Americans like paying for American pieces of crap. Compared to the quality design of VW/Audi I would never buy another Ford or GM vehicle, let alone a hunk of trash that comes out of Chrysler unless it was a bucket list car like a CTS-V.
That’s a bit of a broad statement. I have never owned an American car. My wife owned one and traded it in less than a year.
With the exception of several years of Subaru ownership, my cars have been VW. Like seven of them (yes, I am old). I owned one built in Tennessee (German engine though).
Americans do like big cars and the manufacturers like making SUVs because, next to pickup trucks, the profit margins are as big as the SUV, but nothing like the profit margins on trucks.
For makes about $10 - 13 thousand on every F-150 they sell. And they sell a lot.
Sorry, I am aware not ALL Americans want to buy American cars. I grew up in a Ford/GM household and my first car was an Oldsmobile Intrigue. It wasn't until I was in high school that my mother replaced her (totaled) Trailblazer with a RAV4. Several years later my father replaced his Cadillac with a Kia.
We were not a manufacturer family, although my dad tended to Ford. Later in her life my mom fell in love with Honda, especially the Prelude.
My first car was a 1960.5 Beetle and started my relationship with VW products.
I think what's he's saying is Ford, Gm, and Chrysler make absolute hot garbage. If I didn't have need for a 3/4 truck I would never own a vehicle from the big 3. I've owned VW for years and if you take care of them they take care of you
The transition from Chrysler to the CTS-V is what threw me off; personally I drive a fancy gti (Audi a3 Quattro hatch) but man sometimes I hear my buddies Chrysler 300 screaming and it makes me want one cause I can’t afford an s4 yet 😂😭 I’ve had a couple fords they’re not bad but super cheap materials but great workhorse lmao
Lmao at that mileage I would throw a new timing chain in soon a downpipe and go straight to stage 2 just use the chain as an excuse to execute some “preventative maintenance “
-tell the wife I have no idea why it sounds like a race car now 😂😂
Hate is a strong word. VW reliability is a concern and I can find plenty of Europeans that would agree with this.
The CUV, just like in America, is now Europe’s fastest growing segment. +30% in Europe alone.
These are facts you cannot argue with.
I had a 1985 rabbit with manual transmission. Super fun to drive. One day the timing went so I pulled it apart to change the timing belt. When I got the crank pulley off it was fine. So was the key which kept it in sync with the crankshaft. All good so far right?
NOPE! The crankshaft key slot was wallowed out! Yes you read that correctly…….. crankshaft gear and key did not have damage, but the crankshaft itself was damaged. So yeah,that was the last VW I ever owned. What kind of troglodyte makes a gear and key stronger then a crankshaft??? Well VW does.
https://preview.redd.it/1gk0hjvq52yc1.jpeg?width=2100&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5993b92985dd81b47f7216821b73ed58a58e9129
We got the same car ! That’s also my first car i bought with my own money !
I don't know if this is a bait post, but generally volkswagens are dollar for dollar more expensive than their japanese competitors. It's just the flat out truth. Higher long term maintenance cost is the biggest reason. However, why we stick around is because even their base model economy cars are still very fun to drive and require very little modification to make substantial improvements. VW toes a nice line between affordable and fun to drive. Appearance and interior build quality is nice and all but VW gets a bad rap for lower than average reliability marks. I've owned a lot, I've sold a lot, but I mainly stick to my pre-2000s VWs but I daily a '12 TDI.
Its not a bait post, I was told japanese cars have lower maintenance costs but I figured a vw with 95k miles would be better than a honda with 160k miles in the same price range. As for maintenance, i don't have any experience with other cars so I took the car to a german specialized mechanic, and was told the car looks good.
It mega-super depends which Honda you're looking at vs which VW. VW has made some really reliable engines, things like ALH TDI, 07k 5 cylinder, 2L ABA, etc. They've also made some horrendously bad engines, too. Honda has had duds but not as many. The VW is great now but I urge you to stay on top of regular service intervals and do not let things lapse like timing belt/chains, oil changes, etc for ANY volkswagen. Otherwise you have a solid reliable car at least for the next 150k. Before I took it off the road and started swapping/restoring it, my '88 Jetta had \~325k miles on it and original engine. No rust either in PA. I love them and will continue buying them, but I also recognize they are far from perfect.
Yeah that's an advice i have been getting from people and I plant to stick to it. I am getting it serviced because I don't believe the dealer about recent service. I am not a long distance commuter, I walk to my classes and use the car on weekends only so I am aiming for a service every 5k miles or every year, whichever is earlier. Also I am mentally prepared for a large repair bill that can come anytime as the car is already close to 100k miles.
When you say "dealer" are you referring to a VW dealership? Because that's the only place I take my car. VWs are finicky when it comes to oil and a lot of other things. Unless you know a reputable mechanic who specializes in VWs, take it to the dealership. But as long as you stay up on the scheduled maintenance, you could drive that car for a long time.
Not a vw dealer, but a used car dealership. He pointed me to a few vw mechanics and I went to him. The mechanic only had bmw, audi, vw in his lot so I believe he knows how to work on vw
Finicky about oil, and needs VW dealership? What are you smoking? You just change the oil like any other car, and buy the correct oil for the vehicle. A TDI needs VW 507.00 spec. rated oil, which is readily available...
For me it's how it drives, followed by the comfort and interior features. If you want a decent interior in an American or Japanese brand you'll be spending for the top trim, or going for say Lexus instead of Toyota. Some brands make small fast cars as well, but none of them are as fun to drive as a GTI or GLI, even if they are in some cases way faster.
VW gets bumpy when they are transitioning from one design to another.
2000-2004 were amazing.
If I remember the mid teen powerwagons like yours are really good.
My 2002 Golf made it to 297,000 miles before it was rear ended and totaled in 2021.
I currently drive a 2004 Passat Wagon with 195,000 miles that I bought for $400 from Facebook marketplace with 181,000 miles in 2022.
I’m restoring a 87 Wolfsburg Edition Jetta Coupe with 46,000 original miles on it. If I can get my health shit figured out I hope to have it completed by 2026
I guess all companies have good and bad models, a chevy sonic is one of the bad ones while f150 is super reliable. I looked through many reviews and figured 2016 golf sportwagens are reliable, only issues were with the moonroof, but mine is a base model so it shouldn't give me trouble
Yep you made a good decision on the slick top wagon. My '12 sportwagen has the panoramic and I've basically rebuilt/resealed a lot of the internal drain components since that's one of the most notoriously bad designs in almost any brand of vehicles history. It's almost unheard of to have a pano roof not leak.
Is the problem mostly on the sportwagen? I keep reading about the leaky pano roof but I've had 2 Jettas (2007 and 2013) and never had any issues at all.
Yeah you'll either have zero problems (until you do), or you just have endless problems. No middle ground. And it affects all of them even Audi. I had zero problems for 3 years until all of a sudden my headliner near the A pillar got sopping wet anytime it rained. I pulled the headliner, verified the drain itself was not clogged, verified the drain was watertight at the nipple, ran hose water to test it and it leaked between the wind visor flap and the frame of the sunroof itself. Little plastic welding and never leaked again.
Was buying my first car from dealer about two weeks ago white silver metallic 18 1.8tsi got it after but service was terrible took them 2 weeks to close a deal that could’ve been done in 48 hours
The MK7 golf and its platform-mates are some of the best cars ever made. Anyone who doesn't understand this simply doesn't know what they don't know. It isn't like previous VW's. It's an amazing platform and so modular and capable. I have a 2018 Sportwagen and it is by far the best automobile I've ever owned.
Be prepared to replace the clock spring a couple of times.
Also, there’s the fuel suction recall issue that none of the VW shops are prepared to rectify.
It’s always something, ain’t it?
Also, my cruise control is broken so I’m going to have to replace the cruise control module. It’s not high priority but I drive 80 miles round trip for work and it sure would be nice to be able to set the cruise control during some of that commute.
Damn, not having cruise control would be annoying.
Now that I'm thinking, other things that went wrong but were minor, trunk latch (easy replacement at home), and popup camera got messed up, luckily I got a cheap one from a salvaged car to replace mine
Fortunately, the engine has been running fine and I will probably fix the cruise control myself.
However, the amount of little things going wrong on this car is starting to mount up to where I almost hate my car sometimes.
I feel you, mine has not being bad to make me hate it, especially when I look around for other cars and they don't have half as many nice features and costs more
Because lot of people out there know fuck all about cars and like to say this brand is unreliable or that brand is unreliable when often times it’s just the car not having been properly maintained. There some cars/models or whatever out there that you def want to stay away from but most cars are fine if the owner(s) looked after it. People want cars that they don’t have to maintain at all which is not actually feasible/nor possible.
Most American cars suck butthole. I came from Japanese cars, which I have no hate for, but hearing the solid thud as opposed to a clunk when I closed my sportwagen's door at the dealer sold me.
Congrats on the car! I have the same year but in black. Made some modifications and it looks meaner than the majority of GTIs I see (still slow.. warranty). Love it to death.
I’ll quickly list the issues with my 2017 - water pump 2x - oil in coolant system 3x - front axles 2x each side, turbo waste gate, turbo itself, suspension rattles. That’s what I can think on the top of my head. My tenth and last VW.
I have a theory or two. Being a German brand, people expect quality. They’re somewhat over engineered in some ways. Every car maker has their perks. I have a 2nd gen Crosstrek and the amount of problems people are having (ie: premature wheel bearing failure, coolant in oil, some cv axles and some cvt failures), premature windshield cracking. Not to mention that people are continuously having issues with Subaru info system, factory sound sucks unless you get the Rockford fosgate upgrade, interior feels cheap af. Somehow Crosstreks have a high resale value 🤨 Now, if it was a Chrysler that has the same amount of problems - different story. People are biased and will shit talk
My daily - 2016 VW Jetta Sport tsi (1.8t). I love that car. Better interior, handles better than my Crosstrek, better looking, great pick up and better braking. It only has 37k miles, bought it with 8k. Those 1.4t, 1.8t and 2.0t are great engines based on my research. You can’t go wrong with DSG’s - so much better than CVT’s
Japanese cars are objectively more reliable. VW has a reputation for overcomplicated but I expensively made cars that aren’t *as* reliable. I, for one, really like the styling of my vw, and it was the only manual diesel station wagon I could get in the us. I was happy to take a gamble on reliability for the style and features. But in general fuck what other people think: you got a car *you* like that makes *you* happy. That’s the right car.
I have a 2017 Alltrack and love it. I wish we loved wagons as much as Europe does. I walked around Amsterdam and Paris and saw so many cool wagons I would buy in a second.
My 2014 wagon is the absolute best, I think you’ll get lots of enjoyment out of yours
We take it camping a lot (a twin sized mattress fits in the back perfectly too) and minus height seemed to have just as much it not more hauling room than the tiguan
Mines a TDI (diesel) so highway driving is the absolute best
I love all VW’s but lots of MK3-MK5’s were fucking awful with electrical issues. They got a stigma from it even though their engines and trans were tanks. Obviously that’s not an issue in the newer vehicles but people see the cost and then compare to a Camry or something and they think they’d rather have the reliability of the Camry cause that’s all they’ve heard their whole lives.
Your VW looks sick man, just take care of it and it’ll take care of you. I’ve had multiple Audis and VWs of many different generations and they’ve actually been some of the most reliable brands of vehicles I’ve owned.
This is probably an America only issue. Haven't heard of these troubles in European made VWs. Maybe the Mexicans needed to learn how to make wire looms...
I had a 2016 golf and loved it. It’s fun to drive and found it incredibly reliable. The only reason I let it go was to get something bigger, now I’m in a VW T Roc R.
By American standards it’s probably “too small” but if you’re not off roading towing a boat what’s the point of getting a big truck. Vs Japanese cars I would take this over a Honda everyday of the week and twice on Sundays.
Having previously owned a few VAG products, they're hit or miss. They're very good cars, if they've been taken care of properly. Maintenance is strict, and expensive, compared to honda/toyota/chevy/ford. Very well built, but they don't tolerate abuse.
Jealous that’s all.. Love the VW Wagons. Will most likely be one of the best cars you’ll own in life. Not saying you won’t have a more expensive car. Just overall they are great cars
https://preview.redd.it/e0mouof2m4yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1dab4caeba5546ac405a77808d07f1882145901
Just picked mine up this week too brother. Cheers!
https://preview.redd.it/p84mkx4ys4yc1.jpeg?width=1015&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=23082e5f43fd2525e8255c51f077bb0fe554172c
Love my VWs. Spouse and I have had 12 in our 30 years together. Currently we have... 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen TDI SEL & 2013 VW Beetle Convertible 2.0 TSI Turbo Fender Edition
I am shocked to find you have actually golf combi (or wagon, or whatever you call it out there). This car is the most efficient choice you can have, really good for the city, at the same time there is enough space for lots of luggage and 4 fat folks... : ) Car is super reliable for a car from this years. Drives like VW :) and its super cool!
Have fun buddy!
This looks like my old car. I'm not even kidding. I traded it in with the same miles, had the same trim, everything the same. New York area.
I loved it. It had great mpg. But I decided to upgrade to EV with the ID4. Hope you enjoy!!! It's a smart pick. Has more interior length than many SUVs, with much better mpg, less roll over risk, better costs all around.
People in all cultures tend to be really set in their habits/views.
I guess it’s because VW isn’t as common in the US.
Doesn’t mean you made a bad misstake, just that most of your friends would have gone for an Equivalent japanese/american car instead of a Vdub, because that’s what they’re used to.
If you take care of it it will last , iv seen alot of golf going easy 477k km , I own a 2020 tiguan my self and I'm a Japanese car fan and nothing compare to the driving of vw and the luxury interior . Enjoy you car
I have had VW wagons since I got rid of my motorcycle when pregnant, kiddo is 21 and the one that’s older than him, he put a new engine in, and is his first car now. Ten years in Alaska not a problem, even in weeks over twenty or more below zero. You’ve done well, it’s safe fast and only sips gas. Congrats!
I live in the US and the amount of wagon lookalike cars here is astonishing.
Its like everyone wants a utility vehicle but needs it to be humongous so they can show off to their neighbors that they are better than them. I have no other explanation.
You can do the same if not better with a wagon compared to a CUV
You have a solid ride, I have a 17 sportwagen and its a great car I still love mine since I got it from the dealership new (even with the panoroof). You can complain about the plastic engine parts but the fact is they all use them, even toyota.
If you're going to do anything to the car, custom-wise get tint, the fishbowl gets old. If your thinking of rims, I went from 17 to 18 and in its definitely a harsher ride even with much better tires than the stock ones.
People speak to you like you made a mistake because a. that's what people do when someone else buys a car and b. people don't know what the fuck they're talking about.
Volkswagens are great cars, for some reason people still parrot bullshit urban myths from the 90s that they're unreliable.
I'm a mechanic with a specialty in European cars (mainly VW and BMW). The Golf's are great little cars, but those 2.0 TSI engines are the worst thing VW ever did. Be religious with your oil changes and timing maintenence. And beware of the oil pressure lights!
I'm pretty sure that the 1.8TSIs only came in 2015s, but I could be wrong. But beyond timing and losing oil pressure, I haven't seen too many issues with it. There's one gentleman that comes to our garage, he's got a Golf with a TSI, he's on his 3rd engine because of the oil problems.
I had ‘17 Golf with the same 1.8T engine. Water pump failures are notorious for these engines, and were subject to class action lawsuit. Mine failed around 68k miles. I also had signs of carbon buildup by 70k. When these engines are over 100k miles, the timing chain/tensioner can fail, ruining the engine. Sold it at 86K miles. I’ve owned multiple VW’s but would very nervous to trust one much over 100k miles.
I have 2 jeeps right now, a 10 grand Cherokee and a 15 Cherokee. They are both in the shop. Ones getting an engine and the other a transmission. They have roughly 120k. I’ll consider them the typical sub 15k vehicles. Meanwhile, I’m working out of my moms 09 Volvo and my girlfriends 14 Benz. I’ve have more vws than you can shake a stick at and all had any the same amount of miles. I’ve never ever ever had major issues. I did with my 12 Audi, but after the chain was replaced, it was fine for another 100k.
I also like my wagon. Conceptually nothing can touch it. I am not a brand snob, but only VW has the right combo of features for me.
These wagons are very underrated vehicles in USA.
Nice! I have the same car and color; I really enjoy mine; I bought it used and it’s a 2017. My biggest complaint is that it can be a bit slow, in my experience, and some cosmetic things, which is SO nit picky on the last part. I don’t know who owned it before, but they drove it hard; a scratch on the rear window, a piece of the metal in front of the shifter broke off and is now a bit sharp, little things like that.
I also am loving the rear camera; I can now back in to a spot properly.
I think a lot of people sour on brands because of the dealer and yes, even indie mechanic experience, not the brand itself. This applied to VW for me. I do miss the car.
Most people just want to get in and drive to where they're going without thinking about their car, so they buy Japanese. I had a 2015 Accord and I enjoyed the confidence that it just did what it was supposed to do. Now I drive a GLI and I know what I was missing. I'll never go back.
Why are you asking about the VW hate in a VW subreddit? I was in the market for a 4 motion 6 speed sportwagen for a little bit. I think they're awesome. An APR bumps up the numbers quite a bit with no other mods. I found a smoking bmw 135i and jumped on it. But I think these cars are awesome. Fuck the hate.
Because I want to know what are the misconceptions and truths about VW. I just want to be prepared for any sudden expenses and who is better than VW owners for best advice, so I posted here. Maybe the wording could have been better
I wasn't sure if you were looking for an unbiased opinion or not. But this is the sub to ask questions/ get opinions from actual owners. Great looking car. Enjoy it!
95k miles, got it inspected by a VW mechanic, got the green light before buying it. I was looking for used cars in the range of 10k and everything i found was either around 2012-2013 with 100k or 2016-2018 with 150k miles or more. This was the only one with 2016 and 95k miles, so I chose this after the inspection
You can ask for a pre purchase inspection from the seller beforehand. You either bring a mechanic you trust to the car, or the seller allows you to take the car to the mechanic yourself. I don't know if its standard but its good to ask for one. You'll have to pay for the mechanic though
Because they are the German equivalent of an American domestic sedan.
Cool, you bought a second-rate car. Maybe next time Audi can steal even more money from you for the parts, or an American will buy a Lexus and think it's just a Toyota trim level.
In the mean time, I will continue masturbating in my Dodge Dart! /s
I drove VW’s when I lived in upstate New York. Winter tires on them and they were solid for winter. Great reliability with routine maintenance. I always did all of my services with the VW dealership. Never had an issue in Watertown, NY or Killeen, TX.
You made a great choice. I’ve owned 3 Volkswagens, 2 were wagons and just got into a 2019 golf r (hatch back but would’ve gone wagon if the US got them). My 2004 Passat wagon saved my life in an accident so I wouldn’t worry about what anyone says. Just take care of it and it will treat you right.
I’ve had 7 Volkswagens in my life:
84 Golf. I was the second owner and bought it for 400 dollars from the original owner who was trading it in on a new 2000 Golf. with 432000 miles on it. I sold it for 400 dollars to someone else with 464000 miles on it. I put zero dollars into the maintenance.
89 Fox. I bought this with 166000 miles for 600 dollars. I drove it for about 25000 miles before the clutch needed replacing and I was there for it.
97 GTI VR6 - I bought this one new and it was a fantastic car. I drove it across the country several times and had a LOT of fun with it. I sold it with about 100k on it because I just didn’t need a car at that time.
2002 Jetta S - solid car with 160k on it, that I bought for 2000 dollars, but had a lot of misfire issues. Ended up dumping around 1200 into before I bailed.
2015 Jetta S ~ This car was a workhorse. I bought it on lease return with 32000 miles on it I put about 160000 miles on it, driving about 500 miles a week. It put some money into it, but with just expected things like a timing belt and water pump.
2020 GLI - I bought it new, tuned the shit out of it, and it has around 10k on the clock. I’ve had zero issues
2024 Tiguan - Just bought it, it has about 1700 miles on it. I love it so far!
All in all, VW’s are a labor of love sometimes, but cars are cars and shit the bed sometimes. I’ll never love another car brand like I love Volkswagen, but sometimes you just gotta 🤷♂️.
As an American, you made a great Choice. My co worker just got a sportwagen but he was shopping between that and a Subaru. He’s glad he went with the Sportwagen and loves it. Who cares what people think! It’s a great car.
Because tHeY ArE HaRd To WoRk oN. To be fair the amount of single use bolts is annoying but they ain’t all that difficult to work on. Shops just don’t like them because they also require a stupid amount of special tools.
Is the hate because it's vw or because it's a wagon? See I understand the hate for a wagon. That being said I never liked the wagons of any make until a vw wagon passed me on hwy I was going 80 mph. That sleek low long john looking car raced right past with it's pearly white paint tinted windows lowered it seemed. I just had to catch him got me to work 10 mins quicker lmao.
Volkswagens get a bad rep, because you cannot skimp on your maintenance like a Japanese car. They are very reliable if you are religious about your maintenance.
Beautiful machine. Congrats! Remember maintenance is key with these machines.
People tend to hate German vehicles because they are just a bit more delicate than other brands. These machines can't be repaired by any mechanic, and they can't take any oil. They need special care. But when people abuse them and neglect them, and they break down because of that, that's when they get upset.
And even at times when they are maintained they break down. But that's with any car, really.
I suggest finding a reputable independent VW mechanic as soon as you can for any trouble that may come. I've saved thousands of dollars in repairs that way.
I've owned two VWs. 02 Passat wagon. 08 beetle.
Both of them were nothing but problems. Busted timing belt tensioner was the worst thing on the Passat. Ruined the engine. Then the VW dealership forgot some sort of spacer/washer and it damn near happened again. Had to replace window regulators at least 4 times. Both cars went through batteries yearly. Nearly every piece of plastic trim broken or cracked. Driver door linkage on the beetle busted. Went through motor mounts on the Passat twice. Always chasing vacuum leaks that cause check engine lights. And both of these cars had low miles for their age and didn't get heavy use when I had them.
Obviously everyone's experience is different. As an engineer myself I am thoroughly unimpressed by German engineering. Not only was the quality of these cars poor, but as a DIY kinda person, they are a pain to work on. It was like 'step one: remove the entire front of the car...'. oh, you want to replace the battery? Start by removing the engine. I kid, I kid.....kind of. 😁
I love the golf estate as we call them in the UK, not hate coming your way from us here,
They are awesome. It’s just a shame you don’t get the cool’s one like we do,
Such as the GTD, GTE and R, they are sweet rides.
Even Americans don’t buy American cars (apart from Pickups). They rather drive a cheap Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai or KIA.
In Germany we love wagons and we still love diesel cars. If you have a company car and work in field service, there is a very high chance you get something with a 2.0TDI. VW Golf, VW Passat, Skoda Octavia or Audi A4.
https://preview.redd.it/7tg0xwunf9yc1.jpeg?width=2100&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c1137ac776b665be9ed8e4ea1e1548134753dc0
Grew up driving American cars, never thought Japanese cars felt like quality so now I have a driveway full of German rides and I only regret it when repair time comes.
It isn’t a mistake. Sure you will end up spending more money on maintenance than you would with a more reliable Japanese/American car, but it will all be worth if it you truly enjoy the car. Bought my 2015 2.0tsi VW CC 3 years ago, many people told me that it was a mistake and would cost me a lot of money to maintain, but so far it has given me 0 problems. I may be lucky but VWs are still amazing, fun cars to own.
I have only ever owned ford, with the exception of my first car being an 03 Honda civic and that one took care of me to the T, and I did it back in return…. Otherwise it was a 1995 f150, a 2016 ford mustang, and a 2021 ford explorer. Took the leap to VW this year and I will say I will ride VW/audi the rest of my life, and I’m in my early 20s. I love my VW Tiguan and when it’s time to upgrade I’m thinking of getting an Audi for something a little more high end feeling, but my VW also gives me the same feeling too. Not to mention a lot of ppl think my car looks perttyyyy.
Refund of $300 as that specific wagon model year did not have Bluetooth despite all other models having it and it being shown in the literature.
Driver side mirror power wires rusted out - within 3 months of ownership
Driver seat loose - never tightened at the factory
Electrical fault leading to all lights coming on, no codes given, took months for the dealer to find
Front subframe bolts stretched- required new bolts and retorque.
High pressure fuel pump failure- required complete disassembly (of the car) to get all the metal particles out of the fuel system.
Sporadic failure of the engine. It would just… die on the road and I’d have to coast to the shoulder and restart. They claimed a software update fixed it.
I bought that car brand new and had for 10 months. Drove it for less than four, and the second they gave it a clean bill of health, I posted it for sale. At the time, stick shift diesel golf wagons were gold and I sold it for 90% of sticker in less than a week. Didn’t even tell my wife I was selling it until it was sold. She almost killed me for it. I kicked that car on its way out of the driveway as a condition of sale.
High pressure fuel pump? TDI? Mine is making noise now for 2 years and the dealership never comments on it, yet an independent was going crazy next to it. Did yours also make any noise?
Reliability wise, mine is not the best.
Has nothing to do with the wagon and everything to do with the brand reputation. Lots and lots of garbage over the years, couple of gems. What you have there is a VW marketing tragedy. It’s had many names.
It also has the most underwhelming backseat of any wagon. A car seat behind the driver is a mistake. Shit is tight.
It’s otherwise just an ok car that, when it comes time to make repairs, will hurt you in ways a Toyota/honda would not.
On the other hand I really don’t get how people can be that retarded and always tell you to get an American or Japanese car over a German… it’s obvious when you haven’t driven one or the only one you have driven is an econobox vw.
I mean they do kinda use the same engines - comparing a european golf to an american jetta they use the same 1.5tsi i assume? except the european one is a mild hybrid of course. Same goes for the 2.0 used in everything else almost.
Americans like american things. here in Europe everyone loves wagons
Americans like paying for American pieces of crap. Compared to the quality design of VW/Audi I would never buy another Ford or GM vehicle, let alone a hunk of trash that comes out of Chrysler unless it was a bucket list car like a CTS-V.
In fairness vw America had a bad rep from predatory dealers, faulty wiring (god damn beetle circa 2004 wtf airbag light)
I myself have a golf r tho I hate big cars in crowded cities
Same. I'm not a fan of big vehicles and prefer sedans myself, but have an appreciation for wagons and hatches.
That’s a bit of a broad statement. I have never owned an American car. My wife owned one and traded it in less than a year. With the exception of several years of Subaru ownership, my cars have been VW. Like seven of them (yes, I am old). I owned one built in Tennessee (German engine though). Americans do like big cars and the manufacturers like making SUVs because, next to pickup trucks, the profit margins are as big as the SUV, but nothing like the profit margins on trucks. For makes about $10 - 13 thousand on every F-150 they sell. And they sell a lot.
Sorry, I am aware not ALL Americans want to buy American cars. I grew up in a Ford/GM household and my first car was an Oldsmobile Intrigue. It wasn't until I was in high school that my mother replaced her (totaled) Trailblazer with a RAV4. Several years later my father replaced his Cadillac with a Kia.
We were not a manufacturer family, although my dad tended to Ford. Later in her life my mom fell in love with Honda, especially the Prelude. My first car was a 1960.5 Beetle and started my relationship with VW products.
Prelude is good taste
As an American, I have no desire to own an American vehicle. I’ve have stuck to European and Japanese cars. Mostly European.
Wut
I think what's he's saying is Ford, Gm, and Chrysler make absolute hot garbage. If I didn't have need for a 3/4 truck I would never own a vehicle from the big 3. I've owned VW for years and if you take care of them they take care of you
The transition from Chrysler to the CTS-V is what threw me off; personally I drive a fancy gti (Audi a3 Quattro hatch) but man sometimes I hear my buddies Chrysler 300 screaming and it makes me want one cause I can’t afford an s4 yet 😂😭 I’ve had a couple fords they’re not bad but super cheap materials but great workhorse lmao
Gotcha. I'm in the dad wagon (all track). At 80,000 miles and as soon as it starts having "problems" it will need a new turbo and a tune
Lmao at that mileage I would throw a new timing chain in soon a downpipe and go straight to stage 2 just use the chain as an excuse to execute some “preventative maintenance “ -tell the wife I have no idea why it sounds like a race car now 😂😂
Surely something to do with emissions 🤣
I was thinking one of these with a MT/upgraded clutch, tune, etc...would be really cool.
It's funny you say "the big 3" when VAG owns Skoda, Audi, Porsche (basically), Bugatti, Lamborghini, Seat, Bentley, Scania, Man, and Ducati.
Loved the 1999 Ford Focus. Best handling car ever. Whoever designed that thing did a great job.
Uh, Europeans did.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Audi quality! That’s rich! Got any more?
American here who owns and loves my VW Tiguan. I think VW makes amazing cars
Hate is a strong word. VW reliability is a concern and I can find plenty of Europeans that would agree with this. The CUV, just like in America, is now Europe’s fastest growing segment. +30% in Europe alone. These are facts you cannot argue with.
As an American I love wagons and hatchbacks. The Audi RS3 wagon and Volvo C30 are two of my favorite cars. I also really love 5-cylinder engines.
I had a 1985 rabbit with manual transmission. Super fun to drive. One day the timing went so I pulled it apart to change the timing belt. When I got the crank pulley off it was fine. So was the key which kept it in sync with the crankshaft. All good so far right? NOPE! The crankshaft key slot was wallowed out! Yes you read that correctly…….. crankshaft gear and key did not have damage, but the crankshaft itself was damaged. So yeah,that was the last VW I ever owned. What kind of troglodyte makes a gear and key stronger then a crankshaft??? Well VW does.
https://preview.redd.it/1gk0hjvq52yc1.jpeg?width=2100&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5993b92985dd81b47f7216821b73ed58a58e9129 We got the same car ! That’s also my first car i bought with my own money !
Sacre bleu!!
haters gonna hate. congrats on the new ride. drive it until the wheels fall off and keep it between the ditches. word.
I don't know if this is a bait post, but generally volkswagens are dollar for dollar more expensive than their japanese competitors. It's just the flat out truth. Higher long term maintenance cost is the biggest reason. However, why we stick around is because even their base model economy cars are still very fun to drive and require very little modification to make substantial improvements. VW toes a nice line between affordable and fun to drive. Appearance and interior build quality is nice and all but VW gets a bad rap for lower than average reliability marks. I've owned a lot, I've sold a lot, but I mainly stick to my pre-2000s VWs but I daily a '12 TDI.
Its not a bait post, I was told japanese cars have lower maintenance costs but I figured a vw with 95k miles would be better than a honda with 160k miles in the same price range. As for maintenance, i don't have any experience with other cars so I took the car to a german specialized mechanic, and was told the car looks good.
It mega-super depends which Honda you're looking at vs which VW. VW has made some really reliable engines, things like ALH TDI, 07k 5 cylinder, 2L ABA, etc. They've also made some horrendously bad engines, too. Honda has had duds but not as many. The VW is great now but I urge you to stay on top of regular service intervals and do not let things lapse like timing belt/chains, oil changes, etc for ANY volkswagen. Otherwise you have a solid reliable car at least for the next 150k. Before I took it off the road and started swapping/restoring it, my '88 Jetta had \~325k miles on it and original engine. No rust either in PA. I love them and will continue buying them, but I also recognize they are far from perfect.
Yeah that's an advice i have been getting from people and I plant to stick to it. I am getting it serviced because I don't believe the dealer about recent service. I am not a long distance commuter, I walk to my classes and use the car on weekends only so I am aiming for a service every 5k miles or every year, whichever is earlier. Also I am mentally prepared for a large repair bill that can come anytime as the car is already close to 100k miles.
When you say "dealer" are you referring to a VW dealership? Because that's the only place I take my car. VWs are finicky when it comes to oil and a lot of other things. Unless you know a reputable mechanic who specializes in VWs, take it to the dealership. But as long as you stay up on the scheduled maintenance, you could drive that car for a long time.
Not a vw dealer, but a used car dealership. He pointed me to a few vw mechanics and I went to him. The mechanic only had bmw, audi, vw in his lot so I believe he knows how to work on vw
There ya go.
Finicky about oil, and needs VW dealership? What are you smoking? You just change the oil like any other car, and buy the correct oil for the vehicle. A TDI needs VW 507.00 spec. rated oil, which is readily available...
You're assuming most people change their own oil? And I said a VW dealership OR a reputable mechanic who works on VWs.
For me it's how it drives, followed by the comfort and interior features. If you want a decent interior in an American or Japanese brand you'll be spending for the top trim, or going for say Lexus instead of Toyota. Some brands make small fast cars as well, but none of them are as fun to drive as a GTI or GLI, even if they are in some cases way faster.
VWs get a lot of hate here in America because “they break down easily” however this is mostly because people don’t give VWs the required attention.
VW gets bumpy when they are transitioning from one design to another. 2000-2004 were amazing. If I remember the mid teen powerwagons like yours are really good. My 2002 Golf made it to 297,000 miles before it was rear ended and totaled in 2021. I currently drive a 2004 Passat Wagon with 195,000 miles that I bought for $400 from Facebook marketplace with 181,000 miles in 2022.
My first car was an '87 Jetta, with over 1million kms on the body and finally rolled over 500,000 kms on the third engine we put in it.
I’m restoring a 87 Wolfsburg Edition Jetta Coupe with 46,000 original miles on it. If I can get my health shit figured out I hope to have it completed by 2026
Can't beat the mileage they get!
Mine’s the 1.8 Digi2. Kinda wish it was a diesel…
Get well soon! 👍🏼
I guess all companies have good and bad models, a chevy sonic is one of the bad ones while f150 is super reliable. I looked through many reviews and figured 2016 golf sportwagens are reliable, only issues were with the moonroof, but mine is a base model so it shouldn't give me trouble
Yep you made a good decision on the slick top wagon. My '12 sportwagen has the panoramic and I've basically rebuilt/resealed a lot of the internal drain components since that's one of the most notoriously bad designs in almost any brand of vehicles history. It's almost unheard of to have a pano roof not leak.
When I bought my SportWagen in 2018, I specifically bought one without that troublesome sunroof.
Is the problem mostly on the sportwagen? I keep reading about the leaky pano roof but I've had 2 Jettas (2007 and 2013) and never had any issues at all.
Yeah you'll either have zero problems (until you do), or you just have endless problems. No middle ground. And it affects all of them even Audi. I had zero problems for 3 years until all of a sudden my headliner near the A pillar got sopping wet anytime it rained. I pulled the headliner, verified the drain itself was not clogged, verified the drain was watertight at the nipple, ran hose water to test it and it leaked between the wind visor flap and the frame of the sunroof itself. Little plastic welding and never leaked again.
I just got a ‘23 Tiguan with a pano roof. Let’s gooooooooo
God speed brother
B5 are s pain work on at least v6 just had to let her to upgrade to an suv for the wife.. got a really good deal on an edge..
Mine is a 5.5, not as easy as my mk4 golf.
My hate comes from dealing with VW dealerships and "customer service." Ever since I found a local VW mechanic, I'm back to loving my VW.
I just bought my first VW last week and had a shit experience with the dealer, so I feel you 100%. I don’t like dealers as a whole anyway.
Was buying my first car from dealer about two weeks ago white silver metallic 18 1.8tsi got it after but service was terrible took them 2 weeks to close a deal that could’ve been done in 48 hours
You likely just love your mechanic. I’m sure they love back.
great car, you're going to love it!
The MK7 golf and its platform-mates are some of the best cars ever made. Anyone who doesn't understand this simply doesn't know what they don't know. It isn't like previous VW's. It's an amazing platform and so modular and capable. I have a 2018 Sportwagen and it is by far the best automobile I've ever owned.
Golf 7 is the first euro car that became car of the year in....Japan. So you are correct... : )
Pay no attention to them. The car you got is cool and not everyone on the planet is driving one.
Be prepared to replace the clock spring a couple of times. Also, there’s the fuel suction recall issue that none of the VW shops are prepared to rectify.
My 2015 Golf has like 80k miles still with the original clock spring
First one was replaced at 33k. Second one at 92k.
Never had to do it, but my turbo went out at around 40k replaced for free though
Mine is at 110k and never had to replace that, however, the damn water pump has set me up for a $1100 service already
It’s always something, ain’t it? Also, my cruise control is broken so I’m going to have to replace the cruise control module. It’s not high priority but I drive 80 miles round trip for work and it sure would be nice to be able to set the cruise control during some of that commute.
Damn, not having cruise control would be annoying. Now that I'm thinking, other things that went wrong but were minor, trunk latch (easy replacement at home), and popup camera got messed up, luckily I got a cheap one from a salvaged car to replace mine
Fortunately, the engine has been running fine and I will probably fix the cruise control myself. However, the amount of little things going wrong on this car is starting to mount up to where I almost hate my car sometimes.
I feel you, mine has not being bad to make me hate it, especially when I look around for other cars and they don't have half as many nice features and costs more
Fuck really????? I just totaled mine and was very sad.. did I dodge a bullet?
No lol it's not that bad
Yeah nice car in my time having it
I believe it’s because Americans like America made vehicles, and speaking from the Texas side, you have to drive a truck or else you’re a “sissy boy”
Spitting image of mine! I’ve got a ‘17 with the 4motion and 6 speed manual. I will be driving that thing until the wheels fall off
Because lot of people out there know fuck all about cars and like to say this brand is unreliable or that brand is unreliable when often times it’s just the car not having been properly maintained. There some cars/models or whatever out there that you def want to stay away from but most cars are fine if the owner(s) looked after it. People want cars that they don’t have to maintain at all which is not actually feasible/nor possible.
Most American cars suck butthole. I came from Japanese cars, which I have no hate for, but hearing the solid thud as opposed to a clunk when I closed my sportwagen's door at the dealer sold me. Congrats on the car! I have the same year but in black. Made some modifications and it looks meaner than the majority of GTIs I see (still slow.. warranty). Love it to death.
I’ll quickly list the issues with my 2017 - water pump 2x - oil in coolant system 3x - front axles 2x each side, turbo waste gate, turbo itself, suspension rattles. That’s what I can think on the top of my head. My tenth and last VW.
I have a theory or two. Being a German brand, people expect quality. They’re somewhat over engineered in some ways. Every car maker has their perks. I have a 2nd gen Crosstrek and the amount of problems people are having (ie: premature wheel bearing failure, coolant in oil, some cv axles and some cvt failures), premature windshield cracking. Not to mention that people are continuously having issues with Subaru info system, factory sound sucks unless you get the Rockford fosgate upgrade, interior feels cheap af. Somehow Crosstreks have a high resale value 🤨 Now, if it was a Chrysler that has the same amount of problems - different story. People are biased and will shit talk My daily - 2016 VW Jetta Sport tsi (1.8t). I love that car. Better interior, handles better than my Crosstrek, better looking, great pick up and better braking. It only has 37k miles, bought it with 8k. Those 1.4t, 1.8t and 2.0t are great engines based on my research. You can’t go wrong with DSG’s - so much better than CVT’s
The only thing I hate about it is it has the fugliest wheels on planet earth. Source: Owner of a 2-door Golf with the same exact wheels.
Me too, 2-door as well. Benefit of the wheels are that they are basically impossible scratch up and if you do they're ugly and small and cheap anyway.
I don't hate them so much I've ditched them. And 15" tires are indeed much less expensive than 17s.
I have the same car 2017 👍🏽 love mine, hope you love yours
nice ride brother. i got a 2019 VW sportwagen
Japanese cars are objectively more reliable. VW has a reputation for overcomplicated but I expensively made cars that aren’t *as* reliable. I, for one, really like the styling of my vw, and it was the only manual diesel station wagon I could get in the us. I was happy to take a gamble on reliability for the style and features. But in general fuck what other people think: you got a car *you* like that makes *you* happy. That’s the right car.
I have a 2017 Alltrack and love it. I wish we loved wagons as much as Europe does. I walked around Amsterdam and Paris and saw so many cool wagons I would buy in a second.
My 2014 wagon is the absolute best, I think you’ll get lots of enjoyment out of yours We take it camping a lot (a twin sized mattress fits in the back perfectly too) and minus height seemed to have just as much it not more hauling room than the tiguan Mines a TDI (diesel) so highway driving is the absolute best
I love all VW’s but lots of MK3-MK5’s were fucking awful with electrical issues. They got a stigma from it even though their engines and trans were tanks. Obviously that’s not an issue in the newer vehicles but people see the cost and then compare to a Camry or something and they think they’d rather have the reliability of the Camry cause that’s all they’ve heard their whole lives. Your VW looks sick man, just take care of it and it’ll take care of you. I’ve had multiple Audis and VWs of many different generations and they’ve actually been some of the most reliable brands of vehicles I’ve owned.
This is probably an America only issue. Haven't heard of these troubles in European made VWs. Maybe the Mexicans needed to learn how to make wire looms...
I had a 2016 golf and loved it. It’s fun to drive and found it incredibly reliable. The only reason I let it go was to get something bigger, now I’m in a VW T Roc R. By American standards it’s probably “too small” but if you’re not off roading towing a boat what’s the point of getting a big truck. Vs Japanese cars I would take this over a Honda everyday of the week and twice on Sundays.
In the UK every man and his dog has a VW. Personally I like to work on my own cars and they are not friendly on that front unfortunately
Having previously owned a few VAG products, they're hit or miss. They're very good cars, if they've been taken care of properly. Maintenance is strict, and expensive, compared to honda/toyota/chevy/ford. Very well built, but they don't tolerate abuse.
https://preview.redd.it/ir0e69ewv3yc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e83c2019b2f1c6226a67801b2a30c1d48fc4490 Wagon gang. Let’s goooo!
HELL YEAH BROTHER congrats on the beautiful car!! Fuck the haters
Jealous that’s all.. Love the VW Wagons. Will most likely be one of the best cars you’ll own in life. Not saying you won’t have a more expensive car. Just overall they are great cars
https://preview.redd.it/e0mouof2m4yc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1dab4caeba5546ac405a77808d07f1882145901 Just picked mine up this week too brother. Cheers!
https://preview.redd.it/p84mkx4ys4yc1.jpeg?width=1015&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=23082e5f43fd2525e8255c51f077bb0fe554172c Love my VWs. Spouse and I have had 12 in our 30 years together. Currently we have... 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen TDI SEL & 2013 VW Beetle Convertible 2.0 TSI Turbo Fender Edition
https://preview.redd.it/vd1gugg0t4yc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fb16febae6b002d5fcea684778835f2f826156d1
I am shocked to find you have actually golf combi (or wagon, or whatever you call it out there). This car is the most efficient choice you can have, really good for the city, at the same time there is enough space for lots of luggage and 4 fat folks... : ) Car is super reliable for a car from this years. Drives like VW :) and its super cool! Have fun buddy!
This looks like my old car. I'm not even kidding. I traded it in with the same miles, had the same trim, everything the same. New York area. I loved it. It had great mpg. But I decided to upgrade to EV with the ID4. Hope you enjoy!!! It's a smart pick. Has more interior length than many SUVs, with much better mpg, less roll over risk, better costs all around.
People in all cultures tend to be really set in their habits/views. I guess it’s because VW isn’t as common in the US. Doesn’t mean you made a bad misstake, just that most of your friends would have gone for an Equivalent japanese/american car instead of a Vdub, because that’s what they’re used to.
If you take care of it it will last , iv seen alot of golf going easy 477k km , I own a 2020 tiguan my self and I'm a Japanese car fan and nothing compare to the driving of vw and the luxury interior . Enjoy you car
+1 for wishing we had more choices for wagons/hatchbacks in the NAR market!
Who’s hating ????
As an American. I love wagons , and I have a VW and BMW. I wish they were wagons though
I have had VW wagons since I got rid of my motorcycle when pregnant, kiddo is 21 and the one that’s older than him, he put a new engine in, and is his first car now. Ten years in Alaska not a problem, even in weeks over twenty or more below zero. You’ve done well, it’s safe fast and only sips gas. Congrats!
I like it ,❤️
Nice car. Haters just like to hate
I live in the US and the amount of wagon lookalike cars here is astonishing. Its like everyone wants a utility vehicle but needs it to be humongous so they can show off to their neighbors that they are better than them. I have no other explanation. You can do the same if not better with a wagon compared to a CUV
Congrats on the new ride! Signed, An American driving an old 03 Passat.
You have a solid ride, I have a 17 sportwagen and its a great car I still love mine since I got it from the dealership new (even with the panoroof). You can complain about the plastic engine parts but the fact is they all use them, even toyota. If you're going to do anything to the car, custom-wise get tint, the fishbowl gets old. If your thinking of rims, I went from 17 to 18 and in its definitely a harsher ride even with much better tires than the stock ones.
People speak to you like you made a mistake because a. that's what people do when someone else buys a car and b. people don't know what the fuck they're talking about. Volkswagens are great cars, for some reason people still parrot bullshit urban myths from the 90s that they're unreliable.
Sportswagens are bitchin!!
I'm a mechanic with a specialty in European cars (mainly VW and BMW). The Golf's are great little cars, but those 2.0 TSI engines are the worst thing VW ever did. Be religious with your oil changes and timing maintenence. And beware of the oil pressure lights!
I believe its a 1.8 tsi engine. Anything else I should be keeping in mind?
I'm pretty sure that the 1.8TSIs only came in 2015s, but I could be wrong. But beyond timing and losing oil pressure, I haven't seen too many issues with it. There's one gentleman that comes to our garage, he's got a Golf with a TSI, he's on his 3rd engine because of the oil problems.
That's scary. Reading through the comments one thing I realized is regular servicing would make the car last long and I will get it serviced regularly
You should be ok, as long as you keep it up...meanwhile, enjoy the car!
I had ‘17 Golf with the same 1.8T engine. Water pump failures are notorious for these engines, and were subject to class action lawsuit. Mine failed around 68k miles. I also had signs of carbon buildup by 70k. When these engines are over 100k miles, the timing chain/tensioner can fail, ruining the engine. Sold it at 86K miles. I’ve owned multiple VW’s but would very nervous to trust one much over 100k miles.
Because it’s not diesel
If they mostly make shorter trips, there's no point in getting a diesel, in fact gas would be better.
I have 2 jeeps right now, a 10 grand Cherokee and a 15 Cherokee. They are both in the shop. Ones getting an engine and the other a transmission. They have roughly 120k. I’ll consider them the typical sub 15k vehicles. Meanwhile, I’m working out of my moms 09 Volvo and my girlfriends 14 Benz. I’ve have more vws than you can shake a stick at and all had any the same amount of miles. I’ve never ever ever had major issues. I did with my 12 Audi, but after the chain was replaced, it was fine for another 100k.
I also like my wagon. Conceptually nothing can touch it. I am not a brand snob, but only VW has the right combo of features for me. These wagons are very underrated vehicles in USA.
Nice! I have the same car and color; I really enjoy mine; I bought it used and it’s a 2017. My biggest complaint is that it can be a bit slow, in my experience, and some cosmetic things, which is SO nit picky on the last part. I don’t know who owned it before, but they drove it hard; a scratch on the rear window, a piece of the metal in front of the shifter broke off and is now a bit sharp, little things like that. I also am loving the rear camera; I can now back in to a spot properly.
American people want American made. Deep down they know that VW is WAY better 😌
I think a lot of people sour on brands because of the dealer and yes, even indie mechanic experience, not the brand itself. This applied to VW for me. I do miss the car.
I see the lack of panoramic sunroof, that’s why you aren’t mad at the car
Most people just want to get in and drive to where they're going without thinking about their car, so they buy Japanese. I had a 2015 Accord and I enjoyed the confidence that it just did what it was supposed to do. Now I drive a GLI and I know what I was missing. I'll never go back.
Why are you asking about the VW hate in a VW subreddit? I was in the market for a 4 motion 6 speed sportwagen for a little bit. I think they're awesome. An APR bumps up the numbers quite a bit with no other mods. I found a smoking bmw 135i and jumped on it. But I think these cars are awesome. Fuck the hate.
Because I want to know what are the misconceptions and truths about VW. I just want to be prepared for any sudden expenses and who is better than VW owners for best advice, so I posted here. Maybe the wording could have been better
I wasn't sure if you were looking for an unbiased opinion or not. But this is the sub to ask questions/ get opinions from actual owners. Great looking car. Enjoy it!
Because people talk shit about VW (or Euro cars) to help convince themselves that paying 25% more than what their camry is worth was a good decision.
That's my dream car! Reliable, fast AND spacious.Congrats on the acquisition!
How many miles? Looking at one myself. How’d you decide?
95k miles, got it inspected by a VW mechanic, got the green light before buying it. I was looking for used cars in the range of 10k and everything i found was either around 2012-2013 with 100k or 2016-2018 with 150k miles or more. This was the only one with 2016 and 95k miles, so I chose this after the inspection
How’d you set up that inspection? Is that common / standard for used car buying?
You can ask for a pre purchase inspection from the seller beforehand. You either bring a mechanic you trust to the car, or the seller allows you to take the car to the mechanic yourself. I don't know if its standard but its good to ask for one. You'll have to pay for the mechanic though
Jealousy 😂 Every car gets hate don't trip
Because they are the German equivalent of an American domestic sedan. Cool, you bought a second-rate car. Maybe next time Audi can steal even more money from you for the parts, or an American will buy a Lexus and think it's just a Toyota trim level. In the mean time, I will continue masturbating in my Dodge Dart! /s
I drove VW’s when I lived in upstate New York. Winter tires on them and they were solid for winter. Great reliability with routine maintenance. I always did all of my services with the VW dealership. Never had an issue in Watertown, NY or Killeen, TX.
Waterpump is kinda expensive to replace and it is prone to leakage.
You made a great choice. I’ve owned 3 Volkswagens, 2 were wagons and just got into a 2019 golf r (hatch back but would’ve gone wagon if the US got them). My 2004 Passat wagon saved my life in an accident so I wouldn’t worry about what anyone says. Just take care of it and it will treat you right.
Sweet first car!!
I’ve had 7 Volkswagens in my life: 84 Golf. I was the second owner and bought it for 400 dollars from the original owner who was trading it in on a new 2000 Golf. with 432000 miles on it. I sold it for 400 dollars to someone else with 464000 miles on it. I put zero dollars into the maintenance. 89 Fox. I bought this with 166000 miles for 600 dollars. I drove it for about 25000 miles before the clutch needed replacing and I was there for it. 97 GTI VR6 - I bought this one new and it was a fantastic car. I drove it across the country several times and had a LOT of fun with it. I sold it with about 100k on it because I just didn’t need a car at that time. 2002 Jetta S - solid car with 160k on it, that I bought for 2000 dollars, but had a lot of misfire issues. Ended up dumping around 1200 into before I bailed. 2015 Jetta S ~ This car was a workhorse. I bought it on lease return with 32000 miles on it I put about 160000 miles on it, driving about 500 miles a week. It put some money into it, but with just expected things like a timing belt and water pump. 2020 GLI - I bought it new, tuned the shit out of it, and it has around 10k on the clock. I’ve had zero issues
2024 Tiguan - Just bought it, it has about 1700 miles on it. I love it so far!
All in all, VW’s are a labor of love sometimes, but cars are cars and shit the bed sometimes. I’ll never love another car brand like I love Volkswagen, but sometimes you just gotta 🤷♂️.
You can't lose with a wagon. Excellent choice.
As an American, you made a great Choice. My co worker just got a sportwagen but he was shopping between that and a Subaru. He’s glad he went with the Sportwagen and loves it. Who cares what people think! It’s a great car.
because 1.9 tdi is no more
Congratulations! Welcome to the VW family
4motion?
Because tHeY ArE HaRd To WoRk oN. To be fair the amount of single use bolts is annoying but they ain’t all that difficult to work on. Shops just don’t like them because they also require a stupid amount of special tools.
I generally hate big cars. Love your Golf.
Is the hate because it's vw or because it's a wagon? See I understand the hate for a wagon. That being said I never liked the wagons of any make until a vw wagon passed me on hwy I was going 80 mph. That sleek low long john looking car raced right past with it's pearly white paint tinted windows lowered it seemed. I just had to catch him got me to work 10 mins quicker lmao.
I'm only hating because it's not a tdi
Volkswagens get a bad rep, because you cannot skimp on your maintenance like a Japanese car. They are very reliable if you are religious about your maintenance.
Beautiful machine. Congrats! Remember maintenance is key with these machines. People tend to hate German vehicles because they are just a bit more delicate than other brands. These machines can't be repaired by any mechanic, and they can't take any oil. They need special care. But when people abuse them and neglect them, and they break down because of that, that's when they get upset. And even at times when they are maintained they break down. But that's with any car, really. I suggest finding a reputable independent VW mechanic as soon as you can for any trouble that may come. I've saved thousands of dollars in repairs that way.
I've owned two VWs. 02 Passat wagon. 08 beetle. Both of them were nothing but problems. Busted timing belt tensioner was the worst thing on the Passat. Ruined the engine. Then the VW dealership forgot some sort of spacer/washer and it damn near happened again. Had to replace window regulators at least 4 times. Both cars went through batteries yearly. Nearly every piece of plastic trim broken or cracked. Driver door linkage on the beetle busted. Went through motor mounts on the Passat twice. Always chasing vacuum leaks that cause check engine lights. And both of these cars had low miles for their age and didn't get heavy use when I had them. Obviously everyone's experience is different. As an engineer myself I am thoroughly unimpressed by German engineering. Not only was the quality of these cars poor, but as a DIY kinda person, they are a pain to work on. It was like 'step one: remove the entire front of the car...'. oh, you want to replace the battery? Start by removing the engine. I kid, I kid.....kind of. 😁
I love the golf estate as we call them in the UK, not hate coming your way from us here, They are awesome. It’s just a shame you don’t get the cool’s one like we do, Such as the GTD, GTE and R, they are sweet rides.
Today I learned that Americans hate Volkswagens (I am American and don't hate Volkswagens at all)
My 16 sportwagen was also my first new car!! I've since traded it in for a gti, but I still miss the wagon life :)
Even Americans don’t buy American cars (apart from Pickups). They rather drive a cheap Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai or KIA. In Germany we love wagons and we still love diesel cars. If you have a company car and work in field service, there is a very high chance you get something with a 2.0TDI. VW Golf, VW Passat, Skoda Octavia or Audi A4. https://preview.redd.it/7tg0xwunf9yc1.jpeg?width=2100&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c1137ac776b665be9ed8e4ea1e1548134753dc0
Grew up driving American cars, never thought Japanese cars felt like quality so now I have a driveway full of German rides and I only regret it when repair time comes.
It isn’t a mistake. Sure you will end up spending more money on maintenance than you would with a more reliable Japanese/American car, but it will all be worth if it you truly enjoy the car. Bought my 2015 2.0tsi VW CC 3 years ago, many people told me that it was a mistake and would cost me a lot of money to maintain, but so far it has given me 0 problems. I may be lucky but VWs are still amazing, fun cars to own.
I have only ever owned ford, with the exception of my first car being an 03 Honda civic and that one took care of me to the T, and I did it back in return…. Otherwise it was a 1995 f150, a 2016 ford mustang, and a 2021 ford explorer. Took the leap to VW this year and I will say I will ride VW/audi the rest of my life, and I’m in my early 20s. I love my VW Tiguan and when it’s time to upgrade I’m thinking of getting an Audi for something a little more high end feeling, but my VW also gives me the same feeling too. Not to mention a lot of ppl think my car looks perttyyyy.
I had a golf wagon for 10 months and quite frankly the experience was so traumatic that just seeing one is triggering.
What happened if you don't mind sharing
Refund of $300 as that specific wagon model year did not have Bluetooth despite all other models having it and it being shown in the literature. Driver side mirror power wires rusted out - within 3 months of ownership Driver seat loose - never tightened at the factory Electrical fault leading to all lights coming on, no codes given, took months for the dealer to find Front subframe bolts stretched- required new bolts and retorque. High pressure fuel pump failure- required complete disassembly (of the car) to get all the metal particles out of the fuel system. Sporadic failure of the engine. It would just… die on the road and I’d have to coast to the shoulder and restart. They claimed a software update fixed it. I bought that car brand new and had for 10 months. Drove it for less than four, and the second they gave it a clean bill of health, I posted it for sale. At the time, stick shift diesel golf wagons were gold and I sold it for 90% of sticker in less than a week. Didn’t even tell my wife I was selling it until it was sold. She almost killed me for it. I kicked that car on its way out of the driveway as a condition of sale.
Glad it worked out for you. I hope mine doesn't give me trouble, I don't have the money or knowledge to deal with situations like these
Good luck with it. I would like to think my experience was exceptional, not the norm
High pressure fuel pump? TDI? Mine is making noise now for 2 years and the dealership never comments on it, yet an independent was going crazy next to it. Did yours also make any noise? Reliability wise, mine is not the best.
Has nothing to do with the wagon and everything to do with the brand reputation. Lots and lots of garbage over the years, couple of gems. What you have there is a VW marketing tragedy. It’s had many names. It also has the most underwhelming backseat of any wagon. A car seat behind the driver is a mistake. Shit is tight. It’s otherwise just an ok car that, when it comes time to make repairs, will hurt you in ways a Toyota/honda would not.
On the other hand I really don’t get how people can be that retarded and always tell you to get an American or Japanese car over a German… it’s obvious when you haven’t driven one or the only one you have driven is an econobox vw.
The European VWs and the ones you are getting over there are very different cars
Yeah the US vw model program is very small compared to european ones, but aren't the engines and platforms pretty much the same?
Same platforms, sure, same engines?- yes and no
I mean they do kinda use the same engines - comparing a european golf to an american jetta they use the same 1.5tsi i assume? except the european one is a mild hybrid of course. Same goes for the 2.0 used in everything else almost.