The trials and tribulations of a new owner

[andykram]

So we've had the R nearly a month so I thought I'd fill you all in on what has been an interesting time to say the least. With photos to boot!!
We got the car through a leasing company so it didn't come from a local dealer, rather from one from the southern part of an adjoining country well known for rugby and sheep!!



All seemed well. It's the wife'scar so she had to take delivery and do the checking over it so she got her boss to come round and help her. He's used to getting company cars delivered like this. Still, all seemed well, especially bearing in mind it arrived at 4 p.m. in the semi - dusk.
I got home and we went for a play. Still all was well and it seemed good to be back in a fast Golf after a year without my Mk6. Later I took it to the local Shell garage to fill it up. Whilst doing this under the bright white lights I could see scratches and swirls - lots of them.







Was I seeing things? Surely not on a brand new car? So I sent the pictures to my professional detailer who preps my Mk2 wh promptly comes round to check it over and pronounce it a disgrace. In daylight it didn't look too bad but under lights it was very bad and had clearly been very poorly prepped by the dealer. I immediately sent the photos to my chap at the leasing company who forwarded on to the dealer. Amazingly, their fleet manager admitted straight away it was poor and it should never have been allowed out.

A bit of to-ing and fro-ing ensued and they agreed to pay for a new car detail (probably because they got the money off the 3rd party valeter that the dealer used who cleaned it!!), the £215 it costs to set up Mirror Link and a boot liner. The leasing company guy has been spot on to be fair and has been on my side all along and, despite the hassle, the car came back from the detailer's today and is finally what it should have been all along.











So, in the end, a brilliant car that finally looks stunning. However, the same old story, a poor effort from the dealer delivering the car although resued somewhat by not arguing about the paint.
Time to enjoy it now I think!!!!

[vw spur]

Lovely car and and a fantastic colour, I'm glad you've now got it looking the way it should have been delivered to you in the 1st place. Also glad to hear it was all sorted without too much hassle as well.

I've got a new GTD on order and what you've been through is exactly what I'm afraid off, I've asked if a detailed I know can go on site at the dealer and prep the car after they have PDI'd the car, they say they will allow it now but I'm worried that may change come collection time.

If needs be ill just take the car without the dealer washing it and get it detailed after I collect it, but ideally I want it all done before I collect it.

[Booth11]

It shouldn't have been that way and I'm sure you'll never let a dealer prep your car again, as you say the car is now as it should have been from the outset and is looking absolutely stunning Hopefully now you and the wife can properly enjoy your R.

Letting the dealer prep your car is just not worth the risk IMO.  Some are better than others no doubt but you won't know until it's done and then suffer the consequences if they are crap, as you unfortunately found out. I had mine just remove the transport stickers (so they could properly PDI it), but leave everything else including the glue residue.  It was filthy, marker pen all over the windscreen and glue everywhere on pick up day, but I've never been more pleased to see a dirty car, haha, and more importantly the paintwork was swirl and scratch free.. Took it home and detailed it myself.

[kalimon]

I think I prefer the Golf on the right

[barrym381]

I think I prefer the Golf on the right

+1 on that and probably less of them about now although the r does look good 

[Booth11]

I love them both!

[andykram]

Your comments about dealer prepping are interesting. One of my comments at the time was something on the lines of "imagine if this was a £33k Jaguar or Lexus - would they let it out like that?". My detailer has worked for lots of people including an Aston Martin dealer and he said all dealers are the same, no matter how prestigious - none of them invest in proper detailing at the time of prep and PDI. So they all use two lads with a bucket and sponge scenario. The fleet manager himself said that no car gets a professional new car detail on delivery so I ought to be thankful they paid up.
Makes you think doesn't it - we could win the lottery, order a DB11 and still get scratches and swirls on.

As  side note, my detailer did a proper paint correction on the Mk2 last September and the paint is immaculate - there isn't a swirl in sight. Amazing what is possible on even a 25 year old car.

[dubber36]

I must have missed you getting the .:R Andy. I take it you still have the Passat?

Are you using your Mk2 much? I've still not had my engine bay done. To be honest, I've lost interest in the car. Perhaps making the effort to drive it rather than keeping it wrapped up in cotton wool would bring some love back.

[Mark V GTD]

As Andykram says above - the standard of prep here is perfectly normal for a main dealer and I'm surprised you got any compensation - but good on you for that!

Moral - never let a main dealer prep a car for you if its going to be your 'pride and joy'....

[Bubba Nutkin]

Hello, newbie here, with a GTI arriving probably in early April; not got the build date yet.  Two questions: 1) have you found dealers co-operate with the "please don't prep it" request? (mine's coming via JCB in Gillingham) and 2) roughly what would it cost to get the car professionally detailed once I get it home, assuming JCB haven't prepped it?
Thanks, Bubba.