Wonderful...or Woeful?

[Cuffy]

But out of all that money spent, how much could you attribute to a failure of the vehicle? You’ve radically altered the makeup of the base vehicle with wheels and suspension changes, could this be a contributing factor to the steering rack failure and even the clutch?

After the steering rack went, that was the reason for dropping down in size on the wheels. The 20's were on there when I purchased it.
So yes, that might have been a contributing factor.

As for the clutch? I'm not mechanically gifted enough to know definitively, but I would hazard a guess at no.
I'm more of a driving Miss Daisy type, rather than drive it like you stole it.

And even after all that hassle, I still voted OK'ish

 

[Ali-G]

Had my 2018 (67) 204 bitdi for 4 years from 2020 until 2024.
Only problem was the usual EGR "insufficient flow" early in year 2 (already on its second EGR).
Had it mapped out and then trouble free until I sold it in September 2024.

 

[DXX]

After the steering rack went, that was the reason for dropping down in size on the wheels. The 20's were on there when I purchased it.
So yes, that might have been a contributing factor.

As for the clutch? I'm not mechanically gifted enough to know definitively, but I would hazard a guess at no.
I'm more of a driving Miss Daisy type, rather than drive it like you stole it.

And even after all that hassle, I still voted OK'ish

20” wheels completely change the gearing so the whole drive train is under more strain, not as VW designed.

 

[Cuffy]

20” wheels completely change the gearing so the whole drive train is under more strain, not as VW designed.

I am aware of that.
All I'm saying is that when I got the van with 22k on the clock, this all went tit's up n pear shaped before it had reached 34k.

 

[Sasquatch]

As for the clutch? I'm not mechanically gifted enough to know definitively, but I would hazard a guess at no.

Was the driver that put the first 22k on it mechanically gifted? Occam's Razor suggests theyre the ones responsible for its early demise.

Even the finest clutch can be ruined by a cloven hoofed loon, so unless the garage that replaced it found a component subject to spontaneous mechanical failure (which would have been very apparent) id suggest its greater than even odds VW weren't at fault for that one.

 

[Cuffy]

Was the driver that put the first 22k on it mechanically gifted? Occam's Razor suggests theyre the ones responsible for its early demise.

Even the finest clutch can be ruined by a cloven hoofed loon, so unless the garage that replaced it found a component subject to spontaneous mechanical failure (which would have been very apparent) id suggest its greater than even odds VW weren't at fault for that one.

I whole heartedly agree, not VW's fault and that of the previous owner.
C'est la vie.

 

[Sasquatch]

Still, all sorted now so you'll be good for many moons to come. Although its an expensive ballache its nice when a majorly spendy job is behind you and you can relax for a few years.

 

[Nickdaw]

Had my 140 dsg March 2016 from new, 65000 miles, no problems apart from the leaky side windows.
still on original brakes & battery (not sure battery will last this winter)
over serviced

 

[Anakin]

4th August, my wife rings me from Cumbria and says there is a flashing orange light in the instrument panel. As she doesn’t have Carista on her phone, all I could tell her was to ignore it and I’ll look at it when she gets home.

Next call, an hour later, orange light is now on permanently and van is in limp mode. She manages to find a garage forecourt and the van cuts out and won’t restart. Recovery called, who diagnose fault code P2457, EGR cooler “A” efficiency below threshold. Recovery then tow the van 90 miles to a local VAG independent garage near us for evaluation and repair.

VDCS scan finds a minor fault with the rear right wheel speed sensor, a completely borked EGR and a stuffed full DPF.

Our van, a 2017 CXGB engine has only done 40,500 miles, and in the year we’ve had it, doesn’t do short journeys.

The result: we only got it back today due to a VW shortage of DPF parts.
EGR £676
DPF £2,340
gaskets, sensor, coolant, clamp etc
labour £580
Total: £3,805

It’s been an expensive day.

The garage thought that the EGR has been on its way out for a while, was getting coked up and its malfunction had stopped the DPF from regenerating. It doesn’t sound entirely plausible, but the result is what it is.

I’ve now downloaded a VAG DPF app and will be watching things very closely.

We’ve had Adblue issues, EGR issues, DPF issues and I’ve had to replace the auxiliary belt tensioner. So, I would say that ours has not been a reliable example.

 

[T32Rich]

I went for Fairly Reliable, purely because when we travelled through France this year, a whole raft of faults came up. I always travel with a code reader after issues with a previous car. I was lucky enough to be able to reset, clear the codes/warning lights and carry on with no re-occurrence of said faults, all related to Adaptive Cruise and distance sensing.

 

[Sasquatch]

Sitrep - 103 responses and 88 members have stated their van has been excellent or mainly excellent.

13 votes for average, and only 2 for below average or woeful.

So the opening premises that these vans are far better than word of mouth would suggest is holding true...for now.

 

[Bav]

Perhaps there's a disproportionate number of new(ish) vans?

 

[Sasquatch]

Could be, could be. Perhaps folk would be so kind to add the age and mileage of their van ae they respond.

 

[Alster]

I voted totally reliable. 3 1/2 years old 94,000 miles

 

[Bav]

2½ years | 15k miles | totally reliable

 

[Sasquatch]

4 years, 6400 miles, totally reliably.

 

[T32Rich]

Mine is 3yrs old 21K miles and mainly reliable (had to clear some fault codes while on holiday in France, with no re-occurrence)

 

[JDC]

9 yrs old, 65k miles, reliable except for what I would accept as wear and tear on an old van!!!

 

[Martinw]

6 years old, 45000 miles, just an EGR cooler, ABS sensor and heater fan speed thingy gone wrong in the almost two years I have owned it.

 

[Ricardo T]

Work van: 3 years old, 23k, I would say toattaly reliable although with8n a year it was due a software upgrade so went into limp mode, silver van called and sorted. Second slight niggle, went in for a regular service at vwvc and came out with a warning light grrrr…warranty secondary heater pump fitted.( I have had a tpms niggle bit that was due to aftermarket wheel/ tyre combo not being recognised)

Camper: Nearly 10 years old, 54k. Under my ownership, 4.5 years, totally reliable. Not my daily.