From: chrisg@strobe.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Chris Granitz)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.vw
Subject: Re: Jetta experiences (Was:Re: info on jetta)
Date: 19 Nov 92 18:59:27 GMT
Distribution: rec.autos.vw
Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino CA, USA

In article <96y128a@rpi.edu> squiec@rs6408.ecs.rpi.edu (Craig L. Squier) writes:
>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
>>
>>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
>>
>>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
>>
>>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
>>
>>--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 

>  of customer service by VWoA. My experiences show, however, that VW's
>  are an excellently engineered car for the money, and that the reliability
>  ONCE AGAIN, THESE ARE MY OPINIONS, NO FLAMES PLEASE>
>  Any reasonable comments are cool, however.... :)
> LATER                                                -Craig

     I must agree with Craig's comments. VW's are wonderful cars. I have
watched many threads fly by here on the net about how some people's VW's
fall apart. While I believe these stories, I also believe that with a car
such a VW (where it is known to have some quality problems), some discrete
attention to various details of the car can really help to prevent or
eliminate most (not all) of these problems. With regular, casual inspection
many of the conditions leading to complete failure of a part or system can
be prevented. I have run into this many times with both of my VW`s (87 Golf
GT built in the poor-quality-plagued Pennsylvania Plant, and 90 Jetta GL).
I'll be looking around under the hood and I might find a hose that is
out of position or rubbing against something that it shouldn't be. It's a
condition that would probably lead to some ugly failure down the road. In
the case of the door panel above, I would suspect that something (an unusual
rattleing sound or a funny sound when the door is closed) must have preceded
the complete failure of the panel.

I'm sure most people will complain that this is not something you should have
to do to ANY car, but IMHO it is a VERY small price to pay for the exceptional
value, economy, performance and handling that these cars offer. Based on some
of the poor assembly arrangements I've seen on both of my cars, it's quite
possible that without my regular (hey, I really enjoy poking around the car
when I have some spare time - I'm sure most people don't enjoy it or have the
time) intervention, I too may have had one that "fell apart". After all, VW's
are the "Peoples Car" and when treated as such they return a great deal of
enjoyment (Fahrvergnugen). I realize that this perspective will probably not
keep VW in business, but I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

As mentioned earlier, THIS IS IN NO WAY A FLAME, simply my HO.

     --Chris Granitz  chrisg@verdi
Newsgroups: rec.autos.vw