RE: AUDI CREAMED

[Bryan Billings <vwxcross@worldnet.att.net>]

My NB has never seen the service department with the excpetion of showing off the supercharger.
Bryan

-----Original Message-----
From:	deecee@exit109.com [SMTP:deecee@exit109.com]
Sent:	Sunday, October 11, 1998 6:07 PM
To:	jettaglx@igtc.com
Subject:	RE: AUDI CREAMED

At 07:46 PM 10/11/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Piece of crap, huh? Tell ya what...I bought my NB 8/3/98
>and my jetta GLX in september. Beetle hasn't even SEEN the service dept.
>I'm arranging my *FOURTH* visit in the Jetta, in like 3 - 4 weeks of
>ownership.
>
>Given my choice now, I'd have waited for the 1.8T beetle, or gotten a
>passat.
>
>
>Speak not of which you don't know. If you don't own a beetle, keep your
>mouth shut
>about it. It's a MUCH better put-together car than the Jetta. No contest.
>
>
>Flame all you want, but I have BOTH in my driveway. And I KNOW the
>difference.


Tony, I have been around for awhile and can speak with the experience to
back it up.  I saw the NB in October of last year on a trailer bound for
Michigan. Remember this car wasn't seen by the public until Jan5 of this
year. We opened the hood and couldn't believe how every thing was a jam
fit. Because of this type of manufacturing process of jam fitting is the
reason we have had 6 recalls on this car. Most were minor upgrades and one
was very important. The battery tray. I have also seen the new updated
battery tray cut in to the ABS wiring harness. We had 3 Engineers visiting
my dealership the day we were working on that car. They couldn't believe
what we showed them.  The took video tape of the car and also took the
bracket back with them. I also heard  that a railroad car with 18 NB burnt
up in Georgia a few weeks ago along with the railroad car.  

The quality control is getting better that I have to agree with. The turn
around started with the 1996 Golf/Jetta.  I am afraid of what the next
generation cars will be like.  Consider yourself lucky with your NB I have
seen many problems that can be directly linked to production design and I
guess they are growing pains. I can't wait to see how they cram the 1.8t
engine. The thought of the glass sliding roof scares me. If it is the same
design as Porsche uses that can mean trouble. The technician who works next
me is our Porsche tech. I watched him spend over 30 hours disassembling a
targa roof to replace 2 $1.00 clips. The repair manual states that the rear
window must be removed and discarded. The sliding rails are riveted and
held in place with urethane sealer.  

One of the the scariest aspects of all the VW's is to me excessive use of
plastic components. Look at them the wrong way and they will break. All
trim parts are made to go together and heaven help you if they have to be
removed. Chances are something will break and have to be ordered.  When I
attended the Audi A6 intro class the instructor  told us that whenever
removing a piece of trim . "Pull on it until it sounds like you broke it"
If you don't get that sound pull harder.  Nice way to build a car ! The
scary part is that it works.

I am quite sure that many NB owners have never lifted up the hood. This car
is not for the weekend mechanic. Oil changes are about the only repair a NB
owner could do.

If I had the money I would drive an Audi A4. Since I don't I will keep on
driving my 1992 Jetta Eco Diesel. Hell it only has 230,000 miles and runs
like the day it was born. Besides it's paid for.

Don