Problems / Faults

[passatpout]

Craig..
Was that Klosters Newcastle? Generally they have been OK with me but have left minor things out like checking washer fluid levels etc. Not 100% confident with them.

I won't say what Klosters did to a car owned by a friend of my father's following a little bingle....

[Rocket36]

Why not? name and shame I say. They do bad by people they should feel the pain of losing customers.

[passatpout]

Why not? name and shame I say. They do bad by people they should feel the pain of losing customers.

It was a long time ago (in the 80s..), and they may have changed since.. although up until I left Newcastle in 2001 their reputation wasn't brilliant.

[Passatwind]

Hear hear! I've dumped the local dealer because they did a wheel alignment for me and the caster was out by a couple of degrees on both front wheels! Now very happy with a knowledgeable local independent.

[GHW]

Hi Blacky.

Picked the car up Friday. Passenger side mirror faulty Saturday. It won't go into reverse down mode. Did it once, then got stuck permanently in down position and had to be adjusted back up to normal, worked once again now no go at all. Not bad for one days ownership !

I guess electrics still aren't VAG's thing. My Bora had both rear electric window motors replaced, my Audi had intermittently opening / closing sunroof on hot days and passenger window that would randomly open, get stuck or close without warning. VW fixed no prob, Audi never fixed as service couldn't find the fault (funny that with intermittent issues )

And yes, I agree with all that "that's what warranty's for" but I don't know about the rest of you, my time = $$$ and I can't afford to spend time at a dealership. It's lucky this car is so FREAKIN INSANELY AWESOME.

[GHW]

I sold a MY06 WRX for the R36. The Subaru had a few issues replaced under warranty: clutch, turbo, rear shocks. Apart from the factory recall for the battery wiring I have had no issues with the R36 in almost a year, not even a rattle.

My MY07 3.0RB Liberty. owned for 2.5 years never had one warranty issue.
Luck of the draw i guess, hopefully my dodgy mirror is all she wrote.

[jimbob]

I bought an R36 in January and will hit 10,000 kms this week. So far it is the worst new car experience I have had.

Issues so far:

1. I noticed that it blew a lot of smoke when you accelerated. I took it took the dealer and the diagnosis was carbon build up. It must build up quickly as I had only done a few thousand k's, most of which were on the freeway. After another couple of weeks the oil light came on and it took about a litre of oil to fill. The smoke continued so I took it to another dealer but they said it's normal. We'll see.

2. After another week the front right mount on the seat broke. Every time you took off the seat started tipping backwards. Dealer recognised how dangerous this was and took it straight in. Tried to give me a 10 year old Barina as a lone car but it had no brake lights so they eventually found a Golf. Have switched dealers to Camberwell (Vic) and they are much better.

3. Absolutely everything in cabin rattles from all the doors to the steering column and dash.

4. Just started making the dashboard squeak that others have noticed as well.

5. Sat Nav keeps locating me in the wrong suburb.

6. Blue tooth system freezes after every few phone calls.

It is by far the worst build quality I have ever experienced. Last car was a Subaru MY05 3.0R-B and it never had one warranty issue or rattle in 3 years. Before that I had the Outback 3.0R with the same perfect 3 year history.

What is really annoying me the most is the 4 Motion system. The salesman assured me it was a 50/50 split in normal driving conditions. After a few days I realised this was not the case. Should have done my research more thoroughly.

I don't know if this is normal but it is not really any different to a FWD, lots of torque steer and wheel spin. It does go away after a second or two but the handling is nothing like the Subaru, Audi A4 Quattro or Lancer GSR that I have owned previously.

Any advice on the 4 Motion issue would be greatly appreciated.

[Rocket36]

Any advice on the 4 Motion issue would be greatly appreciated.

What 4Motion issue have you got? Not being 50:50 front and rear is not an issue. It's how it's designed.

A shame about all your issues, that's unfortunate, but there are cars like that from every manufacturer..... It is luck of the draw. Seems like you were unlucky this time. But to get a lot of wheel spin and torque steer, you must be driving it super hard. Even on a race track, the traction was awesome and hardly any wheelspin at all. Torque steer is something that is slightly noticable but nothing like a FWD car.

[gead]

sorry to hear your problems jimbob....as someone else mentioned, sometimes its a lottery....at the end of the day, if you get a bad one, its all about how the dealer responds to the problems that will count....i came from a subaru liberty, and the passat is miles ahead in terms of fit finish and squeaks and rattles...(touch wood)

[Rocket36]

i'm with gead. touching a lot of wood i am... lol

[theplanner]

I bought an R36 in January and will hit 10,000 kms this week. So far it is the worst new car experience I have had.

Issues so far:

1. I noticed that it blew a lot of smoke ....

2. After another week the front right mount ....

3. Absolutely everything in cabin rattles from ....

4. Just started making the dashboard squeak that ....
5. Sat Nav keeps locating me in...

6. Blue tooth system freezes after every few phone calls...

It is by ...

Geez I thought my was pretty bad sounds like yours is a dud. My blows smoke too on acceleration but not enough for me to worry about. I have notice that there have been more carbon from the exhuast than any other
any other cars I have owned.

And Torque steer & wheel spin not sure you managed that....I have not felt any torque steer or wheel spin (which includes using the launch on a wet road or launching onto a T intersection).

Maybe something is seriously not right about your car.

I do agree that not no one manufacturer produces perfectly assembled vehicles but there just appears to be more faulty cars out from VW.

[theplanner]

Hi Blacky.

......my time = $$$ and I can't afford to spend time at a dealership. It's lucky this car is so FREAKIN INSANELY AWESOME.

I can't agree with you more....

[Luminary]

I bought an R36 in January and will hit 10,000 kms this week. So far it is the worst new car experience I have had.

Issues so far...

Wow. Sorry to hear about this.

Was it a demo model by any chance?

My worst experience ever was with a demo Holden that had endless issues and ended up with a blown transmission that took them 3 goes to fix. I sold it after a month following the final fix which seemed to have sorted it out. I wasn't prepared to find out if it was going to last. Told the buyer and sold it taking an absolute bath on the price... bought for $29k and sold for $15500 after 2 years.

Happens with all makes I guess. Doesn't make it any better for you I know, but what can you do... it's how the world is...

[Bayman]

[QUOTE=jimbob;334404]I bought an R36 in January and will hit 10,000 kms this week. So far it is the worst new car experience I have had.

2. After another week the front right mount on the seat broke. Every time you took off the seat started tipping backwards. Dealer recognised how dangerous this was and took it straight in. Tried to give me a 10 year old Barina as a lone car but it had no brake lights so they eventually found a Golf. Have switched dealers to Camberwell (Vic) and they are much better.

My wife bought a Golf from Camberwell VW. I also know a mechanic that worked there and he said they ran the shop with a ridiculous ratio of fully qualifed mechanics to apprentices at one stage, well below what is allowed by law. Also they had Elvis who smashed someones car real bad and the owner didn't like the repair by Eurostyle, but they fixed our Golf Ok for a minor bingle rear bumper.

Has anyone experienced the new workshop at Sth Yarra VW in Richmond//Abbotsford? I can either take my Tiguan to Sth Yarra or Camberwell. After 2 years I realised Camberwell have the coolant too high on my wife's Golf V, so much for checking eh?

They are all slack, should be like Gordon Ramsay at the pass, a head mechanic should make sure everything in a service has been done. I have noticed Camberwell have gonr from Castrol Magnetec to Shell Helix? I wonder why?

[evr]

I bet it's the headlining strip across the back of the roof that covers the brake light! Mine vibrated and rattled after the window tinter didn't put it back on properly. Has a weird clip system. Took it off myself, tighted the clips and put it back. Sorted!

Hey rocket, I have exactly the same annoying rattles (left & right side) of the headlining strip accross the back. How the hell does that thing come off? I want to do as yo did & tighten the clips myself & also point out to the upcoming window tinter next week on how to properly remove & replace the strip.

Thanks!

P.S. Pics would be even better if you get a chance.