LAC! VW gti 20th aniv.

[Robert M]

> > I guess it would be unreasonable to expect them to be able to design a
> > seal system to keep water out.  Besides, who ever would have thought 
>that
> > location would get wet?

>Well, the e-brake cables on my 83&85 CGT's are both exposed... bare
>cable under the car.  If you don't wash the salt off the bottom of the
>car in the winter, they're gonna rust out and stick.  Sure, they could
>seal them like say... the handbrake cables on a bicycle.

   These cables did have seals, which failed.   Poor material choice?  Poor 
testing?  Cost reduction?   Doesn't matter, since I'm not happy with it.

 > > > ~120k Alternator needs new.
> > >
> > >Sounds about right.
> >
> >     The alternator in my last 4kq was original; 210k.  The one in my 
>Jetta
> > finally needed new at ~185k/14 years.   It's not uncommon to find a 
>Miata
> > with 200k+ on the original alternator.
>
... but I didn't say "sounds about right for every
>car made" did I?

     OK, so I can expect my Denso alternator not to fail early but I have to 
accept that from the Bosch unit?   That makes sense.

>
> > >
> > >Hope she's had the timing belt changed every 60,000 miles!
> >
> >    Don't even get me started on that.   I don't find these
> > maintenance/failure intervals acceptable at all.  Don't let me stop 
>*you*
> > though.
>
>Yeah sure... why change something as important as the timing belt?
>Especially on say, my 85 CGT where if it snaps, the pistons will pound
>the valves in to oblivion and I'll have to spend a couple grand
>instead of the $50 it would have cost to install a new belt.

     I didn't say we didn't change it, only that an $800 timing belt job 
every 60k is ridiculous.  VW apparently agreed, since the new cars have 
revised parts good for 80k.   If you can change a TDI timing belt for $50 
you should go into business doing it; that's one job I happily farmed out.

>
>  It's not that these components can't be made to last; VW are
> > choosing lower priced options to keep thier costs down and maximize 
>profit.
> >   In my case at least, this has come at the cost of owner satisfaction.
> > Which is more expensive in the long run?
>
>Ahh, so you're one of those people.  Everything "sucks" these days,
>right?  Refridgerators don't last as long as they "used to", vacuum
>cleaners don't, etc...  I know the type.

   You surely seem to *think* you know a lot.   It's about value.  VW 
products don't offer the same level of value that they did in the A1/A2 era. 
  And refrigerators don't last as long as they used to- they're made more 
cheaply these days in the hunt for increased corporate profits.  Just like 
Volkswagens.

> > Seems like the real mechanical bits are still solid, but the ancillary 
>stuff
> > is going downhill to the detriment of the entire package.
>
>Uh, welcome to the world of VAG my friend.

   No, *goodbye* to the world of VAG, which was the point of my original 
post.  You can accept these failures if you choose; I'll seek better value 
for my money.   This is from Consumer Reports' list of cars with below 
average reliability according to the 2004 survey:

Audi:
A4 (4-cyl.) ‘98-00, ‘02, A4 (V6) ‘97-00,
‘02-03; A6/Avant ’99, A6 Allroad ’01, ’03; A6 3.0 ’98, ’02; A6 ’00; TT 
‘01-02

Volkswagen: Cabrio ’99, ‘01-02; EuroVan ’03; Golf ‘97-03; Jetta ‘97-03; New 
Beetle ‘98-04; Passat (4-cyl.) ‘98-99, ‘01-02; Passat (V6) ’97, ‘99-01, ’04; 
Passat (AWD) ‘00-01, ’04; Passat W8 ’03; Touareg ‘04

Mazda: B-Series (4WD) ’97, ‘01-02; ’04;
MPV ‘03-04; RX-8 ’04; Tribute ’01; Mazda6 ‘03-04

Honda: Passport ‘97-99

Toyota:

Acura:

   According to JD Power, the 00-03 Golf has below average reliability 
ratings in the long term.  A4 is slightly better.  The last gen Integra was 
top-rated, though the RSX fell off a bit in '03.


You -do- realize that most
>of the things you complained about VW / Audi didn't even manufacture,
>right?  I don't -think- VAG owns Bosch (alternators), Recarro
>(seats... if they're still making VW / Audi seats that is), and
>whoever made the battery and sensors you had to replace, etc... so
>maybe you're complaining about the wrong company.

      As another lister pointed out already, VAG wrote the part spec, chose 
the vendors, chose the parts, accepted and installed them.  By your logic 
Ford ought not be held responsible for the poor suspension castings that 
have grounded every single Ford GT.  Isn't that a little naïve?

   Listen- I love the VW driving experience, the 1.8t is a super motor, and 
the TDI is a cool car which is largely responsible for changing the american 
perception of diesels in cars.  Nonetheless,  I'll be damned if I'm going to 
put up with cheap ass parts (and exorbitant dealer prices) sidelining my 
daily driver and meekly accept it as the cost of admission.  You want to, go 
ahead, but don't berate me for moving on nor voicing my dissatisfaction.

Robert