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Volkswagen Golf: Gearbox issues

The talk is that it was only the 7-speed DSG gearbox that had the false-neutral problem, but we also experienced it in the 2009 Golf diesel with the high-torque 6-speed we owned. It happened to us twice. We also had continuous electronic problems with the car, and to make matters worse the dealer didn’t seem interested. Four times in three years it had to be dragged back to the dealership on a flatbed. After all of that the retained value was around 35 percent. We have definitely been cured of the European car experience and now love our Kia Optima, which we have owned for 2.5 years and have not had a single problem.

The problems with the DSG gearbox, which VW claimed only affected the 7-speed unit, badly damaged the company’s reputation. But worse damage was done when it refused to accept there was a problem and stonewalled owners until it was faced with mounting public pressure to act. Then they only recalled cars with the 7-speed gearbox, not the six-speed that was fitted to your car.

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