German Reliability?

codprawn · 30 January 2008, 00:37

This will probably turn into a can of worms.............

Everyone seems to love Volkswagens - Audis and new Skodas for their reliability. I would say prob the most common engine is or was the 1.9tdi - used in the Golf - Passat - A4 - A6 and Skoda Octavia.

I have driven several of these over the last few years and yes they were nice cars except the Golfs which had water leaks into the cabin.

Met a mate of mine last night who drives his own taxi. He really pampers his car and won't let anyone else drive it. When he pulled up the Skoda Supurb sounded like a tractor. When I asked what was wrong he said the flywheel had packed up. £400 to replace ex labour.

The car has done 85,000 miles - a 56plate. When I asked him if this was common he said they always go at about this mileage. He has had several Passats/Skodas and they have all done it as have the other taxis.

I have never heard of this before - I am quite sure if it had been a British car it would have been crucified for this. Our Rover 400 diesels all did well over 150,000 miles with no problems and yet everyone mocks Rover - any wonder they went bust???

I have just had 2 cars on hire - week 1 was a Mundano Tdci - base model so no toys but a 140hp engine and 6 speed box - really fast for a diesel(but I got 26mpg). Week 2 I have a new Passat Estate - it's the SE model with loads of toys BUT it still has the old 110tdi now producing 105bhp - what a dog - if only it had the 140 or 170 I would be happy - and as for electric handbrakes - YUCH!!!

I just wonder if the cars really ARE more reliable or are people prepared to make more allowances for some makes than others?

Carl · 30 January 2008, 08:20

sounds like you hired an old model because the later passat from 2005 is 2.0l and 138hp,but saying that even the older model has a 1.9l 130hp and 150hp 2.5l diesel engine,sounds like you got a really budget rent and wreck

Lostboy · 30 January 2008, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I just wonder if the cars really ARE more reliable or are people prepared to make more allowances for some makes than others?

Hee hee hee!!!!! You don't really need to wonder that do you? I can't wait to see Gavin's response to this......................

codprawn · 30 January 2008, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl

sounds like you hired an old model because the later passat from 2005 is 2.0l and 138hp,but saying that even the older model has a 1.9l 130hp and 150hp 2.5l diesel engine,sounds like you got a really budget rent and wreck

Nope - 07 plate with the old 1.9tdi engine which used to be 110 bhp - now it's 105 with all the extra emissions crap. My old Rover 400 diesel was 105bhp and being a lighter car is far quicker.

Don't get me wrong it's a nice car but to put an agricultural old engine like this in it is a joke. They also have a 140 and a 170 model - that would be far better.

The Mondeo I had was a 140hp and was stupidly quick but being a base model it had skiiny tyrs and no alloys - too much power for the car. The tdci drives like a petrol engine so I did - the result was 26mpg. The Passat is giving me 44mpg because it just doesn't like being driven like that.

Mollers · 30 January 2008, 10:38

I ran a BM' 525 TDS for years. When a twat in a modified Clio hit it whilst running from the cops, it had done 300k having only ever had a new lift pump in the tank and a set of heater plugs. Now that's german reliability.

codprawn · 30 January 2008, 11:03

I think you get good and bad cars with all makes.

A mate of mine who's a bit of a car trader on the side has an old BMW 3 series - it's a K reg with the straight 6 2.5 engine. He loves the car and has had it since new but he told me the other day it's cost him as much in parts over the years as it did to buy it. A few years ago he had to have a new engine after the head cracked. These days it seems pretty reliable but he does have to change the anti roll bar bushes every year. The car has done 160,000 miles now.

My old alfa 75 - H reg - which I still have has only needed a new clutch in 175,000 miles and there is NO rust - and look at the reputation they have!!!

Whoops I forgot - it also needed the new rubber doughnut on the prop shaft - it let go when I was doing some doughnuts!!!

Lostboy · 30 January 2008, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I just wonder if the cars really ARE more reliable or are people prepared to make more allowances for some makes than others?

You really still haven't got it have you? It's bizarre that you, of all people, ask this question when you have such unswerving loyalty or perhaps are "prepared to make allowances for" Landrover!!!!

Is it the fact that BMW owned Landrover and then sold it on that causes you such a problem?

codprawn · 30 January 2008, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lostboy

You really still haven't got it have you? It's bizarre that you, of all people, ask this question when you have such unswerving loyalty or perhaps are "prepared to make allowances for" Landrover!!!!

Is it the fact that BMW owned Landrover and then sold it on that causes you such a problem?

Got what???

I do not need to make any allowances for Land Rover. I have a Disco - A Defender 110 and a Range Rover Classic and I have had NO problems with any of them. I have just put my Disco into a LR specialist for a service and timing belt change. Cost me £264 all in - not bad!!!

In fact the ONLY car I have ever had trouble with is the only Ford I ever owned. A Granada which had auto gearbox problems and the engine used loads of oil. It also hated puddles and misfired like hell. Before that Granada I took another for a test drive and the v6 2.9 blew on the test drive...........

Carl · 30 January 2008, 15:15

cod,you must have the only 17/18 yr old non rusty alfa in history. and as for the 3 series anti roll bar bushes being changed every yr,i dont think so,unless your mate is doing something wrong.

Lostboy · 30 January 2008, 16:15

It's nice to have him back though, he's still a great laugh!

codprawn · 30 January 2008, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl

cod,you must have the only 17/18 yr old non rusty alfa in history. and as for the 3 series anti roll bar bushes being changed every yr,i dont think so,unless your mate is doing something wrong.

Well it wasn't exactly the bushes - the bolts had actually sheared off this time!!!

Alfa USED to have a really bad reputation for rusting - quite rightly. They fixed the problem but mud still sticks - people will still tell you an Alfa rusts when they are no different to any other car now!!!

mdt · 30 January 2008, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

The Mondeo I had was a 140hp and was stupidly quick but being a base model it had skiiny tyrs and no alloys - too much power for the car. The tdci drives like a petrol engine so I did - the result was 26mpg.

had one of these a few weeks back for a week... solong as you where giving it the full beans and not trying to go round a bend in the wet it went ok. really it was fine... as in a hotpoint is a good washing machine...

got back into my Audi V6 tdi, auto box and quattro after a week in the mondeo

and no the mondeo was not a loan car while the Audi was off getting fixed

ian parkes · 30 January 2008, 20:01

I don't know much about the flywheels on the new diesels but they have some sort of fluid damping /coupling , its not a solid flywheel . they are being used on many new diesels , and i guess the reason is to make them smoother and able to perform like they do .

Anyway they don't last like the old solid flywheels did . Ford transits also suffer the problem and i understand so does my new T5 VW van and most of the other vans out there .
Lots of owners are getting a new clutch and fywheel under warranty before the 3 years is up ,and a clutch judder is the first sign of problems .

Jono · 31 January 2008, 06:26

Even the mighty Landrover suffer from flywheel failure...

"MODEL/DERIVATIVE AFFECTED RANGE:
DEFENDER Td5 Manual gearbox derivatives XA145775 to YA181042
DEFENDER Td5 CKD Manual gearbox derivatives XF829247 to XF833265
DISCOVERY Series II Manual gearbox derivatives XA200000 to YA244647 XA900000 to XA907209
DISCOVERY Series II CKD Manual gearbox derivatives XA920000 to XJ920147
Engine number range
10P00001a to 10P38890A
Build date range September 1998 to June 1999

PROBLEM:
DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL Œ MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
CAUSE:
High energy inputs into the clutch and flywheel system may lead to structural failure of the flywheel assembly. The energy inputs may cause the flywheel to exhibit surface cracks, which under certain conditions could propagate, resulting in
loss of drive due to the clutch slipping. In extreme conditions the flywheel could fragment resulting in extensive damage to the clutch bell housing.
ACTION:
To protect the long term integrity of the flywheel assembly Land Rover are implementing recall action on all Discovery and Defender Td5 manual models within the affected VIN range.
All vehicles within the affected VIN range shown above will require the flywheel assembly to be replaced. Where necessary, after visual inspection, replacement of associated clutch parts may be required if consequential wear is noted.
All vehicles currently held in stock, demonstrators and showroom vehicles must have the flywheel replaced prior to the vehicle being despatched to a customer."

BogMonster · 31 January 2008, 09:45

All those Td5 flywheels should have been done years ago though. Certainly not something to worry about on any now.

Jono · 31 January 2008, 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

All those Td5 flywheels should have been done years ago though. Certainly not something to worry about on any now.

Stephen,

The point was not about whether or not it's to be worried about now...but that anyone who thinks modern LR are more reliable than any other modern vehicle really does live on Cloud Cuckoo... I know.. I've had plenty of the feckas...and plenty of "other"

four wheel drive utility vehicles... my TD5 is not as reliable as the 300tdi's I had..which weren't as reliable as the 200's..which in turn were nowhere near as reliable as the series three's..etc... Cheers, Jono
PS I still love my 110.. but it's an expensive mistress...

codprawn · 31 January 2008, 11:16

I agree there - the more stupid electronic crap they put on the worse it will get.

The electric handbrake on the Passat is shit - no other word for it. When you press it you can here the whirring motors from the back as it's applied - how will they cope in 10 yrs time when they are covered in rust from all the salt on the roads? Everyone knows how to use a normal handbrake - it's so intuitive. And in an emergency you can always use it along with the gears to slow down.

Another thing on the Passat that annoys me is that you can't start the engine without the clutch being depressed. Great if you want to bump start it or you are stuck on a level crossing and there's a train coming - no more cranking it along in gear!!!

Don't get me wrong I love technology when it's a help - like auto dipping rear view mirrors - central locking - one touch windows etc but I want to retain control.

Lostboy · 31 January 2008, 13:36

I'd stop digging if I were you!

This clearly appears to be the one topic on which you will clearly not learn your lesson, unless you are simply intent on just dragging up all the "my cars better than yours because........." stuff and Landrover getting crucified again.

I can't remember how many threads of yours, or contributions of yours to other threads, involving cars have been taken to bits by an enormous quantity of much more informed statistical evidence presented by people who are clearly more reasoned on the subject. The answer is "too many". You started this thread with a ridiculous statement, the thread itself has already deteriorated into the usual "my Landrover is better than your *insert cars name here*" and the last post on it is an anecdotal diatribe on one element of a car that has a reliability record that puts most to shame.

I've been a good boy and resisted the opportunity to wind you up with more statistics that prove how lucky you've been with your Landrovers (and now an Alfa it seems!) as I know your thick skin simply deflects trivial things like evidence and I'm not going to do it again here. In fact I'll probably not bother as I have come to point where I simply assume that everyone who reads these threads that is looking for genuine, helpful assistance, perhaps supported by a bit of evidence, can see through your ridiculous postings and shan't bother countering them with informed, reasoned argument.

codprawn · 31 January 2008, 18:06

Sorry I was just speaking from actual experience which is something I have been accused of not doing in the past.

I was not trying to say one make is better than another - just that MAYBE some makes are attacked more often than others even when ALL makes have their share of problems.

ADS · 02 February 2008, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I agree there - the more stupid electronic crap they put on the worse it will get.

The electric handbrake on the Passat is shit - no other word for it. When you press it you can here the whirring motors from the back as it's applied - how will they cope in 10 yrs time when they are covered in rust from all the salt on the roads? Everyone knows how to use a normal handbrake - it's so intuitive. And in an emergency you can always use it along with the gears to slow down.

The electric handbrake in the Disco 3 is shite aswell, probably fine if you've got an auto disco but I tried recovering a RIB on a very steep slipway in a manual version and the handbrake was useless, ended up heel and toeing on the foot brake.