- #3553 of 3757
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Re: Call from The Owner of the Dealership [jogousa]
by sebring95
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Nov 03, 2009 (6:32 am)
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Replying to: jogousa (Nov 03, 2009 5:41 am)
I've bought enough vehicles to know how to work the process (bought 20+ so far this year for my company.....). My nearest VW dealer is 45 minutes away in a major metro where I would prefer to buy and maybe have it serviced. They're a HUGE dealer (by VW standards....) but during a brief discussion they were quite clear they weren't budging from sticker. I'm not one to EVER sit for hours negotiating a car purchase. My time is more valuable than that and if they don't want to deal I just walk. They have never called me back. I have dealt in the past with a dealer about six hours away and they have offered me an invoice deal over the phone and will locate the vehicle exactly how I want it. My preference however would be to buy at the "local" dealer where it would be convenient to get warranty work performed. I know from past experience this nearest dealer is very snobby about repairing a car you didn't buy from them. Oh they'll fix it (maybe right, maybe not) but don't expect them to do it in a timely fashion. It's not really about the money for me, I just refuse to overpay for something. And if that's what it comes down to, I just don't buy.
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- #3554 of 3757
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Re: Call from The Owner of the Dealership [redvw]
by altair4
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Nov 03, 2009 (7:39 am)
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Replying to: redvw (Nov 02, 2009 2:06 pm)
I would send a "confirming" letter to that person at the dealership with a copy to VW's Cutomer Care people. I would document each of the dealer's accusations and each of your replies. The bridge is already burned...you won't want to take your car there no matter how this all works out. And, yeah, I'd send a copy to the Better Business Bureau, as well, if for no other reason than to tweak the dealer.
Every time I read how many cars VW wants to sell in the States in the near future it seems that I run across a story like yours that illustrates how muh of a challenge VW is facing.
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- #3555 of 3757
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Re: Call from The Owner of the Dealership [bpeebles]
by colloquor
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Nov 03, 2009 (9:08 am)
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Replying to: bpeebles (Nov 02, 2009 6:29 pm)
Unfortunately, there are more dealers like this than there should be. A good example is our local dealer, they refuse to use the factory specified ATF. Rather, they push a synthetic "equivalent" that really doesn't meet the factory spec. I don't know how they continue to get by with it, but they do.
I've come to the firm conclusion that when it comes to vehicle maintenance, the vast majority of owners are totally uniformed sheep. Those who participate in these forums, however, are not.
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- #3556 of 3757
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Re: tjburkejr [bpeebles]
by tjburkejr
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Nov 03, 2009 (7:17 pm)
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Replying to: bpeebles (Nov 02, 2009 6:23 pm)
Well, it's time to eat a little crow. I took the 2009 Jetta TDI into the dealer to look at the airbag fault light glowing. The tech called back mid-afternoon to tell me that an airbag sensor mounted in the front bumper had in fact failed. There were no replacements in the state, so he is sending to "the coast" (which one I don't know) for the part.
This is all interesting, but I'm getting a little tired of dragging what is still a new car back to the dealer for nits and gnats. A rear passenger side window kit, a new screen over the pollen filter (original was badly warped), a recall to reflash the DSG transmission's computer chip, and now a bad airbag sensor. These are all small things, to be sure, but my Honda-owning friends are starting to rib me a little.
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- #3557 of 3757
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Re: Set of Winter TIres on cheap steel rims [elias]
by farmertull
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Nov 03, 2009 (8:00 pm)
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Replying to: elias (Nov 02, 2009 6:22 am)
Where, exactly, do you cover with electrical tape?
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- #3558 of 3757
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Re: Set of Winter TIres on cheap steel rims [farmertull]
by jogousa
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Nov 04, 2009 (3:31 am)
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Replying to: farmertull (Nov 03, 2009 8:00 pm)
TPMS - tire pressure monitoring sensor - is usually mounted on the wheel/rim close or next to the tire valve stem.
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- #3559 of 3757
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Re: Set of Winter TIres on cheap steel rims [farmertull]
by elias
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Nov 04, 2009 (6:31 am)
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Replying to: farmertull (Nov 03, 2009 8:00 pm)
farmertull, i put the black electrical tape on the instrument panel plastic 'window' so it occludes the flashing/solid TPMS indicator, to my eyes. I do the same for the DRL indicator in both my cars. Also I block an annoying MPH/KPH light on my other car's panel similarly.
ps - I've noticed that the mechanics who do the state inspection each year remove the tape.
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- #3560 of 3757
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It is not the car... it is dealership [tjburkejr]
by bpeebles
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Nov 04, 2009 (6:47 pm)
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Replying to: tjburkejr (Nov 03, 2009 7:17 pm)
Dont let your Honda-owning buddies rib you too much...
ANY new vehicle can have these kinds of nit-pickey items that need to be addressed. The bigger issue is HOW YOUR DEALSERSHIP APPROACHES THE PROBLEMS.
Honda-dealers are well-trained to make the customers feel like a king. They often bend over backwards to please the customers.... even if it is obviously not really a problem with the car.
Other car-makers have not invested as much as Honda has in dealership-training to keep the customers happy. There have been a number of Hondas in my family over the years. I found the number of nit-picky problems was not less than any other vehicle...
HOWEVER here are a some things the Honda dealer did without question
*) Key locked in car out in the boonies (was fishing with my dad)
**) Honda dealership cut a key and hand-delivered it to us where we found a telephone to call from....then they drove us to the car which was many miles out a dirt road.
*) Tires were found to be wearing slightly faster on inside edge.
**)Honda dealer not only performed an alignment (not normally covered by warantee) but they also replaced all 4 tires at no charge to me.
*) Daughters gas gauge on her 9-year old Honda was acting up. I asked Honda dealership if I could look at the Wiring diagram for a couple minutes
**) Honda dealership told me to TAKE THE BOOK for the weekend and copy the pages I needed.
Bottom line: No other vehicle-make I have ever owned had a dealer-network that treated me like I spell-out above. ONLY HONDA Dealers have treated me like that. You can see how a Honda-owner could easilly overlook nit-picky problems with their new Honda if they were treated like this.
However, I prefer Volkswagen automobiles over Honda. I also drive past 2 local VW dealershiips and go nearly 100 miles to a VW dealership that treats me right.
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- #3561 of 3757
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Re: It is not the car... it is dealership [bpeebles]
by sebring95
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Nov 04, 2009 (7:25 pm)
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Replying to: bpeebles (Nov 04, 2009 6:47 pm)
Agree on the dealers. I've had great experience at many brands, most recently with our Honda dealer on our Odyssey. We were quite intimate the first couple years as we've NOT had they expected Honda experience, but all problems were handled quite well. Actually, the only dealers I've had truly horrible experience is Toyota and VW. I have to drive an hour to a Toyota dealer I can stomach. Really haven't found a VW dealer I like.
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- #3562 of 3757
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Re: It is not the car... it is dealership [sebring95]
by shrifty
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Nov 04, 2009 (7:50 pm)
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Replying to: sebring95 (Nov 04, 2009 7:25 pm)
So far I can honestly say I have had positive experiences at my VW dealership with the first 3 services, and one warranty issue on day 2 of ownership (Doh!). The service has been quick and done well, and they have the correct oil for the 09 TDI. I go to Sendell Motors in Greensburg PA.
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