How reliable is a Volkswagen?

Answer 1

According to J.D. Powers & Associates, NOT VERY.

I am very sorry to "burst' all of the above "bubbles", but those are individual opinions & experiances of a handful of people.

J.D. Powers studies thousands of vehicles and this particular study is the results of vehicles on the road for 3 years.

So, go ahead & shoot the messanger or give me a bunch of thumbs downs, all you V W lovers...but I'm only stating facts.


In fact, out of 37 manufacturers rated in their most recently released study (Sept. 2006) Volkswagon came in at # 32

manufacturers WORSE than V W ?
#33 Hummer
#34 Kia
#35 Suzuki
#36 Saab
#37 Land Rover

Answer 2

Well, Volkswagen and Audi are the same company. Volkswagens are also one of the fastest vehicles to decline in value from new to used. Kelly Blue Book says the cars are worth about 2-3k more than what they are when they are used, not sure why KBB is so inaccurate with that Volkswagens. Also, Volkswagens and BMWs have a different fiber optic system than most vehicles. This means any after market modifications you want to make have to go through the expensive dealer or you are likely to lose electrical to the car. They are also expensive out of warranty and in repair work. European parts are the most expensive in the automotive field. Because of the size-hazard in these vehicles they use heavier parts which are more expensive if you ever get into an accident. GTI's are fun cars. They have great acceleration and are also very safe vehicles. They handle really well and get decent gas mileage. With all cars it is a catch 22. With every upside there is usually an equal downside. I hope this helps you.

Answer 3

When it comes to the air cooled ones,yes they are.Take the radiator out of any other car & see how far they drive.Nowhere.They get hot and smoke soon.But Vw air cooled are same as a motor bikes or air- planes.Back in the '80s in Kuwait the cops used souped-up dune buggies and small planes to look around for drug traffikers in the wild desert.In Africa,where there is not parts easily found,they were the champs in the highlands rally.Actually most of them got no starter;just push and voila...and then comes the lemon new beetle.How many of these NB have u seen with both front light working?maybe!.Their shocks last max. 2 yrs.Take one for a good spin and the next day u gotta visit a dealer that keep them 4 a week.So,buying these piece of sh...is like using them for a month and leaving them a week @ the dealer.At high speed u r @ the mercy of the wind.You're not driving it u r sailing 'cause of the rounded body that traps air from under.Oil leaks,transmission problems,even brake failure.And the warning lights that lite the console.Boy!.You ain't got space 4 ur grocery at the back but you got plenty for a baby carriage up on the dasboard/winshield.The windshield column is right at the wrong spot so you can't see whom u running over.Can b a cop too.You always run on street edges,lawn,concrete barrier you thought never existed or even pedestians foots.Don't waste your money on the new beetle.

Answer 4

Any car is as reliable as you want it to be. Of course person who owns a VW is going to tell you it is reliable because usually people who drive VW's love their cars, like myself. You would get the same "JD POWER" answers if you asked the same question about a Chevy. The people who like them would tell you all the good stuff and the people who hate them would bash them. In April I took a 1000 mile road trip in my 70 bug. I just took it out of town last week, 240 miles round trip without even thinking about it. This bug is not customed out or tricked out in any way. It has a bone stock single port solex carb'd 1600 in it. I believe it is a 73 engine according to the numbers, someone must have swapped it out at one point. It never misses a lick, accept for the one time the coil wire fell off on the way into work, that was embarassing but it took like 30 seconds to fix it in the dark. When I got this thing it was in serious need of some tlc and an owner who would take care of it like it deserves and that is what I do. I change the oil and adjust the valves regularly. Keep the timing set and the points gapped and the thing is happy all day long. Being a 15 year mechanic in my former career and still fixing cars in my own garage on my own time I base my knowlege of what cars are reliable and which are not on which ones visit the shop the most and for what reasons. The bottom line is this. If you take care of your car it will take care of you unless it happens to be a Kia.

Answer 5

The newer models are good solid cars, however I feel that mechanically they are not what they used to be. I have a 79 Rabbit with 45,000 miles on it and it has only ever had to go in for sched. maintenance. On the other hand I have a 04 Beetle that has been in the shop once a month for the past 5 months, and atleast 10 times since i got it. I baby that car too, so it has no excuse.

Answer 6

Engines and driveline (brakes/suspension) are great. Body and panels great.
The main problem issues with VWs focus on electronics problems (Dash Cluster, Power Window Motors, Sunroofs) and paint. These new non-toxic painting system really suck and VW being a German manufacturer is stuck with them.

I like them and will hopefully buy another once my 95 dies (135kmi so far). Until then I will just keep replacing the window motors, watching the paint peel and not using the sunroof... :)

Answer 7

This is my experience with cars.

I’ve owned a Renault, Pontiac and Buick, then the VW.
I’ve driven at length a Toyota (truck and car) Honda (SUV and car) Chevy, Ford Truck (small) and Ford car.

The VW has been my most favorite vehicle, by far! If the one I’m driving ever dies or gets stolen I will go right back to VW for another car.

Answer 8

I have had 3 VW Gofs.

1987 - I drove for 180,000 miles before trading in
1995 - I drove for 175,000 miles then gave to my boyfriend who took her to 250,000+ miles
2000 - I'm still driving at 165,000 miles and saving up to replace

All my cars are manual transmission (stick shift) and therefore a bit more reliable than automatics. All those cars were driven hard, as I go many miles and tend to drive aggressively. They're great cars!

Answer 9

I only drive VWs because they have always held up well and are relatively economical. My most recent, 10 years old, was going strong until I had an altercation with a deer. Poor car, it deserved better.

Answer 10

My VW had 250,000+ miles on it about a year ago when the odometer broke and is still runs fine with the original engine and no major repair work