[MayurS]

Originally Posted by PrisonMike

Major Update:

Finally got around to upgrading my front and rear struts to Sachs. The car is currently being worked upon by the team at Mates and Mods in Mumbai.

Upon further inspection, Nirmit from the team there suggested I get my steering rack assembly changed as well because they noticed some significant wear and tear since my car is technically 8 years old now. And mainly because the Sachs struts are far superior to the stock ones, having it run on the old stock steering rack would have been an injustice to the car.

Eagerly waiting to have the car back and experience the new ride and handling in person.

Will post an update as soon as I can.

Hey PrisonMike could you please share the cost of this Sachs suspension?? I’m trying to find them in Nashik but to no Avail.
Thank you

[PrisonMike]

Originally Posted by MayurS

Hey PrisonMike could you please share the cost of this Sachs suspension?? I’m trying to find them in Nashik but to no Avail.
Thank you

I think I paid around 30k in total. Including new bushes, bearings and mounts.

You can try getting it from https://www.instagram.com/german_cart_/

I'm not sure if it's still in stock, since I think I picked up one of the last sets from him. It is very hard to come by though, so grab it if you can. The difference it makes is unreal.

[Vandit]

Are any of the GT 1.2 Tsi owners facing issues in sourcing spares now that the car is out of production?

I have a 2017 GT and am wondering how long we can realistically hold on to this car.

Given that earlier it was fairly easy to import OEM parts from other markets in which VAG sold this car, along with the great popularity of the Polo platform, now it's not so easy to do it anymore.

[PrisonMike]

Originally Posted by Vandit

Are any of the GT 1.2 Tsi owners facing issues in sourcing spares now that the car is out of production?

I have a 2017 GT and am wondering how long we can realistically hold on to this car.

Given that earlier it was fairly easy to import OEM parts from other markets in which VAG sold this car, along with the great popularity of the Polo platform, now it's not so easy to do it anymore.

You can always reach out to third party VAG dealers on Instagram/Facebook. They generally have a pretty decent stock of things.

[GoBlue]

Originally Posted by Vandit

Are any of the GT 1.2 Tsi owners facing issues in sourcing spares now that the car is out of production?

I have a 2017 GT and am wondering how long we can realistically hold on to this car.

Given that earlier it was fairly easy to import OEM parts from other markets in which VAG sold this car, along with the great popularity of the Polo platform, now it's not so easy to do it anymore.

In the 9th year of ownership. No part issues faced. Planning to keep the car till the 15th year, that's how reliable it has been.

What happens after 15 years, whether it needs to be scrapped or fitness certificate can be renewed, is a bridge that shall be crossed when the time comes.

There is no other car in the current sub-10L hatchback segment which can replace the Polo 1.2 TSI. It's a gem of a daily driver, absolute keeper.

[bhushan08]

Friends,

I need urgent guidance.

I had changed my battery and looks like the AC control unit (climatronic) conked off - the buttons don't work. The battery was replaced in outskirts of the city and is a genuine exide one. While trying to find the replacement I found the one I had fitted online and VW service center never picked up the call. I had no choice but to replace and not have my family stranded.

I took the car to the workshop and the SA said the battery I replaced with is not the officially recommended one and hence the AC display and control unit failed.

The replacement for the unit is being quoted at 40K, plus another 6k on battery and labour totalling to 50K. I have warranty but that is being declined for adding non genuine parts.

I am at loss - the battery is genuine and the car worked. Is there a way I can claim warranty? Is the cost asked for reasonable? Should I take the car to some FNG?

Thanks

[Gotham]

Originally Posted by bhushan08

Friends,

The replacement for the unit is being quoted at 40K, plus another 6k on battery and labour totalling to 50K. I have warranty but that is being declined for adding non genuine parts.

I am at loss - the battery is genuine and the car worked. Is there a way I can claim warranty? Is the cost asked for reasonable? Should I take the car to some FNG?

Thanks

VW has all the reasons to decline your warranty , in such cases relationship with SA sometimes helps. for now I would suggest you get it checked with an FNG and keep SC as last resort.

[Dippy]

Originally Posted by bhushan08

Friends,

I need urgent guidance.

I had changed my battery and looks like the AC control unit (climatronic) conked off - the buttons don't work. The battery was replaced in outskirts of the city and is a genuine exide one. While trying to find the replacement I found the one I had fitted online and VW service center never picked up the call. I had no choice but to replace and not have my family stranded.

I took the car to the workshop and the SA said the battery I replaced with is not the officially recommended one and hence the AC display and control unit failed.

The replacement for the unit is being quoted at 40K, plus another 6k on battery and labour totalling to 50K. I have warranty but that is being declined for adding non genuine parts.

I am at loss - the battery is genuine and the car worked. Is there a way I can claim warranty? Is the cost asked for reasonable? Should I take the car to some FNG?

Thanks

VW is very particular about their warranty thingy. I had replaced the battery outside once and when the time came to extend warranty to the 6th year, they told me the outside fitted battery wouldn't do and that warranty claims would be denied.

I got the battery changed right there again at the service center and they gave me my warranty extension

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Gotham

VW has all the reasons to decline your warranty ...

Originally Posted by Dippy

VW is very particular about their warranty thingy. ...

This really stinks, and we customers should be protected against it. But that is, as they say, in my dreams.

I'm known to be a VW/VAG fanboy. Yes! I admit it! But I'm no fan of this behaviour or attitude.

I've replaced batteries at least twice in my two VW Polos, not from VW, and never suffered any ill effect. As bhushan08 says, when the battery is dead, you just need to get the thing fixed and the engine started. It's a consumable.

[bhushan08]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

This really stinks, and we customers should be protected against it. But that is, as they say, in my dreams.

I'm known to be a VW/VAG fanboy. Yes! I admit it! But I'm no fan of this behaviour or attitude.

I've replaced batteries at least twice in my two VW Polos, not from VW, and never suffered any ill effect. As bhushan08 says, when the battery is dead, you just need to get the thing fixed and the engine started. It's a consumable.

Thad, thank you! You have perfectly voiced what I am going through. I did not know that replacing the battery to get the car started and not having my family stranded will cost so dearly.

The irony: I had a full year servicing done 3 months ago and the SA said the battery is good to go for 8-10 months! I called that SA when I was stranded asking for the right recommendation for the replacement. Neither he nor the service center picked up the calls on that Sunday!

I asked the service center today to get me a replacement battery - they said it will take a week The SA said you can keep the car going on the current battery and their won't be any issues! Why the hell will you not honor the warranty then? Baffling...

And, if in this week, something else stops, then that will also not be covered in warranty!

I am a fan of VW driving dynamics. But I was afraid of running into the infamous VW servicing / tantrums. I took extended warranty only for such eventuality.

Hyundai / Maruti give far more peace of mind. I never had to second guess replacing stuff in my Maruti swift!

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by bhushan08

The SA said you can keep the car going on the current battery and their won't be any issues! Why the hell will you not honor the warranty then? Baffling...

And I strongly suspect that you will never get any sound, technical reason behind the restriction. I'm sure we can guess why not!

[corvus corax]

The aircon panel can be turned off by rotating the fan speed knob all the way to the left. Ofcourse, this would have been the first thing the SA had looked for.

I would suggest writing an email to VW explaining everything. I am not sure if its VW themself or an external service provider that approves of the extended warranty claims. But you will get a call for sure and you can further your case there as well.

I would share an experience I had recently. When my car's battery was drained, I contacted my service center. They gave me the toll free number for road side assistance. I called them and since I had not taken VW RSA package I was sent a link of an external agency to enter the details of my car and to pay the amount upfront, 1.4k for 5.7kms. After that another agency sent me their technician's number for contact. The technician came in a Fascino, wearing casuals and flip-flops with a plus size Exide battery and jumper cables, of which one clamp was missing. He attached the clamps and asked me to start the car. The car started and he left. This was in stark contrast with my previous RSA experience where two VW technicians came wearing their workshop overalls in a Polo loaded with multiple spares, batteries, tools and diagnostic gear.

I wrote my dismay to VW and multiple folks called me asking for information about the agencies and screenshots of payment. At the end of all this, I got a three part email. The first part was an apology for the inconvenience caused, second part a complementary wash and free check up and the third part an advice to take RSA to avoid such instances in future.

[amitmk]

Need some advice to fix an issue in my 8 yo TSI. I have recently observed that even after putting the car in P the car has started rolling by 4-6 inches which is much more than it’s even done before.

Also the shifts between P N D S are seemingly smoother than before. Smoother not in a good way. That minor click feel that was present between shifts is now almost negligible.

Has anyone else faced this problem? I’m wondering if it’s safe to drive. Planning to take the car to the local workshop which specialises in German cars.

If anyone faced this let me know what the problem was and how it was sorted. Thanks.

[bhushan08]

Originally Posted by corvus corax

I would suggest writing an email to VW explaining everything. I am not sure if its VW themself or an external service provider that approves of the extended warranty claims. But you will get a call for sure and you can further your case there as well.
\

Thanks! I wrote to the VW customer care yesterday. Let's see how it goes!

[anshumandun]

Our 2016 GT TSI just completed 100,000kms in 7 years!

The car has been very reliable over these 7 years. It’s still running the stock DQ200 gearbox!

The main work that has been done on the car till now includes engine mount replacement (it had cracked) and water pump replacement that was done recently (was making some funny sounds). Apart from that, the brake rotors have been replaced 2 times (common issue with this car). The car has been serviced at VW Hessaraghatta service station since the start and I’ve always had a pleasant experience with them.

This car was our only car for a few years and it took us on several memorable road trips around south India. It has also been my wife’s daily commute for her office since the beginning. Both me and my wife are enthusiastic drivers and that’s why the GT has stayed so long with us. It brings a smile every time you take it out on an open road.

In 2021, this car took us on our dream road trip from Bangalore to Leh which I have documented here (Bangalore to Leh in a Polo GT TSI).

The GT is a keeper and it will stay with us until we run out of parking space.