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Hatchbacks Volkswagen GTI 2007 GTI vs Audi A3
99 messages, Last post on Jul 16, 2007 at 8:37 AM
You are in the Volkswagen GTI Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: andres3 (Mar 23, 2007 12:29 pm) That's all well and good for people who deal with records and not with reality. I've owned four VWs over 23 years and they have all been reliable - that's because I make sure they are maintained properly - and that includes preventive maintenance. It's not rocket science. The majority of drivers, IMHO, don't know jack about maintaining a vehicle (just get in, turn the key, and drive - and usually get it serviced only when something goes wrong instead of at the normal service intervals). When you apply bad habits to any vehicle, the reliability tends to go down. And if you think an Audi is more reliable than a VW - you're fooling yourself. An Audi will break down just as fast as a VW if the maintenance is neglected. The only difference being the size of the hole in one's wallet will be much bigger with the Audi ($$$$$). |
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Replying to: 600kgolfgt (Mar 23, 2007 5:06 pm) I hear andres as my BMWs have been bad but my 2001 Jetta was scary awful. |
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Replying to: 600kgolfgt (Mar 23, 2007 5:06 pm) The fact that my compass display disappeared and my check engine light is on due to 'the low fuel pressure sensor is reading too high' is due improper maintenance? On my 12 month old mkV gti w/ 7000 miles?? No. As blueguy said vw electronics are poorly engineered trash. VW needs to revisit the KISS (keep it simple stupid) engineering rule for it's electronics. More computers/sensors/software tasks does not equal a better product. After letting the dealership dick around with the above problems for half a day, I said screw it. They couldn't fix the problems, and the car still drives fine and is safe. I guess I'll just live with it. Not at all happy with my dealer experience....
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Replying to: jitteryjoe_246 (Mar 24, 2007 2:22 am) One more very important detail I forgot to mention - I avoid purchasing ANY car within the first couple of years in the production cycle - because that's when the highest probability of BUGS (electrical, mechanical, etc) occur. I chalk this experience to my background in engineering and as a former auto mechanic. For example, here are the VW's I've owned: 1975 Scirocco Mk1 (first year of production) - Tons of BUGS early on - faulty switches (including a leaking oil pressure switch that resulted in a fried engine), fried wiring harness (had to replace that), an expensive-to-replace piece of junk Zenith Carburetor (replaced that with a 2-barrel Weber Downdraft), and ignition points (replaced by an electronic ignition system). Once I fixed those bugs, the car lasted 250,000 miles before a tractor-trailer hit me (I walked away from that accident). 1987 VW Golf GT Mk2 (Third year in production cycle, last year built in the Westmoreland County, PA factory) - Lasted 16 years, 624,000 miles, very reliable right up to the day I hit a deer at 55mph (once again, I walked away from that accident even though the car was totalled). On to the present: 1997 Jetta Trek Mk3 2.0L (4th year in production) - my commuter car. The only major replacement item was a cracked ignition coil when I purchased the car at 80,000 miles. It now has 210,000 miles and doesn't burn a drop of oil (that maintenance thing, again). I've gradually added some performance mods which turned the formally anemic 2.0L car into a strong, spirited runner: APR Q-Tech Chip upgrade Techtonics High-Flow Catalytic Converter Jetex 2.5" 3-muffler stainless steel cat-back exhaust Stainless Steel Brake Lines Zimmerman Vented/Cross-Drilled brake rotors EBC "Green Stuff" performance brake pads Mk4 aluminum rear brake caliper upgrade 15" Borbet Type H wheels with Goodyear Eagle HR 195-50-15 all season tires ITG Performance filter (never needs oiling) And last, but not least: 2003 Wolfsburg Jetta 1.8T (Fifth year of production cycle) - Currently has 90,000 miles on it - came from the factory with the upgraded ignition coils (so I avoided that debacle). Had two factory recall items (rear door latch adjustment and brake light switch replacement). The only unscheduled replacement item I encountered was a faulty #3 fuel injector (which I diagnosed with my VAG-COM diagnostic module and software - the same one the factory uses). Buyers get all wild-eyed for the latest and greatest gadget proclaimed by the automotive marketing departments. Many buyers want to be the "first on the block to have brand X" without realizing that there will be some bugs during the first couple of years (or so) of production. Then they wonder why the car doesn't run flawless and perfect right out of the gate and proclaim it to be unreliable. I'm happy for the success of the GTI (so far), but there is no way I will buy it until I give the factory a couple of years or so to work out the bugs. And that goes for Toyotas, Hondas, Audis, BMWs, and (fill in your favorite brand). I was burned once (from the first year out of the factory debacle) with the 75 Scirocco. I made sure I wasn't going to make that same mistake again with future car purchases... Now you know my secret for successful VW ownership (the same can be applied to almost any make/model of vehicle).. |
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Replying to: jitteryjoe_246 (Mar 24, 2007 2:22 am) The fact that my compass display disappeared and my check engine light is on due to 'the low fuel pressure sensor is reading too high' is due improper maintenance? On my 12 month old mkV gti w/ 7000 miles?? No. That would be best decribed as the dreaded "early production cycle" blues... As blueguy said vw electronics are poorly engineered trash. VW needs to revisit the KISS (keep it simple stupid) engineering rule for it's electronics. More computers/sensors/software tasks does not equal a better product. Neither does too many computers/sensors/software tasks. Which is why I won't purchase a brand new car anytime soon. My 2003 Wolfsburg Jetta doesn't have half the electronic gizmos the newer VWs have - and I still think IT is overladen with electronics. It's also the reason why my favorite daily driver is my 1997 Jetta Trek... Germans = strong in the mechanical engineering department Germans = mediocre in the electrical engineering department (overly complex in design) That being said, I do agree with you about the dreaded dealership experience. Fortunately my local VW dealer is one of the better ones in my area (even drivers who purchased their VWs elsewhere get them serviced at my dealership - because, quite frankly, the other dealerships in my area are quite LOUSY...)
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| DIDN"T GIVE ME THAT MANY PROBLEMS I REACHED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND MILES AND SPEND ZERO ON REPAIRS> | |
| DIDN"T GIVE ME THAT MANY PROBLEMS I REACHED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND MILES AND SPEND ZERO ON REPAIRS> | |
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Replying to: 600kgolfgt (Mar 24, 2007 7:16 am) I don't think 'early production cycle' can be blamed. I say it's piss poor engineering on the electronics. The mechanical components seem solid so far. |
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Replying to: andres3 (Mar 24, 2007 9:26 pm) Talk to some of your fellow Accord owners who had their transmissions replaced. Also - Don't drive angry... 
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Replying to: 600kgolfgt (Mar 25, 2007 4:23 pm) Other than that though, no mechanical issues whatsoever.
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