QUESTION

Hi John,

Ive just finished watching your video concerning the VW recall and thought I should chime in.

My 2010 Polo has just had the DSG work completed, having waited for 8 months and also put off disposing of the vehicle for this period of time. A 'for sale' add was posted the day of the repair but unfortunately the issue of power loss continues. It has now happened to me three times and on four occasions to my wife, fortunately all in low-speed conditions.

VW will look at the car again next week however I am not optimistic. I feel that I am now left with a vehicle that I cannot sell, on the grounds that I can't ethically allow this problem to become someone else's, particularly given that it represents a serious safety issue.

Unfortunately due to the product dumping currently being undertaken by VW I can't even afford to trade the vehicle in, this has become a very difficult situation.

Cheers,

Christo

ANSWER

Hi Christo,

There's no doubt Volkswagen has a tremendous quality problem and a worse customer service record. It's totally unacceptable. They are unequivocally a dog of a brand. I'm sorry you are in this position. Many others are, too - but I know that's hardly a consolation.

That Polo is one of the worst cars on Australian roads. Brilliant, conceptually; fatally flawed in the execution and support departments. Fail...

In my view, you need to find a multi-franchised dealer with Volkswagen and the brand you'd like to buy. Here's the hot tip there: When you see two dealerships (or three, or four) joined at the hip like Siamese twins on the same stretch of road, the'yre the same business (generally) with more than one brand franchise. They try to look separate.

Let's say you find a dealer with the Mazda and Volkswagen brands. You want to lose the Polo and grab a Mazda3 (for example). You need to have a hard chat with them about the Polo. You're very dissatisfied with the car. Never again. Like, it's over: and it's not you; it's Volkswagen. You want the top-whack trade-in on the Polo. Anything less means you ain't doing business with them. Click for 2010 Polo trade-in prices. Don't listen to them if they tell you Redbook prices are out of touch. They're not.

Say you want a good deal on the new car as well. Be pushy. Watch my video on how to negotiate with a car dealer.

The dealership can repair the Polo under warranty. Volkswagen Australia will pay them to do it. Let it be their problem. Even if you need to borrow $12k to do that, it's a good deal. I did that finance exercise on a Suzuki Alto recently. Watch the video report.

Just think about the Alto in the video as a $12k loan to fund the changeover price: $8 a day, fully funded over 3yrs. A cheap way of getting out of the problem. (Banks are still charging double-digit interest but I know of specialist car finance brokers with reputable lenders like Macquarie on tap that can do it for more like 6%. Interest fixed for the term. Fully paid off in 3yrs.) The new Mazda3 is such a better car than any of those Volkswagen shitboxes - Polo in particular: it's built in South Africa, so it's about as authentically German as the Springboks...

Contact me using the form to the right if you want details on the finance. Alternatively, I can get a trusted broker who I have used dozens of times successfully to trade-in the Polo and help you acquire the new Mazda (or whatever) at a discount. This is a safe way of doing it - especially if you get your own quote to verify the offer as being good value.

I would replace that Polo in favour of the new Mazda3 in a heartbeat. With joy in my heart would I spend the $8 a day to be rid of it. The new Mazda3 Maxx is sensational - quality, value, reliability, tech, styling: It has the lot.

Bottom line: you need to get out of that South African disaster, and get your family into some safe, affordable, reliable transport. It won't hurt at least to crunch the numbers.

Hope this helps,

JC

How do I Sell a VW Polo Lemon?

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