I Have To Say

[DSG4ME]

I'm so pleased to be rid of this POS, that car gave me nightmares etc,

I loved that car but it was like a cash lovin ho,

I'll still help folks out if I can but tbh my best advise I could give is DONT buy a VW,

So you know I ain't promoting others I'll not say what I've got now or others I'd recommend,

My whole 7 year VAG experience was firstly ****** by the dealers and secondly by sub standard sheet that the media continues to plug as the best,

Sorry if this offends anyone but VAG is crabs in automation imo.

[mjhamilton]

Sorry you had a lemon - funny (not really) but I am the same about Citroen due to a lemon of a brand new car we had in 2000

Once you are stung by a car manufacturer there is very little chance statistically of you ever going back to them for more

[RichardSEL]

The XM was a lemon, period. Yet had good experience with two CXs, and an AX. 2CV floor pan had rusted through (but it wasn't mine!) Would've got a C6 but couldn't find one with spec and my price range in 2008
Next door's Jetta just goes on, and on, and on...
My previous B3 (snub nosed type) went to 160k miles before starting to burn oil. Head had never been off.
IMO it's a business model to trade on built-up reliability reputation with a heap of cheaply built crap after. Citroen and VW have both done it

[gupsterg]

I feel similar to you DSG4ME about my A6 :( , never had a car which has had so much done to it in the space of 2yrs and cost a mini fortune ...

At first I thought some of the costs where because it's an Audi but the parts prices across VAG are same as so many parts are shared between VAG brands ...

So if someone think a Skoda is gonna be any cheaper than a liked engined/transmission Audi they'll be in for a shock!

I really can't wait till I see the day I part company with it!

I've had mixed dealer help at times, sometimes things FOC and very helpful. On other occasions a real headache for simple requests!

For instance one day a service advisor quoted me in excess of £200 for a software update I wanted, I left without booking. Another day when passing dealers I noticed the SA I've used more often there and price for work = £77 and that's for 2 updates vs the £200 for 1!

[Guest 2]

I really like your choice of replacement DSG. Nothing wrong with todays Vauxhalls. I'd consider an Insignia possibly next time too as they're a nice looking car and well built plus they do a bi-turbo derv, I just dunno but my A6 has been fine so far in terms of reliability.

As MJ said, once you're stung you're unlikely to go back to the same brand/group.

I've had one lemon which was a 2007 Megane which blew its big end bearings, will NOT be buying another Renault ever again in my life. Shouldn't of bought the sodding thing in the first place :(

[zollaf]

my audi is fantastic, as were all my mk1 and mk2 golfs. i even had a brand new mk3 golf and that was goo. my 80 is solid and dependable with simply stunning build quality and attention to detail. wheel bearing all seem to be original at 316k miles. in fact, a lot of it is original. sure i have had the engine apart but only to deglaze the bores and fit new rings, something i didn't need to do to keep it running. would i buy another, absolutely yes i would.
i tell you what though, i dread the day there are no more 80's about and i need to get a modern 'older car'. i would probably end up with gups and that would put me off vag's forever :(

[Teflon]

Well, until recently we had 4 VWs in the family, now down to 2. Three of them were bought brand new, the Polo was at 15 months old and we have run it until it's 9th birthday and 47k miles. My initial reaction if asked is that they have all been fine, except for a few niggles. On thinking a bit deeper, there is a lot to complain about, because the niggles have been expensive and disconcerting.

Passat (just gone, 27k) - had a minor woopsie with the DSG, which was fixed for free outside warranty after 4 days at the dealer. But, like a cheating girlfriend, you can never be sure it won't happen big time again.
Worse, the £535 Bluetooth kit (that I got for free) was, is and always will be an absolute lemon. It's probably the biggest psychological reason why I traded the car.
By the way, the interior trim was mainstream and creaky. The paintwork was shocking, minor paint chips all over the place, even the roof and it's not like I'd spent my days following a gravel lorry. What sort of idiot does a red car with white undercoat?

Eos (low, low miles) - leaky G65 aircon sensor cost me the thick end of £200 for the dealer to replace. It needed the front end taking off for access. I've also just stumped up for new cambelt on the 4 year con, despite only 11k miles on the clock.
It came with a folding roof problem that took 4 visits, 9 days and a threat to reject the vehicle before it was fixed.

Golf GTI (Low, low miles) - same G65 sensor problem, but this time I got it done at the same time as the cam belt con so saved some money.
I have a rear end drone because of wheel alignment (at 15k miles) and, because it's used a litre of oil every 1500 miles since new I ended up beside the road this weekend when the oil light came on.
Dealer fit of cruise control took 5 visits/8 days before it would work. Radio is pants - you can't read it in sunglasses.

Polo (recently gone, 47k, 54 Plate) - Loved and abused by all the family it seemed bomb proof apart from eating coil packs. As my daughter's car, it's just been traded for an Astra.
At a routine check with a failed coolant sensor (£80+) it had one of its 3 cylinders down on compression. Common fault, they burn out exhaust valves. Ok, said I, we'll have the head off. Not so fast - it needs new timing chain set, line bore the camshaft, skim the head, re-seat 3 exhaust valves. Total cost at a very good indy - £850. The engine isn't made for long term maintenance, it's designed to be knocked out by robots.

Dealers - The one I have used, 50 miles from home has been superb. Family firm, now bought out by a big major and completely ruined. My free MOT for life has gone, servicing is standard VW prices and they even want me to phone on an 0844 number. Stuff 'em.
My local outfit couldn't fix the Eos roof until VW HQ stepped in.
They tried to rip me off for new discs and pads on the Polo at first MOT, but it was still going, 5 MOT's later with the originals - the refund and compo cheque was nice though.
They even tried to rip me for £300 of front suspension that wasn't required on my A6, I got a free major service for that stunt.

If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen.

[zollaf]

If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen.

there was a time when this was so very true. a time when most of the vw's and audi's i have owned were built . cars that would do 200k miles with only routine servicing.

[mjhamilton]

I guess we are now on the "cars were much simpler and easier to work on in the old days" bandwagon ;)

[zollaf]

apparently its our fault though. we demanded cleaner air to breath so cars needed fuel injection to more accurately control the fuel, then catalytic convertors and particuate filters, all in the name of a healthy environment. then we all want power steering and electric windows and sat navs, infotainment systems. then because we are too lazy to check oil levels, tyre pressures and lights we need computerized systems to check these. then we can't control a car properly so need abs and esp, and now apparently we can't park, so need self parking cars. even lights and wipers are too complicated so we demand that the car operates all of these by itself. well, all these systems cost money and are unreliable, yet everyone rushes out to get them, so they become the norm,. then you moan when you get a £1000 bill to fix them. you have bought it upon yourselves.
but, by now anyone should be able to build a mechanically reliable engine and gearbox and a car that doesn't leak like a gupsterg (sorry, sieve). that really is inexcusible :(

[gupsterg]

Some great posts peeps :fing02: luv'in the thread :) ...

I do agree Zol that some of the extra gear in cars is down to consumers but some is also down to market pressure. Say (x) company gives (x) option another has to as well ...

[Quatrelle]

i guess we are now on the "cars were much simpler and easier to work on in the old days" bandwagon ;)
mgb 1977;)

[mjhamilton]

Mini 850

[Doctle Odd]

You young guys have no staying power, you have to stick with things for example the first time I drank whiskey I hated it. Second time it was kind of ok...And my first B&H choked me :)

[perm]

Probably gonna jinx it but this is my third car in 23 years B7 A4 avant. Prior to this I had a 1999 passat which clocked up 214k miles and before that I had an Audi 80 2.0E which also did 200k miles. I'm not one for changing car every couple of years as we have different priorities ie young family to bring up then. Apart from the odd hiccup the brand VAG seems quite reliable but I believe I'll have a few hiccups with current one after reading other driver issues on the web!

[rapport25]

I'm so pleased to be rid of this POS, that car gave me nightmares etc,

I loved that car but it was like a cash lovin ho,

I'll still help folks out if I can but tbh my best advise I could give is DONT buy a VW,

So you know I ain't promoting others I'll not say what I've got now or others I'd recommend,

My whole 7 year VAG experience was firstly ****** by the dealers and secondly by sub standard sheet that the media continues to plug as the best,

Sorry if this offends anyone but VAG is crabs in automation imo.


Dsg you VW hater!!!. Pleased the poxhall is working out for you :-):-):-).

Mrs Rappy's car has been sold. We pick up a Nissan X trail in 2wks. Thats the sensible car out the way. My passat is going next year. No need for an estate now.

Like the Vw's. Next car maybe a golf or rocco. You cant beat the dsg box.

[RichardSEL]

mjhamilton > I guess we are now on the "cars were much simpler and easier to work on in the old days" bandwagon http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/wink.png

Course not! That would only get silly...

22037

[gupsterg]

NO No no!

I think a more organic approach to transportation is required :p ...

http://www.abfabulous.co.uk/images/ab_fab_glass__landau_01_new.jpg

[Doctle Odd]

I'd like to take 100 modern car owners and leave them with a Mini on a country road, at night, in the rain and with a set of burnt out points see how many could get the car running. :) Bring back side valve engines and magnetos wroom wroom
mjhamilton > I guess we are now on the "cars were much simpler and easier to work on in the old days" bandwagon ;)

Course not! That would only get silly...

22037

[mjhamilton]

I'd like to take 100 modern car owners and leave them with a Mini on a country road, at night, in the rain and with a set of burnt out points see how many could get the car running. :) Bring back side valve engines and magnetos wroom wroom

Been there and done that ;)

[Teflon]

You young guys have no staying power, you have to stick with things for example the first time I drank whiskey I hated it. Second time it was kind of ok...And my first B&H choked me :)
Young fella walks in a bar. Asks for a whisky, ponders it for a while, shakes his head and swills it down. He asks for another and repeats the process another six times. Eventually, the guy behind the bar asks why he's drinking all the whisky.

"Oh", he said, "I Don't normally drink whisky, but today was my first BJ".

"Fantastic!", said the barman, "That's worth celebrating, let me buy you the next one"

"No thanks, mate, if the first seven didn't wash away the taste another one won't make any difference". :Blush2:

[Teflon]

apparently its our fault though. we demanded .............
Nah!

Yes, I wanted aircon. No, I didn't want the high pressure sensor to be made so poorly out of a bit of plastic and a swaged metal body that they leak. Nor did I want it placed in such a stupid location. If it was going to be so failure prone, why couldn't they just put a hex head on the top so you can change it? By the way, it's free even outside warranty in the US, but here in the UK.....

Yes, I wanted a glitzy 4 valve twin cam. But I wanted it driven by the same belt they use on Vauxhall to make it last 10 years/120k miles, not a poor quality (?), poor design (?), rip-off mandatory replacement at 4 years with a mileage at which the car isn't even run in. Better still, a chain driven, life of vehicle arranagement like Honda, Jaguar, new Audi would have been just fine.

As for paintwork, I'd be quite happy with old fashioned cellulose instead of the crappy water based stuff that chips off when the falling seeds in bird poop hit it.

[DSG4ME]

For those wondering how the Vauxhall is shaping up here's a sort of mini update

Car had a software update recently, I'm really pleased with the car and the only thing I miss is the extra 3 mpg the Passat returned, I helped a mate the other day and had to sit in his B6 and tbh it was like someone stole my suit in the shower and left me an old pair of jeans and a stained t-shirt in return,

I won't say never again as I didn't have the issues a lot of other people have but the newer models are getting even cheaper inside and you can feel the quality is being reduced, for a company that demands a premium I don't think that's the way forwards for me tbh, when the new Mondeo launches in Powershift spec I'm going to have a serious look at one, but Powershift4me doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it ;)

[rapport25]

For those wondering how the Vauxhall is shaping up here's a sort of mini update

Car had a software update recently, I'm really pleased with the car and the only thing I miss is the extra 3 mpg the Passat returned, I helped a mate the other day and had to sit in his B6 and tbh it was like someone stole my suit in the shower and left me an old pair of jeans and a stained t-shirt in return,

I won't say never again as I didn't have the issues a lot of other people have but the newer models are getting even cheaper inside and you can feel the quality is being reduced, for a company that demands a premium I don't think that's the way forwards for me tbh, when the new Mondeo launches in Powershift spec I'm going to have a serious look at one, but Powershift4me doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it ;)

Thats great dsg. I'm currenly without my B6. Not sure if its a write off :-(:-(. Running around in a Toyota Avensis diesel auto. Not a bad car, just a bit dull & boring.

[Teflon]

................., when the new Mondeo launches in Powershift spec I'm going to have a serious look at one, but Powershift4me doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it ;)Bad news. I bought an auto mag yesterday. The new Mondeo has been delayed again until 2015. I first got interested when it was due for release mid-2012, so it will be almost 3 years late by the time it hits the road. It had better be good.

[DSG4ME]

@ Rappy,

My mum has a petrol one, I really like em, infact it nearly stopped us meeting as I was going to sign for one in Bristol before I bought the Passat, the dealership didn't have it there on the day, it was the service managers car and he wasn't in that day, long way to go for a car that wasn't there to be seen,

@ Tefs,

I think it will be a right feather ruffler myself, if you look at the new Mazda 6 a lot of the design clues are already there, I expect Ford to take out a few of the swoopy wing curves of the 6 and lay their own shaping to it,

No more VW for me, the more new models they release the more they turn me off, there is no style or quality to them now, when the B5 came out it outclassed everything for looks and class, now it's all hard plastic and deckchair seating inside.