VW New Car Gone Wrong - Advice please

Jess_E

Hi, I bought a brand new car - Volkswagen Polo GTi - 6 months ago 18.07.06 and it keeps going wrong.
I have taken it back to VW for warranty work 4 times in the 6 months i have owned it. It was brand new when we got it off of the showroom floor and only had 3 miles on it.
Reasons i took it back and the problems:
1. Knocking noise coming from front near side - Anti-roll bar was loose
2. Tyres going down from day after i got the car - three 4" nails were in the 2 back tyres - Punctures, so new tyres paid for costing £249
3. Problems getting it into gear - Gear selector had snapped - replaced.
4. After picking it up from no.3, could not get it into 3rd gear atall - needed adjusting - was adjusted 5 times by master technician who still could not get it to "flow" into gear.
5. Wierd whining / rubbing noise when in reverse - currently waiting on "Technical Solution from Volkswagen Germany".
They had my car over xmas - from 19th December to 20th January and it is still not fixed. Germany have still not come through with a solution. I no longer want the car, dont trust it and am stuck with it for next 3 years on Volkswagen Solutions scheme... if it carries on at this rate i will be having to take it back 8 times a year! VW say they dont see the problem as they have fixed each fault (apart from the whiney noise). They offered us their GTi to drive around in for a week to assess if we felt there were any differences while they drove ours round. Theres not much difference and this car makes the dodgy noise in reverse aswell! They have said they will do a replacement for us and that we can keep this one they have given us to try out... for more money. Ours is an 06 reg, this new one is a 56 reg. It has 200 less miles on it than ours and is 2 months younger... When they had our car over xmas they racked up over 500 miles on our car (which i cannot prove but know) and if they hadnt done that, our car would be 2 months older but have less miles on it. It has the same packages as our one, no extras that we havent got. I do not want the car anymore, under consumer rights, can i get a refund? or maybe just a different car, say a standard Polo / Golf? We have a meeting tomorrow morning with the sales manager. We have spoken to Milton Keynes (head office for VW) and they say they cant help with this query and that we need to speak to sales manager.

Sorry for the long post... any more info needed, please let me know.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Am planning to go to CAB if tomorrow does not go as i would like.

Jess_E

Sorry, forgot to add...
Got it on finance. Part exchanged my Saxo VTR for £1300 and paid £700 deposit so in all, made £2000 deposit.

oldbuffer

If it were me I would tell them that I am going to the Small Claims, and mean it.

zorber

ask CAB or trading strandards for help

BANANABUS

I hope you get it sorted.
iv had vw's and never had a problem with them .( but i guess you dont want to hear that!)

if they dont sort it stand out side the showroom and tell customers what has happend to you kick up a stink when the show room is busy. make sure oher customers can hear you .

mblakeys

i work in the motor trade and my advice is simple 1st the car is not yours it belongs to the finance company you are merely renting it, advise them of your problems and that you are going to trading standards and that ultimately you will not continue to pay for it until is right.( dont cancel any payments at this stage it may affect your credit score as a voluntary termination which is not good!) seek advice from trading standards. it would appear the dealer has admitted there may be an issue as they are offering to swap, As it would appear the car is not fit for the purpose. i would hope trading standards tell you to reject the car. kicking up a fuss in the showroom will not help and will make you out to be unreasanable. try and be amicable about it the dealer is also losing out as he will be getting a bad car back and no assistance from the manufacturer! best you can hope for is your £2000 deposit back as trading standards will allow for fair use (6 mths) which should offset your monthly payments paid.

Zippy123

Don't think you can blame them for the tyre though you could have got the puncture anywhere.

pedro3gb

Yes VW are not what they used to be. I had a new Golf Gt TDI and the electrics kept failing meaning the windows would not open, interior lights would not come on and other things. They tried about 4 or 5 times to get it sorted and eventually they did. I could not take small claims action as it was a lease car but they lease company could not help and they would not change it.

Myosin

The Which? magazine actually did a survey and found that Ford are among the most reliable these days whereas Merc, VW, Audi group are among the worst. :rotfl:

D_e_n_i_s_e

Buy a Toyota or a Honda

Hubby has Merc E Class 2003 - and in the last 18 months its cost him £1800 (or 3 months of mortgage payments ) in servicing and repairs. 3 repairs in total and 1 servicing.

I have a Toyota Corolla 2001 and in the last 18 months its cost me £200 in services and repair. servicing and brake pads

Son (18 year old!) has a Honda Civic 1999 and in the last 12 months its cost him in servicing and repairs £300. servicing, brake pads, tyres and clutch.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Hubby's friend (@ major Bank) who is responsible for the companies fleet cars, currently has 70 cars for his staff, all 2002 model onwards and all either BMW's, Mercs and Audis.

He is apparently so sick of the constant breakdowns, the niggly faults, the time it takes to repair, and subsequently the time they are off the road, not to mention the costs with the german cars. that he is set to terminate the contracts, in favour of executive cars such as the Toyota Avensis, Honda Accords and Mazda 626's and with the saving give the staff a further £500 fuel allowance/annum as a bonus.

ian&ruth67

There are a few things you can do,

Firstly contact trading standards and ask them to quote sale of goods act 2001 if irc its for 6 months not just 28 days

Secondly contact your finance company and explain that you are having problems with the said car and garage they have an obligation to fight your corner against the garage.

hope that helps