By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Aren't most engines on timing chains nowadays?
Have you been in a late model VW recently; no evidence of any poorly made trim and fixtures in our 2012 GTI.
"Keeping the VW running "per" suggested maintenance schedule will break Howard Hughes, even worse than keeping a Japanese vehicle maintained."
Hmmm, between my wife a I we've owned five VWs and not one was expensive to maintain. In fact, the most expensive car I've ever owned from a maintenance perspective was a Japanese car. Go figure.
"The Mazda should be pretty tough overall, worse real world fuel economy, VERY LOUD DB in the passenger compartment but this may be fixed with some of the adhesive backed rubber sound absorbent mat, maybe."
Dead on with this comment. The noise difference between my Mazda3 and my wife's GTI is astounding; I never realized how loud my Mazda was until I drove her GTI.
Both of the VW engines [Gas & TDI] do have a "Interference Engine" and Timing Belt which means when the timing belt breaks,, you lose a $4,000.00 engine.
With the exception of maybe the current TDI engine, I don't believe there are any VWs sold in the North American market which have a timing belt; I know for certain the 2.0T (the engine in the GTI) sports a timing chain.
I did find the oil changes excessively expensive - couldn't get them done locally anywhere but the dealership because there was some issue with it needing a "special" filter. Didn't have a whole lot else done to it.
I would definitely disagree with the flimsy interior allegation - it was very solidly built. Apart from the cupholders, I'd love to have that interior back.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Don't take my word for it, check out the TDIForums.com for yourself.
Also, the TDI's seem to vary with serious issues from costly fuel pump problems, ac/heater issues, windows that fall down, suspension problems, ete. etc. which vary year to year.
Also you can NOT run Bio-Diesel over 5% in the new TDI's because of the 5-Shot injection system.
The 5th shot is done with the exhaust valve OPEN to burn off the DPF
Running Bio-Diesel stronger than 5% causes it to wash down by the rings, thinning out the motor oil, and SEIZE goes the engine.
VW will NOT honor warranties on engines using 5% or more fuel.
We need to SAY Thanks to the Feds for mandating that Diesel cars put out the same amount of CO2 and particulates as Gasoline vehicles.
It seems to me that if they spent many $B's on Bio-Diesel research, they'd install a DPF cutoff device when the tank detected a proper concentration of clean fuel.
FYI, B-100 does NOT require a DPF or other means of limiting the particulate emissions. [AFAIK]
[ DPF = Diesel Particulate Filter ]
The 3-cyl VW Polo Blue Motion in Europe gets about 90mpg [Imperial Gallons] using std Diesel [Euro Fuel is 1.25gl vs the US gl at 1.0g]
I do Love VW's though and wish they'd get the ball rolling, again.
And the US Govt would relax Diesel Emissions on automobiles.
FYI #2 OTR Trucks account for about 25% of the Diesel Usage in the US
DrVette
As of Nov 24th 2011 that is
DrVette
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
The car business can't be that bad I took the V dub into Prime motors in Saco,Maine with 9 k on it and asked what it's worth on a trade and I was not given a call back. The guy servcing my car says this car is like new.I bought 2 cars from them in 3 years. I walked in to their Ford dealer ship and every one just sat at their desk ,so screw them.
Does anyone really know if the VW polo is comming over here?There is a GTI version as well as a (" shorter golf". Edmunds shows it. I asked Prime if it was comming and they had no record of it, or even any knowledge of it.
I checked out the Volster and forget it. The salesperson said it was to compete with Mini and some other car I forget. It was a dog,but he said wait for the Turbo.
How does one get a car from the UK, go on vacation in the spring drive it 4K and modify it from a gray car to meet U.S. specs. My brother in law got his Porshe that way trough a dealer friend he hangs with. He shipped it back and said he saved money,hard to believe.ty, Puffin
The Fiat 500?
"How does one get a car from the UK, go on vacation in the spring drive it 4K and modify it from a gray car to meet U.S. specs. My brother in law got his Porshe that way trough a dealer friend he hangs with. He shipped it back and said he saved money,hard to believe."
Not sure about the Porsche scenario you referred to, but my wife and I took a vacation to Europe a few years ago and while there I picked up a new U.S. spec 530i, drove it a tad over 2,000 miles, and then had it shipped back. I figure I saved over $4,000 on the car.
I vote for shipo's idea...European delivery.
I think the Focus is built in Spain and France...as well as being imported from Detroit...it would be interesting to get a Euro-delivery Ford :P
Q. Does the 2.5L Golf have a Chain ?
A. I dunno, you didn't say what year, go to this link and see if it's listed as an "Interference Engine" which will be in Red.
link title
However, BOTH of the Beetle Engines that I checked were Zero Interference Engines
DOUBLE CHECK with your parts man to see if it takes a belt or chain, also the maintenance manual will tell you.
DrVette
As noted, he probably did a European delivery - ordered it in North America, picked it up at a delivery center, drove around the UK and then shipped it back as part of the program.
Typicallly in the past they look fine for a year or two, then start to degrade.
Look in the Edmunds.com customer discussion/reviews for details.
Re: the timing belt issue
The TDIForums.com go on and on about the Jetta/Beetle Timing Belt problems and the extended Labor on changing one on the Beetle.
The Gates website, indicates that all the Jetta/Beetle 2.0L Gas and the 2.0L TDI engines DO have belts for timing, up to 2011,
the site may need updating for 2012 OR perhaps they have a chain now.
Quote from Gates on a Jetta 2011 2.0L TDI
"Timing Belts & Components
Cam. Belt
Automotive Timing Belt T342
Interference engine application
http://www.gates.com/part_locator/index.cfm?location_id=3598
BTW
The 5-cyl 2.5L engine does NOT list a timing Belt OR interference engine warnings.
DrVette
Of course, that corporate connection happens to be a different eCatalog provider, so take that as you will. At least it's not Activant. :shades:
FYI, lugging an engine causes rapid cylinder wall wear more than any problems with bearing or crankshaft wear.. [In my experience]
As an old wrench for over 50 yrs, I've seen tear-downs of power-plants from 1948 to modern engines both Domestic, European and Japanese.
Drivers of stick-shift vehicles that insist on changing gears at super low RPM always show a ring grove at the top of the bore.
Requiring a groove tool to remove the piston.
This is called excess "Side Loading" by demanding power at too low a RPM.
The maximum wear for average operators occurs at the bottom of the bore where the piston "Rocks" as it reverses direction.
All machine shops check bore at the bottom of the piston travel, not at the top.
Also, just for kicks, drivers who tach out their engines to the max and beyond seem to NEVER show a ring groove, but instead show worn-out rings, scuffed pistons and bearings, collapsed valve springs etc,, but never a groove[except in very, very high mileage engines.
These statements are from my experience and will vary from Mfg to Mfg as some use very hard Rings and soft iron blocks and others do the opposite.
Nissan used soft rings and hard iron, Chrysler used hard chrome faced rings and soft iron blocks.
Sorry for all the drivel, hope this clears up "some" confusion.
DrVette
http://www.gates.com/part_locator/index.cfm?location_id=3598
Actually it is one of the fastest loading sites for my 20-Mule Team Powered Dial-Up service :shades:
DrVette
Not so easy today.
Partial Quote:
"In 1998, NHTSA exempted vehicles older than 25 years from the rules it administers, since these are presumed to be collector vehicles.
In 1999, certain very low production volume specialist vehicles were also exempt for "Show and Display" purposes.
However, the ban on newer vehicles considered safe in countries with lower vehicle-related death rates has led some to claim that the main effect of NHTSA's regulatory activity is to protect the U.S. market for a modified oligopoly consisting of the three U.S.-based automakers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Highway_Traffic_Safety_Administration
Check the overview by Country
Some states allow the "cleaning" of titles to remove any detrimental info such as "Totaled" etc and reissue a "clean bill of health" then the vehicle is transferred to an unwitting buyer in another state.. I'll withhold the state I KNOW does this but a hint is "it's the 2nd state in alphabetical order' [disclaimer, I HEARD This, I do NOT Know for sure] :shades:
IN Connecticut
Registration and inspection of a Grey Market vehicle:
http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=804&Q=244900
Grey Market petition to reduce vehicle age from 25 to 15 for importation
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=488527
DrVette
A Timing Chains run off the crankshaft where they get a good dose of oil
Most do have a "tensioner" which is spring loaded AND has oil pressure to increase tension on the chain at higher RPM's
Q.Aren't most engines on timing chains nowadays?
A. I don't know the answer for that, however the link below will show in Red, "Interference Engine Application" for engines with timing belts that will wreck the motor when they break.
FYI, some engines, like the Ford's aged 2.3L 4cyl has a timing belt, but it has reliefs cut into the pistons so the motor is not destroyed when the timing belt breaks.
http://www.gates.com/part_locator/index.cfm?location_id=3598
Do NOT rely totally on this link or ANY source soley for data regarding something as important as this issue, contact the dealer service dept, parts dept etc for complete info.
DrVette
I've owned a number of VWs over the years and never had such an issue. That said, I've never owned a Jetta which I understand has most of the issues.
"The TDIForums.com go on and on about the Jetta/Beetle Timing Belt problems and the extended Labor on changing one on the Beetle.
The Gates website, indicates that all the Jetta/Beetle 2.0L Gas and the 2.0L TDI engines DO have belts for timing, up to 2011"
As I previously stated, the TDI is a timing belt engine. The 2.0L gas engine for the Golf/Jetta/Beetle hasn't been made in quite a number of years (or at least not sold here in the States for years). The 2.0T motor has a timing chain.
Said another way, the only VW engine currently for sale here in the States with a timing belt is the TDI.
Not so easy today.
I imported a civic from Canada into the USA...15+ years ago. Got 'stuck' at the border for hours waiting for Honda of Canada to fax appropriate documentation that the little civic doesn't pollute. I think the car didn't have the proper labeling...Of course as I waited I watched dozens of V8 clunkers cruise by
This is menial when compared to the monumental task of importing the oranges I had...pleading the case that they were stamped "Florida" didn't matter
All Ford DSGs sold in the North American market are dry clutch.
Just to be clear.....
This isn't to say that there aren't other manufacturers which also sell their cars with Dual-Clutch automatic transmissions; they just cannot be referred to as DSGs.
I wasn't trying to argue - just be clear about which ones were wet vs. dry clutch.
My mom had a New Beetle, and the scenario described by drvette is exactly what happened with her car. The soft touch materials looked great when new, but started to wear down very quickly. The door handles started peeling, and the metallic coating on some of the plastic parts also started wearing off. This was all within a three year time frame.
It all appeared and felt luxurious in the dealer showroom, but after a few years it looked trashed. Her biggest issue with that car though was the myriad of electrical problems that developed. That overall experience turned her off on VWs when it came time to shop for her last car. She now drives a Mazda3 -- the interior doesn't look quite as nice, but at least it wears well -- basically looking much the same now as it did in the showroom three years ago. And she has had zero unscheduled repairs.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Is your main complaint that there is a handbrake instead of a foot brake in an automatic...or the design of the handbrake?
I have to agree with Ivan and Shipo on this. Even though bpizzuti may technically be correct, it just doesn't make any real-world sense. If a friend asked you to help you car shop beause you are a car guy, and such person said they need to buy an automatic because they can't drive a manual, would you steer that person only to cars that have a torque converter? And then much later, when asked why you didn't mention any DSG cars, go into a half-hour lecture about transmission terminology?
I think your friend would regret having asked you for help.
Here's som'in more serious.
"This is the sportiest version of the new Ford Focus yet. The Zetec S has been developed specifically for the UK market...
Yet despite its performance upgrade, this Focus retains the impressively smooth stop-start system, regenerative braking and active grille shutter of other models, so it emits 139g/km of CO2. And Ford’s engineers have reworked the suspension, giving the car stiffer springs and shocks.
The ride height is unchanged, however, so the suspension is still supple enough to soak up rough road surfaces with ease and retain its composure at speed – it strikes an excellent balance between body control and ride comfort.
The well weighted steering delivers positive turn-in and plenty of feel, and there’s lots of grip. Add a slick-shifting six-speed manual box, and it’s hard to fault the driving experience."
But EVO sez the steering's "lack of feel"... & the lack of "mk1's magic"...
"With its keener suspension setup, the mk3 Focus feels tauter, cornering with little roll and exuding great balance and body control. The steering is very quick, perhaps more so than you’d like considering its lack of feel (thank the shift from a hydraulic to electric setup), but once you’ve got accustomed to it, you’ll get a real flow going over Britain’s twisty and choppy B-roads. This is helped along by a compliant and well-judged ride that shames most other sporty hatchbacks...
Those who remember the magic of the mk1 Focus and its unlikely agility will find this mk3 iteration lacks such sparkle, but that doesn’t stop it being dynamically capable."
evo RATING
+ Keener and faster Ford Focus
- Still to rediscover the mk1's magic
Therefore, maybe you're better off finding an mk1 is the used car market :P
hatch (std, Recaro)
sedan
Read the posted links again. All the quotes are on the 2012 mk3 Focus'.
I could...
A manual garage door is one that you have to get out and open with your hands.
An automatic garage door opener you just have to click a button; the method in which it performs this automation is irrelevant (as far as classifying it as automatic that is...)
Same with trannies :shades:
Er, was that not useful? I guess I would say a manual in a car is a transmission that requires use of a clutch pedal. I could just as well as said "stickshift" in my original post. I'm guessing that I left myself open to another hypertechnical response?
If a transmission is capable of being put in "D" and left to its own devices, it is an "Automatic".
If such an "Automatic" has a mode which allows the driver to request +1 or -1 gear changes, then it is an "Automatic with a Semi-Automatic mode".
If an automated transmission in question must always be told when to shift and whether to shift up or down (i.e. it has no “Drive” mode) then it is a "Semi-Automatic".
As far as I know, there are exactly zero cars being sold these days with a "Sequential-Manual" transmission; motorcycles are a different story.
It's Ok, we all know you're one of those purists who really REALLY wishes for the old days when men were men and clutches were attached to pedals, but one day you to will realize the world of transmissions isn't that simple anymore. :shades: