Volkswagen Problems

NEW - It was way back in the 1970s that the Golf GTi took over the hot-  hatch mantle from the Mini Cooper S, but VW has been able to do what   the Brits couldn't; keep it alive and thriving. Today's GTi is the hottest yet in a long line of hot hatches from the   German company. By any measure it's sizzling hot, and for many it's   the benchmark against which all others are measured.There can be no underestimating the fun of driving a GTi, and the   great thing is that it can be enjoyed day in and day out, on any   road, in any weather. Most people agree that there's no end to the   fun to be had with VW's great little hottie. For some the new model that lobbed here in 2005 was a case of   evolution rather than revolution, but why would you radically change   something that has worked so well.The GTi was readily distinguished from its more mundane brethren by   its lower stance, sportier front bumper, front foglights, distinct   grille, GTi badges and rear diffuser. When added up it comes to a   tough looking car. It came as a three-door and a five-door. In its three-door guise the   doors are a little longer and heavier, which means there's a bit of a   stretch back to the seat belt, but it also means easier access to the   rear seat.The engine is a bit of a fire-breather, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-  cylinder unit that delivers all the grunt you could want when presented with an open road free of other traffic, yet at the same time it's docile enough the handle the daily trundle to work without complaint. The gearbox choices were a six-speed manual and the much maligned,   but improved, DSG six-speeder that was offered up as a fun-filled auto.A new diff lock was fitted to the new GTi, which was designed to   improve traction and battle understeer, two things that tend to bring   hot front-drivers back to Earth.NOWMost GTi owners swear by their cars, they usually say they'd never   switch. But like any car they can give trouble. With any hot hatch it's important to search for signs of hard use,   look at the tyres, the brakes and anything else that could come under   extreme pressure when worked hard.Same with the turbo engine, lift the oil filler cap and inspect for   sludge, and check the service book for records of regular oil changes. Thoroughly test drive the DSG gearbox, put it to the sword under all   sorts of driving conditions, observing for any miss-shifts, rough   shifts, shuddering etc. The funky gearbox can be fun to drive, but it   can be a nightmare if its goes wrong and there are plenty of stories   of things going wrong.For most owners the thrill-a-minute driving experience is enough to   forgive any issues that crop up. One owner we spoke to had had a 2005 model for six years and covered   130,000 km without any trouble to speak of, even with the DSG.He felt the DSG was a bit slow on the uptake in city driving when in   Drive and found that driving in manual was smoother. Another owner we spoke to is on his third GTi and so far all is going swimmingly. The DSG in his previous car had a problem with shuddering, but that was sorted out under warranty. Service costs, he told us, are higher than some cars, but then so are all European cars!SMITHY SAYSA great driver sometimes brought undone by its technology.Volkswagen Golf GTi 2005-2010Price new: $40,790 to $42,990Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo, 147 kW/280 NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed DSG, FWDEconomy: 8.1 L/100 km, PremiumBody: 3-door hatch, 5-door hatchVariants: GTiSafety: 5-star ANCAP  

The new Beetle might look like the original 'People's Car' but in reality there's very little about the new car that can be traced back to the old model.NEW The engine is in the front of the new car, it is in the rear of the old one, the car's engine is water-cooled, the old one uses air for cooling, the new one is front-wheel drive, the old one is rear wheel drive. It goes on.The point is that you shouldn't be swayed by the spin that suggested the new Beetle is the old one reborn. It isn't.By all means buy it if you like the new car's cute looks, but be aware that what you are buying is a rather impractical Golf. When you boil it down the new Beetle is more a cute Golf than a new version of the old classic.It was launched here in 2000 initially as a single model with a 2.0-litre 85 kW engine with a heap of standard features that moved it up the model chain.Since then there has been a lower-spec 1.6-litre model, a turbo model, a diesel and a cabriolet. The 2.0-litre has decent torque giving it good response and driveability, the 1.6-litre is similar, the turbo offers the zing, while the diesel is the mileage buster.With its Golf underpinnings the Beetle is sure-footed and responsive, its ride is firm but comfortable, while it steers nicely and brakes with assurance.It is a thoroughly modern car with a retro look. Two doors necessarily limits a car's practicality when it comes to family use, getting in and out of the rear seats isn't something you want to do every day.And the rear seats are a little cramped. The boot isn't very big either, which just adds to its day-to-day limitations. Buying a 'Bug' of the new sort really comes down to image. If you want to feel funky, buy it, if you have to drive the kids to school go for something more practical.NOWBeing based on the Golf the Beetle suffers similar issues as its corporate cousin. The engines it used are sound and give little trouble, but take a look for oil leaks that might need addressing in the near term. Plastic engine fittings tend to get brittle and crumble over time.When it comes to transmissions, the Beetle didn't use the troublesome DSG gearbox, which means there aren't the same concerns as with other models in the VW range. Nevertheless thoroughly test-drive the automatic transmission and ensure it shifts smoothly and without hesitation. Early Beetles are now up around the 150,000 km mark on average and that's getting into   auto trouble territory. Like all European cars the brakes tend to wear quite quickly, so be prepared to replace pads and discs regularly. Faulty electronics are a regular complaint on all cars today, which makes it worth checking every system in the car to ensure they're operating as they should.SMITHY SAYS Oldtime looks make it stand out from the crowd, but under the skin it's all modern, if a little impractical for some.VW Beetle - 2000-2010Price new: $36,790 to $39,990Engines: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder, 75 kW/148 Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 85kW/172Nm; 1.8-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder, 110kW/210Nm; 1.9-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, 77kW/250NmTransmissions: 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto, 6-speed auto, FWDThirst: 8.2 L/100 km (1.6); 8.8 L/100 km (2.0), 8.2 L/100 km (1.8T); 5.5 L/100 km (TD)Body: 2-door hatch, 2-door cabrioletVariants: Base, Ikon, Miami, TDi, TurboSafety: 4-star ANCAPCOMING UPDo you own a VW Golf GTi? If so tell us what you think of it by sending your comments to Graham Smith at grah.smith@bigpond.com or Carsguide, PO Box 4245, Sydney, NSW, 2010.

Until the introduction of the cute little Volkswagen up! the Polo was the smallest Volkswagen sold in Australia. As is often the way the Polo grew in size over the years and later models are similar in size to older VW Golfs. This means that a late model Polo can be used as a family car if the kids are in their pre-teen years.The Volkswagen Polo has a solid feel that’s not the norm in Asian competitors of this size. Owners love them and say they feel safe and secure within them.Sales of the Polo were slow in its earlier days in Australia, but picked up after significant price cuts. Better styling helped as well, the new model introduced in July 2002 was more stylish than some of the somewhat bland earlier versions. The 2010 model further improved the looks and Polo is starting to become a serious contender in the small car market in Australia.Most Polos sold in Australia are hatchbacks, with either two or four passenger doors, but a four-door sedan, tagged as the Polo Classic, was imported from China during 2004 and 2005. The latter wasn’t a success due to dubious quality control.Another interesting model is the Polo Open Air of 1998 to 2000. Though a five-door hatchback it had a huge sunroof that could let in plenty of fresh air when fully open. It wasn’t a success either, so is comparatively rare on the used-car front.Handling was nothing special in the earlier days, with too much understeer. It can show up in anything more than moderate cornering and is presumably in there to maximise safety in the hands of clumsy drivers. This was improved in Polos from 2002 onwards.Most Polos in Australia have petrol engines, however turbo-diesels have really started to sell in good numbers in recent years. Petrol engine capacities in the standard models are 1.4 and 1.6 litres. Performance from the smaller engine is better than you might expect due to the little VW's relatively light weight. The 1.4 engine from the year 2000 was a more modern unit than the one it superseded and has a good combination of economy and performance.Interestingly, the petrol 1.6-litre engine used in the Polo Classic has a twin-cam setup, whereas the others have a single-cam head. In both cases there are four valves per cylinder.Transmission options are five-speed manual and four-speed auto until the new model of 2008. The Polo Classic sedan, pre-2010 GTI, and TDI diesel are only sold with the manual. From 2008 a six-speed automatic was installed, this expanded to seven speeds in 2010. Manuals remained at five-speed units.Polo GTI in its early versions wasn’t the pocket rocket its name might suggest, chiefly because the turbocharged 1.8-litre engine is running only modest boost. However, it works very nicely in mid-range torque. The real strength of the Polo GTI is its nimble handling. Firmer suspension and added precision through the steering means it gives you a lot of driving fun at a pretty modest price.Engine power in the latest Polo GTI, launched in November 2010, was increased from 110 kilowatts to 132 kW thanks to a new TwinCharger (supercharged and turbocharged) engine. Finally the Polo GTI had the grunt to back up its name.Volkswagen has undergone a revolution in Australia in recent years thanks to a smart new management team. This has led not only to better sales results, but also an increased number of dealerships, many with impressive high-tech facilities.Service and repairs are moderate in price, though they can be higher than for equivalent sized Asian cars. We have heard of no real complaints about the cost or availability of spare parts.A good amateur mechanic should be able to do a fair bit of their own work as the Polo has a simple mechanical layout and the underbonnet area isn’t too crowded. Have a repair manual at your side, and keep well clear of repairs that could affect the car’s safety.Insurance costs are about average for a car in this European class although you are likely to be charged extra, possibly substantially extra, to cover the Polo GTI because of its turbocharged engine.WHAT TO LOOK FORThe VW Polo is generally well built, however the quality of assembly on the Polo Classic sedan left something to be desired. Check the interior as it can be on the rough and ready side. Ensure the engine starts quickly and idles reasonably smoothly immediately it fires up.Older VW Polo engines aren't the most refined of units, but if one seems too bad it may be due for major repairs. Gearchanges should be light and easy, with no crunching when you shift down quickly. The clutch should be smooth and predictable in its operation. Look inside the boot for signs of harsh treatment as cars in this class sometimes get treated as small trucks by inner-city residents carting things around.Interior trim that has been continuously scorched by the Aussie sun through lack of undercover parking may fade. The dash top and luggage cover will be the first to suffer, look and feel for cracks, as well as for a dry feel in the plastics.CAR BUYING TIPTry to do any test drive with the car in stone-cold condition, after an overnight stop is ideal. Mechanical problems are often aggravated by cold weather.