I have never owned a VW. I have never thought of them as being very reliable. I saw the Taos and test drove it and I love it. My only concern is how long will it last? I have a 2009 Honda Odyssey with over 188K miles and never had a major issue with it. Will a VW give me the same reliability?
VW Reliability - Love the Taos
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<crickets>
Haha, nobody wants to answer...
The only VW I've even got close to that mileage on was a 1990 Corrado, which is a money pit to begin with. The engine was still solid though. The A/C was not - in fact I ended up removing the compressor and re-routing the serpentine belt. The A/C went out every few years for various leaks, etc., but the compressor seizing up on the freeway and burning out the compressor clutch in a huge cloud of smoke was enough for me. I pulled off onto a side street and honestly thought I was going to watch it burn until I figured out the actual cause.
They are a lot better nowadays. 188K with no major issues? Define major, haha. I would expect the engine to be fine, but it would not surprise me at all to have a few issues by that age. Also, the Taos has a "lifetime" timing belt, but in reality, I think you need to start inspecting it after 150k miles or something. I would expect to replace it once before 180-200k.
Hondas (and Toyotas) thrive on neglect. VWs (and German cars in general) do not. Keeping up with the required maintenance (correct oils etc.) is essential for longevity. Avoid cheap lube shops.
With a little care, a VW can be very rewarding and mostly reliable. As you said, you love the way it drives. If it ends up costing a little more in maintenance over 10 years, then so be it. It might not. But you will have something you enjoy.
Haha, nobody wants to answer...
The only VW I've even got close to that mileage on was a 1990 Corrado, which is a money pit to begin with. The engine was still solid though. The A/C was not - in fact I ended up removing the compressor and re-routing the serpentine belt. The A/C went out every few years for various leaks, etc., but the compressor seizing up on the freeway and burning out the compressor clutch in a huge cloud of smoke was enough for me. I pulled off onto a side street and honestly thought I was going to watch it burn until I figured out the actual cause.
They are a lot better nowadays. 188K with no major issues? Define major, haha. I would expect the engine to be fine, but it would not surprise me at all to have a few issues by that age. Also, the Taos has a "lifetime" timing belt, but in reality, I think you need to start inspecting it after 150k miles or something. I would expect to replace it once before 180-200k.
Hondas (and Toyotas) thrive on neglect. VWs (and German cars in general) do not. Keeping up with the required maintenance (correct oils etc.) is essential for longevity. Avoid cheap lube shops.
With a little care, a VW can be very rewarding and mostly reliable. As you said, you love the way it drives. If it ends up costing a little more in maintenance over 10 years, then so be it. It might not. But you will have something you enjoy.
This is the way!⬆
I am picking up my Taos Monday night. Test drove it again and still like it. I’ve always taken my car to the dealer for regular maintenance so that will be the same with my Taos. I was able to find an SE FWD with a sunroof in the dark blue. Can’t wait to pick it up!
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