Timing belt AISIN or OEM Volkswagen

Yes. Those are the only brand kits I use for the most part (unless a customer wants factory).

For Toyota, the Aisin timing belt kits are good. I've had one one on my Tacoma for a long time. Regardless, it is a quality product.

Make sure whatever you do, it's a genuine Aisin timing belt kit.

I used the Aisin kit. There was a thread on CL about how "the Aisin belt isn't the same standard, look the text on the original is still there but the new one rubbed off fast". Idk, I'd call BS on that, all the text on my belt was gone and it was serviced at a dealer.

Aisin is the one you want. Full stop.

I just did a timing belt / water pump kit on my bugeye. All the components you get with it are exactly what you’d get if you went to the dealership (even down to the little component boxes albeit with a different logo stamped on it), except for maybe the pump itself. Aisin was one of the OE water pump manufacturers, and they have a long history in Japanese car parts and motor sports. The instructions that come with the kit make it super easy, too.

Local VW dealer did the belt, pump, rollers, tensioners with OEM parts and it cost $1700 bucks.

I'd definitely want to at least peak at the timing belt for its condition / date stamp. Aisin kit with water pump and OEM Subaru thermostat is what you want.

The timing belt, tensioner, water pump, and labor on my 15 Jetta S was 1700 after taxes as a Euro specialist mechanic in a decent Midwest city. Included 8 hours of labor @ $180

Definitely check local shops. The dealership just quoted my dad 1700 and he went to the local shop he bought his Jetta from. They did the timing belt and water pump for 1350.

Both of those price sound steep - my local shop in Ontario charges half that, currently about 1100cad plus taxes but can't remember the warranty. Car still runs fine 2 years later though