VW delivery delays

JoyPad

Hello,

We've ordered a new VW Tiguan in October. The idea was to get it in January. I spoke to the sales rep again in December, asking if he knows anything about the car, if it has been built, or if they can foresee any delays, and I was told no, no delays, etc.

Come January, I dropped into the dealership on Saturday 12th. I had received a letter from VW about a recall on our current car, was wondering if I need to do it, or they can do it after we trade it in. Since they couldn't tell me when the car would be delivered, they said do the recall as soon as possible, so we did it the week after.

Since then, it's only been delay after delay. Next boat arrives January 15th, not on it. Next boat arrives January 28th, not on it. Now awaiting another boat, they can't tell me if the car is on it or not.

Yesterday, they tell me delivery time is 14 to 17 weeks. First time I heard this number.

How is it possible for these people not to know the status of the car? In UK, they have a page on the VW website where you can track your car the same way you would track a parcel. But in Ireland, VW says I must talk to the dealer, and the dealer either doesn't know anything, or they're lying to me about where the car is. I mean, they said on January 12th that the car is in transit, which they thought it's on a boat or in port awaiting boarding. Since then, they kept saying it will be on the next ship to Ireland, but they don't know for sure.

VW used to care about customer satisfaction, but it doesn't look like it anymore.

Sorry for the long rant.
JP

Henry Ford III

Very shoddy. I'd be inclined tell them get stuffed tbh.

Lantus

Generally they do know, at least with the skoda I've bought they know week of manufacture completion and delivery schedule.

There are widespread delays with the new emissions testing. Car sales I imagine are down given the massive push of deals in papers. (not related)

JoeA3

It was a factory order obviously, with spec over and above what's in the standard car? If it wasn't a special spec, then there should be plenty of stock available in the country right now in the more popular colours, etc.

Typical wait time for a factory order has always been at least 10-12 weeks. The WLTP emissions thing affected VAG quite a bit due to the sheer number of variations of models, so that's most likely the main reason its delayed yours beyond the norm. It sounds like the dealer was poor in communicating this to you from the outset. It was always going to take a minimum of 10-12 weeks and the dealers would have been well aware of the WLTP problems too, and should have warned you back in October that this could delay things further. I know of someone who was quoted 18 weeks for a factory order GTI this week.

VW Ireland don't have an online car tracking thing... your only option is to sit on the dealer. You could also get the order number (ask for the "Comm" number) off the dealer and ring VW Ireland "customer care" directly. They'll tell you over the phone where the car is.

There are only 2-3 ships into the country per month... so if your car happened to land at the dock-side in Germany at the "wrong" time, it could sit on the docks for a couple of weeks waiting for the next boat. But I am sure that if they are telling you its in transit / waiting for a boat, you won't have that much longer to wait...

Leprechaun77

If they have confirmed that it is definitely built, I wouldn’t worry too much. ‘In transit’ is a status they use on their online tracking system but unfortunately it may not break down this process which can be quite long. It can cover transit from the factory, time sitting in port, time sitting on ferry and time sitting in Irish dock.

As the poster above said, you may be unlucky and miss a boat and have to wait another week or so for the next one. A quick google will show where your car is built exactly and a guide on transport times etc. You can actually even find out what transport ship is used and track this online (vesselfinder).

By way of an example, a friend had a car sitting in the port of Emden in Germany for over four weeks before being put on a boat. My car was there for five days and got the boat straight away...

SusanC10

Sorry to hijack. My Mum is also waiting on a new VW. She ordered it in early December. She was told at the time that she would have it in February.

Now the Dealer has said that it is a "Week 6" which he says means will be complete the 2nd week in February.

How long do you think that means realistically before she will get it ? Dealer saying mid-March. Is that accurate ?

Leprechaun77

On the assumption that the car actually gets built in week 6, I’d say first or second week in March is right, depending on the garages geographic location and how quick they do the pre-delivery checks. I just hope she hasn’t ordered a petrol as I believe these can be a nightmare within the VAG group at the moment for reliable dates.

RedorDead

The port that VW group use in Germany Emden is stuffed full of cars apparently. Capacity of 33000 and 38000 currently there so its a lottery getting cars out of there as they can be hemmed in quite easily. Generally a new boat leaves every week so keep the fingers crossed.

Ask dealer for a chassis number to prove its built.

JoeA3

SusanC10 wrote: »

Sorry to hijack. My Mum is also waiting on a new VW. She ordered it in early December. She was told at the time that she would have it in February.

Now the Dealer has said that it is a "Week 6" which he says means will be complete the 2nd week in February.

How long do you think that means realistically before she will get it ? Dealer saying mid-March. Is that accurate ?

Yep, I'd say mid-March would be about right. Could be a bit sooner or a tad later (see the earlier posts re your luck with the timing of ships).

SusanC10

Thanks for the replies. At least the Dealer doesn't appear to be misleading her anyway.

ChuckLarry

SusanC10 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. At least the Dealer doesn't appear to be misleading her anyway.

I ordered a golf mid November due for collection end of January/start of February, start of February came and no word from the dealer, eventually was told it would be end of April possibly into May

It suited me as I had changed my mind and added some extras but also meant it hadn’t even been built the week I was due to receive it as I was still able to add the extras

pippip

^ Any more delays and you may as well wait till July to register it.

bazz26

The new Mk8 will probably be on sale by then.

SusanC10

Garage now saying that they have a Chassis Number and will let her know when the Car is on a Boat.
How long more approx will it be ?
Garage now saying before the end of March. Is this accurate ?

JoeA3

If it's built and in transit or already dock-side, then yeah, end of March seems very possible...

ChuckLarry

Hi OP just wondering if you received your car yet