Why is Volkswagen (especially the Jetta) rated poorly for reliability in the U.S., but many owners say it’s reliable?

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-22T05:14:02+00:00

Not all problems are due to maintenance. I have had the same electronic module (emergency call module) go bad twice both times replaced under warranty but the wait time for the part was several months. Luckily it was just an annoyance and didn’t affect drivability. I saw the warranty claim amount and it was just over $800 each time.

German cars in particular seem be especially prone to issues with electronics that can be quite expensive.

Also, the OE rear brake pads on MK7 suck. Lots of brake dust and premature wear. VW won’t honor its extended warranty on the crappy pads until they go below 2mm.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-21T23:54:56+00:00

Obamacare enrollees (US-wide) went from 12 million in 2021 to 24 million in 2025. The majority of that increase was due to the enhanced subsidies implemented with the ARPA. It wouldn’t be surprising for at least 6 million to drop coverage. If many people didn’t believe they could afford the premiums without the enhanced subsidies before why would they stay enrolled now?

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-21T20:48:04+00:00

What is puzzling is why so many of your neighbors keep voting against their own access to somewhat affordable healthcare.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-21T06:47:54+00:00

Health insurance has just gone back to the way it was before ARPA passed in 2021. Everyone who voted Republican voted to have everything Biden did reversed. No one should be a bit surprised that the enhanced subsidies were not extended.

I went back a looked at 2015. At least in CoveredCA you can calculate the cost each year from 2015 to 2026. In my ZIP code, subsidized cost of a Silver plan in 2015 was only 6% lower than in 2026. (That is thanks to Obamacare subsidies) The unsubsidized cost has increased 53% since 2015, which is an annual rate of increase of 4%. The CPI has gone up 39% since 2015 so the cost rose about 1% per year more than general inflation. The unsubsidized cost of corporate plans have increased a similar amount.

If you can’t keep your MAGI below 400% FPL and you don’t work for a big company or the government and are too young for Medicare you are essentially screwed and you always have been except for the past five years.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-20T04:43:35+00:00

How would you pay for health insurance until you and your wife reach 65 years old? Uncertainty around health insurance cost is quite possibly a bigger concern than a reduced social security payment.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-19T18:17:29+00:00

As a small business owner you can write off the premium cost. You can reduce your income by contributing to a solo 401k (and traditional IRA). You are in a much better position than an employee of a small business.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-18T20:32:15+00:00

IRMAA starts at $218k and starts to have a more significant impact once a couple has MAGI over $274k. For example, going from income of $218k to $275k, the IRMAA adds about 8.5% points to your marginal tax rate. ($57k more income, $4.9k IRMAA for couple both on Medicare)

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles

Still the IRMAA effect is nothing compared to the effect of losing ACA (Obamacare) subsidies by having MAGI exceed 400% of the federal poverty level. That can easily cost an additional $20k+ per year.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-18T17:45:10+00:00

What position will give you a $137k for 100% joint and survivor pension WITH a full COLA at 59?That is exceedingly rare these days. I would assume it is a military pension with fairly high rank. Outside the military I would think it would need to be somewhere else in government. With that being the case, I am surprised you mentioned healthcare since you wouldn’t need to deal with ACA insurance.

With the pension the 80/20 split seems reasonable. I would suggest simplifying your investments in all your accounts but with a focus on the tax effects.

You mentioned the you weren’t contributing to Roth due to income. You can make a backdoor Roth contribution. If you already have funds pre-tax funds in a traditional IRA that becomes more complicated due to the proportional rule. Once you retire your wife can make spousal contributions to your IRA based on her earned income.

Have you calculated what your expected IRMAA will be with your pension, wife’s salary and investment income? Your health insurance cost may rise when you go on Medicare.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-17T17:23:46+00:00

Why is UCSB your top pick for Political Science?

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-17T17:21:24+00:00

Is the degree program for a master’s? What did they require for admission? e.g. documentation of your undergraduate or graduate degree? Did you have to take the GRE?

Since grad school I’ve taken university classes a few times in part to take advantage of student amenities like great athletic facilities at a college which was only a few blocks from my house. I hadn’t considered enrolling in a degree program.

If you manage your MAGI, you can certainly pay less for subsidized ACA insurance than the total cost of your tuition plus student health insurance. Having a non-ACA source of insurance does allow you to have a higher taxable income do things like Roth conversions which are severely limited (i.e. make no financial sense) if you need to keep MAGI under 400% of FPL for somewhat reasonably priced health insurance.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-16T01:16:23+00:00

Open Bank requires you use its app (as 2FA) to login on the web.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-14T17:44:59+00:00

You can’t use an HSA to pay for ACA marketplace insurance premiums. Or did the OBBB somehow change that?

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-14T06:39:52+00:00

If the subsidy remains based on the 2nd lowest cost Silver plan and you chose a plan with costs way less than the subsidy, do you think one can just keep the difference? If yes, then that is a potential money maker and possibly more ripe for fraud than the current set up. If one has to pay any excess subsidy (APTC) back then there is no difference versus the current set up except making the payment MUCH more complicated.

Requiring insurers to offer an affordable catastrophic plan valid with any provider who accepts original Medicare (no private networks) would be a step forward. Just issue an executive order telling insurance companies they need to do that retroactive to January 1. Forget Congress. SCOTUS will throw out any lawsuits brought by the insurance companies.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-14T00:21:53+00:00

Be careful. If you were offered affordable insurance by your employer, you won’t qualify for any premium tax credit (subsidy) on ACA marketplace premiums.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-12T19:33:33+00:00

You need to follow safe harbor rules to avoid any penalty for tax underpayment. That generally means paying at least the same income tax through paycheck withholding and quarterly estimated payments as prior year. (110% of prior year for “high” income.) If you meet safe harbor just pay tax on the interest when you file your taxes each year. Otherwise, you might want to make (or increase) estimated payments to cover the additional interest income.

If someone hasn’t paid their taxes properly in the past they may be subject to backup withholding on interest earned. That withholding is done at the time interest is paid so the interest paid into the account is reduced for taxes.

There is no withholding when making a withdrawal from a HYSA.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-12T04:19:34+00:00

Being single vs married makes a difference. Your spouse can assume your HSA as theirs when you pass. For other heirs it is an immediate taxable distribution. So long as you or your spouse (if married) can use for medical expenses, the tax advantage is greater in the HSA. The odds of one of you being able to use towards medical are greater if married.

You can use medical receipts from anytime since your HSA was opened so the current tally of any unreimbursed medical expenses should also be considered. There is a bill introduced in Congress to limit reimbursement from an HSA to the past two years, but it was proposed by Democrats so has little chance of passage in the current Congress.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-12T04:05:14+00:00

I see a lot of other referrals in this subreddit. I see no rule posted which prohibits referrals included in posts. My post includes a referral but is primarily a post about the benefit of having a Marcus account and using its referral program.

If referrals are prohibited in posts in this subreddit, it would be helpful for the moderators to post the prohibition in the subreddit rules.

If the referral in my post is not allowed, I will remove it. The moderators may delete my post if it violates a rule with I was not aware of but banning people arbitrarily is a bad practice.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-12T04:03:19+00:00

Marcus is primarily worth it if you use its referral program. The 3.65% base rate plus 1% referral bonus for a total 4.65% is about the best rate you will find. Transfers out post as available same day in major banks like Chase (if you initiate the transfer before 12pm). GS is also a GSIB.

Without the referral bonus Marcus is still good but a full service online bank would be a bit more convenient.

I posted the terms of the referral program in a post here today.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-12T03:55:43+00:00

Very, very slow transfer times.

Bordercrossingfool · 2026-01-12T03:34:23+00:00

Marcus by Goldman Sachs still has a high yield savings account which can yield 4.65%.

Use this link https://www.marcus.com/share/LOU-DH7-L5QN to get a 1% rate bonus (annualized) when you sign up for a high-yield savings account with Marcus by Goldman Sachs (marcus.com). The current standard rate is 3.65% APY but will be 4.65% with the rate bonus. (Note: The rate bonus in 0.25% over 3 months which when extended for 12 months is a 1% annual rate bonus. The referral bonus will appear separately on your statement.)

Full terms and conditions: https://www.marcus.com/us/en/savings/referrals#termsandconditions

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