My old Toyota Pickup has 180k miles on it, and I've kept it this long because it's always been reliable, never left me stranded in all that time. A lot of those go for 200k miles! But that's off topic...

I drive a 2000 Jetta VR6 and a 2004 WRX Wagon. The Jetta (60k miles now) is a lot of fun, and overall I wish Subaru spent half as much time on their looks and interiors as VW does. But I seriously doubt I'll ever buy a VW again. This car has spent more time in the shop since I bought it than my truck has in the decade I've owned it. And even when stuff is under warranty, at least half the time I have to fight to get it covered (and I don't always win). It seems like this car can't visit the dealer for under $1k. And Subaru paint can't be any worse than this, last time I washed the car a few huge flakes came off, I need to have some serious touchup work done. Plus a lot of the interior surfaces are painted (door handles, dash) instead of just being vinyl or something -- looks nice, but it's difficult to clean without destroying. My door handles started to peel at about 20k miles. I got them replaced under warranty (after a fight) and the new ones seem a little better.

The WRX handles much better. The Jetta could probably beat it across an intersection, but not much past that. After driving the WRX for the first week, the Jetta felt slow on the freeway. I do like the feel of the Jetta's brakes a lot better than the WRX, although I had to make an emergency stop from over 70mph today in the WRX, and it handled really nicely . . . so I'll stop complaining about that.

So yeah, this time around we didn't even consider any VWs.

 

As someone who owns a VW and has spent a lot of time on the VWVortex forums, I just have to ask, are you kidding?

Edit: Maybe the quality has just slipped since they started making them in Mexico.

 

Your guesses are correct -- unless something has changed in the last year or so, the GTI is assembled in Germany, the Jetta is assembled in Mexico.

My Jetta looked great when it was new, and felt very solid, but, well, as I said above the looks didn't go very deep, and it's been in the shop way too much. I love the car, but I couldn't do that to myself again!

 

I was talked to my friend who said his uncle, who has been workin for porshe for more than a decade, that test drives new cars and ideas. Also has a company Carrera. He says that the Japanese build really great cars. Of course hes not gonna say they are better or the best but coming from a Porshe rep that sure brought a smile to my face. I"ve never seen a porshe with more than 100kmiles but tons of Subies are out there with 200k. I dont race and get great mileage cuz i dont tear up my wrx but i'm also waitin to see how long she lasts but soon i'll be boosting by vettes and cuttin off 911s at a fraction of the price

 

stay away from the WVs. My niece has a 1.8t and it has been nothing but a horror story. Got it new from the dealer too. She has co-workers that have WVs too and she is not an isolated case. They all have problems with them.

subarus will run forever if you take care of them. Taking care of the car is key !

 

I just bought an '04 WRX Wagon. It replaced my '96 GTI VR6. That car cost me nothing for 120,000 miles. Well.. Not nothing. A battery, a thermostat and regular maintanence. So. Nearly nothing (original clutch, brake pads and rotors still on the car when sold.) I have also owned VW's since 1989 and have generally no complaints about their quality or dependability.

The reason for the change was just that.. a change. Trying something new. I know Subarus are generally reliable, as are nearly all cars built today. Of course, the fact that VW couldnt give me 230hp, all wheel drive and the flexibility of a wagon counted against them.

Good luck on your choice!

 

I put 133K on a 1995 2.0L Golf in a period of 5 years. It smoked like a mother on startup after 20K, broke the sunroof several times, fried CV joints, had interior and suspension rattles, but it never stranded me. I consider myself lucky, but build quality was crappy. Never again.

 

VW's are great cars. Yes, the WRX is a great drivers car and I wouldnt trade mine for anything, but the VW has an impressive feeling of quality and sturdiness. I am the only one of my friends that doesnt drive a VW, and I can say that they are very capable cars if you make the right changes. As for reliability? My buddy has an 87 Golf with almost 340k on the original motor. I doubt my Subaru will last that long.....