Service Experience

[Joel]

marckhor, sorry i didnt get the car until recently, so have no idea what the 60K service cost.

yeah the problem with the service manager is i don't think he takes me seriously.
i mean alot of people dont really pay attention to a 17 year old, and think what would he know, he's just a kid and they'll make alot of crap up, thinking i'll just go along with it.
I think that could be why he was quite abrupt about it all, maybe he was just upset that i had a nicer car then him haha

and yes ive just got the extended warranty as of today, purchased it of a much friendlier dealer

[Umai Naa!!]

The DSG is a funny thing. Some show signs of faults, and log trouble codes, others don't. Then there's the rest where people have missunderstood how the whole thing works.

From what I gather, you car really needed to be driven by the technician, with yourself present, so as to get an idea of what the car is doing. It sounds like a car we have at work at the moment, where no fault codes are logged, but once you crack the throttle open, the car takes off in the most abrupt fashion.

[Jase]

Unfortunately I have experienced numerous unsatisfactory dealers. When you try to speak to Service Managers I always have got fobbed off. 3 phone calls later (or popping in and demanding to speak to them) they give some basic promises that aren't lived up to. Twice in almost a year I have asked to speak to a DP & either fail to do so or don't return my calls!

Common fault. Drop vehicle off where it is reasonably clear suspect vehicle needs to be driven. Return to find out what was required or expected not carried out. I mean how hard is it. I don't know why I sit down & explain my problems when I drop my car off, they never listen properly. I've suggested a few times for my car to be driven with me but dealerships have always refused (oh we can drive another car to compare etc.).

VWA ultimately don't seem to care. Trust me. Rung them numerous times for numerous issues & at the end of the day they state about a week down the track some dribble that each dealership is a franchise with VWA having no control over them. I've even had "we left numerous messages for service manager to get in contact with us but they haven't done so" & there's nothing they can supposedly do.

My experiences have been horrible. Good luck & hope yours are better. Just don't be surprised if they're not. There are good dealers out there. Trouble is finding them.

[neil]

Joel.
This is the member on here who works at the Newcastle dealer.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=5954&highlight=newcastle+dealer

Send him a PM with this thread link. I don't think he would be very happy seeing
this thread and maybe able to help you.

[Pana]

Know what you mean about that dealer. I think VW is beyond their 'Ford' capabilities. Had to take my car back 5 times to get a single problem fixed because they ordered the wrong part on at least two occasions. Completely uninspiring explanations of problems which most likely could be simply fixed. Contact VW head office.

I think this must be a common theme with Ford dealers taking on VW Franchises - ie they have no clue about anything relating to VW's and don't really give a stuff either...... The local dealer near where I work (which is a Ford dealer getting into VW's) didnt even get the chance to service my car - and I will definately never take it there either after the lack of knowledge, disorganisation, apathy and not taking responsibility for stuffing me around shown to me in a recent service booking.

Called up Barloworld Moorabbin (dealer I bought it from) and not only did they fit me in last minute - (as I was using the car for a trip down the coast the next day) - but they also knew that I had free servicing (as opposed to the Ford/VW dealer service manager who just flat out said "I don't know what you're talking about with this free servicing - never heard of it") and also completed 3 warranty jobs even though they had booked my car in last minute. A+ for Barloworld Moorabbin.

[apom]

..and relying on just the computer is BS also. One of the fans on mine stopped working and almost lead to a serious overheating incident. They hooked it up to the diagnostic and it said it was working so the computer can be wrong

[brodzta_GTI]

As umai naa!! said, dsg's can be a strange bit of gear..VGA's procedure with a dsg problem is to do a basic setting then replace ( if its logged a fault or not )
Some techs i think rely abit too much on the computer, espically if they dont understand the systems..
$500 for a 90k service seems about right. its a inspectionservice so theres brake fluid ( possibly, replace the pollen filter, air filter and oil + filter) 60k services are around a grand ( if you've got a dsg!!)

[PassatB6]

..and relying on just the computer is BS also. One of the fans on mine stopped working and almost lead to a serious overheating incident. They hooked it up to the diagnostic and it said it was working so the computer can be wrong

Agree, far too much reliance on 'computer says no'. Apparently VW have their own apprentice training academy in Sydney. Techs should therefore be a lot better than they are. Problem could be due to the many that are not trained in VW but Ford GM etc

[Joel]

yeah i was a bit concerned that since it didnt log a fault, they just left it at that, no further inspections.

i know for sure that they'll never be getting my business again.

dunno if i should pm that bloke, don't really wanna start a war with anyone there

[gead]

just rang around a couple of dealers for the R36 15000km service...$440 with courtesy car at the dealer bought from, and $400 from the local dealer...

[Pana]

Just looked at the invoice from the dealer after having my 15K service a week ago - price was only $183.60!!!!!

When I bought my car, I got it during a promotional period where I get the first 3 services for free - and this is what has been charged to VWA....

[Rocket36]

Which dealer?

[GHW]

Yep. Mine was only $260 then refunded after VW sent me the same letter with free servicing to 45km (which was a bonus as I wasn't expecting it)
$400 sound excessive.

[obiwan]

Well I have to say, with my new Golf VI GTI DSG, I was getting the nasty jolt thing, like hitting a pothole, only in sports mode, from day 1. I emailed them, phoned them, and then I when I went in to pick up my personal plates, told them in person again about the problem, and each time I was told not to worry, it will settle down as it learns how you drive etc etc. Well it did improve, but it still does it when downshifting occasionally, especially on hills. Its quite violent, and it scares the passengers, not to mention startling me.

Now that a friend of mine has started working at the dealership, he took it in on my behalf, they had it for 2 days, and Germany has now agreed to replace the mechatronics unit. But if I was a normal punter I don't know how long it would have taken before they finally believed me.

[gead]

hmmm....i will ring around a couple of other dealers to see if i can get a better deal....but if i was a betting man, i would wager they will all be pretty similar...