Arthur Russell <atr@REMOVE CAPS AND INVALIDbellatlantic.netINVALID> wrote

Because the dealers and their "techs" are rewarded for fast work not
quality work- the faster they do the job the more profit they make.
You would think VW would counter this by rewarding dealers for quality
work, but this does not seem to be the case. As a VW owner since 1985
I can personally attest to VW's crap dealer service. I've tried
almost all the dealers in my area and they all suck. Some recent
examples from 1999 VW Passat V6:

1. My car came with "free maintenance" (read 4 free oil changes) for
the first 24,000 miles. Afterwards I changed the oil myself. First
time I changed the oil I noticed the plastic belly pan under the car
was missing 1 nut and 2 fasteners. Later when I had some warranty
work done I mentioned the missing fasteners. When I picked up the car
they said they didn't see anything missing. I looked under the front
of my car and showed the service advisor the missing nut. He said the
mechanics had left and to bring it back and they would fix it while I
waited. I was really ticked off. Something so very minor and they
can't even get it right. As I was walking back to my car to leave, I
noticed something on the ground. I picked it up and it was a nut with
a built in washer. To my amazement, it fit the bolt securing the
belly pan. I actually fixed my own car in the parking lot of the
dealer!

2. I had the dealer replace my front brakes. I asked the dealer if I
could supply my own brake pads because I didn't like the VW pads that
came with the car (they caused a lot of brake dust turning my alloys
black). To their credit, they said fine. When I picked up the car
they warn me the pads I supplied didn't fit very well and they
recommended sticking with the VW pads. I take the car as is and the
first time I use the brakes I was like WTF??? The brakes made a
strange vibrating sound and their effectiveness was half of what it
should be. It was criminal of them to even let this car drive off the
lot. They took a car that had worn brakes but still stopped fine and
"fixed it" to the point where it would barely stop at all! The next
day I bring it to Meineke and surprise, surprise, they tell me the
pads were not installed correctly.

So, I here you brother. If they can't replace a cabin air filter
without crushing it, how can you trust them to perform an important
engine repair? (Answer: you can't). In my case if they couldn't be
trusted to replace the fasteners they removed for an oil change how
can I trust them with my a critical item like my brakes? (Answer: I
can't).

Your stories sound familiar to me too. I didn't mention the small stuff
like the belly pan - it makes me think of the engine cover on my car. After
the dealer (Bedford MA) did the last "free" service, I had a look under the
hood and noticed that the cosmetic cover for the air cleaner/intake
assembly looked like it had been stepped on and slid across the floor. Not
cracked, just scratched and scuffed. For all my other cars (bought used) no
big deal, but come on...this car was still flawless. I didn't complain, but
whatever!

And as a final affront, when I got the 20k mile service done we were close
to the 2-year mark and I really wanted them to cover flushing the brake
fluid (the 2-year part of the interval). I thought I was being smart taking
it in slightly after the 2-year mark to avoid "VW won't cover the brake
fluid flush, that's due at two years." I was dumb. Instead they said VW
wouldn't cover ANY OF IT, since it had been over 2-years (outside the free
maintenance interval). It's 2yrs/20k miles whichever comes first. I got to
pay for it all!

Now I have a good independent shop. I don't care what they charge. They are
honest and do good work. I am sorry for the techs that work for VW and are
forced to do crappy work. F*ck VW.

With that said, I'm a glutton for punishment and am thinking of getting a
2nd Passat...this time the wagon. I'll never learn,

Arthur

Steve Foy wrote:
< >