New Jetta - Odometer reading 300kms

[mrx]

When I test drove the manual GTI, the salesman wouldn't let us go for an extended test drive because he said they intended to sell that car as new. From (sketchy) memory it had just over 100km on it. DSG was no problem for an extended test drive as they had a "demo" one.

[benough]

My GT had 24km on it. That's because the salesman told me they drove it from the holding yard at Rosehill to Parramatta (rather than on a truck) to get it prepared and did a roadworthy test.

300km is unacceptable. As it was said it will make a lick of difference to the life of the car but it's the principle of it all.

Like Maverick has said, take it up with the DP and be calm and tactful.

My dealer shafted me on my Rear Parking Sensors and at the end of the day I had to chalk it up up as experience.

I know most people think car salesmen are the scum of the earth but imagine how hard it would be to sell a product that constantly depreciates and may have inherent problems. One would think you may even have to bend the truth to make a sale...

[aoki]

could this be potentially an ACCC issue?

[Maverick]

could this be potentially an ACCC issue?

Nope. There has been no breach of the TPA that I can see. Fair Trading may be able to help but it depends on what you wanted and really seeing the DP is the best way to go and get something out of this like window tint or a half price genuine VW extended warranty (the proper one - worth around $1600).

If he doesn't budge talk to VW. But talk to the DP, explain that you've purchased three cars from him now, how disappointed you are, that your new car experience has really been soured by this, that you're unhappy with their response so far and so on and he should offer you something or ask you what he can do to resolve the issue. Don't be greedy but I feel that you should get something for it and window tint, a half price warranty or first scheduled service for free (and a free oil change at 6 months or 7500kms)

[aoki]

thanks everyone

i will be sending them an email shortly and also will be contacting them first thing on Tuesday.

If they don't budge or give me a completely lame excuse then i'll be contacting VW head office.

[POLARBEAR666]

Regarding dealers make sure everything is in writing ..

Eg. "car will be delivered with less than X k's on it"

If they won't sign then go somewhere else.

When I bought my TSI, I agreed with dealer that he would fit darkest legal tint.

I arrive at dealership and I say "But its not tinted" "yes it is" "no it isn't thats just the factory glass which is dark glass" "oh yeah, i guess it's not tinted"

"I have to pick the car up now, so you are going to pay for tint at the nearest tint a car"

Moral of the story was that the dealer principal just lied straight up and it was only that I had written in the contract "car to be tinted at tint a car at dealers expense with darkest legal tint" that he ended up paying.

I got the tinta a car to fit $500 bolle tint just to shaft him.

[mikinoz]

I would say that your car arrived last year and has been in bond for a while, then given to a dealer that may not have been able to shift it and then possibly sent interstate etc to another dealer that then sold it to you. This would involve more rolling on and off transporters and the like. Unless it was damaged in transit and the km's were done in the refinishing stage?

[aoki]

yeah did a search based on the VIN and the car supposedly was in Aus in early December.

[Dubdabest]

Yah 300 kms on the clock on delivery seems way too high for a new car. Mine had 24 kms and I already though that was high (prev car only had 7 kms).

Is it written as 300 km on the Pre-Delivery Inspection Checklist (if you got a copy) in your glovebox manual? If nothing in writing the DP could deny and say what if you've taken the car for a spin out of town on the wknd already?

[aoki]

i actually took a picture of the odometer.

and had called the salesman shortly after leaving the premise.

Honestly, i was so concerned about everything else that this totally slipped.

[kryten2001]

I would say that your car arrived last year and has been in bond for a while, then given to a dealer that may not have been able to shift it and then possibly sent interstate etc to another dealer that then sold it to you. This would involve more rolling on and off transporters and the like. Unless it was damaged in transit and the km's were done in the refinishing stage?

Come on, how many Ks would it be rolling on/off transporters?

300 Ks is a huge number of ks. It's how many Ks most of us drive in a week. I've had my new GTI for 2 months now, and it's only done 1100ks!

It's probably a little late (once paid for, you lose all your leverage or bargaining power). It's a total crock..

I warned my local dealer not to try anything shifty like this when I ordered the pirelli. I told them I'd be checking out not only the odometer, but the beading on the tyres.

Low and behold - 16kms when it was delivered to me. 300 is completely unacceptable for a new car. I would say, at the very least, it's been used an an unregistered 'demo' for potential purchasers.

Others might not care, but I would. It's the principle that counts, and the knowledge your car hasn't been sat in and driven by god knows how many people.

I'd be taking this up with VW, they might be able to offer some form of restitution.

[jettapilot]

I picked up my new Jetta in Feb it only had ~20kms on it. It also had the windows tinted and the bluetooth and ipod thingy.
It doesn't take 300kms to get a couple of additional fittings!
Somethings wrong there.

[aoki]

i think what has happened now is they have tried to sell me a stock car as new

[glenn1959]

It happened to me too

Sorry to hear about your concerns about the new Jetta, it kind of takes the shine of the new car doesn't it? I had a similar experience with my GTI which I found out shortly after delivery already had 200km on the clock. Whilst this annoyed me intensely at the time the car has now got 40000 km on it and has given me a trouble free run so far and I am very happy with it.

I think it is probable that both our cars were used as demo's, particularly mine as stock of GTI's was very short when I purchased mine. As the vehicle has never been registered there is nothing illegal about this but it does not make for happy customers? You can probably shame the dealer into giving you something as compensation, (extended warranty? A Free Service?).

As other members have pointed out it is easy for dealers to reset the odometer and hide this practice from us. The lesson for us all is to specify that we want a car with minimal mileage when we order and put this in the contract. Having said that I don't think you need to worry about your car, it will be fine.

[anthony]

AOKI,enjoy the new Jetta.
Mine has now done 41000 kilometers,and it is beautiful.
Which model did you get,and in what colour.
Which other VW s do you have,and did you consider any of the competitors cars..
Last but not least ,CONGRATULATIONS .