I understand that many of the VW models sold in the USA are imported from Mexicao. This is primarily because of the low dollar-euro exchange rate, but also because shipping from Mexico is cheaper.
Many people seem to think that the German-built cars are better…is this really true?
As far as I know, the Puebla, Mexico VW factory is one of the most modern car plants in the world, and has achieved ISO-9000 quality levels. I’d also assume that Puebla builds cars with the same components as the German plants, although (probably) most of them are assembled in Mexico.
Any hard info on this?
My neighbor has a german-built Jetta, and has had considerable engine/ignition trouble (most of it due to bad Bosch coils packs).
Are AUDIS built in Mexico as well?
Well, I do know- and CR agrees- that since then VW quality has gone to hell. BUT- it seems to be an overall decline, and not just the cars “hecho en Mexico”. So… 
Uhm. Yeah. There was a strategic decision to lower some quality controls, so they could shift the focus to Chrysler. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Necessary, maybe, but effing stupid. Gut the entire reputation for German Engineering by coasting on past laurels for a full seven year cycle? Well, you win some, you lose some.
Mexico, actually, does a damn fine job. almost rather get a car built there than one in Germany.
E-Sabbath, what does Chrysler have to do with this subject? Why would VW lower their quality controls in order to “shift the focus” to a competitor?
Re: the OP, regardless of whether the car is built in Mexico, Germany, Brazil (as my 01 Golf was) or Poland, they are built using the same-spec parts(but perhaps made by a different contractor), using the same robots, using the same programs, and the same QC.
VW’s “quality” problems are largely problems with dealership service, and also related to poor QC from suppliers (see coil packs and MAF sensors) or overzealous bean-counting (see plastic window regulator clips).
What should be a simple warranty fix turns into a multiple-visit nightmare because the dealership can’t be bothered/doesn’t know how to fix it properly the first time, or would rather try to bilk money out of the unsuspecting customer and/or VW by “fixing” the wrong(more expensive or not covered) component. Yes, I speak from personal experience.
Aside from Germany, Audis are manufactured in Brazil, China, Thailand and Hungary. No Mexico.
Briefly? There’s an incestous relationship between the german car manufacturers. Except BMW. Porsche, Mercedes, VW, and Audi are all run by relatives or school chums or people who worked together. They tend to hop from company to company, without being, ah… disloyal. There’s like, a promotion chain. Anyhow, I seem to recall the 7-year plan and the QC specialists being shifted around like tiles. Mercedes to Chrysler, VW to Audi, Audi to Mercedes, and so on. Everything’s in worse shape than it was, till the next seven year plan kicks in, and the experts aren’t in their ‘normal’ spots.
Huh? Do you have a cite for that? OK Audi and VW I can understand because they are technically one large company, and VW and Porsche have a close relationship because Ferry Porsche started as a VW engineer and his grandson Ferdinand Piech is chairman of the Board of VW, but VW/Audi and Mercedes hate each other and have always been huge rivals. VW/Audi would never hire a CEO who had worked at Mercedes before and vice versa. The only example that I can think of even contradicts your little “conspiracy theory”. Bernd Pischetsrieder is CEO of VW right now, and used to be on the board of BMW. Then again there are not that many people who have the qualification to be a CEO of a large automobile manufacturer so there is always a lot of movement back and forth. If you look at Opel, every member of their board started at Opel itself.
No cite, personal experience. I know it’s not much, and I’m operating at one point removed, but this was specifically my impression of what happened. I never said they were a friendly family, but they really are more closely related than, say, Ford and GM. I do clearly recall certain people tearing their hair out over this specific issue about… hm. Beetle was '98. So, yes, six years ago, this is the end of that cycle. I know this sounds like ‘my word is my cite’, but that’s the best I can give you, personal memories of phone conversations and general swearing.
I’m gonna have to call you on this as well. You still have not answered why a company would shoot themselves in the foot to help a competitor?
Yes, they are incestuous but I don’t see how it is different from any other industry. If an upper level manager from a US consumer electronics company quits, he will most likely end up working as a upper level manager at another US consumer electronics company.
And how is letting VAG quality go down to focus on Daimler-Chrysler NOT considered disloyal?
May I ask what you do in the auto industry? Because you continue to mention VW and Audi as if they are completely separate corporate entities, when they are both part of the Volkswagen Auto Group (VAG). It’s like me saying, “Ford, Chrysler, GM and Lincoln are all run by relatives or school chums or people who worked together”
Actually, I just tend to say “VW and Audi” together. I tend to say it like that because VW is considered to be the farm team for Audi, in my experience. As opposed to the VAG. It’s more like me saying “Ford and Lincoln” because I don’t want to bother with Jaguar. Or Ford of Europe, who until recently, never had someone come from there to main Ford’s high executive staff. I also tend to completely forget about Opel. As for what I do, I’m not going to get too specific, but it’s my father’s company, it involves A: design for certain vehicles, mostly Mercedes, and B: shitloads of market research. The design is the fun stuff. I can say certain things that would identify him exactly, and I’d rather not do that. (Truthfully, I may have already done so)
Truthfully, I’m going to step back and say I may have said wrongly about VW and Mercedes, but I really do seem to recall the QA people got shuffled over through some combination of money, politicing, headhunting, and old boy’s heavy elbow. I remember this because it came up later when they were trying to get Land Rover off its horrible ass, and into the 20th century. But again, this is memories of '98 or so.
The ‘they’ in the first comment refers to Mercedes, though. I phrased it wrongly.
E-Sabbath: Okay. Sorry if I sounded harsh, but with the whole Kaitlyn thing, my BS meter has been on super high. 
Ralph124c: You can check out the VW Vortex message boards. This is apparently a popular topic that pops up over and over again like here. Or you can do a check for archived threads for “mexico germany”. The consensus seems to be that it doesn’t matter where the VW made.
There has been a overall drop in VW quality. Why that is, would be a whole new thread.
Understandable. I really can’t think of anyone in the nest of executives my father’s company deals with, that is connected to BMW, except, of course, Bernd, who I should have specifically mentioned. This sticks out in my mind because of a project that involved sending my
Microsoft Strategic Commander to Germany, where it was roundly ignored. The points to be made on it were limited, but present buttons, and actual tactile feedback.
The I-Drive is exactly the opposite of what we were advocating, despite being nearly identical in execution. I was peeved about that, from a professional standpoint.
And don’t forget the godawful repair costs of a VW, these days. Not great for a ‘less expensive’ car. Any time anything went wrong on my Beetle, it cost a grand. And the headlights. And the AM reception. Man… Beautiful aesthetic design, though, but I am so glad I own a car I can exit without screwing my knees over.
(Yes, I have been a (student) teacher, I am a sysadmin, and I screw around with movie production and script polishing. As well. Mostly, I’m just helpful. This is for the assistance of anyone searching my backposts. Though that damn movie still hasn’t made it to distribution, last I saw. It was called “The Spy” and it starred the Dude, you’re Getting A Dell guy.)