I’ve been a Volkswagen enthusiast as long as I’ve had a driver’s license. It started 18 years ago with a humble ‘81 Rabbit. Since then I’ve owned a total of seven VWs, all of them Rabbits or Golfs, three of which were GTIs. I’ve modified them, restored them, raced them, and sat broken down on the side of the road with them. I even sold them in the early Nineties, a time when no one seemed to want them.

Without really thinking about, I assumed I would always own a Volkswagen. The GTI is a class-defying car that would always appeal to me. I figured if I ever needed something bigger, a EuroVan would make a nice addition to the garage. I even longed for a Vanagon Syncro Camper. Mind you, this was all before the Passat became a genuine mid-size sedan, before the Phaeton was ever conceived, and well before the Touareg came about.

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It seems like VW is trying too hard to be the next Audi. I was really looking forward to Micro Bus Concept. Instead we get the Phaeton. The Touareg is nice but $$$$. We can't get a Golf Plus, a Jetta Station wagon, or a 4 door GTi. VW is trying to become a premium brand but without the perks. No thanks.

The Phase group Just log on to the vortex and complain and dont use the search function.

Also the lifers, usually own more than one VW at a time. Granted the Mk5's is not something I aspire to. I guess the Questions is what you want out of a car. If you want a 400Hp sedan you wont be look at VW, if you want the best off road vehicle you wont be looking at VW, but for some reason We all wouldnet feel right driving anything else.

I think Brad bought a BMW because he frlt bad and he wanted something that reminds him of the car he used to own.


Modified by m-dub2.0 at 2:47 PM 8-8-2005

This is what bothers me. It makes business sense to appeal to the broadest audience possible, but in my opinion the quirkiness and character of VW is slipping away a bit at a time.

Though at one time I did own (and love) a 1973 2002Tii, and I'd love to have a nice E30 318is, the author of this column is not me - Bryan Joslin wrote it

Funny, my wife's been driving one for the better part of two years. We had a choice of about 5 on the dealer's lot. Blaming VW for a bad dealer experience is like blaming the cattle rancher for an over cooked steak. I would hold the restaurant liable, it appears you would hold The Circle K Ranch. Sure broken window regulators and coil packs were a pain in the ass; but, guess who else used those same exact parts, and had those same exact problems? BMW. The difference? The BMW dealer took care of it, correctly, the first time.

/Lifer. See sig, also tattoo on shoulder.
//Also, IIRC, the class action suit was for MKIV vehicles, not MKIIIs.

Modified by rabbitgtibbar at 10:24 AM 8-8-2005

"I drive a wagon... even if you outrun me, can you brag about it?"

E-mail | For Sale!

I say, have fun with the BMW, I'm sure it'll be a blast, but once you come off that new car high, you'll realize there's something missing, something only a VW can fill for you.

I think you'll enjoy it, but you'll be back...they always come back

-Had an 83 rabbit LS 4dr, went to try a 626lx hatch, back to the rabbit, then onto 2 Sciroccos, an RX7, back to 1 of the roccos, then an 83 GTI, 88 GTI, 05 GLI and now my 94 raddo..
Never did dabble w/ the MK3... the quality, etc..
To me the A1/A2 chassis was what made enthusiats of people, the relationship w/ these cars made you a lifer. If my first VW was a 2L MK3, then maybe I would'nt be here now. The MK4 was a bit bland for me too. The 337,20th, GLI and R32 made me considerVW as a new car again.. So far I am pleased w/ the GLI. The "progress of design" or something like that has moved in a direction that has gained new lifers and lost some old lifers.
VW has a routine, I dont really like it butI thinks its VW's way of keeping us attached. It goes a bit like this..
to sum it up, they save the best for and get you interested again, why not just offer us what we want (everyone) right from the beginning. ..
- Vw tends to make its best models in the last few years of model line production. Is it because of progress? because they want to "supe up" the chassis to unload whats left, or get you to buy the same generation again, but at the cycles end..
many therories and questions for another time/place.
(examples of best for last: aircooled super beetles/convertibles. 83/84 GTI, 91/92 GTL/GLI, MK# Drivers addition/VR6 GTI, 20th/GLI/R32.. all last yr. generation models)
Europe get the good cars right away, whty do we have to wait till the end.
Anyhow.. I am a lifer. I have been buying what I like. The choices are just at the end of the generation. Volkswagen, please offer better cars from the get go.. We dont want 1 year of "news", we want ageneration of great cars.
Give us the MK5 GTI now!, make a 4 door GTI, bring the polo/lupo(gti and entry levels), offer the R36 now, bring the micro bus back to the board room, develop some of those concepts.. Make a car for the people, not just for the people who cant afford an Audi. Keep the VW style, quirkiness, and character.

-back on topic... I love BMWs, rotorys, Audi, and many other qaulity products but its the attention to detail/design that I always loved VW 's for.
Recaros, BBS, eronomics, =quality interiors
better components.. .. time to move the dub for street cleaning.. NEXT!


Modified by gtimagic at 11:58 AM 8-8-2005

HID's, Oil Coolers, Fuel Line kits, KONI, OEM/Euro spec & more..

Quote, originally posted by rabbitgtibbar »

//Also, IIRC, the class action suit was for MKIV vehicles, not MKIIIs.

Wrong, there was a lawsuit for MKIII's also.

Maybe you should use the search function.

Quote, originally posted by vwsr2cool »

What do I drive then? I guess I haven't been driving the Jetta Wagon I thought I was for the pass 3 years. Fact: VW has brought a Jetta Wagon to the US since '01 model year (correct me if I'm wrong.) For 4-door GTI, see here:"It's official: 5-door MKV GTI coming to the US"

When I speak of a Jetta wagon, I mean a MK5, not the MK4. I know one is in the works. Will we see it? Who knows, It will probably be 2008 by then, if at all. Also allow my MK5 wagon have a VR6 or an FSI Turbo option please.

As far the 4-door MK5 Gti being available here with the same general options as Europe, again, we'll see. I hope it's true. But car companies often announce something like this and then for "strategic reasons" change their minds.

Also, please tell me VW is going to change the name of the "CCR" for the U.S.
All I can think of is a great band from Lousiana.

http://MechanicalLife.com
Coming Soon - Machine-centric video reviews, podcasts and features

Mom's Golf-sold a long time ago...
I have no more VW's , but I STILL love 'em!

"Never underestimate the predictibility of stupidity."-Bullet Tooth Tony

We've certainly had our share of problems over the years with our VW's. Why don't I switch? Mostly because I simply like VW's, but also because I have the tools (VAG-COM, ETKA, Bentley, etc...) and I have the experience. I pretty much know at this point what's going to break on a VW and how to fix it.

I'll likely replace the Passat with a 2001 or so GTI 1.8T for my car (I do a lot of driving in my biz), and a B5.5 Passat Wagon (hopefully with a 1.8T and a 5-speed) for my wife and kids.

The biggest change in my car desires as I've gotten older and started a family are that I'm no longer interested in perpetual car payments, I don't need anything more expensive than a VW to satisfy my ego, and I want a car I know how to fix that will run a long, long time. My grandfather's Beetles ran forever, my mother's Jetta was retired with a bad transmission at 170K miles (mostly her fault for not maintaining it), and my Passat now has 223K miles on it. My wife's Jetta has 85K on it and runs like new. I've had pretty good experiences with VW's, in general.

The only other vehicles I want are a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon and a Factory Five Racing 65MKIII with a twin-turbo 302 and IRS...oh, and maybe a new bike to replace my busted-up Kawasaki EX500.

On-topic: I'd like to think I am a lifer. Since I began owning my own vehicles, I've only owned VW's. More specifically, only 4-cylinder, 5-speed, black interior Jetta's thus far. A '84 brown 4-dr, a '95 Mulberry GL, and now a '02 Baltic Green Wagon GLS. What's next, not sure but eventually a Jetta Convertible Project.

Modified by vwsr2cool at 1:01 PM 8-8-2005

"I drive a wagon... even if you outrun me, can you brag about it?"

E-mail | For Sale!

Sadly, with VW's move "upmarket", the Passat will cost more than I want to spend on the inevitable family car. (Mazda 6 wagon is looking pretty good). The MkV GTI sounds great, but it will probably be too late for me. I'll need a more practical car.

Even if I'm not an owner for life, I'll remember my VW experience fondly. I can appreciate the older cars even though I've never owned them. I know a little more about them from being a part of the VW community.

Being a lifer is a double edged sword. You can always feel comfortable in what you own and stick with what you know, but you may be missing out on a lot of great car experiences out there.

I always said VWs were figuratively in my blood, so why not make it literally?

Quote, originally posted by 2 doors »

Being a lifer is a double edged sword. You can always feel comfortable in what you own and stick with what you know, but you may be missing out on a lot of great car experiences out there.

Don't mistake "being a VW lifer" with "will only ever own VWs".

Modified by rabbitgtibbar at 1:08 PM 8-8-2005

But I agree. If I were shopping for a 4 door sedan right now, an Acura TSX or a Subaru would defineitly be on my list much before the new Jetta. Chaces are that I'd probably end up with an A3 though

but hey, I'm only 24 so the GTI should fit me a few more years. Of course, I'd prefer to have it forever and runt eh wheels off it. But only time will tell if I need or want something different.

Clean 1997 Jetta GLX for sale: [url=http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4322953[/url]

These days VW is trying to move upmarket to keep people like you from moving up to Audi or BMW.

It seems like they are doing a good job of moving up market, at the expensive of the "common folk" that really made VW into its former glory.

I'd like to get a Passat wagon in a few years as a second car...but the way the prices are heading...and by that time paying a ridiculous mortgage payment (the Northeast ain't cheap)

You make an interesting point.

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Long Gone- 81 Rabbit, 85 GTI, 94 Golf, 84 GTI, 84 GTI Cab, 00 Golf TDI, 90 GTI

"I drive a wagon... even if you outrun me, can you brag about it?"

E-mail | For Sale!

Modified by quaudi at 4:18 PM 8-8-2005

Modified by quaudi at **** PM 8-8-2005

Modified by quaudi at 4:31 PM 8-8-2005

1982 Alfa Romeo Spider
1983 GTi
2004 W8 6MT variant

Very well put and I keep hoping they wake up and smell the coffee, as my mom always says. They really hide from the consumer when there is a problem and most wont put up with that kind of crap the way a few of us will. Just look at the sales,unfortunately.

But I also agree with:

Quote, originally posted by rabbitgtibbar »

Don't mistake "being a VW lifer" with "will only ever own VWs".

Anyway... I still love VWs, especially GTIs, hopefully I'll find an older one as a daily driver someday

Sold:
2000 GTI VR6
GIAC chip, DSR256 cams, 337pedals, Neuspeed strut bar... 14.93 @ 93.02 mph

I'm someone who likes to tinker. I'm someone who hates paying someone to work on his car. I'm someone who changes things about his car that he doesn't like, and VW has been a very good platform for my silly wishes.

But as time marches on, VW begins to change things in ways that effect me for the worse. Case in point: I'm no longer allowed to simply call up my friendly neighborhood VW dealership and get the codes required to work on my own car (immobilizer, etc). This bothers me to no end, since now I have to PAY someone to help me do something I can do MYSELF. This doesn't sound like a very owner-friendly move from the makers of The People's Car.

I don't know, maybe you folks think it's an arbitrary rant, but it's at the heart of the reason why I don't think I'll be a lifer. The car shows are cool, but there's nothing new under the sun. The people at the car shows (and in the forums) are sometimes nice, but there's a severe shortage of deep friendships formed there. The cars are nice, but they're kind of an expensive hobby for someone with no real money to speak of, and it only gets more expensive as time rolls on

German engineering has proven its worth to me. I'm pretty sure I'll be driving German vehicles for the rest of my life. I doubt it'll always be VW, but we'll see. My brother swears someday I'll be a propellerhead...I dunno man...I dunno...

If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough. -Mario Andretti

over the winter i built an 86 mustang that i bought for $100, swapped in an overbored 302 and manual transmission (it was a 4cyl auto car) and finished the project for $1200. it's nice, too. headers, H-pipe, flowmasters, nice clutch, carb, etc. you can get 8 ford pistons cheaper than 4 vw pistons. it's also a super fun car to drive.

i though i was done buying new old vw's, but then we got an 81 scirocco, and i have really, really been enjoying the 86 gli i picked up a while back. so, i find myself sucked back in, once again spending time and money on vw stuff, spending countless hours on the vortex, and just driving the pants off of a somewhat tired old 8v gli, and loving every second of it.

with the inherent fun factor that even a rough example of an older vw provides coupled with the rising cost of gasoline, i think i'm a lifer.

lucas.

lol...lovin the turtle neck dude. omg thats funny

First, its just a phase. Yes, other cars may do things better or different then a VW, but it wont be a VW.

If you want something else, thats what Audi is for.

BUT how could you get a BMW?

If I go to church on Sunday and cabaret all day Monday, nobody's business if I do.