Knurled wrote:clutchsmoke wrote: The interior also smells like crayons. That is all.\ Seriously, what is UP with that??? A lot of my VWAG customers have that. My '89 Golf had it. My new '86 Quantum has it but my old one does not, nor does my GTI. The '12 A4 sitting 30 feet from me doesn't. I got no clue. Incidentally, for a Mazda guy, I sure do have a lot of VW ownership going on...
See Mr. Tanner's post above, sounds like the probable cause. 
In reply to Bobzilla:
So let's say you had to drive and it was very very important to get to work very early in the morning... But you're also an enthusiast with precious little time for the bigger auto repair jobs...
Your choices were as follows: Volvo 240, Saturn SC2, 2000-ish Corolla, Sentra, Golf gasser and wanted the best $3,000 could buy.
WWGRMD? Feel free to make this a "what car thread" at this point!
The only reason I consider VW products at all is because of the DSG and possibly the diesel. I keep meaning to research to see if the Ford Focus with the DSG and paddle shifters can be made to shift the way I want them to, but I keep forgetting to check.
I'm very much in support of the Volvo, see your other thread.
I bought some Volvo parts off a guy on C-list who was cleaning out his garage of spare parts after getting rid of his FWD Volvo. He replaced the Volvo with an LS400 that he bought from a guy that was an "organ delivery man" for area hospitals, at least that was his story. The previous owner of the LS400 had to have reliable and comfortable (spent a lot of time in the car) transportation, absolutely couldn't break down. You're hearing this story 3rd hand, but the part about the reliability stuck with me.
Lee, I'll admit that I cannot drive by a Volvo 240 sedan or wagon without staring at it (in an admiring way).
Can't explain it logically either. Maybe because I'm Swedish!
I see a $3000 car as a bit of a dice-roll. You might get lucky and it'll be trouble free. You might get burned. This is less car dependent than owner/seller and luck dependent.
I've had crappy luck lately (E30... Dodge Cummins...) so I went with the $10K car option. So far, so good.
ebonyandivory wrote: In reply to Bobzilla: So let's say you had to drive and it was very very important to get to work very early in the morning... But you're also an enthusiast with precious little time for the bigger auto repair jobs... Your choices were as follows: Volvo 240, Saturn SC2, 2000-ish Corolla, Sentra, Golf gasser and wanted the best $3,000 could buy. WWGRMD? Feel free to make this a "what car thread" at this point!
Meh... none of the above. I'd find as nice of a 02-03 Elantra sedan I could find for $2k, then put $800 in suspension/wheels/tires on it and go. Only reason I traded mine was cancer. damn salt belt.
But if those were my only options: SC2. Run forever, parts are cheap and readily available and they run forever. Did I already say that?
But I can assure you I would NEVER buy a $3k german car. Ever. EVER. That's like playing Russian roulette with a 1911.
Someone show me a car that's fun to drive AND still gets 50 mpg while I'm flogging the snot out of it please ! I've looked at the sonic, it smelled like crap and pedals didn't like my boots.
Bobzilla wrote: I don't consider cooling issues, clogged intakes, broken AC and windows "a few convienence items". But if you do, go for it. More power to you. I'll keep my super reliable Korean crap and keep rollin'.
Every car on the road has cooling issues, window issues, A/C issues. The intake clogging is a TDI specific thing and only reinforces my belief that compression ignition is kinda like rotary engines - neat in principle, fun if you can live with the quirks, but bad in practice, and attracts plenty of adherents whose rose tinted glasses blind them to the truth that it just plain sucks for a transportation appliance.
I'll post here when/if I decide to sell the TDI. It's been ok for me, the issues it's had would/could be on any 15 year old car with 250K miles. But, how many cars fit that bill AND return 50+ mpg every day.
Considering the fact that, as I stated earlier, I'd like a Diesel but would be getting a gasser, the coil-pack issue looks to be the only frequent engine-rated failure.
I don't use a/c much because I like the wind and hate the power-robbing nature of it.
And like I said, I'd be willing to put up with replacing stuff here and there.
My definition of reliable is really simple: getting me where I want to go and back again. I've daily driven Samurai's and YJs with no doors, no tops, no tailgates, no a/c, no carpet, no interior and similarly spartan XJ's. Took a huge CJ8 on multiple-hour trips with no top and doors, heat, a/c or stereo. I can live with accessories crapping out.
Heck, I'd daily drive an old circle-track car if it was legal.
My 2003 GTI 1.8t never left me stranded, but always needed something stupid... coilpack here or there, window reg, intercooler (cracked), glovebox latch (you need to replace the whole thing really), ignition switch, bunch of emissions related hoses cracked and I just deleted/flashed it and ran it "race car style" .. fun car, more quick but more portly than the older ones. I have a soft spot for MK1/2s but they are $$ and as practical as Mk3's look they all are rotting out fast.
DrBoost wrote: I'll post here when/if I decide to sell the TDI. It's been ok for me, the issues it's had would/could be on any 15 year old car with 250K miles. But, how many cars fit that bill AND return 50+ mpg every day.
My 96 Civic is older but only has 170k miles. Gets low to mid 40s, so when comparing fuel costs its a wash between this and 50mpg using more expensive diesel.
It has needed zero repairs beyond consumables. Nadda. Zilch. Goose egg. Wait, I replaced the shifter bushing with a poly piece for $10.
I also get double wishbone suspension at all four corners.
Knurled wrote:Bobzilla wrote: I don't consider cooling issues, clogged intakes, broken AC and windows "a few convienence items". But if you do, go for it. More power to you. I'll keep my super reliable Korean crap and keep rollin'.Every car on the road has cooling issues, window issues, A/C issues. The intake clogging is a TDI specific thing and only reinforces my belief that compression ignition is kinda like rotary engines - neat in principle, fun if you can live with the quirks, but bad in practice, and attracts plenty of adherents whose rose tinted glasses blind them to the truth that it just plain sucks for a transportation appliance.
Um, no. Not all cars have inherent cooling/ A/C issues. Both older Hyundais were running original radiators/hoses well into the 220k mile point without any failures. Water pumps were replaced every other timing belt ($40 every 120k miles). Neither one had AC issues and both would freeze you to death in the summer, and roast you in the winter.
so no. Not every car has those issues.
Ditchdigger wrote: In reply to clutchsmoke: I hear that a lot but being involved in the local VW club and whole NW scene for over 15 years I have never smelled it, nor did any one else I knew. They all "knew someone" who's car smelled like crayons but no one had first hand experience. Even the 5 or 6 VW dealer mechanics I know well have never directly experienced it.
I had a female room mate who had a really bright green VW new bug and it WREAKED of crayons, the hotter it was outside the stronger the odor. I am NOT a VW mechanic
I love VW's and have driven and owned many, and I never recommend them to people. 
My anecdotal current VW story.
I have a '99.5 (mark IV) Golf TDI. bought it with 120K on it, and it now has 265K on it.
At 235K the trans ate 5th gear. It still had the original clutch. I swapped in a used low mile trans, and did a single mass G60 flywheel with VR6 clutch conversion "while i was in there" just cuz.
Otherwise it has gotten me where I wanted to go every day. Lots of little problems though, some inherent to high mileage, many VW crap specific.
My current bitch list (though I still drive it 150 miles/day):
headliners unglued and hitting my head
door panel fabric unglued and keeps getting glue backing crap on me
all soft touch interior plastics look terrible
headlight lenses dull (replaced once, need to buy glass)
door locks don't work on remote (sometimes...), apparently there's a contact switch that goes bad commonly, so sometimes I'll lock it but it doesn't lock, then in the middle of the night it'll figure out it's not locked, and that'll set off the alarm. So, I just never lock my doors. (problem solved?)
Window regulators... even both of my manual windows have failed. I replaced the passenger one. Now the drivers one won't go up without me helping it with my hand.
Drivers side seatbelt reciever broke. I've been buckling into the pass side reciever (nobody usually rides passenger...)
Center counsole cover broke and is MIA.
The VNT actuator is sticking on my turbo... it tends to overboost and go into limp mode. turning off/back on resets the ECU, but it's a pain.
I like the looks of the 4dr golf, but have owned a Jetta and a Golf that I bought as projects and gave up on. I almost want to buy a golf gut it and replace with civic electrical and drive train. Even the TDI I owned was a basket case.
Bobzilla wrote: Um, no. Not all cars have inherent cooling/ A/C issues.
Wait, what cooling issues are there? The only time I've replaced a radiator was front end damage related. I've never had to replace hoses either, and have only seen one 1.8t water pump fail before it was time to replace the timing belt.
szeis4cookie wrote: My wife's Beetle from before we were married reeked of crayons. We parked next to a Jetta once at Whole Foods, and it did it too - enough to make me have a bit of PTSD about the Beetle. So now you know someone who has directly experienced the crayon smell.
Not just a VW thing. My parents had a Volvo S40 that smelled like crayons. I wouldn't say "reeked" of it, just a bit of a faint smell. But definitely there. I figured it was some sort of interior material they were using.
MKIVs don't float:
Knurled wrote:Bobzilla wrote: Um, no. Not all cars have inherent cooling/ A/C issues.Wait, what cooling issues are there? The only time I've replaced a radiator was front end damage related. I've never had to replace hoses either, and have only seen one 1.8t water pump fail before it was time to replace the timing belt.
You'd have to ask the person that referred to them earlier in the thread. or maybe check yourself as you said "every car has cooling issues".
DaveEstey wrote:DrBoost wrote: I'll post here when/if I decide to sell the TDI. It's been ok for me, the issues it's had would/could be on any 15 year old car with 250K miles. But, how many cars fit that bill AND return 50+ mpg every day.My 96 Civic is older but only has 170k miles. Gets low to mid 40s, so when comparing fuel costs its a wash between this and 50mpg using more expensive diesel. It has needed zero repairs beyond consumables. Nadda. Zilch. Goose egg. Wait, I replaced the shifter bushing with a poly piece for $10. I also get double wishbone suspension at all four corners.
But can you run free fuel? And if I only got 40, I'd be upset. I drove from CT. to MI. on one tank of fuel. And my car has only needed one "repair" since I've owned it. Had to repair two wires that had rubbed through. But in the end, free fuel trumps all....
In reply to John Brown:
As good as Caravans at least...
John Brown wrote: MKIVs don't float:
Hmmm. I guess that is VWs fault too... (It's a JOKE... Ok?)
But seriously, back to the original thread. There used to be someone on VW Vortex that used the signature "There will always be at least 3 things wrong with my car" As a VW owner, I understand that...
The key to VW ownership?
Get one with as FEW options as possible, especially electrical ones. So skip - power windows, sunroofs, upgraded stereos (go aftermarket), etc.
I have had 4 and the only ones that were a problem were heavily optioned.
Oh and don't buy a B5 (98-2001) Passat or A4. That is just looking for trouble.
You'll need to log in to post.
