RE: AUDI CREAMED

["Dr. Bob" <rmalinka@spec.net>]

At 09:30 PM 10/11/98 -0400, you wrote:
>The only problem I've had with the beetle, is the little plastic doo-hickey
>(getting technical ;) )with the gear numbers, which snaps onto the shifters.
>pops off, and FLIES across the car.

Just wait until you or the dealer has to go under the hood ----- you'll be
sorry.
The lack of proper mechanical layout and design of this car will be directly
reflected
in the magnitude of your repair bills. Unless you do the repairs yourself -
in which case
you'll still be sorry.. 

>the Jetta, on the other hand:
>
>4) car pulls to the left when driving

Had the same problem with my '95 A3. Turns out after three visits to the
dealer and threatening to go directly to VW it was a defective tie rod,
which was replaced by VW under warranty.  But, I to have had a host of other
strange problems not previously manifested in the previous VW's I have
owned.  I've had the muffler tail pipe just fall off while driving down the
expressway. Several wheel lugs retapped because they were stripped. Replaced
the entire instrument pod due to failure (the gas gauge still periodically
doesn't read correctly even though I just picked up gas and I know the tanks
full). Drivers door lock broken when delivered. The adhesive fastened
plastic door moldings keep falling off especially when it gets very hot. The
A2 molding is mechanically fastened. VW has replaced the moldings twice
under a special complaint file, however, I just noticed another one getting
ready to fall off and the dealer refused to replace it again. I have already
replaced all the ignition wires due to the engine missing. Matter of fact
the ignition coil to the distributor wire was replaced by VW on a recall
prior to my installation of a whole new set of ignition wires. I could go on
and on with the list and at one time considered going to VW under the lemon
law. Most of the items are documented but some of them I have fixed myself
because I got fed up with going to the dealer repeatedly.  The items I
repaired myself have never broken again since. The bugs seem to have finally
been eliminated. The last two years, other than the moldings falling off and
the gas gauge anomoly, the car has been fine. But I must admit I'm holding
my breath. I have become an expert on the A3 out of neccessity and I'm still
discovering strange quirks with the car. It's a great ride but I wish it was
as reliable as my A2 and the previously owned A1's.
The A2 had two bugs which had to be fixed initially when I bought the car
and since then it has performed flawlessly. All I have replaced on the A2
were normal wear and tear items like the tires, muffler and battery, and the
car will be ten years old next June. The paint finish on the A2 is superior
to the A3 and it has no rust.   I just hope VW has done it's homework on the
new A4 because the NB scares me.

Sorry this got to long but it's just my 2 cents.


Dr. B  










>
>this is just off the top of my head. there's more, i'm just kinda' too
>pissed
>at it to remember. I expected a car for $23K window to be better. It drives
>REALLY nice, and has lots of power, but...
>
>What's your opinion of the GLX? And any positive changes in the past years?
>what about the new Passat?
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-jettaglx@igtc.com [mailto:owner-jettaglx@igtc.com]On Behalf
>> Of deecee@exit109.com
>> Sent: Sunday, October 11, 1998 9:07 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
>>
>
>
>
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