I may be saying good-bye to my NB this weekend

[CyberGrnBug01]

Well guys this maybe my last time here on the org as a NB owner. These last 3 months have not been a good one for my NB. I have had so many problems with my car (electrical, transmission and some other things). I have spend about $3,000 getting stuff on my car fixed and I am still having problems with it (like my transmission). It really sucks because I just paid off my car last December and I talked about getting another car, but not this soon . I feel like my car is falling apart So I decided to make the painful decision to trade it in this weekend. I am looking for something more reliable. I am going to CarMax this weekend to look at a Honda CR-V, Accord, Toyota Camry or a Toyota Highlander. I really enjoyed my NB and appreciate everyone here that gave me advice etc. I will keep you all posted!

[Severecaraddict]

Sorry that you've had so many problems with your NB. No one can blame you for trading it in after spending that much on repairs and still no resolution.

Anything Honda or Toyota will be super reliable. I LOVE the look of the 2004-2005 Civic EX 2dr, and they get AWESOME gas mileage! (40mpg + on the highway even in the automatic) For peace of mind, I'd probably pick up something with a good bit of remaining warranty. Good luck!

[Breez]

I agree that you cant go wrong with Honda or Toyota... I test drove a few in January... they don't drive or feel the same as a nice VW though.

No mater what, you can always hang around here on .org!

[Grover]

I am sure i will get flamed for this but i would suggest looking at Kia. They have really improved a bunch in the last few years. I had a spectra for about 4 years with not a single problem( my mother is still driving it now) and I know at least 3 other people that have Kias and have never had problems. Plus they are way cheaper than Honda or Toyota.

[Severecaraddict]

Originally Posted by Grover

I am sure i will get flamed for this but i would suggest looking at Kia. They have really improved a bunch in the last few years. I had a spectra for about 4 years with not a single problem( my mother is still driving it now) and I know at least 3 other people that have Kias and have never had problems. Plus they are way cheaper than Honda or Toyota.

I won't flame ya for the Kia remark, as I do agree that they've improved drastically like Hyundai has. You make a good point about them being cheaper, but they have really poor resale value. If its something she plans to keep until the wheels fall off, then she obviously doesn't have to worry about it.

[Grover]

True. The resale value is pretty poor but in comparison to what you are saving off the price of a honda or toyota it really isnt that much of a hit. Kia is also coming out with a Rio hybrid in late 07 or early 08....

[callisto9]

sorry to hear about the beetle going, but i understand. you have to remember, beetle or not, it's just a car. and when you're about to go into the poor house because your car's a POS, it's just not worth it to keep it anymore.

good luck with your search. i hope you get something you like! stick around and post some pics when you do! we like ya', beetle or not!

[Breez]

Originally Posted by Severecaraddict

I won't flame ya for the Kia remark, as I do agree that they've improved drastically like Hyundai has. You make a good point about them being cheaper, but they have really poor resale value. If its something she plans to keep until the wheels fall off, then she obviously doesn't have to worry about it.

Great point

On a side note: Kia was bought by Hyundai under their governments pressure... because of this, Kia has been extremely improving.

I have a friend who will drive it through the entire 100,000 mile warranty.

I drove her Kia one night when I was the DD for the evening, and I hated it, just hated it. But if you test drive it and like it... the price is right and you can't beat the warranty.

But also I would want you to check into the safety... I think toyota and honda had kia beat on the safety factor... that might be a consideration as well.

[Grover]

Most of the newer Kias are equal to or better than VW and a good portion of the hondas and toyotas out there. The 06 Kia Sedona van has 5 stars from both the gov and the insurance institute. I was very close to buying the Sorento and I chose the NB at tlast moment because of mileage. I will proabably end up getting the Sorento as my next car when they put in the Hyundai engine next year with much better mileage.

[IgottaBug!]

I feel your pain on the problems with your NB. Timing belt changes, vacuum hoses, suspension, transmission problems, etc. can wear you down pretty quick. It's a fun car to have and drive, but when it's time to move on, it's time to move on. My mom and my oldest sister are diehard Toyota drivers - that's all they've ever owned. My dad even broke down and got one after driving "American" all his life. Guess you can't go wrong when it comes to reliability. Happy car hunting.

[Ivy]

Originally Posted by Severecaraddict

I won't flame ya for the Kia remark, as I do agree that they've improved drastically like Hyundai has. You make a good point about them being cheaper, but they have really poor resale value. If its something she plans to keep until the wheels fall off, then she obviously doesn't have to worry about it.

I traded in a 2001 Kia Optima last September and lost SOOOO much $$$$. I only got $3000 on it! The resale value is terrible. That is the reason I wouldn't buy another one. They have improved however mine was at the dealers constantly getting fixed for one thing or another, luckily I had a long warranty. The timing belt went out though right after the warranty expired - figures...anyway back on topic. Sorry to here about the NB. You could look at other NB's, they are pretty reliable, you could have just gotten a bad one. Anyway, I've had a Honda Civic and LOVED it, You absolutely cannot go wrong with Honda!!! Good luck and keep us posted.

[dnyed]

[mentalVdub]

i hear that!

my car is falling apart as well.
i'm so sick of it that i've honestly gotten to the point where i don't like volkswagen anymore.
terribly unreliable in my opinion.

go with toyota first, honda second.
toyotas have a better road worthiness rating than honda does.

but either way, best of luck with your decision!

[Severecaraddict]

Originally Posted by mentalVdub

my car is falling apart as well.
i'm so sick of it that i've honestly gotten to the point where i don't like volkswagen anymore

What you need is a nice BMW!

[WNAB911]

My wife bought a Scion (Toyota) Xa, and we love it! Right from the factory we ordered lowering springs, performance struts, rims, ground effects, spoiler, cold air kit etc... All for around $12k right off of the lot! Driving it is like driving a Go-cart! And the Scion Owners Club is cool too. National and local shows, concerts, magazine, website... If you are thinking of a Toyota, check out their Scion line too!

[FineExampl]

This is not good news.

[PhoenixRising]

Originally Posted by IgottaBug!

I feel your pain on the problems with your NB. Timing belt changes, vacuum hoses, suspension, transmission problems, etc. can wear you down pretty quick. It's a fun car to have and drive, but when it's time to move on, it's time to move on.

True dat.

As I know from my experience. Yet, I have not lost my love of VW; just wish they would step up with a TDi/hybrid kind of thing.

Originally Posted by WNAB911

My wife bought a Scion (Toyota) Xa, and we love it! Right from the factory we ordered lowering springs, performance struts, rims, ground effects, spoiler, cold air kit etc... All for around $12k right off of the lot! Driving it is like driving a Go-cart! And the Scion Owners Club is cool too. National and local shows, concerts, magazine, website... If you are thinking of a Toyota, check out their Scion line too!

Yes, yes! We love our SCION xA as well!

Good luck. And I can vouch for the Toyota's.

[Breez]

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

True dat.

As I know from my experience. Yet, I have not lost my love of VW; just wish they would step up with a TDi/hybrid kind of thing.

Boy do I hear you on that one! I NEED AND WANT a TDI Hybrid. period.

Well, I know how you feel sometimes about VW, I got EXTREMELY frustrated about my window clips/regulators/motors on my jetta. It was all this little stuff that was always adding up and always about the bottom line quality. When my jetta was totalled, I went and test drove Toyota, Honda and volvos... I really thought I would leave the VW family... after driving the Toyotas, Hondas and Volvos, I realized my heart was with VW. I have only owned VWs and BMWs, but all my friends and family had Toyotas, Hondas and Volvos.

My best friend has a 1996 toyota camary v6... she only changes the oil, filters, tires and brakes... nothing is wrong with it except her paint/clear coat is completely gone. But she is on 210,000 miles and has done really nothing except basic stuff. (but just like my friends hyundai, I hate, just hate how it drives)

I can't help it that I like the feel and the drive of a VW or BMW, I am addicted.

[CyberGrnBug01]

Hey everyone! Well I didn't get a car this weekend because family came into town unexpectedly. I am still searching for a good deal. I really like the new 2006 Rav4.I also like the Scion TC! I have been researching online to see where I can get one in my price range. In all honestly I will miss my NB. It was such a fun car up until the last 4 months. I feel like the dealership is ripping me off because they keep charging me to have all this stuff fixed (valves, hoses, timing belt etc) on my car and my car still runs like crap! I already complained to the service manager and VW headquarters. Plus everytime I take it nothing is ever covered through my powertrain warranty!! What is the point in even having that warranty!! (My car has 86K miles on it.)

[Whitacre]

If im not mistaken, and unless you have an extended warranty, your basic powertrain limited warranty expired when everyone else's does...50,000 miles or 4 years, whichever is sooner. Your catalytic converter is covered for 10 years 100k (or unlimited) miles, and there is a rust warranty good for 12 years unlimited miles...so anything done would probably have been covered under your factory warranty, but you are well out of the mileage and year to be covered under anything...

Sorry to hear you want to part with it, but those early NBs are pretty unreliable. Anything after 02 it seems, is a much better choice. Maybe trade up for a newer year and get a diesel? That will be much better than filling up your Rav4 twice a week for 60 bucks.