volkswagon jetta TDI

Southgate Volkswagon

5220 Gateway Blvd

Edmonton, AB

T6H 4J7

I bought my 2003 Volkswagon Jetta TDI, October 2002, as we were moving from Red Deer to Edmonton and I was commuting to work approx 50kms each way. We were interested in the Jetta for its gas mileage. The price was exceptable as well, fully equiped at approx $30,000. At first we enjoyed the performance and handling of the Jetta plus the mileage was good as well. Then came the maintanence, well the oil changes were about average price but that was at the hourly shop rate of $65/hr, then in 3 short years the shop rate is now $95/hr, what a difference a day makes. Things started to go from bad to worse, everytime (except for 2-3times) when we went in for normal maintenance the mechanics always fround something else wrong with the car, though at first it was covered by warranty, it was bearable but made us slowly second guess our choice in vehicles. Well since we bought the vehicle we knew that we would be putting the miles to it and in no time flat the warranty was done, less than 3 years we were miled out and we had to start paying for the repairs ourselves. Well the trend continued, each time we brought in our Jetta for maintenance, usual routine maintenance, oil changes 8,000kms and the major maintenance each 32,000kms. Well like I stated earlier we only ever had 2-3 regular oil changes, every other time they were able to find something else we needed to have repaired. Some examples of our maintenance charges, low end and remember only every 4th time is a major scheduled maintenance. At the low end, if it was just an oil change, nothing else (rare but did happen) was about $90. For every other time (except the 2-3 times) the cost of our 8,000km check up (minor) was about $150-$400, our major check ups every 32,000km was about $400-$900 each and every time. So in the 3 years, 10 months that we have owned our Jetta TDI we have put in almost $5000 in maintenance for this vehicle. I have all the receipts to prove it but that is not all. The last minor check up was just the other day and of course there was yet another problem, first it cost me $147 for an oil change but they stated that my timing belt is loose and needed to be replaced and that the intake manifold was starting to plug up and needed to be taken apart and cleaned. The timing belt was repaired at 100,000 kms under warranty, less than a year later at a 150,000 the timing belt is now again loose and needed to be replaced it would cost me about $1200 to repair. So I said "hey did you guys not repair that same timing belt not 50,000kms ago" and "should it not be good for another 150,000kms" (life expectancy). Yes that is the normal rate that it needs to be replaced BUT when they repaired the timing belt the first time they only repaired the parts that were causing the problem, not all the parts, now the parts that they did not repair at 100,000 are now worn out and since we have it all apart we might as well spend an extra $128 to have all the parts replaced so we wont have to worry about any of it for another 150,00kms. With the intake manifold, the good news is that there are no parts required for this job it is just take apart clean and put back, good as new and that is only about 4.5- 5 hr job (shop rate at $95). Well folks that was the straw that broke this camel's hump, so I let them know what I thought, that I would never be seen in this dealership again nor would I ever buy another volkswagen nor would I ever promote one to a friend. I have enjoyed vehicle, the way it handled, drove and of course the mileage it got but the maintenance is a KILLER, it is not worth the cost to maintain it. The $5 a tank I saved at the pumps is not worth the $5000 in 3yrs 10mths. I have a toyota which is 16yrs old and I have not spent one dime on a mechanical problem and I have not spent $5000 in servicing on that vehicle. The most expensive thing I had to have done to that vehicle was the front brakes, (4 wheel drive) that was $400. So guess what I am on my way to do, buy another Toyota