Expensive bill :-(

[MarcoPolo]

The GTI decided to snap it's offside front spring last Friday. Luckily we weren't at motorway speeds because the snapped off coil had a razor sharp edge, which could easily have pierced the tyre and caused a blow out

So we dropped it off to the dealer as it's 50K service was due anyway and they've billed us £750 for the spring, service and cambelt I do all my own servicing and work, so that came as a shock. The missus just paid it as she likes her dealer stamps and doesn't like waiting. Fair enough I suppose!

I'm a long term fan of VW, but I'm really annoyed with them at the moment and wondering why they deserve my continued loyalty. Quality is reducing and prices are increasing, and they're obsoleting a lot of the parts for my Corrado to try and force me to buy a new car from them, which sucks. Not a happy chappy

The missus was considering selling the GTI as we're not impressed with it's reliability thus far, or it's woeful fuel economy (35mpg my arse) but since we've just sunk that much cash into it, we're going to hang onto it. Which means I can start modding it as it's out of warranty

That's all really, just felt like ranting about VW

[GuyGTi]

Ugh Crap that Unlucky budy. 50K service and already getting a Timing Belt? I thought it was 60k? im on 54 and havent had it done..... Ooo dear.
You should get a map as i often see 35mpg on motorway even 43mpg (using cruise control) can get it better without CC but my foot gets sore!

[Gillen]

Unlucky about the bill

What average mpg are you actually getting?

I easily get 35mpg when driving 'normally' and high 20's/low 30's when a few spirited miles are thrown in. Easily get into mid 40's on motorway journeys. This is with a Stage 1 remap.

[MarcoPolo]

Hey chaps

Ah... was the belt not due yet then? I just saw "cambelt" on the service pricing board next to "longlife service 2" at the dealer, so assumed the two were done together. Ooops! The dealer didn't say it didn't need doing either, so we were none the wiser! As I say, I never get my cars dealer serviced so it's all new to me Oh well, it's done now I guess!

Car is completely standard and on average we get about 27-28mpg out of it, which really surprised us as my mate's R32 only does a couple less and it's 1500kg and 3.2 litre!!

I've vag-com'd it and there's no fault codes. Maybe mpg will improve now it's been serviced as I noticed the spark plugs appeared to be the originals and had mighty big gaps just before we took it in, plus the filter was pretty black.
I'll keep an eye on it. Sounds like a remap is worthwhile just for improved economy alone!

[gti-joe]

Unlucky about the bill

What average mpg are you actually getting?

I easily get 35mpg when driving 'normally' and high 20's/low 30's when a few spirited miles are thrown in. Easily get into mid 40's on motorway journeys. This is with a Stage 1 remap.

Dito here on the MPG with the stage one, remap is the way forward.

[MarcoPolo]

I forgot to say the dealer didn't bother to realign the geometry after changing the spring either, and handed the car back to us with it pulling hard to the left and the steering wheel out off centre. Nice.

On top of that, I think they have over tightened the new cambelt as the engine whine is louder and a different pitch. I'll get the missus's stethoscope onto the cam cover later.

Time to find a new dealer me thinks.

Sorry for the boring content by the way, I know it's not interesting like remaps and lowering etc, but just a warning for you guys to tread carefully with dealers. The workmanship is bloody awful at some of them.

Will look into the Remap, I know Vince at Stealth well and he said he's got some Polo maps I can try, so cheers guys.

[RUM4MO]

I would not worry about maybe wasting money by changing the belt early, that way you know that you will get the use out of the change, pity if they over tightened it though - that does not sound right! Not checking and adjusting the suspension after changing bits on these cars is a bit annoying as you will probably end up with scrapping some tyres. Dealer prices along with duff workmanship, sounds like a bad combination - but it happens!! I was crossing the road the other day and saw the end of a rear spring lying on the road - there is a lot of it about!

I hear that my local dealer is trying it on right now, I hope for my Passat's sake that this is not true! Just remember the Polo 9N is built on a Skoda platform - so maybe that is the problem.