What would your next car be after the Polo GTI?

[prcurrie]

Bassik, I know quite a few Renault owners (specifically renaultSport owners) and yes, they do have their niggles like cheapish interior plastics and creaks an groans but do they drink oil like a 2 stroke? No. Do they lunch clutches after 8000kms? No. Do they have mechatronic units that have an 80% out-of-spec build rate at the factory? No. Do they launch cars to the public at a race track, then include a clause in the purchase documents that says the warranty is void as soon as the car enters the completion area of a race facility? No.

And most importantly! Do they treat their customers, who have a massive dedicated following and an amazing support community like a pack of idiotic, juvenile nuf nufs who, when contesting the legality and truthfulness of their claims they not only ignore but blatantly lie about the true root cause if a problem and then instill this same mentality at the dealership level because they in all honest, just don't give a sh*t?

Well, maybe, but at least the car will monster anything short of a stage 4 VAG and be less likely to break down

Barracuda, is yours a dsg 77tsi? If so, you haven't owned it long enough

Really do need a 'Like' button for your posts! Same thoughts here mate.

I'm test driving the A250 on Friday

[Zakarados]

Bassik, I know quite a few Renault owners (specifically renaultSport owners) and yes, they do have their niggles like cheapish interior plastics and creaks an groans but do they drink oil like a 2 stroke? No. Do they lunch clutches after 8000kms? No. Do they have mechatronic units that have an 80% out-of-spec build rate at the factory? No. Do they launch cars to the public at a race track, then include a clause in the purchase documents that says the warranty is void as soon as the car enters the completion area of a race facility? No.

And most importantly! Do they treat their customers, who have a massive dedicated following and an amazing support community like a pack of idiotic, juvenile nuf nufs who, when contesting the legality and truthfulness of their claims they not only ignore but blatantly lie about the true root cause if a problem and then instill this same mentality at the dealership level because they in all honest, just don't give a sh*t?

Well, maybe, but at least the car will monster anything short of a stage 4 VAG and be less likely to break down

Barracuda, is yours a dsg 77tsi? If so, you haven't owned it long enough

Lets give the new 2013 Clio RS a year or so and see if they have some DSG issues or engine issues with the new 1.6L turbo. From what I have read, it has a lazy DSG with slow shifts. Nothing a software update cant fix though.

[gavs]

I'm not talking clio, I'm talking megane.

[nomadx38]

Actually I heard reports that the new ford focus is having clutch and shuddering problems. What is most supposing is that its a wet clutch (not sure if mulitplate or solid clutch though)

I do think this means that DSG is not an ideal choice for the big city, or the climate of this country. Does that mean that the successor to the standard torque converter gearboxes will be a CVT?...if so then its sad, SAD days ahead

[Barracuda]

Bassik, I know quite a few Renault owners (specifically renaultSport owners) and yes, they do have their niggles like cheapish interior plastics and creaks an groans but do they drink oil like a 2 stroke? No. Do they lunch clutches after 8000kms? No. Do they have mechatronic units that have an 80% out-of-spec build rate at the factory? No. Do they launch cars to the public at a race track, then include a clause in the purchase documents that says the warranty is void as soon as the car enters the completion area of a race facility? No.

And most importantly! Do they treat their customers, who have a massive dedicated following and an amazing support community like a pack of idiotic, juvenile nuf nufs who, when contesting the legality and truthfulness of their claims they not only ignore but blatantly lie about the true root cause if a problem and then instill this same mentality at the dealership level because they in all honest, just don't give a sh*t?

Well, maybe, but at least the car will monster anything short of a stage 4 VAG and be less likely to break down

Barracuda, is yours a dsg 77tsi? If so, you haven't owned it long enough

Tis a 77TSI. Well so far so good. Maybe by the 2012 model they fixed some of the issues because mine is seamless and I never experience any of the issues (such as shuddering, etc...) that most people with DSG's say.

[Bassik]

Whoa gavs. That seemed a little personal lol. I can't say I agree or disagree but really each to their own. You could have very well just gotten a bad pick of the litter. By all means most of the things you mention either could be prevented through research before hand, either way you'll never know you could get a Renault and may very well be the best car you've owned.

I'm not to much of a risk taker and to be honest I took a massive risk moving into the European market. I have always been a Japan man but nothing beats the interior of the euros.

Ohhh A250 I've seen these on the roads a lot lately. I wanna test drive one.

[Vdubboys81]

Bassik, I know quite a few Renault owners (specifically renaultSport owners) and yes, they do have their niggles like cheapish interior plastics and creaks an groans but do they drink oil like a 2 stroke? No. Do they lunch clutches after 8000kms? No. Do they have mechatronic units that have an 80% out-of-spec build rate at the factory? No. Do they launch cars to the public at a race track, then include a clause in the purchase documents that says the warranty is void as soon as the car enters the completion area of a race facility? No.

And most importantly! Do they treat their customers, who have a massive dedicated following and an amazing support community like a pack of idiotic, juvenile nuf nufs who, when contesting the legality and truthfulness of their claims they not only ignore but blatantly lie about the true root cause if a problem and then instill this same mentality at the dealership level because they in all honest, just don't give a sh*t?

Well, maybe, but at least the car will monster anything short of a stage 4 VAG and be less likely to break down

Barracuda, is yours a dsg 77tsi? If so, you haven't owned it long enough

It's the luck of the draw sometimes, and sometimes it's a whole model of cars that are just shyt! From experience, sometimes you get a lemon and sometimes you don't. Had a new 2004 BMW 530i for four years and not one issue. A friend bought at the same time and constantly breaking down. Built about two weeks apart same factory. Then had a 2008 BMW 328i, and the same friend bought the same. Hers was faultless for three years, whereas mine constantly had issues, valve problems, injectors, exhaust, power seat failures, fuel pump failure, steering pump leaking, HID bulbs burning out, and the list goes on. So needless to say who knows what we will get. But I totally agree with you Gavs that with that many issues, and of course no backing by VW as usual, I wouldn't touch another.

French cars are known for electrical issues, but not too bad otherwise. Similar to Alfas, but then again those are more than temperamental. Everything breaks, and as Jeremy from Top Gear stated so eloquently, "there are those five minutes in the life of an Alfa where everything works and the experience is amazing!"

If a company won't stand behind their cars, within warranty period or even slightly after, then screw em, why be loyal to a company that doesn't care about its customers. If VW makes components that are known to be faulty, redesign them and support those loyal customers that still buy them. I've known a few people that have had major failures on their VWs within the first year and opted to ask VW for a new vehicle rather than their money back to go and buy another brand. That's loyalty and if a manufacturer puts its nose up to you, buy something else. My favourite car I've had was a Saab and it was a POS, but loved every minute, but Saab NA didn't back their product so I never bought again. BMW did the same with the 3, never again. Just the way it works. So Gavs I think you are right to be upset and say you'd never take the plunge on a VW again.

And people don't say that Japanese are the best because some are great, but some are bad. Just like any other car. Ill say that a few Lexus's I've had have been faultless but lately lots of recalls and just boring ass cars lol. Ill take a few problems for a better driving experience!

But VW Australia, if you are listening, pay attention and back your products and if there are issues, own up to them and fix them!

[Vdubboys81]

Actually I heard reports that the new ford focus is having clutch and shuddering problems. What is most supposing is that its a wet clutch (not sure if mulitplate or solid clutch though)

I do think this means that DSG is not an ideal choice for the big city, or the climate of this country. Does that mean that the successor to the standard torque converter gearboxes will be a CVT?...if so then its sad, SAD days ahead

Actually I heard reports that the new ford focus is having clutch and shuddering problems. What is most supposing is that its a wet clutch (not sure if mulitplate or solid clutch though)

I do think this means that DSG is not an ideal choice for the big city, or the climate of this country. Does that mean that the successor to the standard torque converter gearboxes will be a CVT?...if so then its sad, SAD days ahead

Automated Manuals, DSG, SMG etc have shown rather a lot of issues over the last say ten years. Had a 2002 Acura 3.2CL Type S (north American market, don't think equivalent here) had a "tiptronic" 5Spd, and while nothing near as complex as say a DSG, had major issues. Honda North America recalled many Acuras and Hondas and extended the warranty because of constant problems. Had a BMW with an SMG and horrendous gearbox. Shuddered, slipped, dropped into gear so hard sometimes your drink would spill from the "cupholders". Porsches PDK, seems, seems to be more robust as is Ferraris. But perhaps that these semi auto manuals will disappear and either conventional autos or proper manuals will be the only choices. The only thing preventing me from a Golf R or even a Polo GTi is the DSG. Wishing VAG brings the manual to both here's for hoping.

[nomadx38]

I still have faith in DSG's but they really need to get investigating to get them world market reliable (not just Europe). The smoothness and drivability between the VW 7sp DSG (solid dry clutch) and 6sp DSG (mulitplate wet clutch) is amazing. I would get a 6sp DSG for my next car but a 7...NO! Dry clutch is out for me, though I had my doubts from the start.

Something that creates as much heat as a dry clutch needs really precise control to be able to be usable and not have a gearbox acting like a retard and trying to run in 4th at 20km/h slipping all the way :S

[alexaescht]

The smoothness and drivability between the VW 7sp DSG (solid dry clutch) and 6sp DSG (mulitplate wet clutch) is amazing. I would get a 6sp DSG for my next car but a 7...NO!

You could always get a diesel Tiguan with the 7 speed wet clutch DSG