Guys,

I am about to go sign the papers tomorrow for a new Golf TDI, but I am now having second thoughts.

Even though newer VWs apparently are pretty reliable, I am just now sure. According to CR and some of the dedicated VW forums, the Golfs are pretty reliable.

I do have some concern with the HPFP failure issues with the new diesel engines, but they seem isolated and rare.

I currently drive an 04 TSX which has been bomb proof for the last 7 years, so going to VW or any German brand car is ify....

 

After having many friends with awful VW's of various sorts, i would never buy one... Maybe they've gotten better, but I still wouldn't touch one. They are cool cars though!

 

VW and Audi still have old common problems (mostly electrical) that even all American cars have fixed. I say no

 

I once owned a 2006 GTI that was bought back under the lemon law. That car had problems from the first 2 weeks of owning it and I bought it new. I now lease a 2011 VW CC and havent had any problems so far. I was very reluctant to go back to VW (which is why i leased) after owning an Acura and an Infiniti with impecible reliability and my history with VW but I am happy with my VW CC now and love the german charactaristics of the car. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

OP - Once the Car Talk regulars wake up you'll get some good responses... many from first hand experience. I'd venture a guess and say that the majoritiy of the responses will be positive. VW has come a long way as have all German manufacturers. Are they as good as some of the Japanese brands? Not quite yet, but they have closed the gap considerably. We have owned two Audi's (06 A4, 06 A6) and currently have a 2010 E350... and all have been as good or better then the Acura's I have owned in the past. In fact, I'd say they've all been better then the 2002 TLS I sold in 2005 b/c of the possibility of another tranny failure when the warranty expired.

So, my vote would be go for it. Golf's have historically been pretty good vehicles and the new one should be no exception!!

 

 

I have a Jetta Sportwagen (2009) and it's a great car.

If I had the money I would have purchased a Jetta Sportwagen TDI.

The Golf/Rabbit is among Consumer Reports most reliable cars. I would definitely do it. The American Golf TDI is essentially a diesel GTI or what they call the GTD in Europe.

 

there are very few brands id buy instead of lease - VW is definetely not one of them.

 

You done your homework but you seem to not believe in it?

I say do it. I drove the jetta sportwagon tdi last year and still wishing i had one.

 

I went from an 04 TSX to a 06 GTI. The TSX was a 3 yr. lease, the vdub was a 4 yr. lease. I couldn't have been happier with the GTI. No problems and a blast to drive. I really miss that car.

 

If you are leasing it fine, but I wouldn't buy one its just an expensive domestic, breaks down like one and costs double or tripple the amount to fix problems. But I am sure you are aware of the reliability of the brand I've had many friends make the mistake so just my thoughts. If you are buying I surely would get the extended warranty as a must. Good Luck

 

^^^ sorry to throw the leasing idea in there. the OP made no mention of leasing. i was merely making the point that there are few brands worthy of purchase (imo). leasing - different story. i almost leased a tiguan 6 months back, but the lease rate was pretty horrendous - as with many VWs.

 

I would buy it no problem. I love VW and no they aren't as expensive to fix as people make it out to be. 3 of my friends have VWs from MK2 to MK4 and no real big problems with them. None that you can't take care of yourself in one afternoon. And OP would be buying a car so if anything did go wrong, as it happens on other cars too, he would have warranty for 3-4 years.

My boss got a Jetta 2.5 in 06 brand new. Had warranty for 3 years, had a few problems. They fixed them all up. In 09 his warranty expired and he hasn't had any problems since.

 

It's funny how Honda owners invariably throw the old "German cars are more expensive than Japanese cars" argument out over and over.

I have an independent shop that works on German and Japanese and they charge $85 an hour for either one.

We're not talking about an Audi RS4. It's just a diesel Golf/Rabbit. It's the same reliable car as the Golf 2.5 with a different engine.

 

owned a 04 Jetta GLI VR6 6spd... tranny was garbage, motor never had any issues but the car itself was falling apart. NEVER AGAIN!!!

 

I second!

Labor wise, sure...it's the same anywhere you go! But parts wise, German cars have been known to cost more than Japanese cars. For example, an oil change costs $45 at Acura while a Service A costs $145 at Mercedes.

 

Yes. I would buy a VW. I've been a fan of GTI and TDI for a long time. I always bought one too.

And even the new beetle looks fking awesome.

 

it's a brand new car with warranty people. I am sure he's gonna be fine.

 

haha always bought one? How many you got now?

 

I would get one.

 

From what I've read, the VW TDI engine is reliable with no major problems. Get the car, drive it for 3 years, and if it gives you trouble, then buy an extended warranty or sell it.

 

Hell at the rate gas prices are, you could buy it.. drive it for a couple of years then sell without much loss.

Have you seen the price of these used TDI on the market. Its insane.

 

If you buy VW and go with the Golf, you're getting into one of VW's most reliable car. It was the older cars like the passat that brought down the name of the VW. And the toureg, which I hear is still unreliable. I dont know much about the TDI engine the VW runs, but I know the 2.5L is suppose to be pretty reliable. Never saw many problems on that engine or the golf in general over on the golf forums. Overall this MK6 Golf/GTI is a lot more reliable than the MK5 with the FSI engine, referring to the gti here.

 

I almost bougth a 2011 Golf instead of my 11 Mazda3. I would have no problem buying a TDI except one thing, its what the same price as a GTI and I would always wonder about the fun I am missing.

 

+1, they barely loose any value

 

^^^ ~2000 passat. good lord. my GF had one new at the time, and half of the vents, armrest, glovebox, and two headrests were broken inside of 12 months of purchase.

same goes for that generation jetta. you could literally take apart most interior items with your bare hands. as a matter of fact, one of my friends in HS had an enemy do exactly that. the interior of the car was taken apart and laid on the pavement beside the car - not a single tool was used. after seeing that in person, i vowed to never buy a VW.

 

Problematic in the past, but much more reliable now.

 

I would get a CC. And then I would hate myself for doing so when it starts to break down.

 

Golf TDI.....sign those papers now!!!!

A fantastic car!

 

wouldnt recommend buying one ... leasing would be a better option

 

have owned VW's in the past, enjoyed them

 

w/ warranty, I wouldn't have a problem buying one. Even a few year after warranty is up, probably wouldn't mind, depending on if I had any issues while under warranty.

If I was planning on owning it for 10+ years, maybe I'd consider something else, but otherwise I wouldn't have a problem buying a VW.

 

Yes. They drive great. 0 problems that i havent caused. 08 rabbit. Anyone who says no they are unreliable are not using their heads.

 

If my rabbit was offered in TDI trim, id be rocking an oil burner right now...

 

Did the OP get the TDI yet?!?!?

 

Recently bought a GTI and couldn't be happier. Car is quick, nimble, the quality is amazing for the price you pay and the fuel economy is great. It's a great overall package and I couldn't find anything that comes close to it for the price.

Out of all the cars I've owned, ironically an Acura was the least reliable one. I say go for it.

 

^^ Did I miss the thread? Did you get a MkVI?

I love my MkV.....everything you mentioned, and extremely reliable.

 

I put my deposit down today .

The car is a dealer trade so I should get it sometime this week or early next.

I got the car for 500 below invoice and 2.75% for up to 60 months.

I am excited for a new car but still extremely nervous about the purchase of a VW.

 

^ Seriously, make a thread FastAcura!

 

Congrats man!

Don't get nervous you dummy.

Enjoy the car! Please post some good pics of it once you have it!