- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 9 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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3 out of 7 people found this review helpful
2.5 stars
"Nice but Expensive for what it is..."
Pros: Truly sophisticated engine. Wonderful power and economy. Chassis is nice for long trips as well as great in the twisties. When most cars compromise one thing for another, this car breaks some rules
Cons: sophistication = UNBELIEVABLE tabs at the dealership when maintanence is needed. and 30 g's for a "hot hatch", theres more four your money out there.
Summary: Being a shade tree mechanic while also having a day job as a Mechanical Engineer, i'd say i have some experience with mechanical systems. I'll also say this, all german made cars have some serious innovation in their design. Not just a manufacturing stand point either, high end engine componentry, performance to handle the autobahn, blend of road manners and sportiness. But the flip side to all this is maintanence. Parts availability and cost, labor for mechanics who might not know what they are talking about, and the fact that every part of these vehicles (skin and structure) is made to crumble on even the slightest of impact. I drive a TDi Jetta. I love the diesels, but let me tell you whats happens when u have a 2 mph fender bender. The hood, bumper, and quarter pannels are f-ed. This will cost in the neighborhood of $4500. Then if any engine/transmission troubles arrise, you will be paying through the nose unless u have a premium insurance. Oh and if you are so mechanically inclined to do your own maintenence (as i have done for the last 120,000 mi), you will find out that some things were designed so that the average joe couldnt even begin to touch the vehicle. FOR EXAMPLE, after 2001 or so, there is no dip stick for the automatic transmission. The whole thing needs to be removed, filled with $100 of ATF, then computer calibrated then sealed. The whole thing costs more than it should on any vehicle. and this goes for anythign from a basic VW automatic to the high end audis. they are all in the same boat... so thats my rant. theres more to it if u want to know...
- 3 replies to this review
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It looks like this is just a commentary on the maintenance of VW - more specifically, the maintenance of an older Jetta TDI...
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It looks like this is just a commentary on the maintenance of VW - more specifically, the maintenance of an older Jetta TDI...
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So when you said "Expensive for what it is", you wheren't referring to the price tag, but the maintenance correct?
