@jorge alberto in Mexico I see Golf 7's with flying wind deflectors all the time. That problem never existed in Wolfsburg. It is one thing for a German to assemble something and another for a Mexican. Double standards exist.
Yes, I love how my 2015 Sportwagen drives. So glad I didn't go for boring Japanese. Great ergonomics and engineering. I'm really happy with the 170 hp. Really don't need more. :)
I own a German built Mercedes and a Mexican built VW. Both are 2010. I never have to repair my VW but spend many weekends repairing the Merc. It’s not the country but quality of parts used.
@@joebloggs7177 Actually the issue is in Mercedes politics, Mercedes and VW had for a long term now socialistic presidents - Mercedes is doing too much with China and focusing too much on quick sales instead of long reputation i think BMW is doing better in this case and VW is just too much into greenist politics BUUUUT this is changing right now, the new chief I HOPE he stops this greenist bs he comes from Porsche and as we know Porsche offers all 3 kinds fuel > future going into E-Fuels + Hybrid + EV and they do great compared to VW and Audi... the truckbrands i would say arent bad too but VW and Audi are big brands doing sht with those socialistic policits from the EU and the last boss
i own a Mexican built GTI mk6... zero build issues.. I think it comes down to the company's overall quality control, not the country it's assembled in..
Can't believe this conversation still occurs. Most VW issues are problems engineered into the car and are not assembly plant specific. Timing chains...engineered. Fuel pumps....engineered. Cam followers...engineered. Valve bodies...engineered. Mechatronic units...engineered. Carbon build up...engineered. The parts come from all over the place. The only plant assignable issues possible are paint, fit, and finish. Not too many of those to attribute to Mexico. The rest are automated assembly or sourced components. Most VW issues were engineered from start and are not plant specific. Forget the anodotal stories about plant location. Decontenting can occur in Germany or Mexico. Bodies are welded together by robots...the same ones used in Germany. You can have two plants making the same car with differing build quality but that is rare these days. If this is the case, it's still the parent VW AG fault because they are responsible for enforcing uniform standards.
Yep and the same applies to all the god awful mistakes by BMW engineers who fail to design proper parts. Good engineering coupled with properly spec'd parts = reliability. Reliability is A # 1 the first concern of all auto purchasers.
So true bro. I was going to mention BMW just now but Dave Hill beat me to it. I've owned 3 Mexican built VWs and I've had very minor and minimal problems with them. I've owned/had in my family 6 German built BMWs that were totally plagued with problems that were obviously from poor design, bad engineering, subpar materials used, etc. It's disappointing to me because I love BMWs so much. Now I just lease them instead of holding onto them for long term. My problem is that I get every attached to cars lol, I still own my 2001 Jetta that I've owned since 2001!
Most of these issues are deliberately engineered into the cars in order to A. generate revenue for the service department; and B. make you want a new one after 3 to 5 years. This is common to all German cars made after 1995. The French and Japanese took another 10 years to go down the same route, but in the past couple of years they've been forced to reconsider by the Koreans who don't seem to mind giving unusually long warranty and making sure their cars are in overall good shape reliability-wise. Maybe ze Germanz will have a think on that one too.
I own a Mexican made car.. It's been fine lol. I've seen VW people talk about the factories. They're held to the same standard, and that's really all that matters.
I'm a Manufacturing Engineer and I can weigh on this topic. The German assembled cars and the Mexican assembled cars should have the same quality coming off the line. The reason is that they both have the same exact design, same exact specs, same materials used, same assembly process, same quality control (like 6 sigma). Now you mentioned that the Mexican build cars have less issues that German, this could relate to the fact the the Mexican factory has newer assembly equipment that potentially create less assembly issues and more precise and efficient.
@@azjolol Specs meaning required values for all the different tests that they have to perform on the different systems/assemblies on the production line that tell you if something is built properly.
Alaa Sibai. The VW plant in (Puebla) Mexico has been building cars since the 60s. The production lines are being updated from time to time to avoid falling behind quality. I might think that the assembly lines in Mexico are as worn out as the ones in Germany. So, I think that there is more to it than newer assembly lines; maybe something like pride in what you are making.
Colby Richison sounds like mine is just getting warmed up. i own the current model jetta with the 2.0t, 40,000km's (24000 miles). its a fantastic car, mexican or not, i keep trying to find fault in it but i cant.
I'm on my 3rd VW (a 2020 GTI), and I've never experienced the problems that others talk about. I really believe that German-engineered cars demand attention to the maintenance schedule, because that's how a German engineer would take care of it. If your definition of a great car is one you can abuse and keep on driving, that sounds more like a tractor to me.
@@ODH3 I agree. I drove Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans for decades until I got tired of the boredom of driving them. I finally got a Jetta back in 2016 and loved it. I now drive a GTI and I'm never going back to Japanese driving appliances no matter how reliable they are. I do have a Honda Odyssey too, but I only drive it to haul crap from Home Depot or when I need to move several bodies at a time and the GTI would be too cramped.
I've owned a German-built German car, an American-built German car, and a Mexican-built German car. The quality is consistent. Anyone who says different is talking out of their ass.
The quality thing is more a racist thing that some say because there are stereotypes that Europeans are considered educated an rich whereas Latin Americans unintelligent and lazy
Why not? You wanna say the state did not exist anymore? Oooh come oon whats next?! No Soviet Union anymore? Look close at some car parts there are sill Soviet Stars on it!!! Sarcasm guys... just sarcasm....he is american, forgive him :D
Yep, it's the Czech republic and Slovakia now, after the USSR fell some of the created satellite countries reverted back to what they were before. Countries in Europe change a lot.
My father bought a brand new VW Bug in 1974 in Mexico City. Drove it to Chicago twice and sold it to a family member who still owns the car. The VW Puebla manufacturing plant in Mexico has been assembling VWs for a long time and they have done it with great pride and care. I agree in the distinction between good engineering versus good assembling. I currently own a Mark 7.5 and I am fully satisfied with both the engineering and the assembling that made my GTI a reality.
my Mexican built Fahrenheit GLI has had less time in the shop than same year-model Wolfsburg GLI or GTIs from Germany. really it comes down to the modules installed at each factory. Takata seat belt latch issues from German factories vs Bluetooth module issues with cars from Mexico for example.
After careful research about the new Mexican plant built by VW, I did buy a 2016 GTI S and have had no issues except for a recall due to a design flaw, not a build flaw. Before taking delivery I spent the better part of an hour going over all the fit and finish (by hand) of the car and found all was perfect. I am a fanatic about details. The Mexican plant is state-of-the-art and employs very highly trained personnel. I honestly believe it is as good as anything made in Germany.This is the same year and model praised as Car of The Year by all the auto magazines and none had any performance or build issues with these Mexican assembled cars.I note that BMW and Mercedes also build or are planning to build models in Mexico.Enough said...
Dave Hill they're building their cars in Mexico not because Mexican worker are the best but because it has cheaper labour next to the biggest car market(USA) and is a Nafta country.
It's not the workers so much as the German QA, that replaced Mexican "QA"...waaaaaaay back in the mid-80's. Remember all the Rabbits and other platforms that came out of the Puebla plant....that rusted out in less than 2 years? And set VW AG back sales-wise? The Germans came to Mexico and kicked out the sub-standard local QA and installed Germans from Germany to do the job. Now, all models that are ASSEMBLED...(NOT Made in Mexico...ASSEMBLED...in Mexico of parts and sub=structures MADE IN GERMANY)...meet the exact same standards that are set in Wolfsburg. Period.
British You Tuber who sells Electric Vehicles found Tesla cars made in China are better than Tesla made in Freemont California. Hope Elon saw that video
Whenever I’m in the middle of mexico visiting family i always see early 2000’s VW jettas running like if they’re brand new, even my dad has a 03 jetta and it’s still running strong
I was skeptical about buying my 2014 GLI when I first purchased it, being it was the first VW made outside of Germany that I owned. But after owning it for over 3 years and almost 40K miles I can say its honestly held up pretty well. The only issues I've had were small in comparison to "real" world problems, and have had no mechanical issues once so ever. I just purchased a 2017 R-line Passat which is built in Chattanooga,TN so hopefully that holds up as well as the GLI.
I'm from brazil currently living in U.S. On the beginning of mk7 we had german mk7 in Brazil and that car had better welding on chassis than the actual mk7 built in our local plant. This is a fact.
I worked at a Nissan dealership for a little while and Nissan has US built and Mexican built models. It seemed to me the Mexican built models had more quality control issues but they were the cheaper models so not necessarily an apples to apples comparison.
Jeff K This may be more the fault of Nissan's quality control in that plant.. Nissan will setup the assembly plants only using the locals to run the machines to build.. often the native, in this case, Japanese employees will control the plant.. I think country pride for the consumer is getting in the way of the facts..
I'm on my 4th VW, 1 Super Bettle, 2 Passats and now a Golf R. All have been great, never really concerned as to where it was built. Talked with Paul at his shop, great guy. Keep up the good work on the videos.
Got a 2015 mk vii golf se with 1.8 tsi and aisen 6 sp auto,the car is brilliant, saying after owning three mercedes.Zero issues,engine is made in mexico too.
BroccoliQueefed what about the american civil war in 1861... Plus the fascist left wing are literally trying to start another American civil war right now
As an owner of 3 TDIs and previous owner of a couple VR6 all I can say is I’m very satisfied with the quality of all the VW I’ve had so far. Good job Mexico 🇲🇽
I saw a documentary with Simon reeves visiting the Mexico plant and it was epic, not only that but the girl who showed him around was absolutely stunning! She deserves that job :) and she drove a Vw bus with the roof cut off as a tour bus. I recommend the doc it’s called the America’s .
LADA builds Daewoo cars and some other French manufacturer licensed cars ( not sure if it's Peugeot, or Renault) in Russia from Korean components. But the labour quality between South Korea and Russia is very different. Russian cars are often assembled using wood screws, instead of machine screws, which is why their parts vibrate much more than those assembled in South Korea/France.
Let me tell you that some american cars are made in Mexico and they have good quality, example: Fusion gas and hybrid are made in Sonora, Mexico, Focus are made in Cuautiltan, Mexico, (the transmission are imported from US) all Dodge and Chrysler pick ups are made in Saltillo Mexico. I live in Mexico city and let me tell you that some parts are imported from US and Japan, example the automatic transmission of the focus and the fusion are made in the US and imported to Mexico to assemble those cars and then those cars are exported to US. Same idea with power steering system and electronic modules. Air bags are made by Takata and imported to Mexico to American, German and Oriental Brand cars made here. The engines are made here with mexican components, seat belts, seats, tires, wheels, brakes, radiators, head lamps, grilles, fascias, bumpers, all the Steel components (that is the reason of the new tax for mexican Steel and aluminum imported to the US), Paint, and assembly are Mexican. VW produces in Puebla, Mexico the Jetta since the 2012 and now the new Jetta 2019 is made here too. Same thing with the Golf and other cars that are exported to Europe and not sold in the american continent. Engines and a lot of parts are made in Mexico but almost all the electronic devices are imported from Germany and Austria, next door of the VW plant in Puebla are the new Audi plant that produces the Q5 for all over the world, engines are produced in Irapuato, Guanajuato for all the VAG group automobiles made in Mexico and some Passat made in US, so is incredible the potential of Mexico in the assembly and production of the different components of the cars, made here or outside Mexico as well. In Ensenada Mexico Toyota produces the rear cargo box of all the Tacomas, Honda has a big plant in El Salto, Jalisco where they produce the new Civic and the new CRV with a lot of components made in Mexico, same to Nissan, they had about 3 plants in some cities in Mexico that produces the Versa, the Sentra and the NP300 pick ups and they export the NP300 to south and central america, sentras and versas to the US and Canadian market. Because of all this and more situations of producers in Mexico (TV, home appliances, carpets, etc.) is that Mr. Trump is trying to cancel the Nafta and make the american people produce more in the US.
Yup. My Fiesta ST was made in Cuautitlan, and the engine and transmission were made in Wales. The build quality is good, especially for such an inexpensive car.
I love this presenter, he is a great teacher and communicator, and his love for the marque comes through, even as he must deal with running a business around working on cars day-to-day. He and the Humble Mechanic have given me instruction and confidence to tackle these backyard jobs and to fix my Mk5 A3 on my own, even above the dealer or local mechanics because of attention to detail and knowing these cars, thank you!
One thing I have noticed is you must have patience to work as a mechanic or trades person of any kind . You must deal with people who don't know how things work and want things perfect .
The MK7 started in 2012, I just got a MK7 last year in 2017. I would think by then any bugs in the model have been worked out, I have a rule to never buy a 1st generation or production run of anything. And I believe my current Golf was made in Mexico, so you just gave me some more relief about my decision about my purchase. But it's the rule, the best way to make the car last in maintenance. Before this I had a Suzuki Sidekick for 10 years, had about 120,000 miles on it before it's oil pan rusted out, then something in it's ignition system failed. Replaced with a RAV4, had that for 12 years and 140,000 miles. Had a water pump failure at 5 years and replaced all the brake calipers at least once, got rid of it for coolant leaks into the pistons, an AC compressor failing, the seal on the front windshield coming out, and rust around the right strut mount. All cars will have their issues, the key is to take care of them before they become the problem.
Never listen to JDPowers reviews on car reliability as they are not car experts and are consultant PR firm they only watch for major problems cars have within first 90 days after purchase
My take on this is, if Germany is the NR1 distribution place for most of the VW cars getting out to other countries in the world, then it also have to be the NR1 place of manufacturing issues. That would be equally true to any car brand.
My context was only for US models as that was where my data point came from. Most US models by volume sold in the US are made in mexico. Now and then. Thanks for watching and for the feedback. I appreciate it Paul
I have a Brazilian 2001 VW GTI GLX and it's been there best ownership experience I've had in any vehicle. (Toyota 22r Hilux, Chevy S10, Audi A4 B7, BMW e30)
as a Mexican who owns 6 VW vehicles, (distributed within my family) one of them is my Golf Mk7 '17 1.4 T, I don't care if it's German, Mexican or USA built, I rely heavily in VW since we owned a mercury Mystique and was nothing but problems during 4 years we had it. My last car was a VR6 2000 Jetta and had for 16 years, no problems at all...
Not really sure if its the location build that is the difference, but I had a German built Mk6 GTI with an endless amount of problems that was classified as a lemon. Now I have a MK7 Mexican Built GTI with 30,000 on the odo, with absolutely no issues at all so far...
A woman was selling a jetta tdi on craigslist and raving how great her german vw was compared to a Mexican built but made the mistake of photographing the vin # it started with a 3 (cars made in mexico) ahahahaha so I emailed her so your Mexican vw is not that bad lmao
I just purchased a brand new 2017 GTI MK7 S that is made in Mexico and I love it. German engineering for half the price of let's say an Audi S3. MSRP is $27,950 Dsg transmission. Got it for $23,900. Awesome deal don't need that extra options anyways just happy to own a brand new GTI. Peace!
Interesting topic. Similar backlash when the current gen Mazda3 was shifting certain trims to their Mexico plant. I bought the manual transmission top trim, which was still being made in Japan at the time, so I can't comment on the build quality. If VW really cares about the US market, they need to start with their dealerships, because they are consistently awful. Helped me make up my mind when I got rid of my MK6.
Brian Bonilla Mazda sells so few cars in the US because of that awful dealer network. Last time I considered buying a Mazda 6, the local dealership did not impress me with cars covered thick with pollen, and one without any gas in the tank. And no dealership in East Tennessee would order me a manual Mazda 6 - they recommended I drive to Ohio instead :O
As a owner of an 09 B6 VW Passat, I can tell you what my ownership experience is. This car was made in Germany at the same plant that they made the Phaeton. Not in Emden. Let's see $7000 in repairs, It's on it's 3rd steering rack, PCV,suspension bushings,heater fan, spark plug misfire
Paul, as a huge VW fan for over 20 years, I take your videos, opinions and knowledge very seriously. With that being said, thanks for this informative video. Something I have always thought about and never got a straight, thorough answer (even as an opionion) Cheers man.
Like BMWs they were great reliable cars in70s and 80s but after 2005 they went downhill with "BIODEGRADABLE " PLASTIC , that must be replaced every 2 years as it melts when they shod use metal or good quality rubber . Seems like BMW is under the control of accountants who know nothing about cars ,instead of engineers who love driving reliable cars
I had a friend with a New Beetle and she was plagued with problems that left her stranded on the road. It was always electronics or coils supplied by VW not the Mexican assembly. I am enjoying my Mexican assembled GTI.
My Mexico built 2017 GLI leaked oil since day one it had a rough idle the sunroof had to be replaced and the fuel pump... All under 4k miles. I just picked up a mk7 GTI wish me luck
I have Tiguan 2018 (Made in Mexico), absolutely no issues (mechanically or esthetically). It came with a 6 year warranty also. It’s only one year old, so time will tell how good or bad it is. Stay tuned.
The German cars are well built but I think the Mexicans vw’s are more reliable and less maintenance I’ve had both and now I have a us built vw Passat and so far so good
I do own 2007 vw jetta gli fahrenheit edition made in Mexico.. very nice vehicle really reliable.. And soon I will get 2016 vw touareg executive.. big fan of you chanel.. and thank you for all the Tips...and special thanks to the Humble mechanic too... you 2 do a a great team..
Very very sensitive and ongoing topic among VW enthusiasts. I personally have had two VWs in my life which were German built and I found their quality outstanding. However one of the VWs I owned, particularly a beautiful 92 16V 2.0L GTI was one of my favorite cars to date, and it’s quality was awesome and well as especially engine performance. Once I got it tuned it was a rocket. I now own a 2000 Golf 1.8T (AWD), and I is one of the most amazing cars I’ve owned. It’s got 220,000 on the clock and whether I drive it hard or normal, with a list of mods it’s such a reliable and fun car! So who knows. My father used to own a Mexican built 2001 2.0L Jetta, and had nothing but headaches with it, I know because I was the one he called about it. So who knows, German or Mexican, at least they both know how to party🎊 🍾🎉🎈
two people of different nationality with the same tools performing the same task make it no better or worse as a result of their nationality, gender, skin colour etc etc.
Germans are known for great engineering. That engineering doesn't go away because the car was built in Mexico. As far as care, that can be had anywhere. Look up their plant in Mexico it's pretty impressive.
Have you watched the factory videos? They are mostly built by robots. All the most important parts of the vehicle assembly, spot welding, painting, and such is done by robots. And they don't care if they are in Mexico or Germany. The guy is right in the video when he says it comes down to the quality of the components.
DCassidy42 disagree, it all depends on how relaxed or stressed the employees are, which conditions they're in and so on. this isn't about race or skin color. go back to your safe space.
2013 MK6 GLI made in mexico, so far so good. Got it used with 48k miles, clean throughout though. If anyones heard of issues with the GLI 13' i would love to know. Be prepared for something just in case. thanks
I own a Mexican built 2017 Jetta Wolfsburg 5 speed. Excellent car! Not 1 problem in 6 years. I recently found out the manual transmissions are built in Ukraine! I feel patriotic every time I shift, and yell out a "Death to Putin!" occasionally. 😄
I have a 2016 manual 5 Jetta. Every time I shift , I yell....F you biden ! Stop sending your fellow corrupt grifter billions of our taxpayers dollars to support his corrupt government! I feel for the people of Ukraine , yet this would have never happened if our true President Trump did not have the election stolen from him, and We the People.
Doesn't matter where the parts are made. Even China. If it's made to drawing and specs. It could be made by anyone anywhere in the world. And it theoretically is the same. This is why China dominates the aerospace industry, everything is made to tight specs. Theirs no room for American made quality or Swiss precision when everything must be virtually identical.
I've owned two Mexican-built cars and have had minimal issues. My current one, a 2016 VW Jetta, in fact it's one of the best assembled vehicles I've ever owned. Tight as a drum, no uneven gaps anywhere, excellent workmanship. VW has had a Mexican presence since the early 60s and it considers its investments there THE most important in the company's operations outside Germany. Mexicans know Volkswagens, their assembly, repair and maintenance, better than just about anybody. I've no complaints at all.
Yeah I thought it was odd that you said the Golf line was made in Mexico. When I went to buy my GTI 2017 MK7 I was told by the dealer that it was build in Germany. I ended up doing more research to see who was right and I came across an article that said VW has relocated it's MK7 Golf line back to Germany again. So I guess I got lucky to get one of the few MK7 GTI made in Germany. www.thedrive.com/sheetmetal/15056/volkswagen-golf-production-moves-back-to-europe
I own a 2017 GTI. It was definitely built in Mexico. The dealer was lying to you, probably because of the perceived inferior quality of the Mexican built cars. But I can tell you that my Mexican built MK7 GTI has been the best car I've ever owned. I know that the MK8 Golf will be built in Germany, but that's because we're not getting that car here in the US. We will get the MK8 GTI and Golf R but not the standard Golf. I'm not sure where they're planning to build those cars, but I suspect they might build them either in Mexico or at the Chattanooga factory.
@@foomanshooo um ok you are right. After doing further research into where my car was made it says that on the VIN if the first digit starts with a 1 - 5 then it is made in North America. Mine indeed starts with a 3. So yeah the dealer lied to me.
I own a German made CC. mine has been a nightmare, 2 DSG's, 2 fule pumps, 3 water pumps (due to oil leak in the timing chain cover that the dealer somehow never caught) oil leak, electromechanical steering all in a 6 year span. But I still love her 😊
I own a 2015 Golf MK7 TDI assembled in Mexico but most of the"Made In" tags are European countries. I've had a few pretty serious issues with the car but it's all been failure of European parts including parts made in Germany, OH! and that pesky Emissions scandal. Turns out what ever Germans can't properly engineer they cheat on.
2016 GTI Autobahn + Lighting Pack + Performance Pack owner here. Knock on wood, but so far my car has been rock solid with just over 25K miles. Prior to purchasing my GTI I owned two CPO BMW 335i's and well, my experience with BMW is that I'd never own one outside of warranty. Which is why I sold off my 335 and purchased my GTI.
I have two mk4s. One from Mexico and the other from Germany. The one from Mexico is my daily but there are definitely some quality differences. The Mexico one has more squeaks and rattles and smells like crayons. The German built mk4 doesn't have a crayon smell surprisingly and is dead quiet on the interior, even on firmer suspension. As far as problems, the Mexico car has had a fair share of normal wear and tear issues such as the water pump. The car now has 300,000 miles. The German car needed a new brake light bulb but does have less miles.
I guess I'm in the minority, but I like my German car having that "Made in Germany" sticker. I don't necessarily think it's built better, I just think it's cooler having been shipped from Germany.
I have owned several German made Volkswagens. Some were purchased used and some new. All of them lasted well over 100k miles. The first Mexican made Volkswagen that I purchased was a new 2001 New Beetle. Around 80k miles, I had to replace numerous front suspension parts. After paying over $1k to do that, my catalytic converter went. Instead of investing another $1,500 for that, I used my money as a down payment on a new 2006 German made GTI. That car turned out to be the best car I ever owned. In November 2015, I purchased a new 2016 Mexican GTI. So far, it has been fine but the jury is still out on that. Volkswagen's new packaging bothers me the most about the Mk7. My Mk5 came with plaid seats, a sunroof and 6 speed manual. I couldn't get the sunroof and the plaid seats together in my 2016 GTI. From what I understand, Volkswagen offers these two features in the 2017 GTI. However, it only comes in a 4 door model which I don't want. I feel that if Volkswagen is going to save tons of money on labor and tariffs by having their cars made in Mexico, the least they can do is offer the cars/packages that I want. As a person who is very proud of his German heritage, part of the reason I drive a Volkswagen is because of that. When I buy a German car, I want it to be made in Germany. Yes, parts may come from global sources. But to me, there is something special about my 2006 GTI coming out of the same Wolfsburg factory as the original Beetle that made the company famous. There is nothing special about a car from the Pueblo plant. So I draw my opinions from a personal experience point of view as well as an emotional one.
Full disclosure: I have owned SEVERAL Mexico-built SVT Focus vehicles for almost two decades, and with the exception of literally only one manufacturing defect on one of them, they were all built exceptionally well to excellent tolerances for the class of vehicle. That said, I have owned two Mazda's built in Japan, and just recently purchased a Mazda built in Mexico. There were - right away - noticeable built quality issues that I feel would have immediately failed QC at a Japanese factory. -The carpet wrapping on the back of the rear seats (you see this from the hatch view or when folded down) was not pulled tight on either seat and is wavy. -Fingerprints everywhere, I just assumed most panels are installed by machines or technicians wearing gloves. -Small nick on passenger front door jamb down to the metal, paint chipped, about .5mm diameter. -Shift trim plate (the glossy plastic piece) has a gouge in it about 2" long and cannot be buffed out. The piece costs $250 from Mazda because it is only included with the shift boot assembly) -Scrape in passenger front footwell -Smudge inside dashboard center speaker -Scrape on dashboard - removed after some buffing -The front cubbie in the center console has a rubber pad that pops up\is lifted in the front left corner, requiring use of 3M automotive double sided tape to secure it down because something isn't assembled to tolerance. This was actually the first defect I noticed (within seconds) of sitting in the vehicle and its embarrassing this flaw left the factory. My Mazda dealer refuses to fix any of the flaws. I should point out I purchased the vehicle with 5 miles on it, and it had never had a test drive from another potential customer. It isn't guaranteed, but assumed, all of thee flaws were from the factory, although I digress they could have happened during transport. As all of the flaws are superficial\cosmetic I really don't care, but it bothers me I've never actually purchased a brand new car, even a cheap compact, with so many flaws. I looked at a Japanese Built Mazda 3 HB a few weeks later at another dealer to humor myself (they are incredibly rare) and it had no issues I could find. I didn't take a caliper to the panel gaps or anything but on the surface it obviously had better QC than the Mazda 3 built in Mexico. Would I buy another Mexican built vehicle. Of course. But after this experience I would pay extra close attention to details you normally wouldn't pay attention too when buying a "Japanese" car and hold the dealer\manufacturer accountable.
My R's (MK5 R32, MK5 Golf R -- German made) no issues with all those years of ownership and ~170k miles between the two of them. Literally, no issues. Just picked up a 2017 Alltrack SEL (panoramic roof -- Mexican made) and on day 2 noticed water stains all around the roof. Sooooooooooooooo, yeah.
IamTROLLIFIC depends on the model.. Ive seen Jettas, Golfs and Beatles beeing abused so baaad and they are still running good, also Passats are a kind of common for uber. They are pretty much reliable, i think they have the same quality and reliability
You put up a video about Mexican vs German built VWs, but back it up with no facts. All we get is a quick line about how when you worked at a dealership that you heard from someone that the Mexican built one is better.
I own a ‘09 Jetta SE automatic with 121k miles on it that was built in Mexico. My family bought it used in 2012. I say the reliability has been excellent. The only problem it has a minor oil leak but thats it. I hope it will last for another four years throughout college until I get rid of it.
A lot of Germans settled in Texas and Mexico, especially in Central Texas, people outside of the region might not know that. Listen to a band play at Oktoberfest and listen to a Mexican radio station, you can hear the influence these cultures have had on each other. As a German-Texan, I also know Mexicans really love Volkswagens. The last classic Beetle was made in Mexico. I drove a Mexican New Beetle for over 8 years, I loved that car. It had less issues than my current GTI, but it was also a simpler car (without a turbo and such that the GTI has). I'd consider both cars reliable, the GTI just needs more tinkering. I trust them with Volkswagens because I know they love these cars.
Cheaper labor , better value to your consumers . it's built the same in any country . Just business costs a lot more in Germany Because of corrupt unions
I worked for the seat recliner builder, Keiper Recaro in the late 80's, thru much of the 90's. The oldest line was the Taumel type rotary recliner. To adjust seat angle, you turn the small wheel on the side of the seat. We shipped to the old VW plant in the USA, and VW Mexico. Whenever there was a quality issue, such as cosmetic, or maybe radial play was too high, they'd mark the box "MEXICO." This is just one example of a supplier's policy regarding VW De Mexico. I wonder if other suppliers did the same thing.
Antidotal info from our car ownership, 2003 VW Beetle Convertible and 2003 Jetta Wagon both bought new the Beetle built in Mexico and Jetta was a German built car. The Jetta had a bad front wheel bearing in 10,000 km, paint peeled and rusted both front fenders, one of the glow plugs kept failing ( after warranty left the check engine light glowing and operated with 3 glow plugs) the Beetle had no issues till about 10 years all relating to the convertible top.
from my personal experience i had two bugs and a jetta from mexico and they gave me nothing but problem after problem i now have a tiguan that was made in wolfsburg and i havent had a single issue
raphiology i dont live in the us number one number two chances are your only a butt hurt university student that cant handle when things dont go your way and three im a oncologist i have way more education than you could ever dream of and last like i told the last moron this isnt a political video its an auto discussion video what if i had said i never had a vw built in mexico what if i had one built in portugal or russia and had problems still then what cause the vw company has plants all over the world they were the first company to sell internationally in most of the world so maybe you should get your facts straight
First, learn how to use your and you are. Second, learn how to use punctuation in your sentences so i can understand what you are trying to say. and last, every damn youtube keyboard warriors say they're doctors, astronaut, etc. so i dont give a damn what you are (not that i dont believe you but having a trump DP with that 5th grade quote.. its just hard not to). Cheers bro.. dont get so butthurt and save your "intellectual" reply to yourself.
I have a 2002 Passat - German-made and it is has that solid feel that reminds me of when I used to ride in my aunt and uncle's '70s-'80s Buick. Doors feel heavy and solid. I plan to get a new-used VW again someday which most likely won't be German-made but it will be interesting if just the times in general will lead it to feel 'cheaper' with lower-grade metal. etc.
Great video! You explained well the difference between design, assembly & manufacturing issues. Personally, I had a VW Pointer (smaller than VW Golf) that was made in Brazil, it had many issues since day one but I think the issue was the design. It was an economy car and all the parts were so cheap that wouldn’t last very long.
Like BMW after 2000 all have cheap crappy plastic parts where they should have metal as plastic become brittle and breaks in 2 or 3 years ,now BMWs are real money pits but back in the 1970s and 80s they were great cats
I have owned three Mexican VW's and they all keep me on the road and have been solid. Thanks Mexico!
De nada
@@CruisinComPTon Germany is next level.
@jorge alberto in Mexico I see Golf 7's with flying wind deflectors all the time. That problem never existed in Wolfsburg.
It is one thing for a German to assemble something and another for a Mexican. Double standards exist.
@jorge alberto America is better than Mexico
Their people and their cars come here. I don’t mind either
I am a mexican that lives in México and I can assure everyone that we take pride in our work..... even though they pay us a Little
AudiA4B6 Manual I will take a Mexican built VW over an American built one like the Passat any day
Go on strike.
THEY TOOK MY JOB!!!!!!
hahaha everyone takes everyones job... then it's going to be robots.... the only solution to every countries problems is to decrease the population
Rob P THEY TOOK ERRR JUUURRRRB
I'm consistently impressed with my mexican made 2015 mk7 GTI. Quality is fantastic. Feels, drives like an Audi according to most passengers.
Yes, I love how my 2015 Sportwagen drives. So glad I didn't go for boring Japanese. Great ergonomics and engineering. I'm really happy with the 170 hp. Really don't need more.
:)
You can trust them. They love Volkswagens. The last classic Beetle was built in Mexico in 2003.
My 2017 is solid as well.
I love mine too
Have had Zero issues with my German parts Mexico built MK7 GTI Autobahn
I own a German built Mercedes and a Mexican built VW. Both are 2010. I never have to repair my VW but spend many weekends repairing the Merc. It’s not the country but quality of parts used.
Or the attitude of the engineers - Merc had already built it's reputation so no need to try hard anymore
@@joebloggs7177 Actually the issue is in Mercedes politics, Mercedes and VW had for a long term now socialistic presidents - Mercedes is doing too much with China and focusing too much on quick sales instead of long reputation i think BMW is doing better in this case and VW is just too much into greenist politics BUUUUT this is changing right now, the new chief I HOPE he stops this greenist bs he comes from Porsche and as we know Porsche offers all 3 kinds fuel > future going into E-Fuels + Hybrid + EV and they do great compared to VW and Audi... the truckbrands i would say arent bad too but VW and Audi are big brands doing sht with those socialistic policits from the EU and the last boss
i own a Mexican built GTI mk6... zero build issues.. I think it comes down to the company's overall quality control, not the country it's assembled in..
Detonation Agreed.
My mk7 is also from Mexico. And I love this car
if the VIN starts with a 3VW its from Mexico if it stats WVW itfs from Germany
Rob M it also says made in Mexico all over the car.
my 03 9N polo had a WVW vin, but it was a Spanish build.
Can't believe this conversation still occurs. Most VW issues are problems engineered into the car and are not assembly plant specific. Timing chains...engineered. Fuel pumps....engineered. Cam followers...engineered. Valve bodies...engineered. Mechatronic units...engineered. Carbon build up...engineered. The parts come from all over the place. The only plant assignable issues possible are paint, fit, and finish. Not too many of those to attribute to Mexico. The rest are automated assembly or sourced components. Most VW issues were engineered from start and are not plant specific. Forget the anodotal stories about plant location. Decontenting can occur in Germany or Mexico. Bodies are welded together by robots...the same ones used in Germany. You can have two plants making the same car with differing build quality but that is rare these days. If this is the case, it's still the parent VW AG fault because they are responsible for enforcing uniform standards.
Yep and the same applies to all the god awful mistakes by BMW engineers who fail to design proper parts. Good engineering coupled with properly spec'd parts = reliability. Reliability is A # 1 the first concern of all auto purchasers.
So true bro. I was going to mention BMW just now but Dave Hill beat me to it. I've owned 3 Mexican built VWs and I've had very minor and minimal problems with them. I've owned/had in my family 6 German built BMWs that were totally plagued with problems that were obviously from poor design, bad engineering, subpar materials used, etc. It's disappointing to me because I love BMWs so much. Now I just lease them instead of holding onto them for long term. My problem is that I get every attached to cars lol, I still own my 2001 Jetta that I've owned since 2001!
Everything is designed to break now, companies make more money and sell more b/c of this
Most of these issues are deliberately engineered into the cars in order to A. generate revenue for the service department; and B. make you want a new one after 3 to 5 years. This is common to all German cars made after 1995.
The French and Japanese took another 10 years to go down the same route, but in the past couple of years they've been forced to reconsider by the Koreans who don't seem to mind giving unusually long warranty and making sure their cars are in overall good shape reliability-wise. Maybe ze Germanz will have a think on that one too.
+BroccoliQueefed The Apple of cars... just after Tesla that is!
I own a Mexican made car.. It's been fine lol. I've seen VW people talk about the factories. They're held to the same standard, and that's really all that matters.
I'm a Manufacturing Engineer and I can weigh on this topic. The German assembled cars and the Mexican assembled cars should have the same quality coming off the line. The reason is that they both have the same exact design, same exact specs, same materials used, same assembly process, same quality control (like 6 sigma). Now you mentioned that the Mexican build cars have less issues that German, this could relate to the fact the the Mexican factory has newer assembly equipment that potentially create less assembly issues and more precise and efficient.
they don't have the same specs btw, there are many slight differences for what its worth. USA market gets less options
Yep, fancier plants, cheaper maintence, they can keep quality high
@@azjolol Specs meaning required values for all the different tests that they have to perform on the different systems/assemblies on the production line that tell you if something is built properly.
Alaa Sibai. The VW plant in (Puebla) Mexico has been building cars since the 60s. The production lines are being updated from time to time to avoid falling behind quality. I might think that the assembly lines in Mexico are as worn out as the ones in Germany. So, I think that there is more to it than newer assembly lines; maybe something like pride in what you are making.
On MexicanGolf 7 the sun roof wind deflector flies off. On German version no problem
Running a mkv Jetta for 9 years. 180,000 miles. Haven't had an issue with my Latino flavored 2.0t.
same except 2.5 5cyl
minus the common vacuum pump oil leak, my 2005.5, 2.5 is running strong at 125,000
Colby Richison sounds like mine is just getting warmed up. i own the current model jetta with the 2.0t, 40,000km's (24000 miles). its a fantastic car, mexican or not, i keep trying to find fault in it but i cant.
Not a single issue with a 10 year old 200K mile VW? Hmmm.. I'm guessing all that "maintenance", where its in and out of the shop, doesn't count eh?
Same here 08 jetta 2.5L close to 110,000 miles without any issues. Great cars!
Mexican people are very hard workers and I believe that they take pride in what they do. they work until its prefect.
thanks bro!
David Ha
Not all Mexican take pride in there work don't confuse that with hard working and the quality of work they put out.
just like coca cola
Very true!
Im not 100% sure but i think we have Chinese blood
I'm on my 3rd VW (a 2020 GTI), and I've never experienced the problems that others talk about. I really believe that German-engineered cars demand attention to the maintenance schedule, because that's how a German engineer would take care of it. If your definition of a great car is one you can abuse and keep on driving, that sounds more like a tractor to me.
Right?!
is your vw as durable as toyota
@@QuirkQuest123 Probably not, but I find most Toyotas ugly and boring. The more boring you make a car, the more durable it generally can be.
@@ODH3 i totally agree
@@ODH3 I agree. I drove Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans for decades until I got tired of the boredom of driving them. I finally got a Jetta back in 2016 and loved it. I now drive a GTI and I'm never going back to Japanese driving appliances no matter how reliable they are. I do have a Honda Odyssey too, but I only drive it to haul crap from Home Depot or when I need to move several bodies at a time and the GTI would be too cramped.
The factories have the same parts, and same instructions. Insert tab A into Slot B. It is just down to Quality Control, and plant management.
I've owned a German-built German car, an American-built German car, and a Mexican-built German car. The quality is consistent. Anyone who says different is talking out of their ass.
The quality thing is more a racist thing that some say because there are stereotypes that Europeans are considered educated an rich whereas Latin Americans unintelligent and lazy
@Noel Medina ..... What you are describing is not racism you libtard..... it's just a bias ya snowflake..
Yeah. Quality really depends on each companies' quality control rather than the location the products are assembled.
gmctech Discrimination, Heuristics, Prejudice, Stereotypes, Racism, and Sexism are all biases so, let’s call it what it is.
@@noelmedina6925 I always assumed the inspectors would be german trained anyways so there wouldn't be deviance from standard tolerance
Did this guy say Czechoslovakia? Most of VW parts are made in Slovakia at the factory in Bratislava
Sure? I thought electronics were from poland
e james Czechoslovakia ceased to exist in the 90s.
Why not? You wanna say the state did not exist anymore? Oooh come oon whats next?! No Soviet Union anymore? Look close at some car parts there are sill Soviet Stars on it!!!
Sarcasm guys... just sarcasm....he is american, forgive him :D
Yep, it's the Czech republic and Slovakia now, after the USSR fell some of the created satellite countries reverted back to what they were before. Countries in Europe change a lot.
Yeah, but VW does own Skoda so add that and that could be considered "Czechoslovakia" in a way.
My father bought a brand new VW Bug in 1974 in Mexico City. Drove it to Chicago twice and sold it to a family member who still owns the car. The VW Puebla manufacturing plant in Mexico has been assembling VWs for a long time and they have done it with great pride and care. I agree in the distinction between good engineering versus good assembling. I currently own a Mark 7.5 and I am fully satisfied with both the engineering and the assembling that made my GTI a reality.
my Mexican built Fahrenheit GLI has had less time in the shop than same year-model Wolfsburg GLI or GTIs from Germany.
really it comes down to the modules installed at each factory.
Takata seat belt latch issues from German factories vs Bluetooth module issues with cars from Mexico for example.
After careful research about the new Mexican plant built by VW, I did buy a 2016 GTI S and have had no issues except for a recall due to a design flaw, not a build flaw. Before taking delivery I spent the better part of an hour going over all the fit and finish (by hand) of the car and found all was perfect. I am a fanatic about details. The Mexican plant is state-of-the-art and employs very highly trained personnel. I honestly believe it is as good as anything made in Germany.This is the same year and model praised as Car of The Year by all the auto magazines and none had any performance or build issues with these Mexican assembled cars.I note that BMW and Mercedes also build or are planning to build models in Mexico.Enough said...
Dave Hill they're building their cars in Mexico not because Mexican worker are the best but because it has cheaper labour next to the biggest car market(USA) and is a Nafta country.
It's not the workers so much as the German QA, that replaced Mexican "QA"...waaaaaaay back in the mid-80's. Remember all the Rabbits and other platforms that came out of the Puebla plant....that rusted out in less than 2 years? And set VW AG back sales-wise? The Germans came to Mexico and kicked out the sub-standard local QA and installed Germans from Germany to do the job. Now, all models that are ASSEMBLED...(NOT Made in Mexico...ASSEMBLED...in Mexico of parts and sub=structures MADE IN GERMANY)...meet the exact same standards that are set in Wolfsburg. Period.
British You Tuber who sells Electric Vehicles found Tesla cars made in China are better than Tesla made in Freemont California. Hope Elon saw that video
I'm from The Netherlands 🇳🇱, so my VW / VAG product is always German made. No quality issues at all.... They have high quality standards in Germany 👍
And they have high quality standards in Mexico too.
@@Jorge01234 possibly the same 🙂
Whenever I’m in the middle of mexico visiting family i always see early 2000’s VW jettas running like if they’re brand new, even my dad has a 03 jetta and it’s still running strong
I think you mean Czech Republic* The Czechoslovakia hasn't existed since 1992
+John Cruz yes correct
Some Volkswagens sold in Europe are built in Slovakia, see VW UP
Thank you
Yes, Volkswagen owns Skoda
John Cruz hahaha Americans. You can not trust in their words
I was skeptical about buying my 2014 GLI when I first purchased it, being it was the first VW made outside of Germany that I owned. But after owning it for over 3 years and almost 40K miles I can say its honestly held up pretty well. The only issues I've had were small in comparison to "real" world problems, and have had no mechanical issues once so ever. I just purchased a 2017 R-line Passat which is built in Chattanooga,TN so hopefully that holds up as well as the GLI.
It won’t hehe Chattanooga vw Passats known for lil goofs
I have the 2023 gli from Mexico no problems
I'm from brazil currently living in U.S. On the beginning of mk7 we had german mk7 in Brazil and that car had better welding on chassis than the actual mk7 built in our local plant. This is a fact.
You’re taking out of your ass, you ignorant bastard
Thank you for your insite and honesty . 👍
I drank a shot every time "it's important to understand" was used.
I lasted 4 mins,then died.
Lol
I worked at a Nissan dealership for a little while and Nissan has US built and Mexican built models. It seemed to me the Mexican built models had more quality control issues but they were the cheaper models so not necessarily an apples to apples comparison.
Jeff K This may be more the fault of Nissan's quality control in that plant.. Nissan will setup the assembly plants only using the locals to run the machines to build.. often the native, in this case, Japanese employees will control the plant.. I think country pride for the consumer is getting in the way of the facts..
I'm on my 4th VW, 1 Super Bettle, 2 Passats and now a Golf R. All have been great, never really concerned as to where it was built. Talked with Paul at his shop, great guy. Keep up the good work on the videos.
Got a 2015 mk vii golf se with 1.8 tsi and aisen 6 sp auto,the car is brilliant, saying after owning three mercedes.Zero issues,engine is made in mexico too.
I agree
Also agree
Czechoslovakia? When did you make this video? 1992? I havent heard that country in a long time haha.
@ Mike , Well our colors don't bleed ( USA), so its difficult for us to get used to countries that change their names
BroccoliQueefed what about the american civil war in 1861... Plus the fascist left wing are literally trying to start another American civil war right now
BroccoliQueefed your colours don't bleed lol I've never known a more bloody America
Trippy Uk . That one went right over your head. I meant our colors dont run. Our provinces/states havent changed. Name of our country hasnt changed
BroccoliQueefed what about California. They are trying to separate right now
As an owner of 3 TDIs and previous owner of a couple VR6 all I can say is I’m very satisfied with the quality of all the VW I’ve had so far. Good job Mexico 🇲🇽
I saw a documentary with Simon reeves visiting the Mexico plant and it was epic, not only that but the girl who showed him around was absolutely stunning! She deserves that job :) and she drove a Vw bus with the roof cut off as a tour bus. I recommend the doc it’s called the America’s .
LADA builds Daewoo cars and some other French manufacturer licensed cars ( not sure if it's Peugeot, or Renault) in Russia from Korean components. But the labour quality between South Korea and Russia is very different. Russian cars are often assembled using wood screws, instead of machine screws, which is why their parts vibrate much more than those assembled in South Korea/France.
Chrysler, Buick, Ford, and Chevrolet are built in Detroit, Michigan. How's that working out lately?
Just fine, for the cars still built there.
It’s bad! The Democratics took our jobs during the white flight!
It wasn't just the Democrats. Learn history.
Let me tell you that some american cars are made in Mexico and they have good quality, example: Fusion gas and hybrid are made in Sonora, Mexico, Focus are made in Cuautiltan, Mexico, (the transmission are imported from US) all Dodge and Chrysler pick ups are made in Saltillo Mexico. I live in Mexico city and let me tell you that some parts are imported from US and Japan, example the automatic transmission of the focus and the fusion are made in the US and imported to Mexico to assemble those cars and then those cars are exported to US. Same idea with power steering system and electronic modules. Air bags are made by Takata and imported to Mexico to American, German and Oriental Brand cars made here. The engines are made here with mexican components, seat belts, seats, tires, wheels, brakes, radiators, head lamps, grilles, fascias, bumpers, all the Steel components (that is the reason of the new tax for mexican Steel and aluminum imported to the US), Paint, and assembly are Mexican.
VW produces in Puebla, Mexico the Jetta since the 2012 and now the new Jetta 2019 is made here too. Same thing with the Golf and other cars that are exported to Europe and not sold in the american continent. Engines and a lot of parts are made in Mexico but almost all the electronic devices are imported from Germany and Austria, next door of the VW plant in Puebla are the new Audi plant that produces the Q5 for all over the world, engines are produced in Irapuato, Guanajuato for all the VAG group automobiles made in Mexico and some Passat made in US,
so is incredible the potential of Mexico in the assembly and production of the different components of the cars, made here or outside Mexico as well. In Ensenada Mexico Toyota produces the rear cargo box of all the Tacomas, Honda has a big plant in El Salto, Jalisco where they produce the new Civic and the new CRV with a lot of components made in Mexico, same to Nissan, they had about 3 plants in some cities in Mexico that produces the Versa, the Sentra and the NP300 pick ups and they export the NP300 to south and central america, sentras and versas to the US and Canadian market. Because of all this and more situations of producers in Mexico (TV, home appliances, carpets, etc.) is that Mr. Trump is trying to cancel the Nafta and make the american people produce more in the US.
Yup. My Fiesta ST was made in Cuautitlan, and the engine and transmission were made in Wales. The build quality is good, especially for such an inexpensive car.
I love this presenter, he is a great teacher and communicator, and his love for the marque comes through, even as he must deal with running a business around working on cars day-to-day. He and the Humble Mechanic have given me instruction and confidence to tackle these backyard jobs and to fix my Mk5 A3 on my own, even above the dealer or local mechanics because of attention to detail and knowing these cars, thank you!
One thing I have noticed is you must have patience to work as a mechanic or trades person of any kind . You must deal with people who don't know how things work and want things perfect .
Key word, assembly line, assembled.
Fact: All go under quality inspection protocol in all plants.
The MK7 started in 2012, I just got a MK7 last year in 2017. I would think by then any bugs in the model have been worked out, I have a rule to never buy a 1st generation or production run of anything. And I believe my current Golf was made in Mexico, so you just gave me some more relief about my decision about my purchase. But it's the rule, the best way to make the car last in maintenance.
Before this I had a Suzuki Sidekick for 10 years, had about 120,000 miles on it before it's oil pan rusted out, then something in it's ignition system failed. Replaced with a RAV4, had that for 12 years and 140,000 miles. Had a water pump failure at 5 years and replaced all the brake calipers at least once, got rid of it for coolant leaks into the pistons, an AC compressor failing, the seal on the front windshield coming out, and rust around the right strut mount. All cars will have their issues, the key is to take care of them before they become the problem.
Never listen to JDPowers reviews on car reliability as they are not car experts and are consultant PR firm they only watch for major problems cars have within first 90 days after purchase
My take on this is, if Germany is the NR1 distribution place for most of the VW cars getting out to other countries in the world, then it also have to be the NR1 place of manufacturing issues. That would be equally true to any car brand.
My context was only for US models as that was where my data point came from. Most US models by volume sold in the US are made in mexico. Now and then.
Thanks for watching and for the feedback. I appreciate it
Paul
I have a Brazilian 2001 VW GTI GLX and it's been there best ownership experience I've had in any vehicle. (Toyota 22r Hilux, Chevy S10, Audi A4 B7, BMW e30)
as a Mexican who owns 6 VW vehicles, (distributed within my family) one of them is my Golf Mk7 '17 1.4 T, I don't care if it's German, Mexican or USA built, I rely heavily in VW since we owned a mercury Mystique and was nothing but problems during 4 years we had it. My last car was a VR6 2000 Jetta and had for 16 years, no problems at all...
i love my vr6 jetta!!
Marco Garcia it was a ford, what were you expecting?
Not really sure if its the location build that is the difference, but I had a German built Mk6 GTI with an endless amount of problems that was classified as a lemon. Now I have a MK7 Mexican Built GTI with 30,000 on the odo, with absolutely no issues at all so far...
It's really Mexican versus Turkish built.
I have a 2015 VW Golf TSI out of Wolfsburg; great car lovely to drive and holding up well 112,000kms
A woman was selling a jetta tdi on craigslist and raving how great her german vw was compared to a Mexican built but made the mistake of photographing the vin # it started with a 3 (cars made in mexico) ahahahaha so I emailed her so your Mexican vw is not that bad lmao
I just purchased a brand new 2017 GTI MK7 S that is made in Mexico and I love it. German engineering for half the price of let's say an Audi S3. MSRP is $27,950 Dsg transmission. Got it for $23,900. Awesome deal don't need that extra options anyways just happy to own a brand new GTI. Peace!
Interesting topic. Similar backlash when the current gen Mazda3 was shifting certain trims to their Mexico plant. I bought the manual transmission top trim, which was still being made in Japan at the time, so I can't comment on the build quality.
If VW really cares about the US market, they need to start with their dealerships, because they are consistently awful. Helped me make up my mind when I got rid of my MK6.
Brian Bonilla Mazda sells so few cars in the US because of that awful dealer network. Last time I considered buying a Mazda 6, the local dealership did not impress me with cars covered thick with pollen, and one without any gas in the tank. And no dealership in East Tennessee would order me a manual Mazda 6 - they recommended I drive to Ohio instead :O
My cousin worked there in Guanajuato he said they sick and are cheap cars (Mazda)
I had several Mexican built Beetles and they all performed very well. The built quality also was excellent. Muchas Gracias!
German vs Mexican vs AMERICAN built VWs?? I have owned 3 Mexican VWs and I've had NO problems outside of wear and tear
Well Mexican is still technically American; Does/did VW have/had a factory in the USA?
@@joebloggs7177 Yes there is VW factory in Tennessee
2008 City Golf..5 speed..
Timing belt..water pump..oil changes..tires and brakes..
Canadian winters..no rust..
Made in Brazil...
Mexican Built MK7. My bumpers were assembled in a way that made the paint at the end of bumpers peel off.
Pedram M.
They paint 600 cars a day. Statistically at least one will have problems. 1 anecdote doesn't prove their Mexico facility is worse.
My 2015 MKVI Jetta S has both independent rear AND discs!
The 2.slow is a great engine
Thank you. Well done; articulate, to the point and no sugar coating! Wonderful.
As a owner of an 09 B6 VW Passat, I can tell you what my ownership experience is. This car was made in Germany at the same plant that they made the Phaeton. Not in Emden. Let's see $7000 in repairs, It's on it's 3rd steering rack, PCV,suspension bushings,heater fan, spark plug misfire
Paul, as a huge VW fan for over 20 years, I take your videos, opinions and knowledge very seriously. With that being said, thanks for this informative video. Something I have always thought about and never got a straight, thorough answer (even as an opionion)
Cheers man.
Like BMWs they were great reliable cars in70s and 80s but after 2005 they went downhill with "BIODEGRADABLE " PLASTIC , that must be replaced every 2 years as it melts when they shod use metal or good quality rubber . Seems like BMW is under the control of accountants who know nothing about cars ,instead of engineers who love driving reliable cars
I had a friend with a New Beetle and she was plagued with problems that left her stranded on the road. It was always electronics or coils supplied by VW not the Mexican assembly. I am enjoying my Mexican assembled GTI.
My Mexico built 2017 GLI leaked oil since day one it had a rough idle the sunroof had to be replaced and the fuel pump... All under 4k miles. I just picked up a mk7 GTI wish me luck
Sound's like you got a lemon...
@@Backdraft851 it was. My 7.5 gti was totaled rip
I have Tiguan 2018 (Made in Mexico), absolutely no issues (mechanically or esthetically). It came with a 6 year warranty also. It’s only one year old, so time will tell how good or bad it is. Stay tuned.
The German cars are well built but I think the Mexicans vw’s are more reliable and less maintenance I’ve had both and now I have a us built vw Passat and so far so good
I do own 2007 vw jetta gli fahrenheit edition made in Mexico.. very nice vehicle really reliable.. And soon I will get 2016 vw touareg executive.. big fan of you chanel.. and thank you for all the Tips...and special thanks to the Humble mechanic too... you 2 do a a great team..
People should ask themselves why they believe German built is better than Mexican. There is a lot more to this
Very very sensitive and ongoing topic among VW enthusiasts. I personally have had two VWs in my life which were German built and I found their quality outstanding. However one of the VWs I owned, particularly a beautiful 92 16V 2.0L GTI was one of my favorite cars to date, and it’s quality was awesome and well as especially engine performance. Once I got it tuned it was a rocket. I now own a 2000 Golf 1.8T (AWD), and I is one of the most amazing cars I’ve owned. It’s got 220,000 on the clock and whether I drive it hard or normal, with a list of mods it’s such a reliable and fun car! So who knows.
My father used to own a Mexican built 2001 2.0L Jetta, and had nothing but headaches with it, I know because I was the one he called about it.
So who knows, German or Mexican, at least they both know how to party🎊 🍾🎉🎈
two people of different nationality with the same tools performing the same task make it no better or worse as a result of their nationality, gender, skin colour etc etc.
DCassidy42 all depends on the plant though. Germans are known for taking meticulous care, well Mexico not so much
Germans are known for great engineering. That engineering doesn't go away because the car was built in Mexico. As far as care, that can be had anywhere. Look up their plant in Mexico it's pretty impressive.
JayTac1 im not saying it isn't but for some people its peace of mind to know it was built in Germany
Have you watched the factory videos? They are mostly built by robots. All the most important parts of the vehicle assembly, spot welding, painting, and such is done by robots. And they don't care if they are in Mexico or Germany. The guy is right in the video when he says it comes down to the quality of the components.
DCassidy42 disagree, it all depends on how relaxed or stressed the employees are, which conditions they're in and so on. this isn't about race or skin color.
go back to your safe space.
2013 MK6 GLI made in mexico, so far so good. Got it used with 48k miles, clean throughout though. If anyones heard of issues with the GLI 13' i would love to know. Be prepared for something just in case. thanks
So, who to believe you or Scotty Kilmer?
I own a 1993 vw fox,have had it from brand new,and it has been very reliable.BTW,it was made in Sao Paulo,brazil.
people suggest the vehicle will suck because it was made in Mexico, wtf?
because? yeah right... no reason
I own a Mexican built 2017 Jetta Wolfsburg 5 speed. Excellent car! Not 1 problem in 6 years. I recently found out the manual transmissions are built in Ukraine! I feel patriotic every time I shift, and yell out a "Death to Putin!" occasionally. 😄
I have a 2016 manual 5 Jetta. Every time I shift , I yell....F you biden ! Stop sending your fellow corrupt grifter billions of our taxpayers dollars to support his corrupt government! I feel for the people of Ukraine , yet this would have never happened if our true President Trump did not have the election stolen from him, and We the People.
As long as the parts are no made in China.
Shane Mitchell made in the USA will be worse anyway
Doesn't matter where the parts are made. Even China.
If it's made to drawing and specs. It could be made by anyone anywhere in the world. And it theoretically is the same.
This is why China dominates the aerospace industry, everything is made to tight specs. Theirs no room for American made quality or Swiss precision when everything must be virtually identical.
I've owned two Mexican-built cars and have had minimal issues. My current one, a 2016 VW Jetta, in fact it's one of the best assembled vehicles I've ever owned. Tight as a drum, no uneven gaps anywhere, excellent workmanship.
VW has had a Mexican presence since the early 60s and it considers its investments there THE most important in the company's operations outside Germany. Mexicans know Volkswagens, their assembly, repair and maintenance, better than just about anybody. I've no complaints at all.
Yeah I thought it was odd that you said the Golf line was made in Mexico. When I went to buy my GTI 2017 MK7 I was told by the dealer that it was build in Germany. I ended up doing more research to see who was right and I came across an article that said VW has relocated it's MK7 Golf line back to Germany again. So I guess I got lucky to get one of the few MK7 GTI made in Germany.
www.thedrive.com/sheetmetal/15056/volkswagen-golf-production-moves-back-to-europe
check you vin if it starts with a 3 ur mexican
I own a 2017 GTI. It was definitely built in Mexico. The dealer was lying to you, probably because of the perceived inferior quality of the Mexican built cars. But I can tell you that my Mexican built MK7 GTI has been the best car I've ever owned. I know that the MK8 Golf will be built in Germany, but that's because we're not getting that car here in the US. We will get the MK8 GTI and Golf R but not the standard Golf. I'm not sure where they're planning to build those cars, but I suspect they might build them either in Mexico or at the Chattanooga factory.
@@foomanshooo um ok you are right. After doing further research into where my car was made it says that on the VIN if the first digit starts with a 1 - 5 then it is made in North America. Mine indeed starts with a 3. So yeah the dealer lied to me.
I own a German made CC. mine has been a nightmare, 2 DSG's, 2 fule pumps, 3 water pumps (due to oil leak in the timing chain cover that the dealer somehow never caught) oil leak, electromechanical steering all in a 6 year span. But I still love her 😊
A huevo que están mejor hechos en México...por eso se instaló BMW, Audi, VW, Kia, Hyundai, y proveedores de autopartes.....viva México cabrones
Claro que si
Ese laquarto??? 🤥🤗
Tambien es por la mano de obra barata.
Low wages more profit for car builders. However Mexican work ethic is under appreciated.
My MK5 Jetta with the 07k is about to hit 200k with no major issues. Made in Mexico and still going strong
I love México
Great video was really wonder on the build differences & quality so this helps to clear up any questions&concerns thanks will keep watching
I own a 2015 Golf MK7 TDI assembled in Mexico but most of the"Made In" tags are European countries. I've had a few pretty serious issues with the car but it's all been failure of European parts including parts made in Germany, OH! and that pesky Emissions scandal. Turns out what ever Germans can't properly engineer they cheat on.
2016 GTI Autobahn + Lighting Pack + Performance Pack owner here. Knock on wood, but so far my car has been rock solid with just over 25K miles. Prior to purchasing my GTI I owned two CPO BMW 335i's and well, my experience with BMW is that I'd never own one outside of warranty. Which is why I sold off my 335 and purchased my GTI.
trump's favorite video
IMP idiot
Idiot
I have two mk4s. One from Mexico and the other from Germany. The one from Mexico is my daily but there are definitely some quality differences. The Mexico one has more squeaks and rattles and smells like crayons. The German built mk4 doesn't have a crayon smell surprisingly and is dead quiet on the interior, even on firmer suspension.
As far as problems, the Mexico car has had a fair share of normal wear and tear issues such as the water pump. The car now has 300,000 miles.
The German car needed a new brake light bulb but does have less miles.
I don't care where my VW is built, I just want it to have 5v/cylinder heads :D
bought my GTi in 2015 it’s 2020 with 55k miles. I haven’t had really noticed significant quality issues.
Nilson Bolanos same it’s 2020 and I got 55k miles on my 15 GTI. I think I have old turbo hopefully it doesn’t fail soon
I guess I'm in the minority, but I like my German car having that "Made in Germany" sticker. I don't necessarily think it's built better, I just think it's cooler having been shipped from Germany.
Trust me man your not the only one. The made in Germany sticker to me is a guarantee of authenticity.
klavier285 yeah I know what you’re saying it’s hard to visualize a Porsche 911 made in Mexico!
100% agree. I got woodworking machinery Made in Germany also... they don't make it any more.
I own a 2016 Jetta Sport, 40,500 miles later no issues!
Id prefer The Mexican Power!!!
Jona ML no difference
Frijole power!
Dora the Explorer would make things more fun and adventurers! No need for that talking map if she’s got a r-line vw golf with navigation.
Jona ML Mexican what! Power!? You are joking! Mexico sucks!
Every engineer knows that engine blocks made of refried beans do not last.
I have owned several German made Volkswagens. Some were purchased used and some new. All of them lasted well over 100k miles. The first Mexican made Volkswagen that I purchased was a new 2001 New Beetle. Around 80k miles, I had to replace numerous front suspension parts. After paying over $1k to do that, my catalytic converter went. Instead of investing another $1,500 for that, I used my money as a down payment on a new 2006 German made GTI. That car turned out to be the best car I ever owned. In November 2015, I purchased a new 2016 Mexican GTI. So far, it has been fine but the jury is still out on that. Volkswagen's new packaging bothers me the most about the Mk7. My Mk5 came with plaid seats, a sunroof and 6 speed manual. I couldn't get the sunroof and the plaid seats together in my 2016 GTI. From what I understand, Volkswagen offers these two features in the 2017 GTI. However, it only comes in a 4 door model which I don't want. I feel that if Volkswagen is going to save tons of money on labor and tariffs by having their cars made in Mexico, the least they can do is offer the cars/packages that I want. As a person who is very proud of his German heritage, part of the reason I drive a Volkswagen is because of that. When I buy a German car, I want it to be made in Germany. Yes, parts may come from global sources. But to me, there is something special about my 2006 GTI coming out of the same Wolfsburg factory as the original Beetle that made the company famous. There is nothing special about a car from the Pueblo plant. So I draw my opinions from a personal experience point of view as well as an emotional one.
Build Quality for VAG
Czech < Germany < Spain < SA < Mexico.
Full disclosure: I have owned SEVERAL Mexico-built SVT Focus vehicles for almost two decades, and with the exception of literally only one manufacturing defect on one of them, they were all built exceptionally well to excellent tolerances for the class of vehicle.
That said, I have owned two Mazda's built in Japan, and just recently purchased a Mazda built in Mexico. There were - right away - noticeable built quality issues that I feel would have immediately failed QC at a Japanese factory.
-The carpet wrapping on the back of the rear seats (you see this from the hatch view or when folded down) was not pulled tight on either seat and is wavy.
-Fingerprints everywhere, I just assumed most panels are installed by machines or technicians wearing gloves.
-Small nick on passenger front door jamb down to the metal, paint chipped, about .5mm diameter.
-Shift trim plate (the glossy plastic piece) has a gouge in it about 2" long and cannot be buffed out. The piece costs $250 from Mazda because it is only included with the shift boot assembly)
-Scrape in passenger front footwell
-Smudge inside dashboard center speaker
-Scrape on dashboard - removed after some buffing
-The front cubbie in the center console has a rubber pad that pops up\is lifted in the front left corner, requiring use of 3M automotive double sided tape to secure it down because something isn't assembled to tolerance. This was actually the first defect I noticed (within seconds) of sitting in the vehicle and its embarrassing this flaw left the factory.
My Mazda dealer refuses to fix any of the flaws. I should point out I purchased the vehicle with 5 miles on it, and it had never had a test drive from another potential customer. It isn't guaranteed, but assumed, all of thee flaws were from the factory, although I digress they could have happened during transport.
As all of the flaws are superficial\cosmetic I really don't care, but it bothers me I've never actually purchased a brand new car, even a cheap compact, with so many flaws. I looked at a Japanese Built Mazda 3 HB a few weeks later at another dealer to humor myself (they are incredibly rare) and it had no issues I could find. I didn't take a caliper to the panel gaps or anything but on the surface it obviously had better QC than the Mazda 3 built in Mexico.
Would I buy another Mexican built vehicle. Of course. But after this experience I would pay extra close attention to details you normally wouldn't pay attention too when buying a "Japanese" car and hold the dealer\manufacturer accountable.
I love my Mexican built mk7 gti Idc.
German engineering at it's best. They even built the robots with the buttons for Mexicans to push.
I love German engineering!
My R's (MK5 R32, MK5 Golf R -- German made) no issues with all those years of ownership and ~170k miles between the two of them. Literally, no issues. Just picked up a 2017 Alltrack SEL (panoramic roof -- Mexican made) and on day 2 noticed water stains all around the roof. Sooooooooooooooo, yeah.
video said nothing about reliability
And that's not going to change with where it was built. And they all have the same warranty.
IamTROLLIFIC depends on the model.. Ive seen Jettas, Golfs and Beatles beeing abused so baaad and they are still running good, also Passats are a kind of common for uber. They are pretty much reliable, i think they have the same quality and reliability
Even back in the 80's, customers used to walk the VW lots and look at VINs to pick their cars. WVW for German ones, 1VW for American/New Stanton ones.
You put up a video about Mexican vs German built VWs, but back it up with no facts. All we get is a quick line about how when you worked at a dealership that you heard from someone that the Mexican built one is better.
I own a ‘09 Jetta SE automatic with 121k miles on it that was built in Mexico. My family bought it used in 2012. I say the reliability has been excellent. The only problem it has a minor oil leak but thats it. I hope it will last for another four years throughout college until I get rid of it.
Had 2008 VW R32 build in Germany, most unreliable car I've ever had in my life
A lot of Germans settled in Texas and Mexico, especially in Central Texas, people outside of the region might not know that. Listen to a band play at Oktoberfest and listen to a Mexican radio station, you can hear the influence these cultures have had on each other. As a German-Texan, I also know Mexicans really love Volkswagens. The last classic Beetle was made in Mexico. I drove a Mexican New Beetle for over 8 years, I loved that car. It had less issues than my current GTI, but it was also a simpler car (without a turbo and such that the GTI has). I'd consider both cars reliable, the GTI just needs more tinkering. I trust them with Volkswagens because I know they love these cars.
Cheaper labor , better value to your consumers . it's built the same in any country . Just business costs a lot more in Germany Because of corrupt unions
I worked for the seat recliner builder, Keiper Recaro in the late 80's, thru much of the 90's. The oldest line was the Taumel type rotary recliner. To adjust seat angle, you turn the small wheel on the side of the seat. We shipped to the old VW plant in the USA, and VW Mexico. Whenever there was a quality issue, such as cosmetic, or maybe radial play was too high, they'd mark the box "MEXICO." This is just one example of a supplier's policy regarding VW De Mexico. I wonder if other suppliers did the same thing.
Honestly I think sometimes this type of talk comes from a pretty dark racially tinged place.
Antidotal info from our car ownership, 2003 VW Beetle Convertible and 2003 Jetta Wagon both bought new the Beetle built in Mexico and Jetta was a German built car. The Jetta had a bad front wheel bearing in 10,000 km, paint peeled and rusted both front fenders, one of the glow plugs kept failing ( after warranty left the check engine light glowing and operated with 3 glow plugs) the Beetle had no issues till about 10 years all relating to the convertible top.
from my personal experience i had two bugs and a jetta from mexico and they gave me nothing but problem after problem i now have a tiguan that was made in wolfsburg and i havent had a single issue
+jetsfan1993 right but were the issues part failures or initial build issues?
Deutsche Auto Parts mostly computer system problems
J Aranda mommy and daddy didnt buy my volkswagens also this isnt a political video its a auto discussion video get your head out of your ass
raphiology i dont live in the us number one number two chances are your only a butt hurt university student that cant handle when things dont go your way and three im a oncologist i have way more education than you could ever dream of and last like i told the last moron this isnt a political video its an auto discussion video what if i had said i never had a vw built in mexico what if i had one built in portugal or russia and had problems still then what cause the vw company has plants all over the world they were the first company to sell internationally in most of the world so maybe you should get your facts straight
First, learn how to use your and you are. Second, learn how to use punctuation in your sentences so i can understand what you are trying to say. and last, every damn youtube keyboard warriors say they're doctors, astronaut, etc. so i dont give a damn what you are (not that i dont believe you but having a trump DP with that 5th grade quote.. its just hard not to). Cheers bro.. dont get so butthurt and save your "intellectual" reply to yourself.
I have a 2002 Passat - German-made and it is has that solid feel that reminds me of when I used to ride in my aunt and uncle's '70s-'80s Buick. Doors feel heavy and solid. I plan to get a new-used VW again someday which most likely won't be German-made but it will be interesting if just the times in general will lead it to feel 'cheaper' with lower-grade metal. etc.
Oh.. and tons of small rattles in the cabin.
Stop throwing your empty beer cans and bottles on the carpet then!
Great video! You explained well the difference between design, assembly & manufacturing issues. Personally, I had a VW Pointer (smaller than VW Golf) that was made in Brazil, it had many issues since day one but I think the issue was the design. It was an economy car and all the parts were so cheap that wouldn’t last very long.
Like BMW after 2000 all have cheap crappy plastic parts where they should have metal as plastic become brittle and breaks in 2 or 3 years ,now BMWs are real money pits but back in the 1970s and 80s they were great cats