Used car from dealer - issues within 30 days

[Canon_Fodder]

I think you've made the right call OP

There was significant risk attached to keeping it.

[MuscleSedan]

After the way I was dealt with, over a couple of what should have been minor issues, I vowed to never buy another new VAG product again. Regardless of how good the vehicle itself might be, the pain of dealing with it outweighed everything else. One of my issues centred around active cruise calibration, which others have mentioned on this thread. The dealer portrayed it as a pain in the ass that they were reluctant to get involved with, this was on a nearly new car.

[Trevor555]

MuscleSedan said:

After the way I was dealt with, over a couple of what should have been minor issues, I vowed to never buy another new VAG product again.

Same.

I've no idea why they go on the defensive/fob off when it's something under warranty.

Its almost like they dont want warranty work.

[Novexx]

Trevor555 said:

I've no idea why they go on the defensive/fob off when it's something under warranty.

Its almost like they dont want warranty work.

That's correct, they don't.

The dealer is stuck between a dissatisfied customer & a manufacturer (VAG & others) that often won't pay enough to cover the costs of warranty work - go figure.

[Trevor555]

Novexx said:

Trevor555 said:

I've no idea why they go on the defensive/fob off when it's something under warranty.

Its almost like they dont want warranty work.

That's correct, they don't.

The dealer is stuck between a dissatisfied customer & a manufacturer (VAG & others) that often won't pay enough to cover the costs of warranty work - go figure.

System is broken then.

Definitely good reason to avoid VAG then.

All other manufacturers the same?

Maybe this is why BMW wouldnt deal with my fault?

They went from a first attempt to fix a fault, to then simply say "it performs as expected" when that first attempt wasnt successful.

Edited by Trevor555 on Friday 28th April 19:42

[georgeyboy12345]

Nuisance said:

The trouble with replacing it with another Touareg is that I might end up in the same situation, especially given that other posters here have commented with similar faults with other VAG group cars that must share many of the same components.

I might look at something older with less "tech"

I don't think you necessarily need to look for something older - just buy something from a manufacturer that can reliably implement modern tech.

What about this Lexus RX450h?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303265...

[MrManual]

Nuisance said:

Thanks all again for the input. It has helped me make up my mind.

I've spoken to the sales manager at the dealer and expressed my intentions. I then followed this up with an email stating that I will be rejecting the car. He was disappointed but there was not much he could argue with.


As much as I like the car, I'm not willing to get into a scenario where it causes me ongoing bother. Even if it seems fixed after the first attempt, I'm not chancing it going tits up again. The wife isn't keen on even travelling in it any more with our young child (either before a "fix" or afterwards) given the way in which it randomly decides it knows better than the driver and slams the brakes on - and I'm inclined to agree with her. The trouble with replacing it with another Touareg is that I might end up in the same situation, especially given that other posters here have commented with similar faults with other VAG group cars that must share many of the same components.

I might look at something older with less "tech"

I'm pleased that you've taken this path and I hope that more consumers follow suit. If a significant number of people refuse to accept subpar vehicles, it will impact the manufacturer's financial performance, forcing them to issue recalls or service bulletins.

The automotive industry is rife with shady dealings. I have friends who work as mechanics and in vehicle recovery, and the number of dubious tales they've shared with me makes me skeptical of even the most reputable dealerships.

Although some individuals may argue that you should have given the dealer an opportunity to rectify the situation, if the issues were apparent from the outset and the dealer appeared to be aware of the problem, it can come across as deceitful. Why should you provide them with a second chance to address the issue?

[carreauchompeur]

123DWA said:

I know the Mk7 Golfs suffer with the bracket that the radar mounts to bending ever so slightly. The don't look bent to the eye but they are and no amount of recalibration will sort it so the remedy is another bracket from TPS & then have it recalibrated which normally sorts them. Perhaps this is the same issue? I know when it happens on the Golfs the car disables cruise control & lane assist.

I think WRT to rejecting it may be tricky as its intermittent & it doesn't stop the car from being used.

Edited by 123DWA on Thursday 27th April 11:13

Yes, my partner’s Golf got shunted knocking something very slightly out of alignment causing similar issues.

Also, not sure if these do anything with cameras but on the work Volvos they are very sensitive to replavement windscreens and need recalibrating then too.

[Nuisance]

Thanks all.

Deep down, I know I've made the right decision, as gutted as I am. 95+% of the time it's absolutely fine and lovely to drive. But I know that getting out whilst it's easy might save me lots of future bother. Yes it might be fixable, but knowing my luck it'll bite me in the arse and I'll regret not rejecting when I had the chance. The more stories I hear, the more I'm convinced.


And thanks for the Lexus suggestion, they were actually on my shortlist previously. I'll have to try one. One of my main requirements is a very upright driving position due to being tall and having a bad knee. I tried a similar age X5 and I couldn't sit far back enough or high enough. The Touareg was good in that regard.

[Novexx]

Trevor555 said:

System is broken then.

Definitely good reason to avoid VAG then.

All other manufacturers the same?

Maybe this is why BMW wouldnt deal with my fault?

How broken depends on many things - The manufacturer, the dealer, weather the car was purchased new (& how it was purchased), has it been dealer serviced, nature of the fault, quality of the tech assigned, attitude of workshop manager (possibly dealer warranty admin / manager), so on & so forth.

This is not specific to VAG, all manufacturers are large corporations & will save themselves money via the small print if they can, should that be at the expense of the customer or the dealer, some are fairer than others. "unrealistic expectations", "operational feature", "usage", "end user generated", "road quality", "no fault found" are some of the often pedalled excuses when someone is trying to sidestep (could be dealer OR manufacturer) & polite heel digging may be required.

[loskie]

Look at an XC60 or 90 or a bit off the wall a Landcruiser

[Nuisance]

loskie said:

Look at an XC60 or 90 or a bit off the wall a Landcruiser

Funnily enough, I test drove a coupe of XC90s and did like them. It was what I was going to go for, in fact. Until I read that 2015/16 models have engine issues/oil consumption problems, and I read of a few instances of electrical glitches on later models, such as digital dash dying. Supposedly they're not built like Volvos of old. The XC60 driving position is more car like and less upright, from what I can gather.

I might test drive a late P7 Touareg R-Line Plus - the allegedly well built, reliable car that I was looking into before budget creep set in and I ended up with a CR7 Touareg. I don't think the P7 has radars collision systems etc.


I will look into Land Cruisers, but I know they're very expensive like-for-like.

[DirktheDaring]

The last of the line P7 R-Line Plus is a great car, I had mine for 3 years and not a single unscheduled dealer visit.

I kicked myself for letting it go back to the lease company when I had a chance to buy it for a really good price.

The only gripe I had was not being able to use my iPhone for calls and data simultaneously, something to do with iPhones not supporting RSAP.

I had to get another sim with data to fully use Google maps on the headunit.

And I suppose the one other thing is that the P7 doesn’t do CarPlay, but there are ways around that now apparently.

[Nuisance]

DirktheDaring said:

The last of the line P7 R-Line Plus is a great car, I had mine for 3 years and not a single unscheduled dealer visit.

I kicked myself for letting it go back to the lease company when I had a chance to buy it for a really good price.

The only gripe I had was not being able to use my iPhone for calls and data simultaneously, something to do with iPhones not supporting RSAP.

I had to get another sim with data to fully use Google maps on the headunit.

And I suppose the one other thing is that the P7 doesn’t do CarPlay, but there are ways around that now apparently.

I do keep reading really good things about them. Just enough modern-day gubbins to be of benefit, and hopefully not straying too much into the unreliable side of super-techy bits.

There are options for going aftermarket Android/Carplay which look 100% standard, which is probably what I'd do.