Ok so we bought a VW Golf back in 2007 - a diesel with the 6 speed double clutch DSG.

We have driven it 52,000 kms in 7 years - urban commuting.

It has been reasonably reliable apart from a electric door lock which had to be replaced for about $800.

We paid $33,000 ish for it.

Anyway, at our last service, the guy said it had a leaking rear main oil seal plus another engine seal. $1500 to repair.

So we found a nice replacement car, thinking that we might exit the problem, and asked for a trade in price. $7,000. I nearly fell off my chair. That is around $4,000 depreciation per year. Is that typical, or does that tell me something about these cars?

So the quandary, throw good money ($1500) after it, or take the massive loss and run?

Oh, and by the way, the DSG was a beautiful smooth thing up until about 10,000 kms, but since then it has become clunkier and noisier with each passing km. The guy says its fine?

Usually by 7 years you'd have done the 100,000km service which would have seen the rear main and cam seals replaced. Seals don't last for ever. If you like the car get the full service done early and it will be good for another 7 years.

I'm thinking of a new car myself and was talking to a mechanic about what's available.
He advised me to steer clear of golfs, he said the twin clutches do a lot of work and wear out relatively fast. They have special shock absorbing features to take care of the loads induced by the fast changes. They are expensive to replace, and if you go for the cheap generic alternative without the shock absorbing stuff, you'll do an even more expensive transmission shortly thereafter. So I'd agree with selling it privately, hopefully more than the $7k

If you bought it new, go warranty.

Doesn't matter if it has expired, under Aust consumer law it has not lasted as reasonably expected. People need to start using that more

^^ that's a cop-out by manufacturers. There has been 100kw/litre motors for a long time and you don't have a clutch or main seals crapping themselves in 52K.
Failures like that is a disgrace for a car with so few km on it.
If he did 52K in the first 18months they'd have been covered, but it took him 7yrs to do 52K.

Warranty.

Squid Lips said..

Usually by 7 years you'd have done the 100,000km service which would have seen the rear main and cam seals replaced. Seals don't last for ever. If you like the car get the full service done early and it will be good for another 7 years.

That is useful information, thanks.

I had read somewhere that the euro cars cost more to maintain - that would fit with it.

Saffer said..

Dump it and move on

At $7K, it feels like its already worthless. I was sort of thinking that we should just spend $1500, drive it, and then if the engine or gearbox goes, just crush it.

I could possible get more privately, but I couldn't come at selling it without fixing it first.

Marvin said..

Mark _australia said..



If you bought it new, go warranty.



Doesn't matter if it has expired, under Aust consumer law it has not lasted as reasonably expected. People need to start using that more

How would you go about that Mark? Contact the ombudsman, or something?

Consumer affairs will enforce it IF they believe it has not lasted etc etc, but you need to have contacted the manufacturer (well, car yard in this case) and have given them a chance to sort it out.
People are successfully getting household goods replaced well out of warranty, and I recently noticed an additonal leaflet included with a vacuum cleaner warranty saying Australian consumers have extra rights etc. I figure by the obvious additional bit of paper just for us in Oz, that company must have had a touch up from authorities for making sh!t product and refusing to fix it.

Marvin said..

Ok so we bought a VW Golf back in 2007 - a diesel with the 6 speed double clutch DSG.

We have driven it 52,000 kms in 7 years - urban commuting.

It has been reasonably reliable apart from a electric door lock which had to be replaced for about $800.

We paid $33,000 ish for it.

Anyway, at our last service, the guy said it had a leaking rear main oil seal plus another engine seal. $1500 to repair.

So we found a nice replacement car, thinking that we might exit the problem, and asked for a trade in price. $7,000. I nearly fell off my chair. That is around $4,000 depreciation per year. Is that typical, or does that tell me something about these cars?

So the quandary, throw good money ($1500) after it, or take the massive loss and run?

Oh, and by the way, the DSG was a beautiful smooth thing up until about 10,000 kms, but since then it has become clunkier and noisier with each passing km. The guy says its fine?

As for the trade-in value, that's pretty normal I would say. Low Kms so you should be able to talk them up a bit. Or get it fixed and try to sell it privately. But I would probably put that $7k towards a new (COTY) GTi.

Marvin said..

Honda, Suzuki, Hyundai, Subaru, Toyota

Japan, Japan, Korea, Japan, Japan. I think I see a pattern there...

My solution - Hiace.

Precious few problems in life can't be solved by buying a Hiace.

Mark _australia said..

Marvin said..

Mark _australia said..



If you bought it new, go warranty.



Doesn't matter if it has expired, under Aust consumer law it has not lasted as reasonably expected. People need to start using that more

How would you go about that Mark? Contact the ombudsman, or something?

Consumer affairs will enforce it IF they believe it has not lasted etc etc, but you need to have contacted the manufacturer (well, car yard in this case) and have given them a chance to sort it out.
People are successfully getting household goods replaced well out of warranty, and I recently noticed an additonal leaflet included with a vacuum cleaner warranty saying Australian consumers have extra rights etc. I figure by the obvious additional bit of paper just for us in Oz, that company must have had a touch up from authorities for making sh!t product and refusing to fix it.

My slant, would be challange to have it repaired. In real calculations, this engine hasnt even run a 1000 hours yet, actually around the 940 mark and its now showing signs of cheep nasty parts inclusion in the orginal build Gee who would have thought. Those ol Das Autos not so Das afterall