My understanding of the VW TDI versus Prius debate is that the Toyotas are great until the traction battery needs replacing, but the warranty on that is 100,000 miles, and better in California-compatible states. I just saw comments about the car holding up well and the dealerships taking good care of the customers. A decade ago, when I met Volkswagon owners, I mentioned I often saw those with one headlight out, and they said that was common with that brand, as well as failed window controls and a few other things. Specific to the TDI, I read that the dealerships routinely told customers they needed new turbos, which was a comparable cost to Prius battery packs, even though it might just be a carbon build-up.
When I had a mechanic look at an HX, he told me how reliable Hondas were, but he wanted a Volkswagon, so he was always fixing it.
I imagine that much of this is attitude. I do not think that opinions would necessarily make sense and that two people might have the same experience, needing the same repairs and so forth, but one would tell you it was still a good car, while the other insisted that it was garbage. Hey, women are crazy, but some of them are lovable anyway, and can you imagine what they think of us?!
I have had people rant about how terrible Fords are and have heard the same of Hondas (and Toyotas and sometimes you get Honda versus Toyota). I loved my 1990 Accord and was upset when an elk totaled it. A friend followed me to the recycler in his Accord, which was the same generation. The whole time, he talked about how it was a garbage car, while obviously its owners never took care of it. Then Dad sold me his Focus with 250,000 miles on it and someone took out that car. I dove my brother-in-law's Focus and that ran terribly, but he was hard on cars, and did not take care of them.
Life is complicated, my friends!
