VWs - I dont get it....

[j-j]

Also! since we're on the subject There is a speed bump right outside my window and I observe every vehicle that travels over it.

 

With the windows open as it's summer, I note a surprisingly high number of newish Mercedes-Benz cars that sound like the suspension bushes have dried out and disintegrated. Now I don't know if they have! but it certainly sounds that way..

 

There are a LOT of Skoda Octavias as minicabs around here and they all sound ruff as nails. But they are taxis after all..

 

I think the Audi TT and Bini were aech recalled at their introduction due to some sort of innate crapness but can't remember specifically what (BINI think had some initial break down prob to do with cold start injectors and the TT had some mad rolls in a field situation)

 

Another ridiculous German thing I drove was a humungous Audi Q7, big, fully loaded and no doubt box-ticking thing but I really didn't like any of it. Full of stupid design faults like obscured instruments and zero rearward visibility. Air suspension that felt like really bad 'not air' suspension. For £55K what would YOU want?

 

Still, as dull as VWs were and still are (not to mention the FUGLY big 4x4 thing) they do make the new Scirrocco that, as impractical and pointless as it is, is actually not a bad looker!

[Alexg]

I hate Q8s, why would anyone need a car that big??? Especially pisses me off when I meet them or X5s etc coming the other way in country lanes. Sorry mate- I've got the sensible sized car, and it's just been polished, into the bush you go....

[Guest]

suspension. For £55K what would YOU want?

 

An old Saab 900 Turbo and a boot full of Kalashnikovs.

[Pete-M]

I love big cars, and I'm the Range Rovers biggest fan, but I can't abide the Audi A8 or X5.

 

Big cars are great, big useless cars less so.

 

Small cars, for me, are hopeless. Can't fit anything in 'em, can't tow anything with 'em, can't get comfy in 'em.

 

Oh, and if someone tries to force me into a hedge because my car is bigger than theirs, I don't give way.

[Rusty Pelican]

Ive never had a VW but ive had two Audis , both C plated 86 cars , THE most reliable , rattle free bombproof cars ive ever owned, over 200k on one and 174k on the other . Compared to my 51 plate Astra both these were a joy to behold .

On a Beemer now , again an 86 , time for comparisons

[dollywobbler]

Oh, and if someone tries to force me into a hedge because my car is bigger than theirs, I don't give way.

Bugger. Hope we don't meet on a narrow lane! My 2CV has scared quite a few 4x4s who were scared to get their precious wheels muddy. Might is right? Naaaaah!

 

Those big Audis are revolting though and hideously over complicated. I broke the air suspension on one and had to resort to the enormous handbook... (suspension will go up with a door open, but not down!).

 

Whereas despite my love of tiny tin, I'd LOVE a Range Rover.

[Alexg]

+1, Range Rover are class. I'd have one in a heart beat.... or a Ssangyong Rexton.

[CIH]

I really dislike VAG too. Everything I hate about moderns can be atributed to bloody VAG. Over complicated generic drivel. Also the interior of a Q5 is smaller than an A3. I really hate when people talk about "quality intriors" it's bloody plastic FFS.

 

I've owned a mk2 Goof (first car yo), mid-90s Cordoba and a late mk2 Pool Coupe. They were all "ok" but totally unremarkable. The goof ran for almost 3 months with no oil (occasional oil pressure warning ha ha) but blew a headgasket. The polo also nailed the gasket.

[Pillock]

 

Oh, and if someone tries to force me into a hedge because my car is bigger than theirs, I don't give way.

Bugger. Hope we don't meet on a narrow lane! My 2CV has scared quite a few 4x4s who were scared to get their precious wheels muddy. Might is right? Naaaaah!

 

Here's a scary thought.... you could both ease off, both move over, and pass like gentlemen

 

I've never forced anyone into a ditch but I know full well where halfway across the road is, and I'll defend it. I'll be stationary if needs be, but I'm not moving over any more than the other guy, no matter what he's in.

[dollywobbler]

I don't actually drive along forcing people off the road, but when you see people in a 4x4 move more into the middle of the road with an 'I'm coming through because I'm in a big thing' mentality, I, perhaps stupidly, stand my ground. After all, I can always swerve around 'em if they really don't give up!

[Alexg]

Challenger 2 main battle tank?

[Talbotman]

I think people always get confused between absolute build quality - and perceived finish of cars nowadays.....vws are most definately not worth the premium over an equivilant ford or gm product....reliablity is skin deep ,finish isnt and in that regard vag products are well finished but reliability wise are no better than the rest and in the latest models are prone to all sorts of minor glitches which occur in any other eurobox. I also think if an owner "thinks" hes bought a premium quality product they treat it accordingly and if its looked after and serviced they can then do the mega miles with no apparent hassle.if you buy something cheaper in someeyes its always treated as second best and abused more..and on the subject of octavias....these munch through transmissions with regular ease - i know quite alot of taxi boys that use them and its a big weak point as are autoboxes on a6s and boras...and the dsg box is now starting to produce some hefty repair bills. Any modernish car will do mega miles if its looked after properly and just check out how many pug 306s on l m n and p plates are still bombing around on there xuds in comparion to the rot prone mk3 golfs...as public enemy put it dont believe the hype!!

[Pete-M]

Don't get me wrong, On a narrow lane I stick as far to the left as possible, but if someone's being a blatant tosser and trying to force me over further than is reasonable, I'll stay exactly where I am and see what happens next.

 

Last time I had to fix a Range Rover that had been in a similar situation, it cost me under £200 to repair. The nearly new BMW that tried its luck was totalled and his insurance happily paid out for the Rangie repairs.

 

This was it.

 

 

Different situation, but basically someone tried to be a smart-arse and lost. Little shouty fella in a new shape 3 series. He was mortified when I pointed out that he was in the wrong, then he got more shouty, then the Police turned up and told him to calm down and face the facts. He'd caused the accident through being a tosser and if he continued to be a nuisance he was gonna be arrested.

 

I did enjoy that.

[gtd2000]

VW has had terrible reliabilty ratings in the USA in recent years.

 

I'm prinarily a fan of Japanese produced cars but do consider most German products are reasonably well screwed together.

 

I did get a lift from a chap at work (I actually work for the Germans) who had a new Golf ,which, I actually thought was pretty cheaply built inside and not like the cars of days gone by.

 

About the only cars from Germany that interest me these days are the offerings from Audi. Not that I'd buy one of course

[Mr H Sceptre]

My sister's mate has a 'new' Beetle cabrio. Its a right heap of shit.

[Alexg]

I'll stay exactly where I am and see what happens next.

 

 

 

 

[Lord Sterling]

When I worked at a garage a few months back we had a Mk4 Golf come in for a service and MOT. The thing was a right heap, rusty/corroded front wings, inside you couldnt see the carpet for dust (The owner was a plasterer)

 

Another mk4 Golf GT TDi was so bad, if you drove it you really did think it was going to fall over and fall apart. I did not feel safe driving it.

 

These though were only a few extreme examples of what can happen if you dont look after them. We had a Mk4 VR6 which was great, I loved it.

 

I've driven an X5 and despite its image problem I really did like it interestingly, unlike most X5 drivers, I managed to use my indicators without trouble, NOT taligate anyone, give way to oncoming traffic no matter what they drove and park within the lines of a bay. I had a few surprised looks whilst giving way.

 

I drove a 2006 Audi S6, bloody hell that was fast, but it was too technical for my liking, I didnt realise up until I parked it on a hill that the "handbrake" was a fact a small electric-window like button

 

When I drive down country/narrow roads, I try and give way to people if I have the space, though, alot of the time they have the same idea and wait for me while I'm waiting for them. Didnt exactly inspire confidence.

 

The worst ones are in cities (Birmingham) in narrow back streets whereits every man for himself.

[Rocket88]

Out of all the VAG based stuff [Audi / Seat /VW /Skoda] the build quality of Skodas is far superior to the Seat and the VW, and as good as Audi. If you check out the prices, a 2000 Octavia tdi fetches better money than the equivalent Passat, and way more than the equivalent Seat. They don't make far off what an equivalent A4.

[Polystratus]

Out of all the VAG based stuff [Audi / Seat /VW /Skoda] the build quality of Skodas is far superior to the Seat and the VW, and as good as Audi. If you check out the prices, a 2000 Octavia tdi fetches better money than the equivalent Passat, and way more than the equivalent Seat. They don't make far off what an equivalent A4.

The Czechs do take pride when they build their cars - the wiring loom on my Skoda has been very neatly wrapped up, and the sills have a very thick appication of wax, they design and make some great engines too -the one in my also went into the Polo.

 

I dont like how VW apply their corporate design to the cars - I really can't tell the difference from a Polo and a Golf these days, also have heared a rumour that VW may stop selling the Skoda brand in the UK because it competes to much with it's own VW brand - well if they thinking I'm going to buy a VW - think again, and that they may offload the Seat brand (Maybe to Fiat again?).

[Tayne]

.

[brammy777]

Has anyone else noticed the rather large amount of lateish 90s German tin with quite a spread of rot on the arches and door bottoms? Now obviously, Fords of that era are also keen on rust, but the perfect build quality people attributed to German cars took a bit of a knock with that.

Whilst we are on it, the new Mini is essentially German and its awful, I hate them so much. Im learning to drive again and this time its in a new Fiesta, which is about a million times better. The contrast between the new and old models is ridiculous, its hard to believe the same company made them. Top notch interior, stylish and a good engine as well. Dashboard is massive, but thats a current trend isnt it... The Mini is just misleading, the name is incorrect and the whole turn key, depress clutch and press button to start up routine is not good when you are just learning to drive, and the handling is vague.

However, as others have said, Skodas are indeed nice cars. I have sat in a 99 Octavia and its a superb car, comfortable and well put together. I think, for the price, VAG just doesnt offer enough, the new Fiesta and Fiat 500 are alot better and alot cheaper. VAG also has a horrible tendency to make all their cars look the same, but in a rather bland way.

[pogweasel]

I like a nice Mk1 / 2 golf. And those wedgy passats from the seventies. Other than that I am not hugely fussed on way or another.

'Er Indoors dislikes them alot due to the snooty connotations... we have lots of friends who lecture on how you "must have a VW, dahling", even though they are always twice the price of an equivalent more blue-collar Ford or Vauxhall

Which is rather interesting due to her current "Ford" being a rebadged volkswagen....

[Cavcraft]

VW Golf Mk1:

 

Rust: Check.

Self destruct interiors: Check.

No visible appeal: Check.

Incredibly over-rated: Check.

 

So, imho, about exactly the same as an Escort Mk2. Both, for some odd reason, fetch stupid amounts of money for humdrum cars. I'd still rather have the Escort though.

[wuvvum]

Mk1 Golfs are great fun to drive though. As are Mk2 Escorts in their own way. I can see the appeal of both, although not to the extent of paying current prices for them.

 

I like most older (sstandard) VWs to be honest. Went to Tescos about an hour and a half ago in the Scirocco, coming back I passed a lovely dark blue B-reg Passat estate in completely un-scened condition, which was nice.

 

Agree with what has been said about rust. I see far more rusty Mk3 Golfs around than 306s or ZXs. And the late '90s E-class Mercs have major rust issues - mainly on the front wings in front of the arches (the same place Mk2 Astras always seem to go) but bootlids, arches etc. also rot like buggery. To use a similar comparison to above, I've seen far fewer rusty 406s than W210s.

[Claypole]

I've never driven anything apart from VW's, from 1990 until two weeks ago.

 

First time in 20 years that I've not owned one.

[Guest]

I'd quite happily have an old Santana/Passat/Jetta, maybe drive an old Golf around for a bit, but modern VWs aren't my bag. Just a bit too tedious.

 

What does surprise me is how they continue to have a good image when they're the favoured marque of taxi drivers (with suspect wavy panels) and low-level drug dealers. Seeing a black Golf at night fills me dread, due to the high possibility of a rat-faced little pusher at the wheel.

 

VW really need to do something about that before the rot sets in.

[gtd2000]

I've never driven anything apart from VW's, from 1990 until two weeks ago.

 

First time in 20 years that I've not owned one.

What made you change your buying habits then?

[garethj]

I wonder if you have been unlucky with the C4 as my sister has had one for 4 years and it is 100% trouble free.

You wonder whether he's been unlucky with his C4?

 

One thing that VWs give you is good resale value, this is probably because they're still trading on values from the 1950s to early '90s but they still fetch more when you sell one.

 

Other than that, they're mostly very very dull to drive, and I've had quite a few.

[r.welfare]

Some Mk3s were OK. My wife bought a '94 1.4CL in 1999 with 50k on the clock. We sold it in 2005 with 142k on the clock. Just servicing and consumables in between. It had a few bits of rust under the rear window but that was it. Deathly dull to drive and incredibly sparse, but felt pretty indestructible.

 

This was replaced with a 2001 Skoda Fabia 1.4 16v. Great little car and well-screwed together, but the (VW!) engine had a few design faults (cambelt tensioners made of chocolate and requiring replacement every 40k for example), plus an annoying tendency to put the "check engine" light on every few weeks which we never did get to the bottom of. But again it lasted well for the 60-odd k we ran it for over the three years we had it.

 

I'm not sure I agree about Skoda resale values though - I had to work hard to get £1,800 for it two summers ago though, at seven years old with 88k on the clock but mint with a huge service history. Perhaps if it was a diesel, or had lower mileage, it would have been easier to sell, but similar-age Polos were going for at least £700 more...

[AnthonyG]

Mk3s were absolute cack compared to the Mk2, not just the VR6 'replacement' for the GTi- it was really a bad step back. Dull to look at, dull to drive and not particularly reliable or durable.

 

Those Mk3s that are left are invariably rusted to buggery. The Mk4 was actually a good step forward in terms of styling, design, perceived quality etc, but not that much more reliable. Seem to be wanker/chav car of choice now though.

 

I suspect a lot of badge snob buyers who automatically bought a Golf now get a BMW 1 series instead, which is 'like a Golf', with a 'better' badge, only with no space in the back seat or boot. Probably a damn sight more reliable, though.

 

BMW's own figures show that a very high proportion (80 or 90%) of 1 series buyers do not know it is RWD.