Comment by LargeCompanies | Hacker News Reader

Comment by LargeCompanies | Hacker News Reader

I will never buy another German car as their maintenance and getting the right parts is a pain.

I bought a 2002 VW Jetta with 88k miles on it in 2013. I'm not one who needs a fancy car and or car payments. The upkeeps on this thing has a been a headache(mechanic shops don't have great access to VW parts and it costs a lot) and it's on it's last legs; lucky if it lasts me to the end of the year.

My last car was a 1997 HOnda Civic in which I bought in 2006 (88k miles on it then too). I drove that til 2013 until I ruined it mistakenly; still would be driving that now at probably 250k miles on it. Civics are reliable beasts ... Hondas in general are. VolksWagens stay away from if your anything like me. This possibly holds true for other german cars to in terms of reliability and more so maintenance.

Since we're on the subject of sweeping generalisations, my 1999 VW T4 Transporter is bloody reliable and I've had no problems getting new genuine or after market parts, or second hand parts. It's got just over 250,000k on the clock.

You're mileage may vary.

As a counter point, buying any 12-year old car (2002 model year would have been built in 2001ish) comes with it's own set of caveats. Also, there is more than enough information out there on common issues with Mk4 Volkswagen's of era to help inform your buying decision. I'm definitely not defending the car, as I owned a 2001 Jetta for a while and it wasn't the best.

VW did have some quality problems with Mexico-built models in the 90's and early 2000's.... but also a 14 year old car that's on it's last legs isn't particularly surprising. It probably also depends on how it was treated in the first 88k miles.

I'm comparing my experience of owning a Honda to a Jetta.

My Honda Civic and many others who owned the same drive them for more then 20 years. That's the type of car I want to spend my money on.

I'm not a car guy and prefer to spend my money elsewhere; living in nice places and vacations. Thus, buying a used car in cash suits me fine.

>2002 VW Jetta

Early 2000s were the worst years of VW in recent history. Things have vastly improved in Mk5, 6, and 7.

Emission scandal now.

VW never again and any German car for me!

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