Why you should never buy an Audi or Volkswagen

Well, I lost a battle over the weekend.  I attempted to put rear brakes on a 2001 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro.  After buying several special tools to add to my arsenal, it took me about 2.5 hours.  I have done many brake jobs but this one was the hardest by far.  I had to compress the brake piston to get new brake pads installed.  You have you turn and compress the piston at the same time.  It helps to have a tool.  But Audi in their infinite wisdom had decided to make 2 mistakes.  1) if the brake pads are nearly gone, you can't get the tool in to compress and turn the brake piston.  2) Once the brake pads are almost gone, the brake piston can't catch the threads inside itself so that you can turn the piston to make it easier to compress.  You just end up spinning the brake piston and it never compresses.  I have a novel solution:  make the threads longer so that you just have to turn it.  Honda does it.  Why can't Audi?  For rear brakes on a Honda or Acura, many of them you just have to turn the piston to compress it.  BUT, you don't need a special tool and you can do it with a screwdriver or needle-nose pliers. 

In contrast to 2.5 hours to replace pads and rotors on an Audi, I did front brakes on a 1998 Toyota Avalon.  It took me 20 minutes to do one side; pads and one rotor and the best part: I didn't have to buy any special tools.  Why does VW have to make it so difficult?  Is it some scheme to make money so you have to take your VW or Audi to the dealer to get the brakes done?  If it is, someone should get fired. 

After finishing the brakes on the Audi A4, I attempted to do a CV axle on the passenger side.  After getting the axle loose, I tried to undo the control arm to hub assembly bolt.  This would not come out.  I tried hammering, soaking with penetrating oil, talking to other mechanics who had done it and nothing seemed to work.  I gave up.  My new resolution:  I will never work on an Audi or Volkswagen again.  It is not worth the frustration and pain.  I will also never buy one.  Never has Audi been top in reliability.  In fact, they have been near the bottom for a long time.  Their electronics are horrible.  If VW made TV's they would go out of business. 

I have heard many stories of people that own an Audi or VW.  They have their check engine light on all the time.  They have spent thousands and thousands of dollars to fix it, but to no avail their light remains on and the dealership can't figure out why.  If the dealer can't figure out why your check engine light is on, who do you take the car to? 

The owner can't sell the car because no one wants to buy it with the light on and you can't get it registered because it won't pass emissions.  Basically, if you have a check engine light on, you are stuck with a pile of junk.  And that is exactly what a VW is.  A pile of junk. 

I know they are cute, and they have awesome aesthetics.  Is this a sole reason to buy a car?  I would say emphatically NO.  You should buy a car because you don't have to give an arm or a leg to fix it.  You should buy a car because maintenance will be low.  Finally, you should buy a car because you know it is reliable. 

Here are my top 3 reasons why you should never buy an Audi or VW:
3) unreliable
2) high depreciation
1) they are an absolute pile of junk

So when looking at a newer car for yourself or a loved one, do yourself a favor and NEVER BUY a VW product.