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#21
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"I decided to buy a 2002 VW Jetta TDI for fuel economy on my long
trips. It seemed to have good reviews (except from the Car Talk Guys) and in real-life better gas mileage than the Prius and I though more reliable technology." JS> Did you buy it new in 2002 or did you buy it used. A diesel powered car may car get better fuel milage but the cost to properly maintain a diesel can be more than on a comparable gas engine car. They usually take more oil, require more frequent oil changes, have more expensive filters. Glow plugs and injectors require maintenance. "At about 65000 miles there were only a series (5 or more) check engine light episodes. " JS> I've had the check engine light come on on my Volvo's...no big deal, just get the problem resolved (usually minor). "We had been happy with the car up until then despite several problems related to knobs breaking off, wheel well liners and front air dams tearing off on roll stops, etc." JS> Gotta break some bad news to you. Parts break on cars in direct relation to the way the car is driven and mishandled. If you are breaking off air dams on parking stops it is because of your poor driving habits. " Nothing all that expensive. The drive train seemed solid. About a month ago, the acceleration of the car became intermittently poor. I took it to the local dealership and the problem was diagnosed as a faulty turbo that would cost $1,500+ to replace. I was dumbstruck. There went all the fuel savings for the life of that car and more. However a second opinion from a local non-VW mechanic suggested that the essential problem was a defective waste gate valve on the turbo. The diagnosis was made by observing that disabling this valve made the intermittent problem constant. The mechanic thought he could fine a replacement valve for less than $200. After many hours of searching it was apparent that Garrett (the maker of the turbo) and/or Volkswagen had made sure that replacing this valve was not possible. Obviously they wanted to sale a $1500 turbo rather than a lousy valve. So they get my perfectly good turbo, clean it up, paint it, replace the valve and resale it for $1500. What a racquet!!! In my book this thievery. " JS> So was there a question here? I thought that emissions systems had longer warranties than the rest of the car. On my Volvo diesel the glow plugs went out at 65,000 miles but were covered under the emissions warranty - you might want to check that. Otherwise, you have to realize that eventually all parts will eventually break or wear out - it is just a question of when. Since the turbo went south on this car, can you tell me about the maintenance. Have you had all scheduled checkups done and have you been changing oil frequently in this engine? I just wanted to let you know what will happen to you if a valve goes bad on your turbo. |For me, I have bought my last Volkswagen. |
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#22
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Daniel J. Stern wrote: > > > Of course, since they were VW, they also built the car such that replacing > the dead bulb is a royal PITA. Wrong, again. Replacing NB headlamp bulbs is no more difficult than any other car with a tight engine compartment. One has to read the owner's manual to figure out how to release the bulb holder, but once you know how to do it, it's a trivial task. E.P. |
#23
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#24
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#25
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Daniel J. Stern wrote: > On Thu, 26 May 2005 wrote: > > > > Of course, since they were VW, they also built the car such that > > > replacing the dead bulb is a royal PITA. > > > > Wrong, again. Replacing NB headlamp bulbs is no more difficult than > > any other car with a tight engine compartment. One has to read the > > owner's manual to figure out how to release the bulb holder, but once > > you know how to do it, it's a trivial task. > > Sure, once you *get access* to the bulb holder. Getting access is *easier* than with cars that have full above-engine plastic shrouds. It's a trivial task - both headlamps can be done in minutes. The first time might take a bit longer. E.P. |
#26
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Daniel J. Stern wrote: > On Thu, 26 May 2005 wrote: > > > > > When properly maintained (and they're really not that finicky) VW's > > > > are VERY reliable cars. > > > > > > *IF* you happen to randomly get a good one. > > > > I would suggest that getting a bad one is the random event. > > If getting a bad one is a random event, then so is getting a good one. Only if the probabilities are exactly equal. They aren't, and there is not a shred of reliability data that even implies it. But hyperbole is fun when you're bashing. > > A lemon is a lemon, no matter who makes it. But for most things, once a > > VW is fixed, it stays fixed. > > On some planets, perhaps, but not on this one. Funny, I've driven on this planet in VAG products, and that's the way it is. > > VW diesel vehicles did not get a reputation for being reliable and > > durable from some slick marketing campaign. > > As far as I'm aware, they've no such reputation except amongst VW > fanatics. I guess your awareness doesn't extend beyond your own biases. > > And yes, I do realize your one experience with owning VW was with some > > car made 16 or so years ago, > > I've got enough friends and family members with enough recent- and > current-model VW experience to see they and their stealer network haven't > changed significantly at all. On the stealership issue, I agree completely. I have heard of some that are actually good to the customer, but the stories of the other kind are much more numerous. The mid-A2 - early-A3 (early '90s), especially Mexican-production, cars were dreadful. If you are suggesting that the current crop is unchanged from that low point, then you are just deluding yourself. E.P. |
#27
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#28
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Daniel J. Stern wrote: > On Thu, 26 May 2005 wrote: > > > > > I would suggest that getting a bad one is the random event. > > > > > > If getting a bad one is a random event, then so is getting a good one. > > > > Only if the probabilities are exactly equal. > > Study some probability theory Your sentence structure gives an implied equals sign. And you conveniently snipped the larger context of that comment. The probability of getting a bad VW is small. This implies that getting a good one is large. HTH. > > The mid-A2 - early-A3 (early '90s), especially Mexican-production, cars > > were dreadful. > > Ah, yes, the old "Oh, you must have had a *MEXICAN* built car, that > explains your bad experience!" canard. Oh, gosh - reading comprehension issues, again. I didn't write anything like that, but it is a very lovely strawman. E.P. |
#29
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#30
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Daniel J. Stern wrote: > On Thu, 26 May 2005 wrote: > > > Your sentence structure gives an implied equals sign. > > Hark, the sound of frantic backpedalling. :golf clap: Nice spin on another context-snipped quote. E.P. |
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