Volkswagen Problems

It depends what your priorities are, but I’d be going for the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 version; it has good performance, decent fuel consumption, is well equipped, and comfortable on road.

Clearly there are problems with your car that require attention. If you’re not getting satisfaction from your dealer, contact VW Australia (1800 607 822) and lodge your complaints with them. If you feel you want to go higher, contact your state’s consumer affairs people and ask for help.

It’s unlikely to have any effect on the value at all. Some people could be scared off by a 2012 Golf, given its history of engine and transmission problems, while others might consider a new engine a bonus without wanting to pay any more for it.

In terms of life expectancy and durability I would expect both to be about the same, but I would expect the Polo to have slightly better resale value than the Clio. Both are good cars, but I would choose the Renault because of its longer warranty.

There is little chance of anything else being damaged as a result of the transmission failure. I understand your concern about the safety of the car given your experience when the transmission failed and left you in a precarious situation, but the chances of it happening again are pretty slim now it has been repaired.

If it is the water pump as the VW people have diagnosed then I doubt you would have any claim. Water pumps do wear out like any mechanical component, and yours is six years old.

It clearly needs deeper investigation to try and determine the cause. Take it to a panel beater who specialises in European cars and have them assess it.

The Caddy is based on the Golf, so they should fit. If in doubt check with a VW dealer.

If there are any common problems and complaints about Volkswagen's reliability or faults, they'll likely show up on our Volkswagen problems page. You can also calculate a car's projected resale value via our price and specs page.

VW stands for Volkswagen, the popular German car manufacturer. Volkswagen is the flagship marque of Volkswagen Group who also own Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, Porsche, SEAT and Skoda.