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)

[Tom_T]

Back in `88 when we bought our VW Westy new, I purposely avoided their option package with the power windows, door locks, cruise control, etc. because of my concerns with VW quality control, to the extent that we had the dealer do a dealer swap for another Westy in the same Dove Blue, but without the power package.

I also didn't pay their asking $800 for the dealer installed VW branded AM/FM/Cassette radio (no lie on price, & yes, still not a factory option even by `88) - when I could get a better quality top end Sony deck for about $200! I was also proven correct on that, since most VW radios have since died, & I've only replaced the Sony with a newer JVC to get CD & BT added!

I was likewise nonplussed by the fact that the high-$20Ks sticker price on the `88 Westy was a bit more than was my 85 BMW E30 325e 2Dr Sport Coupe - whose electricals & options all still work - when the VW still had the stooooopid single TS indicator light (instead of L & R lights), as the 914s went to for the 74 cost cutting measures. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I mean really! .... The whole purpose of having a TS indicator in the first place, is to give the driver a visual confirmation that they have the correct direction lit, otherwise why bother!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Although late 90's to current BMWs do have quality & complexity issues - in those days 80-90's they were clearly far better made cars! .... & generally more reliable than any of the contemporary vehicles from the USA Big 3, most of which eventually improved later on.

Both cars have had their driver side window regulators replaced due to high use - electric on the E30 & manual on the Westy, but the BMWs power windows have been flawless so far in 200K miles & 3+ decade. As I said in a prior post - the long term repairs & maintenance on the VW Westy is 4x that of the BMW over the past 28 & 31 years respectively.

The more knowing & sarcastic of us used to call VW's "German Engineering" ad campaign "Fart-fig-newton" because we new in large part it was all just marketing fluff! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

VW has always had a schizophrenic corporate personality - trying to do things on the cheap as a continuation of "The Peoples' Car" concept, & trying to be a top German premium/near-luxe brand (recall their Phaeton & branding the Touareg as a Luxe or Premium SUV), & not doing either well as a result - ergo the recent TDI cheating scheme - which has done far more than just cause question on their diesels, going beyond to make folks question what else they've cheated on in terms of quality control & good engineering.

Certainly the Honda/Toytoa & some Nissan, & the later Hyundai/Kia cars have been very consistently good quality & long term reliable cars.

Hyundai pulled themselves out of being crappy cracker-boxes up through the 1980's, into atop quality car since, & back it with a 10yr/100K mile warranty. So if they could pull themselves up, certainly VW & the other German brands can do likewise.

To the contrary, I've heard recently on the Bimmer forums that BMW has shortened their new car & CPO warranties, & the CPO has basically "written out" any liability for their known problems on the cars in the CPO contract language! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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