• deepflows@lemmy.today
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    7 hours ago

    As a European with very decent public transit and bicycle options, I feel like an idiot for getting a Mazda 3 half a year ago. I really should have tried to make do with a nice cargo bike. Could’ve been hundred of Euros going into my ETF instead of payments, insurance and so on.

    Oh well, at least I don’t anticipate a lot of trouble from my Mazda.

    • UncleArthur@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      I’m a retired Brit living in the middle of the Welsh Marches, 10 miles from the nearest town. There is no public transport. Having a car is vital out here and I dread the day my 13-year-old Tiguan gives up the ghost.

      • boonhet@sopuli.xyz
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        4 hours ago

        Well if it’s one of the direct injected petrol models, it’s prone to carbon buildup on the valves, which can be cleaned preemptively - if the buildup gets too bad, it can wreck the valves IIRC. If it’s a DSG rather than a conventional automatic or manual, those can be problematic depending on the exact version. Expect a couple grand to fix if it goes wrong. Any chain-driven VAG engine usually doesn’t have a very long lifetime on the chain and they’re a pain to replace.

        I wish you luck with the Tiguan, but honestly if I was a Brit living in the countryside, I’d rather be driving a Land Rover. Not that I expect it to be less problematic than VW, I just think they’re cooler and it’s the one country where LR enthusiasts and independent workshops are plentiful.

          • boonhet@sopuli.xyz
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            2 hours ago

            Oh there’s a good reason I said “not that I expect it to be less problematic” lol

            I just have bad experience with VAG cars and know many others who do too. I consider it to be about as horrible to own as JLR, without the cool factor.

      • LumpyPancakes@piefed.social
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        5 hours ago

        Similar distance from town but in Australia. My 2002 Verada and 1996 Magna just keep on going. Look after them and they’ll usually look after you. Not sure how much built in obsolescence might be in a Tiguan though. Might be old enough to be predictable.