Volkswagen Problems

I will pass your complaint directly to Volkswagen HQ. New CEO Michael Bartsch is promising much more support for owners.

The only reason to go European with that budget is to buy a badge, as the Asian cars do the job and are surprisingly classy with great warranty. Once again, I'd send you first to Kia to check out the Sportage.

You are being treated absolutely appallingly, by the dealer and by VW. The problem starts with the dealer, if they can't fix it it's their responsibility to go to VW and ask for assistance. It is not for them to tell you to go to VW, that's passing the buck. It's also not VW's place to tell you to go back to the dealer, as the car's manufacturer it's their responsibility to fix it. Go to the dealer and express your dissatisfaction with their service, and ask that they request VW's help in sorting the problem. VW has technicians who can assess and hopefully fix your car. If they can't fix it they can request help from VW in Germany. Keep escalating the problem up the tree, from the dealer, the VW Customer Care, to VW's Managing Director or higher if needed. It is their job to fix your car.

In a word, no. I'm not convinced the gearbox issues are fully fixed, and I certainly wouldn't buy one outside the warranty period.

Overseas designed cars that are not tested in Australian conditions would be my first explanation. My second would be that the companies have decided that the risk of having stones penetrate the air-conditioning condenser doesn't warrant the extra cost of fitting a screen to keep the stones out.

No, it's not. I would be looking to have the transmission rebuilt rather than replaced, but if it has to be replaced I would be looking to do it with a used gearbox instead of a new one.

Years ago when you owned your Torana it was considered something of a performance car, as the Clubsport, SSV and Calais are today, but there are many other ways of getting your driving thrills today without having to go for a V8. Some of the hot hatches now available would give you all the thrills, and more, than the big-bangers of old. Take a test drive in a VW Golf GTi or one of the fast Ford Focuses and I'm sure you'd rethink your choice. All the cars you mention, the Clubsport, SSV and Calais are good cars with plenty of grunt, the V8 sound, and the comfort of a big car. For mine though I'd be going for a hot hatch.

As it transpired, it was only a loose hose that affected the turbocharger on the Passat test car but it's the first time I've had a test car that needed to be trucked away. You can read the full report in this week's Tick.

Drive the VW Golf to calibrate yourself with the best car in the class, but go ahead and buy the Hyundai because it's the modern-day Corolla and definitely gets The Tick from me.