VW Golfs are unreliable cars (see my repair history)

[LeftLand]

So just out of curiousity then, what exactly are they referring to when they say some car brands are reliable and others aren't? If my VW's repair history is no indication that VW is unreliable, what exactly goes wrong with "unreliable" cars?

Hi Jewels, I think the answer to your question is  that we are dealing with a moving target here.  Your 1998 Golf is two generations old, so the design, engineering, and probably most of the parts are quite different now.  Your experiences, though painful, don’t necessarily relate to the 2009 models, which is kind of what was implied by the present tense “are” in the thread subject.

Luck comes into it too.  My 2002 Jetta is one generation old, and this version has a questionable reputation also, but mine has been very reliable and solid.  It’s got 150,000 km on it now and is virtually indistinguishable from a brand new car.

 

[TopGun]

...Your 1998 Golf is two generations old, so the design, engineering, and probably most of the parts are quite different now.  Your experiences, though painful, don’t necessarily relate to the 2009 models...

Ya...that comparison only applies when you own a domestic brand car.

So just out of curiousity then, what exactly are they referring to when they say some car brands are reliable and others aren't? If my VW's repair history is no indication that VW is unreliable, what exactly goes wrong with "unreliable" cars?

Great question Jewels.  I'm curious to hear the responses...

[weebl]

So just out of curiousity then, what exactly are they referring to when they say some car brands are reliable and others aren't? If my VW's repair history is no indication that VW is unreliable, what exactly goes wrong with "unreliable" cars?

It depends on who's defining what reliability is, but generally speaking, it means that, if proper maintenance is done, the vehicle does not experience some sort of failure, not counting "normal wear" items going at the age which is considered the norm for these.  In that case, normal maintence should be able to identify those items that are close to being worn out before a failure occurs.

So what does that mean?  A 10 year old car could very likely need a new alternator.  A 10 month old car shouldn't.  A 10 year old car could have problems due to corrosion or wear of components to other parts of the electrical system as well; but a 10 month old car shouldn't.

A transmission should be good for well over 100,000 km before needing repairs (many good transmissions, which is where my bar is set, should easily go 300,000km +).  Failures before then could be considered a reliability problem.  But, that also depends on whether the car was abused, or maintenance was neglected.

Yes, VWs have a reputation for bad reliability, they earned this during the 80s and into the 90s.  Other brands have also earned reputations, for good and bad reliability.  But what that simply means is, in terms of percentage of vehicles considered unreliable, that percentage is either higher or lower than what is average across the board.  That also means, you could have a vehicle from an unreliable brand, yet have a very reliable car, or have a vehicle from a reliable brand, and own the worst lemon ever made.

Based on the majority of the items you listed, you've obviously been unlucky in that everything seems to be happening in such a short time frame, but these are almost all items that can be expected to be either maintenance, or at the end of their useful service life (worn out).

As for your heater core going because the coolant was never flushed.  That's normal.  The people who've been able to escape that, it's pure luck.

I married into owning a VW.  It was never on my list of vehicles anytime I went to buy.  That said, while it is a relatively young car (2003 with only 106,000 kms), I have had no major issues with it, except for:  glow plug under warranty (apparently changed to a revised design so that it shouldn't happen again), a suspected loose cable on my temperature control for HVAC (when it's warm enough, I'll crawl under the dash and fix it in probably less than 5 minutes, but it's stuck on hot right now, so I'm not too worried), a battery that is very weak, which I am replacing this week (almost 6 years of life, one of the bettery batteries I've had; norm was about 4 years, the worst less than 2) or, repairs related to a less than perfect repair job at a body shop after my wife was rear-ended or stuff that I screwed up myself (wasn't paying attention one morning, and backed up while plugged in, yanking the cord, which in turn, yanked the cords of a couple of other things, which I since fixed).

My impression of the brand has certainly changed.  I know that some still complain of electrical gremlins, their automatic transmissions (but then so are many others), and some engines of theirs have been questionable, but there appear to be no electrical gremlins in our car, we have a manual transmission which many consider rock solid, and one of their coveted diesel engines (non pumpe-duse design).

[vicali]

I'll take a boring car any day over one that leaves you stranded on the road three times in 10 years.

pretty broad strokes there, your golf left you stranded 3 time and so "VW Golfs are unreliable cars "?
while your repair list is impressive, I would think that it isn't that unusual for most 98 models out there.. some hondas/toyotas break too..

now if you had a mk4 with a bunk window regulator in the first year or two you might have grounds. It's just that reliability is relative to what you expect.

I may be a little defensive though, you see I have the vw sickness..
Dash?  I prefer the 63, nice and sharp metal.. don't worry though, this is the year they added seatbelts.

[onearmed]

This is a repeat post:

2 GTI's 1.8T  6 years 3 months old

First one

~135000km  out of warranty expenses

$125 Dollars to reset the auto trans computer because shifting became jerky. (Dealership Labour + taxes)
$45 Radio antenna base reception bad. (Brother did)
$140 Preventative 4 Ignition Coil replacement at 115000km (private mechanic)
$310 Total out of warranty expenses (taxes incl)

Other replacements:
Battery (115000km 5.5 years)
4 Brake pads (90000km )
Timing Belt /Waterpump (105000 km)

~129000km

$45 Antenna base (myself)
$220 Wheel Bearing (private mechanic)
$350 vacuum pump + hoses  (dealership)
$140 Preventative 4 Ignition Coil replacement at 115000km (private mechanic)

Other replacements:
4 brake pads and machined front rotors (~80000km)
Still on original battery
Timing Belt / Waterpump @ 115000km


$755 Total out of warranty Expenses (taxes incl)

[articsteve]

This is a repeat post:

2 GTI's 1.8T  6 years 3 months old

First one

~135000km  out of warranty expenses

$125 Dollars to reset the auto trans computer because shifting became jerky. (Dealership Labour + taxes)
$45 Radio antenna base reception bad. (Brother did)
$140 Preventative 4 Ignition Coil replacement at 115000km (private mechanic)

$310 Total out of warranty expenses (taxes incl)

~129000km

$45 Antenna base (myself)
$220 Wheel Bearing (private mechanic)
$350 vacuum pump + hoses  (dealership)
$140 Preventative 4 Ignition Coil replacement at 115000km (private mechanic)

$755 Total out of warranty Expenses (taxes incl)

$220 Wheel Bearing (private mechanic)
$350 vacuum pump + hoses  (dealership)

Those 2 items seem to be representative of VW/Audi parts.

$140 Preventative 4 Ignition Coil replacement at 115000km (private mechanic)

That is very cheap for 4 coils including labour and tax.

[onearmed]

This is a repeat post:

2 GTI's 1.8T  6 years 3 months old

First one

~135000km  out of warranty expenses

$125 Dollars to reset the auto trans computer because shifting became jerky. (Dealership Labour + taxes)
$45 Radio antenna base reception bad. (Brother did)
$140 Preventative 4 Ignition Coil replacement at 115000km (private mechanic)

$310 Total out of warranty expenses (taxes incl)

~129000km

$45 Antenna base (myself)
$220 Wheel Bearing (private mechanic)
$350 vacuum pump + hoses  (dealership)
$140 Preventative 4 Ignition Coil replacement at 115000km (private mechanic)

$755 Total out of warranty Expenses (taxes incl)

$220 Wheel Bearing (private mechanic)
$350 vacuum pump + hoses  (dealership)

Those 2 items seem to be representative of VW/Audi parts.

$140 Preventative 4 Ignition Coil replacement at 115000km (private mechanic)

That is very cheap for 4 coils including labour and tax.

I bought the ignition coils back when the US dollar was 1 to 1.  I paid about $105 US for 4 at www.ecstuning.com.  The preventative aspect can save you a lot if you look for an online deal.  My mechanic didn't charge me for changing them when he did the timing belt. If he did, I would've changed them myself as they are very easy to change.

Another thing for others who have any car in general, I bought my timing belt kit online and paid the labour to change it. I think the total for my timing belt, water pump, tensioner, "other belt" was about $600 taxes in.

Edit:  Even another edit, my vacuum pump and hose was originally going to be $450 at the dealership but I asked them if there was anything they could do for me before they did the job.  I did this on the phone and service advisor said "I'll leave something for you to help you out when you pay".  I had no clue, I took it with faith and it was 100 dollars off.  Doesn't hurt to ask, as well as being sincere.

[Angry Chicken]

Wow, that's rough.

So you drive a Rabbit? Just out of curiousity, what do you think of VW's ever-increasing dashboard size? Not sure if you remember the dashboards on the late-90s VWs, but they were a lot slimmer and made of a shiney embossed material that looked like leather. The new models all have these matte, rubbery oversized dashboards (like most new cars). Do consumers like them? Just wondering.

(Warning:  just jumping on an old thread!)  I know what you mean by bigger and bigger dashboards.  My 1989 Honda CRX Si (340,000 km BTW) has what I would call a minimalist dashboard.  I can fit maybe 2 slices of pizza on *it*. 

I have some more pics of the car here:  http://www.ncf.ca/~ax883/index.htm  My 2007 Mazda3 and the wife's 2007 Santa Fe both have more complex dashes with a lot more electronics and electronic nanny indicators than the CRX does.  Heck the CRX has manual mirrors and crank windows...who woulda thunk it?!  Airbags?  Who needs 'em?   

But it does have nice cool A/C and a really big electric sunroof and weighs only 2000 pounds.  Add close ratio 5-speed, an engine from a Japanese Integra, full coilover suspension and a modest 1.5" drop over nice 215/40-ZR16 tires, front strut brace and....shoot.  Time to post over in Show 'N Shine!     Hear that rrocket?

/Eric

[Turbo Bob]

Man you're right!!! That dash is tiny, smaller than the Exige I think!



Never thought about the dash size but they sure do make them bland now...

P.S. I had manual windows too, one less thing that could go wrong, electrics aren't Lotus' strong point!

[vdk]

That's sexy. 


CEL turned on the other night. 

[dr_spock]

The my dash is bigger than your dash game:



I can hold a couple of pizzas on it. 

Funny thing, I feel like I am going to hit the windshield whenever I drive or ride in car with a shallow dash. 

[k9_GSD]

low beam headlight bulbs every 12-18 months, might have to do with they are always on as the DRLs.

curiously every 2nd VW I see seems to have a burnt out headlight / taillight.  Wonder why that is?

In 10 yrs, our Ontario built Acura only had a burnt out corner marker light.  Amazingly, headlights and tailights yet to fail.

[Squishy]

Our Escort bulbs were also ten years old when I changed them (still working, but were obviously dimmer than new).

Could it have something to do with ECE lighting standards?  The ECE standards tend to favour illumination over energy savings and long life, while SAE standards are the opposite.  The bulbs should be SAE bulbs here, but maybe something is different in the electrical setup.

[Angry Chicken]

The my dash is bigger than your dash game:
<snipped image of punch buggy's dash>

I can hold a couple of pizzas on it. 

Funny thing, I feel like I am going to hit the windshield whenever I drive or ride in car with a shallow dash. 

No actually, this is the mine is smaller than yours game.  You see, size does matter!

[onearmed]

low beam headlight bulbs every 12-18 months, might have to do with they are always on as the DRLs.

curiously every 2nd VW I see seems to have a burnt out headlight / taillight.  Wonder why that is?

In 10 yrs, our Ontario built Acura only had a burnt out corner marker light.  Amazingly, headlights and tailights yet to fail.

Both our VW's headlights average about 60000km until BYE BYE.    I've replaced the brake lights and night time rear lights once in 130000km  (When one burns out I buy two and replaced both sides)  Don't know why they burn out faster. 

[dr_spock]

curiously every 2nd VW I see seems to have a burnt out headlight / taillight.  Wonder why that is?

In 10 yrs, our Ontario built Acura only had a burnt out corner marker light.  Amazingly, headlights and tailights yet to fail.

It could be the voltage/current being run through the bulbs.  Or VW owners aren't keen on replacing busted bulbs on a timely basis. 

Lucky you.   I had to change a headlight bulb and a marker bulb on my 02 Civic after 4 years.   I guess Honda must have saved the better bulbs for the Acura brand. 

[dr_spock]

The my dash is bigger than your dash game:
<snipped image of punch buggy's dash>

I can hold a couple of pizzas on it. 

Funny thing, I feel like I am going to hit the windshield whenever I drive or ride in car with a shallow dash. 

No actually, this is the mine is smaller than yours game.  You see, size does matter!

But can you change your baby's diaper on your dash?  Or layout a road map? 

[Angry Chicken]

The my dash is bigger than your dash game:
<snipped image of punch buggy's dash>

I can hold a couple of pizzas on it. 

Funny thing, I feel like I am going to hit the windshield whenever I drive or ride in car with a shallow dash. 

No actually, this is the mine is smaller than yours game.  You see, size does matter!

But can you change your baby's diaper on your dash?  Or layout a road map? 

You've got me there!   

[Squishy]

We had a 1996 Pontiac Trans Sport up until a few months ago, and that dash was a good 70 cm to a metre deep.  If you put sunglasses on that dash and touched the brakes, you weren't getting them back again until the car was stopped and you climbed onto the dash to retrieve them.

[tpl]

We had a 1996 Pontiac Trans Sport up until a few months ago, and that dash was a good 70 cm to a metre deep.  If you put sunglasses on that dash and touched the brakes, you weren't getting them back again until the car was stopped and you climbed onto the dash to retrieve them.

You couldn't just accelerate in the true Pontiac fashion to get them back ?     Or has all the GTO dna gone from Pontiac now?