VW Golf GTI advice please
Discussion
Hi everyone
Long time lurker on the forum, but wondered if I could seek the advice of everyone here as I am struggling massively with VW UK.
I bought a 2015 GTI from a VW dealership and they told me the service history was all online but told me when the last works were done. I was fine with this, but a couple of months after purchase I phoned VW to see if I could get a copy of the service history. Long story short, they struggled to find it on the system as apparently my car was imported from Malta!
VW Malta have confirmed that the VIN was a car sold by a Maltese dealership but can give no further information due to GDPR constraints, so I have no idea whether it was sold new to a UK dealership (the V5 states one former owner and was registered in the UK in 2015) or if it was sold to someone who drove it in Malta and then subsequently imported it to the UK.
VW UK can’t provide any more information or advice/ VW Malta aren’t helping and the dealership keeps saying they will look into it. So I wondered if anyone can advise as I had some questions:
1. Is my insurance invalid as I didn’t report it as an import,
2. is it even an import-i guess if VW UK “bought”it in to the UK as new, it’s a UK car?
3. Is there a risk my V5 is just wrong as it states only one former owner
4. Do I have any comeback with the dealership as I’ve not been sold a UK car, it’s almost UK spec but is missing the “driver mode selection button/function”
5. How do I try and get more information on the history of the car? It appears to be a 2015 MY with the same interior/exterior as others, but I’m no expert on this
Any thoughts would be much appreciated as I am at a complete loss as to what to do.
Thanks
Tim
Long time lurker on the forum, but wondered if I could seek the advice of everyone here as I am struggling massively with VW UK.
I bought a 2015 GTI from a VW dealership and they told me the service history was all online but told me when the last works were done. I was fine with this, but a couple of months after purchase I phoned VW to see if I could get a copy of the service history. Long story short, they struggled to find it on the system as apparently my car was imported from Malta!
VW Malta have confirmed that the VIN was a car sold by a Maltese dealership but can give no further information due to GDPR constraints, so I have no idea whether it was sold new to a UK dealership (the V5 states one former owner and was registered in the UK in 2015) or if it was sold to someone who drove it in Malta and then subsequently imported it to the UK.
VW UK can’t provide any more information or advice/ VW Malta aren’t helping and the dealership keeps saying they will look into it. So I wondered if anyone can advise as I had some questions:
1. Is my insurance invalid as I didn’t report it as an import,
2. is it even an import-i guess if VW UK “bought”it in to the UK as new, it’s a UK car?
3. Is there a risk my V5 is just wrong as it states only one former owner
4. Do I have any comeback with the dealership as I’ve not been sold a UK car, it’s almost UK spec but is missing the “driver mode selection button/function”
5. How do I try and get more information on the history of the car? It appears to be a 2015 MY with the same interior/exterior as others, but I’m no expert on this
Any thoughts would be much appreciated as I am at a complete loss as to what to do.
Thanks
Tim
I would say you have 2 prongs of attack, being an parallel import car, then resale value will be less, as you werent advised it was such, then the dealer has performed an offence under the CPR. ''It is a breach of the CPRs (Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 ) to mislead consumers by failing to give them the information they need in order to make informed decisions (misleading omissions).''
Was the car less than equilivent others perchance?
The fact they can't validate service history means they have breached the contract as they advertise ''
Service history checks
This certificate details your car’s entire Volkswagen Das WeltAuto retailer network history, for example routine servicing work. It also verifies the cars identity and status of the warranty.''
When they clearly haven't checked and don't have the evidence of this.
Was the car less than equilivent others perchance?
The fact they can't validate service history means they have breached the contract as they advertise ''
Service history checks
This certificate details your car’s entire Volkswagen Das WeltAuto retailer network history, for example routine servicing work. It also verifies the cars identity and status of the warranty.''
When they clearly haven't checked and don't have the evidence of this.
Edited by Thesprucegoose on Friday 13th September 08:43
timbo_tim said:
Hi, yes it was, does that help?
I would look through the small print of the qualifications and benefits of the schemeDo they not list a load of things like protection against hidden history, verified mileage, etc ,etc
you would then need to argue an import is hidden history.
What's your main issue. Is it a different spec? Is it not worth as much? You'll need to try and argue the das welt auto checks should have caught these and/or you should have been made aware it was an import.
just my 2p's
Around 2015 I remember that some of the car supermarkets - Motorpoint was one - had bought lots of new Mk 7 Golfs from Malta and Cyprus and were selling them at well below list.
I nearly bought one but didn't when I realised that they were a different spec. In particular, these imports didn't have active cruise control and the associated emergency city braking. This system is one of the reasons that the Mk 7's were a few insurance groups lower. So when I looked at insurance quotes, they were much higher as a result.
I guess its possible that some of these lower spec imported cars have found their way back into the official VW used network. If you have inadvertently bought one of these lower spec cars and it was not made clear to you at the point of sale, on the face of it I would suggest you have a strong case for getting your money back.
There is also the insurance issue to consider. If you have bought the lower spec model without ACC then this needs highlighting to the insurance company.
Oh - and in 2015 VW were still issuing service books with new cars. We bought a new Golf GTi in late 2016 and it had a service book. I think the change happened for the 7.5 version, although I may be corrected. I haven't got a service book with our 2017 7.5 R.
I nearly bought one but didn't when I realised that they were a different spec. In particular, these imports didn't have active cruise control and the associated emergency city braking. This system is one of the reasons that the Mk 7's were a few insurance groups lower. So when I looked at insurance quotes, they were much higher as a result.
I guess its possible that some of these lower spec imported cars have found their way back into the official VW used network. If you have inadvertently bought one of these lower spec cars and it was not made clear to you at the point of sale, on the face of it I would suggest you have a strong case for getting your money back.
There is also the insurance issue to consider. If you have bought the lower spec model without ACC then this needs highlighting to the insurance company.
Oh - and in 2015 VW were still issuing service books with new cars. We bought a new Golf GTi in late 2016 and it had a service book. I think the change happened for the 7.5 version, although I may be corrected. I haven't got a service book with our 2017 7.5 R.
Edited by kick buttowski on Friday 13th September 09:08
kick buttowski said:
Around 2015 I remember that some of the car supermarkets - Motorpoint was one - had bought lots of new Mk 7 Golfs from Malta and Cyprus and were selling them at well below list.
I nearly bought one but didn't when I realised that they were a different spec. In particular, these imports didn't have active cruise control and the associated emergency city braking. This system is one of the reasons that the Mk 7's were a few insurance groups lower. So when I looked at insurance quotes, they were much higher as a result.
I guess its possible that some of these lower spec imported cars have found their way back into the official VW used network. If you have inadvertently bought one of these lower spec cars and it was not made clear to you at the point of sale, on the face of it I would suggest you have a strong case for getting your money back.
There is also the insurance issue to consider. If you have bought the lower spec model without ACC then this needs highlighting to the insurance company.
Oh - and in 2015 VW were still issuing service books with new cars. We bought a new Golf GTi in late 2016 and it had a service book. I think the change happened for the 7.5 version, although I may be corrected. I haven't got a service book with our 2017 7.5 R.
Thanks so much - i think that confirms everything - i only have standard cruise control according to the PR codes, its also missing "driver mode selection" - the button next to the gearstick. So its clearly a below spec car, not one I thought I was buying (should i be expected to know about the driver mode button for example?) and i potentially have incorrect insurance. Will take this up with dealership, but I can imagine their response...I nearly bought one but didn't when I realised that they were a different spec. In particular, these imports didn't have active cruise control and the associated emergency city braking. This system is one of the reasons that the Mk 7's were a few insurance groups lower. So when I looked at insurance quotes, they were much higher as a result.
I guess its possible that some of these lower spec imported cars have found their way back into the official VW used network. If you have inadvertently bought one of these lower spec cars and it was not made clear to you at the point of sale, on the face of it I would suggest you have a strong case for getting your money back.
There is also the insurance issue to consider. If you have bought the lower spec model without ACC then this needs highlighting to the insurance company.
Oh - and in 2015 VW were still issuing service books with new cars. We bought a new Golf GTi in late 2016 and it had a service book. I think the change happened for the 7.5 version, although I may be corrected. I haven't got a service book with our 2017 7.5 R.
Edited by kick buttowski on Friday 13th September 09:08
You can easily see if your Mk7 has the ACC. Look at the grille below the front no plate, and you will clearly see the large box for the radar unit if you have ACC.
Without the ACC, it is definitely not a UK car. If you have bought this car through a franchised VW dealer and were not told it was an import with a lower spec, and not a UK car, then I would suggest you have every chance of getting your money back if that's what you want.
It might be worth deciding what you want first. If you like the car, then maybe you could consider asking for a cash adjustment to compensate instead, taking into account the likely increased cost of insurance, lower value of the car, resale difficulty and loss of functions (ie no adaptive cruise etc).
Without the ACC, it is definitely not a UK car. If you have bought this car through a franchised VW dealer and were not told it was an import with a lower spec, and not a UK car, then I would suggest you have every chance of getting your money back if that's what you want.
It might be worth deciding what you want first. If you like the car, then maybe you could consider asking for a cash adjustment to compensate instead, taking into account the likely increased cost of insurance, lower value of the car, resale difficulty and loss of functions (ie no adaptive cruise etc).
I bought a 2005 GTI from a UK VW dealer which turned out to be supplied from a dealer in Netherlands.
I never worried about it as it was officially from a UK dealer. Didn't feel the need to tell the insurance company.
The only issue with the car was when you gave the dealer the Reg number it wasn't on the VW UK system for parts etc. Easily sorted with the VIN/chassis number.
You have to decide if you would have still purchased the car if you had known it's origins. There are enough cars out there that you would have probably walked away and found another car.
Good basis for some sort of claim to VW UK HQ.
I never worried about it as it was officially from a UK dealer. Didn't feel the need to tell the insurance company.
The only issue with the car was when you gave the dealer the Reg number it wasn't on the VW UK system for parts etc. Easily sorted with the VIN/chassis number.
You have to decide if you would have still purchased the car if you had known it's origins. There are enough cars out there that you would have probably walked away and found another car.
Good basis for some sort of claim to VW UK HQ.
kick buttowski said:
You can easily see if your Mk7 has the ACC. Look at the grille below the front no plate, and you will clearly see the large box for the radar unit if you have ACC.
Without the ACC, it is definitely not a UK car. If you have bought this car through a franchised VW dealer and were not told it was an import with a lower spec, and not a UK car, then I would suggest you have every chance of getting your money back if that's what you want.
It might be worth deciding what you want first. If you like the car, then maybe you could consider asking for a cash adjustment to compensate instead, taking into account the likely increased cost of insurance, lower value of the car, resale difficulty and loss of functions (ie no adaptive cruise etc).
Confirmed then - definitely no ACC (spec sheet and no radar) so guess there is good claim with the dealership - which was very much part of the VW network. Unsure about next steps, there are probably enough UK spec GTis out there to try and source a similar replacement, and it would be nice to have the "sport" mode selection option...Without the ACC, it is definitely not a UK car. If you have bought this car through a franchised VW dealer and were not told it was an import with a lower spec, and not a UK car, then I would suggest you have every chance of getting your money back if that's what you want.
It might be worth deciding what you want first. If you like the car, then maybe you could consider asking for a cash adjustment to compensate instead, taking into account the likely increased cost of insurance, lower value of the car, resale difficulty and loss of functions (ie no adaptive cruise etc).
timbo_tim said:
Hi everyone
I bought a 2015 GTI from a VW dealership and they told me the service history was all online but told me when the last works were done. I was fine with this, but a couple of months after purchase I phoned VW to see if I could get a copy of the service history. Long story short, they struggled to find it on the system as apparently my car was imported from Malta!
I'm confused, how can they tell you when the last service was done, but can't access the service history? Surely they are the same system? How did they complete the Das WeltAuto service history check?I bought a 2015 GTI from a VW dealership and they told me the service history was all online but told me when the last works were done. I was fine with this, but a couple of months after purchase I phoned VW to see if I could get a copy of the service history. Long story short, they struggled to find it on the system as apparently my car was imported from Malta!
I would ask for an equivalent UK spec car, or a refund of some money.
zedstar said:
Has your car got Xenon lights?
I remember the ones at Motorpoint all had halogen...
Yep: 110 8ID HSW Halogen twin headlamps. think that pretty much confirms its origin into the UK, thanks for all your help. Need to see what dealer says, just hope this is not a caveat emptor situation...I remember the ones at Motorpoint all had halogen...
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this, long story short, after some negotiating, dealer took car in for what I paid for it (6 months ago) and did a very very good deal on a brand new 69 plate GTI. Ok so it was probably stock they wanted shot of, but it was great spec and overall happy with the result. Interesting how these lower spec cars end up in the main dealer network without them knowing.
timbo_tim said:
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this, long story short, after some negotiating, dealer took car in for what I paid for it (6 months ago) and did a very very good deal on a brand new 69 plate GTI. Ok so it was probably stock they wanted shot of, but it was great spec and overall happy with the result. Interesting how these lower spec cars end up in the main dealer network without them knowing.
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