Golf 1.4 TSI ACT GT (140 PS) - 2013 - £12,295 - good deal?

DailyClicker

I decided to go ahead and purchase the vehicle and have put a deposit down. The salesperson advised that the cambelt should be changed every 80,000 miles, and stated it should be a few years until it needs doing which I was happy with.

However, I've just spoken to VW head office and they have advised that on this vehicle it requires changing every 5 years / 160,000 miles.

Despite the car only having done 32,000 miles they have said it will need changing in April 2018, otherwise the 2 year warranty would be void.

How would you advise I proceed? I'm due to sign the finance agreements tomorrow and collect the car on Monday.

DoaM

Materials degrade through age as well as use. Do you have the 5 years/160k miles cambelt statement in writing?

Try to renegotiate the deal based on the changed information regarding service requirements?

AdrianC

Cambelts are always age/mileage/whichever comes first, as with most servicing.

So it needs changing at 5yrs, whether you've done 8k, 80k or 160k in that time.

DailyClicker

DoaM wrote: »

Materials degrade through age as well as use. Do you have the 5 years/160k miles cambelt statement in writing?

Try to renegotiate the deal based on the changed information regarding service requirements?

Thanks, yes I do have the 5 years/160k miles statement in writing, however I don't have the 80k (you should get a few more years) comment in writing from the salesman.

As I haven't yet taken ownership of the car, and I've negotiated a large amount off already, I feel like they may just offer to refund the deposit.

If I took ownership of the car, and then got into a discussion regarding the wrong information provided, would they be more likely to replace the cambelt?

motorguy

DailyClicker wrote: »

Thanks, yes I do have the 5 years/160k miles statement in writing, however I don't have the 80k (you should get a few more years) comment in writing from the salesman.

As I haven't yet taken ownership of the car, and I've negotiated a large amount off already, I feel like they may just offer to refund the deposit.

If I took ownership of the car, and then got into a discussion regarding the wrong information provided, would they be more likely to replace the cambelt?

Would you not just be safer flagging it now, and getting it bottomed out rather than making an "issue" of it after the time - particularly given it will be your word then against the salesmans that he even said it in the first place?

Maybe see if they will do a discounted price next year for you to get it done?

A very quick cursory look suggests £349 for a cambelt and tensioner replacement

http://www.sinclairvolkswagen.co.uk/aftersales/cambelt-replacement/

Given its a year down the line before this piece of maintenance needs done, is this a dealbreaker for you?

And what dealer selling any other car of the same age is going to do anything differently for you?