Walked into VW dealer, and was surrounded by Vauxhalls

[EB2019]

Walked into a VW dealer today and was surrounded by Vauxhalls,  (probably disrespectful to Vauxhall cars tbh).

They were all low quality, with empty interiors all in black, and low quality fabric, If you took the badge off it could be a Kia/Nissan/Hyundai etc.

Passat had a tiny shallow boot, low roof line and lardy shape, Tiguan was small and unimposing at the front, with 'new' wrap around tail lights across the tailgate - like that's a reason to get a new PCP. Polo looked like it could lose a few pounds with the overall shape as it just seems portly, mk8 Golf was cheap and seemed like it was devoid of VW quality or enthusiasm.

VAG chased the Asia dream of selling cars to a market they couldn't previously tap into, like an endless cycle of consumers outside the EU. The Chinese looked at the cars on offer and surpassed them with battery/tec and lower price all within 10 years.  Its embarrassing what we are offered compared to what is coming down the line from China.

I sat in a work colleagues MG HS thing recently, and the leather seats, thud of the doors and quality of the digital display was way ahead of VW, and it was about 28k!!

VW is the very definition of a legacy car maker.


Not really mk7 content I know, but I went back after recent warranty work on my VW that has sprung a coolant leak  (yes 1 day after VW fitted new thermostat)

[Watts]

The last time I was at the dealership I thought the same, all dull, uninspiring and very cheap looking. Thinking about changing at the moment and it won't be a VW.

[SRGTD]

I had a mk8.5 Golf as a courtesy car back in September when my car was serviced and MOT’d. Comparing it to my Brother’s current shape Vauxhall Astra, IMHO the Astra seems a better built, better screwed together car than the mk8.5 Golf; tight, uniform shutlines (much better than my Polo GTI+) and the doors and tailgate shut with a more solid sounding thud than the Golf’s doors and tailgate too. So @EB2019, maybe you were being disrespectful to Vauxhalls……………..

I had a look at a Kia Ceed recently and was pleasantly surprised. In some ways it reminded me of the mk6 Golf GTD I owned (especially the interior), and I felt that my mk6 GTD was a very well built car.

With VW’s current financial woes - see discussion topic at the link below - I think it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing an upturn in quality at VW in the foreseeable future.

[Yusee]

I was on the verge of posting something very similar after my visit to vw this week for my annual service.

In fact I think it will be my last main dealer service, the whole experience was unpleasant from start to finish.

For the first time I can remember, I had no interest whatsoever in any of the cars, new or old, at the dealership. None whatsoever. And I am someone who enjoys cars.

Also of note- there were virtually no customer cars in the car park and the staff inside looked disinterested.

The car industry really must be struggling.

Soulless place.

I then had the usual dealer shenanigans - they made me replace 2 perfectly good tyres to get me through the MOT. They also identified the thermostat housing leak that every mk7 owner expects.
Astonishingly, they suggested I should keep an eye on it as the warranty work may not be authorised if the leak is slight.
No way! I wasn’t gonna accept that. It’s a long time since I’ve got that angry.

They have now agreed- and the car goes back next week for the work to be done.

Anyway, it’s “no thanks “ to another all in plan- i’m done with these bstrds poking around my car to sell me expensive stuff i don’t need- and then trying to wriggle out of their warranty obligations.

Next year will be self service- or possibly the local indie.

But yes- I couldn’t agree more- there was nothing of interest in this dealership for me

[karlos]

I was on the verge of posting something very similar after my visit to vw this week for my annual service.

In fact I think it will be my last main dealer service, the whole experience was unpleasant from start to finish.

For the first time I can remember, I had no interest whatsoever in any of the cars, new or old, at the dealership. None whatsoever. And I am someone who enjoys cars.

Had a similar feeling when I took mine in for service the other week. One thing that struck me is that the R-line is now their mainstream trim, almost everything they had in stock had an R badge on it. VW are doing a BMW when they started sticking the M badge on everything. Except 'R' doesn't quite have the same cachet.

I'm also done with the dealer and I'm going to do my own servicing from now on. I just get the impression they don't care for the car or the customer any more.

[Yusee]

@karlos,

It’s the dishonesty I hate. I’ve heard the word “ stealers” used to describe main dealers. It’s actually a pretty accurate description.

One issue with the all in plan, when you have MoT booked on same day as service is that they’ve got you by the bllx- “ sir unfortunately we’ve found cuts in your tyres which are down to cord”. I had a look myself under the ramp- after a brief discussion, I took the view that I’d done 10k on these tyres and I may as well accept it.
I had a similar experience on a previous visit.

On my list visit, they quoted me for all sorts of unnecessary work ( including “ pads and discs” even though the technician had said discs were fine! - “ we normally advise changing both “!!)

Oil change is very straightforward on these. I’ll perhaps do that next year then an independent for the major service the year after. Though I think it’s all pretty straightforward- plugs,  pollen, air filter- job done, several hundred pounds saved, and a much more pleasant experience

[EB2019]

The thing that struck me about the offerings in the dealership, and to be fair they had one of each car in the range (almost), was that if it was my cash-in-hand i wouldn't buy any of them. At no point did I think, "I wonder how much it would cost to change?" and I'm a serial car changer, (its cost my lots over the years as you never win).

My own recent trip has resulted in another trip as I have a puddle on the floor after the thermostat change, great work VW!! But again its under warranty so its just a bit of an inconvenience to get it sorted. Hopefully you have more success Yusee!

It was also disappointing VW dropped the nav traffic, I use carplay anyway but its not the point. VW traffic works perfectly well in Europe when on holiday but not in the UK. Yet our 2020 Fiesta, BMW 2016, and BMW 2021 all seemed to have live traffic that functions normally.

I think I will go for a years full warranty cover for £500 and leave it at that.  I have a trusted mech/garage who fits what I want how I want (I'm pretty anal about that) and he will be doing my MOT today. Dealer will only see the car for warranty work.

 

[Yusee]

@EB2019,

There were only 4 cars in the showroom- it’s actually a pretty big dealership.

Polo, id3, i can’t even remember the other 2.

I had no inclination to open the door and sit inside- let alone ever think about buying any of them.

I think your general point is absolutely right- car makers are taking a “white goods” approach to car manufacturing. Gone are the days that each manufacturer brought something different and interesting.

Servicing is a whole different issue. Can’t complain about the quality of work at my dealership-i quite meticulously check after every visit- but much of it is unnecessary (and expensive!).

[P6GTD]

All v interesting. I’ve said for some time cars are being sold now as a domestic appliance……and driven that way too!!

Talking to dealer sales staff recently left me with the thought that the 40k tax the stills is hitting VW very hard because they are right in that bracket of “not cheap cars but not expensive luxury either”

So Dacia can ignore the 40k tax and so can BMW and MB…… but the threshold hits VW right in the guts.

[P6GTD]

the stills = threshold!!!!