Hi, was interested to read your post, along many others I have found on the internet. I bought my wife a Golf 1.4 '07 plate from brand new, and it has done , to date 13,000 miles (3 1/2 years later).

The first 12 month service I erred on side of caution and paid through the nose at the same VW dealership that sold me the car, for a service after 4,900 miles. A year later the car had only done 8,400 miles in total so I opted for a "cheaper" but authorised service at an independent garage. I have just had the car's 3rd service done at the same independent garage at 13,400 miles and sure enough the ESP warning light came on the dashboard about 2 weeks ago so I asked the servicing garage for a diagnostic. Their suggestion was a failed ABS pump unit but only a £48 VW diagnostic test will tell us more. I have spoken to VW (again, the dealership that sold me the car) who did the old "VW rewards loyalty" and because I dared to venture outside of their extortionately priced servicing, and hence outside the VW group they weren't under any obligation to pay goodwill, but would "fight our case" to see what they could do.

Right now if the bill is too great, lets assume that no goodwill is forthcoming, although I will fight tooth and nail to get something out of them, I fully intend to offload the car at the earliest opportunity and end a 10 year-long association with VW cars if that is their attitude.

You seemed to have had quite considerable success with your VW dealership so any other tips on the way forward would be most appreciated.

Many thanks, Richard

It would be much better all round if the British consumer would learn that cars are expensive to produce and paid more for them upfront. Parts and servicing costs would fall and there would be fewer nasty surprises.

I take issue with the above statement, Example: my chevrolet epica when on sale here was list price £15595 approx, cost in europe like for like 25000 euros. Still on sale in some european markets too.same margins apply to other makes, and the point is that VAG suffered the same problems in germany and other european markets. The uk is one of the least profitable markets for most manufacturers.

I do agree that too many people in the uk want something for nothing, as I heard in Geneva when I worked there in the motor trade, Salesman to Customer, Discount sir, no we sell cars not discounts. To anyone who has the money to do it, buy a korean with 5 or 7 years warranty and get it serviced in the dealer network ang vag and the rest will have to follow suit. And just for all the diehards, can some of our european contributors tell us labour rates in various countries, as it bears our that the dealerships are charging more, but parts are equally expensive everywhere.

Good post.

I would like to point out though, that its not that I am after something for nothing. Far from it. Any reasonable person accepts wear and tear on a vehicle results in expense over time. At 13,400 miles in 3 years though I find it a bit difficult to accept a £1,400 bill for a KNOWN fault. The words "fit for purpose" spring to mind.

If a fault has been this prevailent why is a product recall not carried out? Judging by the dealerships response of "oh, not another one?" when I called them, they are acutely aware of the problem but continue to hide behind the old "loyalty" chestnut when it comes to goodwill gestures in putting the problem right.

If an independent garage service is good enough to maintain a warranty, then why not the goodwill of VW?

No need to apologise. We are all on here to get common issues sorted out by hook or by crook, sorry , by car dealer (ooh! b****y!)

Your comments are welcomed, and I agree with you, maybe the time has come for me to broaden my car manufacture horizons to lands further afield. The Golf could well be on borrowed time in any case.

Regarding the research prior to buying, its the same old story, you get good and bad reviews everywhere, just like a holiday resort I suppose, and never find out the real truth until you are in the thick of things having shelled out biggish sums of hard earned cash. In the case of the ESP problem, it seems to have really come to light post-2008 anyway which wouldn't have helped us in 2007, but your sentiments are indeed very true.

I feel the blue touch paper being lit inside as we speak, and will sharpen those needles ready for a VW battle royal!

Thanks again!