kipperbailey

Hi all, I not so recently migrated to a VW Golf from a Fabia vRS (and have regretted letting go of it ever since). Largely the Golf has been non-problematic, but recently I've been having issues. It all started on a local trip, I went through some surface water (nothing out of the ordinary, but more than the car has seen for a while due to it being sat). After that, I parked up and went to the shop, then got back and about 25 mins in to my return journey, the car start violently shuddering on start stop. As in, when it started up again - it shuddered violently, as if the engine was not held firm. Start-stop has not worked since on the car. I then took it to a local garage, who said there was 'a few error codes on it' but they looked in to it and couldn't find anything wrong. They said if it was shuddering, this suggested a gearbox problem which would be a VW issue and something they couldn't consider themselves. I then took it to VW, and on the first day they said there was no faults to be found and there was nothing wrong. However, I wasn't very pleased that this was the case as there is a few issues, start stop being one and the shuddering being the other. The garage then offered to keep it overnight and to kick it up in the morning if anything happened differently then. After doing so, the garage rang back and said yes, it is shuddering on start up - but it stops quickly thereafter. They said in the first instance this was likely to be the 'flywheel', which regretfully means very little to me. I asked what this meant, and they said it meant 'removing the gearbox, which in and of itself would cost £600'. I then said well what else could it be, what else would need to be done and what their advice was. They said as follows: it could be the cold; the clutch would need to be replaced; and finally, they said they would 'leave it until May', which seems a little vague. I did say the car is only 3.5 years old and surely this issue would be covered by warranty or similar as this shouldn't be occurring after 32k miles. The garage said that was not the case, and that was it. I therefore wondered whether anyone might be able to shed some light on this? Shuddering on startup, then start stop not working? Does this sound flywheel related? Or could it just be that it is cold, and it isn't being driven very far at the moment. Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Kipper.

According to this it doesn't need to be touched then - as only the front left wheel is off kilter!

Freelunch I'm with you - I don't 'rely on' either of the technologies that supposedly would stop me. I think it's kicked in once when it was actually useful. I think as you say - wheel alignment is much more useful.. And keeping a foot near the brake is always best practice. It sounds all unnecessary to me. I'll have it redone at somewhere independent, as you say - wheel alignment is arguably far more important.

I completely agree, a minor adjustment? To me it just sounds like technicalities gone mad. Obviously from the post above it is VAG standard practice to advise the procedure is done whenever A, B or C is carried out. But that sounds to me like a license to print money... The wheel alignment is off 0.2 degrees. It surely can't be viewing cars at a different side if that is all that is altered..

I asked this on the phone. The argument proposed to me was 'if it is out of kilter [no degree was given to me as to how much is required to be out for this] the car may see a car to the left of you and believe it is in front of you instead and slam the brakes on or slow down if on adaptive cruise braking sharply to avoid a potential collision'. The issue is, how much out does it need to be for that to happen? For me, for the car to see a car on the left (or right) and believe it was in front of me surely it would need to be off a fair few degrees...?

I'm going to follow your lead here I think. Sounds a pointless wallet emptying exercise to me.

Having spoken to the dealership again this morning, they have told me that the passenger side wheel alignment is out by 0.2 degrees and therefore they recommend the wheel alignment and calibration. They seemed to have been much more prepared to have a full explanation of why it was required this morning too, they went on to say that it goes off the way the steering wheel is pointing and the way the wheels are going - so if I have realignment done elsewhere then it won't all be lined up like it should be. This was of course after I told them not to do the work and that I'd be taking it elsewhere to check it over and realign it. I cannot see from any of the posts on this topic or anywhere else that it needs doing (the camera recalibration). To me it sounds like utter nonsense. As you say Warrior - I think they are pitching for me to pay unnecessary expensive work. They said their advice was to leave it for a few thousand miles to see how the tyre is going (as in if it is burning off one side) bring it back to be checked and if it is they can do the camera calibration. This just sounds like utter nonsense to me. I've really never heard anything like it. It puts you off buying cars with this technology on them if every pothole is going to (in their theoretical world) cost you £430..

Thank you Peter K. It certainly doesn't align with anything that they say I'm requiring!

Thank you Warrior.... I thought the exact same. How on earth can it need to be recalibrated? I think they tried scaremongering me when they said my ACC/Auto braking wouldn't work.. but. What scares me much more is finding £432... Thanks again!

I understand this topic has gone cold recently - but I remembered seeing it when I posted a while back so I Google searched it and it came up. I have had exactly the same issue - rang VW and they have said that realignment of the front two wheels will result in a need for the camera that controls ACC to be recalibrated at a cost of £360 (plus VAT I assume). Now I asked a lot of questions and they were happy to answer them, feasibly because of the enormous cost. Happy to report back on some of the answers I received. I asked whether it needed to be done and the answer was well yes, if it is out then it needs to be recalibrated. Which I find to be very difficult to believe, I posed the question that as we live in an area with more holes in the road than cars on the road - how is this a reality? Every time I leave the house the wheels get a knock on one side or the other and on occasion they do have to be realigned because a larger pothole has knocked them off their stride more than usual. So the answer was, well if it has been knocked off a lot then yes it would need to be recalibrated. When I asked why I got the following answer 'the camera calibrates as the car is going along and moving and is constantly recalibrating. Therefore if we realign the wheels we need to recalibrate the camera to be in line with the wheels'. This to me just sounds madness. I cannot for the life of me believe that everyone has them done. So again I pressed and said - what have other people done? The gentleman (who seemed to have never-ending patience) said that they have people come in with them slightly off kilter but they decide to leave the recalibration of the camera because of the expense. BUT with the caveat that they will not realign wheels without doing the recalibration. To me this sounds absolutely farcical. Having also rang a local tyre place - they had never heard of all of the above. I think he thought I was talking mumbo jumbo and told me to ring VWUK to confirm it all. The fact local tyre dealers have never heard of this shocks me, as under EU competition law I'm pretty sure (not sure sure) that all dealers should be able to have access to the technology - and if not the technology to do this, the information required. Some may say this is farfetched, but the EU legislator has sought to quash firms having monopoly over something or in fact tying you to a certain place. But anyway I'm not an expert and I have neither the time nor the patience to look up the relevant guidelines after a few recent cases shook stuff up somewhat... Just wondering - has anyone had VAG Motors done without having the camera recal'd? I plainly can't afford to have it done, so it won't be happening.

Thanks SurreyJohn, it's that peace of mind I'm after if I'm honest. at 6 months old the in car entertainment system went down which was around £800, of course it was under warranty. It's hits like that I'm keen to avoid! Thanks for the input, it is much appreciated.

Thanks! I've been a bit worried about large bills such as the one you mention, but your experience sounds to have been top notch. I don't blame you for worrying about the pano roof, but glad you didn't have any issues! I hope it all goes well with the used Fabia, I've missed mine since I got rid of it - and regretted selling it too!

Just wanted to update the topic - if after a long period of absence! I decided to sell my vRS, which I was absolutely gutted about doing. I've regretted/missed it ever since. When I got my new car, I was genuinely disappointed in nearly everything about it. The vRS takes some living up to. I recently looked at buying another but the reality is I still do a lot of miles. I'd love to hear what everyone else has done with their vRS's and if they've sold them on, what did you move on to? And how has it stacked up to the vRS? I'd especially love to hear if anyone has tried any other hot hatch and what they think of it!

Hi all, I've currently got a VW Golf that's coming up to two years old which is on a finance agreement. I really like the car and would like to keep it (if I can refinance it). My only concern is, in 12 months it will run out of warranty. I have looked at the VW Extended warranty which can be purchased for 12 months. I just wondered if anyone had any experience of these extended warranties with the VAGroup? Or if anyone has any general advice on Golf's and whether they are a (relatively) good car for running for a few years out of warranty. I know nothing runs perfectly - but I'd just like some peace of mind! I'd appreciate any help/guidance anyone can give. Thanks, KB

Haha I think we are all guilty of the old lead footing. Thanks for the replies guys - I just found out I'm still in negativity equity after 2 years.. Wonderful

Got a bit of news on the policy front, after much debating the dealership have finally decided it's time to give me my money back! Proper result in my eyes, the stupid thing is if they'd have sold me the right policy this would have never come around. I think this is a lesson, always stand your ground - as I did, I didn't give em' an inch.

Have to say I've never returned more than 350 on a tank of Tesco's finest.. 400 is brilliant!! But my usual run isn't long, 10 miles all country lanes..

Im on the same deal, what do you think yours will be worth end of term? I think my buy back is 5700 (thinking it'd have 52k miles on which it most surely won't). Have thought about the buy back but I agree - a lot will depend on what it's worth.. CAP values are quite low, but not sure whether they're right as the market is never flooded with vRS's. I think the TDI is quit quick isn't it?? HP was such an expensive option for me I couldn't afford to do it, no apologies I should have said what are you doing with your Fabia at the end of your contract - I just put vRS as that's what I've got. A new Octavia vRS sounds tasty though!!

Haha sounds like an airship - brilliant. Bad about the mileage though.. What mpg does your vRS return?? I think the mpg rates may have an impact on what people end up doing with their vRS at the end of their contracts etc....

actually the same round here - my father in law has an R and I see so many. I asked him what he thought and he said the deal he got was only about another 40 quid a month into the gti price so was a no brainier for him. I did think about re financing mine.. I don't know what to do.. I'm not sure if they're going to hold their value or? Them little eco sports can be quite nippy can't they?? Still I see your point!!

I've not seen a Cupra either - theyre such a brilliant car too the little vRS.m I bet you got a much better deal than I did if you paid cash!

Hi all, I was just wondering what people are planning to do with their cars once the finance or what not runs out (if you have any) on the car? Are you keeping it longer term or getting rid? I know I'm planning to buy mine off of the finance (pay the balloon payment) but not sure whether this is my best option.. I don't know what the market is like for mk2 vRS now.. I know if they release another the market will surely change.. Interested to hear what people's plans are...

Thanks James0james, I did change it actually after putting it on here, he's not emailed back yet but I'll certainly let you know what happens when he does. I'm standing my ground though, the policy isn't fit for purpose. And I want my money back...

Thanks for the reply... I will reply with the saying that I have no confidence in the product after this instance and would prefer a full refund.... I will get back to you on the replies..

I've finally received a reply from the people who sold me the insurance product. They've now offered to 'upgrade my cover free of charge so it will cover my car' effectively a new policy by the sounds of it. Do I still have a case to say I would prefer a refund? As I was initially mis sold this policy and would rather not have the policy at all.