yard sale last year so we got to talking. He gave us his number he's always on the lookout for a parts car.

Had a VW bug when I first moved to Oahu in '86. Bought it off a sailor for $300. It was a Fred Flintstone car. Use to keept layers of carboard and a throw rug over the missing floor board. Was planning on restoring it but it had a crack front axle. Sold it to an airman for $350 with full disclosure.
Ran well for me for the two years that I own it with only one oil change.

[RJMAcres]

I restore/hotrod old aircooled VW's as a hobby.
Love em.

[haypoint]

German built is often good. VW have been built in Mexico, US and South America.
My Mom has had VWs for 50 years. Great cars, but she drives them easy and they get top notch care. She gave her Fox to my son and he beat the crap out of it. It held up well, for awhile....

[mightybooboo]

Originally Posted by texican

If the Passat is a diesel, maybe. If not, with a 150K on it, I'd look at the tires and stereo, see how much they were worth, and make an offer based upon that. A VW gas engine, with 150K??? Unless it was driven by someone "you" know and trust implicitly, I'd run away, fast. Even if taken care of, everything on it is ready to break or fall off... Diesel engine, well if it were maintained properly (let a mechanic "you" trust look at it), might be a so so deal.

My jetta has 134,000 and I expect the engine should do 200,000 anyhow,its the VR6,cant vouch for others.

It is a very well built car and has been the most reliable new car weve ever had.

It does have normal wear and tear at 100,000,that means bearings---replace it,waterpump,wheel bearings,alternator all will go at 100,000 to 120,000.

had a heat sensor and a tranny shift sensor go out too.

thats not too shabby at all in 134,000 miles.Oh,and the AC stinks,literally in the 2000 or so models,if it dies,leave it dead.

Thats said,seats are great,paint is great,only the slightest rattles,body very tight.And they hold the road very well in dry and wet weather,EXCELLENT brakes.they wont move in snow worth much,may as well park em.

They have basic to luxo sport suspension/engines on the same platforms,so any flavor can be had.

dealer wouldnt ever go back to,car itself has treated us well.Dont regret buying that car at all,Jetta GLX,2001

[mightybooboo]

I see your link has already been sold........

[tinknal]

I had an old gas powered Rabbit. It was a great little car. I junked it when the fuel pump went out. Stupidest thing I could have done. The pump cost $300 (which is what I paid for the car), but I should have sprung for a new one.