[Ray W]

Hi all, I am close to purchasing a new 2.0T FSI Eos from a dealer in Mackay, Queensland Australia, as I am still looking at the finer points of these cars, is there anything I should be asking the dealer in relation to extra warranty, accessories, or service issues. Also does anybody have the wind break and is it worth the extra to purchase.

 

[Lucid Nonsense]

We have the VW "Real Driver" extended warranty on our Eos. It was about $1300 or so here in the States (dealer prices vary) to get the comprehensive warranty extended to 7 years/70K miles. Given the complexity of the top, and for that matter, everything else in the car, I figured it was a wise investment. The VW 3 year/36K mile factory warranty is just plain skimpy!

The VW Monster rubber floor mats are a nice accessory, and a set came with our car. The only other option on our Eos when new was the apparently mandatory on the East Coast iPod adapter, which I immediately removed and replaced with an aux-in jack so we could use our MP3 players. Last month I bought a set of VW mud guards/flaps and installed them myself. They do a good job of keeping road grime off the rocker panels.

A major "accessory" I bought earlier this week was the APR ECU upgrade.

I consider the wind deflector essential. In the U.S. it comes with all Eos, but even if I were extra, I would have gladly paid. In addition to drastically reducing wind buffeting, the stereo sounds better with it installed when the top's down. It also keeps the back seat semi-hidden from prying eyes when the top's up. My wife and I tend to keep the wind deflector installed all the time, since it's just the two of us.

No service issues yet, but we've only had our car since the spring and driven it about 3K miles. I did an early oil change myself (I posted the procedures on this site), and it was an absolute breeze. At least it was for our 2009 2.0 TSI, which is what I assume you're getting - in the U.S. the "TFSI" term is used on new Audis. Not to be confused with the older VW "FSI" motor, which has a more difficult to service oil filter.

Best of luck with your Eos purchase!

 

[silvershadow]

Hi all, I am close to purchasing a new 2.0T FSI Eos from a dealer in Mackay, Queensland Australia, as I am still looking at the finer points of these cars, is there anything I should be asking the dealer in relation to extra warranty, accessories, or service issues. Also does anybody have the wind break and is it worth the extra to purchase.

Hi Ray,

Suggest the following options are essential for OZ vehicles;

1. Mudflaps
2. Xenon headlights - the standard units are barely adequate for city driving and definitely not suitable for country night driving. Strongly regret not ordering these thinking the cost was excessive.
3. Door sill kick plates - especially if you get in and out of the car on dirt/muddy ground.
4. Didn't get the windbreak as a long-time convertible owner as I do not have a problem with wind buffeting but would suggest it for first-time owners especially if you want your female friends/family to agree to top-down driving.
5. Stone chips are a problem on gravel roads so a car bra would be appropriate if you want to keep the car in concours condition.

Regards David

 

[Fred K]

I would strongly agree that the std headlights are just Ok for suburban driving and pathetic for country ( both high and low beam) so Xenon is my only regret

I have wind deflector and use it all of the time when top potentially down

It can be used in the horizontal position only where it half reduces any buffetting but also hides anything on the back seat from wandering eyes

When in the vertical position the back is still screened but you can also travel with the windows up down the Hume Hwy at the legal 110 with the radio only going up 1 orr 2 nothces and not get blown away

Definately well worth the money

The other thing to consider is the pair of suitacses as they do fit perfectly and maximise the luggage for an extended week end but this depends on your usage

 

[Ray W]

Thanks to all, I think that we are going to have nothing but pleasure from our new Eos. I have ordered the wind break and the mats already and we will also order the kick plates,as for the head lights we will have to have a talk with the dealer as the recomended price is over $3000 and this seems a bit excessive. Once again thanks and happy motoring.Ray

 

[kipperjet]

If the engine cover says FSI you should be getting a substantial discount on a new car as the proper TSI engine has, according to another poster, been finally brought into Australia.

VW AU put the TSI in the brochure, and changed the designation in the price list to TSI a year ago, but slyly still continued with the old FSI engine, [the cause of the oil consumption complaints], keeping that little scam very quiet, and claiming legal get-outs from the annoyed mugs, [me] who were conned with it.

Many people are content with the old FSI engine, just be aware it is just that.

 

[silvershadow]

If the engine cover says FSI you should be getting a substantial discount on a new car as the proper TSI engine has, according to another poster, been finally brought into Australia.

VW AU put the TSI in the brochure, and changed the designation in the price list to TSI a year ago, but slyly still continued with the old FSI engine, [the cause of the oil consumption complaints], keeping that little scam very quiet, and claiming legal get-outs from the annoyed mugs, [me] who were conned with it.

Many people are content with the old FSI engine, just be aware it is just that.

If I were in your position, I would be having a long chat with a lawyer who is a Trade Practices Act specialist.

Your experience suggests a "bait and switch" situation has occurred which is illegal under this Act. This should be very relevant if you did not receive a substantial price reduction for the delivery of a vehicle which did not comply with published specifications.

You may also have some redress through the Queensland Consumer Protection agencies equivalent to the NSW Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal.

 

[kipperjet]

What excellent advice SS, extremely helpful, watch this space!

 

[jeffkaz]

I was extremely happy with my EOS until I read Kipperjets thread. Looks like I, and no doubt many others has sufferred the same fate. When I purchased mine in April, the brochure says TSI, the price list says TSI, the car data sheet (with all the actual car details, options etc from VW.... I purchased the car based on this document) says TSI, but the car and the invoice say FSI.

The car has a build date of 10/10/08 and arrived in Australia around Christmas. The complience is 09 model, and since I purchased in April (from VW stock) I assumed that the car was a new as in could be, without actually ordering the car built from the factory. The car data sheet and the invoice show the same VIN, Engine numbers, so the car is the same car I purchased, but the description is misleading. The VW data sheet says " EOS 2.0 I TSI 147 kW (200 PS) 6 speed dual clutch gearbox DSG. And the invoice says " VW EOS 2.0LT FSI 147KW 6S.

What's the story, should I be upset, should I expect a build date of 10/10/08 be a TSI? What's the difference between the two? If there was to be compensation, I wouldn't expect that it would be very much??

Any advice, happy to receive. Love the car, not so happy with the people behind it

 

[silvershadow]

I was extremely happy with my EOS until I read Kipperjets thread. Looks like I, and no doubt many others has sufferred the same fate. When I purchased mine in April, the brochure says TSI, the price list says TSI, the car data sheet (with all the actual car details, options etc from VW.... I purchased the car based on this document) says TSI, but the car and the invoice say FSI.

The car has a build date of 10/10/08 and arrived in Australia around Christmas. The complience is 09 model, and since I purchased in April (from VW stock) I assumed that the car was a new as in could be, without actually ordering the car built from the factory. The car data sheet and the invoice show the same VIN, Engine numbers, so the car is the same car I purchased, but the description is misleading. The VW data sheet says " EOS 2.0 I TSI 147 kW (200 PS) 6 speed dual clutch gearbox DSG. And the invoice says " VW EOS 2.0LT FSI 147KW 6S.

What's the story, should I be upset, should I expect a build date of 10/10/08 be a TSI? What's the difference between the two? If there was to be compensation, I wouldn't expect that it would be very much??

Any advice, happy to receive. Love the car, not so happy with the people behind it

Whilst I am only a "bush lawyer" albeit with some experience in commercial legal matters from my working life; it certainly appears buyers who received a FSI vehicle and not a TSI have a "prima facie" case for misrepresentation under the NSW "Sale of Goods Act" and I presume other States have similar legislation so recovery of damages/supply of replacement vehicle to the correct specification may be possible through the relevant State Consumer Claims Tribunal/Court as appropriate.

There is also a case that VWA have engineered a "bait and switch" sales strategy which is illegal under the Federal "Trade Practices Act". Whilst it is my understanding this Act can only penalise the supplier and not compensate a consumer, a successful Trade Practices Act prosecution or even a warning would make it extremely unlikely the State consumer protection tribunals who can order compensation to buyers would refuse to make such orders.

The final choice will be up to you as to whether you want financial compensation for future loss of resale value and liquidated damages from being supplied a different specification vehicle WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION that it was of different specification and giving you the option of either accepting the vehicle with an appropriate financial adjustment/waiting till the correct specification vehicle could be delivered or to insist on replacement of a vehicle that complies with the published specifications. I do not expect that VWA could rely on a clause in their Conditions of Purchase that they can supply alternative specification vehicles without prior notice/advice and without offering an alternative as this is a denial of your rights under legislation and Courts will not accept a defence of this type.

I would also suggest seeking advice from the legal department of your motoring organisation if you are a member but would give preference to advice from a commercial law specialist in Trade Practices.Consumer Protection legislation. The cost of obtaining such advice should be recoverable in a successful claim for rectification. The most important thing to do right now is to establish exactly what engine is fitted to your car before taking further action.

Please keep the forum informed of what is happening with this problem - if the engine is confirmed as a FSI, I would suggest putting a post on the VW Watercooled Forum to inform Eos owners who are not aware of this Forum and to see if a similar situation applies to other VW MY09 petrol-engined models.

 

[kipperjet]

jeffkaz, my EOS was ordered by me, and has a build date after yours of 22/10/08. Delivery was in early January.

The picture and the details in the text of the EOS brochure were of the new TSI engine that I supposed I had ordered. I actually said, but did not receive in writing, that I wanted that latest TSI engine. The paper sheet stuck in the boot says TSI. I assumed that the 2009 spec cars would automatically have it. My error. Thought I was dealing with less devious people. The technical specifications in the brochure for the so-called 147TSI are actually for the old FSI. The fuel injection system is FSI, and the other difference in the quoted specs is that the torque rev range is 100 RPM lower in the actual TSI. All other details published [bore/stroke etc] are the same because they are, although the 2 engines are completely different. That is VWAU's sneaky let-out-clause.

The cunning dealer just put 2.0lt on my order form, and TFSI, [which is not a VW moniker, but an Audi one!] on the pre-delivery check form. They claimed not to know what was occurring with these shenanigans, yeah right, just don't ask why car dealers have the low reputation that they do?

So to sum up, VW Germany, with an arrogance which conforms to their national stereotype, decided that all their engines would now be called TSI whatever they actually were, whether they were turbocharged, supercharged, or both. [They then changed their mind and the new Passat has a 3.0lt FSI designation!] Lucky I suppose they didn't call the Polo a Golf whilst they were at it.

VWAU then compounded the 3 card trick by producing the above brochure, and relying on the phrase, "Authorised VW dealers will provide up-to-date information on model application, design feature etc, on request" Only in my case the dealer didn't, and they later claimed they had no knowledge of this engine swap.

VWAU at first told me that the engines were the same, and that VW were perhaps using up old FSI engine covers as an economy measure! Hearing my reaction, and with me sending them the full details of the TSI engine, they then fell back on legal caveats in the brochure.

Arrogant manufacturer, couldn't-care-less importer, slippery dealer.

Fighting this in the courts would be expensive, and might not succeed, RACQ had advised me. Silvershadow makes some excellent points, however, and his line could be well worth investigating.

A great pity, as it has left a nasty taste in my mouth, taking some of the enjoyment off what is nevertheless basically a good car.

 

[silvershadow]

Have done some research...................

Some more help with Engine Identification:

A useful technical description of the 2 litre TSI engine [in reality this is a TFSI engine] is available for downloading on the following link:

http://www.arinahnell.com/other/vw/tech/20tsi.pdf

The engine code quoted for the TSI[sic] engine is CCTA - CBFA

The following information on the TSI/TFSI engine is available on the following link:

http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-volkswagen-engines#2.0_TFSI_125-210kW

The engine code for the 147Kw TFSI engine is CAWB - CCZA

OK - so where does that leave us??

Bloody well confused is a polite description - thanks to VW publicity about the 1.4 litre TSI engine fitted with the combined supercharger & turbocharger forced induction system; we all assumed the TSI designation meant the engine was fitted with the supercharger/turbocharger configuration. It is now obvious the TFI/TFSI engine designation means a turbocharger only configuration with the TFSI applying solely to turbocharged engines fitted with the stratified charge fuel injection system.

The only engine that can properly be called TSI right now has a capacity of 1.4 litres and this has replaced the 2 litre TFI engine in some models for MY09 giving the same/better performance with better fuel economy. This engine is not offered for the MY09 Eos anywhere in the world as far as I am aware so VWA may have an excuse on the basis of a brochure proof reading error however it is amazing how these "mistakes" always favour the manufacturer and not the buyer.

I still believe Australian MY09 petrol Eos buyers who mistakenly believed they were ordering a true TSI supercharged/turbocharged engine deserve some "ex-gratia" compensation from VWA even if it is only free/reduced charge servicing during the warranty period. In the current climate, this is probably a forlorn expectation .

 

[kipperjet]

Great stuff Silvershadow, the first reference was the one I sent to VWAU some months ago. It is the new {turbocharged only} EA888 engine that is depicted in their brochure, replacing the old EA113 engine which I have.

Technicalities aside, I feel that it is not too much to ask for a customer to be able to go into a VW showroom and say, I would like to order that car, with the engine portrayed in the brochure. Why change the picture, and the car's designation to something that is unavailable in this country, especially as it concerns the major component of the car, the engine, if you are not trying to con people? It's not a set of different mudflaps under discussion. It's not as if there is a vast array of engines in the EOS here, one petrol, one diesel! Of course my dealer didn't say to me "that actually is not the engine we have here, you will still get the old one", as VWAU say they will at the back of their brochure.

I would advise anyone considering ordering a VW to get his lawyer to draw up the contract, not that that will bother me again.