Hello there!

I live in Canada and am having a heck of a time here with my 2001 VW Golf TDi. I bought it in September 2000, and by December 2000 the entire lighting package on the car would occassionally dim and brighten whenever the ignition was on - didn't matter what engine rpm or vehicle speed - and the car would chug (back and forth) at lower rpms as well. This condition has become increasing worse with time.

I complained numerous times (every scheduled service) to Owasco VW in Whitby, Ontario and a three or so other dealers during the warranty period (a mere 2yrs/40,000kms) but sadly they - especially Owasco - tended to brush me off indicating the issue I was experiencing was simply related to it "being a diesel". Obviously, this is not the case, and I too am appauled at how I was treated by the dealership more than anything. Owasco VW/Audi advertises itself as a CAA (the equivalent of AAA in Canada) "I Care" award winner in regards to service excellence, but I have yet to find any VW or Audi customers - and I have stopped many to ask - who are satisfied with their Owasco VW experience.

I have, however, been fortunate enough to find one dealership that treats me and my car with respect, and that's Belleville VW. I bought my car there because of the excellent sales experience and drive the hour there for honest service as well. Kudos and many thanks to Belleville VW!!!

Although my issues with the car were reported (and documented) well before the time of warranty expiry, because I was always assured the dealer would eventually cure the problem I didn't hassle them as much as I should have. In total, the car has spent well over a month in the service department with no alternate transportation provided to me and with no root cause discovered. Most recently, VW of North America has grudgingly agreed to pay for parts to find the problem if I agree to pay the labour charge - which I assume will be thousands in addition to what I've already paid because the cause of the issue is yet to be found. Now the Golf is 1yr, 11months old with 105,000kms on it and I'm moving to Florida for university in a car I have a complete lack of confidence in and that I strongly feel could leave me stranded at any mile along on the road.

If it were reliable, I would love the car itself; sometimes I still do. I don't mind paying higher prices for initial purchase and service for what appear to be premium products, but in this case I don't feel that's what I've received. I would gladly be rid of it in favour of a Mazda Protege5 or Hyundai Elantra GT because these cars surely would prove a better value with less headaches, but I simply cannot afford to take the couple thousand dollar hit on it while simultaneously stretching myself for university tuition (the exchange rate from Canadian Monopoly money to US dollars is unreal). So, there you have it... I'm saddled with a VW and praying I don't have to pay any more extra money on it until I'm through university.

My only recourse to gain any satisfaction from the situation? To plaster my Golf with vinyl graphics (the Golf's shoebox shape is perfect for it) and start a consumer website to tell of my experience and VW's decidedly pathetic response to my concerns. Everyone laughs at me for still owning this unreliable money pit, and it's gotten to the point that I laugh too - what else can I do? Oh, and the name of the website I wanted to start? Yep, you got it: "SuckersWanted.com". Must say I love the site, and am happy to have come across it - way to go! Very professional and informative. Guess I'll have to settle for the next best Canadian-esque URL: "SuckersWanted.ca". Watch for it soon...

And thought you'd like to know: A guy I know in college was given a brand-new Jetta TDi last year free of charge. Why, you ask? Because his original 2000MY Jetta suffered from a faulty glow plug relay and while parked in his garage the engine bay caught fire. The glow plug failed to turn itself off and continued to superheat itself and everything around it. Nice one, eh!

If you'd like to converse more in greater detail, I would most certainly welcome it. I can be reached via the e-mail address supplied at log-on and would appreciate an update on any progress you make.

Best of luck, and thank-you!
ERIK