From: squiec@rs6408.ecs.rpi.edu (Craig L. Squier)
Subject: Re: Jetta experiences (Was:Re: info on jetta)
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Distribution: rec.autos.vw
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 15:43:12 GMT

In article <wf2hDdi00iV3Q7esgZ@andrew.cmu.edu> Jason Paul Togyer <jt3y+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>Well, I don't know a whit about lifters or Chilton manuals, but I do
>know that our '89 Jetta has been one problem after another.  I will
>admit that it has been marginally better than the '80 Plymouth that was
>traded in on it, but... 8)
>
>The car has 40K on the clock.  To date, the paint has peeled off the
>hood, the left headlight has fallen out of it's bracket, the
>seat-belt/starter interlock has gone bad (making it a little difficult
>to start the car at times), the back door refuses  to open, the back
>door panel (inside) fell off, the door lock pull-up broke, the starter
>fell out (yes, fell out), the computer needed replaced, the CV joint
>dust seals went bad...and I could go on, but you get the idea.  It has
>come home at least 3 times on the back of the garageman's wrecker. 
>Thank God for the AAA.
>
>This is not a car that has been driven hard.  Oil changes at 3K,
>Tune-ups twice a year, garage kept, regularly washed, all maintenance
>intervals kept.  I might mention that the dealer that the car was
>purchased from has proven inept, and all service has been done by a
>local garage.  I might also mention that the only thing VWoA has been
>willing to pay for thus far has been the paint on the hood and the
>computer; their regional field service rep has told us to go pound salt
>otherwise.  The so-called "extended warranty" is a cruel joke good only
>for starting fires.  The BBB refuses to do anything because the car has
>over 36K.  Anyone for a class action suit?  8-(
>
>Pluses:  The car is roomy, handles like a slot-car, gets great mileage,
>drives nicely (shifts well, plenty of power), and has a large trunk.  
>
>Bottom line:  Will I ever buy another VW?  Not on your sweet life.  I'll
>walk first.  Sorry to all the VW fans, but this car has been a real
>disappointment.  It certainly hasn't lived up to the memories of the '70
>Bug that was traded in on the Plymouth.  That car had some interesting
>quirks, but it wasn't a lemon.
>
>Gee, I hope I don't sound too bitter!  8-}
>
>--Jason Togyer
>     Carnegie Institute of Technology
>     Pittsburgh, Penn.
  THIS IS NOT A FLAME:
    Jason's experience's don't mean that ALL Vw's are junk, they're 
  definitely not. EVERY model of car has it's bad ones. Jason seems to have 
  gotten one of these "Monday " or "Friday" cars. His pluses seem  to be
  the norm for VW's as well. I feel bad that he's been disenchanted by
  VW's wonderful cars. VWG has complained themselves about the lack
  of customer service by VWoA. My experiences show, however, that VW's
  are an excellently engineered car for the money, and that the reliability
  -type maintenance(things that keep you from driving your car) is 
  excellent on these cars, regardless of how inept VWoA is. The thing that
  hurts me most is not that VW is losing face, but that VW is losing
  customers who probably would have bought a VW again if the customer
  service types had been cooler. Sorry Jason, maybe after your GM or 
  RIce-burner does the same thing you'll come back to VW again.
  ONCE AGAIN, THESE ARE MY OPINIONS, NO FLAMES PLEASE>
  Any reasonable comments are cool, however.... :)
 LATER                                                -Craig