Second VW Jetta TDI

RonL · Mar 10, 2006

After having two VW lemons in a row ( Including A TDI Bug ) I would not touch a VW with a ten foot pole. VWoA simply does not stand behind their product. You are lucky to have gotten a car without problems.

RonL

GeneD14 · Mar 10, 2006

We looked at buying a VW diesel last November and the salesman told us there was a 6 month wait for a diesel. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Over time we lost interest in waiting for one. I can't imagine how many customers they must turn away.

SkyPup · Mar 10, 2006

We've had two high performance VW TDIs for seven years now (205 micron European Injectors and 1.2 bar VNT15 turbo boost for 150HP and 275 pounds of torque on each), both average 45 mpg day in and day out. Pretty good for a 1900cc 121 cubic inch four banger diesel. My 350 Z-71 Chevy pickup hardly has more power than that (its a shame they don't put these little turbodiesels in a nice pickup truck that gets 35-40 miles per gallon).

No problems whatsoever, just GO. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

_RaT_ · Mar 10, 2006

Yeah, that seems to be what I hear and read. I believe it was this months Motor Trend I saw in a doctors office that really did a number on many of the European cars, it was not exclusive to VW. The failure rate was much higher then that of their Japanese counterpart. I agree with you Skypup, I sure hope that with the ultra low sulphur diesel arriving here soon that we will see a much larger variety of diesels in cars and trucks available to us. I understand Toyota has one in the works for the Tundra. Despite the consdierably higher cost of the fuel, the mileage surely seems to make up for it.

Sigarms · Mar 10, 2006

Have had three golfs, my current one will be my last V.W.

Overall dealer support from what I've seen is horrible in most areas. Parts are ridiculous on pricing, and even if you can find a good V.W mechanic, he still has to get most parts from the V.W dealer as well (any way you look at it, your getting bent).

Most V.W's are now "assembled" in Brazil or Mexico. Why do I want to by a German car "made" in Brazil or Mexico.

I'm speaking from personal experience. My current/last Golf was actually made in Germany.

Sorry, had to many bad experiences with V.W dealerships who think that V.W is BMW and you should pay becuase it's a German car.

Heck, I was up in Pa this week where I bought the car and called for an oil change on Tuesday. The service manager told me the earliest he could get me in was Friday! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Heck, I can go to any honda or toyota dealer back in N.C and be in and out (less than 45 minutes) for an oil change without an appointment.

Guess how much a 1997 Golf GL compressor runs for your A/C? (heck, even a rebuilt one).

Seems that it's a "hit or miss" with "new" Brazil or Mexico "made" German (V.W) cars. Either you have a good one and it will last you a long time, or it will be a lemon and you will never buy another one again.

Still trying to figure out V.W's "new" design on the Jetta. Honestly, don't like it.

Apologies. Rant mode is on due to V.W dealer support/pricing/customer service issues.

MF1455v · Mar 10, 2006

I have heard of some of the problems mentioned here. So far we have had good luck out of our dealer. Also have friends who have used another VW dealer in Dallas area with the same good results. We had a fuel rail problem with our 01 Jetta and could not have asked for better support from the dealer. It was replaced after warranty had expired a no cost to us. Guess we are lucky to have at least 2 good dealers here in the Dallas area.

We looked a several other cars prior to deciding on VW. One thing all the other dealers could learn for VW is that the salesman gives you the price and closes the deal without have to consult a manager.

James

TractorLegend · Mar 11, 2006

( One thing all the other dealers could learn for VW is that the salesman gives you the price and closes the deal without have to consult a manager. )

I call that 'The Wizzard of Oz" technique
the man behind the curtain blowing smoke...
I have no patience for that.

Sigarms · Mar 11, 2006

Actually the final straw was over a warranty. Went in to the a dealer (not where I bought the car, because I had moved from Pa to N.C) Had an electrical problem, forget now what it was.

I "lucked" out because I still had 300 miles "left" on the warranty. Tried to get the car in the following week, but they couldn't do it (booked up), and the week after that I was flying down to P.R for a couple of days. Well, had to take the car in to the dealer when I got back.

Well, got back from my trip and took the car into the dealer to fix the problem and guess what, my mileage was over
(by 100 miles if I remember correctly) and the car was now out of warranty and the dealer would not do the work under warranty.

I tried to explain to them that the car was in thier shop three weeks ago and the mileage had the car still under warranty, that I only had 200 miles left under the warranty, tried to get the car in that same week or the next, but that they couldn't get me in, and the following week I had to fly out of the country (it was driving to the Durham airport that put the mileage over the warranty).

I had to call V.W direct and raise holy heck. Finally the service manager gave me a call and told me that he had talked to V.W directly and that I would pay the dealer for the work and then V.W would send me a check directly to cover the work. Funny thing is that I could tell the serivce manager was not happy that I was getting money back from V.W which just added fuel to the fire.

Overall impression of the dealer was if you didn't buy the car from us, we (the dealer) were going to do anything and everything possible to make your life "hard" in dealing with us for anything under warranty. Keep in mind, when I brought the car in, I never mentioned the warranty, they brought it to my attention.

Yes, the issue was resovled, but for what I had to go through to get it resolved, that was the last straw for V.W.

Now that I'm going to be looking for antoher car in the near future, it will not be a V.W (although after my last post I did find an 81 V.W rabbit with "apparently" only 160k on it that had me thinking /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

You're right about the dealer support. In my line of work, I tell my customers that it's not about the equipment itself, but about the people behind the equipment and the service you receive by using that equipment (same can be said for cars).

I've just never found a great V.W dealer.

By the way, anyone in central N.C stay away from Flow motors, particularly Flow V.W (I thought that they have "earned" that non-endorsement).

AndyM · Mar 11, 2006

(although after my last post I did find an 81 V.W rabbit with "apparently" only 160k on it that had me thinking )


Only 160k?
There's a 1981 VW Dasher diesel on Ebay now with 42,000 miles. The bidding is over $3000 with two days remaining... It will be interesting to see how much it brings at the end of the auction!

AndyM · Mar 11, 2006

One thing all the other dealers could learn for VW is that the salesman gives you the price and closes the deal without have to consult a manager. 

That part is nice, however, the price the salesman gives is not...
When we looked at a TDI, the going price is $1000 OVER MSRP. The dealer's attitude is, if you don't want to pay that much, there's plenty of others who will.

The TDI's are sure nice, and I'd still like to have one... I just can't justify the cost.