Most reliable older VW

In rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled, Matt B. wrote:

>"Tom's VR6" > wrote in message
.. .
>> In rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled, Matt B. wrote:
>>Most people average at least 15K a year
>>
>> Not nearly.
>
>I disagree, and so does edmunds.com.
>
>I've driven my '91 GTI for over 13 years now and have consistently averaged
>12-15K a year. My commute varied from 5-15 miles each way, 5 days a week.
>That I believe is reasonably average.
>
>And if I go to edmunds.com and put in my '00 Eurovan, I find that between
>64,400 and 64,410 miles is where they start taking away from the value for a
>mileage adjustment. That suggests to me that a '00 car is reasonable to
>average about 12,880 and 16,100 a year (depending on if I divide 64,400 by
>either 4 or 5 years).
>
>So it's fair to say that 15K is average.
>

http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesa...t_fotw87.shtml

My vote is for an 85 to 92 golf. I own an 89 (RIP) and an 86 Golf, both 4
doors with sunroofs(sp?). The 89 is resting on blocks in my yard not
because it broke down but because I totalled it.
And so you know, I'm very glad we were driving that car and not some weaker
other make. We spun off the road flipped the car onto it's side and hit a
telephone pole. My wife, daughter (5) and I were all completely okay. Even
the glass bottles in our groceries in the trunk were okay (the mushrooms
were a little bruised).
Now we drive the 86 which I bought for $400. CDN back in Feb. Neither car
has ever left me stranded. Repairs are fairly easy and inexpensive. And I
have found that while there are various little annoying things that break,
like the door latches, they are never that big of a deal unless you're
totally mechanically retarded. And even then if you find a mechanic that
drives a VW they usually tell you what's really going on instead of gouging
you (like replacing the $2. light in the HVAC faceplate instead of doing
like VW says and buying a whole new one for like $200 bucks.)

That's my take on the situation,
-Andrew


"Mr. D" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I am considering purchasing an older used Volkswagen. I really like
> Volkswagen cars, but someone is trying to talk me out of buying one
> because they insist Volkswagens are not reliable as a Honda or any
> other Japanese make.
>
> I would like some opinions on which one of the following older
> Volkswagen models is the most reliable:
>
> Early 1980's VW Rabbit
> Early 1990's VW Fox
> Mid-Late 1980's VW Golf
>
> Thanks
>

Mr. D wrote:

> I am considering purchasing an older used Volkswagen. I really like
> Volkswagen cars, but someone is trying to talk me out of buying one
> because they insist Volkswagens are not reliable as a Honda or any
> other Japanese make.
>
> I would like some opinions on which one of the following older
> Volkswagen models is the most reliable:
>
> Early 1980's VW Rabbit
> Early 1990's VW Fox
> Mid-Late 1980's VW Golf
>
> Thanks
>

Hard to go wrong with any of them. I'd probably vote for the Golf as it
was more popular than the Fox so junkyard parts are easier to find, and
the Rabbit is a good car but is older than the other two and is starting
to be something of a rarity.

Once they really get up there in years and miles is where the VWs start
to shine over the Japanese cars. The Rising Sun has it all over the
Krauts in "initial quality" and all that crap that JD Power and Consumer
Reports cares about but once the odo rolls over 200K miles give me a VW
any day, I bet compression will still be in spec if it's been maintained
by anyone other than a complete retard.

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

Oh I almost forgot you should check out http://www.pureluckdesign.com/ he's
got a pretty neat site mostly devoted to his 87 golf.

-Dru


"DruG" <drudadATdccnet. M O C> wrote in message
...
> My vote is for an 85 to 92 golf. I own an 89 (RIP) and an 86 Golf, both 4
> doors with sunroofs(sp?). The 89 is resting on blocks in my yard not
> because it broke down but because I totalled it.
> And so you know, I'm very glad we were driving that car and not some
> weaker other make. We spun off the road flipped the car onto it's side
> and hit a telephone pole. My wife, daughter (5) and I were all completely
> okay. Even the glass bottles in our groceries in the trunk were okay (the
> mushrooms were a little bruised).
> Now we drive the 86 which I bought for $400. CDN back in Feb. Neither car
> has ever left me stranded. Repairs are fairly easy and inexpensive. And
> I have found that while there are various little annoying things that
> break, like the door latches, they are never that big of a deal unless
> you're totally mechanically retarded. And even then if you find a
> mechanic that drives a VW they usually tell you what's really going on
> instead of gouging you (like replacing the $2. light in the HVAC faceplate
> instead of doing like VW says and buying a whole new one for like $200
> bucks.)
>
> That's my take on the situation,
> -Andrew
>
>
> "Mr. D" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>>I am considering purchasing an older used Volkswagen. I really like
>> Volkswagen cars, but someone is trying to talk me out of buying one
>> because they insist Volkswagens are not reliable as a Honda or any
>> other Japanese make.
>>
>> I would like some opinions on which one of the following older
>> Volkswagen models is the most reliable:
>>
>> Early 1980's VW Rabbit
>> Early 1990's VW Fox
>> Mid-Late 1980's VW Golf
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
>

>>I would like some opinions on which one of the following older
>>Volkswagen models is the most reliable:
>>
>>Early 1980's VW Rabbit
>>Early 1990's VW Fox
>>Mid-Late 1980's VW Golf

Get the Golf.
The Fox and the Rabbit are special models, not sold often (at least here
in Germany) - the Golf is an best seller. If you need any spare parts,
you'll find em for the Golf. It is known for its durability and - next
to the Vanagon/Transporter/Bus and the Beatle - it is one of the
"foundations" of the Volkswagen company. You will find spare parts for
that car in a houndred of years.

Of course you should have a look at the special configuration of that
car - diesel engine (turbocharged?)...

Tim.

exactly... VW's might rattle and sqeak eariler, and you might have to
replace some smaller components first, but in the long run the areas where
they spend the big money start to show.... you know like the engine, the
bodywork, most of the accesories... the electrics are pretty solid too
IMO... At least the connectors don't seem to break.
"Nate Nagel" > wrote in message
...
> Mr. D wrote:
>
>> I am considering purchasing an older used Volkswagen. I really like
>> Volkswagen cars, but someone is trying to talk me out of buying one
>> because they insist Volkswagens are not reliable as a Honda or any
>> other Japanese make.
>>
>> I would like some opinions on which one of the following older
>> Volkswagen models is the most reliable:
>>
>> Early 1980's VW Rabbit
>> Early 1990's VW Fox
>> Mid-Late 1980's VW Golf
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
> Hard to go wrong with any of them. I'd probably vote for the Golf as it
> was more popular than the Fox so junkyard parts are easier to find, and
> the Rabbit is a good car but is older than the other two and is starting
> to be something of a rarity.
>
> Once they really get up there in years and miles is where the VWs start to
> shine over the Japanese cars. The Rising Sun has it all over the Krauts
> in "initial quality" and all that crap that JD Power and Consumer Reports
> cares about but once the odo rolls over 200K miles give me a VW any day, I
> bet compression will still be in spec if it's been maintained by anyone
> other than a complete retard.
>
> nate
>
> --
> replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
> http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

"DruG" <drudadATdccnet. M O C> wrote in message
...
> Oh I almost forgot you should check out http://www.pureluckdesign.com/
> he's got a pretty neat site mostly devoted to his 87 golf.

Forget the car...check out the pics of the "party"...check out that HOUSE!

"Matt B." > wrote in message
news:bcdcd.56243$cJ3.55938@fed1read06...
> "DruG" <drudadATdccnet. M O C> wrote in message
> ...
>> Oh I almost forgot you should check out http://www.pureluckdesign.com/
>> he's got a pretty neat site mostly devoted to his 87 golf.
>
> Forget the car...check out the pics of the "party"...check out that HOUSE!


Check out that house?? It's huge yeah but it's seriously lacking in style.
And where's the landscaping? If you ask me that house reeks of "more money
then they know what to do with".

-Dru

In article >,
T. Wodraschka > wrote:
>Get the Golf.
>The Fox and the Rabbit are special models, not sold often (at least here
>in Germany) - the Golf is an best seller.

The Rabbit in the US is the a1-platform Golf (1975-1984 in the US, plus
continuation in convertible form until about 1993 as the Cabriolet).

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy J. Lee
Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome.
No warranty of any kind is provided with this message.

In article .com>,
Mr. D > wrote:
>I am considering purchasing an older used Volkswagen. I really like
>Volkswagen cars, but someone is trying to talk me out of buying one
>because they insist Volkswagens are not reliable as a Honda or any
>other Japanese make.

If you are talking about 10+ year old cars, the reliability is more
of a function of previous owner car and maintenance, as reflected in
the actual condition of the car and the maintenance records. Except
for particular models that have fundamental reliability problems that
just won't stay fixed, brand and model matter less for reliability
when looking at cars that old.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy J. Lee
Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome.
No warranty of any kind is provided with this message.