Comments on: 2009 Volkswagen Golf Review & Road Test

By: Barry at EH

Barry at EH — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:57:04 +0000

Horst,

In my response to you above – sorry included some typo errors;

Magneticq – s/be Magnetic

Sorts – s/be Sports.

At top – Joe Blow shoud have read Barry at EH.

Barry at EH

By: Joe Blow

Joe Blow — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:46:32 +0000

Barry at Eagle Heights – to Horst.

Horst, thank you for the information re 118TSI. I have been away at the time you wrote the above re Water Pump Magneticg Clutch drive to Supercharger, hence the late response. I appreciate your input very much.

I am locked in to a Sales Contract to purchase a very highly optioned 118TSI [$51000 plus some further items $2000 or so] so that my wife and I will enjoy satisfying performance with economy and luxury. I am reasonably confident that all will be well. This Luxury Small Car is my firt highly spec’d car, and we are really looking forward to the event – delivery expected in January 2010. Due to that delivery date the proverbial Magnetic Clutch squeal may not be a problem – we shall see, and of course I will keep you informed. I am looking forward to giving all readers some very good news – let’s hope that will be the case. That other Golf to which I referred has been repaired, and very well, as the owner of that Golf [which is a 90TSI] is rapt’ed in the car, and genuinely enjoys driving it even more so than his Audi Sorts [don't know what model it is] and that surely speaks highly of the Mark VI Models in general. Cheers for now.

Barry of Eagle Heights.

By: Horst Flugel

Horst Flugel — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:51:14 +0000

Hi Barry at EH,
According to latest info from the German Motor-Talk forum, there appears to be no remedy in calendar week 45 for owners of the 118kw TSI who are affected by the squeaking noise, as has been hoped for. More about this you can read on “2009 Volkswagen Golf Mk VI- First Steer”.

By: Horst Flugel

Horst Flugel — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:44:05 +0000

Hi Barry at EH,
There is no further info on the new water pump for the VW Golf 118kw TSI from Germany at this stage. Those affected by the squeaking noise are looking forward to calendar week 45, when a new water pump, for replacement, is supposed to be available. But mind you, not all 118 TSI’s are affected.

By: Joe Blow

Joe Blow — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:50:53 +0000

VW Golf 118TSI – a doubtful entity!

By: VeeDub

VeeDub — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:32:03 +0000

Jake I couldn’t dissagree more. The challenge for an automotive design engineer is to add innovation and improve on a design but to retain some unique identity of the namesake so the out going generation doesn’t get depreciated too quickly.
To think the new Golf is the same as the old model is just plain ignorant. I’ve read the engineering digest released by the VW engineers working on the golf and the refinements are nothing short of extensive.
I’m not sure how you quantify the Mazda as being better value. Sounds rather subjective unless you have some meaningful statistics you can share.
Impressa safer? 5 star ANCAP vs 5 star ANCAP – again rather subjective.
Skoda Octavia, nice car but forget resale value. You will take a big loss.

By: Simon

Simon — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:09:19 +0000

Buy the golf diesel and put your mind at ease. You can even get the GT with a 125KW 350NM diesel if going quick is important.

By: Barry at EH

Barry at EH — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:47:36 +0000

To all of the Folk who have commented on Golf MKVI 118TSI DSG, and also to those who have owned one for a reasonably long time, and had no problems, and from whom I’d like to read some positive feedback – surely not all 118TSIs with DSG are faulty – so let us hear from those owners too! I have a 118TSI on order, and from the reports I have read herein, and a few elsewhere, there appears to be a groundswell of faults especially with the DSG and the strange screeching noises from Supercharger and Water Pump drive “clutches” [magnetically switched] which have me thinking seriously about cancelling my purchase. On the DSG I personally know of a very low K’s TSI [not been confirmed yet if a "90" or a "118"] in which the DSG failed badly, on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and which when it failed has been described as an explosive “BANG” followed by what seemed as if the engine actually fell under the car – the car was then going absolutely nowhere, apparently – most disconcerting. So, come on MKVI, owners let’s hear some good reports – there has to be heaps of owners with nothing but praise – GET ON THE KEYBOARD, and tell us. Also, maybe, “Horst” can provide updates on the fixes VW Germany is making to current and future production runs to ensure these rather serious problems are permanently rectified to provide that respected Teutonic Engineering BUILD QUALITY……I am looking forward to some significant “good reports”.

By: ZX10

ZX10 — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:34:37 +0000

Also skip VW service – Ultratune will service them MUCH cheaper and provide good service. At least that’s been my experience.

By: my1stgolf

my1stgolf — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:02:06 +0000

Yes, I live in Melbourne but I will add that I spoke to another dealer twice and also visited a third dealer, not very impressed with dealership via phone.
Regarding the dealership I chose, I have also dealt wih 2 other people there and was also impressed with their customer service, I do tend to observe interaction between people and will go on to say in the 3 times I have been there so far, its been the same, and yes I am very weary of car dealerships, but as earlier stated, after sales with VW Australia sounds like maybe a different story, having said that,I have also experierenced a less than satisfactory outcome with another dealership as well as after sales from their Head Office.

By: ZX10

ZX10 — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:22:00 +0000

Good experience with the dealer? You must live outside Brisbane!

By: ZX10

ZX10 — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:19:50 +0000

The VW diesels seem to be highly reliable. The petrol engines, not so much!

By: my1stgolf

my1stgolf — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:08:53 +0000

Agent 99,

curious for an update on your 118 TSI as its been over a month since you have had it now….no chirp noises or other problems…..I currently have a 118 TSI on order, due in mid Nov and like you also feel a little nervous after reading the
problems some owners are having…..or more so the poor after sales service 3 people
have received -read Golf VI first steer in car reviews on this website, I have at this stage had such a positive experience with the dealership I am dealing with, best salesperson I have ever dealt with actually, so it would seem that this doesnt necessarily follow through to after sales service with VW Auatralia, have you had any dealings with them?
Would be great for that progress report you mentioned.

By: fasthonda

fasthonda — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:15:32 +0000

@Boney Maroney

The “explanation” given seems to be a current trend with car service departments world wide,irrespective of manufacturer.
I’m a member of numerous car forums and the “characteristic” excuse seems to be used as a cop out and immediately shrugs off liabilty by service departments and manufacturer.
It is very dissapointing,especially when you have your heart set on a particular car.
Whether the cars are made in Germany(or Japan)I suggest take it with a “pinch of salt”The main result should be that your new car meets YOUR satisfaction criteria.

By: Boney Maroney

Boney Maroney — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:37:42 +0000

I’m getting out of mine……not going to put up with the supercharger squeak/chirp every time I accelerate. VW consider it normal, but the squeak wasn’t there for the first 5200klms….was the car abnormal then? CLOWNS! They are out there still flogging this things as “car of the year”, knowing full well they will all end up with this annoying noise on acceleration. See the ‘first steer’ on this same site for this issue, quite a few of us have it.

I wish you better luck with yours agent 99, and hope yours doesnt develop this annoying “charactoristic” (that is what VW call it, a charactoristic!!!).

By: Agent99

Agent99 — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:41:53 +0000

I got my new 118TSI DSG 7 only 2 days ago, and so far (I know it’s very, very early days)but, all I can say is that it’s hot, solid, quick, luxurious and a pleasant drive. I’m in love!

Will keep you posted on it’s progress…

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:23:49 +0000

I find it difficult to compare a Mazda to a VW. They just don’t feel the same when you drive one car vs the other. I have nothing against Honda, Mazda, Toyota and the Japanese reliability records are always there and have been for years.

I mean one gets tired of the car before it wears out, not to say the VW does not hold up, and true there are certainly more reliable models in their line up over others, one only need to read comments on the internet to find out which of those vehicles are better or worse.

But seriously, drive a Toyota Camry they are reliable yet lackluster and boring to drive.

By: Neo Utopia

Neo Utopia — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:50:30 +0000

“Stelios 95″ I had a 1996 Golf 3 for 6 years (was 4 years old when I bought it), the only problems that I encountered was the cable clutch system failed on me twice (because it’s an outdated cheaper and inferior system than a hydraulic clutch system), appart from that I did not have any other problems.

By: Bahnstorming

Bahnstorming — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:28:57 +0000

A few months ago, on a business trip to Germany, I was lent a new Golf VI with the 90TSI engine & 6 speed transmission as a company pool car. I presently drive a 2007 Passat Wagon with 2.0T FSI turbo engine (147kW) and 6 speed auto which has loads of torque and brilliant handling at all speeds.

This Golf was stunningly solid and for a 1.4 litre engine it honestly felt like a 2 litre. Handling was superb and when I hit the unlimited autobahn and spun through the gears I clocked 210 km/h and it would have gone further (despite the specs above listing a 200 km/h top speed)but commonsense and the wrong accent for the German police told me this was enough….I was not looking at road signs at this rate of knots and may have easily entered a controlled speed zone without realising it….nevertheless I still saw BMW’s, Porsches and a very fast Audi Q7 blast past me. I think most Germans share a bit of Schumaker’s blood line.

All up, it’s a great piece of engineering and I’m sure my wife would approve of such a vehicle as the Passat’s stablemate :)

By: Stelios 95

Stelios 95 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:16:13 +0000

I own a 95 323 1.6 Mazda and thinking to give it up for a golf 6 (118Kw) Highline (full extras) DSG 7 speed. My only concern is reliability. I had an Opel kadett 1.3s (petrol) 89 model and the engine last only 4 years. Is a nice build Mazda but I want something with more power this time, and the only car (new) that I can afford is the VW or Mitsubishi colt ralliart (made in Hungary) so it’s pretty match European than Japan, and the thin it doesn’t have the luxury of the VW or the filling of the sure foot on the road (not that is not that way).
Anyone with a 10+ year of experience with VW welcome.

Thank you.