We picked up our EuroVan used as a Volkswagen executive fleet trade in and other than one small dent, it was like new.
Within 5 months, we found ourselves putting new brakes on the car. The service was done by a VW dealer to the tune of about $1,000.
Once will driving down the road, one of the electrical cables got tangled on something. A paved, clear road! The VW dealer/repair show said it was our fault and required we pay for the repair. Another $400 shot.
About 2 months before selling the car, the a/c compressor failed in the heat of summer on a 2 and 1/2 year old car. Electrical problems seemed to cascade from there. Next thing you know, the radio and fan stopped working. Thank goodness all of this was covered under warranty, especially since we were about 6 months from being out of warranty. While the car was in the shop they mentioned the brakes were OK, but would probably need replacing yet again which we did 6 months later.
That's two sets of brakes in 2 years at around $1000 a pop.
Two of the armrests failed in 2 years and the middle seats seized up and couldn't be removed without taking it the dealer.
The EuroVan is a fun van to own if you are willing to pay the price to own it. We weren't and traded it in after only 2 years.
It handles like a truck, which makes sense since it is built on a truck platform. That means you'll sacrifice some of the driving comfort of a typical mini van, which are typically built on car platforms.
Very comfortable driving position.
You want room? This is the van for it. It comfortably seats 7 and I do mean comfortably with plenty of head and leg room.
For a car that retailed for about $28,000, it is very short on features. It did not even include a CD player! I asked the VW dealer if I could put another brand in there and they said I could, but if I did, every time I brought it in for service, I'd need to bring the original radio in because they use the radio as the interface to the onboard computer so they would have to charge me an install and deinstall charge for even the simplest repairs requiring computer diagnostics.
In theory, the EuroVan should be the perfect minivan. It's bigger than most and has plenty of room. In theory, it's built with German ingenuity and quality. In reality, it's overpriced, under featured and unreliable. If you pick one of these up in the used market (they are no longer being made), be prepared to spend through the nose for repairs.
I have an older eurovan 93 with 193000 miles, It sounds as though you may have a lemon, but as far as $1000 for a brake job that's not good,
I too loved my Eurovan, but it has caused me so much grief over the past 4 years I wonder if its worth it. Beyond the endless brake replacements, high priced tires, and expensive general maintenance the mechanical breakdown history is a long list of pain.
I have had my entire A/C system replaced, the ignition switch replaced twice, water pump replaced, alternator replaced, coolant reservoir replaced, ENTIRE TRANSMISSION replaced ($5400..yikes!), leaky heating valve (or something related), two coolant leaks repaired, universal joint cover replaced, a popping noise from the undercarriage when I accelerate that is not diagnosable and drives me crazy, and several other minor repairs that I just can't recall. If not for warranties, I would have almost bought a new VAN. I can't recommend anyone tackle the headache of owning one of these beasts unless they really love what it offers. Good luck if you buy one, and make sure you have a good dealer because independent repair facilities don't like to work on these.
I own 2001 Eurovan MV. VW'S ad slogan should be DRIVERS NEEDED instead of DRIVERS WANTED. I have a list of problems a mile long. Don't think I would ever buy another VW product. Newest problem is no heat. Ignition switch, mass air flow meter, brakes, driver window motor, sensors up the ying yang. Tires wear out fast as do brakes. It is no wonder they stopped production of the Eurovan. The public will forget how bad they were in a few years. I've owned many older VW'S in my lifetime, but the new ones are the worst. Too many SENSORS and BAD ELECTRICAL. They need to make them simple... Anyone know how to get the heater working again???
Mralohamike@aol.com.
The history of my ownership of a 2003Eurovan-full camper is very similar to many others recounted here. However, my van's repair history contains one huge item not noted (and therefore not experienced?) by any other owner.
About six months after I bought the van, a late night reveler tried to drive through it from the rear. I was parked on the street in front of my garageless building. Awful to wake up to, the sound drew people out of their beds and to the site from blocks away.
Three other vehicles were hit as the driver careered off my van into them! Two of them were totaled-out by their insurance carriers, but in spite of sustaining the most damage, the Eurovan wasn't.
I feel certain that the over-inflated price of the Eurovan is what sent it to the body shop instead of the bone yard. The first shop refused the job after taking a day to inspect it.
Eventually the wreck ended up at a shop 84 miles away, which builds fancy choppers and repairs (body-work) VW buses and vans for a well-known seller of used VW poptops.
Four and a half months later, I picked up my van! Parts can be a little scarce, I discovered. The appearance of the vehicle left nothing to be desired. It was an amazing like new restoration.
From that time on any parts failures or difficulty I had with the van was automatically blamed on the accident. First, there were the brake pads. They had to be replaced during the only trip I've taken away from home. There was no warning. Not 1000 miles later the same noise heralded the 2nd brake failure.
During replacement #2 it was discovered that the caliper piston was frozen 'out', I bought the van at 11,000 miles. First brake pads at 16,000, second set at 17,000 and now at 25k I'm starting to hear and feel the low growl I've come to associate with impending brake pad failure!
I see the writing on the wall, and as soon as I track down those few remaining electrical problems, I'm going to SELL, SELL, SELL.
Wish I could afford an MB Sprinter Camper.
But wait! That's also made in Germany...
NJW
Long Beach,
California.
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