Volkswagen Problems

NEW Virtually every segment in the car market has become a hotbed of intense competition with rival carmakers doing everything in their power to win over car buyers with newer and better models, but none is more competitive than the SUV segment. Love 'em or loathe 'em there's no doubting the fact that the SUV has

NEW After the generously proportioned first-generation Touareg the second-generation model released in 2011 emerged lighter and much sleeker. Dramatic new curves gave the new model a more dynamic look. Gone was the pudginess of the old model, the new one's lines were taut and terrific. VW's stated aim was to build a

During the 1960s and into the '70s the original VW Beetle was a major player in the Australian market. It was built here for most of that time and was often in the top three in the sales race; beaten only by Holden and Falcon. It grew increasingly out of date and was eventually replaced by the Volkswagen Golf. When the New Beetle arrived in Australia in 2000 many past VW owners looked at it with loving eyes and fond memories. Some bought New Beetles for themselves, though more often than not they were purchased for a lucky wife or daughter. Underneath the cute body of the New Beetle is a modified Volkswagen Golf platform, Golf components are also used in most of the mechanical areas of the car. New Beetle is a three-door hatchback, but is better regarded as a a coupe because the back seat isn't all that large. Luggage space is OK, but again it's more coupe than hatchback in its capacity.There's also a cabriolet version, launched in 2003, that adds a new dimension in fun to the New Beetle range. The roof is an old style soft-top that folds down in a somewhat untidy bulky fashion when compared to modern cabriolets. Somehow this doesn't matter in a retro car like this. Check out the big loss of rear vision during your own test drive.All but the shortest of drivers will find themselves closer to the back windscreen than the front. There's a huge dash panel that seemingly stretches forever in front of you and the windscreen pillars can confuse the view out. The front seats are comfortable and support well. The dashboard and instruments are typically VW in being logically laid out and easy to read. Handling is good for a hatchback, but doesn't really come into the sporting coupe class. A variety of four-cylinder engines is mounted in the front (not the back) of the new Beetle. Both petrol and diesel powerplants are offered. The petrol units have capacities of 1.6, 1.8 or 2.0 litres, the diesel is a 2.0-litre unit. The 1.8 is turbocharged and is used in the Beetle Turbo. Performance from the 1.6 may be marginal for some tastes, the 2.0 is generally regarded as a better choice. The Beetle Turbo has decent performance but isn't really as sporty as it may appear. Because of its added weight the cabriolet uses only the 2.0-litre engine. The Beetle TDI diesel was introduced in 2005.Transmission is to the front wheels and is through either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic in most variants. The turbo-diesel comes only with a five-speed manual. The automatic from 2008 has six forward ratios so is a better bet if your budget can find the extra dollars.A car like the New Beetle just cries out to be optioned up in special editions and the marketing guys haven't disappointed. Examples are: Beetle Ikon, sold from 2002 until 2005; Beetle Miami (a hatchback, not the convertible the name suggests) from 2004; and the Beetle Sunshine, 2001 only. An interesting model called Black-Orange, with paints in those colours, was introduced in 2011 to help clear out the last of the old stock as sales had slowed in latter years.A new generation of the Beetle arrived here in early 2013. While it retains many cues the shape introduced way back in 1936, the new new Beetle is less feminine than the original New Beetle. The stylists even say there are elements of the American hotrod in the lines of the car. If you use a bit of imagination you might just see that for yourself, particularly in the extended, flatter roofline.The biggest and best changes in the 2013 Beetle are in the interior. There's no longer the feeling you're sitting in the back of the car and peering over a vast expanse of dashtop through a small windscreen. Interestingly, its semi-upright windscreen gives you better visibility than in many modern cars.At this stage the only powerplant in the front of the latest Beetle is the familiar Volkswagen 1.4-litre Twincharger. This engine uses a supercharger and turbocharger to provide strong torque. It runs beside a double-clutch automated manual gearbox (DSG in VW terms).Though the New Beetle has only sold in comparatively small numbers, it's backed by one of the world's largest car makers, many of its parts are borrowed directly from the Golf. This means spare parts and servicing are available in many places in Australia, not just in major cities. Body panels are likely to be the only holdup if you need them a long way from a major population centre. Spare parts are about average in price for an imported midrange car. You can do a fair bit of routine servicing of a New Beetle yourself. The underbonnet area is reasonably accessible and the layout restively simple,. Leave all the safety related items to the professionals.Insurance charges are higher than average for a three-door hatch, but acceptable for a coupe sold in rather limited numbers. If your are considering a Turbo check whether your insurance company charges high premiums to cover it.WHAT TO LOOK FORInteriors of Volkswagens generally stand up well, but some older cars that have been kept in the open continuously may suffer from drying out of dashboard tops. Cracks are a real no-no as repairs can be pretty expensive.Check the interior of a New Beetle cabriolet carefully in case it has been caught in the rain with its top down. Get permission to lift the floor mats and move the seats out if you are suspicious. Engines should start quickly (even the turbo-diesel, as it has fast-acting glow plugs). Listen for odd engine noises, especially when the oil hasn't built up to its full pressure.Look for smoke from the exhaust when the engine is worked hard, particularly on long uphill slogs. Make sure a manual gearbox doesn't baulk or crunch on fast downchanges. The clutch pedal should be reasonably light, even during these quick downchanges. Check that automatic transmissions are positive in their shifts and don't take too long to go into Drive or Reverse from Park or Neutral.Feel and look for uneven tyre wear, particularly on the front wheels. Be aware that some sellers may swap tyres around to try and hide the wear. If in doubt, ask for professional help.CAR BUYING TIPNiche cars often lead gentle lives at the hands of loving owners. A fully maintained set of service books is an excellent indication this has occurred.

Those who need a sensible car, yet who also enjoy spirited driving will find the Volkswagen Golf does a good job of meeting these apparently conflicting needs.Even by Australian standards the Golf has grown in size with each new model, going from small to small-medium and finally to medium in overall dimensions. This is partly to provide the extra space needed for occupant crash protection though there is some more interior room as well.Aussies tend to regard them more as transport for a family with preteen children, but if you live in an inner city area in Melbourne of Sydney you may need nothing more than a Volkswagen Golf to fill all your motoring needs. In Europe, the VW Golf is often seen as a full-sized car and it's not unusual to see them carting four large adults about.Golf is chiefly sold as a three- or five-door door hatchback. A 'Golf' four-door sedan was called the Bora from 1999 until the launch of the fifth generation model in 2005, when it was renamed Jetta. Boot space in the sedans is substantially better than in the hatches and the four-door models are certainly worth consideration.VW Golf Cabriolet was sold until 2003. It has good roll-over protection for an open-top car and still offers a reasonable amount of space in the back seat. Access to the boot is difficult with the smallish boot lid sitting very low at the rear. The Cabriolet was replaced by the New Beetle Cabriolet, but in a surprise move, VW reintroduced the Golf Cabriolet in 2012.Engines come in various guises: petrol and diesel; with four-, five- and six-cylinder units. Four-cylinder petrol engines are the most common, coming in capacities of 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litres. The 1.6 will suit most drivers, but those who like to drive hard may find it a bit dull. The 1.4-litre is a brilliant, relatively recent, design and the little turbo unit provides performance with economy.Volkswagen in Australia started a big push in the diesel field several years ago and these engines are now far more common than in the past. With capacities of 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0 litres they provide plenty of grunt and turbo lag isn't too bad. Those who enjoy a really good drive should consider the VW Golf GTi. A fun machine for the keen driver, it's rapidly becoming regarded as a classic in the Australian hot-hatch market.Then there's the Golf R range of extreme hotshots. These traditionally had a large V6 engine – 3.2 litres in a smallish car gives plenty of performance. These are tagged as Golf R32. The mk6 Golf R, launched in 2011, takes a different tack, going for 2.0 litres and a high-pressure turbo. Disguising the smaller size of the engine is the change of name to simply Golf R - somehow it wouldn't have been right to replace the R32 with an R20.Six-speed manuals arrived with the fifth-generation Golfs in 2004 and are popular on the used scene. The DSG gearbox, also launched in 2004, is a self-shifting manual gearbox. It provides far better performance than the old-style four-speed automatics used until 2004. However, in those early days the dual-clutch DSG was often slow and awkward at very slow speeds, making it a pain in tight parking situations. Later DSGs have been improved, but still aren't as good as conventional automatic transmissions.This VW is a relatively easy car to work on and spare parts are not overly expensive. The dealer network has expanded from a low point during the mid-1990s and nowadays we hear very few complaints about parts availability or servicing.Insurance charges are about average for an imported European vehicle on most Golf and Jetta models. The high-performance Golf GTi may attract higher premiums, the Golf R32 and Golf R almost certainly will cost you a lot more.WHAT TO LOOK FORRust isn't common in Golfs and is more likely to be the result of bad crash repairs than vehicle design. Have the car inspected professionally, or find another one. Older Golfs that have been kept in the open continuously may suffer from sun-dried dashboard tops and rear parcel shelves.Feel and look for uneven tyre wear, particularly on the front wheels. Engines should start quickly. Listen for untoward engine noises, especially when it's cold. Look for smoke from the exhaust when the engine is driven hard, particularly on long uphill runs. Make sure a manual gearbox doesn't crunch on fast downchanges.Check that dual-clutch transmissions are positive in their shifts and don't hesitate too much at very low speeds. Be sure the brakes pull the car up evenly. If ABS is fitted you should feel a pulsing through the pedal during hard stops.CAR BUYING TIPAn area to check early in the piece is the top of the rear bumper. Careless owners may have rested luggage on it while loading the car. And careless luggage packers may also be careless drivers, even careless about having servicing carried out according to schedule.