So after paying between £30,000 - £35,000 on a brand new golf R you'd expect Volkswagen dealerships to worship your car like it was their own.
If you think this ... You're wrong.
Took my MK6 to a dealership ( stealers ) in the North West couple of weeks ago whilst some work was carried out on my car, the work was only due to take an hour or two, so I've gone for a wander around to try and find a burger van.
As I've gone for my mooch, I noticed a Golf R in the garage and decided to snap a photo ( my mate had just ordered one from the same dealership so I was basically just sending him a photo to wind him up because he has to wait until 2015 for his ).
Whilst snapping my photo, the 'mechanic' has taken the opportunity to rev hard ( from cold ) to impress his colleagues and myself, I've still got the photo of the car on the ramps, with the number plate leaning on the brand new unprotected paintwork.
After this, I decided to stick around to see what else they would do to this brand new £35,000 car, If you've ordered one of these and your awaiting delivery . . . you probably want to stop reading.
The mechanic decided to slap the trade plates on and take it for a little spin ( part of the PDI I'm told ). The mechanic roared out of the garage and out of the dealership, to the main road, at this point, the mechanic turned onto the main road, stopped and I presume put it in race mode and floored it as if to test the 0 - 62 for himself ( on a car still in the wrapping ). As he did this I stood with my head in my hands, wondering how I was going to explain this to my friend who had JUST moments before been advised that his order had been delayed.
I text him to tell him what I was witnessing and awaited the mechanics return, the mechanic screamed into the car park, much to the amusement of his colleagues and proceeded to bump the car up a high kerb at approx 10 MPH, I must stress that this kerb is something that a new car should never see, even in my 2009 car, a speed of 1/2 a mile an hour is probably too much and proceeded to drive the car at around 10MPH down a muddy hill to where Volkswagen seem to deem it appropriate to leave brand new cars.
I must add at this point, the trade plates that were hanging on the back of the vehicle were slamming against the car, potentially damaging the vehicle, however I didn't check the condition of the vehicle after the mechanic had stopped the abuse.
At the bottom of the hill, and after not finding a space big enough to fit the car in, the mechanic turned the car round rather aggressively and proceeded to accelerate back to the top of this hill, whilst near the top, the mechanic hopped out and left the car ( still running ) whilst he walked approx 75 ft back to the main building.
The mechanic left the car running for approx 10 minutes before his return, much to my annoyance, someone has been waiting for that car for months, and it could have gone in seconds due to the sheer laziness of this mechanic. The mechanic then proceeded to get back in the car, and bump it back down the raised kerb, again, at a speed that no car should ever have to endure whilst going down a kerb.
One or two of these photos have already been leaked onto this forum by my friend, but a user said they were 'over exaggerated' I can assure you these where not.
I have spoken to Stephen Elliot ( cscretailercontacts@volkswagen.co.uk ) in Volkswagen Head office who is aware of the abuse these cars are enduring so he is aware, but didn't seem concerned in the slightest, adding that each dealership operates individually and that there is nothing we can do, so in essence, your buying a Volkswagen car, paying £35,000, and in return, Volkswagen trained mechanics are thrashing your car about during the breaking in period, and smashing it around the dealerships in a time attack style.
My friend put on his delivery notes that Volkswagen were not to touch the car ( not wash it not anything ) however, after seeing the photos I've taken and having listened to me, he has since contacted Volkswagen and has advised the dealership that he wants to be there when the vehicle is unloaded from the transporter, and he wants to be there for the pdi check, and has instructed them that he will arrange transport from the dealership to his home for the car so he can unwrap it himself.
Just be warned guys and probably have a word with the dealership you've got your car on order from and I'd recommend taking a day off work just so you know that your car isn't being abused.
