Used 2008 Volkswagen Eos Consumer Reviews
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Fun and economical ride
First off, why an EOS??? Year round SUN! Panomaric roof? YES! Sliding Sunroof? YES! Convertible? YES! NO OTHER CAR HAS ALL 3 COMBINATIONS!!! Owned a 2008 VR6 model for over 5 years. It did have a couple of annoying roof water leaks that I fixed. Thank goodness for vweosclub.com! No mechanical problems what so ever though. I did replace the battery(s). Note that the V6 model has 2 x 6V batteries in the trunk. To me, it's not a fast car off the line with the excessive torque and being front wheel drive. Beyond that, acceleration is decent, especially in sport mode. Fuel economy is great, as long as you're not in sport mode. The DSG transmission in normal drive mode likes to up shift too soon to help fuel economy. On the highway, that is fine with MPG averaging 25-28. For around town, I prefer to either put it in sport mode, or use the paddle shifters. Regardless, it's fun driving all year round. WIth the panoramic sunroof, I can have a warm car any time of the year. Too cold out? Keep the roof closed, and the sun will heat the car. Too hot out? Close the panoramic roof cover, and roll the windows down (or use AC). Temperature between 75-90? Put the top down! I love this car, and plan on enjoying for years to come... 7 year update: still loving this car. Did have usual issues with leaks, but figured out to to eliminate one by putting silicone between 2 overlapping seals in the back, and annually applying krytox to all seals. 75k miles and running like new. Aside from one major scheduled maint., only had to do oil changes and tire rotations. The most fun you'll have year round!
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Got an oil burner engine.
I have had multiple issues with the top, one of the boot lid covers gets stuck on the reams. It took two dealer visits and replacing a sensor for them to discover it’s just a maneuverable boot that needs to be moved by your hand. Then I had disconnected my battery to have the car stored for winter and I locked myself out of the CD player. So, I took it to the dealer again ... twice and they still didn’t fix it. I don’t trust the dealers here. Then the oil light case on around 60,000.... I only have 60k on the engine. I never have driven it hard. I always used 93 octane fuel and gotten fully synthetic oil changes. I found an oil additive that is supposed to help with oil burning and it seems to have slowed it down. It is such a nice car I don’t want to let it go. Plus the resale value is piss poor.
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- Turbo ConvertibleMSRP: $5,915371 mi away
- Turbo ConvertibleMSRP: $8,995374 mi away
- Turbo ConvertibleMSRP: $3,490569 mi away
Very Disappointed
I can not believe that with all the scathing reviews of this car that it still has a four star overall rating. I bought an 2008 EOS lux 2.0 for my wife 2 years ago. I have lost track of how many times it has been in the shop. Multiple issues, many top leaks, and still leaking, I just have up. The top broke 2 times, it burns oil at more than a quart every 1000 miles, which VW says is acceptable. I bought the car with 32K miles it now has 44K miles two years later, we hate the car and are upside down on it so I can not trade out. The dealership, VW of South Charlotte, is horrid. The service writers will charge you to death if you do not watch carefully. The customer care is worse.
turbo seals cause oil consumption
All these reviews are right about the roof leaking. And the oil consumption is because the turbo seals are defective. They know about about it, but I guess not bad enough for a recall. And the oil light doesnt even come on when your engine is 31/2 qts low! If you wait 5000K miles u r screwed because there is no oil left. And they can never fix the leaks. Had the car in so many times I gave up.
Simply The Best
I am so saddened by the negative reviews I see on here concerning the EOS. I have had nothing but 100% reliable service and miles of fun drives! Ok, it is a car that requires 'special' maintenance (ie: the roof seals) but it says that CLEARLY in the owner's manual! If you don't read the book, you shouldn't be surprised at these things. I lubricate my seals as per VW and have never had an issue! Basically, my EOS has never given us an once of trouble. I have never owned a hardtop car and have owned over 60 convertibles, this is by far the best thought out one I have ever seen / owned! If you are considering one, DO IT! You won't regret it!
LOVE the EOS! Buy this CAR!
2008 Eos I bought off an older couple 3 years ago. Their son owned it, garaged it and mostly dealer maintained it. I wanted this car when it first came out and love that its super rare to see on the road. I get asked about it overtime I am out. People compliment me on it daily, its a hot little car even at 9 years old! To think I almost didn't buy it because of all the bad reliability reviews. Luckily I owned a 1997 VR6 Jetta that I adored, and never had any serious issues with it. I sold him at 175k and that boy is still going strong!! So yes I know my way around VWs. Most of the complaints on here focus on leaks (seal it yearly, buy the epoxy on amazon) and oil consumption - even older Hondas burn oil, any older car you should be checking oil levels every few thousand especially in winter and with aggressive driving. German cars will run like butter if you maintain them properly. Don't wait on repairs and maintenance. I get my Eos oil changed twice a year, the dealer said it wasn't necessary but I like to take it to the dealer so they can do a thorough check on my almost 10 year old car. So far all I've had to do is the battery (it was original!) and fresh tires. not bad in 2 years and I paid 7k for the car. I even bought a cover before getting it in case it leaked. NO leaks yet! i saw from my car fax prior owner had that fixed awhile back. Make sure you buy one thats been taken care of. If I buy a used car I prefer to hear the owner has done a lot of work not - "oh it hasn't needed anything" any car will need work in 2-3 years, be it breaks tires or struts. I wouldn't buy a 2008 Honda that had nothing done either. Ask the owner if a mechanic can look the car over, if not run away! Keep tabs on oil and coolant, check the water pump when you buy it. I keep oil in my trunk but usually don't need. Top works perfectly knock on wood - people are fascinated when you operate it. NYC EOS LOVER!!!!
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AWESOME CAR
I drive a 2008 VW Eos 2.0T which I bought used in 2012. I drive it year round in Northern Alberta, Canada and have NEVER had a significant problem with this vehicle. It has been so reliable and we enjoy the convertible so much that I'm going to semi-retire her now, put her on the road now and then and watch heads turn and say "WHAT AN AWESOME CAR". And mine will be but a handful left in 20 years when the collectors come calling. Win/win.
Goodbye Sweet "Happy"
When we first met you we were skeptical because we didnt believe you could be so cute, reliable, technically sound, fuel efficient, zippy and safe. We thought "surely there is a catch and why has this car had three owners in four years? What's going to fall apart on it?" We were looking for a good car for our teen and something fun for us parents to drive on the weekends. You had 35K miles and not a scratch on your candy apple red body. Your white interior was a bit weathered, but you matched our family. Do you remember that first test drive? We watched in awe as your German engineered top beautifully folded down into itself and tucked snugly in the trunk. Then we got on the road, just our little family. We turned on the radio and you started playing "because Im Happy, clap along if you know that happiness is the truth.". The truth is our family needed a little bit of happy. So, after discussion, we excitedly took you home. All of the neighbors oohed and ahhed. We took you everywhere and every time we got in, we were indeed Happy. Even in the winter, you held your own on Colorado roads. Your heated seats and heater worked great. Truthfully, though, you could have had brighter head beams, but we'll forgive you for that. You helped teach our daughter to drive and gave her a pal she was proud of and took beautiful care of. So, how cruel that only 18 months after you joined our family, a teen boy who was driving a Chevy Avalanche and texting rammed into the back of you at 20 miles an hour while you were stopped in traffic. He hit you with such force that you flew into the pick-up in front of you and you did exactly what you were built to do; you crunched up and took the impact in your front and protected the driving cage, never crushing into our teen daughter's body. She walked away with some bruised ribs from your straps and a bit of whiplash. You were pronounced totaled at the scene. But I'll never forget arriving at the scene and seeing those two huge pick-ups --one at your front and one at your rear-- with barely a scratch and our poor Happy in the middle -- crunched in front and dented in back taking the brunt of the impact for the 3-car accident...and our daughter, crying, but walking toward me. Thank you, Happy. RIP. We will always love you and miss you.
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Great Car
I traded my Buick LaCrosse for this car because I wanted a convertible; so it was quite the change for me but I've really enjoyed driving my EOS. It is not really a sporty car in the sense that it can take tight curves at high speed like say, a Mazda Miata, but more like a sporty cruiser. No mechanical issues to speak of yet, so maybe I have lucked out compared to some of the other reviews written here. I chose a mechanic who is independent and focuses totally on foreign cars and the car checked out well. I think this car is a great value for what you get especially the moving hardtop which are typically on higher priced vehicles.
Lemon of 2008
My wife has an 2008 EOS and has had nothing but trouble with the car. We have taken it to two different dealerships to fix the problem and no one wants to do their job and fix it; it has been burning oil, the turbo is problematic, the brakes are squealing, and the top leaks whenever it rains. The mechanics at a VW dealer said bring it back every 500 miles to do oil comsuption test.The car is burning all the oil in less than 500 miles.These problems existed before the warrenty was up and the dealership said it was fixed, but they didnt fix the problems and now the warranty is expired. In my opinion I would never buy a VW again, unless you want to be stuck with a car that doesn't run & no help