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Volkswagen GTI Maintenance and Repair

185 messages,  Last post on Jul 12, 2012 at 7:17 AM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen GTI, Hatchback

Messages Page 1 of 19

#1 of 185 new gti 100 miles and a list. READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY by ngiordano

Apr 04, 2006 (4:39 pm)

well it appears that history has repeated itself for me. My last new VW was a 95 GTI vr6. In a nutshell it was a lemon, everything about the car's delivery condition and subsequent need for service was terrible. Fast forward to 2006 March 29. I after having purchased like 6 new cars since the 95(none of which were VW) buy a new GTI. Mistake number 1. I wanted a pk 1, XM with port options installed and nothing else. So I put a deposit down on a car that was at port so i could get the port options. After being told that we can't get the options and the car was slow in shipping(delivery) i decide to take the GTI on the lot that "supposedly has all the same stuff, less port optiuons and has 18" wheels " so I don't miss out on the $500 loyalty. I know that is where i went wrong. anyway so here is my list of problems with my new car with less than 100 miles;
Radio volume hunts
scufs on door panel, seat trim
chips, scratches on paint
paint flaws
wrong radio on delivery
dealer purposely withheld window sticker
sunroof rattle
sunroof liner tight(hard to close)
trunk doesn't seem to unlock
steering wheel has rugh edges(flaws in leather that catch hands like grit)
poor radio fm reception
horns sound loose when used (blow the horn and it vibrates the whole car)
remotes don't work too well(if at all)
windsheild has a 3" scratch and will need replacement
rattle from center dash
alarm honks when it feels like it when you lock up
grease (under coat?)is dripping from the sills in my driveway
car dings all the time (i know rtfm)
car had oils at delivery...but no washer fluid
1 spring spacer out, other i took out
dash doesn't seem to fit al that well around base of windsheild
did not see any wheel lock key (i better not have locks...did not look)
the interior fabrics although the same, oddly seem different
no way is the speedo accurate
shifter boot isn't flush with console
antenna isn't straight(it isn't aligned straight to center of car)
had car not start when i turned the key...infact it didn't do anything
I am completely and absoluetly disgusted with VW. I have to wait for a zone rep to appove repairs on a car that was driven home from the dealer and once to my job (has now 177 miles).The field rep isn't coming till the 27th of this month so I am out a car till then...they are goinna be over the time before it is fixed. period end of story, game over. How pathetic is it that I buy a new car and can't use it for over a month because some rep has to "approve" paint and windsheild repair?

#2 of 185 Re: new gti 100 miles and a list. READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY [ngiordano] by 600kgolfgt

Apr 05, 2006 (5:58 am)

Replying to: ngiordano (Apr 04, 2006 4:39 pm)
Two things:
 
1) Take the car back for a refund and buy something else.
2) It's not polite to submit the same post in multiple forums.

#3 of 185 Re: new gti 100 miles and a list. READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY [600kgolfgt] by ngiordano

Apr 05, 2006 (8:09 am)

Replying to: 600kgolfgt (Apr 05, 2006 5:58 am)
I tried, the dealer says "too bad". I posted it here with the same options as anyone else has with a post...did it go on another forum here? good if it did, people should know about VW's defective products and crappy service. They don't care about my problem...they got what they want, my $

#4 of 185 Re: new gti 100 miles and a list. READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY [ngiordano] by allhorizon

Apr 06, 2006 (2:48 am)

Replying to: ngiordano (Apr 05, 2006 8:09 am)
Not sure what the state of your memory is, but you definitely did originally and purposefully posted this in several Edmunds VW forums – there is no question about it. And in other boards, as well.
 
For future reference, when someone states incongruent laundry lists and sounds like a car evangelist, few readers pay attention to details.
 
Scratches on the windshield that are an integral part of the air bag system (?) and justify leaving the car in your drive way so you can claim it is not drivable for 30 days --- that just does not make common sense.

#5 of 185 Re: new gti 100 miles and a list. READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY [allhorizon] by ngiordano

Apr 06, 2006 (4:20 am)

Replying to: allhorizon (Apr 06, 2006 2:48 am)
well, when glass is scored deeply...it breaks on that score (that is how glass is cut). The windsheild is a sunstantial safety item in a car...you just don't know it, it contains the airbags in a plane that is determined by it's plane...if it breaks in a way not specified...the bags will not work to their best effect. I posted everywhere and will continue to. I want EVERYONE to know just how good VW is. Bottom line is that VW doesn't care that tey are selling crap, defects and just give lip service to people like me who got screwed.

#6 of 185 No pity 4 you by jitteryjoe_246

Apr 06, 2006 (8:25 am)

When one of your complaints is "the interior fabrics although the same, oddly seem different" or "scufs on door panel, seat trim" I don't think the dealership is going to take you seriously. Never put money down on a car before you see it, and get EVERYTHING you specify in writing (especially options!). Seems like most of the issues you could have noticed if you looked over/test drove the car before buying. In fact, before you buy another car check out this website: http://www.carbuyingtips.com/ it has many tips that may help you avoid repeating history.
 
Research the dealership and research the car:
If the dealership is terrible, you probably could have found this out ahead of time by searching for user reviews on the internet. Also, if you read over the GTI forums before you bought your car, the radio volume and reception issues would not have been a surprise. Even the lack of sensitivity of key fob buttons on VW's are common knowledge. You have to deliberately press the button for about half a second to lock/unlock or open the trunk. The key fob sensitivity is low to prevent accidental commands while it is floating around in your pocket.
 
A well informed buyer is often a happy buyer.
 
FYI: Your laundry list of complaints and posts in multiple forums just makes you sound like a lunatic.

#7 of 185 Re: new gti 100 miles and a list. READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY [ngiordano] by ttbuyer

Apr 07, 2006 (1:37 am)

Replying to: ngiordano (Apr 04, 2006 4:39 pm)
Had a VW once. Never again. They are awful cars sold by an indifferent company. German engineering, indeed.

#8 of 185 Re: No pity 4 you [jitteryjoe_246] by ngiordano

Apr 07, 2006 (4:22 am)

Replying to: jitteryjoe_246 (Apr 06, 2006 8:25 am)
Well, my original posting was edited ...that is why it seems a bit hard to follow. I posted it exactly as it said I could...that is my fault I guess, this board is quite different than any other I have used. I know that the remotes are purposely made to avoid wrong commands(it only works when it wants) ...I am fully aware on how everything on the car works(I have had many vw's and even worked at a dealer some years ago); I just love how people take a manufacturer's lemon and turn it around to blame the buyer (that makes sense, because my crystal ball should have told me) . if you had gotten burned as I did, you would be singing a different tune. I am in no way a lunatic...I am a really po'd person who feels that a big company has screwed me...and I am gonna post it everywhere I can so that they feel it.

#9 of 185 Re: new gti 100 miles and a list. READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY [ngiordano] by mattgg1

Apr 07, 2006 (6:02 am)

Replying to: ngiordano (Apr 04, 2006 4:39 pm)
ngiordano -
 
You appear to be one of the most clueless car buying consumers I have seen in these forums. Based on your post, you must be blind or completely ignorant. Let me explain...
 
Eleven (11) of your complaints could have been avoided if you had just performed a visual inspection of the car prior to buying it. It would have taken only minutes to spot these obvious flaws. You are entirely responsible for all of these issues:
 
scufs on door panel, seat trim
chips, scratches on paint
paint flaws
wrong radio on delivery
dealer purposely withheld window sticker
windsheild has a 3" scratch and will need replacement
shifter boot isn't flush with console
antenna isn't straight
dash doesn't seem to fit al that well around base of windsheild
did not see any wheel lock key (i better not have locks...did not look)
the interior fabrics although the same, oddly seem different
 
Seven (7) of your complaints could have been discovered without even starting the car. You should have taken ten minutes to sit in the car try out/operate all of its features/functions prior to buying. These are entirely your responsibility:
 
steering wheel has rugh edges(flaws in leather that catch hands like grit)
poor radio fm reception
horns sound loose when used (blow the horn and it vibrates the whole car)
remotes don't work too well(if at all)
sunroof liner tight(hard to close)
trunk doesn't seem to unlock
alarm honks when it feels like it when you lock up
 
Three (3) of your complaints could have been discovered by a 10 minute test drive. These are your fault:
 
Radio volume hunts
sunroof rattle
rattle from center dash
 
This leave you with only 3 legitimate complaints, which could quickly and easily be taken care of by the dealer.
 
grease (under coat?)is dripping from the sills in my driveway
car had oils at delivery...but no washer fluid
1 spring spacer out, other i took out

#10 of 185 Re: new gti 100 miles and a list. READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY [mattgg1] by gregg_vw

Apr 07, 2006 (6:09 am)

Replying to: mattgg1 (Apr 07, 2006 6:02 am)
The "grease" is actually great stuff that prevents corosion. In hot weather on new cars it will sometimes ooze out, but it is not a problem per se...just indicates it is there and they probably got more than enough in.
 
I'd say your dealer is more to blame for most of this than VW. I have had a great experience with all my VWs...but I think the dealers I have used are exceptional. Consequently, I have loved all the cars.

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