Government to probe 'killer' Volkswagens - Page 4

Blue_XR · 03-06-2013, 12:47 PM

I think all manufactures have their faults. However it is the way they go about rectifying said faults.

My car is a BF XR6 Turbo Manual MK2. I have had the car go in to limp home mode when it was stock on a few of occasions.

The first time I was not far from home so I continued driving it. When I got home I turned the car off and started it and it was fine. I booked it in to take it to the dealer and no fault codes. They said they tired to replicate it but no luck.

Now for me there was no warning, however I did find it weird that when it happened the first time I was unable to engage 5th gear, then within a minute or so it went it to limp home mode.

My first reaction was to not hit the brakes, however I did switch my hazard lights on and kept in the left hand lane.

Another time it happened when I went to change gears and it wouldn't engage 5th again, I waited and then it happened, limp home mode. I was rolling, so I put the car into neutral switched it off and restarted it again and it worked. I put it back in gear and continued driving.

It also happened once when I was teaching my sister to drive manual, we were in a quiet street then moving slowly due to her learning. I think she was still in first trying to turn in a cul de sac.

People have to learn how not to panic in these types of situations. Maybe these sorts of situations should be built in to the driving test. Maybe the tester telling the student the car has gone into limp mode home and see what they do.

Modern vehicles are full of electronics and can spit the dummy at any given time. I wouldn't be surprised if a large percentage of accidents are happening because people panic and an accident is a result of their actions. Obviously not in all cases though.

I am not familiar with all makes of vehicles and I only can comment on mine, so I would think that some cars would not be able to be fixed with a simple switch off and switch on again. Again it comes down to the drivers action.

ryeman · 03-06-2013, 01:35 PM

I wouldn't want to be on the 'wrong' side of the road and on full throttle ....make for good nightmares

mik · 03-06-2013, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

Basically it seems to me that the vehicle behind the one that lost power was driving too close to safely stop (regardless of whether brake lights showed on the vehicle in front or not). This is a basic expectation of driving skills acquired in order to obtain a licence. If your car suddenly loses power, it's therefore reasonable to expect that a (presumably professional) driver behind you won't ride over the top of you. Nothing to do with VWs really.

In a perfect world there would never be a rear ender, but you only have to be distracted for a second or two by whatever....................... and you look up and the bloke that was a reasonable distance away at the precise time you looked away 2 seconds ago has propped directly in front of you, your distraction took 2 seconds,
at 100 kph = 91 feet per second x 2 = 182 feet closer to the car in front that propped, you decide to check in the mirror again because you dont want to prop in the middle of the freeway,
alas a vn commy has started to overtake you, you just used another 91 feet of road looking in the mirror, by the time you react and move your foot to the brake pedal and the brakes initialize you have covered another 91 feet............ add your stopping distance and time to fill undies with the appropriate matter.
it reminds me of a time i was cruising down the freeway middle lane with a load of greased steel bars on the truck, a bloke in datto 1200 ute overloaded to the hilt moved merged onto the freeway at about 50 kph ahead of me,
he proceeded to move across into the next lane, i was keeping an eye on him but i wasn't worried because no fool would veer 3 lanes across a freeway into the path of a heavily laden semi at 50 kph and prop in front of him would they .......yep they would, braking wasn't an option, the bloke was lucky i had just enough i had time to glance in the mirror and take evasive action and go around him, or there would be one less datto 1200 ute driver in the world,
my point is you can be alert and doing the right thing but there will come a time when you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, been distracted at the wrong and time when crap happens the chances are no amount of perfect driving will save you..

flooded one · 03-06-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

I'll go along with that. Mercedes Sprinter vans are good examples... flamin' lumps of faeces.

and the Vitos as well

tezxr8man · 03-06-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

I do realise this, happens to all makes as i already posted in here.

Sorry dude didn't mean to single you out there, was aiming for what you just clarified there

**DJM83** · 03-06-2013, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tezxr8man

Sorry dude didn't mean to single you out there, was aiming for what you just clarified there

All good mate

**DJR-351** · 03-06-2013, 03:49 PM

More years ago than i care to remember my 64' Beetle burst into flames and tried to burn me to death....

And a mate driving back to Perth from Melb in his 60's Beetle, fell asleep at the wheel while buzzing along the Nullarbor, woke up getting tossed around the cab heading straight for the Great Australian Bight drop off....

Bastards.....

**Silver Ghia** · 03-06-2013, 04:21 PM

Ah, the Beetle where the fuel tank is directly in front of the driver/passenger.

ryeman · 03-06-2013, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Ah, the Beetle where the fuel tank is directly in front of the driver/passenger.

I don't think it occurs to them that they are nursing it on their lap!

Nikked · 03-06-2013, 05:18 PM

Wait...wait...wait...

A whole thread on killer Volkswagens, and no mention of this?

Jee-zus...

new2ford · 03-06-2013, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryeman

^^^^ to me that's the issue re depreciation .... Best to buy secondhand/demo

I'd agree with that. At the top end, a Superb is about 100% more expensive in Australia than in Czech Republic, about 70% more than in UK. Nasty pricing policy (gouging?) by VAG in Australia but I guess pretty par with prices for equivalent cars on the Australian market.

KIWI-1 · 03-06-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

How I loved working myself on my old Mini!

I still do! 850, Deluxe and Mini-matic, not to mention the Kombi.

Back on topic...
If this is what limp home modes with a driver, what the hell is going to happen with driverless?
http://www.businessweek.com/articles...riverless-cars

Bossxr8 · 03-06-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

I'd agree with that. At the top end, a Superb is about 100% more expensive in Australia than in Czech Republic, about 70% more than in UK. Nasty pricing policy (gouging?) by VAG in Australia but I guess pretty par with prices for equivalent cars on the Australian market.

The problem with buying a Skoda is you have to look at it. They are terrible looking cars.

**DJM83** · 03-06-2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The problem with buying a Skoda is you have to look at it. They are terrible looking cars.

I like the Octavia RS.

ryeman · 03-06-2013, 09:17 PM

I quite like them all, basically don't care what others think.

monte.b · 03-06-2013, 09:22 PM

I was driving at runaway bay on the gold coast a while back and this kombi was on fire ,the fireman was about to put his hose on it ,so i stopped across the road and yelled out ,let the bloody thing burn,i hate them,he did have a smile on his face when i drove off .Must say ive never had a problem with any of my lovely ford utes

new2ford · 03-06-2013, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The problem with buying a Skoda is you have to look at it. They are terrible looking cars.

Come on, discussions of automotive aesthetics are futile - everybody has different tastes!

I like the Superb and Octavia, I don't really like the looks of the other Skoda models. I like Territory and Falcon, I don't like Fiesta, Focus and Kuga. Not a single VW, Japanese or Korean car appeals to me and most modern cars are pretty generally bleah imho. It's how they go and how well they meet your travel needs that's more important (including not stopping unexpectedly in the middle of a motorway!).

Cobramad · 03-06-2013, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Wait...wait...wait...

A whole thread on killer Volkswagens, and no mention of this?

image

Jee-zus...

..The cars that ate Paris..

SumoDog68 · 04-06-2013, 10:33 AM

It is interesting to read that VW Australia pulled all their advertising from Fairfax media due to their negative VW stories in The Age.

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 10:55 AM

^^^^ that smacks of stand-over bullying, is News ignoring the issue for commercial gain....surely not

Ford17 · 04-06-2013, 01:52 PM

Unhappy driver says Volkswagen threatened his job:

http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/mo...603-2nm9o.html

stevz · 04-06-2013, 05:48 PM

New2ford, I am now convinced you work for Skoda PR. C'mon, just admit it!

Seriously though, you are delusional if you think Skoda is immune to this. There are numerous reports of Skoda owners experiencing similar VW type issues with DSG gearboxes, including one who has had no less than 7, yes 7 replacement gearboxes. Fit and finish is one thing but reliability is another.

stevz · 04-06-2013, 05:49 PM

Yet another unhappy VW owner

http://media.theage.com.au/national/...n-4462075.html

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 05:58 PM

It's a triumph of marketing over delivery.

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 08:44 PM

Goauto now reports VW Australia are going to "thoroughly investigate" the loss of power issue....well how about that!

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 09:37 PM

And dealer service/repair satisfaction rating survey has Honda top with second last VW ...AHEAD of Hyundai !

new2ford · 04-06-2013, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevz

Seriously though, you are delusional if you think Skoda is immune to this. There are numerous reports of Skoda owners experiencing similar VW type issues with DSG gearboxes, including one who has had no less than 7, yes 7 replacement gearboxes. Fit and finish is one thing but reliability is another.

No doubt to some extent, but they minimise their exposure to this by being selective about what they use from the VW inventory. Usually previous model proven components or components that they make themselves in Czech Republic.

I don't know if I'd be a favoured employee if I worked for Skoda and owned a Ford! Nah, I speak to a lot of people in the industry here and in Europe, plus my local Ford dealer also services VWs and Skodas - he's my horse's mouth.

The Watercooled forum, like any owners' forum, is also one to watch for hints of problems. I do recall some years ago there was an industry survey of quality and reliability in Australia and VW was, as usual, well down the list (as it is in Powers etc) but the survey made the interesting observation that VW owners, unusually among Australian car owners, were reluctant to publicly admit that they had problems. Something to do with marque pride.

**Silver Ghia** · 04-06-2013, 10:49 PM

It is interesting that the general public perceive VW cars to be of excellent quality. The VW ads play on this perception, for example, "It sounds like a Golf" when the door is closed. Well, my FG door closing actually sounds better than that sound, also my FG has not yet had any warranty claims in the 32 months I've had it, but look at the general perception people have when discussing the quality of FG Falcons.

My wife has a VW Polo which she has had since new. Its over 6 years old now, but has only done 37,000kms. There are several marks on the B pillars where there has been metal to metal rubbing from the door frames such that the paint has worn right through. I've never seen any other car in my life that did that. So much for fit of the body parts.

The rattles from the dash are such that its far worse than any car I've ever owned in the 40 years of driving.

The Polo purchase price was close to $25,000 back in 2006, so it wasn't a cheap car, but we wanted the ABS brakes and extra air bags so that was an extra package, plus the alloys etc. And after delivery we found there was no boot light, nor speakers in the rear, only in the front doors. A rip-off really.

Sure, the Polo has never let us down, but then we have had several cars including Mitsubishis, Mazda's, and the Falcons that have never let us down.

We have since found that the service costs of the little Polo are normally $400 to $600 every 12 months, next service the timing belt and water pump will be changed at the 7 year life of the belt. The cost of just the belt and water pump change (changed at the same time for access reasons) was verbally quoted at $1500, I expect it will be more than that when the time comes.

Back to those ads that play on the perceived quality of VW's, I wonder how many people get sucked in then find out after they purchase the car that VW ownership is not all that rosey. How dare anyone challenges VW reputation? Looks like VW have a real problem on their hands with regard to the DSG boxes and the sudden power loss instances (or the case where the engine wouldn't stop at all). But people will continue to have fixed in their minds the perception that VW's are of excellent quality regardless, and Falcons of poor quality.

new2ford · 04-06-2013, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

there has been metal to metal rubbing from the door frames such that the paint has worn right through. I've never seen any other car in my life that did that. So much for fit of the body parts.

My Territory has that too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

The rattles from the dash are such that its far worse than any car I've ever owned in the 40 years of driving.

My Territory has that too, except the rattles are from the back where you can never track them down.

My previous Territory also had rattles from the back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

We have since found that the service costs of the little Polo are normally $400 to $600 every 12 months, next service the timing belt and water pump will be changed at the 7 year life of the belt. The cost of just the belt and water pump change (changed at the same time for access reasons) was verbally quoted at $1500, I expect it will be more than that when the time comes.

Yes, this is the "surprise surprise" factor that buyers of imported cars (not just VWs) often face. There goes the savings from purchase price and fuel consumption.

Insurance often has a nasty little sting too.

SS_01 · 05-06-2013, 09:51 AM

I owned a 2006 VW Polo GTI for 4 years, did 96,000kms of fairly hard driving during that period, and the only thing that i ever had replaced was the second gear syncros. I had this car before I worked for them, and I would happily go back to the product once i have finished my further studies and free up some cash.

Silver Ghia, I didn't experience any rattles in the dash, or any rubbing of the panels. As for your exorbitant costs for servicing, maybe you need to find another dealer, cause the most i ever paid for a service was $1100 (60,000km), and that was before I was working for them as well.