Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
On my way to work last wednesday I hit the A/C and nothing but warm air, about mid way through my ride to work it magically starts blowing ice cold. I turn it down as its getting cold, the compressor kicks off never to come back on. On my lunch hour that day the same thing to a tee. On my way home the same thing with a little twist. After the A/C had started working I was at a light, light turns green go to hit the gas and nothing...RPM's drop to about 1-200 and then the engine shuts down. I push it to the side of the road wait a few minutes and start it up. It seems fine, I figure I'll try and make it to the dealer which is a short distance away. I make it no problem.
On a side note the car has been trouble free until last month when the front end was making noises while turning. Turned out it needed strut bearings, it took a while to fix because to quote the dealer he had to take the whole front end apart. Whether this relates to the A/C issues or not who knows.
The dealer did call me yesterday and says he sees the problem with the A/C but has no idea why its happening and why the car would have shutdown like it did. He needs to do further testing....
Has anyone experienced a similar problem with either the struts or the A/C?
I am impressed with its power, handling, and soundproofing, After manual transmissions, the DSG is surely fun to play with. This car makes you want to drive fast by the way it feels, and I like that in a vehicle. But the car is not fully broken in yet, and I really haven't run it, or tried the "Launch Control" procedure in the owners manual. The seats are very comfortable for me, and I like the way they operate - power seats are unnecessary, IMO. The doors open almost ninety degrees. The ride is choppier than on other vehicles I've owned over small bumps and undulations, but that's fine with me, personally. Some might not like that.
And - if you want some extra power, a turbo vehicle can be re-chipped relatively inexpensively. The factory has designed the powertrain for over 250 HP, whatever that means.
I got mine with used, smoked tires, with chunked tread edges, and 30 miles on the OD. The dealer reluctantly replaced the tires, but won't even acknowledge that the car's service life has likely been compromised by that treatment (per the owners manual). I've filed a complaint with BBB, and we'll see what happens. I will either get a brand new car, or a full cash refund, or we'll resolve it in full civil court.
I think I made a mistake buying this car, too. It's going to be a maintenance and repair nightmare, compared to the Honda products I've owned for 25 years. I never would have even thought of making this purchase without the four year warranty. Apparently, according to some of the forum comments, some dealers won't honor the warranty, and blame the owners for (excessive) quality control problems.
I knew of VW's (legendary) unreliability and mechanical weakness before I bought this vehicle. Over time, I had advised lots of folks not to consider a VW purchase. I usually keep my vehicles, but I saw selling my VW under warranty as an "early out". It didn't take me very many days of ownership to know I had to sell it before the warranty expires, because I don't want to have to afford to keep it running!
A seat handle fell off before I even touched it. Sometimes the power windows won't move while driving. All of the mirrors are a bit small, and right quarter visibility is almost non-existent for me, anyway. A few times, the computer-controlled DSG shifting and downshifting "misbehaves", for the want of a better way to describe some unusual shifting behavior, and sometimes it's response is sluggish. The door panel was scuffed before delivery, and I didn't see it until afterward. The upholstery is going to be a real bear to keep clean. The cup holders are almost non-existent, and there is no logical place to put a decent aftermarket cup holder. Armrest and compartment storage is minimal and limited. There is really no place for coins, toothpicks, or other small items.
If you remove the battery, (to install the vacuum-boost gauge that should have come with the car), or the battery goes dead (because someone didn't hear the headlight chime with traffic going by), the airbag warning light will need to be reset at the dealership (and you're not supposed to charge the battery yourself, either). Lots of other ECU fault memories will also be triggered.
Or - you will need a laptop computer and the Ross-Tech VAG Com diagnostic connector and software, and the Bentley repair manual, and the skill to use it, to do this yourself. Same with the service interval indicator. Without this extra $1000 of equipment, you are almost married to a dealership for as long as you own this vehicle.
(BTW - with this Ross-tech software, you can slightly change the Speedo ratio, to match your GPS reading, which is very accurate).
Then, lots of other stuff is quirky, like the parking light switch, which doesn't work the lights like any other car I've owned in forty years. It makes this sucking, groaning sound if you get into the boost range, which I see as anything BUT cool. The mileage sucks (about 22 mpg average, driven easy) compared with EPA mileage specs of 25-32 city-highway. The gauge lighting is beautiful, but it's trashed with a bright, non-dimmable red LED computer display in the middle of the instrument panel. The radio is a LCD display that can't be read easily during the day, especially while wearing sunglasses. What a design clash!
The black strip paint around the B pillar is soft, and easily scratched or marred. The armrest will break if you lean too hard on it when iots extended. If someone backs into you, very easy, the shiny black area on the front bumper will show it. It's going to be almost impossible to clean the bugs off of the front hex grille areas.
Oil changes are full synthetic, with oil meeting VW's 502.00 (euro) specs, which is hard to find in the US. The oil filter is a replaceable element filter, costing maybe $10-$14, not the spin-on type. Changing the transmission fluid and filter is an ordeal, costing $200+ at the dealership. Fluid - $15.00 per quart, or liter, I'm not sure which. Filter - $50 or thereabouts.
My Integra GSR never got less than the City EPA mileage, and I never worried about how I used the gas pedal on that car, because it didn't make that much difference in the mileage. It has cost me almost nothing in extra, non-maintenance parts for the 12 years I owned it - a new thermostat & gasket, a radio antenna, and a few rubber boots and parts.
It could have been worse - I could have paid another 10 grand for the Audi, which is the same basic car wearing a different set of clothes, wiht the same basic quality and reliability problems.
Still, this is a fun car to drive!
Your mileage will be highway mileage which is easy miles.
With most any other car, using non-synthetic oil, a factory service interval under these conditions is 7500 miles.
I have changed my oil at 3000-4000 miles, typically, with "intermediate" service (not "normal" service, and not "severe' service). This is overkill. But paying $1 per qt, and buying a $3 filter, which sometimes I do not change - who cares - change it anyway if it's convenient. With a $40-60 oil change, and full synthetic oil, away from home - it changes the picture a bit.
Maybe 10-15 years ago, Consumer Reports bought a dozen Slant Sixes, brand new, from Chrysler Corp. Then they took them apart and carefully measured and spec'ed them.
Then (after reassembling them), they put 10 of them into taxi service in New York City, and changed the oil at 5000 mile intervals for 60,000 miles, then they took them apart and measured them again. The results -no measurable wear on any of these engines.
They put the other two engines into the same service, but changed the oil at 12,000 mile intervals. This time they measured some significant wear.
What this says, is that 3000-5000 mile oil changes are typically being very, very good to your vehicle. Elsewhere, I have come across some reliable comments that anything less than a 5000 mile interval is throwing your money away, supporting the above.
A 6000-7000 mile interval, at mostly highway speeds, with full synthetic oil, with very little use of turbo boost and heat effects, especially with synthetic oil, certainly cannot hurt a GTI's engine, or any modern turbo engine, for that matter.
did you take it to the dealer to get it checked the first time you had trouble? what about oil changes and service?
such an iffy post...pretty common around these parts i guess.
Thou shalt not purchase a new car early in production cycle, lest one desires to become a beta tester for the automotive industry...
So let it be written... :shades:
I got a question that I am not sure where I could find some help. I got a 2003 VW GTI that is making a loud whomping noise when I am going from about 25mph to 10mph. The car makes this noise whether the car is in gear or not (It's a manual). Currently the car has 40K miles.
It seems like it is coming from underneath the engine. It also shakes the car a little bit. The noise follows the speed of the car, meaning that when I am slowing down, the frequency of the noise also slows down.
I just had a 40K mile maintenance done at the dealer, but I can't take it back until tuesday, and I was planning on doing a 700mile trip with the car on monday.
Does anyone have any idea what this could be?
Thanks in advance for any help!!
Anyone know how to explain all this stuff?
Thanks in advance,
Dan
The nightmare memories of my wife's 99 Carbio have been fading and I found myself considering a new 4-door GTI with the DSG.
Thanks for the reality check.
I must always always that even though they are appealing in many ways, VW's are junk.
To quote "The Who" We Won't Get Fooled Again
Back in 2000, I bought a new GTI which was nothing but problems: clutch went out at 40,000 miles, glove box hinge broke twice, power window went out three times (the same plastic retainer clip snapped each time), both headlamps and most other exterior bulbs burned out, CD player went on the blink, AC would stop sporadically, turbo valve malfunctioned, etc.
I had all maintenance done at the dealership and never abused the vehicle.
I got desperate when the dealer advised me that the part required to repair my inoperative window -- stuck in the down position for the third time -- would not be available for weeks due to inadequate supply, and they could offer no further assistance. (Guess they thought I could just tape some trash bags over the opening.) I had to call the regional manager, who forced the dealer to order the part. I finally got everything repaired and traded in for a 2003 WRX. After 100,000 miles (same clutch, same brakes, no significant problems), I traded for a 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 (a few electrical problems at the onset, but no big deal). The WRX and Speed 3 were a little more expensive, but far superior in performance and reliability.
After I traded the GTI, I got a notice about a lawsuit regarding faulty VW windows for 1998-2002 models. This means that VW had known about the problem (a plastic, not metal, clip was used to connect the glass to the window motor) for several years, but did nothing until they were sued.
The bottom line is that VW, at least in 2000, made a grossly deficient, unreliable vehicle which looked good in the showroom but did little else. Based on some of the posts here, it seems that little has changed. While enthusiasts (like the folks in the automotive press) will tout the brand's European flair, performance edge and creature comforts, these aspects will never compensate for the cost and frustration of VW ownership.
No warranty will restore the hours spent waiting at the repair shop or rental office, and no reimbursement will provide a sense of confidence in the vehicle overall. It's a shame, since my GTI, at a cost of $21,000, could have been the best $22,000 car on the road. VW simply chose to skimp on functional parts while adorning the cabin for test drive appeal. So, potential VW buyer, my advice to you is to fully evaluate offerings from Subaru, Mazda or other reliable brands before buying VW.
You should have confidence in your new vehicle, and reliability concerns can ruin all the fun.
Good luck, and safe motoring.
Amber
I was on a road trip the other week in my 2008 GTI, and a tire came off of a truck and hit the front of my car. The only thing I noticed is the black lip part on the bottom that protects from rocks and whatever else, seems to have been pushed in some, and its sticking out of the front a little bit.
Anyone know if this would cause a problem? I hardly even noticed it. What would be the cost of replacing it?
Also, I need to do my 10k maintenance, what does that normally run people?
Thanks!
Yes, all makes might have their issues but VW has more than I would like to see compare to their competitor (honda civic,mazda 3). If I see 50 complains vs. 200 complains then that's a red flag to me.
10,000 miles / oil change seems a bit too long for me. What do you folks think? :confuse:
Long story short, the 10,000 mile OCI recommendation is perfectly acceptable if you read all of the other fine print around it (the print that describes the grade of oil required).
Best regards,
Shipo
Best regards,
Shipo
Best regards,
Shipo
In the end it comes down to faith, you have faith that frequent oil changes are going to prolong the life of your engine; many of us (me included) believe the scientifically and empirically derived evidence that shows that frequent oil changes with high quality synthetic oil is an absolute waste of time, money and resources.
Best regards,
Shipo
And their argument always comes down to: "That's the way I've always done it." Logic and reason are not their best friends.
Best regards,
Shipo
you got that right.
ofcourse you would say that you work for one ,"Why would the manufacturer purposely lead you astray?" don't be so naive folks.
Do you truly believe that a huge manufacturer like VW has not done extensive and rigorous testing on their engines? It seems a little arrogant to me that you believe your experience with a handful of cars makes you more knowledgeable than a manufacturer who has experience with millions.
A manufacturer would not print in their manual that the oil change interval is 10k if it wasn't. If changing your oil at 10k would lead to oil sludge, then they would have huge warranty claims because of that. It would cost them even more money. Why wouldn't they just tell people 5k or 3k and be on the safe side?
It sounds to me like you're one of those folks who believes in conspiracy theories. No amount of evidence or logic will stand in the way of your opinions.