-----Original Message-----
From: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, February 02, 2000 6:36 PM
Subject: In defense of Dealers, was: Dealer ripoffs

>#3) Recourse. On three separate occasions, the dealer has FAR exceeded my
>expectations of just recompense when there was a goof on their part. The
>dealer is often far more competent than I, and if they aren't they offer a
>sturdy work warrantee. I trust them.
>
>Besides, if you chortle with the service guys a bit, they'll often lop 10%
>or 20% off large orders just for your dedication in using VW service. Just
>wrote a $650 check to VW Springfield (VA) for struts/shocks/etc. on our 85
>Jetta. Glad I did. Dropped off at 10:00 a.m., picked up at 4:00. That's my
>idea of auto maintenance.
>

Consider yourself lucky if you have a competent VW Dealer.  I wouldn't trust
mine to properly refill the wiper fluid. Unfortunately I have had to have a
lot of warrantee work done on my last 2 VW's-a Jetta and a Passat and NOT
ONCE was the repair done to my satisfaction the first time or even the
second time.  We're talking about minor items-it took them 3 tries to get
the drivers seat so it didn't rock back and forth, 3 tries to get the rear
power window working, and three tries to get the cruise control working.  On
most occasions the car was returned to me with the problem not fixed, but
them telling me I was all set.  I didn't have to drive out of their driveway
before I knew I had to schedule another appointment.  I was complaining
about this to the parts guy at a competing dealer who told me he wished he
could say I would have better luck at his shop, but I probably wouldn't.
Compare this to my regular mechanic who fixes things right the first time
every time.  He is fine with my arrangement of getting my parts from a list
vendor at much less than even he can get the part and he does the labor.  VW
mechanics are more concerned with rapid turnover so they can get their bonus
and could care less about doing the job properly.