VW Atlas

I wouldn't wish a VW on my worst enemy, that's for sure.

Never owned an Atlas but I have owned enough VWs to know that I'd never own one ever again as long as I live.
 
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I wouldn't wish a VW on my worst enemy, that's for sure.

Never owned an Atlas but I have owned enough VWs to know that I'd never own one ever again as long as I live.

Tell me more….were ready to ditch the mini van and it’s the #1 pick of the school moms.
 
Tell me more….were ready to ditch the mini van and it’s the #1 pick of the school moms.

Namely it's the cost of owning European vehicles. Parts are harder to get and much more expensive than domestic vehicles. In addition, German engineering is something I'll never, ever mess with again after owning countless VWs and BMWs. I don't know what it is about German vehicles but they love to over-engineer them.

VW is fairly consistently ranked among some of the lesser reliable vehicles according to Consumer Reports (though I haven't looked in a few years) and I would say that that mirrors my experience. There's always an electrical gremlin, there's always a warning light on, etc. This isn't usually the issue when they're under warranty, but every German car is fine to own when it's under warranty. It's once they're outside of warranty they become an issue.

I'll never forget when my mom bought a newer Jetta at the time. She owned it for 5 years and after nothing but problems with it she said, "Chris, I'll never buy another German car as long as I live". That thing too was nothing but problem after problem.

I always gravitate towards Toyota or Honda for reliable vehicles, though I think the American stuff is just as good now for the most part.
 
Namely it's the cost of owning European vehicles. Parts are harder to get and much more expensive than domestic vehicles. In addition, German engineering is something I'll never, ever mess with again after owning countless VWs and BMWs. I don't know what it is about German vehicles but they love to over-engineer them.

VW is fairly consistently ranked among some of the lesser reliable vehicles according to Consumer Reports (though I haven't looked in a few years) and I would say that that mirrors my experience. There's always an electrical gremlin, there's always a warning light on, etc. This isn't usually the issue when they're under warranty, but every German car is fine to own when it's under warranty. It's once they're outside of warranty they become an issue.

I'll never forget when my mom bought a newer Jetta at the time. She owned it for 5 years and after nothing but problems with it she said, "Chris, I'll never buy another German car as long as I live". That thing too was nothing but problem after problem.

I always gravitate towards Toyota or Honda for reliable vehicles, though I think the American stuff is just as good now for the most part.

Interesting, we’ve always been an Acura/Honda family. Our 2018RDX with 19k we’ll keep until my 6yr old is driving and what my 13yr old will use. Our Oddessy is the only vehicle I’ve ever filed a formal new car lemon complaint against.
 
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In my opinion. VW is no better, or worse, in these times than anything else. I would love a Jetta or GTI with a stick shift.

Lease an Atlas....


Germans do, definitely, over engineer everything. Except the boxer air-cooled fan belts.

The Japanese build Quality. It is exceptional most of the time. But so is the Germans and USA in the last 20 years. Reliability history says the Japanese make the most reliable vehicles for the masses.

I would lease a BMW, or Mercedes any day if I needed it and had the money. I wouldn't buy one. I leased and then bought a BMW 328D (diesel). It was perfect, and awesome, 50 mpg, for 4 years. Until it wasn't.

I might buy a VW or another Beemer. But lease and then buy at lease end.

We have entered a new age of rolling computers. All vehicle brands are rolling computers. All the bugs and idiosyncrasies haven't been worked out.

My brother loves his VW's.

I like Subaru but the CVT trans is the problem.

Be well. Jeep on.

Eric
 
Lease an Atlas....

When I was younger I did the leases, but I’ve come to find, the days of a 250 lease are over. At this point, I’ve found, if I take good care of my cars, I can either hold them until I’ve got equity and flip, or keep long term knowing it’s well maintained.

My dad commuted from Chi-Milwaukee for 20yrs and swears by a subi, but man those rubber band CVTs suck.
 
When I was younger I did the leases, but I’ve come to find, the days of a 250 lease are over. At this point, I’ve found, if I take good care of my cars, I can either hold them until I’ve got equity and flip, or keep long term knowing it’s well maintained.

My dad commuted from Chi-Milwaukee for 20yrs and swears by a subi, but man those rubber band CVTs suck.

BMW has some pretty attractive leases. I assume VW does too.

A Lease is good and cheap for a few years. If the car is a POS give it back.

An outright buy from the beginning is dicey with these computerized - vehicle transition days.
 
2.0t in a vehicle that size and no DSG option? Yuck that's a disappointment. I thought they had a V6 option. And I used to think the Atlas was cool
 
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Had a 19 GLI... fantastic car, 125k in five years and just needed oil, gas and tires. I miss it, so much fun to drive.

Currently my wife drives a 24 Atals Cross Sport and its great, knock wood... it's got 25k.

I think VW does a great job...I'm a drug rep and have driven more four door sedans and suvs to count. Things are well thought out and the doors close with a thud. Especially compared to my neighbors toyota highlander. The VW just feels and drives a bit more solid than some of the others.
 
@red02tj , You might be able to lease a BMW X3 for X5 at close to the VW Atlas lease number. Just sayin' if you want German.

Need the third row seating
2.0t in a vehicle that size and no DSG option? Yuck that's a disappointment. I thought they had a V6 option. And I used to think the Atlas was cool

I hear ya, but on the 6mi round trip where my wife teaches and the classic family road trips…anything not a minivan is a win
 
Need the third row seating


I hear ya, but on the 6mi round trip where my wife teaches and the classic family road trips…anything not a minivan is a win

I bought a '24 Taos but it got hit around a year in and that really ruined it so I wish I could give more feedback on longer-term quality.

I would've bought an Atlas if I could've afforded it honestly (same name as my dog lol)

It was a 1.5t with DSG and I really enjoyed driving it. My biggest complaint about it was that the Android Auto would go in and out when I was in traffic or a densely populated area, too much interference? The lane-keeping feature was nice, and from talking with friends it was a lot nicer than what was in Subaru and Rivians. The AWD features like snow mode, offroad mode, descent control worked really well.

I may still have it if it didn't get hit.