Need up replace / upgrade the MK4...thoughts?

[kiva822]

Well, the time has come to upgrade the wagon. Too unreliable and my wife won't drive it out of town anymore. Can't say I blame her. She wants a more modern care with more safety features, etc. Also, to be honest, I'm kind of getting on the other side of wanting to maintain an old car.

We are a family of 4 with young teens. We like to camp, etc., but also this car needs to be able to do ok MPG since my wife drives about 20k/year. However, other car is a Bolt EUV, so the mileage will really be split among our 2 vehicles. We borrowed a Gen 4 subaru for a trip and it would work with a cargo carrier for future trips. Not sure what else to be looking at, but did think about the Tiguan and the Q5 Audi. Thoughts on either one of those? Some serious horror stories re: the Tiguan out there. Q5 seems too small in the back..

Anyway, search is happening. Bummed the TDI and I will soon part.

 

[pedroYUL]

I believe the Taos, or maybe the Tiguan can be had with the EA211 1.5t which I think puts out 150hp, which is the same power as the newer common rail TDI.

Stay away from EA888 family which includes the 2.0t and 1.8t. They have many things big and small to be fixed.

 

[P2B]

Well, the time has come to upgrade the wagon. Too unreliable and my wife won't drive it out of town anymore.

First time anyone has ever called a MK4 unreliable

Well over 2m km between ours, none have ever been towed.

 

[kiva822]

Yes, I think that’s just the Taos which is likely too small (?). Interestingly, in what I assume is dealer specific, this one is saying lifetime warranty on the power train. They speaks volumes on the confidence of that motor, I suppose.

 

[kiva822]

First time anyone has ever called a MK4 unreliable

Well over 2m km between ours, none have ever been towed.

308k miles. Too many little things. Recently, boost gone and then wife had brake pedal go stiff on her. Need to find the time to get into that vacuum leak. Also bad to do strut mounts recently. Have a noisy bearing, etc. new tranny last year. lots of stuff happening at once. Love the car, but I’m also getting older and not as keen on wrenching.


We were also hit by a guy running a red light. Totaled our bolt EUV, though that car performed very well in that accident. Since then, wife is spooked about being in older cars…

 

[pedroYUL]

The EA211 is a great little engine indeed. Sips fuel too.

 

[borninabus]

don't be bummed, get a Touareg! i found a good deal on one and we are both quite happy with it.
plenty of room, plenty of power and it gets about 25mpg around the city.

 

[kiva822]

don't be bummed, get a Touareg! i found a good deal on one and we are both quite happy with it.
plenty of room, plenty of power and it gets about 25mpg around the city.

what model years are you talking?

 

[borninabus]

2012+

 

[braddies]

308k miles. Too many little things. Recently, boost gone and then wife had brake pedal go stiff on her. Need to find the time to get into that vacuum leak. Also bad to do strut mounts recently. Have a noisy bearing, etc. new tranny last year. lots of stuff happening at once. Love the car, but I’m also getting older and not as keen on wrenching.


We were also hit by a guy running a red light. Totaled our bolt EUV, though that car performed very well in that accident. Since then, wife is spooked about being in older cars…

For safety, how about an f250. For mpg and safety yes reliability and defensive driving techniques are important, but your issues are pretty easily addressed with the masterpiece of German engineering you already own. (Is it weird to look both ways before crossing a green light?)
The boost control issue and the brake issue are probably both related to the same little plastic hose coming off the vacuum pump going to the brake booster, the plastic is known to crack on the underside where it bends and vents your vacuum. Remove, replace, move on (or patch with heat shrink)
Some would rather have a car with 20 years of testing and diagnostics data behind it than a new, lightly tested car with an unknown life expectancy.
How many of these new "safety" features only compensate for poor attention habits?
Bet you could get the car you currently have running great for far less than the cost of a new one

 

[kiva822]

I don't know if you meant to, but there is some gaslighting happening there. We went across an intersection and dude came through it at night doing 40 and almost killed us. There was no way to avoid it. I guarantee that EV would have done better in that wreck than a 21 year old car.

That being said, I hear what you're saying about the f250 nonsense, I could go buy a friend's old Unimog...but let's stay out of logical fallacy land and be realistic.

I agree the MK4 is fantastic. I also thing there is a point where one is done wrenching with a car and would rather spend one's time elsewhere.

 

[Kramer]

So....ugh.....
how much???

 

[Nuje]

I have a couple friends who work as VW techs and they LOATHE the Taos as everything in it just seems to be whatever was cheapest in the parts bin. I looked at one of the top-trim ones and was shocked at the abundance of cheapie plastic all over the place.

I agree with that 1.4T EA211 - we have basically that in our A3 e-tron as far as I'm aware. It's super-zippy to drive (once we're out of electrons and relying on the gas engine), and gets surprisingly good fuel economy - like 6L/100km is pretty easy to do (I think that's around 40mpgUS(?)).
Were there any years that the 1.4T was spec'd on the AllTrack? If that exists, that's what I'd be hunting for.

 

[hskrdu]

4-Motion / Alltrack is paired with the larger gas engine for NA, but the Mk7 GSW was briefly available with the 1.4T, and a few even with the 6M. Probably less maint costs than the T-reg over time, with lots of space.

 

[pedroYUL]

If a wagon is good for you now, the Taos should be reasonably sized. I had a loaner one for like 3 weeks, interior was not bigger than my NMS Passat. Yes plastic bits and tacky design, but probably way easier to clean.

I'm not fan of the raised driving position in SUVs or even minivans, but I'm guessing you're okay with that.

I also had a loaner Tiguan for like a week, didn't like that one at all. Engine and transmission don't really move that vehicle well (2.0T).

Older EA211 were 1.4T, new ones 1.5T

 

[oilhammer]

You could give me that 2003 wagon, and I would bet everything in my retirement account that it would easily be more reliable starting now than a brand spanking new Tiguan you could drive home today. 100% no doubt in my mind.

But I do understand that staying on top of things on a car that old does take some effort. So does replacing an engine that didn't even make it a third as far as your ALH already has.

Sad, because the Tiggy does look decent, and certainly drives nice, and the long wheelbase version (the only version we get) does have a decent amount of room inside. The Taos is a Chinese-designed Volkswagen, and it is built to be on the cheap. Aside from the head gasket issues, the 1.5L turbo engines do perform well.

I'd rather slather honey on my scrotum and teabag an ant hill than drive an Subaru.

There are not many 'station wagons' left. Most have been replaced with some form of car-based SUV, or CUV (I call them crossdressers). Like the Tiguan or Taos.

Stay away from ANYTHING with a CVT. Does not matter whose it is, aside from hybrids, the normal CVTs are universally garbage. Lots of otherwise decent cars have been completely ruined with these things.

Also, a lot of CUVs are actually shorter than many station wagons, behind the rear axle. And while they may look taller, a lot of that height does not translate to interior volume, as some of it is used up in raising the undercarriage. For instance, my B5 Passat wagon has WAY more room than my sister's RAV4. It may even be less room in the rear seat to rear glass measurement than the Jetta wagon. Same goes for the CRV (these got cursed with a CVT in 2015) and others.

The slightly larger Honda Passport might be worth looking at, and like its big brother, it gets a ZF 9sp automatic, no CVT. However, if you do not need/want AWD, the same powertrain is also in the Odyssey, and you'll have a lot more room inside and I'd argue a more comfortable ride.

Highlander is good, there is a longer version now, but even the previous version is decent sized. But again, same powertrain as the roomier and more comfortable Sienna (and you can find previous gen Siennas with AWD if you really want it).

If you want a Nissan without a CVT, you'll have to jump all the way up to the Pathfinder (which uses the same ZF 9sp unit that Honda uses).

I've always been a multi-car, right tool for the right job kind of guy. So I'd have a difficult time reconciling one vehicle to both cart around a family of four "adults" (teens will be essentially adults before you know it) with an active lifestyle of camping etc. but also reasonable to cart one person around 20k a year for whatever. Also you need to decide if you want something NEW, or just newER.

 

[jmodge]

I don't know if you meant to, but there is some gaslighting happening there. We went across an intersection and dude came through it at night doing 40 and almost killed us. There was no way to avoid it. I guarantee that EV would have done better in that wreck than a 21 year old car.

That being said, I hear what you're saying about the f250 nonsense, I could go buy a friend's old Unimog...but let's stay out of logical fallacy land and be realistic.

I agree the MK4 is fantastic. I also thing there is a point where one is done wrenching with a car and would rather spend one's time elsewhere.

Unfortunately can't help, but glad you asked. I know EXACTLY how you feel. I've damaged my hands pretty well over the years and am getting rid of a lot of things in the barn. I'm to the point I would rather play in the dirt than work on a daily driver.
Like OH I like, and am in a position to, keep multiple use vehicles. The K5 I'll never get rid of, I'm going through it this winter and it should last me. The Taco will probably stay around as it's pretty useful, and fun. That leaves our trusty Mk4 Jettas to be the ones that get's replaced. Greatest cars ever and We'll miss them, but I have to force myself to wrench on them. I also wouldn't be depressed about replacing my tools and lift with a 9' pool table. If I could bring myself to do that. A person can get pretty attached to a way of life, even when it's detrimental to one's physical health. Grease, oil, and rpm's. My drug of choice.
I'll be watching with interest, update what you decide to do.

 

[Matt-98AHU]

How much might ya sell that old wagon for to a friend (don't have to answer that in public, you have my number)?

Also, what has caught my attention lately is something already mentioned here. The EA211 1.4 TSI is a pretty interesting little engine. I've heard of a few where the bolts for the variable cam adjusters have loosened. But if you pre-emptively remove the bolts one at a time, apply loctite and re-torque them, shouldn't be something that leaves you stranded in the future.

With the 02S 6 speed manual (they only started selling those with the 1.4 in 2019) they get fairly TDI-like fuel economy and can run on regular unleaded. Not bad for a little turbocharged gas jobbie.

Here's the real unicorn: the first year for the 02S 6 speed is also the last year for the Sportwagen. There do exist a small handful of 2019 Sportwagen 1.4 TSIs with the 02S 6 speed manual.

Someday I'll buy one of those, but I can't help but buying sub $2000 high mile ALHs to fix up instead...

I might sell my Golf if I got my hands on a decent shape wagon that needs some mechanical love.

 

[kiva822]

Hey Folks!

Thank you so much to those providing feedback and things to think about.

OH: You really summarize it well in that I'm trying to find something that can do it all, and that really isn't a thing. At the core, I'm (too) frugal and have a really hard time with the idea of dropping $40k on a car. Perhaps I need to get over that, perhaps it's wise. Not sure yet. I know we can technically afford it fine, but I can't help but think of all the other things I'd rather spend the extra $ on vs. used.

Thank you for the guidance on different models as well as the VW offerings. Interestingly, our local (reputable, actually), VW dealer said they offer "lifetime powertrain warranty" on the Tiguan (and I think on all their offerings, but we didn't get that far). I can't tell if that's virtuous or an indication of the very clear high failure rate. My guess is the latter. Really doesn't matter, as I'm sure it has to burn a TON of oil to cash in on that warranty and who wants to deal with that. Ugh. Thanks for the guidance on the Taos, as that puts it off the list as well as its size.

I've approached my wife with the van idea and she's not against it. The CVT admonishment is noted, for sure. I hate the way they drive, but people seem to have success in Subarus if the fluid is changed regularly..but, again, they suck to drive and though I think the Subaru does a bunch of things "ok" and nothing really great...people end up in there because the wagons are a dying breed. Your ant hill reference is memorable

Matt: yes, my friend, we may be talking when it's time. I did look up the GSW 2019's and there are a few for sale on Cars.com with nothing remotely local. One in Oregon City, but it's a black car, so nope.

I ended up doing the wheel bearing this afternoon and it went well. Easy peasy, so that's good. What I noted was when I went to do it, I was not *wanting* to do it. I used to have fun developing my meager wrenching skills, but, with age and some $ has come variance in priorities. I got in the groove and had a good set of instructions, so was done in a couple of hours or so.

How I have a weird groan sound when turning right and very low speed, so that's next while I await arrival of the booster hose. Had a long chat with the Mrs. about keeping the ALH and she's fine with holding on in the short run, but I either need to do the OH/jmodge and get a 3rd vehicle or be done with it.

I'm going to do some perusing of "what do fix/preventative maintenance on high mileage ALH's" threads and see what I come up with. I do enjoy driving the car each day.

Thanks again everybody for the input and listening.

 

[jmodge]

Too bad everyone doesn't have the same idea about how hard it is to drop 40k on a new. vehicle, we might have some different choices. 3 vehicles is great, except when you get tired of wrenching.....because ultimately you'll end up with three vehicles to wrench on.

 

[oilhammer]

My problem is, I see every day newer cars that often still have loans on them that need more money in repairs than any of my older cars would. We've got a newish Suburban here that is getting a new engine. Never used to see GM trucks have a body that outlasted the engine, but today it's quite common. The newer V8s are awfully fragile.

 

[kiva822]

I did some searching and came up empty….if one were to be somewhat preemptive on the alh wagon and maybe check/replace some stuff to reduce any distance trip anxiety, where would one focus?

 

[oilhammer]

It's always tough to say with any certainty what *could* happen. Obviously, if the car is maintained properly, you can cross off much of the things that could be an issue. Fuel filters are unlikely to clog up if they are kept changed on the prescribed 20k mile interval. Timing belts rarely fail early under most conditions. Things like brakes, tires, steering and suspension bits, etc. are not going to "sneak up on you" within the service intervals, so as long as that stuff gets checked over at each service and addressed as needed that's also not going to be an issue.

Things I see that often get overlooked:

alternator pulley

CV boots

rear caliper levers/parking brake cables

exhaust leaks

battery health/condition/correct fitment/mounting

exterior bulbs/wiper blades

injection pump starting to leak

cooling fans (BOTH working)

You can also look into renting a vehicle if you should decide to go on a long trip. I have a coworker, who, like me, has a litter of old cars. When he takes his once-a-year family vacation, he just taps Enterprise and rents whatever size vehicle is most comfortable for the trip. Now obviously this could get expensive if you are doing this multiple times a year. But once or twice isn't that big of a deal.

 

[kiva822]

well, supposedly reliable tech is telling me ALH may need a new turbo. It is the original with 308k, but no boost. Need to do some digging...

 

[ezshift5]

Over the years - this website has provided useful info for my VW diesel (and gas) vehicles.
The emissions situation was almost unbelievably positive for this old sailor (USNR RET.)
The buyback let me drive a 2013 diesel wagon 6M at no cost for 50,000 miles.................
I was so impressed with VW stepping up to the plate to meet the court systems mandate -
that I now have a Jetta EA211 - which after 7 years has never had one issue......while all
the while logging circa 41 MPG per Fuelly dot com.

Yes, I'm a VW guy (after a bug, quantum, rabbit pickup and hatch - even a 914 (Porsche)

Regret the desertion here - i just needed to do this;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

ez