NB..3 weeks later!!

[ssscales]

Here is my NB experience!
I bought my 2006 NB Salsa Red 2.5 Auto about 3 weeks ago now, it has less than 800 miles on it.

For over a year I tried to convince my husband (who wanted me to get another Honda or even a Toyota) that I wanted a NB. For a year he talked me out of it, telling me about all these problems they have and forwarding me all these complaints on the NB from owners.

When I got my NB, I loved it, loved the look, loved the drive, just loved it!!!!!! Now, after only 3 weeks!!

The car has been in the dealer twice and the VW Customer Service has been crap to say the least!! They were pleasant while buying the car, they were great when I drove off in the car, but they frankly didn't give a damn when the car had problems!! I think the lack of customer service added 200X's to the actual problems with the car!!

After only a week out, the drivers side window was getting stuck on the way up, along with a noise that sounded like it was coming from the speakers! I took it to the dealership and waited 2 days for my car! They fix the problems, but the noise came back after a few days!! I took the car again to the dealership and they took care of it the same day!!

Last Thursday, the sound is back and now it sounds like it is coming from underneath the car! When you turn the key to the 1st position, it makes this noise and then stops, then when you turn the car on, it makes that noise constantly till the car is off!! Now the dealer tells me to make an appointment and it will take a week before they will even see me!!!

I don't expect any new car to be 100%, but Jesus Christ!! I never had a single headache with my previous Honda Accord, and when I would have a minor complaint, it was taken car of immediately and they would go out of their way to make sure I was happy!!

Is this the beginning of a nightmare?? My husband is laughing his butt off at me!!!

[WNAB911]

You will love your car like a puppy in the long run, but you will hate VW service! It took my dealer a month to find the right catalytic converter for my car! Think of your service woes as the hazing you need to get through to join a really cool club!!

[CyberGypsy]

Yea had a NBC for 10 days and tookit back have a 2001 turbo and it loves to throw Check engine lights at me, its crazy, but its just part of Bug Love, get use to it

[Audiophil]

I thought this was going to be some chick talking about how in three weeks she has driven more than any other time in her life... guess not. I was fairly certain that the NB was made trouble free now... again, guess not. The problems your JO husband probably speaks of are from 98-99... a few MINOR problems might remain.

The Bug still might have a few issues, but it is at the end of the day a reliable car. Part of owning a car you really enjoy is little quirks... if you wanted boring mabey the Toyota was right for you... hope not. Good Luck.

[ssscales]

Originally Posted by Audiophil

I thought this was going to be some chick talking about how in three weeks she has driven more than any other time in her life... guess not. I was fairly certain that the NB was made trouble free now... again, guess not. The problems your JO husband probably speaks of are from 98-99... a few MINOR problems might remain.

The Bug still might have a few issues, but it is at the end of the day a reliable car. Part of owning a car you really enjoy is little quirks... if you wanted boring maybe the Toyota was right for you... hope not. Good Luck.

Between boring & reliable Vs cool and problematic, I'll take boring and reliable any day of the week. I have a 9-5, kids to drop off and pick up at school, etc, etc.

I love my NB too death, but if this is the beginning of monthly visits to my dealership and week long rentals, I may have made a mistake in choosing a VW Beetle.

I hope this is just a breaking in phase and will soon pass...

[Lnzbug]

Sorry to hear about your problems. My 01 seems to have a few bugs in it too, but Chip does have 140k miles. IT seems that the 06 verts have a few problems. That DOESN'T mean your dealer should drop you like a hot potato. If there is another dealer nearby go to that one. They are not created equal. Good luck.

[ssscales]

The other dealers around here are worst!

We shopped around to three of dealers and the other two were pretty bad before and during the sale. I'm almost afraid to take my car to them.

[CyberGypsy]

Ahhhhhhh, the joys of owning a bug, they really own us

[Phxcoop]

I also just got the NB 06 and had to take it in a few times already. Mostly for parts they had to replace but nothing major at all. I really think what makes the experience much better is how well the service department is at the dealership. The dealership I go to has been very very good. And they fixed everything. I just think I have one more visit and my call will be working at 100%. I just noticed that with VW cars vs like honda is a little care getting things fixed will be worth it in the long run. But good luck.

[JohnnyJet]

Sound like a noisy fuel pump to me, but I could be wrong. I just picked up an 06 also. 136 miles and no problems yet. I hope it stays that way.

[Deserion]

When you first turn the key on, that hum is the fuel pump priming. I know on my 1.8T, there is an electrical motor noise when I turn it off (coolant recirculation pump). Not sure of the 2.5L has it.

My NBC has been great, love it love it.

The noise from the speakers could be a vibrating part of the door panel (some of the switch bezels vibrate when I have the stereo bass cranked ).

Good luck with having those little things taken care of - once it's over with you'll be smiling again.

-Des

[ssscales]

Originally Posted by Deserion

When you first turn the key on, that hum is the fuel pump priming. I know on my 1.8T, there is an electrical motor noise when I turn it off (coolant recirculation pump). Not sure of the 2.5L has it.

My NBC has been great, love it love it.

The noise from the speakers could be a vibrating part of the door panel (some of the switch bezels vibrate when I have the stereo bass cranked ).

Good luck with having those little things taken care of - once it's over with you'll be smiling again.

-Des

I hope so, the 1st noise was some type of filter, you could hear the engine revving up through the speakers. That was taken care of during the 2nd visit to the dealer.

This noise is under the car, but you can hear it all through the car. I just find it ridiculous that the dealer won't without an appointment and that will take a week! I can see this car costing me a bundle a year in rental fees...

I'll give it one year, if the troubles continue I'll take a loss upfront and sell it/trade it in for a Honda or Toyota.

I do hope this is just a breaking in phase and these little quirks are just showing themselves now. Like I said, it's not much the car giving me trouble as it is the VW service!

[LilBit]

Everytime I've been to my local VW dealership the salesmen were rude, errogant, self indulging jerks, but..... the parts dept has been wonderful! I haven't had to take my NB in for service yet, but everyone in that dept I've talked to have been really helpful and extremly nice. You might give the other dealerships service dept a try. Also, see if anybody on this site might have been to the other dealerships and there experiences. Good Luck! I know once your NB is runnung properly, you'll LOVE it.[/QUOTE]

[Phxcoop]

This noise is under the car, but you can hear it all through the car. I just find it ridiculous that the dealer won't without an appointment and that will take a week! I can see this car costing me a bundle a year in rental fees...

Ask the service department for a rental car. Typically if they have to keep your car over night, they will give you a FREE rental car. If they are not willing to do that, take it some place else!

[ssscales]

Originally Posted by Phxcoop

Ask the service department for a rental car. Typically if they have to keep your car over night, they will give you a FREE rental car. If they are not willing to do that, take it some place else!

If by free you mean $60-$80 a day, yes they offered a free rental. I asked, I had to beg them to even drop me off at my job that was 10 blocks away, and they claimed to have a shuttle service when I bought the car! I don't know if it's the people or the way of the VW dealer!

What ticked me off was the attitude! Almost as if they were thinking "We got you now sucker!".

[scooperhsd]

Can you say "find a good, independent VW specialist" ? - Yes ? That's the true path to happiness with a VW.

90%+ (and climbing) of the work for my 2000 TDI goes to an independent - the only thing I see the dealer about are
A. - emergency service
B. - parts I can't order over the internet / find in local autoparts places.

It's especially bad for us TDI owners - Timing belt changes done wrong can literally be a $4000 new engine job.

[cjh47]

I'm afraid that NB's are known to have "bugs" in them. My '99 had the fuel door problem, but not much else. My '02 had to have the transmission replaced, and the windows fell down in the doors. The parts are made of plastic, but when they break they replace them with metal. So far my '06 is perfect. I have a little less than 600 miles on her, so she's pretty young yet. Hopefully she will be fine forever. Even with the known problems, this is my third NB. They are just so darn cute and she puts a smile on my face when I come out of work and she's just sitting there with that smile on her face waiting for me. I know, I'm nuts about my car, but then that's why there are web sites like this one. I'm not the only one out there. Enjoy your little car and hopefully they will get it fixed. Not all dealers are made the same. That's for sure. Even the dealers will tell you that VW is hard to deal with.

[Audiophil]

Yeah, don't give up on your Bug. I have owned one for almost five years and over that time visiting this site I can not remember a time when a Bug left someone stranded and/or did not work at all. They have a few little problems... mostly cheap non-critical parts here and there break, but they are reliable.

Your dealer however sounds like a real d*ck. I have gotten shuttles/rides from my VW dealer before... if it gets worse say you will call VW of America. In fact VW called me after I bought my Bug to see how well I rated the dealer. Complaining to VW of America about a brand new VW sale from a dealer will surely get someone at the dealer in trouble... stick with it.

[Phxcoop]

If by free you mean $60-$80 a day, yes they offered a free rental. I asked, I had to beg them to even drop me off at my job that was 10 blocks away, and they claimed to have a shuttle service when I bought the car! I don't know if it's the people or the way of the VW dealer!

What ticked me off was the attitude! Almost as if they were thinking "We got you now sucker!".

First off, you need to find a new dealer. Where are you located? Maybe I am just lucky that the service department I go to is a dream to work with. They have bent over backwards for me and they really did not have to. So something just is not adding up here. Have you complained to VW of America?

And when I say free it was FREE.

[ssscales]

Originally Posted by scooperhsd

Can you say "find a good, independent VW specialist" ? - Yes ? That's the true path to happiness with a VW.

90%+ (and climbing) of the work for my 2000 TDI goes to an independent - the only thing I see the dealer about are
A. - emergency service
B. - parts I can't order over the internet / find in local autoparts places.

It's especially bad for us TDI owners - Timing belt changes done wrong can literally be a $4000 new engine job.

I would, but my car is 3 weeks old..repairs are under the warranty for 4yrs. If I take it elsewhere I have to come out of pocket. I bought a brand new car to avoid headaches like these. I had a Honda for 5yrs and I can tell you the very little times I had to take my car in, the dealer service compared to VW was heaven sent!

I haven't complained to anyone except within the dealer itself all the way up to the GM. All I got was, "They'll get to me when they can".

I'm sorry, I wanted a NB since they came out and I love my NB!
I was hoping to be one of the positive voices giving great feedback on my NB, 10K-25K-50K miles and worry free! I kept telling myself that more people voice negative feedback then positive, it can't be all that bad!! Unfortunately I have this bad taste in my mouth since getting this car. I truly hope this downhill suddenly levels out at some point.

The dealer I am dealing with is called Deel VW in Miami FL.