DSG woes in The Age

[wai]

Let me give you an idea on how to handle things.

Way back in 1979 I purchased a new Holden Torana. A great car; I had it for the next 22 years. There was one problem. It had the PBR lightweight calliper that was also used in the locally produced Mitsubishi Sigma. The problem was a basic design flaw in the PBR calliper where the calliper would stick on the slides and you got a creaking sound with the brakes not releasing smoothly.

Holden had a solution to this in the form of the Girlock Colette calliper and this style of calliper is almost universal these days. Holden did not want to replace the PBR units. I worked at the NSW DMT and so had access to the service bulletins and other dealer data. I also knew what they were doing to fix new cars yet to be sold, but those already sold would see nothing done.

Now there was no social media, or Internet, or the like, so I wrote a letter to Holden and made it quite clear that worked as an engineer for the NSW DMT. There response was not to threaten me or threaten to contact my employer. It did take some complaining, but I was called by my servicing dealer and Holden agreed to fit the Girlock callipers at no cost to me. They also supposedly agreed to do the same for anyone else who also made a formal complaint to them. This was all within 12 months of buying it new. As I said, I had the car for another 21 years and never had any issues with the hybrid braking system.

There was no drama involving lawyers. They just did it. As a result, there was no public outcry, and no media involvement. It took the steam out of any complaint.

Now, if only VW could do the same thing. The unfortunate thing is that by taking the stance that they have, any back down will be seen badly. If they had simply agreed to rectify things, we would not be talking about it, and it would not be affecting VW's reputation.

Involving lawyers is not a good look. I have just had a dispute with a web site supposedly introducing clients to consultants/contractors. The introduction was not an appropriate one as I was simply not able to issue the certificate requested. When I lodged a complaint about this with them because I was going to be charged $150 for this inappropriate "introduction", the very first e-mail to me was a legal threat to pay the bill and if I didn't they would pursue the matter through the courts. Put simply, not a good look for the site and hardly likely that I was going to recommend them. After a week, they decided to waive the fee, but the damage was done.

The rule should be only involve lawyers as a last resort, and then think again and don't involve them.

[wai]

Enter vehicle

Start button

Keyfob doesn't go into slot.... lol.

Turn off car. Keyfob goes into slot.

MYTH BUSTED.

I figured the guy was trolling, but I wanted to be entirely sure.

Not to make light of the real and genuine problems at play (of which there are a few), but seriously. Pro trolling. Even got published. Hilarious.

Unfortunately false claims only make it harder for genuine ones to succeed.

[Diesel_vert]

Surprised you think that's typical. I'd say not. I'd say poor distributer attitude, and VAG should pull VWA from the loop. Plenty other importers out there.

Volkswagen Group Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the parent company, Volkswagen AG.

Now admittedly, I don't know precisely how the business is structured, but I find it hard to fathom that the parent company doesn't control at least some aspects of its operations.

[sVWatt]

Volkswagen has not answered Fairfax Media's calls or emails.

VWA PR person must be a beginner. This is damage control 101.

[team_v]

VWA PR person must be a beginner. This is damage control 101.

Or prudent PR work.
Obviously Fairfax don't care about any of the facts/proper investigative journalism or they wouldn't be running missleading articles and combinging issues that have nothing to do with each other.
So why should VW bother to respond when it is just going to be taken out of context or written up that VW have no clue what they are doing when there isn't a valid fix so they can't do anything?

[Transporter]

Or prudent PR work.
Obviously Fairfax don't care about any of the facts/proper investigative journalism or they wouldn't be running missleading articles and combinging issues that have nothing to do with each other.
So why should VW bother to respond when it is just going to be taken out of context or written up that VW have no clue what they are doing when there isn't a valid fix so they can't do anything?

I agree with you.

[AdamD]

Or prudent PR work.

I'm not sure I agree in this case.

Yes, Fairfax are proving once again that journalism in Australia requires no integrity and no facts - speculation, hearsay and dogged persistence will do.

But this stuff has hit the mainstream media and is gaining widespread public exposure, and there's nothing VWA can do to put the cat back in the bag now. As a good mate of mine (non-VW owner but a potential VW customer) observed, they should be in full damage control mode to at least calm the media frenzy, and protect the brand image. Even publishing a statement along the lines of 'We're liaising with our customers and our dealers to solve all these issues conclusively, and to everyone's satisfaction' would at least give them a reprieve.

In my opinion, saying nothing - in the light of what's been published in the media (whether true or not) - just comes across as conceited arrogance. Worse, some may assume it implies guilt. I am very disappointed in how VWA have managed this whole episode, and damaged VW's good name (not to mention all our resale values).

[RoknRob]

I agree with you.

And I disagree.

THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, PEOPLE!

Regardless of the mixed up reporting it has alerted many who may have thought - or told by VW! - that they were the only ones, to come out and speak up.

If that makes us safer - occupants and others drivers alike - that's gotta be a good thing.

Transporter, I recognise you make your living looking after VWs, but think how little work you will have if people stop buying, out of concern for their safety. You should be CHAMPIONING a fix! Not minimising the problem...


Edit: Sydney Morning Herald editorial : http://m.smh.com.au/opinion/editoria...604-2no68.html

[brad]

My mate with the 6R Polo that I fitted Konis to... it goes into limp mode every few months. He calls it putt,putt,putt mode. He's had it back to the dealer three times. The ecu has stored fault codes. In his words

When our Polo goes putt-putt-putt (maybe once our twice a month?) it certainly logs a fault code. VW Sutherland acknowledge an issue but are unwilling to spend any money fixing it.

WTF?

[pologti18t]

My mate with the 6R Polo that I fitted Konis to... it goes into limp mode every few months. He calls it putt,putt,putt mode. He's had it back to the dealer three times. The ecu has stored fault codes. In his words "The dealership acknowledges there is a fault but refuses to spend any money to fix the issue."
WTF?

WTF indeed. VGA would pay for any warranty repairs. Ask him what the fault codes suggest. GTi??