My painful experience of owning a VW Tiguan

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#2672153 12-Mar-2021 08:56

heavenlywild: Sorry to hear about the messy situation you are in.

I own the same car and the only problem I've had is the battery dying. Luckily it was just within warranty so that saved me a grand.

I think you were just unlucky to have received a dud.

Out of curiosity what would make a replacement battery cost $1000?

Scott3

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#2672158 12-Mar-2021 09:13

Bung:

Out of curiosity what would make a replacement battery cost $1000?

In short, it is very likely it is the stop start system. In order to quickly fire up the engine when you take your foot off the break at the lights, the battery needs to be much bigger than normal. (and if the car is a diesel, even a non stop start car needs a big battery).

Some models also need a battery with temperature monitoring and/or a hydrogen gas vent pipe, so the batteries required can be pretty specialized.

I looked up the century battery for a 2016 Tiguan diesel, and it is the DIN66LAGM.

https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/century-din66lagm-century-agm-battery/SPO3080130.html

$479 at supercheap. Thrown in a 40% dealer markup and you are at $670.60. Add $40 fright and you are at $710.60, and an hours labor at $160 to fit, testdrive etc, and you are at $870.60. This is pritty close to a grand.

Also it is possible the dealer will do like for like replacements with imported OEM matched batteries. This would be a lot more expensive than the century battery.

heavenlywild

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#2672160 12-Mar-2021 09:16

Bung:
heavenlywild: Sorry to hear about the messy situation you are in.

I own the same car and the only problem I've had is the battery dying. Luckily it was just within warranty so that saved me a grand.

I think you were just unlucky to have received a dud.

Out of curiosity what would make a replacement battery cost $1000?

I believe the battery was around $700-800 plus installation costs. Crazy right!

heavenlywild

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#2672161 12-Mar-2021 09:17

Scott3:

Bung:

Out of curiosity what would make a replacement battery cost $1000?

In short, it is very likely it is the stop start system. In order to quickly fire up the engine when you take your foot off the break at the lights, the battery needs to be much bigger than normal. (and if the car is a diesel, even a non stop start car needs a big battery).

Some models also need a battery with temperature monitoring and/or a hydrogen gas vent pipe, so the batteries required can be pretty specialized.

I looked up the century battery for a 2016 Tiguan diesel, and it is the DIN66LAGM.

https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/century-din66lagm-century-agm-battery/SPO3080130.html

$479 at supercheap. Thrown in a 40% dealer markup and you are at $670.60. Add $40 fright and you are at $710.60, and an hours labor at $160 to fit, testdrive etc, and you are at $870.60. This is pritty close to a grand.

Also it is possible the dealer will do like for like replacements with imported OEM matched batteries. This would be a lot more expensive than the century battery.

The start stop system is no good if you only do short trips. It kills the battery very quickly. Hence, after our replacement, we have always turned off the start stop system unless we go on a road trip.

Benjip

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#2672165 12-Mar-2021 09:39

lxsw20:

I was sort of thinking of buying a Golf when I come back to NZ, much as I don't trust a DSG as far as I could throw it. Thanks for this thread, its probably saved me a bunch of pain.

I'm on my third Golf (MK4 GTI, MK5 GTI, and now a MK7 GTI) and have never had any issues, if that helps.

If you get a warranty from the dealer, you get the best of both worlds – a car you actually like driving, and peace of mind in case anything does go wrong.

Wheelbarrow01

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#2672166 12-Mar-2021 09:39

Scott3:

Bung:

Out of curiosity what would make a replacement battery cost $1000?

In short, it is very likely it is the stop start system. In order to quickly fire up the engine when you take your foot off the break at the lights, the battery needs to be much bigger than normal. (and if the car is a diesel, even a non stop start car needs a big battery).

Some models also need a battery with temperature monitoring and/or a hydrogen gas vent pipe, so the batteries required can be pretty specialized.

I looked up the century battery for a 2016 Tiguan diesel, and it is the DIN66LAGM.

https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/century-din66lagm-century-agm-battery/SPO3080130.html

$479 at supercheap. Thrown in a 40% dealer markup and you are at $670.60. Add $40 fright and you are at $710.60, and an hours labor at $160 to fit, testdrive etc, and you are at $870.60. This is pritty close to a grand.

Also it is possible the dealer will do like for like replacements with imported OEM matched batteries. This would be a lot more expensive than the century battery.

Interestingly, I needed to get a replacement stop/start battery for my 2016 Ford Focus diesel recently. I spent ages shopping around as the prices were so high - between $450 and $700 from dozens of NZ retailers & suppliers.

I finally called Team Hutchinson Ford just to compare and the OEM Varta battery from them was just $338. Bargain! Fitting it myself was a bit of a nightmare though - just about had to remove half the motor to get the old b*stard out lol. It was a knuckle scraping, sweary, sh1t of a job all round....

Staying on the original subject - I also have a 2011 twin turbo V8 diesel Touareg with 230,000kms on the clock now. I'm having some minor trouble with the automatic tailgate opener at the moment but apart from that I haven't spent a cent on repairs in the past two years. And oddly enough it's a real fuel miser when compared to the 2016 Ford ranger that it replaced.....

Senecio

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#2672172 12-Mar-2021 10:05

Geektastic: One thing this does shine a light on is the different length warranty that companies offer in different markets.

If a car has a 5 year warranty in Australia or the USA, and a 3 year warranty in NZ, then personally I’d go to the Tribunal if faults arose in years 4 and 5 then argue that if the manufacturer thinks 5 years is appropriate in one jurisdiction there is no reason it shouldn’t be here.

That will stand up. Often the different warranties in different countries is a factor of what is required / expected in that country. Not because the manufacturer thinks a car will last two years longer in AU than in NZ. If a longer warranty is required in a specific country it is factored into the sale price of the vehicle

Think CGA. It is often argued that the CGA is a causal in why things are more expensive in NZ than other countries.

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#2672187 12-Mar-2021 10:35

Senecio:

Geektastic: One thing this does shine a light on is the different length warranty that companies offer in different markets.

If a car has a 5 year warranty in Australia or the USA, and a 3 year warranty in NZ, then personally I’d go to the Tribunal if faults arose in years 4 and 5 then argue that if the manufacturer thinks 5 years is appropriate in one jurisdiction there is no reason it shouldn’t be here.

That will stand up. Often the different warranties in different countries is a factor of what is required / expected in that country. Not because the manufacturer thinks a car will last two years longer in AU than in NZ. If a longer warranty is required in a specific country it is factored into the sale price of the vehicle

Think CGA. It is often argued that the CGA is a causal in why things are more expensive in NZ than other countries.

Classic example is my new Nissan Pathfinder. Purchased Jan 2019 with 3 year warranty, then a few months later (April 2019 I think) the same models were sold for the same price with a 5 year warranty.

I'll be pushing for the dealer to fix under warranty if I get any faults during y4 and y5 (assuming I still have the vehicle - I really like the new 2022 Pathfinder with 9 speed auto!)

turtleattacks

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#2672205 12-Mar-2021 11:10

jjnz1:

Classic example is my new Nissan Pathfinder. Purchased Jan 2019 with 3 year warranty, then a few months later (April 2019 I think) the same models were sold for the same price with a 5 year warranty.

I'll be pushing for the dealer to fix under warranty if I get any faults during y4 and y5 (assuming I still have the vehicle - I really like the new 2022 Pathfinder with 9 speed auto!)

@jjnz1: How are you finding your Pathfinder? Would you recommend it?

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lxsw20

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#2672215 12-Mar-2021 11:20

Benjip:

lxsw20:

I was sort of thinking of buying a Golf when I come back to NZ, much as I don't trust a DSG as far as I could throw it. Thanks for this thread, its probably saved me a bunch of pain.

I'm on my third Golf (MK4 GTI, MK5 GTI, and now a MK7 GTI) and have never had any issues, if that helps.

If you get a warranty from the dealer, you get the best of both worlds – a car you actually like driving, and peace of mind in case anything does go wrong.

I like the idea of a GTE, but I don't think they were ever sold NZ new. I don't see the dealerships being too helpful with the electrical system if they are untrained on it. I've had plenty of fun JDM stuff, do it's not like I need a Golf to have a something I enjoy.

Batman

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#2672219 12-Mar-2021 11:35

Bung:
heavenlywild: Sorry to hear about the messy situation you are in.

I own the same car and the only problem I've had is the battery dying. Luckily it was just within warranty so that saved me a grand.

I think you were just unlucky to have received a dud.

Out of curiosity what would make a replacement battery cost $1000?

Mate has a Honda civic in 2004 someone crashed into him and the headlights alone was 1500.recently replaced my subaru light bulb just under 300. Jap learns fast.

HugoGC

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#2672225 12-Mar-2021 11:53

Talking about follow-up developments. After I tried to complaint to VW Europe and Australia thru e-mail. The customer manager Carolina Zalazar of VW NZ contacted me again and gave me a meaningless offer, which is two years Roadside Assist and $200 voucher for next service, instead of two years of warranty. Should she know what I am worrying is the maintenance cost?

I asked them to buy back or trade in my car at the current market price. She forwarded the case to the car dealer Tristram European, and ask me to contact the dealer directly. But the dealer rejected me because VW NZ will not compensate them anything.

Eventually, I received a deal seems to reply in good faith as follows.

“You will need to advise the dealer if you are interested in a new Tiguan or which model and then we can organise a special price for a new vehicle if that was the case.”

Try it, I pick three models and see what the price is.

Golf 8
T-Roc
T-Cross R Type

Received a call from Tristram European for following price.

Golf 8, New model, no discount
T-Roc，No car can offer you
T-Cross R Type，Only this model can less $1500

Is it a ridiculous special price?

Dynamic

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#2672228 12-Mar-2021 11:59

HugoGC:

Received a call from Tristram European for following price.

Golf 8, New model, no discount
T-Roc，No car can offer you
T-Cross R Type，Only this model can less $1500

Is it a ridiculous special price?

That smacks of 'lets play the game a little longer to see if he goes away'

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turtleattacks

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#2672237 12-Mar-2021 12:18

HugoGC:

Talking about follow-up developments. After I tried to complaint to VW Europe and Australia thru e-mail. The customer manager Carolina Zalazar of VW NZ contacted me again and gave me a meaningless offer, which is two years Roadside Assist and $200 voucher for next service, instead of two years of warranty. Should she know what I am worrying is the maintenance cost?

I asked them to buy back or trade in my car at the current market price. She forwarded the case to the car dealer Tristram European, and ask me to contact the dealer directly. But the dealer rejected me because VW NZ will not compensate them anything.

Eventually, I received a deal seems to reply in good faith as follows.

“You will need to advise the dealer if you are interested in a new Tiguan or which model and then we can organise a special price for a new vehicle if that was the case.”

Try it, I pick three models and see what the price is.

Golf 8
T-Roc
T-Cross R Type

Received a call from Tristram European for following price.

Golf 8, New model, no discount
T-Roc，No car can offer you
T-Cross R Type，Only this model can less $1500

Is it a ridiculous special price?

What an insult. Most new car can be negotiated 5-10% anyways.

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shk292

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#2672238 12-Mar-2021 12:22

I can sympathise with the OP. My last VW was a '79 Scirocco bought in 85 and sold in 88.

Attracted by high spec, good performance and overall "feel" of the car, I bought a 2015 Passat wagon a couple of years ago. By my calculations, this has cost me $24k in total ownership costs (including estimated depreciation) in 24 months. Costs and problems include:

Boot refusing to open, requiring new lock mechanism, about $500 from an independent garage
new front discs and pads, $900 from Tristrams
replacement timing belt, AWD system service and transmission service at 125 k km - about $4k all up
current recurring engine warning light - have thrown about $700 at this so far with various diagnostic work and a replacement of pressure sensors. Still there and Tristram to change the EGR soon

This will certainly be my VW/Audi/Skoda vehicle for a long time and I intend to trade it in as soon as the fault is fixed

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