Comments on: Buyer's Premorse

By: WCE

WCE — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:16:19 +0000

Huh. It seems almost random.

I’ve got 2 VWs. One is a 9 year old Passat, the other a new TDI Sportwagen.

The issue I’ve had is that terrible roads have killed 2 oil pans. In nine years I’ve had two electrical issues, both switches that were not too hard to replace, and they haven’t recurred. My main beef is the “soft touch” coatings they used. They were really great for about 3 years. Now they are peeling off and look sort of nasty despite the fact that I keep the car very clean. The TDI just has plastic, without the coat. It’s not as high end, but it should be fine forever.

By: peterb

peterb — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:16:57 +0000

First off, I hope you don’t think that there is anything wrong with car wankerdom! I’m a car wanker too.

In context of this article, the “wanky” part is not “I like this car” but rather comparing different cars without reference to price.

By: jkp1187

jkp1187 — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:07:02 +0000

Pokémon isn’t what I was thinking….the grille just looks like it has an overbite. I think it looks better on the new RL. [Shrugs]. Enough to steer me away from it, but if you’re cool with it that’s all that matters. I’m sure you’ll get 10 years of use out of it easily, though. Much more, probably. Sure are a lot of old Acura Legends prowling around Pittsburgh.

Agree with holding off on the tech package. In-car nav systems get outdated in just a couple of years. Worse, automakers like to thread all kinds of in-car systems through them now, too, like HVAC and stereo controls. So when they inevitably break in five years, you basically have to drop a thousand or two on replacing it, or else live without air conditioning.

And I just hope you don’t consign me to wankerdom when you hear that I’m buying a 135i.

By: psu

psu — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:43:33 +0000

I have often thought that very thought. Now of course I have to avoid that sort of thinking because it can only lead to inappropriate shopping.

By: r.

r. — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:11:28 +0000

It’s too bad there are no Acura wagons in North America. I already have an electrically unreliable German wagon (granted, almost 20 years old now). While I do love it, sometimes I long for a Japanese version where all the button pushy bits work, in addition to it getting me from A to B with all my crap in the back.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:24:04 +0000

Glad you found a car you liked. I have a 5.5 year old Honda Civic Hybrid with 130k or so miles on it, and I haven’t had to bring it in for anything other than scheduled maintenance. Well, that and the fact that I have to bring it in to have them put back the bumper where I tore it half off by backing too sharply out of my driveway during 8-foot snowbanks of ice season. But if you’re less of a dumbass than me, your Honda/Acura should last forever.

I’m dedicated to driving this car into the ground, which hopefully won’t be for another 80 thousand miles or so (or about 20 years with my now greatly reduced driving schedule), but I’m already eyeing the new Insight.

By: tims

tims — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:48:20 +0000

Heh.. I bought a VW New Beetle in 2001. Now, I don’t know the first thing about cars, but it’s been fun to drive, and seeing people punch each other in the arm as I drive by is kind of priceless

That said… it broke down within 2 weeks. Electrical problem. It then broke down like clockwork every 6 months. Electrical problems every time. After 6 years or so it finally seemed like the electronics had been ironed out, so the mechanical problems started hitting. The actual service at the dealership has been excellent, but I just wish I wasn’t practically on a first-name basis with them.

So yeah.. I won’t be buying another VW anytime soon.

By: peterb

peterb — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:34:57 +0000

I like the TSX styling. I’ve heard people complain about the grille because “it looks like a Pokémon!” which might, in fact, explain why I like it. I found the older model TSXs to look pretty boring.

Bavaria -> Wolfsburg: fixed. Thanks for the correction.

I didn’t get the technology package because it didn’t really look very compelling, and I have yet to meet an in-car navigation system that’s as good as an iPhone.

By: jkp1187

jkp1187 — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:31:12 +0000

Nice story.

I can’t say I’m a fan of the new TSX’s styling, but if you like it, more power to you. Did you get the technology package, too?

I still think it’s an atrocity that they uselessly stuffed an optional V-6 in it this year instead of the 2.2L diesel. I just envision that one creating extra weight, lower MPG, and mushier handling without really adding much to the experience. The TSX – like all good Hondas – begs for a high-revving 4 cylinder.

I really, REALLY wish I had confidence in VW/Audi reliability. It has supposedly improved lately, but….the word on the street (read: places like TDIClub.com) is that service remains atrocious. The word I’ve heard is that buying a new VW is like buying a brand-new car without a warranty. It’s too bad – I almost certainly would’ve gotten a Jetta GLI or TDI as my next car. Maybe if reliability trends continue upward, a TDI Sportwagen might be an interesting car to consider when Mrs. JKP1187’s car needs to be replaced.

Just…please…for the love of god….don’t wait 100,000 miles to do an oil change. [shudders]

[nitpick] VW isn’t in Bavaria. It’s in Wolfsburg, near the old intra-German border east of Hanover. [/nitpick]