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Showing posts with label volkswagen golf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label volkswagen golf. Show all posts

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Sunday Special: The Volkswagen Golf is 40

10:26 PM 0
Yes. The Volkswagen Golf has gotten old. First launched a good forty years ago it has gone to be Europe's favourite smal car and those that aspiring Malaysians want to be seen in before they can afford Audi, BMW or Mercedes Benz. Anyway, here is a pictorial of all seven generations of the iconic, little (but not any more) hatchback.



Mk 1

Mk II
This folks, is my personal favourite Golf. The size is just right for a hot hatch - and light in weight too.
Mk III
Golf Harlequin edition - no..not for normal people.
Mk IV
This is when the Golf gained weight even though it looked decently good. But engine technology wasn't there yet. Even the GTI was a slow pudgy animal. First of the warbling VR5 and VR6s though. 
Mk V
Golf got its mojo back. GTI gets the DSG box and a turbocharged engine. Handled well and was pretty fast. However it was complex to build and cost VW abit.
Mk VI
As good to drive as the previous one, but cheaper to build for VW. Some quality issues for the lower powered DSG models and in the end, to me that is, came and went pretty quickly.
Mk VII
After 40 years - a lower, wider looking Golf. Huge compared to where it came from, but still very relevant today. Best looking over the last three generations. 
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Thursday, March 6, 2014

More Volkswagen Tales of Woe - Facebook community survey results and some comments

7:42 AM 0
There is a Facebook group that was started by a group of Malaysian Volkswagen owners who are extremely disappointed (to say the least) by the supposedly appalling after-sales service quality over at Volkswagen Malaysia. I am not surprised as I have written a couple or so times as regards how unreliable VW cars have been in recent years. you can have a look at the group here.



As a recap, it would seem that any VW with the DSG transmission and some TSI engines (mainly the smaller turbocharged direct injected 1.2 liter engine and the 1.4liter turbocharged and supercharged engine from the previous Golf TSI are in question). have reliability issues. The DSG suffers from the part that controls gearchanges or the mechanical-electronic (mechatronic) controller and the engine suffers from excessive engine oil consumption, more than a liter every two weeks is expensive if you know what I mean. I personally only recommend Volkswagens to my enemies and it seems appropriate to do so.

And so, I am now pleased to report to you a survey conducted by the chaps running the Facebook page - VW DSG 7 Defects Community. 163 people entered it and this folks, is what came of it:


About 163 people took part in the survey. Incidently the Facebook group mentioned herein had over that 1,200 Likes, so close to 15% took part in the survey. Most of them who took part were cars 2010 or younger and a majority were the Golf 1.4TSI and Polo 1.2TSI owners. More than half suffered DSG issues and about 11% suffered engine issues. Holy Crap. 
(Actual findings will be shown at a later date, after an event stated below)

On a personal note, I know of only two reliable VW owners. Both Polo owners, one a 1.2TSI and the other an earlier, very reliable manual, non-TSI Polo GTI  1.8 (which is in and out of the workshop due to the owner's ambition of making it into an extremely fast hatchback - and failing). I know of a two year old Passat owner who has has three batteries installed in his Passat - luckily under warranty as a Varta battery costs over RM1,500 from the dealer and has a serial number that HAS TO BE KEYED IN after the change. He also suffered initial DSG software issues and is contemplating of going back to his old Mercedes C-Class. I have driven a friend's Golf 1.4TSI with DSG issues, which makes the car seriously bad in traffic. I have a friend who is close to a VW-Audi specialist workshop and he states that every week at least two VWs go in for a mechatronic controller change, that costs thousands. So, personally, my ratio of satisfied VW customers and those that are suffering (to some extent) is at 50:50. This is actually quite bad as Proton has less issues than this.

Speaking about Proton, Volkswagen is actually the Proton of Germany. I have said time and time again that if you bought a Volkswagen, translated from German as 'People's Car', is actually the entry level German car. Yes, you get better material quality, the dashboard and controls are all nice but in reality the company will treat you as buying a bread and butter car. You are not buying actual designer products here. You are buying highstreet fashion here at the very most. 

What some of the insiders have told me is that the people over in VW (aside from being filled with corporate bureaucracy that is slow to react to change) is that they actually treat the car as basic or entry level. And with entry level this would mean entry level quality of servicing, parts and so on. You must tell yourself that YOU ARE NOT BUYING AN AUDI. You are buying the Proton of Germany. 

Like Proton, some of their products are indeed performance bargains (Golf GTI, CC, Scirocco) at the price offered and are very, very, very good to drive, but.... that is all fine and dandy IF they all work as they supposed to most of the time instead of checking in and out of the service center most of the time. Oh, and to rub it in even a defective Proton Preve is more reliable than a Golf TSI these days. Volkswagen seems to be worse that owning an Alfa Romeo. It's like participating in an unlucky draw instead of a lucky draw with VW these days. 

Furthermore, note that VW Malaysia do not actually give 5 years of warranty. The last few years of their warranty is covered under an insurance company. If you suffer a warranty issue after the first two or three years, you send your ailing VW to the service center and you wait till they send over an insurance adjuster to decide whether the issue is covered under your warranty. I imagine an accident claims adjuster coming in and deciding whether a faulty part is faulty or otherwise. There is inexperience and there is the fact that the claim may take longer than usual because it relies on an external party. Yes, honestly, what the heck is this? 

Do you see Mercedes Benz doing that? Do you even see Honda Malaysia doing that? Both companies give 5 years MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. I do suggest you folks out there pay attention to warranty these days as cars nowadays are incredibly complex pieces of metal. Too complicated in fact. Do you know that any car made today may have more computing power and computers than the space shuttle? 

And as a conclusion, some VW owners in Malaysia are suffering. On two faults. One, because of really shitty service protocols and a don't really care too much attitude and secondly, buying a highly priced Proton just because its German. If you went and bought a Proton Inspira 2.0P none of this shit would happen. It is as Malaysian as sushi underneath. 

Oh, by the way, the group intends to give a memorandum of demand to the MD of VW Malaysia next Thursday 13th March 2014 at around 12.00pm-1.00pm at the VW Malaysia HQ in Bangsar. I hope things happen after this. Good things. Nothing bad okay. 
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Thursday, January 2, 2014

Spotted in the ads: Here's another reason why you should stay away from Volkswagen

7:32 PM 0
Happy 2014. Now as the first post of this year we bring you another tale of woe.

This advertisement on mudah.my caught a friend's end (thanks Ken). And here it is for all of you to read.
"For 1st year has send in for claims about 10 times, and 15 times in 24 months. All this model has same defects, aircond box malfunction, radiator fan, clutch, mechatronics and etc, which cant be solve even after replacement. Think 10 times before you decide to purchase Volkswagen. "



Note that this is the advert poster's remarks and not mine about the Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI that he is selling or in his own words "dump it soon". Caveat Emptor (or buyer beware). Run away folks. Head for the hills!!!! The horror!!!

From the original post link here (but it won't be on for long):
Address: lorong baru nilam 21g
Location: Selangor - Klang
Postcode: 41200
Condition: UsedPrice: RM 110 000Type: Hatchback
Make: VolkswagenModel: GolfTransmission: Both
Reg. year: 2011Manufactured year: 2011
Mileage: 50 000 - 54 999Engine Capacity: 1400 cc
Color Type: Metalic
Color:
Accessories: Solar Film, CD Player, Airbag driver, Airbag passenger, ABS Brakes, Sport rims, Alarm, Central lock, Adjustable steering
Warranty Information and Other Terms & Conditions:
Stiil have another 3 years warranty

Bought this new defect car from Volkswagen M'sia. For 1st year has send in for claims about 10 times, and 15 times in 24 months. All this model has same defects, aircond box malfunction, radiator fan, clutch, mechatronics and etc, which cant be solve even after replacement. Think 10 times before you decide to purchase Volkswagen. My car is on offer, please make your offer and i will dump it soon.
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Saturday, January 28, 2012

The Impreza 1.6TS after almost 7 years and a Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI

6:50 AM 0
It has been almost 7 years since I bought the little Scooby and right now it is acting its age. It had a whole lot of stuff done to it. Some maintenance (a top overhaul and a radiator change) and some modifications (shocks, pulleys, wheels, exhaust etc.). Whatever it is the car has performed admirably although it is currently in need of some new spark plug cables - it is misfiring currently and not surprisingly the official importer does not keep stock of the part. Singapore is the closest source and I therefore would be driving around with a stuttering car.

Anyway, some of you may ask how fast is a 1.6liter normally aspirated Subaru with 5 speed manual All-Wheel drive? 0-100km/h in about 8 seconds and about 200km/h. Most normal 1.6TS would do it in 12.5seconds and max out at about 175km/h. So it is an improvement nonetheless. NOT 0-100km/h in 5seconds like a WRX STI but note the standard car weighs 1,250kg (1,390kg STI) and mine has a lightened flywheel, crank pulley and it is 70kg lighter too. So it is a decent B-road blaster in my not so humble opinion.

Anyway, I recently drove a Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI recently and I am not really impressed. UNLESS your intention is buying an affordable German hatchback and not a GTI. Stay tuned folks.
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Friday, August 5, 2011

2012 Volkswagen Golf Gossip - It's Supposedly Sportier

10:12 PM 0
"And while journalism takes an ugly turn due to the mess concocted by the henchmen within the Rupert Murdoch media empire and while Lady Gaga still entertains us not with her songs but by her lack of clothing during her public appearances, Autocar UK has reported that the upcoming Mk7 Volkswagen Golf will look sportier than ever."


So the 2012 Golf Mk7 is supposed to be sportier. But a word of advice folks. It is still bound by the rules of Volkswagen and its design philosophy. It isn't going to be a Lancia Delta Integrale any time soon. Sigh. 


Click here to read about it. It is also posted over at MyAutoblog.org. What can I say? They welcome my stuff over there! Enjoy.
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