cyotani

iTrader: (8)

I have a friend selling a 2010 Sportwagen for dealer trade in value (~$8000) with 75k miles and in pretty good condition. It looks like local craigslist prices are closer to $9.5k. It is a 2.5 S trim with auto trans.

Does anyone have any first hand experience with this car? The internets has pretty mixed review on reliability. However most have said the 5cyl 2.5 gas engine is a pretty reliable one.

I love the wagon look and it would be nice to upgrade my current daily which is a 98 camry. However the camry has all major maintenance done recently including a low mileage trans and I'm pretty confident I can get another 50k+ miles out of it with very little repairs.

decisions decisions....

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

Sounds cheap. Great cars, but a million times better in the Diesel. Million times more expensive too.

I was always puzzled how people would say "I'm not paying extra for the diesel, the fuel savings won't pay for the difference." Thing is, on a new car the diesel is a $2000 premium similarly equipped. That SW you're looking at would easily be a $14k car if it were a diesel. Over the course of 75k miles you'd save nearly the $2k in fuel. The rest is gravy.

BUT you're buying used. That little 2.5 should be a fairly solid car, though I don't have any personal experience with them so... Just wanted to share I guess.

Ryephile

iTrader: (1)

If you want a cool wagon, the JSW is tough to beat. That platform is about as reliable as VW's can get, which is only one step down from your old [and let's be honest, dreadfully boring] Camry.

The TDI factor is cool, but the 2.5's are more reliable in the end.

Get it if you're a JSW fan. Don't get it thinking you're going to save money.

cyotani

iTrader: (8)

But the boring camry makes the Miata so much more fun to drive on the weekends!

I just am kind of hesitant of the German car market. I've owned many Hondas and Toyotas and now my 300k+ Miata with pretty good piece of mind that I can expect ~200k miles with proper maintenance. I guess I just don't have any hands on experience with German vehicles and the mixed reviews aren't helping. I love hose the car looks tho. America needs more European Wagons and Hatches.

Ryephile

iTrader: (1)

I had two Mk6's, a GTI and Golf TDI. They were both fun and more reliable than most German marques I've owned. Given that you're used to expecting 200k+ miles from cars with proper [and that sounds like minimal] maintenance, I'm going to hazard a German car as a non-hobby DD isn't a great idea if you're using the Miata as your hobby car, unless you're really bored and need more to do.

As the saying goes, the best German cars to own are the ones under a full and complete warranty [read: new BMWs and MINIs]. That automatically excludes even new VW's, as their warranty excludes most of the powertrain.

hi_im_sean

iTrader: (3)

i have an 07 2.5 wolfsburg

pretty solid car. interior fit and finish is second to none in its price range. its spacious, comfy, quiet, great long trip car. the 2.5 motors are solid except for the 07 and previous timing chain issues. the only thing to look out for are the 09G tansmissions (6spd bumpshift); they like to eat valve bodies. VW came out with a bulletin for them and extended the warranty to 100k. mine had its first valve body done at 95k, and now at 130k its starting to act up again (late downshifts, clunky 1-2). vw originally went with a lifetime fluid fill, and later decided it should be changed every 40k. you do the math. other than that, i have only had to replace one of the radiator cooling fans at 60k, and now it needs struts at 130k. the sunroof randomly opens itself about once a week. i attribute this to noise on the CAN. its still on stock, original brake pads and rotors. we bought the car in 2010 with 48k on it.

my biggest complaint, and why i wont buy another mk5, is they are made so you cant work on them. there is no transmission dipstick, and you have to have either a vagcom or the VW/audi scan tool to do much of anything.

Savington

iTrader: (31)

You'd have to be nuts to give up a '98 Camry with a known up-to-date maintenance history for a late-model VWAG product.

hi_im_sean

iTrader: (3)

i guess i contradicted myself pretty well

Twibs415

iTrader: (8)

They are nice but expect random stupid **** to go wrong. invest in a vcds if you plan to own it for some time.

I have a few customers at work with them. pcv system has issues, mass air flow sensors, thermostats, and vacuum pumps leak every once in a while, and trans issues once the miles start getting higher.

the TDI has basically all that and the dreaded dual mass flywheel, egr blockage/valve failure, and boost valve issues.


with all that said, i love my b5 s4 even at 231k and that ************ keeps me busy! but stay Japanese if you are looking to save some money and want less headaches..

Tmorgan

iTrader: (1)

I'm a tech at an independent German shop. I've seen a lot of issues with the 2.5's specifically the vacuum pumps leaking and the valve body issues.

The transmissions are a PITA to flush but its possible if your indy shop has the adapter, which is specific to that transmission only. Most of the issues I've seen with the transmissions were because of the lifetime fluid interval which bmw ran at the time as well, both manufacturers now recommend 30-60k flush intervals.

The vaccum pumps like to leak quite a bit of oil. If they leak internally I've seen them hydro lock and throw the timing chain. If they leak externally they make a huge mess. either way the dealer says you have to pull the trans to replace it. I've found you can pull the cover off the new pump and sneak it past the trans if you remove the PRNDL switch, which shaves 5hrs off the labor time.

They are more reliable than the 2.0t vw puts in everything else, which isnt saying much. The 2.5 should be fine car for daily driving just find a good shop that has the right tools and keep up your maintenance.

cyotani

iTrader: (8)

Thanks for everyone's input. It looks like the boring camry will be sticking around for now.

Jeffbucc

Chris, I am completely biased, so I'll stay out of this. Saying that, 90k with zero issues, 70k of that is stage 2 with a DPF delete. Average 42mpg, highway 48/city 38. Super comfy, granted my car has a **** ton of creature comfort/performance things done to make the car better, so I can't comment on the stock Sportwagen.

adamiata

iTrader: (1)

Nice looking car, Jeff. I'm sorely tempted to get a TDI wagon for my next daily but also a little worried about reliability. The slower depreciation is what seems to offset the higher upfront cost, moreso than the fuel mileage.

I think it would look killer with some GTI 5-hole phone dial wheels.

Jeffbucc

People who usually have problems in newer VW's, are usually the ones who don't keep track of fluids/maintenance. Exceptions to be had of course, but from most things I've seen with diesels at least, it was owner neglect or putting gasoline in the tank, running the tank close to empty often(heats up HPFP), change their oil every 3k instead of 10k because they "know better", and aren't using VCDS to prime their fuel filter after replacement.

So many owners put gasoline in their tanks that VW issued a TSB to install a valve that only allows the diesel nozzle into the tank, and they also put about 5 stickers around the fuel door telling them to put diesel in...idiots.

adamiata

iTrader: (1)

Do you have to use anything exotic for oil?

My father had an '05 (I think) Passat TDI wagon that he said was hard to find oil for. Some kind of special Castrol.

Jeffbucc

VW spec oil is 507.00 for the new 2.0 TDI engine 10+. All it has to do is match 507 standard, it doesn't have to by VW branded oil, just a quality diesel oil.

I have been running Mobil 1 TDT(turbo diesel truck) oil for 4 years and my car runs perfect. TDT is pretty damn cheap too and everyone carries it.

adamiata

iTrader: (1)

Well, if it's good enough for Jeffbucc, then it's good enough for me.

Jeffbucc

If it is good enough for TDIClub*. Imagine MT.net and Miata.net combined and you'll get tdiclub. A lot of annoying Safety Sam's but those dudes know their ****.

If you want to learn about VW diesels
www.tdiclub.com
www.myturbodiesel.com

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

SO TRUE.

Conveniently, another recommended oil is Rotella T6. So I run the same oil in my Jetta as my Miata!

You can read for DAYS about recommended oils. The PO used mobil 1 of some sort and I switched to T6 as soon as I got the car. Even though '04's are known for munching cams, we just hit 160k miles last week and the motor is happy as ever.

cyotani

iTrader: (8)

Clean ride sir. I love the color.