Reliability

[Guest212]

While i wouldn't consider VW one of the more reliable brands around at this point in time I reckon they will get there with it and be near the top in the near future.

They've set themselves the goal of being the european Toyota and so far, everything they've done in the past 8 years has been furthering their development towards this goal. They're now making relatively cheap cars which appeal to everyone and are a whole level up in terms of refinement and build, not to mention the VW badge has a history and story behind it which gives the car a certain character - even if its a boring turd.

I don't think they will quite be able to do it though. Not in Australia at least.

[Maverick]

While i wouldn't consider VW one of the more reliable brands around at this point in time I reckon they will get there with it and be near the top in the near future.

They already are there if you take into account the extra features that they have and exclude these from the survey. And remove the people who can't figure out how to drive and operate them and whom would be better suited to driving an appliance that just has an on and off button.

They've set themselves the goal of being the european Toyota and so far, everything they've done in the past 8 years has been furthering their development towards this goal.

VW have never said that they want to be that, they plan to be the worlds number 1 car manufacturer and they are well on the way.

They're now making relatively cheap cars which appeal to everyone and are a whole level up in terms of refinement and build,

They're making cars that cover all requirements and cover them well, the Tiguan has knocked the Rav4 off the podium as the top selling SUV in the EU.

not to mention the VW badge has a history and story behind it which gives the car a certain character - even if its a boring turd.

As opposed to what a Corolla or Getz? If you find the Golf a boring turd I'd hate to think what you consider the Corolla or Getz as

I don't think they will quite be able to do it though. Not in Australia at least.

Why would they want to be known as a company that builds ultra reliable boring cars with not many features

[gregozedobe]

And yet Skoda (with the same mechanicals as VWs) usually finish much higher up the list in the J D Power surveys than VW and Audi, weird ?

[Transporter]

And yet Skoda (with the same mechanicals as VWs) usually finish much higher up the list in the J D Power surveys than VW and Audi, weird ?

Not to me.
Quality control depends on people who work in the factory and their motivation to make sure that car which leaves the factory is as faultless as possible.
Now where is Skoda made? (it should be Czech republic at least for now)
Where are VW cars made? I mean the majority of them since they would be mainly cars responsible for VW bad ranking in that JD Power survey.
People in South Africa wouldn’t have the same skills as people in Czech republic (trust me on that one), and German made Golf R32 or any model which is still made in Germany would be build by mostly what ever migrants are working in the factory. That explains VW worst ranking than Skoda in that survey.

[anarchycamp]

I've had my MkV GTI since the day they were released in 2005....it has APR tune and has done 102,000 kms in that time. This car has proven so far to be way more reliable than other cars I have had.

[LiFers]

And how many features do the VW's have compared to the Toyota?

How many features do VW have compared to Lexus and Porsche? They routinely top the quality surveys and Lexus has many more toys than VW.

As for "problems" from users expecting a car to function other than it does, ie BMW i-Drive or M-drive, that's part of the flaw in a car. Why does VW build a car that requires someone reads a 500 page manual to operate it and consumers think it doesn't work properly, when Lexus can build an LS luxury sedan, with as many features as a Merc E/S class, and people don't need to read the manual?

As for "VW only has little niggles", are we forgetting the number of posts of "My car went into limp home mode?" I've read plenty of posts here about the DSG causing upteen problems, Turbos failing, Superchargers failing.....

What is most interesting is that rather than accept fact, compared to industry average VW is unreliable, they feel so passionate about their cars they fly in the face of real world proof.

DESPITE VW's reliability record, I will be buying a VW, cause I'm looking for an exciting hot hatch, but I buy it with the correct knowledge, not some stupid fantasy "fans" cultivate that everything is perfect.

[Maverick]

How many features do VW have compared to Lexus and Porsche? They routinely top the quality surveys and Lexus has many more toys than VW.

Porsche don't have a lot of the features that VW have and Lexus spend a lot of time with the customer when they purchase. Lexus make a fortune on each car and offer a lot of backup support for the users.

As for "problems" from users expecting a car to function other than it does, ie BMW i-Drive or M-drive, that's part of the flaw in a car.

Not really it's part of the flaw in the people that buy them.

As for "VW only has little niggles", are we forgetting the number of posts of "My car went into limp home mode?" I've read plenty of posts here about the DSG causing upteen problems, Turbos failing, Superchargers failing.....

There's not that many that it occurs to, sure they have problems but most of them are very minor.

What is most interesting is that rather than accept fact, compared to industry average VW is unreliable, they feel so passionate about their cars they fly in the face of real world proof.

The real world proof is that I've had less problems with VW in my first 8 months of ownership then I've had with Subaru and Ford. And the real world "proof" is that minor niggles count against VW, the surveys are pointless because they are often because of owners who can't read and would be better off with a corolla.

DESPITE VW's reliability record, I will be buying a VW, cause I'm looking for an exciting hot hatch, but I buy it with the correct knowledge, not some stupid fantasy "fans" cultivate that everything is perfect.

I don't see any fanbois here waving the flag denying problems but realistically the VW is very reliable, the reasons have been given for the poor survey results and I don't see any problem with regarding VW as one of the better built, better performing and better reliability cars.

[GTom]

What is most interesting is that rather than accept fact, compared to industry average VW is unreliable, they feel so passionate about their cars they fly in the face of real world proof.

Unfortunately statistics can be spun every which way a company wants.

Comparing Toyota to VW is kind of like comparing apples and oranges, both have varying business models in Australia... Toyota, take the corolla, it's made with the basic bare minimums, basically what a persons basic needs, Whereas VW puts your basic needs in + more.

Besides driving a corolla is so damn bland, the engine is like its having an asthma attack from the get go, the gearing is ridiculous! and the interior is worst then a taxis!

[Golf Houso]

Besides driving a corolla is so damn bland, the engine is like its having an asthma attack from the get go, the gearing is ridiculous! and the interior is worst then a taxis!

Quite right, I almost cried when I was in my mate's 2005 corolla which rather than having proper headliner had a single formed piece of cardboard which wasn't even smooth but was textured and you could even see the fibers throughout it

[Transporter]

How many features do VW have compared to Lexus and Porsche? They routinely top the quality surveys and Lexus has many more toys than VW.

As for "problems" from users expecting a car to function other than it does, ie BMW i-Drive or M-drive, that's part of the flaw in a car. Why does VW build a car that requires someone reads a 500 page manual to operate it and consumers think it doesn't work properly, when Lexus can build an LS luxury sedan, with as many features as a Merc E/S class, and people don't need to read the manual?

As for "VW only has little niggles", are we forgetting the number of posts of "My car went into limp home mode?" I've read plenty of posts here about the DSG causing upteen problems, Turbos failing, Superchargers failing.....

What is most interesting is that rather than accept fact, compared to industry average VW is unreliable, they feel so passionate about their cars they fly in the face of real world proof.

DESPITE VW's reliability record, I will be buying a VW, cause I'm looking for an exciting hot hatch, but I buy it with the correct knowledge, not some stupid fantasy "fans" cultivate that everything is perfect.

It is very interesting.
Did you experienced all the above faults or you just heard about them?
I wouldn't post something like that it would be spreading the hearsay.

[Greg Roles]

And yet Skoda (with the same mechanicals as VWs) usually finish much higher up the list in the J D Power surveys than VW and Audi, weird ?

Much smaller data set to be honest Greggo. I see very few on the roads, yet VW's of all manner are everywhere these days. Much more likely a VW will be brought in for a problem. Or does the survey take into account overall numbers vs returns?

I've no doubt a current VW, like any other machine can break down, but as someone who is currently pulling his new car apart and drilling holes in it, I'd have to say it's a lot better built mechanically than anything "Australian" or Jap I've similarily tinkered with. Personally I'm impressed with the engineering, and won't be going "back" anytime soon!

[gregozedobe]

Much smaller data set to be honest Greggo. I see very few on the roads, yet VW's of all manner are everywhere these days.

I was referring to the European J D Power surveys, where there are a LOT of Skodas on the road (I agree too few in Oz so far for anything meaningful).

[Russ59]

I've just been quoted $250 on a TDI for an oil change and filter at my local VW dealer

Oil and filter changed and only charged $179, thought it sounded a little expensive at $250

Russ

[Greg Roles]

...especially since you can buy oil AND filter direct from VW at about $90, and even then the oil is a bit pricey...

[Maverick]

Oil and filter changed and only charged $179, thought it sounded a little expensive at $250

Russ

I paid Highway Auto around $150 for oil (vw 504.00/507.00 castrol), filter, disposal etc which was a price I was happy with considering the oil is ~$80.