new VW 2.5L NAC

[Brett Dikeman]

On Jul 27, 2006, at 4:45 PM, Shawn Manny wrote:

> Long time VW owner here. Everyone seems to like to carp about VW  
> reliability
> these days.

VW currently ranks 5th worst in design defects, and 2nd worst in  
manufacturing defects for initial 2006 results, supposedly.

Given those numbers and VW's past performance over the last 6 years,  
I wouldn't recommend anything except a Hyundai to someone looking in  
that rough market segment.  #5 in least manufacturing defects and  
number TWO in least design defects.  Combine it with their warranty,  
and it's hard to go wrong, at least by the book.

   A friend bought a Sonata I year or two ago, and hasn't had a  
single problem with it.  They're kinda so-so with regards to styling  
outside in my opinion (a little too busy with bumps and flares and  
such here and there,though not terrible, and certainly better than  
the utter garbage Toyota and Honda have been turning out), but I  
looked inside and was practically blown away by how nice it looked.

   A friend's 3-4 year old Taurus looks like it was designed 10 years  
ago; it looks -hideous- from the outside, and the inside looks like  
Ford hired a 10 year old and he put the gauge cluster on wrong, and  
drew a big oval for the radio/AC controls and for just said "yep,  
sure, a tilted oval!  Looks good to us!"  It's noisy, rides somewhat  
poorly, and has been back to the shop many, many times with  
transmission problems and more.  She's had the door interior light  
switches fixed 3 times and they're broken again.

  Another friend's Civic coupe looks...well...VERY cheap interior- 
wise, though it rides very nicely.  Super buzzy when pressed,   
EVERYTHING is cheapo-injection-molded, and they couldn't have made  
the radio cheaper if they tried.


> I've had numerous VW's and all have been faithfull reliable
> companions.

Four words.  One Point Eight Turbo.   The best engine Audi/VW ever  
designed, but the worst they ever built.

What I find fascinating is that the industry average of problems per  
100 cars?  124.  That's absolutely pathetic.  Keep in mind- we're  
talking problems that are present the day the car rolls off the lot  
into your garage.

Brett