VW rant

[tommays]

Re: VW rant

had 3 VW great cars over a 10 year time and really glad they were company cars and not mine <br /><br />because everyone cost crazy dollars to keep serviced<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Twidget]

Re: VW rant

Sorry to hear about your misadventures Art.<br /><br />I bought a new Chevy a few years back. After a couple thousand miles, the seat belt warning light and buzzer wouldnt stop. I took it to the dealership and told them I thought the buckle section was losing its ground. I was told that since I wasnt a mechanic, buzz off.(more or less) <br /><br />They kept the car a week and had to call in a 'specialist' from Dallas, this was in Baird, TX. The 'specialist' took another day, then decided it was the buckle mechanism losing its ground. Boy, was I ticked off.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: VW rant

I've had several VWs and currently own a Jetta. While the car was under warranty I pretty much hated owning the thing since I felt obligated to take it to the dealer for service. Now that it's got a ton of miles on it I can take it to a little shop that specializes in VW only and get the best service I've ever experienced. I've been going to Courtesy Auto (plug) for over ten years with different VWs and am continuosly amazed at how reasonable and knowledgeable this shop is. The guy I get on the phone is the guy who works on my car. He LISTENS to me, he understands that I know a thing or two about the car but prefer to have a pro do the work. I've never been let down.<br /><br />The dealership on the other hand is a joke. The "service manager" or whatever they call the apointment taker doesn't know jack about the car and is a roadblock to meaningful communication between the owner and mechanic. It probably doesn't matter to most people who don't know the difference either but plenty of you have already demonstrated how much time and money could be saved if the service department cared to listen to thier customers.<br /><br />And I swear there is a $400 minimum to put a car on a lift at any dealership.

 

[ae708]

Re: VW rant

I had a Toyota that I sold a couple of months ago. It had 240,000 miles on it and still ran as well as it did when new. The only work ever done on it was a brake job, other than batteries and tires. This car had minimal maintenance...oil changed between 4 and 7ooo miles. I think it had a tuneup somewhere around 70,000. Fantastic car...

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: VW rant

Originally posted by ae708:<br /> I had a Toyota that I sold a couple of months ago. It had 240,000 miles on it and still ran as well as it did when new. The only work ever done on it was a brake job, other than batteries and tires. This car had minimal maintenance...oil changed between 4 and 7ooo miles. I think it had a tuneup somewhere around 70,000. Fantastic car...

and you didnt go to the toyo store and get another?<br /><br />shame shame shame, NEVER let the wife pick the car<br /><br />color yes, interior yes, but car NO NO NO

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: VW rant

I have been down the road with the continental cars, believing I was getting "extra quality" to justify the "extra price".<br />The 1st was a new '78 350SE Benz which I kept for yrs until I got jack of paying stupid prices for servicing and parts.<br />The other was a new 3 series BMW, and the dealership did nothing but fleece me. From the 2nd day I owned it, I knew i had shot myself in the foot.<br />Now I buy Ford (Aussie made) cars and Rice Wagon 1 ton Utes. Parts are reasonable, as is Labour costs.<br />I buy the cars 2nd hand, always top of the range, from the Public Trustee Auctions, under 18mths and 20,oooK for around 65% of new retail.<br />The 1 ton Rice Wagons - new - for the cheapest deal I can find.<br />I know I am not preaching what I practiced in the past, but why buy foreign. <br />Locally made is always a better vehicle.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: VW rant

Wow, all this agro over a blown fuse. Fuses, like everything else in a car, have a finite life - they deteriorate. It is possible that it 'just' blew.<br /><br />VW make a very good product, you've had a bad experience with a dealer, not VW.

 

[ae708]

Re: VW rant

Tin Boat... you are exactly correct. My wife saw this car, drove it, wanted it... sooooo. <br /><br />Dunaruna... it's not the fuse, I know they deteriorate. I just think that a supposedly "factory trained mechanic" in an authorized dealership would have sense enough to check a fused component if it wasn't working. Just another example of dealers out to screw customers. Anyway... I got it off my chest. Have a great day y'all.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: VW rant

Funny, my girlfriend had a vw golf (rabbit in the US) and the local dealership told her the cambelt was cracked and in urgent need of changing. This was going to cost her £275.<br /><br />She got a non-dealer to do it (£80) and the old belt was fine....so we went back to the dealer and refused to move until she got her money back.<br />They paid for the job...<br /><br />If they attempt to really screw you like that then it's quite productive to hang around the showroom telling prospective customers about your experience while they decide whether or not to buy from them. We must have cost them a lot of profit before they gave in...people were walking away.

 

[Mark42]

Re: VW rant

1997 Merc Mountaineer: 184,000 miles. Replaced 2 cats at 150K, and one front hub at 90K, thermostat at 120k, brake switch at 100k.<br /><br />1998 Lincoln Town Car. 112 miles. Wire loose in steering column replaced by dealer under warrentee at about 80K. <br /><br />Neither of these cars have broke down and left us stranded.<br /><br />Every time the cars have been to the dealer it was no hastle, and no overcharge or trumped up service.<br /><br />Parts are not outragously priced.<br /><br />I would buy another domestically produced Ford product. And yes, the Lincoln was built in the USA, contrary to what some folks will tell you.<br /><br />From what I hear from VW owners, I would never buy one built after 1969.