# Would you buy a VW? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 3, 2017, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650 "2017-04-03T12:28:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mind\_the\_gap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mind\_the\_gap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mind_the_gap)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/41 "2017-04-03T20:01:08Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Yeah, I have a '12 Passat, and it’s a fine car, but everything on it has to be some sort of twee German style of doing things that’s entirely unlike the way all US and Japanese cars do things. > > Can’t just have a regular windshield washer, oh no. VW has to have some weird-ass pushbutton thing that you can only get at a car parts store in the premium line. No cheap Anco blades from Wal-Mart on your VW. > > You have to use specific VW spec oil. And none of the common brands/weights are certified, so you have to hunt around for VW 502 rated 5w-40 or 0w-40, of which most places have ONE brand available at a high price. > > Tires weren’t strange. Light bulbs aren’t too weird, but they can be a cast iron pain to change (daytime running lights, I’m looking at you!) on a VW, due to various hatches, connectors and what-not. > > Haven’t had any trouble with the cooling system, but it also takes some peculiar pink coolant that, of course, is entirely incompatible with anything commonly available at North American parts stores or big box stores. > > No idea about brake fluid, but it’s probably some kind of neon-green DIN rated fluid, not DOT 3/4. Can’t check the automatic transmission fluid on ours, so no idea there either. > > Don’t get me wrong, I like my wife’s car as far as the looks and performance are concerned, but it makes routine maintenance a pain in the ass, in that you either have to hunt that special crap down by hand, or you have to take it to a VW specialized maintenance place that charges you a premium. > > What’s most frustrating is that the damn car is assembled in Chattanooga, TN! You’d think someone would have suggested this. Regarding your comment on the requirement to use only VW specific oils, coolants and other parts, you might want to investigate the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act. This act specifically prohibits that practice, within some very strict guidelines. I hate shit like these “tie-ins” and quoting the Act stopped an argument with a motorcycle dealer cold in its tracks. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/42 "2017-04-03T20:30:18Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I worked in a garage for a little while once. It was very hard to change tires on VWs because they had weirs lug bolts. Aligning a tire to get it back on the car was hard, and I was doing it in the shop. I can’t imagine doing it on a roadside after a blow-out. I’ve owned three cars with lug bolts, and none of them depended on the bolt to align the wheel on the hub - it was usually a center ring on the hub that fit tightly into the matching center recess on the wheel, providing exact alignment and holding it in place (with some help) until the first bolts could be started. Not quite as easy as hanging the wheel on lug studs, but not some kind of two-person job, either. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/43 "2017-04-03T20:33:45Z")
> [@mind\_the\_gap](#): > > Regarding your comment on the requirement to use only VW specific oils, coolants and other parts, you might want to investigate the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act. This act specifically prohibits that practice, within some very strict guidelines. > I hate shit like these “tie-ins” and quoting the Act stopped an argument with a motorcycle dealer cold in its tracks. The Act allows the use of equivalent parts and so forth from other brands and makers… provided they meet the same standards. VW using a wonky standard that no one else meets (or does so only with limited availability, as in not at your local NAPA) is perfectly compliant. Honda and Mercedes both do much the same and it’s easiest/best just to use their OEM fluids rather than search out a clone that’s just as expensive and harder to find. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/44 "2017-04-03T20:56:30Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Yeah, but you’re still rollin’ in a Ford. 😉 Yeah, nothing worse than showing up at the Horsie Set’s Garden Party than a [Ford](https://www.ford.com/performance/gt/), or this [thing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy-mhyUAaqE)…🆒 I’ll take an RS in Blue for $50k, Alex. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/45 "2017-04-03T21:34:49Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Yeah, nothing worse than showing up at the Horsie Set’s Garden Party than a [Ford](https://www.ford.com/performance/gt/), or this [thing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy-mhyUAaqE)…🆒 > > I’ll take an RS in Blue for $50k, Alex. I’ve sat in a Ford GT. Ridiculously beautiful car. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/46 "2017-04-03T21:55:52Z")
I’d have to win the lottery to be able to afford to buy or maintain one, but if I do win, my plan is to buy a house with a garage and then pick up an eGolf. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/47 "2017-04-03T21:57:50Z")
I have a 2007 Rabbit, the Golf’s cousin. I adore it, and when its time comes I’ll likely move into a Golf. The car-enthusiast better half (who has owned a Passat and a CC) LOVES the Rabbit. I’ve never had a problem with expensive repairs; I’ve changed my own tire in my driveway with a regular lug wrench; I take it to the local small-business mechanic for oil changes and have them put whatever the regular oil is in it; it went in for a 65,000 mile tuneup and all the fluids and filters were standard-issue; it takes regular unleaded gas and is happy about it; I buy windshield wipers at Walmart. The better half would say the same about his Passat and CC. The only hiccup I’ve had is a slow battery drain due to the aftermarket remote start system I installed; I replace the battery every three years, carry a jumpstart kit that’s the size of a laptop battery, and am good to go. I say go for it! ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/48 "2017-04-03T22:07:40Z")
Just came in to say your location probably matters. Here in western Europe everything VW is very common. I personally would probably prefer the Seat Leon, but I don’t think they have those in the US. In essence identical to the Golf. I peronally really like the VW group cars (mosly experience with VW, Seat and Skoda and less so with Audi), but they are also very common. It is funny that when I was driving a Chrysler, and it broke down in Germany, it seemed they wouldn’t even look at it because it was “American”. I’m sure they’d have a Golf running in no time. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/49 "2017-04-03T22:46:44Z")
We don’t have any Seats (or Skodas) in the US. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/50 "2017-04-04T02:19:35Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > The Act allows the use of equivalent parts and so forth from other brands and makers… provided they meet the same standards. VW using a wonky standard that no one else meets (or does so only with limited availability, as in not at your local NAPA) is perfectly compliant. Honda and Mercedes both do much the same and it’s easiest/best just to use their OEM fluids rather than search out a clone that’s just as expensive and harder to find. It’s not actually _that_ hard to find, but there’s very limited choice. Most auto parts places and/or Wal-Mart carry either the Euro Castrol Edge, which usually meets the VW/Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Fiat specs, or they have Mobil 1 Euro 0w-40 which is the same thing. Although they’re supposedly made, I’ve never encountered the Pennzoil, Quaker State, Valvoline or any other manufacturer’s offering. The actual stated reason for VW’s wonky oil is that they’re trying to do two things in one oil- make it effective for all but a tiny handful of the gas-engined cars in their lineup, including turbo models, AND make it 10,000 mile oil change interval oil. So as a result, it’s super-high quality and meets very stringent standards. But for a 2.5L auto transmission Passat driven around town? It’s probably total overkill, but there’s no real way of knowing. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/51 "2017-04-04T02:37:56Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I worked in a garage for a little while once. It was very hard to change tires on VWs because they had weirs lug bolts. Aligning a tire to get it back on the car was hard, and I was doing it in the shop. I can’t imagine doing it on a roadside after a blow-out. > [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I’ve owned three cars with lug bolts, and none of them depended on the bolt to align the wheel on the hub - it was usually a center ring on the hub that fit tightly into the matching center recess on the wheel, providing exact alignment and holding it in place (with some help) until the first bolts could be started. But there’s no exact alignment of the wheel lug holes to the hub lug holes – which is the problem **Rivkah** is talking about – until a bolt is started. Getting those holes lined up doesn’t require a helper, but it can be a major pain compared to setting a wheel onto a hub with studs sticking out. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/52 "2017-04-04T03:20:16Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > But there’s no exact alignment of the wheel lug holes to the hub lug holes – which is the problem **Rivkah** is talking about – until a bolt is started. Getting those holes lined up doesn’t require a helper, but it can be a major pain compared to setting a wheel onto a hub with studs sticking out. Isn’t there a metal rod in the same shape as a bolt that you can just stick in and align the holes before going to the bolts? VW’s reliability by all anecdotal accounts is better than it was during the nadir of the early 2000s. At this point according to the major surveys they are at least no worse than Ford or GM. The Focus ST in particular isn’t known for being particularly reliable, and neither is the WRX, so I’d say the GTI is in good company. I would definitely consider a GTI right now because VW’s reputation and consideration is in the dumps and they can’t give their cars away. At MSRP, the GTI is a slightly less sporty Focus ST with a nicer interior. However these days you can get them for about [$8k off MSRP](http://www.sheehyspringfieldvw.com/new-inventory/index.htm?model=Golf+GTI&sortBy=internetPrice+asc&), at which point they become quite attractive. The caveat is that of course you must only consider the manual transmission version. The dual clutch transmission will at best require frequent and expensive fluid changes and be annoying in traffic, and at worst will require replacement right when the warranty expires. Dual clutch gearboxes are pretty much all junk as far as roadcars are concerned and a technological dead end. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/53 "2017-04-04T04:22:45Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > All of the reviews I’ve seen so far have the quality and reliability rated quite high. What is the basis for folk questioning the reliability? Friends calling for rides when their VWs broke down and the number I’ve seen on the side of the road. If you get a good one, it seems like you got a great car. But if you get a lemon, you got a real lemon and no amount of time or money is going to make it any better. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/54 "2017-04-04T13:13:55Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > The caveat is that of course you must only consider the manual transmission version. The dual clutch transmission will at best require frequent and expensive fluid changes and be annoying in traffic, and at worst will require replacement right when the warranty expires. Dual clutch gearboxes are pretty much all junk as far as roadcars are concerned and a technological dead end. I sincerely appreciate all of the opinions/information. Just quoted this passage, to highlight the extent to which you cannot expect agreement on ANYsubject automotive. Much of the literature - and multiple posters in this thread - sang the praises of the auto. For example: > [@](#): > > VW DSG is a gem. > > … > > Get the DSG auto. As fun as a stick shift is, the DSG is just so much better in the long run. I believe there is supposed to be an upcoming change to the DSG in the 2018 model year. Even if I bought a particular car, I’d be little wiser. Who knows if I got lucky and got the exceptional good one, or the exceptional lemon? The Toyota is in the shop right now - we’ll see what they have to say. But in any event, I expect I’ll be checking out possible replacements. One reason I’m seriously considering the GTI or Mini is simply because they are different from anything I’ve driven in the past. Test drove a Golf MANY years back, and appreciated that the drive and feel were quite different from the comparable Toyotas I was used to. Also, given my preference for a sporty compact hatch, the options are not endless. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/55 "2017-04-04T14:05:46Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I sincerely appreciate all of the opinions/information. Just quoted this passage, to highlight the extent to which you cannot expect agreement on ANYsubject automotive. Much of the literature - and multiple posters in this thread - sang the praises of the auto. For example: > > I believe there is supposed to be an upcoming change to the DSG in the 2018 model year. to put a finer point on it, in my experience dual _ **dry** _ clutch transmissions universally suck. the Ford DPS6 is infamous (though much improved from the disaster it was in 2011,) and the others I’ve driven (Hyundai’s 7-speed in particular) are nearly as bad. dual _ **wet** _ clutch transmissions like some variants of VW/Audi DSGs can be a lot better behaved; wet clutches like on motorcycles and in conventional automatic transmissions can tolerate a lot more slippage and can be modulated to smooth out engagement. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/56 "2017-04-04T14:22:36Z")
> [@](#): > > But there’s no exact alignment of the wheel lug holes to the hub lug holes – which is the problem **Rivkah** is talking about – until a bolt is started. Getting those holes lined up doesn’t require a helper, but it can be a major pain compared to setting a wheel onto a hub with studs sticking out. I’ve never had any trouble. Put the wheel on the hub ring and hold it with one hand; if the holes aren’t lined up, give the wheel a sharp twist. Repeat until aligned. I mean, I don’t do this day in and day out, and certainly hanging a wheel on lugs is easier in some respects, but with the wheel up in my face on a lift, it’s just a few moments of effort after positioning the wheel on the hub. Of course, I do use anti-seize on the hub/wheel mating point. Don’t you? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/57 "2017-04-04T14:41:45Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#): > > The caveat is that of course you must only consider the manual transmission version. The dual clutch transmission will at best require frequent and expensive fluid changes and be annoying in traffic, and at worst will require replacement right when the warranty expires. I don’t know about the Mk VII, but the DSG in the Mark VI requires fluid changes every 40,000 miles. The “DSG service” costs about $800 via main dealer but I wouldn’t call that frequent or particularly expensive (especially since it includes a regular oil/fluid/filter change at dealers). ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/58 "2017-04-04T15:12:32Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I’ve never had any trouble. Put the wheel on the hub ring and hold it with one hand; if the holes aren’t lined up, give the wheel a sharp twist. Repeat until aligned. Maybe you’ve been luckier than I. More often than not I find the hub spins with the wheel when I’m trying to align the holes, making it an exercise in frustration. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/59 "2017-04-04T16:16:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t know about the Mk VII, but the DSG in the Mark VI requires fluid changes every 40,000 miles. The “DSG service” costs about $800 via main dealer but I wouldn’t call that frequent or particularly expensive (especially since it includes a regular oil/fluid/filter change at dealers). $800 every 40,000 miles qualifies as “expensive” IMO ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650/60 "2017-04-04T16:31:08Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > $800 every 40,000 miles qualifies as “expensive” IMO Worth every $ in mine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-vw/783650.md?page=4)