# My Volkswagen is a piece of shit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 15, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532 "2003-05-15T20:52:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/61 "2003-05-18T14:57:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\* > > I’d also rate both cars equally reliable. If an entry level, reliable, decent car is what you want, then the Peugeot might be the better option, since Renault doesn’t offer a 1.4. Other than that, it’s preference, really. > > Good luck! \*\* Thanks a million Coldie, I’ve been to the dealerships and asked a few questions but haven’t had a chance to take them for a test drive yet. My main concerns are reliability and safety and it sounds like you have had a good experience with Peugeot. I´ll go take them for a spin and see how they drive. Thanks again. Cristóbal ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/62 "2003-05-19T00:32:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Actually, the Polo is one model below the Golf, at least over here: China tends to get a strange array of models, so a Chinese Polo might be different. I’ve seen pictures of a Chinese Citroën ZX sedan, never available in Europe, for example. \*\* You obviously seem to be a car buff, so just some fun facts. In China, Shanghai Volkswagen (50-50 joint venture) now produces the Passat, Polo, Gol (a Brazilian model actually assembled in China). The managers tell me that these are essentially the same car as built elsewhere given some local sourcing differences. The legacy Santana is still produced. I have no idea where that came from but they built IIRC over a million of them and are still in production. The Santana was the first “modern” car produced in China. FAW-VW (60-40 joint venture) makes the Audi A6, Bora, Golf and a van I haven’t seen yet. They are also introducing new Audi models this year. Again, these cars are all based on current VW design and are the same as produced elsewhere. FAW-VW also produces the original Jetta. This is the real fun fact. When I say original I mean original. The Jetta factory in Changchun was actually moved from the STates when it finished it’s production life there to South Africa. After finishing it’s production run in SA, then it got moved to FAW-VW in Changchun China. They still make the Jetta in Changchun although it has been redesigned and re-engineered a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/63 "2003-05-19T04:53:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*Does it _really_ get 50 mpg, or are you just telling us the EPA highway estimate? \*\* Heck, my Rabbit is old enough to drink in the States, and it _still_ gets 50mpg (based on actual calculations from fillup volume and tripmeter readings - predominantly city driving, though frankly I don’t see a huge difference between city and highway mileage). Granted, the gallons in question are the Imperial type, not those puny US gallons, and I’m way to lazy to convert, but I think it’s pretty damn good for an 81. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/64 "2003-05-19T07:04:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gorsnak \* > \*\*Heck, my Rabbit is old enough to drink in the States, and it _still_ gets 50mpg (based on actual calculations from fillup volume and tripmeter readings - predominantly city driving, though frankly I don’t see a huge difference between city and highway mileage). Granted, the gallons in question are the Imperial type, not those puny US gallons, and I’m way to lazy to convert, but I think it’s pretty damn good for an 81. \*\* Hey, let’s use Imperial gallons AND kilometers - then we’d all be getting some really smokin’ mileage.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/65 "2003-05-19T08:15:10Z")
**China Guy** : interesting facts! FWIW, the Santana was sold in Europe in the early to mid 80’s as well, but it was never a success. I never even understood what made it different from a Passat! Wasn’t it pretty much a Passat sedan (back then, the Passat only came in a 5 door hatch and a stationwagon version)? Wow, they still make the original Jetta? That model dates back to about 1975 or so. Amazing! **CBEscapee** , no problem! Have fun testdriving. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/66 "2003-05-19T12:39:44Z")
Having an electric sun roof where you just turn the knob & forget it is MUCH better than having to hold down a switch for 30 seconds (especially while in gear). But, if that doesn’t knock your socks off, how many times have you been rushing to work and realize after you’ve parked & pulled your laptop out of the trunk that your sun roof is still open. With the Jetta, I just put the key in and turn to closing position, holding it there. And all the windows & sun roof close. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/67 "2003-05-19T13:02:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tortuga \* > \*\*We also have the heated seats, very nice to have on a chilly morning, although the first time I used the feature I forgot I had turned it on and only realised as I started to feel extremely _uncomfortable_ at that comforting, spreading warmth on my bottom… > Ah, how a VW brings out the child in us. I love rolling all the windows down, opening up the sun roof and driving along our twisty wooded roads, and when I fill up with [biodiesel](http://www.biodieselnow.com), I don’t even have to feel guilty about “wasting fuel.” > > Our other car is the GTI 1.8T, which is tons of fun if you enjoy driving like a maniac. 😉 \*\* I love the heated seats in the winter! And the 1.8T engine really is a hoot, even if you are only feeling semi-maniacal. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/69 "2021-03-01T23:21:12Z")
The VW online reputation team are slow, but they will get you in the end. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/70 "2021-03-02T00:07:29Z")
Wow, a zombie thread that is old enough to buy alcohol in Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta! 😃 I suspect the Volkswagen commentary is probably rather dated. I have a friend who bought two VW Tiguans for the family (at nearly the same time) and loves them both. I rented a Jetta about a year ago and although that doesn’t say anything about their reliability or build quality, (a) it was a real fun car to drive, and (b) the guy at the rental place said they had been excellent cars for them. One has to take into account the fact that of course rental cars are all quite new. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/71 "2021-03-02T00:14:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Wow, a zombie thread that is old enough to buy alcohol in Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta! I’m glad I checked the date before I made it to the second post. I was wondering why the OP was making such a stink about something breaking on a car that’s almost 20 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532/72 "2021-03-02T00:48:31Z")
Everything was answered in the title of this thread. **My Volkswagen is a piece of shit.** Well yes, yes it is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-volkswagen-is-a-piece-of-shit/175532.md?page=3)