Government to probe 'killer' Volkswagens - Page 5

SumoDog68 · 05-06-2013, 04:19 PM

VW (and VAG in general) spend money on interiors and that is what wins most of their customers ( especially females) . Otherwise they are typically overcomplicated german designs which in theory sound great but are hard to service and repair. They change specs yearly and long term part supply is quastionable. Technically they are up there with direct injection , advanced turbo setups but really push the envelope with DSG and twin charger - these are really meant for supercars not our average hatchacks..

ryeman · 05-06-2013, 04:23 PM

They're the DJs of the auto market, certainly not Target.

ryeman · 05-06-2013, 04:28 PM

Seems Fairfax have decided to not hold back seeing VW have withdrawn their adds, and a sig % would be Fairfax readers so its going to be interesting

new2ford · 05-06-2013, 04:33 PM

Over in Europe they're the Holden/Falcon/Toyota of the market but when you're on home turf the support network is more widespread and cheaper.

The threats of legal action referred to earlier are reminiscent of what Toyota came up with when Wheels rolled a Kluger during a road test. Nasty inferences that they would go after a driver who came at them legally on the grounds that their driving exceeded the design parameters of the vehicle (whatever that's supposed to be, but Wheels considered it was something less than those of a Territory!).

When a car manufacturer starts waving lawyers around, my instinct is to give them a wide miss. I have to give it to Ford Australia that nothing of this nature is ever suggested, they're very good at coming to the party and trying to address your problem - in my experience.

**Silver Ghia** · 05-06-2013, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS_01

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.

GTi's have 2 doors, different design to the 4 door cars, and aren't they made in Germany, not Sth Africa which the run of the mill Polos were built? And if my 60,000km service was $1,100 I would hit the roof.

SS_01 · 05-06-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

GTi's have 2 doors, different design to the 4 door cars, and aren't they made in Germany, not Sth Africa which the run of the mill Polos were built? And if my 60,000km service was $1,100 I would hit the roof.

Yes they are 2 door, assembled in Spain. I didn't hit the roof, cause My XR8 before it cost me $900 for a major, and that car was older and far inferior to the Polo IMO. My regular services were $350 and $450 respectively every 15,000kms.

zilo · 05-06-2013, 08:11 PM

She was probably sitting way below the speed limit in the right hand lane and the truck driver was road raging her by following too closely.

Then it all unravelled.

See this all the time on Melbourne freeways...especially Citylink tunnels.

ryeman · 06-06-2013, 11:02 AM

The Age continued its 'campaign' today including a large editorial .

GQ_Smooth · 06-06-2013, 12:55 PM

You can't battle the media, they will always have the final word (right or wrong), all you can do is be honest and counter with facts anything else will be used against you.

ryeman · 06-06-2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

You can't battle the media, they will always have the final word (right or wrong), all you can do is be honest and counter with facts anything else will be used against you.

Yeah,....just tell Julia

ryeman · 06-06-2013, 03:51 PM

I wonder how many GTIs have had reliability issue, being built in Germany....the new Octavia RS uses it (162KW)

new2ford · 06-06-2013, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryeman

I wonder how many GTIs have had reliability issue, being built in Germany....the new Octavia RS uses it (162KW)

Check the Watercooled forum under Mk6 Golf.

Buntz · 06-06-2013, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Maybe I can understand some people do not react well to danger and freeze up or experience tunnel vision or lapse of judgement. I can almost guarantee the Lexus and Camry incidents in the USA were floor mat related and they would have lived if the trans was simply flicked to neutral.

I agree completely. Some people have no education about how their car works... but they can be licensed to drive one.

I remember a seven news report about some guys Ford Explorer here in Aus (was it in Perth... maybe), the Explorers CC stuck on, and he couldn't deactivate it. He called the police and they cleared the highway for him to do an emergency stop. He just kept circling the ring road.

All that he had to do was put the car in neutral and pull off onto the emergency stopping lane. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. But people out there really don't know how to handle their vehicles.

ryeman · 06-06-2013, 07:41 PM

^^^^yeah that was on Eastlink/Frankston Fwy, HE must have been suffering fm ADHD claiming the key wouldn't turn off, T bar wouldn't move into neutral brakes couldn't overcome power.
Ford couldn't find anything wrong after long analysis.

Itsme · 07-06-2013, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryeman

^^^^yeah that was on Eastlink/Frankston Fwy, HE must have been suffering fm ADHD claiming the key wouldn't turn off, T bar wouldn't move into neutral brakes couldn't overcome power.
Ford couldn't find anything wrong after long analysis.

Quite sure ford kept that car & gave the owner another one.

ryeman · 07-06-2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trublu

Quite sure ford kept that car & gave the owner another one.

I hope it wasn't an updated brand new one!

**Silver Ghia** · 07-06-2013, 11:23 AM

In todays Herald-Sun. Looks like VW Australia now realise they have some issues that need attention.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business...-1226659056475

Quote:

Volkswagen Australia to fix 4000 cars but refuses to issue recall

by Joshua Dowling

VOLKSWAGEN Australia has finally caved to customer pressure and will fix up to 4000 cars after receiving complaints about a wide range of mechanical defects, including engines which suddenly lose power. But the carmaker has stopped short of issuing a safety recall.

Volkswagen's long standing reliability issues returned to the spotlight last week after a coroner's inquest into the death of a Volkswagen Golf driver in Melbourne, whose car was hit by a truck from behind after appearing to lose speed. The coroner will deliver the findings next month. VW says there was no mechanical defect with that car.

However, Volkswagen has instructed selected customers to return their cars to dealerships. It has also told dealers to make more loan cars available during the coming months to cope with the rush.

"Yes, we have issues, we acknowledge there are issues. We want to get to every customer," Volkswagen Australia managing director John White said.

"Are we going to be able to fix every customer, I’m not sure I can promise that but we’re going to get to every customer. We’re going to get legitimate issues, we’ll do everything we can to repair the issue. Safety, it’s a top priority."

A letter being sent to Volkswagen customers says in part: "If you are a current owner or in the market for a Volkswagen and want any questions answered, we are here to help."

News Limited understands that Volkswagen head office in Germany has refused to issue a recall.

"We acknowledge that we’ve got some concerns and we are providing any customer data back to our head office."

Volkswagen Australia called 8700 cars back to dealers in 2010 because a faulty engine sensor could cause the car to idle rough or lose power.

Motoring media outlets have regularly received complaints about VW reliability issues over the past five or so years.

The company has issued recalls for mechanical defects in North America, China, Malaysia and Singapore but not Australia.

In Australia, recalls are largely voluntary. Federal government agencies have the power to enforce a vehicle recall, but to date have never used it.

new2ford · 07-06-2013, 11:39 AM

According to the owner's thread on Watercooled forum that I mentioned above, there has been a quiet campaign going for quite a while. The impression I get is that work is done when the owner brings the car in for service, not something that is notified to owners by mail (like a recall).

Sounds like they've known for a while but have handled it discreetly without trying to provoke publicity. Good try (not). As I say to my son, "never tell a lie mate, you won't get away with it, you'll always get caught"!

Spinner77 · 07-06-2013, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Motoring media outlets have regularly received complaints about VW reliability issues over the past five or so years

Obviously this news did not reach the ears of a lot of Australia's motoring journalists!

Has anyone read a bad review here of a VW?

new2ford · 07-06-2013, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinner77

Obviously this news did not reach the ears of a lot of Australia's motoring journalists!

Has anyone read a bad review here of a VW?

If you look at any car reviews/"best car" features over a period of time you see that the quality/reliability history of the marque is never taken into account (except maybe those occasional small "used car" reviews). I mean they have all those resources like JD Power etc but the subject never gets a look-in.

ryeman · 07-06-2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinner77

Obviously this news did not reach the ears of a lot of Australia's motoring journalists!

Has anyone read a bad review here of a VW?

First class tickets to Europe are on the line.
Would you want to be the first to bite the hand that feeds you with the print media on the verge of disappearing?

ryeman · 07-06-2013, 01:39 PM

So VW dealers are going to give a free 'check' to those with any concerns.....
What do they think that will achieve, unless they know exactly what to look for and correct/service/replace.

Spinner77 · 07-06-2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

First class tickets to Europe are on the line.

There's a word for that, isn't there?

It's on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't remember it at the moment.

ryeman · 07-06-2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinner77

There's a word for that, isn't there?

It's on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't remember it at the moment.

and they don't have to live with the realities of ownership....they're very free with YOUR money however.

Spinner77 · 07-06-2013, 02:24 PM

Maybe the award should be renamed:

Car of the Year City Car 2012 (conditions apply).

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/car-o...121-29p11.html

JoeDaleyN98 · 07-06-2013, 02:25 PM

If a car motor cuts out while in hear it will lock up very similarly to
A seized motor. There's no driving mechanism turning the gearbox and driveline there fore they have to turn over the motor. Similar to trying to clutch start a manual in gear... You can't get it moving until you push tr clutch in. Auto is the same. Until you put it in neutral, no deal, everything locks up

flooded one · 07-06-2013, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryeman

So VW dealers are going to give a free 'check' to those with any concerns.....
What do they think that will achieve, unless they know exactly what to look for and correct/service/replace.

some people might look at that as they are doing something about it. If it was me i'd be getting rid of the car. (that's just me personally)

jpblue1000 · 07-06-2013, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeDaleyN98

If a car motor cuts out while in hear it will lock up very similarly to
A seized motor. There's no driving mechanism turning the gearbox and driveline there fore they have to turn over the motor. Similar to trying to clutch start a manual in gear... You can't get it moving until you push tr clutch in. Auto is the same. Until you put it in neutral, no deal, everything locks up

Rubbish,
At the speeds discussed the manual car will come to a halt gradually due to compression braking, nothing will lock up. An auto will take longer as there is no wheel drive of the engine.
JP

KIWI-1 · 08-06-2013, 11:44 AM

German sources confirm official announcement next week, but no word on engine cutouts.
...
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Fairfax Media source suggests the German car maker will follow up the so-called active service campaign (for about 4000 cars with a diesel engine) announced by the managing director of its Australian operations, John White, on Thursday with an official recall for Volkswagen models equipped with a specific version of the company’s DSG dual shift automatic gearbox.
...
http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...608-2nwcz.html

zilo · 08-06-2013, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

Rubbish,
At the speeds discussed the manual car will come to a halt gradually due to compression braking, nothing will lock up. An auto will take longer as there is no wheel drive of the engine.
JP

Hmmm...best not to be too quick with that comment mate?...

A modern automatic transmission that triggers limp mode as the ecu forces 3rd gear, at the same time switches the line solenoid to maximum oil pressure and then coupled with ecu rev limitting of the high compression diesel engine just might slow down a small car very quickly indeed.