Reliability and 33 Years of Experience, Not looking good. Options

[Series9]

As the owner of an indy VAP shop, I have to say things are not looking good.

I started in VWs with my grandfather's '71 Super Beetle when I was 14. I would enthusiastically tell everyone (for a very long time) that German engineering was the way to go.

Fast forward 33 years. What I say now: "Do NOT buy any VAP built after 1998." Even before 1998, I now realize that drivers of American and Asian cars have generally had a more reliable experience.

My Vanagon is on it's third engine in ten years, my Jetta requires attention at least twice a month, my 914 (before it became the RS) required an engine replacement in the five years I owned it as a /4.......etc, etc.

I'm basically making money on the flaws of German engineering. Yes, it tends to be more precise than the others. BUT, that precision comes at a cost. Small flaws amplify themselves in such a way that the whole system will stop working harmoniously long before other manufacturer's vehicles.

What's my most reliable vehicle/mile/dollar/hour of maintenance? 2006 Ford F250 6.0 Diesel (and that truck has the "unreliable" 6.0).

If someone came to me tonight and said "you have to drive to Washington state and leave right now", I would get right in the Ford and not worry one second about making it there and back.

If I had to take the Vanagon or the Jetta, I would be highly stressed. Both cars are great, but great for within 100 miles.

That's it. I wanted it off my chest.

My VAP specialty will continue at S9, but I may be driving something else..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Pacqs]

Yea i feel sometimes that 98-2016 cars are way too much computer and not reliable for the long run
But theres a few cases when is not correct. my dad owns 2 mercedes (both ml320)
one from 98 and the other of 2001,those damn things are already at 200k or near it and so far the most mayor fail was a transmission rebuild on one of those and that was when it was at around 190k
on the other side of the spectrum we had a vw jetta from the 98 and that darn thing spend most of the time at the shop than on the road, my dad got tired of it and send it to the junkyard
Still whatever happens on the road of the middle of the nowhere i think its easier to fix a 60-88 car that you can fix with some hillibilly shit
than a 2001-2016 car if its breaks down you are toast unless you got a code reader and know how to fix this modern alien ships

But even so its hit and miss on most of the cars today
a lot of people my age are like DUDE i want a new bmw or whatever
meanwhile im happy with a car that is almost twice my age :L
i swear i get into a car that is 2011-2016 and im like "TOO MUCH DAMN BUTTONS!!!"