Jetta Safety Rating

On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:45:16 -0500, Jim Behning
> wrote:

>Is that the engine that has to have the balance shaft chain replaced
>with gears? I think it is a Passat only issue as the Jettas do not
>have the balance shaft. See www.tdiclub.com for more info.
>http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread...=balance+shaft

Wow, I hate when stuff like that goes wrong with my car... and it's usually my
used car that I just bought that has these type problems! Lucky me, eh? It
would be my luck to buy a used one that was nice and quiet and 5 days after I
bought it, it would start making noise. Then, in some kind of record, the whole
thing would fail 24 hours later...

Then again, buying a first year model, such as the Tiguan, is nothing more than
a fishing expedition for the manufacturer when it comes to problems like this.
I've run into more than one or two myself. I think it's all nothing more than a
crap shoot and you pays yer money and takes yer chances. Since I plan on
blaming the wife for *anything* that goes wrong with whatever new vehicle we
get, I'm hoping her luck is going to be better than mine!
Cheers,
jc

Seems to me you passed it on to her. (JK) Every manufacturer puts out crap
at some time. I've had good and bad from a lot of them, so I take brand
loyalty with a grain of salt. We drove a used (1988) Kcar for 126,000
without a hitch and had a top of the line Taurus LX break constantly. You
never know. I'd let her drive whatever she's happy in as long as it is safe.
After all, that's is in your job description, pleasing her, right? We love
the Tiguan, does it have the diesel in US yet?
Good luck and let us know what happens.

Cecil

"jc" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:33:45 -0500, "Detailing Dude"
>
> wrote:
>
> >What a story and what pics, wow!
> >I feel for you and your wife, my family was rear ended in 1998 at 70mph
and
> >shoved into the back of a minivan. We had a 1991 Camry wagon and it did a
> >super job protecting us. The car folded in the middle like a tent. Front
and
> >rear completely crushed in, but the passenger compartment was almost
> >completely untouched.
> >Have you thought about a Passat TDI? We have a 2005 and get consistently
in
> >the mid 40's combined driving. I have hypermiled it once and got 50.6
mpg.
> >It is larger and drives like a dream. There are a few really good ones in
> >the South East Virginia area at reasonable prices.
> >
> >Cecil
>
> Thanks, Cecil.
> I suspect that if she comes away from this with enough money, it'll be a
new
> car. She hasn't said much lately but I think she's got her eye on an SUV
and
> the Tiguan is at the top of the list - at least, as far as I can tell.
>
> I like the Passats but the new ones have the same issue as the new Jettas
in
> that they have the reduced front impact rating. I didn't research the
year that
> changed or even if the Passat ever had a 5 Star rating. Then there's the
issue
> with my rotten luck with used cars...
>
> I may bite the bullet and go for a used one and anything that goes wrong,
I can
> blame on *her* bad luck?! Not sure if that angle will work or not, of
course,
> but might be worth a try. I sure wouldn't bet on my streak of bad luck
being
> over with!
> Cheers,
> jc

On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:13:38 -0500, "Detailing Dude" >
wrote:

>Seems to me you passed it on to her. (JK) Every manufacturer puts out crap
>at some time. I've had good and bad from a lot of them, so I take brand
>loyalty with a grain of salt. We drove a used (1988) Kcar for 126,000
>without a hitch and had a top of the line Taurus LX break constantly. You
>never know. I'd let her drive whatever she's happy in as long as it is safe.
>After all, that's is in your job description, pleasing her, right? We love
>the Tiguan, does it have the diesel in US yet?
>Good luck and let us know what happens.
>
>Cecil

No diesel for the Tiguan as yet, but they say it's on it's way soon. You're
right about keeping them happy... and believe me, it's a full time job!
Cheers,
jc