Didn't realise VW had gotten so bad

[fatboy b]

I bought the o/h a new Golf Cabrio in March on a 16 plate. A 1.4 tsi GT. A lovely car with a great engine btw.

Weeks after purchase, it's back in for rattles. At one point they were going to replace the driveshafts, but 'found' the rattle elsewhere. It's been back 3 times since to fix rattles, and has been in this week. The excuse given this week when dropped off was because VW now use recycled plastics on their trim .

The o/h got a voicemail today after the dealer had had it for three days this week to fix three rattles. It said that the three rattles were fixed, but they think they've found two more, but 'could you pick up the car anyway and book it back in next week as we need our courtesy car back'.

Shabby service from a car that's really turning out to be very disappointing. It's been in the garage more in 7 months than my last Jag XF had in almost two and a half years. Can't see us wasting more money on VW group cars again.

[fatboy b]

Car is in again after a moan to the aftersales manager, who is far from the professional I'd expect. We have a 16 plate Golf 1.6 tdi with 8500 on the clock. It's worse than ours for rattles. Appalling really.

[fatboy b]

Update.

We took the car in last Saturday and gave them a week to sort things. They called wednesday to say that they'd ordered a new turbo actuator. Called today to say they'd ordered some trim. Needless to say it won't be ready tomorrow.

Half of me thinks at least they're taking it seriously and sorting stuff. The other half thinks they're dragging things out a little.

[fatboy b]

cosworth330 said:

My wife took delivery of a new Mk7 GTI in March 2016 and it's never been any trouble, she's loves it.

I guess they've sorted the manufacturing issue where they neglected to put sufficient spotwelds on the front chassis legs connection to the main body shell then

Edited by fatboy b on Saturday 29th October 18:39

Edited by fatboy b on Saturday 29th October 18:40

[fatboy b]

Well. 2 weeks tomorrow it will have been in to be fixed. So far VW customer services have been great, and have advised us of the rejection process that we should follow shoudl we wish to. But tbh, the o/h wants it back as she loves it, and they no longer make that model. The dealer updated us on Wed to say it's still under investigation. The courtesy car was swapped as it too was a rattle bucket (16 plate 1.6 tdi Golf) and the replacement also has a rattle or two. So that's 3 out of 3 Golfs in the past 2 weeks that rattle. Not good!

[fatboy b]

Kell said:

These were the days...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF-KJ5-KNQk

I quoted that ad to the aftersales manager. His face was a picture!

[fatboy b]

We went to pick up the Golf today, but only after going out with the workshop controller to verify all was well. He drove it previously and said all was well. Within a few minutes 2 rattles appeared, but were heard by the chap from the dealer.

So after the work that has been done this time:-
- new rear view mirror
- new driver's sun visor
- new touch screen surround trim
- fix the door card rattles by re-welding the plastic retaining clips that were loose.
- packing out the instrument surround with anti-rattle stuff

....we now need a new pax seatbelt, and a new instrument binnacle, the latter needing 2 weeks to obtain.

This car is 8 months old, and without a doubt the last VW-group car we will ever buy. They really are truely crap quality these days. Both courtesy cars - mk7 Golfs - were awful cars, both in terms of rattles, and layout of the driver controls. I changed radio stations by accident about 10 times on the drive in today as the steering wheel switch to do this is in a stupid place - also acknowledged by the guy who we spoke to initially on arrrival today.

The dealer has been good of late though, and are now taking things seriously. Also a nice voucher for M&S presented today for our troubles, equal to a month's payments, which was nice, and a tank of fuel.

[fatboy b]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

My god. People are THAT precious about rattles? What a stupidly expensive way to deal with a first world problem, jesus wept.

You bought a Golf, not a Maybach. Have a little perspective.

Nothing constructive to add then? Thanks, now move along and go troll the next thread.

[fatboy b]

Well the car appears to be sorted at last with the new instrument panel, as well as numerous other new bits. It has put us off the brand. VW have most definitely moved down market. Even the staff at the dealers think so as they are dealing with loads more rattle issues with customers, mainly the new Passat, but also Golfs and Tiguans. Looks like cost-down measures started a couple of years back are now being driven around . A real shame, as the car itself is great, but this sort of shabby design and manufacturing isn't going to bring us back.

[fatboy b]

ooid said:

fatboy b said:

Well the car appears to be sorted at last with the new instrument panel, as well as numerous other new bits. It has put us off the brand. VW have most definitely moved down market. Even the staff at the dealers think so as they are dealing with loads more rattle issues with customers, mainly the new Passat, but also Golfs and Tiguans. Looks like cost-down measures started a couple of years back are now being driven around . A real shame, as the car itself is great, but this sort of shabby design and manufacturing isn't going to bring us back.

Is your built in mexico plant? Just curious.

No idea.

[fatboy b]

Buster73 said:

If these rattles were in VW's that were out of warranty would these owners kicking up a fuss be prepared to pay for them to be fixed at the VW dealer ?.

Yes , I didn't think so either.

Your point?

[fatboy b]

Buster73 said:

fatboy b said:

Your point?

My point is clear , some folk make a fuss about relativity minor issues because someone else is picking the bill up , however if they had to pay full price because it is out of warranty they'd not be so keen to have these relatively minor issues resolved at their expense.

Still not seeing your point matey. If there's a process to fix problems for free, then why not use it.

Edited by fatboy b on Wednesday 23 November 12:59

[fatboy b]

Looks like I spoke too soon

More annoying rattles have appeared. Looks like we're going to reject it. I think 7 visits to try and sort things is enough. Clearly VW are a pile of poo now.

[fatboy b]

The rejection process has been initiated. We're very disillusioned. Never expected to reject a car. Never expected it to be German. We either have a friday car, or VW are just crap now. Based on conversations with the dealer, it's the latter.

[fatboy b]

andyeds1234 said:

I'm not sure if its just my local VW dealer, or if its typical example of Volkswagen, but the level of service I receive from my dealer is simply shocking.
Add that to poor build quality of our 2013 Golf, and it makes for a pretty miserable ownership experience.

When I have complained to VW customer service, they seem more concerned with backing the dealership, than helping me, the customer.

Opposite to our experience regarding he dealer & customer service. The dealer has admitted that they have tried their best, but the multiple problems continue. Customer service have been involved all along, and have been very helpful. They can also see the multiple times we've trusted the dealer to get things fixed. Customer service have now backed a descision to provide us a 100% refund, or a replacement new (if available as they are now out of production), but we'd need the dealer to agree & initiate this. The dealer has agreed that a 100% refund is in order, and have initiated the relevant paperwork. It now goes to an executive board for the ultimate descision.

[fatboy b]

Well the saga continues.

We officially rejected the car in December with a recomendation from the dealer and customer service that a full refund be given as the car is now out of production (so an exchange is not possible).

Earlier this month, the VW executive committee rejected our rejection and yet more rattles appeared. VW requested the car be booked in for these rattles, and a technician would be sent down to assess the car. So car booked in on the 9th Jan. Then turns out that the VW tech wasn't coming down, ut a new guy at the dealer who is an ex-VW tech would work on the car.

Two weeks later, and the car is still in the dealer. It almost came back twice in that time, but they found new issues. We were then building up to a collection tomorrow morning (21st jan) to be told today that another issue had arisen. The dealer has now said the VW UK 'enough is enough, give them a full refund'. That descision is expected monday, but while the o/h was on the phone, an email came from VW to the dealer asking for our expectations. The dealer replied on our behalf that it needs to be a fulll refund.

One of the latest rattles appears to be wires that run in the trim above the windscreen that are unclipped. I tried to have a look by removing the interior light console. I was greeted with it already hanging down about 10mm. I prised it out and I have to admit, I saw the crapiest piece of design of a trim/bracket that I've seen in a modern car. It took me 4 attempts to get it back in again without it dropping down again (bearing in mind the dealer had fitted it before I got to it).

Then there's the speaker retainers in the door trims. Gone are the screws. They now put the speaker over 3 or 4 plastics stakes, and then heat-stake them to hold them in. A great and cheap manufacturing process if done right. But it seems on our car it wasn't, as the source of a number of rattles was the speaker working loose, as the heat-staking had failed.

I sincerely hope we can draw a line under this next week, as this is without a shadow of a doubt, the s.h.i.t.i.e.s.t car we've owned. I hope VW turn the corner of their current cost-down programme, as there are some good looking cars among the mainly dreary ones. Can't see us back in a VW anytime soon.

Edited by fatboy b on Friday 20th January 17:23