My friend (Honda owner) was watching me online the other
day and was amazed that almost every message in this
group was about a problem! He joked that if there was
a Honda newsgroup, there might not be anyone writing in
it!
What’s up guys! I want to read a little about your cars,
not just their PROBLEMS! I’ll start…
Darren
Darren Seeman wrote:
> My friend (Honda owner) was watching me online the other
> day and was amazed that almost every message in this
> group was about a problem! He joked that if there was
> a Honda newsgroup, there might not be anyone writing in
> it!
> What’s up guys! I want to read a little about your cars,
> not just their PROBLEMS! I’ll start…
> Darren
You’ll start? Start what trouble? Well just like the local news isn’t
full of stories of how the federal building in city X wasn’t bombed and
how there wasn’t a hurricane in FL in months, The VW newsgroup isn’t full
of well Nothing is wrong with my car messages.
Yes there are problems reported here, Owning a VW is like a brother hood
(no kidding) It seems in my experience that most VW owners are fanatical
about their cars. There are many reasons for this.
I used to think I was one of the few people that were crazy for VWs then
I found this newsgroup, Then I thought well there are millions of people
out there so what 40 or so messages a day BIG Deal, Then I started
talking to VW owners and behold MOST VW owners are very happy.
Many Honda owners are happy too they are fine cars for getting from point
A<->B IMO thats about it. Just a Car. The fact that this was one of the
first groups devoted to a specific make of car should say something.
Trade your friend cars for 2 weeks (if you can stand it) and see if he
changes his mind.
As for my VW experience, 2 VWs so far an ’84 GTI and a ’87 16V Scirocco.
The Scirocco has some minor bugs that piss me off sunroof problem and
sticky power window switches, but it runs great with 125,000 miles and is
faster than most Hondas (maybe all Hondas from ’87) My old GTI was so
much fun too bad I had to trade it for the Scirocco It had OVER 200,000
miles when I traded it and believe it or not it ran great.
If Hondas never have problems….why do people buy new ones?
VWs have something Honda will never have…..character and yes a
brotherhood so to speak. Have you ever heard of a "Honda meet"?<i doubt
it> Hondas are transportaion nothing else, whereas VWs co exist with
their owners.
Ask you friend what his honda costs to maintain……..
TJT, 61 Kombi,68 KG conv,74 Thing,85 GLI<no rice here>
nailh…@wolfenet.com (Darren Seeman) wrote:
>My friend (Honda owner) was watching me online the other
>day and was amazed that almost every message in this
>group was about a problem! He joked that if there was
>a Honda newsgroup, there might not be anyone writing in
>it!
>What’s up guys! I want to read a little about your cars,
>not just their PROBLEMS! I’ll start…
I have been driving Water Cooled VWs for close to twenty years now.
In all those years, I have walked only twice due to mechanical
failure. A radiator burst once (happened 3 times to my friend in his
newer other brand) and a Fuel Pump relay another time (if I was
prepared (as I am in all 5 of our water pumpers now) it would have
taken a quick (no dirty hands) minute to go again). Try finding ANY
electrcal widget in a Japanese car that fast. The other cars are fine
vehicles that I have seen last many years but after a few years you
can not find many items that start to age. VW uses the parts bin
aproach to their cars so they can be maintained for many happy years.
I was shocked when I heard how much it costs to fix my buddies new
Honda. The same job (even at a VW dealer) would have been about half.
I know that those other cars are great for their intended use. VWs
(IMHO) have a unique feel to them. I like it. That is why I have
them.
Not to think I am too biased. I have tried other cars. Believe me,
our family has been in the automotive repair business for more than 50
years, so I have had the oppertunity to sample many, We have Jeeps
and Mercedes too as transportation and recreational vehicles. I just
enjoy my Dubs..
Walt…
79 Rabbit w/ 2L 8V (the hot rod), 82 GTI pickup, 82 Cab (under
reconstruction), 90 Passat Wagen, 96 Jetta GLS
ISO: Scirocco 1 with A/C and sunroof and French A1 GTI 16S.
In article <4mrtjp…@ratty.wolfe.net>, nailh…@wolfenet.com (Darren
Seeman) wrote:
> My friend (Honda owner) was watching me online the other
> day and was amazed that almost every message in this
> group was about a problem! He joked that if there was
> a Honda newsgroup, there might not be anyone writing in
> it!
> What’s up guys! I want to read a little about your cars,
> not just their PROBLEMS! I’ll start…
> Darren
My opinion, which I am sure everyone wants to hear ;o} is as follows;
-most VW owners are mechanicaly inclined, therefore know how easy and
economical it is to own – operate – and maintain a VW.
-that makes for a large resource (this news group for instance) of help on
anything that you do have problems with, so we go to the resource rather
than fighting with it.
Lucky you, too tired to remember my opinions. But I know after buying my
first watercooled, I sold all other vehicles except a 68 Ford pickup.
(Sorry VW doesn’t build a heavy duty pickup. But it is still simple.) And
now own around ten VWs, one being aircooled, because they were not too
complicated for the shadetree mechanic. And the only major problem was a
transaxle, that cost me thirtyfive dollars for a parts car, and five easy
hours in the neighbors garage.
Well, I have to admit that the most maintainance free car I ever owned was
my pitifully wimpy ’77 Toyota Corolla. It just kept going! Still, now
that I own a Scirocco I could never go back…
–
Bryan J. Abshier — Libe…@slip.net — Pulch…@aol.com
nailh…@wolfenet.com (Darren Seeman) wrote:
>My friend (Honda owner) was watching me online the other
>day and was amazed that almost every message in this
>group was about a problem!
Driving a Honda is about as interesting as watching someone "online".
Honda=dull. VW=fun. Yes, I own both a VW and a Honda. And almost
every message in this group is Not about a problem. Most messages are
related to modifications. The problems mentioned are often related to
high mileage vehicles.
JR
On Tue, 14 May 1996, JR wrote:
> Honda=dull. VW=fun. Yes, I own both a VW and a Honda. And almost
> every message in this group is Not about a problem. Most messages are
> related to modifications. The problems mentioned are often related to
> high mileage vehicles.
Many messages are about problems related to modifications.
"I just replaced the engine in my A2.5 VW Gobbit with a 12
cylinder Caterpillar diesel, cut the front suspension springs in half,
added a Newbar anti-sway kit, painted the thing yellow, and now my grill
won’t fit any more. Anybody know where I can get a grill custom made for
a dollar and a half?"
Jim
In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.960514150424.351E-100…@godzilla1.acpub.duke.edu>, "James P. Meyer" <jim…@acpub.duke.edu> writes:
|> On Tue, 14 May 1996, JR wrote:
|>
|> > Honda=dull. VW=fun. Yes, I own both a VW and a Honda. And almost
|> > every message in this group is Not about a problem. Most messages are
|> > related to modifications. The problems mentioned are often related to
|> > high mileage vehicles.
|>
I owned an ’84 Wolfsburg Scirocco for 6 years. It was great, but after 3
break-ins for radios, I got tired of replacing consoles, windows, heaters, and
readios. I sold it and decided to "follow the crowd". Yes, I bought a 90
Honda Accord. Big mistake. Not only did that car have more problems than any
other vehicle I ever owned (persistent a/c fungus, poor clear coat paint job,
bad chassis squeak, very stiff clutch, etc.), but it was trying to kill me.
Yes, it was trying to BORE ME TO DEATH. ;^)
I came to my senses and bought a ’92 GTI 16V.
It’s true. Nothing else is a Volkswagen.
George
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
George J. Pandelios Senior Member of Technical Staff
Software Engineering Institute Internet: g…@sei.cmu.edu
4500 Fifth Avenue Voice: (412) 268-7186
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 FAX: (412) 268-5758
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Disclaimer: These opinions are my own and do not reflect those of the
Software Engineering Institute, its sponsors, customers,
clients, affiliates, or Carnegie Mellon University. In fact,
any resemblence of these opinions to any individual, living
or dead, fictional or real, is purely coincidental. So there.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
nailh…@wolfenet.com (Darren Seeman) wrote:
>My friend (Honda owner) was watching me online the other
>day and was amazed that almost every message in this
>group was about a problem! He joked that if there was
>a Honda newsgroup, there might not be anyone writing in
>it!
>What’s up guys! I want to read a little about your cars,
>not just their PROBLEMS! I’ll start…
>Darren
Who in their right mind would spend money or repairing a Honda with
problems anyway?
In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.960514150424.351E-100…@godzilla1.acpub.duke.edu>,
James P. Meyer <jim…@acpub.duke.edu> wrote:
>On Tue, 14 May 1996, JR wrote:
>> Honda=dull. VW=fun. Yes, I own both a VW and a Honda. And almost
>> every message in this group is Not about a problem. Most messages are
>> related to modifications. The problems mentioned are often related to
>> high mileage vehicles.
> Many messages are about problems related to modifications.
> "I just replaced the engine in my A2.5 VW Gobbit with a 12
>cylinder Caterpillar diesel, cut the front suspension springs in half,
>added a Newbar anti-sway kit, painted the thing yellow, and now my grill
>won’t fit any more. Anybody know where I can get a grill custom made for
>a dollar and a half?"
James, did you replace the front engine or the rear engine? I mean I’ve
been having problems ever since I replaced the rear engine in my Weasel GTI.
I mean, I did the standard reverse the output shaft and use a micro-drive
for the rear steering, but there’s still this drivetrain chatter when
I shift from 7th to 8th gear. It must be that lousy 4 puck clutch I got
out of the VW Fox.
Alex
In article <wbholmes-1205962326060…@pm1-ip82.polarnet.com>,
wbhol…@polarnet.com says…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>In article <4mrtjp…@ratty.wolfe.net>, nailh…@wolfenet.com (Darren
>Seeman) wrote:
>> My friend (Honda owner) was watching me online the other
>> day and was amazed that almost every message in this
>> group was about a problem! He joked that if there was
>> a Honda newsgroup, there might not be anyone writing in
>> it!
>> What’s up guys! I want to read a little about your cars,
>> not just their PROBLEMS! I’ll start…
>> Darren
>My opinion, which I am sure everyone wants to hear ;o} is as follows;
>-most VW owners are mechanicaly inclined, therefore know how easy and
>economical it is to own – operate – and maintain a VW.
>-that makes for a large resource (this news group for instance) of help on
>anything that you do have problems with, so we go to the resource rather
>than fighting with it.
>Lucky you, too tired to remember my opinions. But I know after buying my
>first watercooled, I sold all other vehicles except a 68 Ford pickup.
>(Sorry VW doesn’t build a heavy duty pickup. But it is still simple.) And
>now own around ten VWs, one being aircooled, because they were not too
>complicated for the shadetree mechanic. And the only major problem was a
>transaxle, that cost me thirtyfive dollars for a parts car, and five easy
>hours in the neighbors garage.
I am very thankful to have owned VW’s for the first 7 years of my driving history.
I honed my mechanical skills by learning how to replace struts, shocks, clutches,
water pumps, alternators, cv joints, learn how to trace water leaks & electrical
shorts, and how to replace shift linkage bushings. When I bought my Honda in 92,
it was a strange sensation not having to do anything but replace the oil every
3,000 miles. 90,000 miles later, a clogged fuel injector was the only non-routine
service I’ve had to repair on the car. Everything else just keeps going and
going….
My point is that Honda drivers don’t HAVE to be skilled mechanically because their
cars run reliably! I feel that time is very scarce, and I’d rather be doing
something els with it than fixing a troublesome VW.
Greg Husemeier
92 Civic Si 90,000mi
91 Accord EX Wagon 114,000mi
In article <4n069p$…@useneta1.news.prodigy.com>, VQHB…@prodigy.com
(Thomas Tansey) wrote:
> If Hondas never have problems….why do people buy new ones?
> VWs have something Honda will never have…..character and yes a
> brotherhood so to speak. Have you ever heard of a "Honda meet"?<i doubt
> it> Hondas are transportaion nothing else, whereas VWs co exist with
> their owners.
> Ask you friend what his honda costs to maintain……..
> TJT, 61 Kombi,68 KG conv,74 Thing,85 GLI<no rice here>
Fraid you are wrong there. Honda owners do indeed have clubs, meets,
etc. There just aren’t as many of them doing it.
In article <jjvantol-1505961625270…@macduff.csp.ee.memphis.edu>,
jjvan…@cc.memphis.edu (Joshua Van Tol) writes:
> Fraid you are wrong there. Honda owners do indeed have clubs, meets,
>etc. There just aren’t as many of them doing it.
The reason because there are not as many people doing it is because Honda
owners only see their cars as transportation! The cars have no sole!!!!
They just do not enjoy their cars enough to even WANT to go to a Honda
show and shine!
VW owners see their cars as an investment! They make sure that all of
their hard earned money gets put into their cars with the BEST of
aftermarket and performance products on the market! VW owners do not care
if they invest way more money ito the car than it is worth! We just think
of it as money well spent, and cannot wait for the next time we get to hit
the road, and decide on the NEXT performance part to ge tfor the car!
Tim
’84 Wolfsburg Edition Scirocco; book value about $2,500. Total invested
since ’94 $7,300 (and worth every penny!)
In article <4nd523$…@news.microsoft.com> gre…@microsoft.com (Greg
Husemeier) writes:
I feel that time is very scarce, and I’d rather be doing
something els with it than fixing a troublesome VW.
Me too! Fortunately, none of my VWs have ever been troublesome. This
gave me the extra time I needed to help my friend when his brand new
Honda’s brakes rusted and siezed while he was away for a weekend.
Of course, he insists that he’s never had any trouble with his Honda.
I think it’s a mind-control drug they put in the vinyl they use.
Happy motoring,
Jeff
PS. The brake repair wasn’t covered under warrantee, because Honda’s
.
warrantee has an escape clause if the car is not driven every day. I
didn’t believe it either until I saw it in the owner’s manual. I sure
wish *I* could own such a trouble-free car
–
Why are there Honda owners in this newsgroup complaning about VW’s? Get
your own Newsgroup.
Mark Pilson
78 Scirocco
79 Scirocco
84 Rabbit GTI
I went from an ’81 Jetta with a billion miles and as many problems to an
’84 accord with not many miles and quite a few problems to a ’94 Golf
Sport.
I owned the Jetta for 4 years and loved it even with the problems.
I owned the Accord for just over a year and hated it (it was BORING).
I have had the Golf Sport for almost a year, no problems, 30,000 mi, and
will probably not get rid of it unless I can ever afford a GLX. Heck, I
may keep it then if I can get my wife to get rid of her Saturn.
Long Live VW,
Jon
In article <JKBOUNDS.96May16125…@puttanesca.mit.edu>,
jkbou…@athena.mit.edu says…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>In article <4nd523$…@news.microsoft.com> gre…@microsoft.com (Greg
>Husemeier) writes:
> I feel that time is very scarce, and I’d rather be doing
> something els with it than fixing a troublesome VW.
>Me too! Fortunately, none of my VWs have ever been troublesome. This
>gave me the extra time I needed to help my friend when his brand new
>Honda’s brakes rusted and siezed while he was away for a weekend.
>Of course, he insists that he’s never had any trouble with his Honda.
>I think it’s a mind-control drug they put in the vinyl they use.
>Happy motoring,
>Jeff
>PS. The brake repair wasn’t covered under warrantee, because Honda’s
.
>warrantee has an escape clause if the car is not driven every day. I
>didn’t believe it either until I saw it in the owner’s manual. I sure
>wish *I* could own such a trouble-free car
But, according to Consumer Reports and JD Powers, Hondas ARE more
reliable, statistically speaking than VW’s. So, chances are, as a Honda
owner, you will have to spend less time over the life of the car doing
repairs (or paying to have them done) than with a VW.
Just look at the ratings and see for yourself.
*The reason because there are not as many people doing it is because Honda
*owners only see their cars as transportation! The cars have no sole!!!!
Would that be filet of sole? I sure glad my Jetta didn’t come with a
sole. I couldn’t stand the smell! :)
-A
In article <4nfbph$…@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, vwcrazy…@aol.com says…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>In article <jjvantol-1505961625270…@macduff.csp.ee.memphis.edu>,
>jjvan…@cc.memphis.edu (Joshua Van Tol) writes:
>> Fraid you are wrong there. Honda owners do indeed have clubs, meets,
>>etc. There just aren’t as many of them doing it.
>The reason because there are not as many people doing it is because
Honda
>owners only see their cars as transportation! The cars have no sole!!!!
>They just do not enjoy their cars enough to even WANT to go to a Honda
>show and shine!
>VW owners see their cars as an investment! They make sure that all of
>their hard earned money gets put into their cars with the BEST of
>aftermarket and performance products on the market! VW owners do not
care
>if they invest way more money ito the car than it is worth! We just
think
>of it as money well spent, and cannot wait for the next time we get to
hit
>the road, and decide on the NEXT performance part to ge tfor the car!
>Tim
>’84 Wolfsburg Edition Scirocco; book value about $2,500. Total invested
>since ’94 $7,300 (and worth every penny!)
If VW owners consider their VW’s investments, why wouldn’t they invest in
a car with a higher return like Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Acura, etc.? VW’s
don’t have nearly as good a resale value as these cars.
>But, according to Consumer Reports and JD Powers, Hondas ARE more
>reliable, statistically speaking than VW’s. So, chances are, as a
>Honda owner, you will have to spend less time over the life of the car
>doing repairs (or paying to have them done) than with a VW.
>Just look at the ratings and see for yourself.
Lloyd? Lloyd Parker? Is that you? Did you go and change your name?
-Dan C.
>If VW owners consider their VW’s investments, why wouldn’t they invest
>in a car with a higher return like Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Acura, etc.?
>VW’s don’t have nearly as good a resale value as these cars.
Now Llyod, the answer is simple. VW fanatics just say *no* to the mind
control drugs Honda puts in the vinyl. We also like the lifetime supply
of soul that comes with the VW, (however, this year, due to labor
problems at the sole plant, the quality of the sole is suffering a
bit.)
We VW drivin’ dummies also tend to see *more* in the definition of the
word investment than financial return. Hey, let me illustrate. The
last time I put a price on fun it was worth about 82.50 an hour.
So let’s figger this out. If I buy a VW that will depreciate at a rate
of 40% in the first 4 years, and the car cost $15,000; and you buy a
Honda that will depreciate at a rate of 5% over the first 4 years, and
the car costs $13,000; and we both drive about 30 hours per week; and,
to be fair, let’s assume that it is only half fun to drive the Honda,
not including the CRX, then the fun return on the Honda is $41.25.
OK
The VW looses $6000 in the first 4 years due to depreciation.
The Honda looses only $650 in the first 4 years due to depreciation.
BUT:
The VW, based on a 30 hour per week driving rate returns $523,800.00 in
fun return.
The Honda, based on the same 30 hour per week driving rate returns a
paltry $269,750.00.
SO:
Without adjustment for inflation the VW returns $254,050.00 more than
the Honda. A 48% higher return.
As you can see Llyod, this is why we VW types are smart investors.
-Dan C. :)
In article <4mrtjp…@ratty.wolfe.net>,
Darren Seeman <nailh…@wolfenet.com> wrote:
>My friend (Honda owner) was watching me online the other
>day and was amazed that almost every message in this
>group was about a problem! He joked that if there was
>a Honda newsgroup, there might not be anyone writing in
>it!
I own a ’89 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia that has no problems and has
taken me on many exciting camping trips.
I own a ’91 Volkswagen Jetta Carat that has no problems and drives me
back and forth to work every day during the week.
Unfortunately, this posting is very boring… so there’s very little
impetus for me to post it. "Nothing is wrong" stories are cheaper than
dime-a-dozen.
Luckily I buy cars that aren’t appliances so the newsgroup about them
is NOT full of "my microwave and my Honda now have matching colors"
threads.
—
Joshua R. Poulson, j…@pun.org, http://www.pun.org/~jrp
"finger -l j…@teleport.com" for PGP public key
In article <4ni9gp$…@news.microsoft.com>, gre…@microsoft.com (Greg
Husemeier) writes:
>If VW owners consider their VW’s investments, why wouldn’t they invest in
>a car with a higher return like Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Acura, etc.? VW’s
>don’t have nearly as good a resale value as these cars.
Honestly, ask me if I CARE if it has a low resale value! I bought the car
do DRIVE the car; to ENJOY the car; to have FUN with a car! I did not BUY
the car to SELL it! So, in other words, why should the low resale value
bother me? It doesn’t!
Tim
’84 Wolfsburg Edition Scirocco
In article <4niuss$…@sjx-ixn4.ix.netcom.com>, dc…@ix.netcom.com(Daniel
E. Collins) writes:
>Without adjustment for inflation the VW returns $254,050.00 more than
>the Honda. A 48% higher return.
>As you can see Llyod, this is why we VW types are smart investors.
WHEW!! I couldn’t have said it better myself! (probably because I have no
SOLE! D’oh! ;-)
Tim
P.S. I can’t believe my typo! D’oh!!!!!!!!!!!