Are VW Dealers the Worst?

[DGS49]

I love (some) Volkswagens. I've had a ton of them over the years, and had very few bad experiences with the cars. But VW dealers are another story entirely. They constantly try to screw their customers, and I think they must have the worst reputation of any brand.

I'm vacationing in Florida and my Golf All track wagon is due for an oil change, so I though, What the hell? I'll take it to the local VW dealer and get it done. I bought the car six months ago and it is in perfect shape.

I set up an appointment and arrive early, got written up, as the saying goes, and sat down in the waiting area. The first thing I noticed was the big sign on the wall of the write-up area, advertising how they will FINANCE your service bill(?). What? A little while later I hear a guy exclaiming to the write-up guy, "TWO THOUSAND dollars for a GASKET???" Whoa. That's interesting.

After waiting about 90 minutes for my oil change, I get a text message telling me about the NINE things that the service tech thinks my car needs right now, adding up to about $2,400...IN ADDITION TO my oil change. Wiper blades, car cabin air filter, spark plugs, 4-wheel alignment, and so forth. All the bullshit items that can be done any time, for a fraction of the cost in my garage - and I ain't no mechanic.

I went up to the counter and told The Dude that if the oil change was done, I wanted my car back. I did not overtly display any hostility, but it was obvious that he has experienced "people like me" in the past, and he knew not to try to sell me their worthless, exorbitant work.

I have been quoted absurd prices for new cars, extortionate prices for parts and service, and otherwise abused in VW dealerships over the years, and I have to think they are the worst, with the possible exceptions of "exotics" like Ferrari, Maserati, etc.

Any other candidates?

 

[Cellblock2429]

I love (some) Volkswagens. I've had a ton of them over the years, and had very few bad experiences with the cars. But VW dealers are another story entirely. They constantly try to screw their customers, and I think they must have the worst reputation of any brand.

I'm vacationing in Florida and my Golf All track wagon is due for an oil change, so I though, What the hell? I'll take it to the local VW dealer and get it done. I bought the car six months ago and it is in perfect shape.

I set up an appointment and arrive early, got written up, as the saying goes, and sat down in the waiting area. The first thing I noticed was the big sign on the wall of the write-up area, advertising how they will FINANCE your service bill(?). What? A little while later I hear a guy exclaiming to the write-up guy, "TWO THOUSAND dollars for a GASKET???" Whoa. That's interesting.

After waiting about 90 minutes for my oil change, I get a text message telling me about the NINE things that the service tech thinks my car needs right now, adding up to about $2,400...IN ADDITION TO my oil change. Wiper blades, car cabin air filter, spark plugs, 4-wheel alignment, and so forth. All the bullshit items that can be done any time, for a fraction of the cost in my garage - and I ain't no mechanic.

I went up to the counter and told The Dude that if the oil change was done, I wanted my car back. I did not overtly display any hostility, but it was obvious that he has experienced "people like me" in the past, and he knew not to try to sell me their worthless, exorbitant work.

I have been quoted absurd prices for new cars, extortionate prices for parts and service, and otherwise abused in VW dealerships over the years, and I have to think they are the worst, with the possible exceptions of "exotics" like Ferrari, Maserati, etc.

Any other candidates?

/-----/ I heard that from others about VW—just a bunch of nasty people. Volvo isn't quite as bad, but at 74, the snot-nosed service manager learned not to push his luck with me. For what the dealer wants. My SUV is still under warranty, so that's where I take it.
My only experience with a VW dealer was in 1968 when I bought my first car, a 1960 Karmann Ghia. I paid the average price, and the salesman spent time riding with me around the large lot, making sure I could handle a stick. I never took it back for service; I learned to do as much as I could on my own.

 

[egp320i]

I love (some) Volkswagens. I've had a ton of them over the years, and had very few bad experiences with the cars. But VW dealers are another story entirely. They constantly try to screw their customers, and I think they must have the worst reputation of any brand.

I'm vacationing in Florida and my Golf All track wagon is due for an oil change, so I though, What the hell? I'll take it to the local VW dealer and get it done. I bought the car six months ago and it is in perfect shape.

I set up an appointment and arrive early, got written up, as the saying goes, and sat down in the waiting area. The first thing I noticed was the big sign on the wall of the write-up area, advertising how they will FINANCE your service bill(?). What? A little while later I hear a guy exclaiming to the write-up guy, "TWO THOUSAND dollars for a GASKET???" Whoa. That's interesting.

After waiting about 90 minutes for my oil change, I get a text message telling me about the NINE things that the service tech thinks my car needs right now, adding up to about $2,400...IN ADDITION TO my oil change. Wiper blades, car cabin air filter, spark plugs, 4-wheel alignment, and so forth. All the bullshit items that can be done any time, for a fraction of the cost in my garage - and I ain't no mechanic.

I went up to the counter and told The Dude that if the oil change was done, I wanted my car back. I did not overtly display any hostility, but it was obvious that he has experienced "people like me" in the past, and he knew not to try to sell me their worthless, exorbitant work.

I have been quoted absurd prices for new cars, extortionate prices for parts and service, and otherwise abused in VW dealerships over the years, and I have to think they are the worst, with the possible exceptions of "exotics" like Ferrari, Maserati, etc.

Any other candidates?

All euro dealers charge around 150 bucks/hr, often inform you of other work that
needs to be done [which does not] unless you are mechanical and know better

the only time I took mine to the dealer was to replace the alt which died while in town
they put in a new OEM Bosch, charged me the rate and that was it and they
did it quickly

guess it depends on dealer location, FL? old people with money that don't know they are getting scammed

after that.....

I used a master audi tech with his own shop, guy could fix anything way less than the dealer

Great chap