New No. 1 car maker in the world is... Volkswagen! - Page 2

Vette Boss · November 6th, 2009, 5:17 AM

I can only hope this isn't a huge ego high for VW and it makes them go the same way as Toyota. The Passat is a great car, not because VW makes more, but because they make less and actually pay attention to the details.

Their dealerships aren't the best, either. When I took my car in for an oil change, my car just sat there for 30 minutes while the bloke at the desk made personal calls, instead of finishing up the paperwork.

Hidden_Hunter · November 6th, 2009, 5:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tone76

In Australia, they hire the snootiest people they can find. When I was car shopping last year, I looked at the Polo GTI and the bird at the dealership treated me like I was some kind of peasant. I was expecting her to say 'go away little man, and come back and see me when you can afford an Audi'. images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

That was my experience as well, the dealership at Burwood in Victoria is shit.

Polly · November 6th, 2009, 9:16 AM

Great. Now built that Roadster you've been teasing us for years.

klankymen · November 6th, 2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by argatoga

Over here VWs are crap for reliability and expensive to repair. Not a good combo.

Not just over there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawk

And now that they are number one, I am obliged to hate them. Isn't that what popular sentiment calls for?

I'm at least a year ahead of you!

NooDle · November 6th, 2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polly

Great. Now built that Roadster you've been teasing us for years.

This

MacGuffin · November 6th, 2009, 5:14 PM

I have a strong love/hate relationship with VW, too: I love their cars but I hate their dealers/garages.

I have been driving VW's and Audis for almost 20 years now and I could write a book about the troubles I had with VW dealers, their incompetence, arrogance and the ridiculous amounts of money they got from me.

The problem is: You are only treated well there, if you are a good customer. Good customer means that you should have bought a new car there or at least make the impression that you might buy one in the future. If you are considered worthy of the effort, you are being treated like a king but if you come there with an older car that hasn't been bought there, you are 2nd class.

That's why I usually avoid going there, when I have repairs. For example a simple change of tires costs about twice as much, as in an independent but nevertheless equally competent garage like A.T.U. I only go to VW, if there is an emergency and I have to use my credit card.

Funny thing is: Ever since I paid a repair bill with my Amex Gold Card there, I received advertising letters from that garage in the mail. I didn't get that, when I "only" paid cash. Also suddenly I was called on the phone by some nice lady from a customer survey, who asked me questions about the service quality. I have been honest with her and suddenly I don't get any letters in the mail anymore images/smilies/lol.gif

Coincidence?

Also I didn't get the test drive in the Golf GTI, for which I showed interest in Spring of this year. Some bloke from the dealer called me in May and said that currently there were no GTI's for test drives available and if they could call me again later -- now it's November and nobody ever called again. If they ever do, I intend to tell them that I already bought a Ford Focus RS images/smilies/biggrin.gif

shad_68 · November 6th, 2009, 7:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacGuffin

competent garage like A.T.U.

That's a bold claim. images/smilies/tongue.gif

At least the ATU in my vicinity has shown enough incompetence and/or rip-off tactics that I wouldn't entrust them even with a bobby car.

MacGuffin · November 6th, 2009, 7:26 PM

The A.T.U. here is extremely considerate, competent and service-oriented. But I guess there are black sheep everywhere.

Cobol74 · November 6th, 2009, 7:29 PM

Customer Service can be down to one individual in an organisation who is "bloody minded" or "goes out of his way to assist" ones view can forever be coloured by this act.

MacGuffin · November 6th, 2009, 7:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobol74

Customer Service can be down to one individual in an organisation who is "bloody minded" or "goes out of his way to assist" ones view can forever be coloured by this act.

Exactly. I'm working in customer service myself and I know, how much one false information or a simple agent error can ruin the trust of a customer completely. It is very hard to convince someone, that it was just an isolated glitch and that it won't happen again.

And of course as it is in many cases, one mistake attracts the next one almost inevitably.

nsx_23 · November 6th, 2009, 9:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

That was my experience as well, the dealership at Burwood in Victoria is shit.

Barloworld? They're the worst by a long shot. Tried to screw us over when my sister bought her jetta.

The problem here in Aus is most european cars are often driven by cocks, so the dealerships act like cocks and expect everyone to just pay full price on a car.

AiR · November 6th, 2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobol74

Customer Service can be down to one individual in an organisation who is "bloody minded" or "goes out of his way to assist" ones view can forever be coloured by this act.

Yet VW manages to come in at a solid last place in terms of aftersale customer satisfaction everywhere. It must be something more profound if the same situation occurs in both Sweden, Australia, Germany, USA etc.

This is AutoIndex, a Scandinavian survey, the graph is for customer relations only. Notice the bottom triplets. And Skodas position. In my town at least, Skoda is separate from the VW-Audi place. The VW people need to be sent on a Czech charm course.

Cold Fussion · November 6th, 2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsx_23

Barloworld? They're the worst by a long shot. Tried to screw us over when my sister bought her jetta.

The problem here in Aus is most european cars are often driven by cocks, so the dealerships act like cocks and expect everyone to just pay full price on a car.

Barloworld is the one in five dock isn't it? If so they have some cocks, not least of which is the manager. He stood firm on a 7k trade price for my dads xr8 and consequently, he lost the sale to another vw dealer who were willing to buy out the remainder of the lease. That vw is qctually quite nice and they buy you lunch when you buy a car images/smilies/tongue.gif

nsx_23 · November 7th, 2009, 12:44 AM

We only went to barloworld because they were close by. My sister and her fiance get a big discount on all VWs thanks to her medical association thingy, so yeah. I think they got almost 10K off the price of their new R36 wagon, but this time they went to a much nicer VW dealer. Got to test drive some other cars as well whilst we were there. Very friendly staff.

Dealerships are very much on and off. Holden has some the cockiest salespeople from my experience.

Dr_Grip · November 7th, 2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AiR

The VW people need to be sent on a Czech charm course.

"Czech charm course" sounds like some cold war code word for Bond-villain style torture/slow, painful death.

AiR · November 8th, 2009, 12:07 PM

Why yes and then they could repopulate the dealerships with new and serviceminded people! images/smilies/biggrin.gif

IceBone · November 8th, 2009, 12:51 PM

Didn't read the article, but is this just VW or the entire VAG concern?

Cobol74 · November 8th, 2009, 12:56 PM

Be all of VAG I suspect. Toyota plus Lexus and GM all constituent brands etc.

katwalk · November 8th, 2009, 1:20 PM

oddy enough my car works rather well and my nearby dealers keep giving me discounts on it when it does break images/smilies/lol.gif

One actually said "Oh your warranty is up, that is ok , we will extend it for you!" images/smilies/blink.gif

November 6th, 2009, 5:17 AM	#21
Vette Boss Joined: Nov 14th, 2004 Last Online: 1:42 AM Location: United States, Britain, in time Age: 24 Posts: 3,807 Car: 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T Rep Power: 82	I can only hope this isn't a huge ego high for VW and it makes them go the same way as Toyota. The Passat is a great car, not because VW makes more, but because they make less and actually pay attention to the details. Their dealerships aren't the best, either. When I took my car in for an oil change, my car just sat there for 30 minutes while the bloke at the desk made personal calls, instead of finishing up the paperwork. __________________ 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T. Das Auto

November 6th, 2009, 9:16 AM	#23
Polly wants a cracker Joined: Dec 9th, 2006 Last Online: March 7th, 2010 Posts: 2,471 Rep Power: 221	Great. Now built that Roadster you've been teasing us for years. __________________ Testicles. That is all.

November 6th, 2009, 5:14 PM	#26
MacGuffin Joined: Mar 29th, 2008 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Sludge Town, Land Of The Free, Germany Age: 44 Posts: 2,592 Car: VW Golf IV 1.6 Rep Power: 130	I have a strong love/hate relationship with VW, too: I love their cars but I hate their dealers/garages. I have been driving VW's and Audis for almost 20 years now and I could write a book about the troubles I had with VW dealers, their incompetence, arrogance and the ridiculous amounts of money they got from me. The problem is: You are only treated well there, if you are a good customer. Good customer means that you should have bought a new car there or at least make the impression that you might buy one in the future. If you are considered worthy of the effort, you are being treated like a king but if you come there with an older car that hasn't been bought there, you are 2nd class. That's why I usually avoid going there, when I have repairs. For example a simple change of tires costs about twice as much, as in an independent but nevertheless equally competent garage like A.T.U. I only go to VW, if there is an emergency and I have to use my credit card. Funny thing is: Ever since I paid a repair bill with my Amex Gold Card there, I received advertising letters from that garage in the mail. I didn't get that, when I "only" paid cash. Also suddenly I was called on the phone by some nice lady from a customer survey, who asked me questions about the service quality. I have been honest with her and suddenly I don't get any letters in the mail anymore Coincidence? Also I didn't get the test drive in the Golf GTI, for which I showed interest in Spring of this year. Some bloke from the dealer called me in May and said that currently there were no GTI's for test drives available and if they could call me again later -- now it's November and nobody ever called again. If they ever do, I intend to tell them that I already bought a Ford Focus RS __________________ Last edited by MacGuffin; November 6th, 2009 at 5:17 PM.

November 6th, 2009, 7:26 PM	#28
MacGuffin Joined: Mar 29th, 2008 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Sludge Town, Land Of The Free, Germany Age: 44 Posts: 2,592 Car: VW Golf IV 1.6 Rep Power: 130	The A.T.U. here is extremely considerate, competent and service-oriented. But I guess there are black sheep everywhere. __________________

November 6th, 2009, 7:29 PM	#29
Cobol74 Joined: Mar 21st, 2006 Last Online: 12:45 AM Location: Southampton Posts: 9,642 Car: Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 TDI Slush box. Rep Power: 208	Customer Service can be down to one individual in an organisation who is "bloody minded" or "goes out of his way to assist" ones view can forever be coloured by this act. __________________ Lotus 7 Registration Mark = KAR120C : Engine Number = 461034 TZ Ross Brawn genius or what?

November 7th, 2009, 12:44 AM	#34
nsx_23 Joined: May 9th, 2009 Last Online: 2:12 AM Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,175 Car: 03 Toyota Echo 3DR Rep Power: 84	We only went to barloworld because they were close by. My sister and her fiance get a big discount on all VWs thanks to her medical association thingy, so yeah. I think they got almost 10K off the price of their new R36 wagon, but this time they went to a much nicer VW dealer. Got to test drive some other cars as well whilst we were there. Very friendly staff. Dealerships are very much on and off. Holden has some the cockiest salespeople from my experience. __________________ "If one does not fail at times, then one has not challenged himself." -Ferdinand Porsche "To discover the limits of the possible, go beyond them" - Arthur C Clarke "Be quick, be quiet, and be on time." - Clarence "Kelly" Johnson 03 Toyota Echo (Yaris) 3dr hatch - 5-speed and 1.3L of fury!!!

November 8th, 2009, 12:07 PM	#36
AiR Joined: Dec 19th, 2005 Last Online: 12:44 AM Location: Swedenland Posts: 4,195 Car: 2007 Astra Diesel Rep Power: 294	Why yes and then they could repopulate the dealerships with new and serviceminded people! __________________ BREAKING NEWS: Kim Jong Il wants 'More Cowbell' Ze Zeven Zpeed Zplaylist

November 8th, 2009, 12:51 PM	#37
IceBone Mrs. D-Fence Joined: Jan 14th, 2007 Last Online: 1:40 AM Location: Slovenistan Age: 25 Posts: 10,435 Rep Power: 277	Didn't read the article, but is this just VW or the entire VAG concern? __________________ Bridge to Gantry time: 11:07 Too pervy for the NSFW section.

November 8th, 2009, 12:56 PM	#38
Cobol74 Joined: Mar 21st, 2006 Last Online: 12:45 AM Location: Southampton Posts: 9,642 Car: Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 TDI Slush box. Rep Power: 208	Be all of VAG I suspect. Toyota plus Lexus and GM all constituent brands etc. __________________ Lotus 7 Registration Mark = KAR120C : Engine Number = 461034 TZ Ross Brawn genius or what?

November 8th, 2009, 1:20 PM	#39
katwalk Not A Dude Joined: Apr 1st, 2008 Last Online: January 12th, 2010 Posts: 4,575 Car: 2003 volkswagen beetle Cabriolet Rep Power: 238	oddy enough my car works rather well and my nearby dealers keep giving me discounts on it when it does break One actually said "Oh your warranty is up, that is ok , we will extend it for you!"

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