burlapp car

Test driving an old classic

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Almost….

I am driving new Beetles this week, coupe and convertible. And will report on them soon.
Go ahead if you have any questions…

Conversation 11 comments

  2. Pay close attention to the rubberized material around the door handles. It will peel off about a year later.

    Notice how the window goes up and down when you hit the button? After about six months the regulator will fail about yearly after that. This will cost you a ton of money.

    Is the check engine light on? Well if it isn’t, just wait a bit. It will come on many, many times.

    Catalytic converter functioning properly? Wait five years, it will fail.

    That stereo sounds great doesn’t it? Yeah, you will go through two head units in about 4 years.

    That vast expanse of plastic in front of you looks stupid doesn’t it? It will also sound stupid in cold weather where it will creak and rattle.

    That cool spoiler on the turbo model that goes up and down will break.

    My best friend had a Beetle for six years. It is HANDS DOWN the worst vehicle that she, or I, have ever encountered.

    I will go on to say that FOUR VW products have been LEMONED where I work.

  3. They sure are cute, but if you are considering one, remember that VW scored second to last in JD Powers reliability survey. Also only 42% of VW ownners said they would buy another one. If you would like some interesting reading, look up myvwlemon.com online and read some scary horror stories about the VW ownership experience. If you still want to own one after that, don’t say you weren’t warned. On a positive note, not all of them are bad. Those are owned by the people who swear by (not at) Volkswagen. You might get lucky and get a good one. You might have guessed that I am a pissed off former VW owner, who’s mission is to steer anyone I can from buying one.
    Vince, I hope you enjoy your time in the Beetle, just be glad you don’t have to keep it.

  5. If you REALLY want to test a VW, hold onto it for about a year or two and then give us your impressions of the dealer experience.

  6. One of my good friends has a 2007 Jetta with the 2.5. It has been nothing but a headache for the entire time she has owned it.

    Honestly, when it gets out of the shop from being fixed, something else that isn’t even related breaks.

    “Anonymous said…
    If you REALLY want to test a VW, hold onto it for about a year or two and then give us your impressions of the dealer experience.”

    Confirmed.

    Lindsay VW of Sterling and Fairfax VW are horrible, both sales and service.

    “Carl said…
    This is why I didn’t get a GTI, Honda owners find this type of stuff inexcusable.”

    Exactly.

  7. “Lindsay VW of Sterling and Fairfax VW are horrible, both sales and service.”

    Cannot be any worse than Rosenthal. lol.

  8. I owned a 2004 Jetta. It was absolutely terrible. I’ve been driving for over 30 years and it is hands down the worst vehicle I have ever owned out of about 18 vehicles. Aside from how it drove, it was worse than the 1985 Dodge Aries I had as a company vehicle. I hated that vehicle so much I now despise any Mopar product now.

    One VW was enough for me to learn my lesson.

  9. " Anonymous said…

    "Lindsay VW of Sterling and Fairfax VW are horrible, both sales and service."

    Cannot be any worse than Rosenthal. lol."

    Wow, forgot about them. So that is pretty much every VW dealer in the Northern Virginia area.

  11. Just today I was behind a newer Jetta 2.5 (NOT DIESEL!) and it was burning oil every time it stepped off of the brake and accelerated. I am not just talking about a little puff either. It continued when he let off of the gas and coasted at a slow speed. I would be embarassed to drive a vehicle so new that was burning oil like that.

    I am not suprised to see so many people complaining about the VW dealer experience.

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