VW rated 3rd worst in most reliable car makers list

[Yevvy]

i do believe that those stats are correct. after owning my vw for just under a year i ran into numerous "faults" costing almost as much as buying a second vw. i really love my car and hopefully after feeding it buckets of money it will be a true performance motor...or if this continues i'll become bankrupt (already am ).

[G-rig]

I think the newer generation VW's are much better (ie mk5-mk6), and only seems to be small niggles (besides the DSG faults).

[trueman]

Fussy is the word.

We need to be fussy when paying a premium

[G-rig]

We need to be fussy when paying a premium

That's true and i'm probably one of the fussiest, but it's still not the Audi premium by which the car wouldn't have the niggles/build issues. It's like wanting an Audi without paying for one, but the gap is being closed and VW are much better value if you can deal with the minor quirks.

Still a premium over Japanese cars etc.

[GHW]

FWIW JD powers is the benchmark for many of us working in the automotive supply (oem) industry. You can believe it.
Every car manufacturer whether they admit it or not want to be at the pointy end as does every supplier as it's worth big money due to big contracts if you fare well and (obviously) the opposite applies.

[Golf Houso]

I think the newer generation VW's are much better (ie mk5-mk6), and only seems to be small niggles (besides the DSG faults).

the older gen cars are much easier to service, you only have to look at the MKV engine mounts or window regulators to see how much more difficult they are.

Not that most people who own them atm. will ever notice

[Highlander]

Surveys, Reliability and Longevity

FWIW JD powers is the benchmark for many of us working in the automotive supply (oem) industry. You can believe it.
Every car manufacturer whether they admit it or not want to be at the pointy end as does every supplier as it's worth big money due to big contracts if you fare well and (obviously) the opposite applies.

And I am pretty sure that if VW was at the top of the list, many members of this forum would be quite as happy to quote it as gospel.

When the Mk VI Golf range won the Wheels Car of the Year, there were plenty of proud posts on here.

When the Hyundai i30 diesel was rated by NRMA as better value than the Golf 103 TDI, we decided that the NRMA didn't know what it was talking about.

We must have disagreed too as we drove the i30 and bought the Golf.

Beauty (and Quality) it seems are in the eye of the beholder. I am a fussy car owner who changes my cars each 3-5 years and I think they are usually in better condition when they leave me than the day I purchased them.

Toyotas are cheap and bulletproof. VW charge a good premium for the Golf over other cars in its class and I expect the car to be best in class in all ways for the honour of forking over that premium.

Better to drive and as or more reliable than cheaper makes.

I would chip our VWs but the talk of DSG failures on this forum alone is enough to stop me doing anything for a year or so to see that those problems have been ironed out. Even the long term Skoda run by wheels magazine had to have its DSG replaced because of collapsed bearings in the first 6 months of its life (a problem which Skoda/VW say has now been rectified). Cringe, Cringe at Skoda/VW I am sure as Wheels expressed concerns about the long term reliability of the marque.

If I was selling a make against VW I would have these surveys and tests lying around my waiting room. VW has to hate them and I can only summise that the decision to relocate Mk VI Golf manufacture to Germany had more to it than reduced manufacturing costs as its bread and butter Golf was receiving less than favourable quality reports in many quarters of the world.

The "rumours" were enough to make us hold off for the Mk VI and so far its done 19800Km in 9 months and apart from being immobilised for a short while while the MFD told us every globe in the vehicle was blown, it hasn't missed a beat, looks brand new and is an absolute pleasure to drive. We hope it stays that way

It's my daughter's car and she travels a lot for business and is in and out of a variety of hire cars and she always loves the drive back home from the airport in her Golf.

I suppose an interesting exercise would be a poll to see that, amongst those that intend to keep their cars more than three years, who intends to take out extended warranty and those who don't. Good indication of owner confidence in the model I would say.

[G-rig]

the older gen cars are much easier to service, you only have to look at the MKV engine mounts or window regulators to see how much more difficult they are.

Not that most people who own them atm. will ever notice

Having something less than four years old is probably the key and eliminates a bit of trouble shooting. I had a B5 A4 that was a pretty big money pit.

[dave_r]

Makes me think about cancelling the GTI order and getting a ford or hyundai.
I won't enjoy it if I constantly have to bring it back for faults................

LOL, not going to read the rest of the thread given that it is 4 pages long but I'd still take the chance with the VW!

Fords (Aussie built at least) are RUBBISH and when you have a problem, the muppets they have working on them are even worse! I could write a book on the topic!

I can't say I've had any negative experience with respect to VW reliability and service compared to what I have with the 2 big aussie names.

[trueman]

LOL, not going to read the rest of the thread given that it is 4 pages long but I'd still take the chance with the VW!

Fords (Aussie built at least) are RUBBISH and when you have a problem, the muppets they have working on them are even worse! I could write a book on the topic!

I can't say I've had any negative experience with respect to VW reliability and service compared to what I have with the 2 big aussie names.

Well Just looked at ford fiesta (german made). Not bad for sub 20K with way more options(bluetooth , voice control etc) than std GTI!!!! for twice the price. Obviously a different car but compared to entry level polo its hard to go past.

[G-rig]

Yeah it's pathetic that Bluetooth & usb/ipod isn't standard now on VW's .. Maybe in 2011!

[trueman]

Cheaper brand vs VW perhaps

"The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."

[PassatB6]

JD Power nonsense. Check out Warranty Direct for real reliability figures, not owner complaint surveys masquerading a reliability studies. 250,000 + vehicles rated on actual repairs not owner opinions.

http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/

Back to JDP
Look at their definition of Initial Quality
Initial Quality: Taken from the Initial Quality Study (IQS), which looks at owner-reported problems in the first 90 days of new-vehicle ownership, this score is based on problems that have caused a complete breakdown or malfunction, or where controls or features may work as designed, but are difficult to use or understand.

i.e it all works fine but because it might be complicated for anyone who hasn't read the manual or has difficulty with a new technology then this is defined as a manufacturer problem.

and also this nonsense about being able to "predict" vehicle reliability:

Predicted Reliability: Derived from historical trending for a vehicle and/or manufacturer in our Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability Studies, Predicted Reliability is a forecast of how reliable a newer vehicle might be over time.

I just don't get what all the fuss is about JD Power's opinions.

[nau]

http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/

mmmmmmm... how can I put it ....
top 10
Rank Car Make Index Rating

1 SUZUKI 31.13
2 HONDA 33.17
3 MAZDA 53.5
4 TOYOTA 56.22
5 SKODA 58.87
6 SMART 66.4
7 CITROEN 66.61
8 HYUNDAI 66.97
9 NISSAN 70.02
10 FORD 70.71

Worst 10
Rank Car Make Index Rating

1 JEEP 231.09
2 PORSCHE 221.39
3 LANDROVER 213.73
4 ALFA ROMEO 158.4
5 CHRYSLER 155.61
6 JAGUAR 146.13
7 AUDI 142.35
8 MG 131.08
9 MERCEDES 129.89
10 SAAB 126.12

how did all the top brands end up at the bottom?

[AdamD]

how did all the top brands end up at the bottom?

Well, the Japanese brands like Honda, Toyota and Mazda are a pretty sure bet for reliability in many of the more prominent surveys I've read over the years. And based on experience, a survey that places Alfa Romeo well down the order sounds right on the money to me.

Skoda's up there too. And just see these results from their website:

• 2009: (UK) Škoda named Best Car Manufacturer 2009,
  JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey
• 2009: (UK) Škoda Superb named 2nd Best Car of the Year,
  JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey
• 2009: (UK) Octavia named 3rd Best Car of the Year,
  JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey
• 2008: (UK) Škoda 2nd overall, in top 5 for last 13 years,
  JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey
• 2007: (UK) Škoda Best Manufacturer,
  Top Gear Reader’s Poll

And Skodas are pure VW under the skin. Results like that suggest the mechanical fundamentals are sound. I wouldn't be surprised if the biggest difference between Skoda, VW and Audi in terms of quality is buyer perceptions and expectations.