15K service interval ?

[Transporter]

One has to be careful to throw crap at the yanks... they were mucking around with production turbos before VW had given the Beetle more than 50hp. Even stuff like cylinder cutoff they had on a car in 1981! (didn't work all that well but back them ECU were very basic)

Enough of my rant...

I agree, at least the power wise, but when looking at their fit and finish one would vomit. The quality is also quite behind, probably stayed in 80's.

[gavs]

People also seem to forget that it was actually the Japanese that invented the dual charging concept, specifically Nissan/Datsun not VW but that's another story.

Brad, I hear what you are saying and yes they are put together crap but if someone asked my to buy either a commodore/falcon or a VW for the same money basing my decision SOLELY on reliability and not breaking down, hands down, no letter of a lie I would pick the falcon or commodore 100% of the time. I had a VR commodore that ended up doing over 300,000kms and aside from a tailshaft and front shocks in my ownership, that things didn't have any issues. In my current 2012 polo GTI with 32,000kms on it and in 18months of ownership, it has been back under warranty 5 times for the following:

Rear washer valve not closing causing leaks
Front interior light switch not working
Clutches needed replacing after being toast after 8,000kms
Defective Mechatronics unit
Door latches loose and making both passenger doors rattle
Defective software for climate control.

Anyway, again we digress off topic.

"The last time VW lost in court was in 2004."

might be due for another one....

[kam]

because Holden SV6 are unrefined pieces of junk with a basic engine design that first saw light of day 50 years ago? (My wife had a Calais 3 years back - I know exactly what they are like)

I had a 2005 vz calais, 3.6 v6 alloytec 190. i do admit for a brand new engine design, it wasnt the greatest, but with a 9" K&N pod, dual 2.25" catback exhaust and a 3.45 diff from a monaro, it felt like a totally different car. not sure why holden chose 2.75 as the stock ratio, as it was way too long, giving the car no surge off the line at all.

Other than changing the water pump ( i used to do lots of short trips, lived close to work) i had not a single mechanical problem, was quite a nice car, a very comfy cruiser

Also, in regards to the ve ss's, while they are large boats with cheap plastic interiors, they do go really hard, with heaps of torque. Ran into an SS wagon whilst in the Supra the other day, beat it, but was surprised how hard the SS pulled for a stock car !

[Rubbadub]

Thanks for some thoughtful, balanced replies. As a member of a Ford forum (I used to have one, and the wife still does), I get tired of the "other" brands bashing, just because they are not what one is currently driving. Although I love my present machine, and I have had no issues with it so far (touches head), I never had the check/top up oil in any of my near-new Fords.

[nomadx38]

I had a Commodore SS (2001 Gen III) and was the biggest piece of crap I ever had. From the second I bought that car (all my cars are brand new I may add) it had oil consumption issues (more than 1L/1000km) and was told the whole engine had to be rebuilt and would be off the road for 4 weeks due to a design fault. I couldn't be stuffed loosing the car for a month so the car did 130,000km before we pissed it off.

The other major issue was it would chew through the back tyres inner sidewalls every 20,000km (casuing many blowouts on the freeways) Again from purchase was told it was a design fault of the car and to fix the problem would have to buy the "sports suspension package" costing 5000$ to fix the problem. They would not do it under warrantee. Amongst other things, 2 differentials were replaced, both at 60,000kmh. A power steering pump at 90,000 that left us stranded up at mt buller, and a traction control system that's worse than my faulty DSG leaving me stranded in intersections without drive under any wet condition. In all, the worst car I ever had.

On the other hand also had a ford territory. In 250,000km didn't have any serious problem. Yes it had its recalls like all cars but they were done at the services. The car never left me stranded unlike the commodore and was never off the road for major repairs like the commodore.

Really my point been people get lucky with cars and some don't. My brother bought a polo 77tsi just like me (both arrived on the same boat and same day) but black not silver and has had no problems, I have had DSG and clutch issues and he has no feeling for cars. In cold wether he starts it and has the pedal to the floor to the end of the street. It's just the luck of the draw.

[Melon Head]

Maybe this is why new cars fall apart after 3 years

I have to disagree with this. I have a 2006 Suzuki Swift that has been serviced every 15000km. It now has 180000km on the clock without a single issue.

Regarding Turbos, yeah I agree that you need to be more carefull. I would not put anything less than synthetic oil in a turbo car. You can always do your own oil change between services.

[kam]

a few more people were a bit surprised by the 1st servie 15,000km interval

some have said its good to change the oil after the first 500km's, or 3000 km's, should i ?

[Transporter]

For many it's the decision: "OK, do I want to spend $200 or more for the oil change that is not scheduled?" Some may have other knowladge that supports their's first oil change at 15,000km. But, I'm from the old school and always do it between 1000-1500km incl. in new vag engines and never had a problem.

[Melon Head]

I also like to do the first oil change early, but I do it myself

[amazeer]

I know someone who got a territory as a work vehicle. After a while they bought another as the family car because the first one was so good. Sadly both have gone to poo. He reckons if it is made of plastic and it is part of a territory it will either squeak, fall off, or both.

I thought I was unlucky with my first falcon and bought a second. (1994 and 2005 models) yeah I'm an idiot. First one I couldnt keep central lock motors in it. The brake light switch broke. The black paint on the wipers fell off, the window rubbers went crap, the paint faded/went chalky while you watched. The second one rocked about on the rear suspension, the front end creaked, the paint still fell off the wipers, the bonnet cable breaking must be so common the parts guy knew the price off the top of his head, the ridiculous handbrake design needed adjusting every few months.

Ive got my 2nd of 3 lancers on ebay right now. 300,000K with barely any servicing and doesnt blow any smoke at all not even on startup. Only on its 2nd set of front pads, original rear shoes. Besides consumables in 15 years this car has only needed a replacement high beam flasher switch and the vent fan resistor. The flasher switch was probably due to the 3 times the car was broken into and had the steering column broken. The resistor the mechanic gave me for nothing. The only thing missing was the passion a VW badge gives.

[kam]

we have ford territorys as fleet cars at work:

. sometimes the car wont start in park - thinks its in drive or another gear: so you have go from P, all the way to D, and back upto P
. reverse sensor goes nuts randomly
. whole car shakes on cold starts, sounds like its running on 5 cylinders
. vibration + noise at 1500 rpm
. has the most vague steering, brake and accelerator of any car i have ever driven - a total boat

it is comfy as anything to drive, we nicknamed it the cloud, because its literally like riding around in one

all this, and not even 100,000km's -_-

[brad]

a few more people were a bit surprised by the 1st servie 15,000km interval

some have said its good to change the oil after the first 500km's, or 3000 km's, should i ?

transporter is quite correct in everything that he says but he doesn't provide the warranty on your vehicle. Follow the manufacturers recomendation & at least they can't argue about warranty.

Alternately, as you seem so unconvinced, get the oil & genuine filter done but not at a VW dealer. Make sure they DON"T stamp your book.

As I said in my first post, does your driving meet any of the SEVERE SERVICE criteria in the manual? Have you looked?

[Transporter]

Re: 15K service interval ?

I never heard that someone was in the trouble because of the early oil change. It would be very brave from VW to argue that point. Regarding the warranty, I like to keep my cars longer than the warranty period and like my car to be in better condition than it would otherwise be, when the dealer put on the service sticker with 15k km or 12 months interval, disregarding driving conditions an the date of manufacturer. If they were so right about everything, people wouldn't have the oil consumption issues, DSG issues and so on.

But of course by anymeans disregard the above if you keep your car only for short time.

Sent from my GT-N8000

[kam]

I'm from the old school and always do it between 1000-1500km

Guess im a bit old school as well

[brad]

Guess im a bit old school as well

Well do it & stop wasting time

Have you looked in the owners manual yet?