Golf Servicing and Maintenance Costs

[Syd118TSI]

Hi All,

Considering getting a new Golf Pacific TDI (with DSG) however have heard some bad things about Volkswagen service, and the associated costs.

With this in mind I'd like to get some feedback from you all about the servicing and on-going costs involved in owning a Volkswagen Golf.

Choosing between this and several other cars of this size (Mazda, Toyota, Subaru etc). The Golf is the most expensive of the bunch, but offers one of the best drives, the best appearance, best interior and probably overall seems a more enjoyable and comfortable car than the others. Servicing costs for something like the Toyota would be approximately $160 per minor service (I believe it's called the Toyota Service Advantage) with service intervals of 10,000KM. I know with the Golf the intervals are longer (15,000) but they also recommend a 7,500KM service. The prices I'm reading on here for Golf services are much higher than this ($380ish).

Firstly is this a standard? And secondly if so how do VW justify the price being almost 2 and a half times that of competitors?

I really like this car, but this is a big deterrent particularly when the VM is the most expensive to begin with. Any savings from the excellent mileage will be more than nullified by the additional cost of servicing.

Any thoughts on servicing in general would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers.

[anthony]

Recently had my 2007 Jetta 2.0 FSI serviced at South Yarra Volkswagen in Abbortsford,and it cost 360 dollars,which I thought was average for a once a year service.
Was happy with their work.

[Syd118TSI]

Found these on Carservice.com.au. Are these indicative of real world figures?

Golf
Description Time Cost
(Inc. GST)
15,000km/1Yr Serv 1 hr(s) $252.68*
30,000km/2 Yr Serv 3 hr(s) $605.34*
45,000km/3Yr Serv 1 hr(s) $252.68*
60,000km/4Yr Serv 3 hr(s) $1074.87*
75,000km/5Yr Serv 1 hr(s) $252.68*

Cost over 5 years: $2438.18 ($488/year)

90,000km/6Yr Serv 3 hr(s) $605.34*
105,000km/7Yr Serv 1 hr(s) $252.68*

Cost over 7 years: $3296.20 ($471/year)

120,000km/8Yr Serv 6 hr(s) $1618.16*
135,000km/9Yr Serv 1 hr(s) $252.68*
150,000km/10Yr Serv 3 hr(s) $605.34*

Cost over 10 years: $5772.45 ($577/year)


Corolla
Description Time Cost
(Inc. GST)
Comp. Vehicle Inspec 1 hr(s) $0.00*
10,000km/6 mth Serv 2 hr(s) $266.99*
20,000km/1yr Serv 2 hr(s) $309.89*
30,000km/1.5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $266.99*
40,000km/2yr Serv 2 hr(s) $382.38*
50,000km/2.5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $266.99*
60,000km/3yr Serv 2 hr(s) $309.89*
70,000km/3.5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $266.99*
80,000km/4yr Serv 3 hr(s) $524.76*
90,000km/4.5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $337.45*
100,000km/5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $433.92*

Cost over 5 years: $3366.25 ($673.25/year)

110,000km/5.5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $266.99*
120,000km/6yr Serv 2 hr(s) $382.38*
130,000km/6.5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $266.99*
140,000km/7yr Serv 2 hr(s) $309.89*

Cost over 7 years: $4592.50 ($656/year)

150,000km/7.5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $266.99*
160,000km/8yr Serv 3 hr(s) $622.10*
170,000km/8.5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $266.99*
180,000km/9yr Serv 2 hr(s) $380.35*
190,000km/9.5yr Serv 2 hr(s) $266.99*
200,000km/10yr Serv 3 hr(s) $549.31*

Cost over 10 years: $6945.23 ($695/year)

Now the problem is that the Toyota has racked up an extra 50k over the ten years. So if we base it off km it looks like this.

To 100,000KM

Toyota: $3366.25
Volkswagen: $3296.20 (with a bonus 5,000KM thrown in!)

So surprisingly the Volkswagen comes out on top even still. If the figures on that site are accurate then the Golf is the way to go! (Corolla is already completely uninspiring though much better looking than the last generation box with rounded corners 'style').

That's where you guys come into it! Does $252.68 ring true as the service cost for the 15,000KM service? or is the real world figure inflated?

Hopefully I don't come across as a complete tight-ar5e..... just had some 'friends' try to warn me off VW because of higher servicing costs.

[Maverick]

Found these on Carservice.com.au. Are these indicative of real world figures?

Now the problem is that the Toyota has racked up an extra 50k over the ten years. So if we base it off km it looks like this.

To 100,000KM

Toyota: $3366.25
Volkswagen: $3296.20 (with a bonus 5,000KM thrown in!)

Car servicing is both time and distance based so making adjustments on this basis is flawed. Most people never get close to the kilometers for each service and have their car serviced based on time.

[STV4SYT]

Car servicing is both time and distance based so making adjustments on this basis is flawed. Most people never get close to the kilometers for each service and have their car serviced based on time.

15000km for a year???


thats less than the average and not a hell of a lot really.

[Maverick]

15000km for a year???


thats less than the average and not a hell of a lot really.

The average is under 15,000 km, however this is skewed by Taxi's, couriers, reps and long distance drivers.

http://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/29/Files/is15.pdf

(figure 7 shows the average)

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/00000000000000000000000000000000/b7f52642c92ff11cca2570ec0073f6a7!OpenDocument

In 1991, the average annual distance travelled by cars in Australia was 14,300 kilometres, down from 15,900 kilometres in 19713. This fall is partly a reflection of the increase in the average number of cars per household over that period.

[Logzy]

Car servicing is both time and distance based so making adjustments on this basis is flawed. Most people never get close to the kilometers for each service and have their car serviced based on time.

I do easily.

[STV4SYT]

I do easily.

**** yeah. everyone i know that has a car does that as a minimum, im on track for about 22,000 in the first year i reckon. not a lot compared to what i did when i was "on the road"

When i had my R1 for "recreation and occasional commuting" i did 20,000 the first year and 13,000 the 2nd as well as the car. i realised that although more economical fuel wise, $600 for tyres every 6000 km negated any savings..... hehe when i came to sell it a lot of people considered that "high" but then again i didnt buy it to look it, nor this golf.

[Syd118TSI]

We'd likely be doing in excess of 20,000KM per year.

Changing Tyres in 6000KM?! What sort of tyres were you running?

[OzDJ]

Once upon a time* I would have been very surprised if I could ever manage to do less than 20,000km - let alone 15,000km - per year.

With my current car^, under a 100% private use, fully-maintained lease through work, is based on me clocking up 35,000km per annum. The daily commute is an 80km round trip and, based on how cheap our fuel is (locked in at $1.05 per litre for the term of the lease), we decided to factor in a couple of big driving holidays each year.

New job with new employer in new location. I'm planning on driving less and, as a result, much of the tax benefit from a lease will be gone. So, we're buying the new Golf instead. And, now that I'll be subjected to "real" fuel prices, I think we'll just fly to holiday destinations instead of driving. As a result, I reckon we'll be doing less than 10,000km per annum this time around.

Having owned a MK3 Golf a couple of cars ago, I'm not looking forward to the VW servicing costs. And, with the inherent complexity of the TSI engine, we're not planning on owning our GT a single day beyond its warranty period. I suspect that Volkswagen will redefine the scale of REAMING for mechanical work on this vehicle.

DJ
MOBLOG: http://phlog.net/user/OzDJ


(*) Defined as prior to around six weeks ago when I annouced my resignation from my current employer.

(^) A lemon-quality 2006 Ford Focus Ghia

[GTom]

Having owned a MK3 Golf a couple of cars ago, I'm not looking forward to the VW servicing costs. And, with the inherent complexity of the TSI engine, we're not planning on owning our GT a single day beyond its warranty period. I suspect that Volkswagen will redefine the scale of REAMING for mechanical work on this vehicle.

I'm planning on owning the TSI from early to mid 100ooo - which is hopefully around 6-7 years down the track. Depending on how early I buy a house (if i buy a house the car will stay for longer) or move overseas.

[STV4SYT]

We'd likely be doing in excess of 20,000KM per year.

Changing Tyres in 6000KM?! What sort of tyres were you running?

Was on Michelin Pilot Powers, that was a mix of Track Days, Reefton/black spur and commuting, got as little as 3000 and stretched to 7000 once on a snowies trip.

[Greg Roles]

I think the guy missed the fact that an "R1" is an insanely powerful road bike. You wouldn't get me on one!

[Syd118TSI]

I think the guy missed the fact that an "R1" is an insanely powerful road bike. You wouldn't get me on one!

I think you're right...

I was thinking perhaps he was meaning Rev. 1 or something to that effect.



Thanks for clearing it up.

Still after anyones comments and experiences of VW servicing.

I'm in Sydney BTW.

[Cupra]

I do 15k a year on my 2.0 tdi which is on a lease, had the 45k service done today at Penrith, $279