Despite what VW fanbois will tell you, the People's Car people have had some serious reliability issues over the last few years. Volkswagen execs are hoping to change the automaker's expensive to maintain image with a vehicle maintenance program that will provide owners of new, 2009 models with free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, along with regular checkups every 6,000 miles or 90 days. Volkswagen is calling it the "Carefree Maintenance Program" and is touting it as the only program of available among its competitors. Considering that the VW Rabbit just took the top spot away from the Mazda3 in ConsumerReports' hatchback battle, this might be a good time to start specing up a new GTI.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
elindiano @ May 12th 2008 6:01PM
nice, considering i just spent 300 on brakes for my touareg today. next time im getting an x5.
at least my bimmer gets free maintenance. just got my free oil change yesterday and could have had free brakes if it needed it.
vento97 @ May 12th 2008 6:58PM
A co-worker of mine is a Club BMW instructor (as well as an owner of four BMWs - mostly 3-series and a couple of M3s). He told me that unless you are mechanically inclined, he doesn't recommend owning a BMW past the 4/50 warranty. After that, BMW stands for "Break My Wallet" due to the exorbitant prices for parts and maintenance...
elindiano @ May 12th 2008 7:13PM
your right about that. i always get rid of mine before the 4 year mark. well before the free service is over
ask you buddy about the roters and brake pads. i had been told by bmw service that roters are usually replaced and not turned at the dealer service department.
Disgruntled Goat @ May 12th 2008 9:42PM
Heh, you're bichin about a $300 brake job and see your solution as buying a BMW? That's rich. Between pads, rotors, sensors, bearing service and other labor you're looking at a grand per axle at the dealer. Maybe more, it's been a while since the last time I checked.
You can save a ton by doing most things yourself but there's always something you'll need the help of a pro for. I've had just about every make of automobile you can name and the BMW was the worst by far, and to make matters worse, parts and labor were insanely expensive. I had 80s and 90s American cars whose reliability would put BMW to shame.
Jorge @ May 14th 2008 2:58AM
Yes, that "BMW stands for "Break My Wallet"" also apply to Mini. I had to replace runflat tires that cost 500 dollars each plus tax and labor. Also, damaged windsreen window is about $1000 plus tax and labor. Note: all price is in CAD not USD.
So the great BMW driving experience is not cheap but very worth it. I love my mini cooper so much that the next car I get I would get another mini or a BMW.
bobfranks @ May 12th 2008 6:11PM
Ok, I am now sold. I am getting a 2009 Jetta TDI!
4agze @ May 12th 2008 6:13PM
wow thats really good A+ will this include the R32?
YouFaceTheTick @ May 12th 2008 6:16PM
It's not free - you pay for it in the cost of the car.
also, VW/Audi had this in (VW until 2002 and Audi through 2006). It sucked. VW service is bad. Audi's horrid (my wife's audi still falls under this plan and they barely cover anything).
What happened to 4 years/50k warranty on VW? They realized it was too expensive in that 4th year to cover their poorly made cars. Seriously. If they believe their product was that good, they'd adopt the same bumper-to-bumper as BMW's 4 yr/50k miles maintenance-included warranty. BMW treats you right too - something breaks they fix it.
I wouldn't trust this plan. And it's not free - it's included in the cost of the car.
estammel @ May 12th 2008 6:19PM
Wow, I ALMOST made it in before the typical mob of VW haters attack...
YouFaceTheTick @ May 12th 2008 6:26PM
Not a VW hater - we've owned three VWAG products over the past 8 years. We own a VW/Audi right now! And it's great car.
But...the doesn't change the fact that this included maintenance program sucks. Royally.
MUSASHI66 @ May 12th 2008 6:29PM
Same here.. traded my Touareg the day the warranty was over... way to many problems in the 4th year, from electrical bugs and buttons that had peeled off numbers, to malfunctioning seatbelts and overzealous TP Sensors.
Kristina @ May 12th 2008 7:47PM
Don't most people that buy new cars trade them in on average of the 3 year mark? It would be nice to know that maintenance is covered if something did need work. http://www.azautophile.com
Disgruntled Goat @ May 12th 2008 9:50PM
"Don't most people that buy new cars trade them in on average of the 3 year mark?"
Smart people don't, although the auto makers would LOVE for you to buy a new car every 3 years. You're probably right overall tho. Buying a new car is one of the worst things you can do with your money (not to even mention the leasing rathole) yet people have become convinced that they need a brand new vehicle every couple years. Then they turn 40 and wonder why it is they only have $10k in the bank. Go figure.
OOMPH! @ May 12th 2008 6:25PM
spare us VAG haters..obviousely Volkswagen AG has been doin something right to be the largest producer in Europe..im on my 10th...a 2007 Golf GTI..i had an 01 golf GTI that had electrical issues,but aside from that,alle ist gut! granted,ure Corollas and Snotas are glued together quite well...but will NEVER have the cache that a VW or any other german marque has..Piech is god
zamafir @ May 12th 2008 6:36PM
Same here, no issues since purchasing the '02 mkiv tdi, or '05 b5 tdi, or '06 Jetta 2.0T, or '07 GTi, or '08 R32. Thankfully.
Then again, my 4000s did go 325,000 miles, though around that time the driver side door refused to unlock, talk about crappy build quality.
Big Jim Slade @ May 12th 2008 6:45PM
Ah yes, the "cache" of driving a Wabbit, (and other femme-mobiles like the Jetta and Beetle). Why is it the letters V and W are synonymous with the word "lemon"?
Must be that "marque" name...
Vik @ May 12th 2008 7:50PM
hilarious. VW? Panache? Cache? Spare us. Only in your head, sir. I love how many German car owners dismiss reliability concerns by touting nameplates and "soul". While this may apply for performance vehicles like BMWs, you can't lean on that argument for a lowly VW. Sorry...try again.
Patrick @ May 12th 2008 6:31PM
They shortened their bumper to bumper warranty. Doesn't cover wear items such as brakes, wipers, etc like the BMW plans. So basically it'll cover 3 oil changes..
MUSASHI66 @ May 12th 2008 6:38PM
You are right on the maintenance - first three years are nothing but oil changes and visual inspections
http://www.vw.com/myvw/yourcar/servicecenter/maintenance/en/us/
vento97 @ May 12th 2008 6:33PM
Despite what VW fanbois will tell you, the People's Car people have had some serious reliability issues over the last few years.
Yeah.
Like my 250,000 mile 1997 Jetta
Or my 115,000 mile 2003 Jetta 1.8T
Or my 624,000 mile 1987 Golf GT
Or my 250,000 mile 1975 VW Scirocco
My secret:
1) Proper maintenance (surprise!!!) - Most of which I perform myself
2) With the exception of my first VW (1975 Scirocco), I purchase my VWs at or near the end of the production cycle. Guinea Pigs tend to buy their cars the first year or two on the production cycle (those drivers who have to be the first kid on the block to buy brand X or brand Y with the latest and greatest gizmos).
People today are so spoiled to the point where they expect to turn the key and drive their cars. Proper maintenance seems to be around fifth on their list of priorities behind electronic gizmos (cell-phones, blackberries, DVDs), reading materials (books, newspapers,etc.), personal hygiene (shaving, changing clothes, applying makeup), and oh, yeah - filling the car with gas.
Maybe if the car is properly maintained and isn't driven like a bat out of hell - it might actually last longer than the car payments - or until the next gotta-have, flavor-of-the-month automobile that hits the market....