Why are newer VW's rubbish?

I've now tried a couple of newer VW's 2002 1.2 Polo (had this about 5 years ago) and I now have a 2005 1.9 Tdi Touran as a family car.

I've had problem after problem with both cars, the Polo was forever going through coil packs, clutch went after 90,000 miles, engine management light kept coming on, ABS light would also keep coming on, Temperature sensor failed so the car would not start. All this problems in about 2 years of ownership then sold it on.

Next had a 2002 Honda Civic for 3 years and nothing went wrong with it ever, my mother had the car since it was 3 years old.

We needed a bigger car so sold the Honda and bought a Touran 9 months ago…. so far, Airbag light has now come on, I can't access the cars brain to switch it off as most free software does not do it, Oil leak from engine and still can't find it, bottom radiator hose had rubbed a hole in itself, lots of rust underneath the car and now the clutch has broke, I've replaced the slave and master cylinder as I thought it was the problem but still no clutch so it's off to the garage tomorrow to get the clutch looked at a new clutch and DMF is approx £900! Not looking forward to that bill!
In the past I've got bills for front shocks and springs, new alternator and battery, new EGR, air bag light on dash, new turbo, boot would not open. the car has ony done just over 100,000 miles.
If anything else goes wrong it's going and I'm switching brands away from the VAG!

Can VW no longer make cars which don't have all these problems?

Compared to my Mk1 Golf which have never let me down and just keeps going, really easy to work on and get to parts in the engine bay, the later VW's are just a joke…..

Or is it just my luck with newer VW's, anyone else had problems or are you happy with your VAG car?
 

Wife's got a 55 plate 1.4tdi polo and it's brilliant.
It's an absolute tank, uber reliable and could probably survive world war three.
I drive a mk1 tt as a daily and it's cracking.  Yeah, it not the cheapest car to run (I had the DMF done) but I think it's well worth it.
Had a corsa as a company car a few years ago and it was so bad I petitioned for the designer to be tried as a war criminal.

Neighbour has the VW 4x4 (baby one t'ran or t'reg not sure ). Anyway was his parents from new and has poodled around at no more than 3000 rpm. Since he has owned it and driven like anyone else it has set him back over £1000 in cam sensors diagnostics and throttle body sensors. Ok now bit frustrating that these things fail all at once on a 5 year old car. Mother in law has the mk2 tt, she also had a mk1 tt both excellent. Agree overall though the older the VW the better the build quality. I think they build the Audi with a little more care but new VW is rolling the dice sometimes. None the less still ask yourself would you rather a 1980 golf gti, 1980 xr2 or 1980 Astra. I think I will keep the golf


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What has killed the cars and it doesn't matter who makes them, although some have a poorer track record than others.

Accountants who are in charge of designers/engineers.
Bean counters have destroyed the Automobile….

ie: Wait that part is made out of metal and never breaks, so let's make it out of plastic, (cheaper) since it is made out of plastic it will break, as it is in the cooling system that may destroy the engine, which is more monies to repair, then,,,,,,,we can offshore it to China….and it is even more prone to failure, and is even cheaper to make….

Bottom line is that the Stocker holders will be oh so happy about cost reduction in manufacture…..

When cars were made by CEO's that were engineers, cars were a little better made…..

Now most companies are run by CEO's with MBA's in business and or Accountants who totally have a different look at things.


Then there are the ECO-Nazi's and folks telling automakers they need zero emissions, and cars that get 200mpg by this date or that……

What was the old saying a Duckbill Platypus was an example of animals Design by Committee…. or was that a Giraffe was a Horse designed by committee.   

The Polo and Touran you quote, although new and modern compared to a 40 year old Mk1 are still old cars these days at 10+ years. You need to run a simple old banger like a Mk1 or 2 Golf or something brand new with a 3 year warranty. 'Moderns' when 5+ years old with some miles on them are just a liability with their built-down-to-a-cost mechanicals and festoons of electronics that require a main stealer with a laptop just to change the oil.

Also despite their premium image VWs rank mid table in reliability surveys, Japanese better and French worse.

Does sound like you've been unlucky and could have run a new car for the cost all the repairs you've paid out, taking a hit with depreciation but cancelled out with no repair costs.

VW is like religion, you need to believe in it to make it work…………

I reckon Brian has it right.

My dad always had Volvo's 144's, 264, 240's, 260's and then 740's. Always ran with no problems.

Mum had a 360 - ended up with electrical problems (french engine) , I had a 440. Went fine.

When he retired he bought a brand new C70 soft top. It has a new alternator every 2 years! both rear springs broke and numerous other little problems. it's currently on 46k. Ma now has an XC60 (the little 4x4) the steering lock wouldn't come off!

More electric bits more problems! Use is the other issue. I had a 59 plate Avensis. Loads of electric stuff on it! Even the steering wheel moves when you start it! I did 130k in 3hrs and sold it to my Sister. Currently on 165k. No issues to date!!

They seem to like to be used.

Had a Passat 2007 1.9tdi. The little ends went!
A Volvo V70 2007 more miles 110k. No issues.

Luck of the draw?

Go Japenese my friends!

I also have a 1998 Corolla G6 sat on the drive. It's had all new brake lines and needs new shocks and drop links for it's MOT. It's also going rusty underneath. Apart from that it's all good. Engine as sweet as a nut. 125k.

Wish I could figure it out    

Had quite a few different marques over the years, but probably more VAG stuff than the others, so maybe the law of averages says I'll have a greater amount of issues with VW's.

I think any car can be prone to problems if it's mistreated or not maintained, but when things go wrong that are down to poor design, materials  or manufacture that's a different matter.

That kind of serious issue has only ever happened on VAG's with me…

Had an Audi 80 from new, the later shaped one. They were renown for poor ventilation because of the aerodynamics and Audi coated the interior of the glass with a light reflectant material to help keep temperatures down. Mine began to wipe off when you cleaned the glass! They denied any problem and would only consider warranty work if I replaced the glass at my own cost, sent the defective panes to them for evaluation and if they found there was a problem only then would they refund me.

A 2007 Passat suffered the infamous electronic parking brake failure, on one then the other side. Left me stranded twice when it jammed on. VW refused to stand over any repairs, and it cost £450 a side to rectify myself.

I've a soft spot for VW's and like the look of a lot of their latest stuff, but still wouldn't consider one nowadays.

Probably the one type of car I've genuinely had zero difficulties with has been Mazdas, though it's only recently that they've had anything that might appeal to me.

Got a Merc now… bullet proof, but expensive to maintain, then again that's possibly why it's fault free?


 

Something else that is rubbish with newer VW is that black rubbery paint they put on all the inside plastic bits which you touch and it wears/rubs off…..

Who stupid idea was that?

As you say most of the problems seem to be related to break downs are electrical sensors failing but there seems to be alot of common problems across the VW range and not just electrical.

What's that old saying……. "They don't make them like they used to"

I'm sticking with using my Mk1 Golf as a daily as in the 23 years and 210,000 miles I've had the car it's only ever broken down twice (it still managed to get me back home!)

1st time the fuel pump relay went.. Bit of wire in the glove box so "hot wired it" and 10 minutes later I was on the road again.

2nd time the oil seal just above the oil cooler split so oil spraying out, go about 2 miles up the road before I realized as spotted the smoke and smell from the car. Topped up the oil and drove home to fix the seal.

I love driving the Golf everyday and with it being super reliable, 40 mpg, cheap insurance for me £100 a year for a normal fully comp policy what would I ever replace it with ???

My 1978 Mk1 Scirocco is just as reliable when that was my daily back in the 1990's, only problem was a faulty Pierburg carb which was swapped over to a Webber

I did have a couple of Mk2 Golf Gti which was great to drive, I think that is as new as I would go with a VW branded car..  .


Garaged called today and new Clutch and DMF for the Touran at £940 so expensive month, with the new slave and master cylinder I've already bought and fitted.  

bacardincoke said

Got a Merc now… bullet proof, but expensive to maintain, then again that's possibly why it's fault free?

Before we bought the Touran I did look at Merc estates and they just seem to rust away, the wheel arches turn into swish cheese, I read it's cheap Russian steel which is the problem, again cost cutting in Merc!

We needed a family car so estate cars sub £3500 was my budget, lots of big merc out there.

X type Jag or Saab 9.3 was what I started to look for then the wife saw a Touran and as it's her car that's what we ended up with…

 

I think the W203 C-Classes had some rust issues, but the W204's (specially the 2011-14 facelifted model) seem to be back to the old Merc quality. I've a C250 diesel at the minute, massively quick when you need it, but easy on fuel otherwise. Hasn't missed a beat but they apparently need to be serviced properly and on time though, lots can go amiss if it's skipped or not done correctly, specially as they near the 100,000 mark.

I'd both the last of the Saab 9-3's and the previous quirky shaped one that it replaced, (pre-2003?)

The older one was as solid as a rock, not a single thing needed doing to it in the 3 years I had it and it looked as good as new when I got the later shaped one. That was a gorgeous car to look at and drive, probably of all the cars I've ever owned it was the one I miss the most, but it wasn't anywhere near as well built as it's predecessor.

I'd oil leaks, failed gaskets, massive oil consumption (apparently expected on the HOT turbos!), and faulty window electrics… be warned.

 It isn't just new VW's that have problems, I bought a new car last June.
It was going to be my last new car and a retirement present to myself and I only went ahead after a lot of deliberation and the go ahead from my wife lol!

I drove out of the showroom and 10 miles up the road it broke down, an emission fault.
A mechanic came out did a re-boot and said all ok.
Well is wasn't and 4 days later it happened again, this time the dealer took it back and I got it back 10 days later, they did buy my wife and I a meal at a swanky hotel as a goodwill gesture.
In January this year the dash went blank and it needed a new one, away for another 5 days.
Last month I got a violent vibration from the front which turned out to be the front brakes binding again off to the dealer for 7 days and new Brembo calipers ,discs and pads fitted.
As you can imagine I was none to pleased and fired an email off to the manufacturer.
To be honest they have been very good in dealing with the faults and have now paid for a long weekend away in Edinburgh for my wife and I.
I am so glad I have manufacturers warranty for another 2 years.
Oh and  the car, a Range Rover Sport Dynamic.
Yes it was a lot of money and no you wouldn't expect it to go wrong like it has, but I do love it.
It is my 3rd RRS the other 2 never actually went wrong the whole time I had them.
Steve

I used t supply services to the uk car manufacturers and was advised never buy a model in the first 12 months of launch as they are still developing and don't buy the run out models before a new launch as they have 'cost engineered' everything to the minimum. This gives about a 2 year window to get a good one. Not sure how accurate this is but sort this if makes sense


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Had a Passat for 7 years and the only issue I had was tyre wear. Tyres would only last about 13 k miles. I ended up putting a bag of stones in the spare wheel and 2 bags of coal in the boot to reduce the wear which was partly due to the design. Once weighed down a bit tyre wear improved by a couple of k miles.
It was the sport model mind, so harder suspension and seats that never really softened with use.

My favourite ever car I owned was an 09 Golf R32 (MKV), most fun car I ever had, and never missed a beat. Sold that for an E46 M3, came a close second but golf still wins.