Conference terri::cars_uk

    This is about a april '92 VR6
    
    I also had problems with the quality of the paint (Water based ECO
    stuff..). Specially the front of the car was not so fine, some dust
    particels and not so smooth sprayed. But I had no confidence in
    better paint job from the dealer or so and since it is a lease 
    I let them buy of the repaint job. (I also know that the front
    of the car gets worse every mile you drive so....)
    
    Then the worse thing happened, sombody drove into my door.
    New door and repaint of left side of the car done by a 'special'
    assigned repair place with a contract with the lease company.
    
    Picked it up after a week: found a little dent in the new door,
    dust particles onder the paint and a scratch on the C-pillar,
    also not right mounted 'wing extenders?'.  Took the car for the
    weekend and left it again for three days. 
    Now they still fitted the inside of the door wrong and the window
    didn't run smooth, did bring this to my VW dealer.
    Found after a few days that there where finger prints underneath
    the outer clear paint layer, They had it again for three days...
    This time also the paint wasn't as super smooth anymore so it fitted
    better with the quality of the rest of the paint...
    
    Where it al comes down to: People just don't care anymore in the work
    they do, they don't check it and are to easyally satisfied !!
    And no matter which garage/shop/etc you go to, or which brand you buy
    the trouble is the same anywhere.
    
    (Sometimes I get a little tired of it !)
    
    Erik. 

I have had two VWs, a Golf and a Passat, they both had problems but not with 
paint, my experience was with switch gear and speedos failing, plus rough 
running engines.  I think VW quality is over rated, I find the two Japanese 
cars I have to be superior in quality and reliability terms, though not 
perhaps as good in styling and design features.  In terms of worry free 
motoring they are hard to beat!

	Tim
		(BTW one is my lease car, the other is my wifes car though 
technicaly I own it!)

>I think VW quality is over rated
    
    I know that it's all down to personal experience, but we have had
    absolutely no trouble whatsoever with our VW cars ( 3 Golf GTis and 1
    Golf CL ) despite the high mileage we do ( approx 28,000 miles/year/car ).
    
    Terry
    
    

> our VW cars ( 3 Golf GTis and 1 Golf CL ) despite the high mileage we do
> ( approx 28,000 miles/year/car ).

Sounds like an impressive fleet!

>I think VW quality is over rated...

I think they're pretty good mechanically, I used to have a Polo mk.2
which managed to survive over 50000 miles of my driving, which is a
pretty impressive feat for any car!  The bodywork was also pretty good,
surviving a number of scrapes with minor damage (not caused by me, honest!)

Unfortunately, the car was let down by the interior fittings, which
seemed a bit tacky and liable to break constantly, those that actually
worked in the first place; there were endless problems with seatbelts,
switches, locks and wiring.  I wouldn't buy another one (although if
I could afford a Corrado I might be tempted...)

Chris.

I had a minor but niggling problem with a 16V Golf a couple of years ago.
One of the speaker blew just after I got it. The local dealer said they'd 
order one. After about six months and numerous excuses later (including a gem 
about a parts shortage cuased by increased demand for Golfs in the eastern 
block), I finally decided to write directly to VAG. Within two days I had a call 
from the customer services manager apologising for the problem, a call from their 
engineer explaining that they had managed to locate another dealer with the part
and had arranged to ship it to the local dealer, and a call from the local 
dealer to arrange a time to have it fitted.

Interestingly enough, the next time I took it in for a service, there were a 
couple of new faces in the dealers, and there appeared to be a much more 
professional air about the place. I could help wondering if VAG were following
up a number of complaints and had sent the hachet man in.

So the best answer, if your dealer isn't giving you satisfaction, is to bypass 
them altogether and write direct to VAG.

Dave.

BTW My speaker broke several times after that, and I came to the conclusion it 
was either a wiring short or a dodgy radio, but the garage said they couldn't
find anything wrong.

    My Dad got a 1993 Golf 1.8.
    
    The brake-fluid reservoir has cracked and had to be replaced!
    First time the VW Garage said they had ever experienced such a fault.
    
    My old Passat is still going strong.....10 years old.
    
    Tim

    I've got a 90 G-reg 8-valve Golf GTi and I'm wondering if any GTi
    drivers have had the same problem. The rev counter, oil temp warning
    light, and the trip computer tend to work intermitently and the local
    VAG dealer suggested dodgy earths or a faulty circuit card. replacement
    PCB and labour could cost �300 which sounds outrageous. 
    
    Any similar experiences?
    As regards the rest of the car, I don't have any quibbles about build
    quality.
    
    Billy

Check the ground strap on the battery.  On the Mk I Golfs there was a 
problem with a faulty ground.  A simple fix was to run a wire from the 
negative terminal on the battery directly to the engine block (using one of 
the bolts holding the tranny to the engine as the ground point). 

This might help solve your problem.

Dave