Seriously, I’m not being sarcastic:

http://www.autobytel.com/images/2006/Infiniti/Q45_Sport/400/2006_Infiniti_Q45_Sport_exrrdrvr34.jpg

I’m so tired of this being used as a reason to excuse the piss-poor reliability of certain makes. I’ve encountered plenty of people who went to great lengths to maintain their VWs and still had boatloads of problems with them.

Same thing goes for the domestic makes, in fact.

-scratches head-

Perhaps you are right–But, VW has what kind of market share in the US? A few percent? So do we really “know more” people, or just hear about “more people.” I doubt VW has many more problems than Merc or BMW, or Audi (a cousin). Maybe I’m wrong. I’ve owned Merc, VW, and Audi. Neither was appreciably better than the other. I think it’s a German thing, mostly. I do believe that the Japanese have the edge on quality. But to tell you the truth, I’ve never driven a Japanese car I was thrilled to own. And what is driving if it’s simply reduced to mean transportation? I’d much rather have a Phaeton than a Lexus, myself. And I’ve never driven the former. But I just “somehow” know.

True enough, but most of us know more people who had serious problems with VW’s than people who had serious problems with Honda’s

Detroit-Iron : One of my co-workers just had his Beetle TDI have a complete engine failure at 78k…

Was your co-worker a complete idiot who never took care of his car? And what is a “complete engine faiure?” Your anecdote is meaningless w/o more inforation. Everyone knows someone with a ____(fill in the blank) that gave them problems.

The last car I ever owned that didn’t give me any problems until the day it fell apart was my grandfather’s 1964 Dodge pickup with the slant six. Nothing to go wrong…just an engine, manual transmission, and metal bodywork (interior and exterior).

My own research concluded they did in the UK, inconsistently, for cars up to about six years old. I also learned the initial repair kits had metal parts (where the OE part was due to failed plastic) but have now reverted to selling repair kits with the infamous plastic component, which I have had to purchase.

I have had three VW’s – a mk3 which popped a gearbox (warranty) and another niggle, a mk3 VR6 which was super (restored faith) and my mk4 diesel with the ubiquitous window issue.

The Phaeton does not impress me one bit. Currently eyeing up Japanese and Korean stuff now, but it tends to be dull-as-dishwater or kamikazi/banzai silly.

My mk4 Golf is in the garage after having both front windows drop into the doors after a 1300 mile round trip to Le Mans for the 24hr.

I am personally barring myself from further VAG purchases until the tide changes.

I am not impressed with this.

In China the Hyundai Genesis is not priced the same as the USA, there it’s called a Hyundai Rohens and priced at $59,000 (american dollars) for the V6, a lot more than than the US at some $30,000.

Clearly if VW wanted to make the Phaeton again it’s not coming to America, they can’t compete on price over here. But in China, their largest market, they can compete with “bargain” brands.

I almost bought an ‘05 Phaeton used, but I couldn’t get it past my accountant. RF is right, though: dull, expensive, and awesome!

Just because Americans weren’t willing to pay for an expensive, sorta unreliable VW doesn’t mean the Germans aren’t :)