Looking for Volkswagen Jetta's German Engineering?

Question 1
Looking for Volkswagen Jetta's German Engineering?...  Hello,

I've heard Many people saying some VW's are made in Mexico and there's a lot of problems!
I'm planning on buying a VW Jetta but I don't know from what year to what year they Stop making the Mexican Versions I don't want this disease "Made in Mexico". Because I want a German car I can count on during the Canadian Winter.

Thanks in advance.

Answers
1)   German engineering ain't all it's cracked up to be. Volkswagen builds stuff in a lot of countries, and the products from Mexico aren't that great. Even Porsche and Mercedes get their parts from China. - D

2)   My aunt has a 2002 VW jetta and loves it. It was made in Germany also. It gets good gas mileage too. I'm sure if you buy one you won't have any problems. She lives in Michigan and they get a bad winter as well. - Evan1994

3)   Well most of the car is built right here in Chattanooga Tennessee, What you have heard is right though, the plant they have in Puebla Mexico makes the inline 5 cyl engine for the car and thats about it. they have only made the engines for the Mk4 and new Mk5 Jetta, if you get an Mk3 or older you will have a German engineered car. - Tuono Cane

4)   most jettas since 1993 have been made in mexico, if you want true german engeneering and build quality buy an older mercedes diesel, they last forever, nothing can kill them - agoodworker

5)   If the VIN starts with a 3 it was made somewhere else, not in Germany, If it has a W for the first letter, it's a German made VW. - AMERICA!

6)   "German engineering" is a con inside a myth.

"Engineering," get it? Not manufacturing.

The vehicle can be engineered in Germany and manufactured in Somalia w/ parts made in Burma.

And in the 21st century, what would be unique or better bout German engineering?

It's a creation of advertising.

Mercedes ranked 10th for 2011 in Consumer Reports.

BMW was downrated, too. Both for reliability issues.

Top five were Honda, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo and Ford.

Dont fall for the name-game cons.

The Cadillac Catera was a re-badged Opel.

=============

Dont buy anything w/o reading Consumer Reports, CR. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm A non-profit testing organization. Free site for basic info. Also @ libraries & bookstores.

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Honda ranks #1 in Consumer Reports for 2011. Subaru, Toyota, Volvo & Ford follow in order.

BMW and Mercedes were down-rated for reliability, with Mercedes in 10th place.

GM & Chrysler were 12th & 13th.

Vehicles were rated for performance, reliability, fuel efficiency and other factors.
. .
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704615504576172500918475430.html?mod=WSJ_article_MoreIn_AutoIndustryNews Wall St Journal.
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http://www.forbes.com/2011/04/13/mercedes-gm-chrysler-nissan-business-autos-worst-cars.html Forbes' "Worst Cars On The Road" list. - Top Source


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Question 2
Volkswagen Golf/Jetta reliability?...  I'm looking at buying a used Golf or Jetta, maybe diesel, but after doing a bit of research, it seems like all I read about VW's is negative. Everybody complains that they're constantly needing work done and parts replaced, and a lot of people say they'd never buy another VW again. This has really put me off, as it'll be my first car and I need something not only cheap and that gets good gas mileage but will also be very dependable and last a long time. What can you tell me about their overall long-term reliability and maintenance? I think I'll probably end up buying Japanese, as tempting as some VW's may be. Thanks.

Answers
1)   I have had my Jetta for 18 months and have had one bad sensor. Love the car. - jim s

2)   You can add me to one of those who bought a VW and will never buy one again. I payed too much because their prices are inflated for what they are. I paid a fortune to keep in maintained, but I didn't have enough money to fix everything (burning oil at 100K, broken $3000 sunroof frame, tape deck and A/C broken, door locks broken, rust starting, zillions of electrical glitches).

I wound up practically giving it away.

Go for a Honda Civic and you won't go wrong. - calnickel

3)   Yeah, Honda.

I duno what's temping bout VW's.

Dont buy anything w/o reading Consumer Reports, CR. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm A non-profit testing organization. Free site for basic info. Also @ libraries & bookstores.

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Honda ranks #1 in Consumer Reports for 2011. Subaru, Toyota, Volvo & Ford follow in order.

BMW and Mercedes were down-rated for reliability, with Mercedes in 10th place.

GM & Chrysler were 12th & 13th.

Vehicles were rated for performance, reliability, fuel efficiency and other factors.
. .
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704615504576172500918475430.html?mod=WSJ_article_MoreIn_AutoIndustryNews Wall St Journal.
----------------------

http://www.forbes.com/2011/04/13/mercedes-gm-chrysler-nissan-business-autos-worst-cars.html Forbes' "Worst Cars On The Road" list. - Top Source

4)   Buying a driving a VW, expecially a diesel, is more of a hobby than anything. Sold my '97 Passat TDI with 140,000 miles on it and my '01 Golf with 160,000 miles on it (my dad is still driving it at almost 190k), and now I've got 20k on my 2010 Golf TDI.

I absolutely love these cars, obviously, but then I consider myself pretty well mechanically inclined and, more importantly, willing to get out and tinker with the cars on the weekends. Never had anything major go wrong with my old ones, but it seemed like there was always a little something here and there that needed fixing.

If you're looking at used diesels, I would almost look exclusively at 2003 Golf and Jettas with Manual transmissions. The 99-03 engine was much much more reliable than the 04-06s, but the automatic trans was terrible. The automatic trans was better for 04-06, but the trans requires expensive services every 40k miles. I would also head over to http://www.tdiclub.com and find a TRUSTED tdi-only mechanic to take a look at any used diesel you're considering. While I've had pretty good luck with my cars, with improper car these cars can turn into absolute money pits. - Richard R

5)   Don't feel dejected, mate. Jettas have always been reliable. :) - Jacque M


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Question 3
What is the besy engine oil for a 2000 vw golf iv?...  I want to put in new oil into my 2000 vw golf iv and would like to know the best type.. I have used semi synthetic oil before but it runs out every 5 weeks... My car has 51000 miles on it but its old... Its a 1.6 petrol

Answers
1)   == when you put any synthetic type oil in a car engine you should stay with that SYN-oil ... It sounds to me that the best you could use in a ""tired motor"" that only has 51K and a very small engine is now the use of 30weight oil. DO NOT USE Q-state, Penzoil, or AMELTIE or any other parafin based oil .... ESSO EXXON, MOBIL, Valvoline, ( you got it ) use a good brand name oil -- you should check the ground under the car engine to see if it is leaking and if so replace the oil pan gasket ... AND .... 12 years for a VW is not old ... you just need to take care to do some maintanience and parts changing and you can stay on the road for another 12 years...be careful - XTX

2)   Always use what the owners manual tells you, eg the weight and mineral or synthetic always use what is stated in the manual. Car manufactures spend millions of dollars on what oil is best for the engines they build, some 18 year old from an auto store doesnt even know the differance between oils.
Anyway if your engine is using that much oil in 5 weeks I think its time to take it to a workshop and get it checked out, could have worn rings, value stem seals, head gasket, heaps of things could be wrong. Get a pro to check it out. - Adam Edwards

3)   It seems your current oil has too low density in high temperatures. It depends how you drive it and where you drive it, but it seems that you need something that will perform better in high temperature. I'd go for 10W40 or if you're aggressive driver, spend a lot of time in traffic jams, or live in very warm climate then I'd even go for 15W50. Generally you need to make sure that second number won't go bellow 40 (that number tell how well it performs in higher temperatures). I use Motul 300V Competition ( 15W50) for my 2.5 litre Subaru. However, for 1.6 Golf it will be a bit of an overkill. I'd go for Motul 6100 Synergie+ 10W40 which is a very, very decent oil. - Raphael G


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Question 4
How can i get the Volkswagen logo black on my Golf...?...  like this pic..
http://www.hofeleamerica.com/new/images/news/vw_golf_v_gti_front_02.jpg
both front and back logo on the trunk...
thanks

Answers
1)   take it to a paint shop in town where every you live i did and they did it for me! - Nick S

2)   Get the designed logo from any of the designer shop. Not too much difficult task. - bob warner

3)   if u want u can design i easily , designer also keep readymade logo also and if want og logo u can get from parts shop - abdulhussain k


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Question 5
cost to refine oil in liters?...  

Answers
1)   By volume, same cost as to refine in gallons or barrels. - Mike B

2)   It's amazing! I found it at http://seekitnow.info/291958/refined-oil - Royal Cieslak

3)   ITS AMAZINGIs this what you are looking for?
http://cheapay.info/448922/refine-oil - kamimura schloemann


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VW Jetta 2004 low MPG issue...HELP?

Question 1
VW Jetta 2004 low MPG issue...HELP?...  Hey Folks,

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I have a Jetta GL 2004 with around 90k on it. I;m getting really low MPG. Half the tank is gone and I'd be getting only around a 100 Miles (in the City). I had the O2 Sensor's replaced but still getting same. Any advice on how to up my MPG, any ideas what the issue could be??
Its a 2.0 Litre, 4 Cylinder, GL Jetta 2004

Answers
1)   If you've got the 2.0 8v engine, there's probably no helping it, unless there's an active check engine light or a stored trouble code.

If it's got the 1.8t motor, there may be a fault with the turbocharger. - Felix C

2)   It sounds silly, but are your tires (or tyres) properly inflated? If they're not, that can affect your mileage quite a lot.

My 2000 New Beetle (1.8 Turbo) gets about 22 mpg around town, but nearly 30 on the road. - Bryce

3)   you could have a faulty gauge, other possibilities are a blocked air filter, blocked fuel filter , faulty temperature sender, faulty injection pressure valve, faulty Mass air sensor(very common on high mileage jettas), wrong spark plugs , they changed the recommended plug which doesn't show up in auto store charts - Harley Drive

4)   Check and/or replace your air filter.

This is a commonly overlooked item and is essential to good fuel mileage.

A blocked or restricted air filter causes the engine to work harder, and allows much less air into combustion causing poor fuel mileage. Also check the air box for restrictions and/or debris that could be present.

It is possible it has never been changed. Like I said it is commonly overlooked. - nywholesale


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Question 2
What's wrong with brake lights on my 2004 VW Polo?...  Brake lights won't come on until I push hard on brake pedal all the way down. I know they should light up even with the slightest pressure on pedal. Could it be a weary sensor, or a loose tension?

Answers
1)   Your brake light switch is either going bad or out of adjustment. - nywholesale

2)   Have a look under the brake pedal, there Should be a small switch. these can sometimes move off centre or just become faulty. Hopefully a quick look should solve everything. If not the have a fiddle as they're usually adjustable

good luck.

Shane.

P.s. I don't advise removing any connectors as this may put a light on the dash! - Shane Hall

3)   VW's usually have a rather crappy telescopic brake light switch mounted above the brake pedal, which sometimes needs to be adjusted. Once it starts playing up though, keep an eye on it or just replace it now, as they aren't expensive and will only get worse. The other possibility is the switch being a pressure switch on the master cylinder, but I'm almost certain your car will have the switch on the brake pedal. If it is on the master cylinder, than make sure there is enough fluid in the reservoir, and that it's been changed since the car was new as it should be changed every 4 years at most. - Neil B

4)   Check the brake light switch. This is probably the problem, actually it can make your brake lights stay on, too - megan


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Question 3
Honda or vw??????????...  is honda or vw better???

Answers
1)   it really depends on what you are looking for. a volkswagen is usually more costly to repair and more difficult to repair yourself. hondas are fairly cheap and simple. there are a whole bunch of people that swear by each kind of car. i am a mechanic and i'd go for a honda over a vw. but then again that's just my preference. you also need to take into account creature comforts and features. - peterson

2)   VW! - Dsvfshj Hjvsdfhj

3)   VW! - Jacque M

4)   If you don't know a good independent VW mechanic, then you might consider the Honda, because VW dealers tend to be expensive.
If you want to save money in the long run, and want to keep the car over 5 years, then get the VW, because it will last almost twice as long as the Honda. - Motorhead


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Question 4
How much does a 2008 volkswagon r32 clutch cost?......?...  How much does a vw r32 clutch cost? It is a dual clutch. I just bought it certified preowned from a dealership. It feels like automatic and sport mode is slipping but not manual mode. I only had it for 3 days.

Answers
1)   take it back to the dealership and demand your money back. - Treva

2)   Take it back to the dealership where you bought it from, and they might be nice and teach you have to drive. If it's from a VW dealership then they will have tested it thoroughly, and I'm not sure you have a multi-plate clutch, either! - Neil B

3)   If you bought the car CPO, why do you care how much it costs? The answer is a lot of money, so take it back to the dealership and have it checked out and replaced if there's an issue.

The DSG is not a serviceable unit by any VW dealership besides the required fluid and filter changes every 40k. Anything more involved results in a replacement with a new transmission. - gti_4cefed4


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Question 5
What is the difference between the 2011 Jetta SEL and the 2012 GLI?...  I have been test driving a Jetta SEL and saw that the 2012 is coming out soon and it keeps mentioning the GLI and I have no clue what that means. Do they make a GLI now or what is that. Can someone explain?

Answers
1)   looks like vw has succeeded at appealing to toyota and honda buyers with their cheap new jetta's like they planned...i mean..you don't know what a gli is? it's the higher performance version of the jetta like the gti to the golf. - Dsvfshj Hjvsdfhj

2)   The 2011 comes with EMP horn. - Jacque M

3)   The GLI is the performance Jetta, much like the GTI is the performance Golf. It comes with a 2.0 turbo engine producing around 200bhp.

More details can be found here: http://www.leftlanenews.com/volkswagen-jetta-gli.html

The SEL is just your regular Jetta. - vavavoom


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Which car is better between the volkswagen passat or the toyota camry?

Question 1
Which car is better between the volkswagen passat or the toyota camry?...  
Which car has greater Value & greater on gas?

Answers
1)   Ford fusion - noanme

2)   If those are the only two choices I would pick the Camry~

Edit: You might check out consumerreports.org for a model comparison - The King of Shock and Awe

3)   i'd go with VW as its definitely more economical that the camry (i used to have one of these..) - Manas Chittal

4)   Camry will last 10 to 15 years without a problem very easily... passat not so much not only will it be a hell of a lot more expensive to fix its the more girly of the two - Oscar Valenz

5)   The Camry will have higher resale value and less likely to give you problems. VW is the King of Electrical Gremlins. ALL HAIL VW!!! - Jacque M

6)   Toyota 4 cylinders have always been a sweet running motors, going all the way to 3rc motor of the early 70's while the V6's have been somewhat trouble prone, especially the 3.0 liter version of this motor. There's a reason that Toyota developed a reputation for being reliable and cheap to run; those 4 cylinder motors can and do run a long time, its not unusual in my experience to see them run 250,000 to 300,000 miles without missing a beat. On the other hand, its extremely rare to see any VW water cooled motor run that long; usually under 200,000 is about all that they are good for (less on the turbo motors!!!).

The Toyota 4 cylinder (non turbo motors) will run on regular gasolene; Passat motors (unless non turbo and 2003 up--for non turbo motor) require premium fuel of at least 91 octane to run right. Toyota's V6 can run on regular gas in the Camry, not so in the Lexus versions of these motors.

Toyota 4 cylinder engine is smooth and gets very good milage compared to that of a VW; repair costs are generally less and parts for the most part are less expensive than VW parts (at least in the North American market). A Toyota of any type can be repaired anywhere in America, try that with your Passat, where in some states VW has only one or two dealerships for the whole state.. (ok, you're probably not driving in that state, but the point is that Toyota is everywhere here, VW isn't).

If comfort, low maintanance costs are your goal, then the Toyota is your choice by far. The VW Passat is your choice if you're a driver; its designed to run all day at 70+ mph with far sharper handling and road feel than the Camry. But, the Camry is getting larger with each generation model update and is now about the size of some full sized cars of just a few years ago. I say this because in some cases this maybe a concern for you, parking in any majour city in the US is hard enough, the bigger it is, the harder it is to park.

The resale value is a no brainer; the Toyota wins by a country mile. If you get a good discount on the Camry and buy it early enough in the model year, you can drive it for almost a year and loose very little in the way of depreciation. In some cases, a used Toyota can cost about the same amount as a new one!

I have no axe to grind here; I spent many years working with VW, but in my consulting practice, I take a numbers or value approach to clients and the Camry beats the VW in the economic areas of car ownership easily. - a car nut


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Question 2
I am going to buy a Volkswagen Jetta, is there any year that I should avoid buying?...  I plan to buy a Volkswagen Jetta this summer, Diesel and standard. I have heard they are very reliable and great on fuel. I am going to buy it used and I would like to buy one no older than a '01. I would like to know if there is a year that has had a lot of issues that I should avoid. Also any other tips you would like to give for buying a used Jetta would be appreciated.

Answers
1)   Avoid all of them. Not reliable at all especially used. Save yourself the trouble and money and do not buy one. - PuckStopper1

2)   The 99.5 to 03 diesel is the best for economy. They will get mid 50's to upper 60's pretty easily with a manual tranny. They are known for reliability and are pretty simple to work on. The only issues are making sure the timing belt is replaced on schedule and the intake manifold needs cleaned periodically because of soot build up. Do not baby these cars, drive them somewhat aggressively and you will not get the soot build up. - jim s

3)   Stay away from 02-03, they had several issues not that they were hard or expensive to fix just annoying. Id go for a 05 TDi. - Xnebia

4)   While Ford is the king of recalls, VW is the king of electrical gremlins. Avoid. - Jacque M

5)   They require a lot of up keep and maintenance and tooling. - Eric


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Question 3
Does a manual shift VW Golf TDI get better mpg than an automatic trans?...  It's boast great mileage, but is that with manual trans only?

Answers
1)   yes -

manual transmissions almost always get better mileage

all the best - tom4bucs

2)   Manual transmissions typically get more mpg but a vw golf regardless of transmission type will get great mileage - Miss D

3)   VW golf TDI already gets great mpg and manual makes it better because you can shift it at lower rpms then what a automatic would go to - Qwerty

4)   depends on how you drive it but yes most manuals will be better by about 4-10 mpg - flipscadi

5)   Years ago manuals were the thriftiest.
But now , the difference is so slight, its not discernable.
Case in point; my '06 GTI with manual trans was estimated by EPA at 31 MPG. With the DSG it was 32 MPG.
That really surprised me at the time. But now its normal for a auto trans to best a manual.
However, as others have mentioned, it really depends on how heavy your right foot is..... - fenton


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Question 4
2011 Jetta transmission whine?...  recently purchased a new 2011 Volkswagen jetta and ive noticed soem weird things and noises. First the transmission makes a high pitched huming noise when accelerating and sometimes the humming pulsates as u speed up its really annoying and ive allready took the care in once they said nothing was wrong and sometimes it shifts funny idk but the noise really bothers me it sounds electrical? only has 500 miles on it!

Answers
1)   If it was an older car the first thing to suspect would be the differential. Get a second opinion from an independent garage. - GibsonEssGee

2)   Billy, relax dont worry about it.
If there is really anything amiss with the trans, your warranty will cover it for many , many years of driving.
Our '05 Jetta with 100,000 + superb miles on it never once let us down.
Enjoy your new Jetta.... - fenton

3)   Relax, you probably just need to break it in. - Karlem bangayan Seventhteen


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Question 5
Whats great about the volkswagen passat?...  How much would a down payment be at 19 with 0 credit?

Answers
1)   There is nothing great about them. If you want a car then it is a car but they are boring, bland rubbish. If you have a steady income then finance shouldn't be a problem. You wouldn't have to put down that much, it just depends where you buy it from but I would thing a few hundred. - Sasquatch

2)   Stay the hell away from this or the camry both are female cars are you gay? Then I would understand why your choosing between the two - Oscar Valenz

3)   Let's see. Lots of room, quiet, handles well brakes well, build quality is superior, acceleration is very good. Superior creature comforts, and very safe.

Down payment is most always 10-15% of the selling price. However, you are not going to get ANY financing on your own without a co-signer.

Also, to one poster- since when are cars assigned to gender? - djaca70


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Is a 1963 vw baja pickup truck is it rare?

Question 1
Is a 1963 vw baja pickup truck is it rare?...  I have only seen one and its mine. It looks like a baja bug except ot has a flat bed. I was wondering how many where made and what it is worth?

Answers
1)   I looked on ebay and they only have 1 1980 vw pick up....I never heard of them until now....
I would guess its rare... - Harry

2)   Check here there may be some info available from the forums section. - Gerry

3)   Pictures tell all. The only air cooled pickup was the Type II, based on the Type II bus. Then came the Transporter aka the Doka, and then there is the Doka II, Doka Syncro, and there is one that is based off the Eurovan. Of course there was the Rabbit aka Caddy too.

What you got is a Sawzall edition. Rare yes, because some previous owner decided to have at it. - djaca70

4)   You have a modified bug, nothing special about it. - hotvw1914cc

5)   thats called a hack job that is not factory nor is it rare or worth any more money because of it. check this thread out on the samba. you baja pick-up would belong in this category

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=149769 - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)


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Question 2
how many miles to the gallon dose a volkswagen beetle turbo diesel 2002 get?...  

Answers
1)   For some reason the figure 47.9 Miles to the Gallon was in my head when I saw this question so I think It is that, which is the same as a VW Golf GTI I think anyway. - Marcus

2)   35 city, 44 hwy for a manual transmission; 29 city and 39 hwy for an automatic transmission (EPA estimates under the new rules) - Michael

3)   40 or more, pretty much guaranteed....it's second only to Prius and Civic HX... - jldude

4)   Michael's EPA numbers are generally considered low for these cars. I put nearly 60,000 on my '01 Golf Manual (same engine, trans, frame, basically the same car with different body) and averaged 47.2mpg over the entire 60k miles (track every fuel up on fuelly.com) with highway trips as high as 57mpg. Automatics can expect at least 10% less mileage. - Richard R


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Question 3
Can I put a TDI engine in a normally aspirated 2001 Jetta?...  Who could do that? How much would it cost?

Answers
1)   Not without rebuilding most of the car. The fuel tank, wiring harness, computer, exhaust, and clutch are different, if it's automatic, the programming is different. There's a lot more to it than an engine, it would cost way more than that car is worth, even if you had the engine. - D

2)   Not for less $ than it takes to just trade it for one... - jldude

3)   There's a saying in the automotive world: Don't build what you can buy.

It will be much cheaper, easier and more reliable to just trade your current Jetta in on a TDI model. - Chris

4)   Engine swapping happens everyday, you just don't here about it alot. Mainly done with high performance engines. People have dropped 6L durmax diesels into mustangs for a 202mph diesel performance car. But it can be done on this level. The big question right now is what type transmission is in the car??? Some 5spd where used on both the gas and the diesel models. You would have to Reference the transmission chart in the Bentley Manual. The simplest, easiest way of doing this (assuming the Transmission can be used) is too used a ALH crate engine with the MECHANICAL fuel pump (the old school pumps that does not require a ecm). These are available for old cars that received upgraded motor. At the min you would need a ALH Crate engine, MECHANICAL Fuel Pump, ALH Exhaust Down pipe, Glow Plug Relay &harness, manual boost Controller for turbo and a few misc things. - Eric


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Question 4
Whats a good name for a volkswagen beetle?...  
Oh and it's silver with a sunroof -

Answers
1)   broke and busted lol have fun paying for repairs - nick

2)   what colour is it? i love those cars! they're so cute!! I named my mums car Delilah haha what about that? :) - freshasadaisy95

3)   herbie - jim

4)   El Terible. - Jacque M


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Question 5
Volkswagen Jetta safety and gas mileage?...  I'm going to buy a new car soon. I really like the body styling of the Mk2 and Mk3 Volkswagen Jetta. I was wondering if these are safe cars and what sort of gas mileage do they get? I am specifically looking for 5 speed manual, if that makes a difference. Thanks.

Answers
1)   The good: The cabin tech interface in the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SEL looks good and is easy to use. The Bluetooth phone system offers dial by name through voice command. Fuel economy comes in at the high 20s.

The bad: The manual transmission only has five gears, and the engine feels short of the claimed 170 horsepower. The navigation system lacks advanced features.

The bottom line: The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SEL makes for decent, if unexciting, transportation and includes a good suite of cabin electronics.

Volkswagen says the petrol version will use 5.3 litres/100km combined and emit 123g/km CO2, while the BlueMotion diesel model will use as little as 4.2 litres/100km and emit 109g/km.

Have you driven the latest Subaru OUTBACK ?
Give that a go before buying.

Cheers from DOWNUNDER - Gamerpc

2)   Don't go for a MKII or MKIII, go for the MKIV or MKV. MKIVs were still "compacts", and were great on gas, and pretty nice to look at too, especially GLI, but I honestly believe the MKV's quality trumps their pros whatever they may have been...just don't go for MKVI unless you like cheap little underpowered crackerboxes. Gas mileage...well depends which model...base Jetta, at least in the US, isn't anything special...I barely squeezed 31mpg out of mine, but safety is ridiculous, I think it was VW's primary focus as the car weighs over 3,200lbs.(compact, yeah right). Get yourself a MKIV GTI and I honestly think you'll be happiest, they come with a 5spd manual, turbo 1.8L, and they're like 2800lbs. Plus you can get a NICE pair of 12" subs in the back to boom down the street in! - jldude

3)   They are very safe. - Jacque M


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Old VW Beetle as an everyday car?

Question 1
Old VW Beetle as an everyday car?...  So lets say you were looking for a first car and you came across a 78 VW beetle. In was in good condition and was about £1000. It's near to where you live, there's no rust on it, why not go for it?
See this is what I ask myself when i see a car like that. I would love an old beetle, but im worried that if i got one, the first winter it saw, it would rust out and die. Surely though, if i kept it in good running order (which if you knew me personally, you know i would.) And put a cover over it at night (on my driveway) it would be ok to use as an everyday car?
I can't stress enough, i am very proud of the cars that my family have owned over the years. The first sign of rust it would be straight to the body shop. .
Ok, if not a beetle, what about a Morris Minor 1000 or Ford Escort MK1 or MK2?

Answers
1)   I use a 76 camper as my daily runner. just keep the oil topped up.

For more info google VZI, biggest vw forums in europe. there's loads of tips on there. - M1

2)   They are under powered, poor braking and bad handling unsafe cars. The snow on top of the car will not cause the rust, it is the snow that gets packed under the car that will rust it. There is a reason there are not a lot of these cars left. I would suggest something else if you want a daily driver - jim s

3)   As an ex 3 time Beetle owner back in the days when they were current models i would not touch one with a bargepole today. Nostalgia is fine but common sense is better. By today's standards they are crude and basic in the extreme, the performance is woeful and the handling and braking the same. The only real safety measures are the seat belt. By today's standards they are not even economical. Even when they were being sold new they were an old design and they only sold the numbers they did as they were reputed to be the first real 100,000 mile car (when they came out the average car was getting distinctly 'tired' once it got past 65k.) but it was all a bit of a con really, they were only so long lasting and 'unburstable' because the engine was in such a low state of tune it was hard to abuse them. You would have to be a masochist to want one as a daily driver. - Fairdo4all

4)   Classics make great first cars. They're a bit cheaper to insure and much cooler than a boring Corsa.
Plenty of people still use old Bugs as everyday cars but do understand it's an old car so don't expect 2011 levels of performance, braking, cornering etc, and be prepared to get into car mechanics or it'll cost a fortune going into the garage every other week for some minor repair.

There's a lot of fun in owning a classic car, and a VW is a good choice. Google for VW owners clubs and internet forums for loads of good advice.
You'll never be alone with a Bug! - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

5)   classic cars means potential for rust. Just check the bodywork before you get it, and make sure you haven't bought one from an owner who lives near a beach - the salt air WILL cause issues in the longrun.
however, I used to have a VW beetle as my daily run around, and it was great. They do say that VWs are very very reliable. Just check the water and oil regularly
(Come to think of it, I can't remember if the VW beetle has water in it... aren't they usually air cooled :) :) ) - chris surridge

6)   The mk1 and mk2.....wait, ALL the escort's were rusting heaps of junk by any standards, so I'd skip them for sure. The Morris holds a little spot in my heart, but who wants a car that suffers from woodworm and wet rot? While the beetle has it's quirks, and no it's not a modern "super mini" or something, it's a good first car being easy to work on, easy to upgrade all round later, and will probably always be collectable so you won't lose money on it!

Learn how an engine works, get yourself a beginner tool kit if you don't already have one, and enjoy ;) - Neil B

7)   The Beetle is total rubbish and why any one would aspire to own one is beyond me. I foolishly have a 1981 Saab 99 Turbo and that is bad enough despite it being streets ahead of a Beetle. Spend a grand on a Polo or a Golf and do yourself one enormous favour. - L G

8)   First sign of rust is usually too late,as much as I like these most have terminal tin worm,I think that the only sheet metal on these that I never had to replace was the roof!
and as for winter I really laugh at that,they had for interior heaters a collector/flap doodad on the exhaust manifolds that was supposed to work,mostly it did not,cold car for winter.
There's nothing wrong with old cars,in theory,out of your picks the MK 2 would be safest bet,but you really have to know your stuff or all you'll buy is a mobile bag of rust,and a grand will only buy someone else's trouble,cars you're talking about would be 4k upwards for good,not perfect,but good. - Q


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Question 2
74 vw beetle alternator problems?...  I have a 74 beetle that I have put two new (re manufactured) alternators and a regulator on it. The alternator still is only putting out 12.50 volts and when I disconnect the battery terminal it dies. Do you think i got another bad alternator or is something else going on??

Answers
1)   Your alternators aren't pitting out any voltage. That's just the battery voltage you're measuring.
You're probably not getting 12 volts to the exciter lead on the alternator. I'm not sure about 74s, but some Beetles got that voltage from the idiot light circuit. If the light burnt out, the alternator didn't run. - Nomadd

2)   It's AMAZING Is this what you are looking for? http://styleasy.info/416839/battery-terminal - kozusko jans

3)   What about the regulator? It is what determines your output voltage. If it is the old-style mechanical , it will need to be adjusted.

Never disconnect either battery terminal when the engine is running. This will cause the alternator to turn full on, ruining the alternator and possibly blowing out light bulbs and electronic stuff. - Kirk

4)   Kirk is right.
Never take the battery terminal off a running car, or the alternator will quickly fry.
The only other thing I can think of worth mentioning is that if the dash light for the alternator is burned out, then the alternator will not work, because the alternator rotor gets its current to become magnetized, though this bulb. Generators have permanent magnets, but alternators don't, so need input current in order to produce output that is greater than the input.

Have the alternators and regulators tested outside the car. Most places like Autozone do this for free. Have the new one tested before installation if you are not sure. - Motorhead

5)   Check all connections to the battery. The grounds to the engine/chasis and all the power ones too.

Yours sounds like a bad main ground.


ASE Cert Auto Tech, since 1978, 2003 GLI

had to do both my A2 16v GTI's when i got the same thing happening - sci


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Question 3
why have i water and oil in my filter on my vw polo?...  i have found which looks like muddy water and oil in my air filter can anyone tell me what causes this
on a vw polo N reg
the car has been sitting for a while, there is no water in my oil. no leaks under car. the muddy water is in the small beather pipe which leads to the air filter. They is only oil in with the air filter its self. If any understands what am talking about can you please telling me what maybe causing this regards
also there is a very loud knock noise in block

Answers
1)   Sounds like 2 problems there. One, you possibly have water in your oil. That could be a blown head gasket. Two, you have the water/oil mixture on your air filter. This might be a problem with your PCV system.

Have a trustworthy local mechanic look at it. - rotus

2)   u have a blown head gasket r u losing antifreeze but c no puddles? - rodman

3)   ok, the oil and water mixture in the air cleaner box can be a combination of condensation and a faulty pcv system. the pcv ( positive crankcase ventilation) system is in place to suck excess pressure fron the inside of the rocker cover these normally come up through the pcv valve through a pipe and back into the air box, if the breather element is blocked or soaked with oil it will then drip into the air box, a faulty pcv system will also cause seals to start to leak or seep a bit over time. the condensation may be related if you only normally use the car for short journeys and it does not get hot enough to evaporate the water. the second issue of the loud knock could be anything from a main bearing gone bad all the way to a small end bearing on the bottom of the piston wearing. best bet there is to get it to a mechanic and get them to look it over. dont be suprised if they tell you its time for a new engine though. it is quite common on the older vw's - Ideal Engines

4)   The brown muddy stuff you describe (mayonnaise) is emulsified oil - oil which is trying to mix with water. My guess would be that you do a lot of short journeys in your vehicle as this is a classic cause of mayonnaise in the engine it is caused through condensation the engine never really gets hot enough. The loud noise in the block sounds a little more serious! I would guess big ends and possibly head gasket has gone which is causing the oil in water syndrome. Good luck but I think you got a basket case without some serious work. Cheers, Gizz. - Gizzard Puke

5)   Years ago I had an old VW Passat with the same problem. The breather pipe from the rocker cover was routed to the air intake before the air filter instead of being on the inlet manifold side of it. An obvious design fault in my humble opinion and different to other makes. This meant that oil and water (condensation) vapour got sucked straight into the air filter instead of being burnt off in the engine. The result was the symptoms you describe, a very mucky air filter. Might be the same with yours. I do not know of any easy legal way to improve it.
A loud knocking noise is a bad sign though. If there is oil in the sump and the oil pressure is adequate then get someone who knows what they are doing to pass an opinion on it to find out if it is worth repairing.
Best of luck with it, Bob. - Southpaw


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Question 4
Have Modern Volkswagen's Become Just As Unreliable As Any Other Car?...  At one time there were a few makes of car, such as VWs and Audis that could be relied upon to cover 150-200k miles+ without too much trouble (with regular servicing).

After talking to a mechanic and researching on the internet it seems that modern VWs have just as many inherent problems as any other car. Current VW models seem to be engineered to survive just to the end of the manufactures warranty but not much longer before major problems start to occur. Diesel models for example seem to prone to fuel pump and injector problems and dual mass flywheel failures.

The reason for the question is that I'm looking to by a Golf diesel which I intend to keep for as long as possible. I would like to know; should I buy as new as possible with as low mileage as possible or, would it be better, as some people are recommending, to go for a model from the mid 90's. ?

What are your opinions ? (thanks)

Answers
1)   I'm also a mechanic and I'll have to sadly say that it's not quite how bad you think it is, it might be worse. First a lot of cars are actually getting MORE reliable. Ford, for example, was just named the number 4 automaker by JD Power & Associates for the quality of their vehicles. The only cars in front of them are Porsche, Acura, Lexus, and Mercedes. That makes Ford the number ONE non-luxury brand in the world according to this list. And as a mechanic, I can vouch for that, repairs for Fords have been going drastically down the past few years. The only vehicles I still see a lot of problems with are 2010 and before Super Duty Diesels, and ironically that isn't Ford's fault, but Navistar (aka International Harvester) who made the Diesel engines for Fords until this year. This year's Eco-Boost 6.7L is engineered and built by Ford, finally, and had a defect-free launch, which is surprising for a whole new engine.

VW, on the other hand, has actually been going the other way. I haven't noticed a drastic increase in mechanical break-downs such as problems with engines or transmissions, but they have A LOT of electrical issues for some reason. That's why I would make sure to point that out to anyone interested in VW, that in the past 10 years or so they've been plagued with a lot of electrical issues. But good thing is their engines and transmissions still seem to hold up and those are the most important parts... - Kenneth

2)   the 90s to 05 would be a bad time to get a vw thats where most problems come from vw work out out in 2006 your better off getting a 2011 vw golf tdi and my sister has 2010 vw golf tdi and she put 50,000 miles on it and she has no problems and she gets 50 mpg. - James

3)   The Jetta is a very good car. - Jacque M

4)   Not sure where you're getting your data, but Audi and VW have been below average performers for decades. - Jay S


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Question 5
What are the sports car models of volkswagons?...  I dont know alot about them and i hear you can make them pretty quick, so whats the sport version of like the. Jetta, and hatchback. Thx for help. And which years the best for modding and how to improve it

Answers
1)   In the US, there are really only two worth mentioning. the Jetta GLI and the Golf GTI. Both have the same engine. Parts and modifications are readily available. A simple software flash can give you another 50HP in both cars. More extensive mods such as replacing turbos and such can give you up to 300HP and remain "streetable". There are MKV GTI's running into the 11's but they are HIGHLY modified. - Louis G

2)   What Loius said is completely true and spot on his facts. But he left out one sport car and that is the Bug turbo... Its pretty much a Sport Version of the bug with a turbo in it and it has a automatic spoiler that comes out when you are going over 60 mph. - Bart

3)   Some of the older models are wonderful as well, once you go A! chassis you never go back, I have owned 3 different A1 body cars.

A 79 golf, an 82 cabby, and an 83 rocco wolfie.
All of which are about as safe as a tin can strapped to a rocket, but good god they weigh about as much as one as well :D - Brandon

4)   Old Corrado, old and new scirrocco, new vw phaeton has some very quick models, and of course there's the Bugatti Veyron ;) - Neil B


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