topgazza

YOU'RE JOKING!! We're just about to part company with our 3 year old Honda, which has been into the garage no less than 10 times in the past year/6000 miles. Each time, the dealer has been absolutely appalling. They never have any spares in stock, and they won't order any parts until they have inspected the car. This means that even simple faults which are obvious, require two visits to rectify. E.G I rang them and told them that a switch had broken and could they order one in under warranty. They refused and said they need to inspect the vehicle first. So in it went, and when I went to

(Digging out old bill) Last ones for the Passat, as a guide, were £69 fitted at Bracknell Tyre & Battery in Bracknell surprisingly enough, who are very very cheap. 205/60/15 V rated and I suspect the C-Max should be round about the same price. I've seen them recently for around £72 and I'm sure some of the internet suppliers will do a good price To be fair road noise is no worse than others and with normal driving including in the wet they are great

Independent for servicing, dealer for warranty is my rule and I have never had a problem with a dealer creating a fuss. Sometimes a dealer stamp has value of course..so you pays your money etc etc If he's ex Toyota and the ford dealer look after him then things will be sweet. Toyota dealers, like Honda are just superb. On the rare times they need to carry out warranty work they don't create a fuss, get on with it and don't let you leave until you are happy. My wifes Yaris had a "whistling" noise from the wing mirrors. car booked in, spare car offered even though it was a a 30 min repair/mod

I nearly bought from DTD for the wifes car. In the end I did hit my local Toyota dealer at a very "hungry" moment and they actually beat DTD..which is very very unusual. Having said that DTD were brilliant and have an excellant sales force who actually take the time to talk to you.

Sports type tyres are usually softer to give more grip. Its a marginal thing though . In a car like the C-Max they are a waste of money unless you live near a race track and have a 350 bhp engine in the car IMO. I always go for the harder compund like Michelin Premacys which give a tad more road noise but are perfectly adequate on road holding, have good water dispersion and last 30% longer. can't speak for my C-Max but in a heavier Passat Estate I get 30K front and the rears I have to change due to age 2 years typically.

Unless you need the extras I'd stick with the 6000CD as well. One of the best sounding factory fit stereos IMO. I have bought off a broker Andy, no problems at all and saved £3k over a dealer..worth the weeks delay....... Pick a good one though Broadspeed etc... or pick a dealer just at quarter end and he needs his target...if he's his target you'll be lucky to get a cup of coffee. Judge how hungry he is and be prepared to walk away if he's not

He's right Matt. Talk to your dealer and make sure you get a 2006, last 3 months manufactured car but they have fields full of the things and will shift the older ones first. If you are buying from a dealer or someone like Broadspeed pick a non standard option that they have to do in the factory to help. Steve, I would always go for a VW with that sort of mileage because the trim is more resilient that most others. BMW's are good but expensive to maintain although a 320D will go like stink and still give you 50+ mpg. An Audi would be as good of course. Mondeo will be cheap as you say and a g

Have you tried www.tyresmoke.net ? Excellent VW forums....

:D It is embarrassing for sure!

Now you're talking, XK8...DO IT! As a "family" car I think I would go for a nice boring 3 year old Passat Estate, or yes, a 1.6 TDCi C-Max would do nicely

I would too Steve, I wouldn't blindly support any manufacturer and several guys at work love their new shape TDi GT Golfs but complain about trim and electrical problems. Its a shame that a great car is ruined by poor attention to detail like that. 23k is a lot of money to get "bored". Once the confidence has gone its usually gone for good. The EGR issue on C-Max's has pushed a lot away and certainly put potential buyers off as well. Which is why the apparent lack of urgency in finding a root cause, possibly CD42 etc is it, is hard to understand. Were you thinking of a C-Max?

Which is bizarre. I had a Passat TDi Estate with 132k on the clock, not a single visit to the dealer for anything but service, next door has a Toureg TDi, 86k, no problems, other side has Touran not pretty I know but 23k, i year old no problems. I am on another B5.5 Passat Estate 4 months and 5k, no problems. Its unreasonable to use arguements against other manufacturers when all cars have issues and those with problems are always the ones that complain, understandably so. I could cite you an ex neihbour with a Porshe Carrera that he got a full refund after 13 months of grief, bought an Aud

True, but the A6 is just so much more car than a Ford. It was just the thought of spending £24k and having a Ford badge on the front. No offence to Ford.....Dealers are dealers and even the top marque have problem ones. As for the Elsie....leave the kiddies and buggy at home ......cruel but fair.... I think most people like the high seating position of the MPVs and that alone can be a good reason to buy. The C-Max doen't carry any more than a good estate car but the S-Max looks a different beast and could be interesting. Of course if you can afford the top of the range then go for it....

I would never buy a new model but thats just me, until any teething problems are sorted. is the 2.0 TDCi engine is the S not a PSA engine as in the C /

Thats a lot of gear but still a lot of money. get a nearly new Audi A6 for that sort of dosh...or a Lotus Elise...... :)

Its like all cars. Its hit and miss. If you get a good one then good. I had mine for 5 months from new with no problems other than poor mpg, by VAG standards, of 44 mpg on motorway driving. New engine however so maybe time would have told. Really good drive, powerful engine, interior trim not the best and seat material, if its not leather, doesn't look like it would wear well and easy to mark. Overall a good car. Problem free, you'll enjoy it.

I actually used some draft excluder and stuck that on the "rim" of the cubby hole so the lid closed on something soft.....

I can see what mastertech is saying but his lack of tact/bluntness perhaps shows what even the good engineers think off their companies customers! Or pehaps he's just having a bad hair day..... But the the point being missed is that a fault that is known, is a manufacturing defect that a company has failed to resolve that contributes to an accident makes them culpable. When that car leaves the workshop with a "fixed" status and it fails the legal ramifications are clear . Even more so if the car has been in several times for the same fault. Engine failure like that is not a fact of life lik

My local dealer employs chimpanzees. Far more intelligent than a gibbon but leave larger, smellier poo. It does depend on the individual dealer of course but Amangry has been told complete bo**ocks. This is a too often occurence at the main company delaers. ford, Vaux, even VW and BMW. They treat customers like idiots because they can. Individuals like Mastertech make a difference but I think the main problem lies with the service managers who want you off their premises asap to get the next rip off opportunity on the ramp.

That's a County Ive never come across I'm afraid ! or is that a combination of Lancashire, Lanarkshire & Lincolnshire ? Who knows , they all look the same to me. Dismal industrial wastelands populated by syphalitic huddled drug crazed masses who when they aren't sleeping with their sisters are stealing the lead of church roofs, alloy wheel and car stereos. No offence chaps :wink:

me too.....

:sofa

Ooooh, Dennis...that was uncalled for, fair but uncalled for. mat obviously likes them young which is better than in Lancanshire where they prefer them related.........

:lol: So true.... I knew if I shouted down the pit shaft one would pop up... :sheep

Only when we stop the Welsh sha**ing them. Sorry dennis just seen your reference to NCP. Great minds think alike. Apologies taz for going off subject....