recent large Volkswagens-2015 up

[cfz2882]

I like the look and size of newer large Volkswagen sedans-a nice black one recently showed up at a local lot,but sold within hours,before I could look it over...just wondering if anyone here has one of these cars or knows anything about durability/reliability ?

 

[rapunzel]

I am surprised you asked that question. VW is a high quality brand with an excellent global reputation. The Volkswagen group owns Porsche and Skoda as well as Bentley, Ducati, MAN, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Audi and Seat. VW products are rated higher than average when it comes to performance, durability, quality and value. However, you can always do an online search for customer reviews on that specific model that you like and see what other people have written.

Personally, I like Toyota and Nissan. Both brands produce reliable cars that are excellent value for money and their after sales support is very solid. Parts and service costs are also very reasonable.

 

[cfz2882]

a couple lemons in the deep past...

a very long time ago,and no relation at all to a 'teens VW,but a couple people I know ended up with craptastic used VWs: first was a 1978 Rabbit bought in 1980:just nothing but trouble,got rid of it after a couple weeks.2nd was a 1982 Scirocco in 1987-this car quite a bit better than the Rabbit,but was in the shop quite often.

 

[rp2813]

I loved my '97 Passat wagon with 5-speed stick.  It did have its issues, but nothing super costly.  It needed a new clutch at around 140K miles.  I can't fault it for that.  Dave was driving it first and he was murdering the clutch and transmission, so I had to buy a different car with an automatic for him and rescue the Passat.

 

Still, I have trouble trusting VW to be as reliable as anything Japanese, or even a Mercedes.  I'll be interested in hearing about how later models are doing.  I loved the CC, but again, was concerned about reliability with those.

 

[gizmo]

I have a 2017 Golf wagon. 1.4 litre petrol (gasoline) engine with the 7-speed DSG transmission.

I have done about 65000 km and it has been fantastic. It is a really great car. The DSG transmission takes a little getting used to.

 

It has had one weird fault that hasn't been fixed - my car has the optional Driver Assistance Pack that included collision avoidance braking, self-parking and other stuff. Every so often as I pull into my garage, it shows "Parking Assistance Error - parking assistance has been turned off." But it has only ever happened in my own garage. VW  dealer can't find any fault. They updated the car's software which improved its behaviour when the error occurs (it used to switch off all driver assist functions and they would have to be turned back on manually, but that doesn't happen any more.)

Despite this very minor irritant, I LOVE the car. Comfortable, great handling, amazingly economical (uses about the same fuel as my previous car, a Diesel Peugeot.) The VW has auto start-stop, where the car engine switches off every time you stop, even at the lights or at an intersection, and it quickly restarts when you take off. It works fine, I don't understand why so many people hate that function and switch it off (it can be disabled.)

 

Servicing costs are low, so far haven't had to replace any spare parts but before I bought the car,  I compared parts prices against the other car I was considering, a Ford Mondeo Diesel wagon (Fusion in USA.) To my surprise the VW prices were MUCH cheaper than Ford prices. For the VW a tail light was $150, for the Ford, $750. I'm in Australia,  relative prices may be different where you are.

 

When we were on holiday in the USA in 2015 we hired a car to drive from Las Vegas to Flagstaff AZ, via Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon. The price category car we hired was "Ford Focus or similar." We were hoping for a Focus, having hired them several times in New Zealand. We arrived to be offered the keys to what sounded like a "Hunday." Wasn't sure if she meant Honda or Hyundai. Turned out it was a Hyundai - I think Elantra?? I have driven them before and thought they were awful, so asked if they had anything else available? "Only a Judda." Turns out a "Judda" was a VW Jetta. Oooh, yes please. So we drove a Jetta for about a week.  Apart from the steering wheel being on the wrong side, we loved it. Aggressive Las Vegas drivers - not so much.

 

 

 

[foraloysius]

The Dutch consumer organisation "Consumentenbond" published a big review about the reliability of cars last November. Lexus is the most reliable brand, Volkswagen is among the least reliable with Alfa Romeo at the end of the list. Most reliable car was the Toyota Yaris. Least reliable car was the Volkswagen Passat from before 2014. The later ones are better but the idea that Volkswagen is a reliable brand is more marketing than reality.

 

[firedome]

Consumer Reports

long term reliability data, highly respected, has rated VW-Audi models as generally below average in reliability for a very long time and I doubt anything has changed. Repairs and parts in the US also tend to be expensive. If you want reliable and durable it's Toyota, then Honda... end of story.

 

[vacerator]

Brendon, I tend to take consumer

testing entitieses with a grain of salt! I notice the Dutch one has Lexus and Toyota not together, yet Lexus is Toyota. I doubt parts sourced for Lexus in Japan are any better or worse than globally or Japan sourced parts for the US, Uk, etc. plants.
Same for Audi/VW. As for Kia/Huyndai, also one conmpany. Both brnads share platforms and parts, and a Pallisade is from the same plant as the Telluride.
VW is well loved, just not as well bought as some others.
Avoid one with an Aissin automatic transaxle. High failure rate above 70,000 miles.
A 6, 8, or 10 speed trans. today wether front/rear/all wheel drive is $4,000.00 plus to replace and or rebuild. GM/Ford, ZF/Chrysler-Jeep too. They co engineer them.

 

[foraloysius]

Lexus vs Toyota

From the same company, but different models, so different reliability scores too.

 

[rp2813]

My sister's 2001 Subaru Forester has over 200K miles on its original engine and automatic transmission.  Lately it has been nickel and diming her with repairs of components that aren't expected to last that long, such as those related to steering and suspension.  The Forester's undercarriage isn't as beefy as those used on bigger models like Legacy and Outback.

 

It's hard to quibble about those repairs since the overwhelming majority of her driving happens in greater Los Angeles, where streets can be bumpy and stop-and-go traffic that is hardest on engines and transmissions is standard operating procedure at almost any time of day.

 

[jamiel]

VW has a different model lineup in North America than ROW. Our Passat is very decontented and of an older generation than ROW (and is being discontinued in MY 22...manufactured along with the Atlas in Chattanooga, TN. Golf is barely available...Jetta is what's available in that size...they've got a new small SUV the Taos...no comparison to VW in Australia/NZ. And not particularly reliable either.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Been driving VW TDI's the last 22 years. Two Beetles, now a Golf since 03. I can say that there is middle of the road with a VW. You either get a real reliable one, or a real piece of shit. Its why I'm hanging onto the 2000 after all these years still. Reliable as the they built it and still gets over 700 a tank. Still has its original starter after 215k.

 

[askolover]

My 2001 New Beetle diesel will be rolling over to 300,000 miles while I work this weekend.  Minimal problems over the 20 years I've owned it...but it's a 5 speed and the last of the good ALH diesel engines.

 

[volvoman]

My username may be "Volvoman"....

...but Mrs. Volvoman and I have a handful of cars in our fleet, including a swanky 2017 Volkswagen Passat (also black in color).

And we'd be happy to provide insight!

We purchased ours second-hand (it was a year old, and an early lease turn in) for a firesale deal of $13K, including tax, title, and transfer of license plates (we live in NJ). In general, the car - to us - feels like a larger, more upscale Jetta. That is, it handles and accelerates quite nicely, and has an extremely comfortable ride. This is the car that we use for family vacations; in fact, we took it to New England the fall that we purchased it, and it held all of our luggage (and our 8 year old) with no issues.

As far as durability goes? We now have 65K miles on the car (yeah...we travel a lot for fun...haha). Other than routine oil changes and a rear brake job, the only issue we had, was when the driver's door froze up in an ice storm, and I managed to break the inside door release handle with my gorilla grip. $175 later...

Anyway, if they intrigue you, go for it. Look for a 2017 or higher, per Consumer Reports. Reliability is better with those years.

 

[dermacie]

I have a 2014 VW Passat 1.8 T automatic. Very reliable and comfortable sporty car. It is versatile and I love it and intend on keeping it a while. I follow the maintenance schedule and have it dealer serviced.

 

[askolover]

If you get one, find a good reputable independent VW/Audi/Porsche specialty shop to stick with.  Ever since my warranty ran out I've been going to the same VW shop in Nashville.  Cheaper than the stealership and they use better parts!  Dealership would have replaced my water pump with another one with plastic impeller....they used better aftermarket one with metal impellar.  The plastic ones have been known to break apart and clog up the cooling system.  When my axle seals needed replaced, they used the seals from a Golf R32...a little more expensive but much stronger and last longer.  VW dealership service people are not known to be the most knowledgeable anyway......

 

[justjunque]

I can't speak for the newer ones, but we've been driving a 2001 Passat for a few years now, and I like it way more than I ever expected to.
It has the 1.8 turbo four cylinder, and an automatic.
Now, at 20 years old, the New England weather is taking its toll. And it has a few "quirks".
The power door locks are temperamental. The rear passenger side window regulator is shot, so we can't open that window.
But, it has about 135,000 miles on it, and it's still really nice to drive. And it doesn't have a single rattle or squeak.
As others have said, ours too has only been serviced by certified VW/Audi technicians since it was new, and has run nothing but full synthetic oil. At least on the 1.8 turbo, that's an absolute must.
I think, even back in 2001, some were built in Germany, and some were built somewhere else.
Ours is an authentic German built car, if that makes a difference. I'm not sure if any of them are currently built in Germany.
If you decide to go for it, I hope you get one that's as good as ours has been!

Barry

 

[rapunzel]

The car that piques my interest is the Lucid Air, which is poised to come out next year.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Plastic water pump impellers.....

I've heard that argument many times. I've been driving my 2000 Golf TDI since I bought it from the original owner in 2003 and have had 3 timing belt jobs done at the dealer in that time. I always go to the parts dept and buy all the parts needed to do a COMPLETE T/B job. Not once have I had the VW plastic impeller fail. Of course I always do the belt at the required interval and never let it go over 7 years due to aging of the belt.