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)

[veltror]

, & 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.


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Kia good quality I laughed so much i dropped my cucumber sandwiches into my morning tea (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tom_T]

Kia good quality I laughed so much i dropped my cucumber sandwiches into my morning tea (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Veltor, it was during our `85 honeymoon in the UK & Ireland whe we had a crap-box Hyundai hatchback as our hired car BTW. A total pile!

Most of them in the 2000's with family & friends I know here are good quality, & the newer ones which I've had as my rental cars on my business trips here in the States (we don't "hire cars" here ;-) have been nice driving cars, but I can't speak personally to their long term reliability from personal ownership.

And even IF there were problems - at least they give you 10 years or 100,000 miles of warranty to take care of it on THEIR ticket - unlike the current VW/A/P 48/50k warranties, & leaving TDI owners hung out to dry for a year on THEIR cheating scheme!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I've owned 2 P/VW/A vehicles for several decades now - my `73 914-2.0 since Dec. 75 & our `88 VW Westfalia since new - & neither were perfect, but the 914 was much better build quality & less trouble than the WBX Vanagon/T25!

But I'm just not a VW-only guy like you obviously are, but will probably end up with a Porsche Cayenne S soon anyway (unless we go the Lexus GX460/470 route).

Besides, who the heck eats cucumber sandwiches for breakfast anyway!!??
... or at all for that matter!!?? Put some meat or protein in there! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

PS - don't push it too much, or you'll open the whole Lucas, Brit car can of worms!

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