Volkswagen Improves Warranty

[Gauis_Caligula]

All Volkswagen 2002 models and forward will now come with a four-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. This is a vast improvement from their previous two-year/24,000 mile warranty. See http://www.motortrend.com/news/news_f.html

The Passat has taken the mid-size sector by storm, receiving rave reviews from every major critic to test it. Consumer Reports even ranked it above both the Camry and the Accord. Edmunds.com openly glows over the car. The new warranty makes the Passat a very serious competitor with the Altima.

[Amazing2]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>The new warranty makes the Passat a very serious competitor with the Altima. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

humm...

the Passat V6 is underpowered (190HP) and a bit overpriced.

new Passat GLS 2.8L V6 $ 24,250 (base model)
new Passat GLX 2.8L V6 $ 28,750 (fully loaded).

Very nice car but I think it's in a dif. category. (especialy with the 4motion) http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif

[**DONOTDELETE**]

its about time! That 2 year plan was a total joke. But I can say that people will definetly use the new warranty. VWs arent exactly known for reliability and longevity...

[Gauis_Caligula]

The reliability of the Passat has actually proven average or above average. (See Consumer Reports and Edmunds.com.) Volkswagen has come a long way with this car.

Assuming, arguendo, that the Passat's service record did prove poor, the excellent warranty would provide customers with a cushion of comfort, knowing that VW would fix anything that went wrong. Nevertheless, the fact is that the Passat is a well-built, reliable, German car that attracts many buyers.

Moreover, the Passat GLS's MSRP comes in right around both the Accord and the Camry. Running a comparison on Honda's website of the Accord LX (ABS) against the GLS Passat(neither being six cyls) produces the Passat at $21,570 and the Accord at $20,590. Furthermore, the Passat is loaded with standard features (e.g., ABS) that blow the Camry and Accord out of the water. As Altima intends to go head to hit with this group, you can bet its MSRP won't be much lower, if any at all.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

yes its true the new Passat has had a dramatic increase. Hell, the same can be said for the new Mondeo. They even said it bests the Passat in most categories.
However, its still VW and it will have it probs. Like he said, its mostly marketing.
German cars in general just aren't known for the same cachet that Japanese cars are...

[Afty]

Reliability ratings from the 2001 auto issue of Consumer Reports:

VW EuroVan - NA
VW Golf - Average
VW Jetta - Worse than average
VW New Beetle - Much worse than average
VW Passat - Average

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I don't think it would get any better, I think it's just marketing. I read a few months back on autonews.com that when hyndai started to offer it 10 year 100,000 they completely did not change anything about the car. it was to clear their bad rep from the 80's. I think it's the same with volkswagon, because the 2002 model year is pretty much starting for everyone and i doubt that they could of have made drastic changes.
they are going to be like mercedes...loose money to too much warranty repairs.

[Gauis_Caligula]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Afty:
Reliability ratings from the 2001 auto issue of Consumer Reports:

VW EuroVan - NA
VW Golf - Average
VW Jetta - Worse than average
VW New Beetle - Much worse than average
VW Passat - Average<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Moreover, the only apparent reason that the Passat came in "Average," as opposed to "Above Average," is that in just ONE area -- electrical -- did it have bad ratings. In EVERY other category, the Passat's scores -- for the past three years -- were most impressive.

[Nizzan]

I see VW's with headlights and tailights out all of the time. I travel for work around the DC area so I've also seen a lot on the side of the road too.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

People owning VW's will have a piece of mind, for now. They won't have to pay for anything that goes wrong with their VW's for four years. Just the same number or even greater number of visits to the dealership for warranty work in those four years will drive people crazy. VW has come a long way to present the public with an eye catching product. But same as all VW's in the past, they will start to break down after 2 years and problems after problems will appear and make us think, why did we buy this car? I've owned a 85 Jetta and I've pretty much changed everything before 5 years except for the engine. Many of my friends have gotten caught with the new VW upscale image and slap themselves for buying mediocre cars in terms of reliability.
VW will always be VW which stands for unreliable cars. Sorry VW, great cars to drive but not good cars to keep for a long time.

[This message has been edited by 99ESMAX (edited 07-11-2001).]

[Gauis_Caligula]

While it is certaintly true that most VWs are extremely unreliable, the data shows that the Passat IS reliable. Consumer Reports is THE most brutal critic in terms of a car's reliability. Their data and research show that the Passat's reliability runs on a different curve than the standard garbage that VW spews at us.

According to CR, if you bought a Passat in 1998, 1999, 2000, or 2001, the ONLY problem area your car might likely have would be in the electrical systems. In all other categories, the Passat did very well. If you add this track record to the new warranty, you have a great car.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Still won't win me over with the new warranty. All the surveys do give some indication but they are rated for the new cars. I would really like to see the owners of the '98 Passats in this stage of their ownership. The OEM parts are very poor and way too expensive. Like I said before, VW's are great cars to drive but that is it.

[Gauis_Caligula]

You don't understand CR's methodology. They DO receive the data from CURRENT owners of past model years. In other words, when CR puts out 2001 reliability stats on a 1998 model, the base data came from CURRENT owners of those past model cars. Thus, current owners of the 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 Passat report that the reliability of the car is excellent in all areas but electrical, where it ranges from bad to average. Again, add the warranty to fix any potential electrical concerns -- for the next four years -- and the car will prove highly attractive to a large group of consumers.

[hiwayman17]

Someone is forgetting to mention the most important aspect of CR's reliability ratings. Being that everything is relative, you have to understand that in order to get the very lowest rating--the solid black dot--only 14.8% of owners had to report a problem in a particular area such as electrical system. The flip side being that it is possible that 85.2% of owners reported NO electrical problems.

Also having the best rating--the solid red dot--means that 2% or fewer of car owners reported a problem in a certain area. So the best rating still doesn't mean "trouble free".

The 1998 CR Auto Issue had a very interesting bar graph showing CR's problem count by year and by country of origin--Japan, US or Europe. For 1990 US cars were showing about 195 problems per 100 cars, Euro showing 155 problems per 100 cars and Japanese showing 120 problems per 100 cars.

Jump to 1997 and US cars have have 30 problems per 100 cars, Euro has 20 per 100 cars and Japanese has less than 20 per 100 cars. The best car for 1997 was the Integra with only 3 reported problems per 100 cars.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

People know the four year warranty will be used all the time as VW owners will be visiting the dealership fixing electrical problems, window regulators etc. Mogulover, have you owned a VW before? Down the road, VW's will not last unless you spend all your money on the car.

[Gauis_Caligula]

No, I have not. However, I am thinking about buying one. That Passat just turns my head for some reason. I suppose I am just talking myself out of the gloom surrounding VWs. Besides, I would only keep the car for about two years. After that, on to new and better things!

[Gauis_Caligula]

Anyone out there with anything good to say about VWs?

[hiwayman17]

Here's my story. My mother's side of the family were all born in Germany. All of my cousins--all 13 of them--drive VWs. I hear no complaints at all. My oldest female cousin has a new Beetle. There are various Rabbits, Jettas, Golfs and Passats. But one of my uncle works at a small foundry and he restored 3 Karmann Ghias for his three sons. Engine parts were not a problem--he designed his own replacements and made them in the foundry.

The only comment I ever hear about VWs is: "When are you going to get one?"

[**DONOTDELETE**]

From what I have heard and read, the Passat is very well engineered. You would likely do well with it, especially if you're only keeping it for a couple of years.

[Gauis_Caligula]

The Passat is high on my list, along with the I35 and the 2002 Max. Well see what happens later this fall.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

VW is headed in the right direction, there cars usto be un-reliable, although they've changed. Before if someone asked you what car you drove and you said a VW they would laugh at you and ask you if you were serious. Now, when you say I own a VW they comment you on how good of a choice you made to get the VW, the Passat in paritcular, over the Camry. The Passat's interior styling is that of a luxury cars and it has a dead quiet ride. I am not a big fan of VW, but when I test drove this neat little package last year I was truely surprised, though lacking the performance you seek from a V6 it still has great handling and firm almost sport springs. Nissan can't just turn it's head and ignore the fame of the Passat, they have to do something because I believe it will soon be a powerful competitor against the Altima in the race to beat the Camry.

-Blazin-Red-GTR

[Hudson]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Blazin-Red-GTR:
VW is headed in the right direction, there cars usto be un-reliable, although they've changed. Before if someone asked you what car you drove and you said a VW they would laugh at you and ask you if you were serious. Now, when you say I own a VW they comment you on how good of a choice you made to get the VW, the Passat in paritcular, over the Camry. The Passat's interior styling is that of a luxury cars and it has a dead quiet ride. I am not a big fan of VW, but when I test drove this neat little package last year I was truely surprised, though lacking the performance you seek from a V6 it still has great handling and firm almost sport springs. Nissan can't just turn it's head and ignore the fame of the Passat, they have to do something because I believe it will soon be a powerful competitor against the Altima in the race to beat the Camry.

-Blazin-Red-GTR<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've never known VWs to be "unreliable." And I never remember people laughing at the thought of someone owning a VW. Rabbits were very popular when they came out and were very reliable. The only chuckle you could get at the thought of a VW was from the enjoyment of seeing a Beetle (old one).

You really think people thought VWs were funny and unreliable? Really? I must have been around practical and lucky people all of my life. Never known a VW to leave a person stranded unless it was the owner's fault.

[Deadpool]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mogulover:
Anyone out there with anything good to say about VWs?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

ummm yea, they'r German cars and is cheaper then other German made cars.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I see you guys talking crap about VW but this new warranty makes me strongly think about a possbile purchase. VW has the best interior quality than any other car company that produces a car less than 20k. Also, I feel they make beautiful cars and they have wonderful styling(minus the new beetle). The Warrnaty and the wonderful TDi engine (49 miles to the gallon) make me strongly look into a VW purchase.

[Gauis_Caligula]

Just make sure you look at CR's reliability reports BEFORE buying. Many VWs have very poor records. The Passat is an exception. Up until the Passat, most professional car critics (e.g., C&D, CR, MT, etc.), all concurred that VW reliability proved far below average. VW is on the rebound, but still has a long way to go. For now, stick with the Passat, if your looking at VW.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Actually the new VW Passats are quite reliable. The 98 being a first year model might have a little more issues, but 99 and onwards they are really good for a German car. I would say they are pretty close to a Jap car in terms of reliability now.

Personal experience, have a 99 Passat. A gem of a car. Plus there is a 8 cylinder Passat coming early next year. Sweet!

-j

[Gauis_Caligula]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Littlewolf:
Actually the new VW Passats are quite reliable. The 98 being a first year model might have a little more issues, but 99 and onwards they are really good for a German car. I would say they are pretty close to a Jap car in terms of reliability now.

Personal experience, have a 99 Passat. A gem of a car. Plus there is a 8 cylinder Passat coming early next year. Sweet!

-j<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you note, I indicated that the Passat was an exception to poor reliability. "An exception" means that it is the opposite of VW's traditional reliability. http://forums.freshalloy.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif