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)

[76-914]

I have a fleet of VWs 2007 and newer. And two are TDIs to are TSI, I have run TDIs to 300,000+ miles ,sold them, and still see them on the streets. These where highly modified cars. I hd one 1999 A4 Jetta that was a Pos, the electricals became an issue. Security module would shut the car down while you where in it.

That was the worse one. I will say I really dislike the Tiptronic trans in my 2005 so much I swapped it to a stick. I have since sold that car.

They can be fine cars if feed correctly. My Chevy truck on the other hand. 2 fuel pumps, replacement fuel lines, when stainless steel. Rusting to death, rebuild auto at 200,000 miles. Engine is putting out maybe 175HP, maybe. And it has cancer bad. I keep telling myself it is 13 years old, it is a farm truck, it gets abused all day everyday. Then I go out and look at new ones, and think, yeah right, I'll rebuild this one a few times.

Oh I forgot the big one, all the brake lines rusted out. I was hauling a load, hit the pedal and it went super soft and to the floor. Luckily the trailer had brakes, and it hauled us down. Turned around drove home and found the issue, replacing the brake lines was a _________.

It now needs a new water pump, could use and engine rebuild, it is getting old, trans is still not making me happy, I should have rebuilt it myself, electric door locks don't work, dash flips languages as you drive. Tow haul mode does not work 100% of the time.

To each there own i guess.

Al industries have issues, I use Apple Computers, I make a living because, Microsoft, Cisco, HP/ Aruba, and Palo Alto etc..... I have not had a single issue with my Apple laptops. I know others who have, not a fan boy, but I am a fan as it works 100% of the time. For me!

Same thing with tools some people have to have Snap-On, I own one ratchet because my father-in-law made the casting for the handle. It is a nice ratchet. Currently I have all Cobalt micro turn ratchets, almost as nice, but 1/4 the cost. BTW, I have another version of the Snap-On ratchet that was sold by another company, no red handle, no snap-on name, but 1/3rd the cost and just as nice. It came out of the same plant, just different plastic color , and a mold with out snap-on on the inside.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thisthreadisworthlesswithoutpics.gif) I want to see a pic of that pickup. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

I'll tell you right now, I occasionally have BMWs show up looking for service.

When I work on them, it's very obvious that they are higher quality than both Porsche and Mercedes.

I agree with you Joe. VAP products are over-engineered in many ways, to the point where they forgot the relatively simple stuff in recent years. More business for you, but a pain in the ass for the owner and a horrible

The problem with poorly engineered products is they spend more on advertising than the mechanic and there are those that will believe the problem is with the tech not the vehicle. Example: SoCal has the toughest restrictions on water heaters in the US, period. As a result the water heaters here are very different from most others and have a high failure rate; to wit, pilot outages. I can't tell you the number of times I have heard, "I never had a problem with my old water heater". The assumption being that I don't know shit from apple butter. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) And, I'll bet you've run into a similar situation Joe. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)