Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

That has not been my experience... :blink:

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

I've often read that the difference in quality comes down to where they're built - buy one in Europe and it's made in Germany - buy one here and it's made in Mexico or Brazil.

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

Look at any JD Power or Consumer Reports rating. Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, land Rover and Volvo are always bottom of the reliability barrel. Anecdotally, from anyone I know who's bought one, that's been the case as well.

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

I think VWs in both Europe and America are made in Mexico. Most Jettas are made in Mexico. Lots of Golfs and Polos as well, even the ones for the European market. Also, being made in Germany is no guarantee of quality: Passats are all made in Germany, but have particularly bad quality ratings here in the US. It's very strange because this aspect of VWs is almost never mentioned in the European motoring press, but almost always the first thing mentioned in US reviews...

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

My family had Volvos for decades ... never had reliability issues. All Mum's sisters side still do, saloon and SUV style, no issues either. Maybe it has got worse since production left Europe though? Mum's gone to Civics from a size perspective now.

You're wrong about Golf reliability issues not being reported though, its a well known thing. Much like Dysons .... Last time I was in a dealership reading the reviews though, I seem to remember the French bunch coming out worst.

Absolutely fantastic Clarkson show on the F series, it's funny as ****. On youtube iirc.

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

I had 3 American cars than ran like tops. Never a thing wrong with them. I now have a Volvo - constantly had something wrong for the first 2 years - think I have plateaued now. I like it, but I don't really trust it. Good gas mileage though.

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

My old Volvo estate also "ran like tops" and never gave me issues. Good candidate for my second favourite car ever. I suspect mine dated from before Ford took them over and yours is from after....

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

Interesting though..never knew that!

I bought a VW golf in 2000 here and had it for 3 years - no problem and now have a VW beetle for over 2 years - no problem.
Maybe its the older ones?

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

I used to have the VW Rabbit convert it was a little gem loved it flogged it to death.

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

I always wanted one of those!
I had a Jetta for ages.. that car will not die (or get retitled apparently.. I heard from the latest owner not long ago). Die hard Volvo runners here. I had one loser, but Volvo America did me right with the repairs.. that one was built in Nova Scotia, but my current one is a Swedish built.

Poppy.. DH was so enchanted that we could drive it onto the beach on that trip and scuba from our own tru.. er, 'boot'! :lol:

Speaking of Fiat, our Greek Panda.. best car ever! (if you live on an island that is only 40 miles long)

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

Ahhh, see I didnt know that. Mum bought a second hand 440 in 1991 after the 340 saved my passengers ass in an almost head on at traffic lights. She passed it on to my aunt who was having a nigtmare divorce financially who then drove the thing with nothing but general maintainance costs until 2005. I'd call that reliable =)

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

This is partly true, partly false. It is true that VW's Mexican plant had substantially quality problems. However, VW facilities in Europe have also built their share of faulty product.

There haven't been Brazilian VW's sold in the US in quite some time, and that was limited to one model (Fox.)

The mainstay of VW's US lineup is the Jetta. For many years, all US Jettas have been built in Mexico. Now, Jettas built in Mexico are also sold in Europe, Jettas are no longer built in Europe at all.

The New Beetle was assembled in Mexico from the start. As far as I know, all Beetles sold worldwide are built in Mexico.

The US Golfs were, for a time, built in Mexico, but Golfs are no longer built in Mexico, and US Rabbits and GTI's are sourced from Europe.

The Passats sold worldwide are built in Europe, and were never built in Mexico.

Although the Mexican factory had difficulties at launch, the European-built cars haven't been performing much better. I suspect that a lot of VW's problem is due to parts quality, as VW has followed in GM's footsteps to increase its margins by squeezing its suppliers. This hasn't been helped by the failure of the Phaeton, which lost VW a fortune and has put more pressure on its margins as a result.

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

Oh so your secret to singledom is out you've replaced men:rofl:

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

Last car I had in the UK was a 240GL - built like a tank. My cousin drove it into a ditch and the thing didn't have a scratch, and it never caused me any bother, even though it was 16 years old when I got rid of it.

Re: Another Quality Product from the US of A
 

Isn't that a shame. Maybe you can get it painted with your rebate check. LOL