Simviation Forums

My Volkswagen GTI: Lemon in the Making

I bought a used 2001 Volkswagen GTI about 1-1/2 years ago and I soon learned what a mistake that was. I haven't had any major problems (yet) but the list of things already require over 2,000 USD to repair. This isn't something I expected on a car that is only 3 years old. The list thus far is as follows:

1. Pops out of second gear which means synch damage.

2. Grinds into 3rd occasionally.

3. Air bag light went on several months ago.

4. Requires a new gear linkage.

5. Currently, the MIL light lit up again.

6. Glove box hinge broke. I hardly use it but it's also made of plastic.

7. Center console hinge broke. Same as number 6.

8. Latch switch broke which causes problems with the the anti-theft device, lights-on buzzer, and keys-on-the-ignition buzzer. Parts alone is $350.00.

9. Battery died after two weeks. Dealer payed the $275.00. Seems rather high.

My biggest concern is the transmission problems which might cost big bucks to fix.

I wouldn't mind if this car was at least six years old but for a car that looks great on the outside it shouldn't alrady have so many things break. This thing has only 28,000 miles on it. After reading other stories about VWs I am actually lucky and some folks even had their VWs seriously break down with only 2,000 miles and as is typical with VW, parts take weeks to arrive and they drag their feet on acknowledging POOR QUALITY CONTROL. This car won't make 10 years.

My conclusion: if you're in the market for a new or used car, stay away from VWs unless you want to spend several thousand dollars a year fixing things that should only happen on a car twice its age.

Good riddance to Volkswagen!

Thanks for reading.

Cheers,

Gus

Footnote: I forgot to mention that even with a perfect driving record insurance for this metal box is astronomical. Add to this my monthly payments with the above VWisms and my monthly costs surpass what I expected.

Funny. My parents have been driving VW's for years with no major problems in the last four they've owned.

If you have all these problems then it might explain why the previous owner wanted to sell it. And I shouldn't think he treated it too well.

I had a 10 year old VW Polo which had over 150,000 miles on the clock ...... and  only gave me the problems you would expect from an older car.

You probably got a dud there ....... being  GTI its probably been hammered by the previous owner.

Popping out of gear and grinding into 3rd could just be the linkage and hopefully not the syncro... who needs syncro though .....  ;)
If there's  transmission problems then its been hammered....  most VW's are only just run in at 50,000 miles.

As for the other problems ....... minor irritations which shouldn't be too difficult to cure.

Go for another Vdub with a KNOWN service history and I don't think you'll be dissappointed.

cheers
eno

minor tip: don't get a second hand GTI or any other high performance version of ANY make... as these have been hammered

minor tip: don't get a second hand GTI or any other high performance version of ANY make... as these have been hammered

If you're looking to get a used high performance car, make sure its a classic. If the price is too low, something is wrong.

My Ex had a VW Jetta that was a money sink.

Seems that German auto manufacturing is slipping down the reliability slope lately. I have a friend with a year old 5 series BMW that has been in the shop longer than I think its been on the road, though not to slam german cars, I have another friend with an '01 M3 that has been flawless so far.

As years pass, and cars become more electronic, more components face breakdown.

Probably why Im partial to Nissan as I have never had a bad problem with them (Maximas) and my 2000 Maxima has only had one problem and that being the service engine light coming on repeatedly because the dealer couldnt program the ECU(I think thats what it was called) correctly and my last Maxima went approx 375,000 (speedo cable broke at 325,000) and that car I would have trusted to drive around North America over and over again, until I wrecked it. Never gave me a problem, and only replace the clutch once.

As years pass, and cars become more electronic, more components face breakdown.

Bingo.


Btw: Nissans rule! (1990 Micra)

Bingo.


Btw: Nissans rule! (1990 Micra)

Nope ....... Nissans RUST

Try to tell that to our Micra.

We've bought it right after the wall came down and it hasn't let us down ever since.

Nope ....... Nissans RUST

No, Hondas/Acuras rust. I had not a spot of rust on a 1989 Maxima when I wrecked it in 2000 and it had close to 400000 miles on it.

Now, I had a 1995 Acura (Honda) Legend that was a freaking rust bucket after 3 and a half years plus that car had more problems than I could shake a stick at.

I have nothing but LOVE for Nissan