I had a Jetta. One of the least hoopty hoopties I’ve owned. But as the years went on and miles piled up, in typical VW fashion, the check engine light would come on for no reason. Would pull codes and nothing. But of course inspection would fail.
It hadn’t come on for a few days so I took it in to renew reg (would reset after about 100 miles). Sitting there in the inspection lane, light winks on. I screamed at the dashboard and it blinked off. I stared in disbelief for a moment and it passed.
Thought it was a fluke but, no — any time it came on after that I would scream and it would turn off.
I’m American and honestly this is the first time I’ve heard “hoopty”. I usually go with shitbox or beater, and I also hear the older generations use “jalopy” sometimes
All VWs are in some part a hoopty. I don’t hate the brand, though it’s one of the few I don’t recommend to people who don’t like turning wrenches. So many electrical gremlins and other weird mechanical quirks. Usually not enough to stop them running, but definitely enough to make them a hoopty.
This was a MkIII and my ex-VW dealer mechanic sort of hated it. Sometimes he’d try to refuse pay because he wasn’t sure if he’d fixed something.
It did leave me dead in the water once when a fuel relay was failing intermittently, causing the car to suddenly shut off at speed (weeeeee) but generally it ran well and was fun to drive. They are definitely quirky… I quickly learned to always use OEM only or it would act up.
Edit: twice now that I remember. The clutch cable just snapped one day.
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I had a Jetta. One of the least hoopty hoopties I’ve owned. But as the years went on and miles piled up, in typical VW fashion, the check engine light would come on for no reason. Would pull codes and nothing. But of course inspection would fail.
It hadn’t come on for a few days so I took it in to renew reg (would reset after about 100 miles). Sitting there in the inspection lane, light winks on. I screamed at the dashboard and it blinked off. I stared in disbelief for a moment and it passed.
Thought it was a fluke but, no — any time it came on after that I would scream and it would turn off.
Maybe the light in the dash was shorting, causing the light to turn on on its own
And screaming was juuuust enough to cause the short to break connection?
It’s either that or ghosts
Definitely Ghosts
Incontrovertibly.
It’s so weird hearing new american-made words, they always sound strangely adorable.
I’d just call it a shitbox, but hoopty sounds so wholesome in comparison.
My buddy speaks German and calls his the (forgive my spelling) klapperkeister
Edit: klapperkiste*
You mean “Klapperkiste” = “rattle box”
Yes that!
Sounds kinky. I’m in!
I’m American and honestly this is the first time I’ve heard “hoopty”. I usually go with shitbox or beater, and I also hear the older generations use “jalopy” sometimes
It’s a southern word
Gotcha, thanks
My Jetta’s engine just exploded into a fire ball one day going to work. Does that qualify as a “hoopty?”
All VWs are in some part a hoopty. I don’t hate the brand, though it’s one of the few I don’t recommend to people who don’t like turning wrenches. So many electrical gremlins and other weird mechanical quirks. Usually not enough to stop them running, but definitely enough to make them a hoopty.
This was a MkIII and my ex-VW dealer mechanic sort of hated it. Sometimes he’d try to refuse pay because he wasn’t sure if he’d fixed something.
It did leave me dead in the water once when a fuel relay was failing intermittently, causing the car to suddenly shut off at speed (weeeeee) but generally it ran well and was fun to drive. They are definitely quirky… I quickly learned to always use OEM only or it would act up.
Edit: twice now that I remember. The clutch cable just snapped one day.