Would you buy another VW?

[GarJE]

I've got to admit defeat and say that I wouldn't.

Having owned a mk2 polo years ago which gave me untold amounts of grief I've given the VW brand a second chance with my mk5 TDI and have finally thrown in the towel on VW.

I've got a leaking rad now, after so many "common faults". I came from owning a mk6 fiesta which had NO faults whatsoever.

I honestly believe that VW are coasting on the brand image of high build quality created during the late 80's/early 90's and the other manufacturers have caught them up with lower priced machinery.

I have fixed nearly every problem I've had on this car myself and would seriously advise people against buying a second hand one. The costs of a garage fixing all the problems I've had would have been at leaast £2k by my estimation. The car in parts alone in the last 6 months of ownership has cost me nearly £1,000.

Here's my list of "common faults":

Rear brake caliper binding.
Rear wheel bearing worn out.
O/S/R central locking broken.
Hesitation at 1,800RPM.
Door handle mechanism came loose on every door.
Faulty expansion tank.
Faulty turbo pipe seals.
Leaking radiator.
Faulty expansion cap.
EGR valve broken and replaced.
Manifold control flap broken and replaced.
Alloy wheel corrosion.
Water on inside of rear window.
Random operation of electric windows.
Radio control knobs worn away.
Terrible 1st-2nd gearchange when cold.
Suspension drop-links worn.
Rattles from O/S/R door, centre air vent and L/H side of dash.
Lumpy engine idle.

[Col]

I tend to agree.

I've owned more Fords than VW's and have had far less problems with them, if any at all.

Thing is, the VW's are far nicer places to be and have an undescribable desirability.

VW really do need to sort themselves out. The MK2 Golf on which they cemented their reputation has been gone over 15 years now and the quality does not seem to have got close to it or back to it in all that time.

I'd interested to know what the 'cost cut' MK6 Golf is like.

[dubcruiser]

I've got to admit defeat and say that I wouldn't.

Having owned a mk2 polo years ago which gave me untold amounts of grief I've given the VW brand a second chance with my mk5 TDI and have finally thrown in the towel on VW.

I've got a leaking rad now, after so many "common faults". I came from owning a mk6 fiesta which had NO faults whatsoever.

I honestly believe that VW are coasting on the brand image of high build quality created during the late 80's/early 90's and the other manufacturers have caught them up with lower priced machinery.

I have fixed nearly every problem I've had on this car myself and would seriously advise people against buying a second hand one. The costs of a garage fixing all the problems I've had would have been at leaast £2k by my estimation. The car in parts alone in the last 6 months of ownership has cost me nearly £1,000.

Here's my list of "common faults":

Rear brake caliper binding.
Rear wheel bearing worn out.
O/S/R central locking broken.
Hesitation at 1,800RPM.
Door handle mechanism came loose on every door.
Faulty expansion tank.
Faulty turbo pipe seals.
Leaking radiator.
Faulty expansion cap.
EGR valve broken and replaced.
Manifold control flap broken and replaced.
Alloy wheel corrosion.
Water on inside of rear window.
Random operation of electric windows.
Radio control knobs worn away.
Terrible 1st-2nd gearchange when cold.
Suspension drop-links worn.
Rattles from O/S/R door, centre air vent and L/H side of dash.
Lumpy engine idle.

VW skimped on quality in the Mk5 and diverted the cash into designing the rear suspension to make the handle like the focus.

Mk4's are much better built and that is also why they hold there money better. I have had three Mk4's now and haven't had trouble with any of them though looking at the faults you have had with your Mk5 I think I will wait for the Mk6!

[lanciamug]

I fully understand your feelings. I have had bad experiences with Fiats (fix it again tomorrow!) But the thing is, time is a healer and so far I have had 4 (sold the last one 2000). Now I'm fancying a 500. As it happens I've had three years with my Mk5 2.0FSI with only one coil pack failure (under warrenty), so I'm pretty impressed. But even if it was a dog, I'd say the same as you, then come back to VW a few years later because I like the cars. Lots of people and car companys are like this. Ask any TVR owner.

[mr pastry]

I believe on the new golf they are trying to improve the build quality of the interior!!
I read somewhere that a lot of money was spent on the suspension set up on the mark 5 and the interior suffered.

I think it is a case that perhaps other manufacturers have caught up in terms of build quality

Toyota are now no were near the brand they were once

[colb666]

I have a Mk5 estate at the moment,I bought it new last October and IMO the build quality is totally crap.My wife has an Eos again crap build.The Eos goes away on Saturday mainly down to in the last few months the usual water ingress issue and now its got some strange electrical gremlins.

The Mk5 has had a fair few issues in its time and it'll be getting replaced in the next couple of months with something non VAG as is the Eos.

I would class myself as a "Very good VW customer" our house has Eos Sport,Golf SE estate,Bora Highline,Bora SE and a Polo Match.
The oldest being a 2004 SE,as my daughters cars come up for replacement they will be replaced non VAG.

I'm totally hacked off with Vag these days as they are more into quantity rather than quality.My first VAG car was purchased way back around 1980 and I've had a fair few since then over the years but,I'm done with them now.I'll stay German cars but,never VAG again

[knt]

I agree, after about 1000 miles the turbo in my TSI needed repalcing.

I've got to admit defeat and say that I wouldn't.

Having owned a mk2 polo years ago which gave me untold amounts of grief I've given the VW brand a second chance with my mk5 TDI and have finally thrown in the towel on VW.

I've got a leaking rad now, after so many "common faults". I came from owning a mk6 fiesta which had NO faults whatsoever.

I honestly believe that VW are coasting on the brand image of high build quality created during the late 80's/early 90's and the other manufacturers have caught them up with lower priced machinery.

I have fixed nearly every problem I've had on this car myself and would seriously advise people against buying a second hand one. The costs of a garage fixing all the problems I've had would have been at leaast £2k by my estimation. The car in parts alone in the last 6 months of ownership has cost me nearly £1,000.

Here's my list of "common faults":

Rear brake caliper binding.
Rear wheel bearing worn out.
O/S/R central locking broken.
Hesitation at 1,800RPM.
Door handle mechanism came loose on every door.
Faulty expansion tank.
Faulty turbo pipe seals.
Leaking radiator.
Faulty expansion cap.
EGR valve broken and replaced.
Manifold control flap broken and replaced.
Alloy wheel corrosion.
Water on inside of rear window.
Random operation of electric windows.
Radio control knobs worn away.
Terrible 1st-2nd gearchange when cold.
Suspension drop-links worn.
Rattles from O/S/R door, centre air vent and L/H side of dash.
Lumpy engine idle.

[knt]

It does feel good seating inside a VW when out and about, but that's like any other desirable brand like the BMW, Mercedes etc...

As for the MK6, I've read in order for VW to reduce production costs they're going to use cheaper components.

I tend to agree.

I've owned more Fords than VW's and have had far less problems with them, if any at all.

Thing is, the VW's are far nicer places to be and have an undescribable desirability.

VW really do need to sort themselves out. The MK2 Golf on which they cemented their reputation has been gone over 15 years now and the quality does not seem to have got close to it or back to it in all that time.

I'd interested to know what the 'cost cut' MK6 Golf is like.

[knt]

I wouldn't hold my breath too long for the MK6 to be any better than the MK5.

I believe on the new golf they are trying to improve the build quality of the interior!!
I read somewhere that a lot of money was spent on the suspension set up on the mark 5 and the interior suffered.

I think it is a case that perhaps other manufacturers have caught up in terms of build quality

Toyota are now no were near the brand they were once

VW skimped on quality in the Mk5 and diverted the cash into designing the rear suspension to make the handle like the focus.

Mk4's are much better built and that is also why they hold there money better. I have had three Mk4's now and haven't had trouble with any of them though looking at the faults you have had with your Mk5 I think I will wait for the Mk6!

[knt]

It's not the build quality of the interior I'm worried about, I'm more worried about the quality of mechanical and electrical component parts.

I believe on the new golf they are trying to improve the build quality of the interior!!
I read somewhere that a lot of money was spent on the suspension set up on the mark 5 and the interior suffered.

I think it is a case that perhaps other manufacturers have caught up in terms of build quality

Toyota are now no were near the brand they were once