30,000 mile report

[james_tiger_woo]

I'll keep this one brief as there's not a huge amount to report as the car is running along pretty much happily.

A few niggles have come up though:

• The road noise in the car has increased significantly recently - I suspect it's due to the tyre wear, but the car has gone from being a nice, peaceful ride to very loud. The 18 inch wheels probably don't help.
• There's an occasional buzzing coming from the left somewhere, but I only notice it when the stereo is off.
• The front suspension creak seems to come and go - I've not taken it in to get it checked yet as there doesn't seem to be much point in doing so.
• The seats are really difficult to adjust - they adjust very well, I just can't get them back to a decent comfortable level each time the OH drives it....
• It's not as economical as I would have liked - but that's mainly due to weekend rural driving. I've not worked out the overall economy, but it certainly isn't a 50mpg average over the ownership, that much I can tell you.
• It's not very happy at pulling away in second gear and can be easy to stall.
• The mirrors seem to get very dirty, very quickly - spray seems to work its way on to them and stay there - I washed the car at the weekend, then it rained the next day and the mirrors are filthy. My OH's Jazz never seems to have dirty mirrors and I know she never cleans them.

Plus points?

• Despite the noise, the rear tyres still don't need changing as they are still very legal - 4mm last time I checked.
• Motorway driving is very effortless and economical when set to 70mph on the cruise control. It's still pretty good at speeds above this (something I've tested on a private road y'honour)
• It doesn't need a service for another 7500 miles -If this was a private car, I'd be thrilled
• Cheap to run so far - has only needed a pair of front tyres and 2 services so far (which cost about £100 each time)
• It's quick when it needs to be - not GTi quick, but it can pull in 3rd very, very well - great for joining motorways.
• The car can swallow a lot of "crap" - a pushchair/pram currently lives in the boot and it fits widthways quite easily, leaving room in the boot for work bag, camera bag, etc.

I still like it a lot and it's a worthy, nice car - I'm not sure how much happier I would have been with another model, but I think the things I'd choose differently would be a different colour (white is a PITA to keep clean) and to keep the standard 17 inch wheels - Well, I'm sure I could think of other "spec" things, but these spring immediately to mind!

[bassmandan]

I still like it a lot and it's a worthy, nice car - I'm not sure how much happier I would have been with another model, but I think the things I'd choose differently would be a different colour (white is a PITA to keep clean) and to keep the standard 17 inch wheels

Err, want to swap wheels?

[james_tiger_woo]

Err, want to swap wheels?

If it was a private car, I probably would...

[bassmandan]

Interesting, I test drove a car with 18's and thought it was great. I ultimately decided not to go for them due to the added cost and have always wondered if I made the right choice.. maybe I did

[james_tiger_woo]

Interesting, I test drove a car with 18's and thought it was great. I ultimately decided not to go for them due to the added cost and have always wondered if I made the right choice.. maybe I did

£200 a tyre (through the company scheme)...

The ride is good and it looks nice though...

[SC03OTT]

£200 a tyre?!? Are they moulded by the Michelin Man himself? You could pick up a good 18" tyre for under £130 easily. Having said that you're not paying, so who cares lol

[Keithuk]

• It doesn't need a service for another 7500 miles

If this is a 30,000 mile report and you've had two services 10k and 20k how come it doesn't need servicing for another 7,500 miles?
Is this a 22,500 miles report?

[eob]

Thanks for the interesting report.
I'm on my second VW now and I can relate to some of your points.

• There's an occasional buzzing coming from the left somewhere, but I only notice it when the stereo is off.
• It's not very happy at pulling away in second gear and can be easy to stall.
• The mirrors seem to get very dirty, very quickly - spray seems to work its way on to them and stay there - I washed the car at the weekend, then it rained the next day and the mirrors are filthy. My OH's Jazz never seems to have dirty mirrors and I know she never cleans them.

• It's quick when it needs to be - not GTi quick, but it can pull in 3rd very, very well - great for joining motorways.

In both my Passats I have had a buzz from the dash behind the steering wheel. Seems to be road surface dependant. I drive the same route daily and it only appears on a 0.5 mile stretch.
I'd like to resolve it as it takes away from the quality appeal of the car but I can't be bothered with the diagnostic effort.

Is your car a 140? If so, I had exactly the same issue in my last car. Coupled with the electronic handbrake and push key combo made it somewhat dicey when pulling out from roundabouts sharpish.

I didn't notice with the last one but my current CC is terrible for dirty wing mirrors. I think it is due to a channel on the top near the rear edge which is throwing spray onto the glass. Just bad design.

The TDi s are very quick aren't they. The torque in 3rd and 4th is astounding.

[HHGTTG]

My car's also developed a nasty noise or rattle behing the instrument binnacle or centre air vents and it is spoiling the enjoyment of the car. I don't know whether it's worth pursuing this with the dealer as some days it doesn't appear at all. It seems to be temperature dependent but who really knows? Is it worth ripping out all the dash or central section in the hope that they'll find the source - it sounds like two metal components scrapint together or like a loose washer rattling away.
This is the sort of noise that could make me get rid of my car which is such a shame and costly for a pensioner!

[james_tiger_woo]

One I forgot to add, that is rather odd - there's a hum or rattling in the car when it's at idle - something that goes away when I put the car in gear:
In gear with the clutch down - no noise
No gear with the clutch down - noise
No gear - noise
In gear, driving - No idea

[/LIST]
If this is a 30,000 mile report and you've had two services 10k and 20k how come it doesn't need servicing for another 7,500 miles?
Is this a 22,500 miles report?

The dealership were surprised to see me so soon as they thought I was/should have been on variable servicing as opposed to a 10k interval - they seem to have adjusted it accordingly - thereby proving that you can go from fixed to variable....

£200 a tyre?!? Are they moulded by the Michelin Man himself? You could pick up a good 18" tyre for under £130 easily. Having said that you're not paying, so who cares lol

It is ridiculous really, but I think they have to go for branded tyres - I think....

Thanks for the interesting report.
I'm on my second VW now and I can relate to some of your points.

In both my Passats I have had a buzz from the dash behind the steering wheel. Seems to be road surface dependant. I drive the same route daily and it only appears on a 0.5 mile stretch.
I'd like to resolve it as it takes away from the quality appeal of the car but I can't be bothered with the diagnostic effort.

Is your car a 140? If so, I had exactly the same issue in my last car. Coupled with the electronic handbrake and push key combo made it somewhat dicey when pulling out from roundabouts sharpish.

I didn't notice with the last one but my current CC is terrible for dirty wing mirrors. I think it is due to a channel on the top near the rear edge which is throwing spray onto the glass. Just bad design.

The TDi s are very quick aren't they. The torque in 3rd and 4th is astounding.

It does seem surface dependant - as does the tyre noise....

And yes, it's the 140 - my Passat would pull away from standstill in 3rd. I've not tried it in the Golf as I'm pretty sure it won't work.