Would You Buy Another Mk4

[TiJazz]

What a weird DSG that is. Every DSG car I’ve driven creeped like an auto.

[Kremmen]

Yes, it did creep exactly as a torque converter.

On the torque converter though I can use the brake pedal to slow the creep as the speed is too fast for tight parking.

On the DSG I had the problem was that touching the brake pedal didn't slow the speed but cut the drive and the car stopped. The only way to reconnect was to press the accelerator.

My DSG was over a decade ago and maybe they have changed the system to not fully cut drive but to be able to slow the creep whilst still maintaining drive.

[Westy36]

My main beef with VW, is the appalling way they treat their European customers.

The DSG is a perfect example. Around the world they will put the cars on recall for replacement mechatronic units or to change the oil from synthetic to mineral. Here, they deny the problems and have shady Service Campaigns. If cars are not returned to franchise for servicing, then work never gets done! 

Dieselgate. VW paid more than $7.4 billion to buy back about 350,000 U.S. diesel vehicles. They now have airfields full of the things. In the UK? Denial followed by a 'Trust Building Measure' which means a limited 2yr warranty on the problems they know will follow. 

I've owned 4 Skoda and a Golf GTi. I had my MK1 Octi for 12yrs and it was the best car I've owned! However, VAG has proven it can't be trusted anymore. For example, even the very latest Golf Mk8 has been plagued with issues because it was rushed to market with unproven technology. Sadly VAG quality and reliability are history despite the same badge and clever marketing.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-emissions-storage-idUSKBN1H50GQ


 

[Karoq]

Not true with a Skoda Octavia Diesel DSG, I had from 2009 for 2 years.

It would hesitate at junctions, sometimes for a few seconds.

This resulted in 2 people rear ending my car.

I will never but a VAG group car again.

Others faults with this car, the radio/cd failed during warranty, I had to wait over a year for a replacement.

Bulbs kept blowing.

The black film on the window switches rubbed off when it was about 18 months old, Skoda didn’t fix.

Plus other faults.
Got rid after very soon. It had only done about 20k miles, when I got rid.

You were obviously VERY unlucky. Out of interest, how long ago was this (year of reg).

Being moderator of both Kodiaq & Karoq forums, I can honestly say that problems are very few and far between on those two models at least. i also had a Fabia 1.2 TSi DSG and have 3 friends with old Fabias that have never had any trouble at all.

 The only reason I may not have another Skoda (or ANY European car, as their ridiculous insistence on fitting HUGE wheels with VERY low aspect tyres is very uncomfortable for my old back and very liable to curbing damage.

The only makes I can think of with 'sensible' rubber are Japanese or Korean. Since I have had 6 Hondas and 2 Mazdas it will most likely be a Crosstar or the new HR-v e: HEV.
Mazda's 'wizard' new engines are rubbish. Good consumption but so slow & no go. They have bought out a pure Ev with a pathetic mileage. So I think that may well not sell.

[Kremmen]

At this moment in time I will not entertain any EU cars because I can see spares becoming either more expensive or difficult to obtain, even if only in the short term. I just don't trust EU trade to be smooth as they've still got the pip with us.

I'm already seeing posts on the Civic forum where items have been ordered from the EU and the courier company needs to charge extra for whatever additional duties that now seem to have crept in.

Also German cars are not as reliable as they used to be looking at the various polls. The Jazz is still up there though, just waiting for rules relaxation so I can test drive one.

[Foksadure]

I'm already seeing posts on the Civic forum where items have been ordered from the EU and the courier company needs to charge extra for whatever additional duties that now seem to have crept in.

This is how things goes in any country when you buy goods abroad/overseas. No big deal.

[Kremmen]

This was a member who has used the same German online site to buy Civic parts for ages.

No problem,  extra third party charges, until his last order after the Brexit split, when he was asked to pay extra for the delivery.

His final was that he won't be using them again. I think that could be the future for a lot of UK buyers.

[Karoq]

 "The first question I asked was about the rear view camera in the Crosstar, in the on-line brochure it states that the camera is a £400 extra but if you read through the data it implies it is standard, just asked for clarification and it took 4 e-mails for them to admit the brochure was wrong and the camera was indeed standard! "

I have noticed that theu list EVERYTHING as options on the Crosstar even when, as Kremmen says they turn out to be standard.
I spotted when I first started looking that the Crsstar has a heated steering wheel, which as we all know ....it doesn't| I see now on the online brochure they have corrected that.
I am seriously dis-interested in a banging sound system and would happily swap it for a heated steering wheel.
I am only interested in the Crosstar due to the increased ride height and I prefer the looks. But, at 75, I am NOT Honda's target market.It is hsitory repeating itself. The original HR-v was targeted at the 20 somethings.  7 out of the first 10 my dealer sold went to old f@rts like me, due to the ease on ingress.
Now they have repeated their error in targeting the Crosstar at the younger market.
I spent my working life in marketing and sales with Shell so I do have a grasp of market requirements.

Tyres.
As you say. not a lot of choice, WHY do the Japanese do it? The Mazda Demio was even worse for tyre availability. https://www.tyrecity.co.uk/tyres/search/results/185/60/16
I wouldn't choose either of those to be honest!

[sparky Paul]

This was a member who has used the same German online site to buy Civic parts for ages.

No problem,  extra third party charges, until his last order after the Brexit split, when he was asked to pay extra for the delivery.

His final was that he won't be using them again. I think that could be the future for a lot of UK buyers.

So long as you use a supplier, or via an online marketplace, that has registered with the HMRC VAT prepayment scheme, you should have no problem buying goods from other EU countries, or indeed anywhere in the world. Autodoc, Aliexpress and eBay UK are all good examples.

Lots of smaller companies that sell direct have simply stopped selling to the UK because of the expense and complexity of the new system, which will of course reduce choice - and it's a disaster for those, like me, who regularly buy from specialist suppliers.

Tyres.
As you say. not a lot of choice, WHY do the Japanese do it? The Mazda Demio was even worse for tyre availability. https://www.tyrecity.co.uk/tyres/search/results/185/60/16
I wouldn't choose either of those to be honest!

I've had two cars in the past for which the only tyre available initially was the OEM supplied type, and they were both European built cars. Usually, this changes, and tyres from other manufacturers soon become available.

However, 185/60 16 are a bit of an oddball here, and certain tyre sizes are more common in other parts of the world for some reason. I guess if you buy a car manufactured in one of those regions, you might have to lump it. Mytyres do list 16 manufacturers for this size, and almost 30 different tyre types - lots of winter tyres. so I guess it's a popular size in some cold places too...

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rshop/All-tyres/185-60-R16-H

[Kremmen]

When I started my research I too was headed for a Crosstar, mainly for the posted softer ride.

After seeing both at the dealers and looking at the kit, and the lack of in comparison, I changed my preference to the straight Jazz.

It might seem silly to some but I insist on mudflaps to help keep the sides clean and chip free. I also wasn't happy about no undertray given the ride height and cat thefts, and do I really need roof bars.

My only gripe is the fixed exterior/interior colour combinations. I can't have a grey exterior with black interior. Given that I want a black interior, don't want a white exterior, my choice is very limited.

[Expatman]

Reading the launch info on the new HR-V I am looking forward to reading road tests and reviews, and to see what the price is. I don’t really need a big car and want to move to a hybrid as first move towards electric. It sounds like the new HR-V will have the same drive system as the Crosstar, maybe a bit higher rated power so I will wait until I see both before deciding. Depends on size of HR-V, ease of access (wife has dodgy back so needs a car she can slide sideways into and out of with our stooping down or having to climb out!).
If Crosstar offers equally easy level access then smaller size would favour it, if not, then maybe the HR-V would be better. Can’t say till get chance to try both of course.

[E27006]

The one gearbox I will not be getting is DSG. The failure and replacement cost is high. The other thing with DSG is slow speed manoeuvring like parallel parking or reversing into a garage. It's not a smooth manoeuvre but a series of kangaroo hops.

DSG is make or break so you can't drive slowly, pseudo clutch slip. I drove one and it was horrendous. When they were a wet clutch design they were manageable but the later dry clutch models ...... no

I was glad to see Ford have dropped their DSG ala PowerShift as it was proving unreliable and a couple of mass class action lawsuits are pending.

The VW DSG gearbox the subject to a USA "lemon law" class action over serious rate of expensive failures, VW had to reimburse owners for repair costs and provide an extended no quibble warranty, of course our UK  motoring journals  never raise such topics for fear of upsetting the car makers. Ford Powershift  the same, withdrawn and owners offered a buyback with compensation, again a class action revealed Ford engineers documenting the Powershift as  unreliable and not fit for sale, again we never read about such news here, I consider UK car magazines to be simply  simply PR releases for Eu car makers

[E27006]

I am seriously dis-interested in a banging sound system and would happily swap it for a heated steering wheel.
I am only interested in the Crosstar due to the increased ride height and I prefer the looks. But, at 75, I am NOT Honda's target market.It is hsitory repeating itself. The original HR-v was targeted at the 20 somethings.  7 out of the first 10 my dealer sold went to old f@rts like me, due to the ease on ingress.
Now they have repeated their error in targeting the Crosstar at the younger market.
I spent my working life in marketing and sales with Shell so I do have a grasp of market requirements.

I do not have your expertise in marketing or any in consumer demographics,  I can only think of a basic  reason for Honda to market the Crosstar to the younger generation, the reason, It is easier to sell a young man's car to an old man, than to sell an old man's car to a young man,  am I describing a variation of reverse psychology?

[Jocko]

It is easier to sell a young man's car to an old man, than to sell an old man's car to a young man,

Still don't think I'd buy a Corsa!

[John Ratsey]

The old folk will happily get a Crosstar whether or not it's targeted at them because the key features tick the right boxes. However, Honda is sensibly trying to appeal to a wider range of potential customers so we end up with features which aren't on our list of priorities. I have to wonder whether Honda's marketing strategy has succeeded.