Thinking about buying a VW
posted 2 years, 123 days, 3 hours, 58 minutes ago
OK, here's the scoop. I've been thinking about picking up a VW lately. I'd like it to be something that I can work on and be easy enough for someone who hasn't spent much time under the hood. I'm guessing that'll mean I'm gonna have to go with an older model used VW, possibly a GTI?
I've got about 20k to spend, so I can probably find something nice. As far as new cars I've thought about 350Zs and some Mazda models, but really I'm just looking for something that's easy to work on and has a decent amount of documentation online so I can get some info when I need it.
Any ideas?
I've got about 20k to spend, so I can probably find something nice. As far as new cars I've thought about 350Zs and some Mazda models, but really I'm just looking for something that's easy to work on and has a decent amount of documentation online so I can get some info when I need it.
Any ideas?
posted 2 years, 122 days, 22 hours, 5 minutes ago
We have an '02 Jetta with the 2.0 4 cylinder in it that's the spawn of the devil. The transmission has locked up, the engine practically drinks oil (we have 42,000 miles on it w/religious oil changes), the body leaks water when it rains. It's horrible. You can read all the stuff that's gone wrong with that car in my profile.
That said, I have a friend who did a lot of homework before settling on a used '02 Passat to cart his family around in. According to him there's a lot of parts shared between the Audi and the Passat. So much so that he claims the differences are mostly aesthetic. He loves it and it hasn't given him any trouble at all - yet.
I think the key with VWs is to avoid the 2.0L engine as it's known to use a lot of oil (sounds like you will if you want a GTI) and avoid a body style with a sunroof. If you want to learn more about potential pitfalls with particular VWs check out myvwlemon.com. Granted, it's biased agains VW because it's full of complainers (me included), but you can quickly pick out what the real issues are.
That said, I have a friend who did a lot of homework before settling on a used '02 Passat to cart his family around in. According to him there's a lot of parts shared between the Audi and the Passat. So much so that he claims the differences are mostly aesthetic. He loves it and it hasn't given him any trouble at all - yet.
I think the key with VWs is to avoid the 2.0L engine as it's known to use a lot of oil (sounds like you will if you want a GTI) and avoid a body style with a sunroof. If you want to learn more about potential pitfalls with particular VWs check out myvwlemon.com. Granted, it's biased agains VW because it's full of complainers (me included), but you can quickly pick out what the real issues are.
posted 2 years, 122 days, 21 hours, 34 minutes ago
Have to agree with twogoats on this one, VWs are plaqued with issues as are most Euro cars. Too much untried technology is usually the case. A friend of mine bought a Jetta wagon new in '02 with the 2.0 L engine and nothing but trouble. When they weren't flatbedding it back to the dealer for electrical issues, it was leaking oil and other fluids. Lucky it was a lease, after 6 months he finally got the dealer to take it back under the lemon law.
I don't understand why these Euro cars aren't better with their quality, they seem to have a tough time making their cars reliable. Sure, the VWs are fun to drive, have intersting styling and used to be unique but I think it's gone the other way for them. Most of the new VWs resemble Asian cars now especially the new Jetta and Passat. Too bad their quality, price and reliability aren't as good.
If you are looking for something that you can work on and have it "be easy enough for someone who hasn't spent much time under the hood"my advice to you is Honda. What you should be looking at is the new Civic Si. This car is amazing - fun, fun, fun... it's quick, quiet, has lots of style, nothing more reliable and holds it value. The only downside is, it needs premum gas, but that is somewhat offset by it's really good mileage. Best of all list price is just over $20K - so this being the end of the year, I bet you could easily score one for considerably less.
You need to drive this car and I bet you will be won over from those farfignugens!
I don't understand why these Euro cars aren't better with their quality, they seem to have a tough time making their cars reliable. Sure, the VWs are fun to drive, have intersting styling and used to be unique but I think it's gone the other way for them. Most of the new VWs resemble Asian cars now especially the new Jetta and Passat. Too bad their quality, price and reliability aren't as good.
If you are looking for something that you can work on and have it "be easy enough for someone who hasn't spent much time under the hood"my advice to you is Honda. What you should be looking at is the new Civic Si. This car is amazing - fun, fun, fun... it's quick, quiet, has lots of style, nothing more reliable and holds it value. The only downside is, it needs premum gas, but that is somewhat offset by it's really good mileage. Best of all list price is just over $20K - so this being the end of the year, I bet you could easily score one for considerably less.
You need to drive this car and I bet you will be won over from those farfignugens!
posted 2 years, 109 days, 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
hi. if youŽd like to own something like a 350Z, then in terms of power a Series IV-GTI (Turbo) will do. These engines can be blown to about 280hp without blowing up and will be serious fun. If you want to have a real good chassis, then youŽll have to take the new Series V-GTI, IŽm afraid.
posted 2 years, 108 days ago
If you plan on working on a VW better have all their "special" tools that they require.
Mazdaspeed3 is out next month to be had for 22500 brand new.
posted 2 years, 107 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes ago
Not an Si. Those are selling like hot cakes. They are not stay on the lots.
hiptech said:
If you are looking for something that you can work on and have it "be easy enough for someone who hasn't spent much time under the hood"my advice to you is Honda. What you should be looking at is the new Civic Si. This car is amazing - fun, fun, fun... it's quick, quiet, has lots of style, nothing more reliable and holds it value. The only downside is, it needs premum gas, but that is somewhat offset by it's really good mileage. Best of all list price is just over $20K - so this being the end of the year, I bet you could easily score one for considerably less.
You need to drive this car and I bet you will be won over from those farfignugens!
If you are looking for something that you can work on and have it "be easy enough for someone who hasn't spent much time under the hood"my advice to you is Honda. What you should be looking at is the new Civic Si. This car is amazing - fun, fun, fun... it's quick, quiet, has lots of style, nothing more reliable and holds it value. The only downside is, it needs premum gas, but that is somewhat offset by it's really good mileage. Best of all list price is just over $20K - so this being the end of the year, I bet you could easily score one for considerably less.
You need to drive this car and I bet you will be won over from those farfignugens!
Not an Si. Those are selling like hot cakes. They are not stay on the lots.
posted 2 years, 103 days, 23 hours, 56 minutes ago
This post was deleted by the author or a moderator
posted 2 years, 103 days, 5 hours, 8 minutes ago
dave said:
I'd like it to be something that I can work on and be easy enough for someone who hasn't spent much time under the hood.
I'd like it to be something that I can work on and be easy enough for someone who hasn't spent much time under the hood.
Get a SN95 Mustang.
posted 2 years, 88 days, 4 hours, 29 minutes ago
nazgul350r said:
If you plan on working on a VW better have all their "special" tools that they require.
Mazdaspeed3 is out next month to be had for 22500 brand new.
Nah, you can make most of your own. The only special tool I've bought so far is the spanner for tensioning the timing belt idler on A1s/A2s. Even that could be made pretty easily. Most recently, I made a valve spring compressor, which I actually used this past weekend while replacing the valve stem seals in my 91 Golf:
posted 2 years, 88 days, 3 hours, 46 minutes ago
20k? Holy cow. I'd suggest budgeting $5k for an A2 Golf (85-92) project... but that may not fall into the "easy to work on" category. $6k can get you a pretty nice A3 (93-98) VR6 Jetta or GTI (A3 VR6 GTIs are more scarce than the Jettas, though), you only need to make sure the timing chain has been replaced at the specified interval(s). Invest the remaining $14k. :-)
dave said:
OK, here's the scoop. I've been thinking about picking up a VW lately. I'd like it to be something that I can work on and be easy enough for someone who hasn't spent much time under the hood. I'm guessing that'll mean I'm gonna have to go with an older model used VW, possibly a GTI?
I've got about 20k to spend, so I can probably find something nice. As far as new cars I've thought about 350Zs and some Mazda models, but really I'm just looking for something that's easy to work on and has a decent amount of documentation online so I can get some info when I need it.
Any ideas?
OK, here's the scoop. I've been thinking about picking up a VW lately. I'd like it to be something that I can work on and be easy enough for someone who hasn't spent much time under the hood. I'm guessing that'll mean I'm gonna have to go with an older model used VW, possibly a GTI?
I've got about 20k to spend, so I can probably find something nice. As far as new cars I've thought about 350Zs and some Mazda models, but really I'm just looking for something that's easy to work on and has a decent amount of documentation online so I can get some info when I need it.
Any ideas?
20k? Holy cow. I'd suggest budgeting $5k for an A2 Golf (85-92) project... but that may not fall into the "easy to work on" category. $6k can get you a pretty nice A3 (93-98) VR6 Jetta or GTI (A3 VR6 GTIs are more scarce than the Jettas, though), you only need to make sure the timing chain has been replaced at the specified interval(s). Invest the remaining $14k. :-)
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