VW Australia need to change

[jazd]

My experience with all Sydney VW dealers except for Phil McCarroll at Waitara and Central Coast VW in Gosford was pretty poor.

So are you saying Gosford VW is good or bad?

Personally I have found them very good. No problems at all with my injector replacement, work was completed very quickly and they charged me exactly $0 no questions asked.

Kloster VW in Newcastle on the other hand I have found to be complete rip offs. I needed a radio code a couple of weeks ago and upon phoning them was told that I needed to book it in @ $160/hr so they could scan it and retreive the code. I know this is not the case and I just had to supply the VIN and radio serial. They insisted however this was not the case and eventually told me that I needed to take it there so that they could verify I was the owner (this is a RCD300 radio worth next to nothing). Called Gosford and gave the VIN/serial and he callled me back in 10 minutes with the code.

Even worse: Yesterday I had the car booked into Klosters to get the gearbox jerking checked out as it could possibly be covered under goodwill. Took it in and he told me that the DSG might need a software update and it would take 3.5 hrs again at $160/hr. Now I've never done a software update on a DSG box but I know flashing an ECU only takes about 10minutes. I'm not quite sure where this 3.5hr figure comes from other than the desire of Klosters the line their own pockets at the customers expense.

In the end he wouldn't even test drive it because one of the rear brakes was down to the metal.. (kind of fair enough due to liability but it did stop fine) Anyway looks like I'll be taking it to another dealership.

[Finance_Analyst]

No probs mate, I didn't take it that way. The reason I didn't name the dealer is because others may have a bette time than I did and the dealer doesn't have the right of reply.

But, having said that, I will let any forum member know who it is if they PM me.

There is another thread that quotes positive experiences ......

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/forums/f112/ive-had-no-issues-thread-69908.html

Personally, I don't see an issue with naming and shaming. We live in a democracy and we should be free to air our views about anything without fear of backlash - look at the QLD political scene now for example. After all, that is why programs like A Current Affair exist. If I have an issue with a dealer/if they have stuffed me around, I will air my view, not holding any punches back and will NAME and SHAME the people involved. As noted earlier, if I have a good experience, I will also sing praises when due too so it all balances out. Brisbane BMW and Gold Coast VW are amongst my better experiences.

From my viewpoint back to the topic, Austral VW are dead set 'muppets' (to use a kinda word) from both sales and service. When I wanted the turbo wastegate clip fitted to my GTI, it was like 'oh bring it in and we will drive it', which is fine. 'Oh but then we need to order the part so you can bring it back then'. I told them I don't drive my car to work so it is a very big inconveience - my feeling is that they wanted to fleece VW for labour costs. In the end, went to Norris when they did it on the spot.

[team_v]

Personally, I don't see an issue with naming and shaming. We live in a democracy and we should be free to air our views about anything without fear of backlash - look at the QLD political scene now for example. After all, that is why programs like A Current Affair exist. If I have an issue with a dealer/if they have stuffed me around, I will air my view, not holding any punches back and will NAME and SHAME the people involved. As noted earlier, if I have a good experience, I will also sing praises when due too so it all balances out. Brisbane BMW and Gold Coast VW are amongst my better experiences.

From my viewpoint back to the topic, Austral VW are dead set 'muppets' (to use a kinda word) from both sales and service. When I wanted the turbo wastegate clip fitted to my GTI, it was like 'oh bring it in and we will drive it', which is fine. 'Oh but then we need to order the part so you can bring it back then'. I told them I don't drive my car to work so it is a very big inconveience - my feeling is that they wanted to fleece VW for labour costs. In the end, went to Norris when they did it on the spot.

Whilst you may not see an issue the website owner is liable for any defamation that may be made against others.
I a not 100% sure if you can dame a company (such as Austral) in australia but i know that it is general practice not to allow people to rag on companies on forums to limit any likelihood of litigation.

[Finance_Analyst]

Whilst you may not see an issue the website owner is liable for any defamation that may be made against others.
I a not 100% sure if you can dame a company (such as Austral) in australia but i know that it is general practice not to allow people to rag on companies on forums to limit any likelihood of litigation.

See your point and it would have validity, but if that was really the case, just about every single dealer (and tuner/garage) would set up a class action now given the myriad of complaints here, which even go down to specific peoples name (which I didn't do). I am no lawyer, but I would think that there are several other forums out there doing much worse things than we are and they are still around. Plus, VW Australia would appreciate this feedback as it comes from the horses mouth - do you think they would not take some of this on board? We are merely offering feedback and I don't remember a law which prevents that kind of practice, which would differ from defamation I think.

Another example - visit Firm Spy | Law firm news and gossip, accounting and investment bank rumours, quips and humour and you can see the trash talking about accounting and law firms (ironic that they haven't done anything yet?), right down to partners/staff names - I haven't seen that site taken down or sued yet it is targeting the very industry we are afraid of.

So not having a go at you Clay as I think you are a top bloke - but just stating that sometimes, we are a little too risk averse and should speak up for what we believe in, which is what a democratic society is all about. If we cannot do that, then we are living in a pseudo dicatorship.

[Ideo]

So are you saying Gosford VW is good or bad?

Personally I have found them very good. No problems at all with my injector replacement, work was completed very quickly and they charged me exactly $0 no questions asked.

Kloster VW in Newcastle on the other hand I have found to be complete rip offs. I needed a radio code a couple of weeks ago and upon phoning them was told that I needed to book it in @ $160/hr so they could scan it and retreive the code. I know this is not the case and I just had to supply the VIN and radio serial. They insisted however this was not the case and eventually told me that I needed to take it there so that they could verify I was the owner (this is a RCD300 radio worth next to nothing). Called Gosford and gave the VIN/serial and he callled me back in 10 minutes with the code.

Even worse: Yesterday I had the car booked into Klosters to get the gearbox jerking checked out as it could possibly be covered under goodwill. Took it in and he told me that the DSG might need a software update and it would take 3.5 hrs again at $160/hr. Now I've never done a software update on a DSG box but I know flashing an ECU only takes about 10minutes. I'm not quite sure where this 3.5hr figure comes from other than the desire of Klosters the line their own pockets at the customers expense.

In the end he wouldn't even test drive it because one of the rear brakes was down to the metal.. (kind of fair enough due to liability but it did stop fine) Anyway looks like I'll be taking it to another dealership.

Yeah - meant Gosford was a good one.

I mean, they gave me an R32 oil filter instead of an R filter, but mistakes happen and they swapped it over free of charge.

[brimway]

To simplify things, I think it is fine to publicly say that you are unhappy, discontent, dissatisfied etc with the dealings you have with a particular trader. Just as it is fine to voice your contentment with the dealings you have with a particular trader / service provider.

Where you can get into trouble is when you cast dispersions on a trader in a manner which could be perceived as slander or defamatory, it is not black and white, hence my caution in not naming the dealer involved in my situation.

It would be a totally different scenario if the trader invited public comment eg via their feedback page of their website.

Plus, VW Australia would appreciate this feedback as it comes from the horses mouth - do you think they would not take some of this on board?

I think the jury is still out on this one

[brimway]

Sadly,yes. I had the mechatronics replaced under warranty in my MK V Golf GTI and thought that my bad luck with DSGs was all used up. But I was wrong. Hopefully, my current problem is software related, but I fear not.

My friendly service manager is test driving this Thursday in effort to diagnose the problem, will report back.

The service guy drove my car today and acknowledged that there is a shudder in low gears. He hasn't got any idea what is causing it but assured me that they will do whatever is necessary to rectify. A comforting response.

[brad]

Whilst you may not see an issue the website owner is liable for any defamation that may be made against others.
I a not 100% sure if you can dame a company (such as Austral) in australia but i know that it is general practice not to allow people to rag on companies on forums to limit any likelihood of litigation.

I own a forum. Plenty of our members name & shame but in 6 years we've had 3 threats of legal. In all 3 cases we were on firm ground as what was written was true but it was simply easier to remove the offending posts & apologise for the actions of our members that were beyond our control, blah,blah, blah.

Simply put, if you state the facts there isn't much others can do about it.

[Buller_Scott]

I own a forum. Plenty of our members name & shame but in 6 years we've had 3 threats of legal. In all 3 cases we were on firm ground as what was written was true but it was simply easier to remove the offending posts & apologise for the actions of our members that were beyond our control, blah,blah, blah.

Simply put, if you state the facts there isn't much others can do about it.

you had to apologise? that's a bit rich...

what legal recourse does a dealership really have if you simply turn around and say "it's the internet. people are allowed to voice their opinions - look at yelp.com. so why dont you just deal with the fact you're a isht service provider, and fck off?"

[team_v]

you had to apologise? that's a bit rich...

what legal recourse does a dealership really have if you simply turn around and say "it's the internet. people are allowed to voice their opinions - look at yelp.com. so why dont you just deal with the fact you're a isht service provider, and fck off?"

Technically there is no provision for freedom of speach in Australia, that is an American thing.
Yelp.com is probably hosted or run from America.