AndyPearce

As it's touted as one of the competitors to the RX-8 I thought this may be of interest. This months Which magazine has an update on new car reliability and the TT comes out worst with only 75% reliability. The article focuses on the decline of German car reliability and the dominance of the Japanese makes.

Lets hope that the RC-8 is up to Mazda 6 standards which rates very well.

renegade_si

NOW you tell me it's a Remote Control Car --aaarrrggghhh!

:D :D :D :D

rael

I read that too and as a TTC owner can confirm that the TT Forum did suggest that car had a few problem but I am surprised its quite that bad. I have had no problem with mine.

I do however think that owners of quaility car expecting a 100% trouble free ownership period will perhaps complain in these sort of surveys more than other who expect the odd mishap.

rael

RobDickinson

There was a VAG spoksman on 5Live this morning after the reliability piece.

Put all the problems of the TT and rest of VAG cars down to the 1.8T ignition coil pack problem.

I know that did effect a lot of their cars, mebee they shouldnt make zillions of the same vehicle and rebadge them all the time...

morganrogers

Maybe those that complained were caught in the V1.0 TT recall for the suspension faults and spoiler problems....
That would colour your view somewhat.

I have heard of nothing particular since - owners seem to love TTs.

Does raise the old question though. We are all taking abig risk with our V1.0 RX8s.... bound to be a couple of funnies. Just hope they are not so major. (although the power deficit thing in the US I regard as pretty major - lets hope Mazda give us the answers soon! UK will be 200hp if we have a similar loss !)

RobDickinson

The stability 'fix' on the TT (with changed rear suspension and spoiler) was ages ago. This is a survey on new cars - so such cars wouldnt be included.

VAG had a serious problem with the ignition coil pack (effected almost all the 1.8T's). Coil pack consisted of 4 ignition coils, and failiure rate was quite high. One big problem for them was because of the huge number of cars with this engine parts (ignition packs) were in huge short supply so they couldnt fix them all quickly.

As for the RX-* , so far in Japan , no reported problems

(in this survey Japanese manufacturers, esp Honda, mazda and toyota come top).

oilman

Can confirm that fact.

My 1.8T VW Beetle was purchased Dec 2001, it's been back 5 times for warranty work!!

3 times it broke down with coil problems and twice with electrical faults. I've even had a new dash due to low fuel warning light staying on all the time!!

VERY POOR, not what I'd expect of VW.

Have owned numerous GTI's but would be reluctant to buy another VW after this experience.

Cheers
Oilman

sixspeed

Now you mention it (although I didn't think much of it at the time), a friend had the Mk5 Polo GTI. His car was back to VAG several times for warranty work too.

And my parent's have MK4 Golf TDI. That has had 3 or 4 warranty returns also.


On the other hand though, my Mk3 Polo G40 has had...... no problems. Bought it at 126,000 miles, and now at 155,000. Get's driven daily, and driven hard. Had to put a new clutch in (just down to wear), but runs like clockwork....

My MX-5 (my only Jap car experience so far), was a '99 car - and ran like clockwork too - from 14-78,000 miles.



Maybe they just don't make them VWs like they used to....



-andy-

RobDickinson

Same for most of the german brands I think, perception is greater than reality. There 'well engineered' and 'wish everything in life was as reliable as a volkswagen' etc.

Its been a while since VAG/BMW etc had the bullit proof reliability they still trade on.

On the other hand my 99 Focus with 64k on the clock has only needed a speed sensor(£25). Ford dealers are poor, but I cant fault the focus's reliability.

morganrogers

My Honda , owned from new , 87K miles in 4 years , *never* missed a beat.
Service evey 9K and that is it - no other costs. Not so much as a bulb. Still drives beautifully , doesn't really feel alot different to when it was new.
All this from a car that sees 9,000rpm most days....

The RX will have alot to live up to !

rael

Just to redress the balance a litte, my TTC purchased March 2002 problem free except coils once and not even serviced yet (variable service) although on my 3rd liytre of oil.

Otherwise trouble free driving (and quite aggresively at times).


rael

MarkW

I think Ive said it before, but in 15 months my wifes C class has been back to Mercedes probably getting on for 10 times. It going in again next week for more problems.

On the other hand both Subaru's Ive owned have never had a fault and only ever visit the garage for servicing - touch wood.

AndyPearce

Just to confirm that is only for cars up to two years old and the reliability is measured by only breakdowns and failures to start, not other warrenty work. 1 in 4 owners of the TT have suffered and the main culprit is electrical failures.

The good news is that the only car to have 100% reliability for two years in a row is the Mazda 323.

Ford have moved from the Average group to the Good group of manufacturers for reliability, but not all Ford owned groups are fairing as well, Volvo for example have dropped into the Poor category for the first time.

AndyPearce

It'll be no surprise to you that the Mercedes - Benz group is the biggest faller in terms of reliability, but you may be surprised to find out that this year Subaru have dropped into the Average category.

setpixel

i drive my honda integra type R 5 years whitout any problems... this car is great.. quality 100%!!! tree times on racetrack. the rest near the limit ;-)


i see my dealer only for services or coffee talks.

my next car the !..... RX "wait".... ! i hope the level is the same.

cheers

m477

If anyone has seen the Consumer Reports car issue for 2003, the TT got dead last for reliability in the sports cars category. For which I propose a new slogan:

"The Audi TT -- it makes American cars look reliable."

mr_digital_uk

Some Japanese reliability experience: I'm on my second Xedos 6 (a Mazda) ... This one's done 79,000 miles and is 6 years old; my last one I had for 3 years.

So in 9 years, how many problems have I had?

....

None, nada, zilch, zero, absolutely nothing

eqsTT

As a 180 TT QC owner(43k miles) I would accept that the audi TT(for some) has had a few probs (nothing major for me) . And that for me and a majority of TT owners it would not be nearly significant enough to sway a decision process if we were to purchase all over again.

I would not trade or give up my car for alot of the newer cars that bring big bang for the buck. It still brings big grins when I drive it and when I look at it and has a few features and possiblities that others cars just don't . Its so hard to lump cars together for comparison as they tend to shine in differnt areas, and I like reliability as much as the next person I just dont think the reliability thing(for the TT) has been painted as true to color as it is.

regards the coilpacks (from what I've heard audi did engineer speck correctly, but the supplier of them didnt supply them according to spec.). the instrument cluster is probably a differnt story though.

I think the japanese have a better iterative(?) process that allows the car gremlins to get better each year, where as the vw/audi seems to have a more lets burry our head in the sand or take a wait(to long) and see approach - and by that time some external vendor already has a solution.

oh, I looked at the rx8 as a possibility for the wife today, its a nice car and it will be in the running when we are ready.