New Car used as a Demo

[RGFC1986]

It's really furstrating knowing that these dealers can do whatever they want and not be held responsible. And when you point it out, they simply brush it off like it's nothing important. And it's very disappointing that other people and their cars have been treated in a similarly way - it's just not acceptable!

Gerhard - Yep, I had paid my deposit more than 2 weeks ago at which point the contract became effective. i.e. the car was sold. The finance approval I sought subsequently was for the amount excluding the deposit.

Practically speaking, what happens now? I will speak to the salesperson and the dealer principal but am not sure what to expect (if anything). I hope noone else has to go through this.

[darkfriend]

I picked up my new 118TSI nearly 2 weeks ago and I share your grief. I too was unhappy with the presentation of ther car. Some bits of my letter to the dealer principal:

The car initially looked fantastic as it was presented in the showroom. However during my pre-sale inspection I was annoyed to see that the car had not recently been washed. I found that I needed to repeatedly wipe marks off the paintwork to discern whether they were scratches or otherwise.

In addition, the interior had not been recently cleaned. What appeared to be dried grass and dirt were present in both front floor wells and the rear right floor well. There were flecks of a white substance on the interior of the driver’s door.

On arriving home I noticed black fingerprints on the cabin ceiling, and what appeared to be chocolate on the centre cloth armrest on the front passenger side.
I vacuumed the vehicle and cleaned the interior of the car on arriving home that day. The following day I washed and waxed it.

I had also traded in my old vehicle: a 1998 Toyota Corolla. As a courtesy before driving it in that day, I washed and vacuumed it. I was some what annoyed that my 12 year old trade-in was cleaner that the new car that I received.

This was my first new car purchase and for me it was rather a big deal. I have no complaints about the staff at #### Volkswagen, just the presentation of the vehicle.....

Do you think I sounded grumpy enough?

[ConR]

I picked up my new 118TSI nearly 2 weeks ago and I share your grief. I too was unhappy with the presentation of ther car. Some bits of my letter to the dealer principal:

The car initially looked fantastic as it was presented in the showroom. However during my pre-sale inspection I was annoyed to see that the car had not recently been washed. I found that I needed to repeatedly wipe marks off the paintwork to discern whether they were scratches or otherwise.

In addition, the interior had not been recently cleaned. What appeared to be dried grass and dirt were present in both front floor wells and the rear right floor well. There were flecks of a white substance on the interior of the driver’s door.

On arriving home I noticed black fingerprints on the cabin ceiling, and what appeared to be chocolate on the centre cloth armrest on the front passenger side.
I vacuumed the vehicle and cleaned the interior of the car on arriving home that day. The following day I washed and waxed it.

I had also traded in my old vehicle: a 1998 Toyota Corolla. As a courtesy before driving it in that day, I washed and vacuumed it. I was some what annoyed that my 12 year old trade-in was cleaner that the new car that I received.

This was my first new car purchase and for me it was rather a big deal. I have no complaints about the staff at #### Volkswagen, just the presentation of the vehicle.....

Do you think I sounded grumpy enough?

I'm in the same boat as you. But I've complained enough, and the dealer is going to "re-deliver" my car for me. I've also told them that I will be giving them the keys to the car, and that I don't want it back until they've removed every squeak/rattle/creak that the car is making. They said no problem.

Let them know how you feel enough times and chances are they'll oblige to what your expectations.

[Super]

It's really furstrating knowing that these dealers can do whatever they want and not be held responsible.

That is frustrating, but what goes around comes around. Really the only thing you can do is share your experiences with other VW buyers so that we can avoid the same issues and hold dealers to the standard one would expect when buying a new car. ie naming and shaming!

[Maverick]

It's really furstrating knowing that these dealers can do whatever they want and not be held responsible. And when you point it out, they simply brush it off like it's nothing important. And it's very disappointing that other people and their cars have been treated in a similarly way - it's just not acceptable!

That's a bit over the top isn't it?

Practically speaking, what happens now? I will speak to the salesperson and the dealer principal but am not sure what to expect (if anything). I hope noone else has to go through this.

You're talking like they killed a member of your family, settle down, if the car is cleaned and there are no marks on the car what does it really matter at the end of the day? Don't let it spoil the new car experience or sour your relationship with the dealer.

[Maverick]

That is frustrating, but what goes around comes around. Really the only thing you can do is share your experiences with other VW buyers so that we can avoid the same issues and hold dealers to the standard one would expect when buying a new car. ie naming and shaming!

And what standard is that? The over the top standard, the normal standard, the average standard or ?????

[RGFC1986]

It's not over the top at all mate. There are numerous users who have had a similar experience and are rightfully angry about it.

And yes, the VW Golf is the newest member of our family..we want him in tip top condition on delivery

[Maverick]

It's not over the top at all mate. There are numerous users who have had a similar experience and are rightfully angry about it.

Someone sat in your car and turned the wheel a bit with no keys in the ignition and another child walked on the back seats.

I'm still yet to see any reason to get so upset, as I said you're carrying on like they killed a family member.

If you had seen your car being drifted through the surrounding suburbs with all four wheels smoking with guys swilling beer and smoking you may have a reason to get upset but really at the end of the day it's a non event. I wouldn't like it but I wouldn't make a mountain out of it either.

And yes, the VW Golf is the newest member of our family..we want him in tip top condition on delivery

I'm sure they will be in tip top condition! But you won't enjoy the delivery if you let this get to you.

[PassatB6]

Hi everyone,
He then attempted to justify this by saying that I should have picked up my car as soon as I was informed it was ready to be picked up.
RG

LOL. Brilliant logic by dealer.
Rule 3(a) If you are late to pick your car up we can let anyone jump on the back seat with dirty shoes.

[V6Passat]

Hi everyone,

I will be picking up my brand new VW Golf 118 TSI this week from a Sydney dealership (name not disclosed due to privacy reasons).

I was really excited until I visited the dealership yesterday to hand in my finance application. While I was there, I noticed that my car was on the showroom floor. I did not mind this at all especially because there was a piece of paper left on the dashboard saying "SOLD".

However, the car had been left unlocked. Right in front of me, I noticed:
- a family of four were trying out MY car. Their young son was walking all over the backseat with his dirty shoes on.
- another potential buyer was turning the steering wheel while the car was parked in the show room (what the hell was he doing? I still don't understand).

This all happened while I was there, so who knows how the car was treated at other times when I wasn't there! When I spoke to my salesperson earlier today, he acknowledged that the car should have been locked. He then attempted to justify this by saying that I should have picked up my car as soon as I was informed it was ready to be picked up.

I am sure as new car buyers, we would like our cars that we ordered with much excitement and waited a long time for to be actually "brand new" rather than being used as a demo-type vehicle.

If any VW fans or VW salespersons could advise what I can do about this matter, I would really appreciate it. I hope you all understand where I am coming from.

Thank you

RG

WTF? So you buy a new plasma in a box never viewed or touched by any one other than the machines who built it YET a sales person wants to tell you that when buying a 'NEW' car its ok for every man and his dog to be all over it.

My suggestion is that they supply you with a vehicle in stock that has not been on display OR they give a discount that is satisfactory to you.

Another option is to cancel the order and be prepared for the bull **** reply of you have a contract. Your response should be that you are happy to meet your obligation as long as they meet theirs.

I know it sounds aggressive, but clearly you are dealing with an idiot who thinks you are also an idiot. You have rights as a consumer and you have every right to be provided with a new car.

Keep us posted.

[Karlosovic]

I think if I'd seen grubby tire-kickers all over the car I'd been waiting several months for - I'd be pretty annoyed. I paid a lot of money (for me) for my new car and had to wait over 4 months for it to get built and delivered, and this would somehow sully the occassion. It's not the worst thing that could happen of course, but it is pretty disrespectful and I'd at least want my annoyance soothed by the dealer - not get told where to go.
It is, however, a car - not fairy floss. It can handle being looked at without breaking - as long as they clean it all up and make it nice.

Having said that, I'd like to name my dealer (Blake at Paul Wakeling VW, Campbelltown) for the opposite reason.
Having visited a few inner sydney dealers (and been unimpressed), I was warmed by the manner and treatment I received from the Paul Wakeling staff.
Actually that's the main reason I ended up buying my car there rather than somewhere closer and more convenient.

And again on friday when I took delivery, as I mentioned in another thread, I called ahead to say I was stuck in traffic on the M5 and didn;t know if I'd get there in time. He was more than friendly about it, told me not to worry and that he'd stick around until I got there (the firday before a long weekend)
When I did finally arrive I was treated quite well and the whole experience was enjoyably memorable and made special (this was my first new car)

[RGFC1986]

Picking up the car tomorrow..I'll keep you guys posted.

Hopefully there will be no brawl when negotiations take place lol.

[elisiX]

It shouldn't have happened (the family nor the dealers response), but don't worry about it.

I certainly wouldn't be letting it get to me and ruin the experience of picking up the car.

[MkVIGTI]

I booked my vehicle in for the earliest delivery date/time when I picked it up. I also went in the day before and saw them parking my car into the dealership for delivery. Ah good memories

[Edra]

Does any one remember those Australian MK4 Golf commercials where the guy pulls up at a dealership or whatever in his mk 4 golf and the rear view mirrors dirty or the aerials squeaky or some shiz and the VW tech in his overalls gets in all "Das automobile" n starts pouring over the car fixing stuff...... too funny, oops fast forward 2010. : GTFO of our dealership.