Don't buy a new 2019 Jetta!

[Delta]

Originally Posted by gregk24
Originally Posted by NO2
All the more reason to stick with an MT.


Not necessarily, the manuals in the previous and current models don't have a track record of reliability.


I will say the manual in my MK5 was great. My MK7 GTI, no so much, at 9K I'm having some big issues with the dual mass flywheel/clutch/transmission combo. Thought the 6 speeds were better than the 5's, but I guess not. But that's a conversation for another day...

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by gregk24


I would say the vast majority of VW owners are happy with their purchase. I know we are. VW tend to get a bad rap on this site, especially from people who don't own one.


My observation too. Perhaps it was because we bought a German-made vehicle vs Mexican, but ours, any my brother's two, have been excellent.

 

[wemay]

Old habits die hard. VW makes fine vehicles. EVERY mfr has hiccups with new platforms. Some folks are just spring-loaded-critics, waiting for the opportunity to launch a generalized, across the board, vague bashing.

 

[BTLew81]

Many vw cars for me. My Tiguan was the worst after many great ones. Same eight speed. Agree it's a bad setup right now. They will figure it out.

 

[Mr Nice]

Avoid any first year model vehicle.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted by wwillson
We own two ZF 8 speeds (Charger and Durango), which I think are the best transmissions I've owned. They don't hunt and are quick shifting and smooth after about 25,000 miles.


I agree; the 8HP45 in my M235i has 44,000 miles on it and it performs flawlessly- on the street, road course, and drag strip.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted by gregk24

I would say the vast majority of VW owners are happy with their purchase. I know we are. VW tend to get a bad rap on this site, especially from people who don't own one.


You should realize by now that the foremost experts on BMWs, Porsche's, VWs, etc., are BITOG member who have never even sat in one. I recall one recent "expert" who posted in a thread on buying a Porsche Panamera. The basis for his worthless comments were stories from some guy he knew at work and a YouTube video...

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted by wemay
Old habits die hard. VW makes fine vehicles. EVERY mfr has hiccups with new platforms. Some folks are just spring-loaded-critics, waiting for the opportunity to launch a generalized, across the board, vague bashing.


Agreed, and a lot of the bashing is due to the critics' "sour grapes" mindset.

 

[dishdude]

It seems like every thread lately turns into a brand bashing fest with the same people saying the same things. It's really getting old.

 

[simple_gifts]

Not sure how people get bad impressions about them, except the OP is recommending avoiding the latest MY due to issues his mother's is having....

 

[Zee09]

Originally Posted by MCompact
Originally Posted by gregk24

I would say the vast majority of VW owners are happy with their purchase. I know we are. VW tend to get a bad rap on this site, especially from people who don't own one.


You should realize by now that the foremost experts on BMWs, Porsche's, VWs, etc., are BITOG member who have never even sat in one. I recall one recent "expert" who posted in a thread on buying a Porsche Panamera. The basis for his worthless comments were stories from some guy he knew at work and a YouTube video...

It is the internet ain't it? You can be anybody you want to be.
Plus everything is out of perspective as well.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

The 1980 VW Rabbit I once owned was enough to convince me to never ever purchase that brand again. TOO WEIRD.

 

[ctrcbob]

I have an 8 Speed in my 2018 Sonata 2.0T with 10,000 miles on it. Transmission is GREAT.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Originally Posted by Chris B.
I don't know how VW and Chrysler are still in business....nothing but junk across their entire line up. Why buy from them when there are so many other brands with solid engineering and quality?
Originally Posted by gregk24
Originally Posted by rooflessVW
Are there any drivability concerns or is it just noise?
Just noise as of now. Someone had their transmission sent over to Germany to have it examined by VW Germany. Someone else had the pan dropped or had the transmission apart and it was full of metal glitter. Not sure if it was related to the noise or something else.

I wouldn't be worried about VW overall too much. They have come in slightly below average for reliability (JD Power first 3 years Dependability Survey of 2014 models, all models). And the '14 Tiguan is actually one of the most reliable models on the market in the small SUV segment, just that model.


In the first 3 years of ownership, for the 2014 models, here are the rankings by brand and the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles:

1. (tie) Lexus 110

1. (tie) Porsche 110

3. Toyota 123

4. Buick 126

5. Mercedes-Benz 131

6. Hyundai 133

7. BMW 139

8. Chevrolet 142

9. Honda 143

10. Jaguar 144

11. Kia 148

12. (tie) Lincoln 150

12. (tie) Mini 150

14. GMC 151

15. Cadillac 152

16. Audi 153

17. Volvo 154

AVERAGE 156

18. Chrysler 159

19. (tie) Subaru 164

19. (tie) Volkswagen 164

21. Mazda 166

22. Acura 167

23. Nissan 170

24. Land Rover 178

25. Mitsubishi 182

26. (tie) Ford 183

26. (tie) Ram 183

28. Dodge 187

29. Infiniti 203

30. Jeep 209

31. Fiat 298


Top three models per segment (in order of fewest issues)

Small car
Chevrolet Sonic
Nissan Versa

Compact car
Toyota Prius
Buick Verano (tie)
Honda Civic (tie)

Compact Premium Car
Lexus ES
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Acura ILX

Midsize Car
Toyota Camry
Chevrolet Malibu
Hyundai Sonata

Midsize Sporty Car
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Mustang

Midsize Premium Car
Lexus GS
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Audi A7

Large Car
Toyota Avalon
Buick LaCrosse
Kia Cadenza

Small SUV
Volkswagen Tiguan
Buick Encore
Hyundai Tucson

Compact MPV
Toyuta Prius V
Kia Soul

Compact SUV
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Chevrolet Equinox
GMC Terrain

Compact Premium SUV
Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
Acura RDX
Volvo XC60

Midsize Pickup
Honda Ridgeline
Nissan Frontier

Midsize SUV
Toyota Venza
Ford Edge (tie)
Honda Pilot (tie)

Midsize Premium SUV
Lexus RX
Lexus GX
Porsche Cayenne

Minivan
Toyota Sienna
Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan

Large SUV
Chevrolet Tahoe
GMC Yukon

Large Light Duty Pickup
Ford F-150
Toyota Tundra
Chevrolet Silverado (tie)
Ram 1500 (tie)

Large Heavy Duty Pickup
Chevrolet Silverado HD
GMC Sierra HD
Ford Super Duty

 

[Andrew1972]

VW does something right despite the US market as they and Toyota are neck in neck for #1 and #2 sales volume slots world wide.

My wife likely has same transmission in her 2018 VW Tiguan with 10k miles. Shift mostly pretty well and no odd noises. No complaints with 28.5 mpg average with 50/50 mix.

 

[maxdustington]

OOOOH BITOG VW bash thread let me get it on it:

I hate VW, they are unreliable, polluting and overengineered. The same engineering team that made the Tiger tank designed the MKVII back in 1943 and they just found the plans and put it into production. You know how unreliable the Tiger tank and any other machines built in Germany are right? It's not like people actually buy VWs, BMWs, MBs, Knipex tools, etc. they are all junk. They are the largest automaker in the world because they scammed emissions and used that money to hide VW behind other marques. OP should just purchase a nice Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata/Accent/Sante Fe or Buick with a 3.8 V6. They never break, ever.

I've never owned one, but my coworker's sister's neighbor's BIL had one and he said it required needless expensive services and specific fluids. It blew up and VW denied warranty coverage because he didn't use their expensive oil and have it changed needlessly often. If I can use the cheapest oil for 10K miles in my 92 Tercel, why do VWs require specific oil?

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted by madRiver
VW does something right despite the US market as they and Toyota are neck in neck for #1 and #2 sales volume slots world wide.

My wife likely has same transmission in her 2018 VW Tiguan with 10k miles. Shift mostly pretty well and no odd noises. No complaints with 28.5 mpg average with 50/50 mix.




The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance is now neck and neck with Toyota for #1. VAG is #3. It's a close race.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted by maxdustington

I've never owned one, but my coworker's sister's neighbor's BIL had one and he said it required needless expensive services and specific fluids. It blew up and VW denied warranty coverage because he didn't use their expensive oil and have it changed needlessly often. If I can use the cheapest oil for 10K miles in my 92 Tercel, why do VWs require specific oil?


I've got you beat, I know a guy who heard that his best friend's sister's college roommate knew a guy who had a neighbor that went to a dentist whose broker told him that it cost his second cousin $3000 to change the oil on his Boxster.
So there.

 

[Silverado12]

Can't speak for VW, but the 9 speed auto in the wife's Jeep is ok. I would say there are going to be reflashes and/or different oil, etc. to get the bugs worked out like others said. Jeep had issues with their version of the zf 9 speed in 2014 when it first came out. Now it's fine.

 

[gregk24]

Originally Posted by Triple_Se7en
Shocked that this company still stands alone and was never bought-out. Been producing subpar vehicles now for many decades.


Really? I'm not, they make good all around cars and happen to be the WORLDS largest automaker.