Roadside assistance, VW or the AA..??

[Smiffy4bikes]

Afternoon everyone...

As a die-hard VW air-cooled fan, and having owned several in the past, I'm all too aware of roadside repairs in the dead of night, miles from anywhere...

However, I'm very much hoping that with the arrival of the new Cali, that these 'experiences' will be a thing of the past and I can look forward to years of breakdown-free adventures, yay

That said, I'm ever the optimist...so.... do any of you have AA/RAC or similar breakdown cover or do you simply rely on the VW Assistance scheme?

Excuse my ignorance by the way, I'm of the opinion that the VW Assistance comes with the vehicle when bought new?

Thanks in advance...

 

[GrannyJen]

VW assistance comes with a new vehicle. 3 years cover. It is operated by the AA and from my pov was brilliant when called upon.

I lost two tyres and suspected a lot more damage than that in a remote part of the Scottish highlands. I had to walk a mile to even get a weak signal on my phone but once in contact they communicated clearly and effectively all the way through until Jim, with his flatbed recovery, arrived on the scene.

Excellent service throughout.

 

[Lewis]

My experience of VW assistance was exceptional. Not in the Cali though. Great communication led to the vehicle being recovered from a dual carriageway to a safe place within 30mins. Then the AA technician arrived half an hour later and got it going but he wasn't convinced it would last.

Followed the car all the way home when it duely broke half way. Then towed it home and referred us to the specialist VW technicians who arrived two hours later.

None of them could fix the car and it got towed off to the garage on Monday morning but the service was exceptional and a lesser group of people would have given up much sooner.

Highly recommended from me

 

[ChristopherW]

Last week we were in the Gower in the Cali. Set off in the morning to an appalling grinding & what sounded like tortured metal from driver's side front wheel. Stopped to inspect: nothing to see. Set off cautiously again - same thing. Decided to call VW assist who promptly dispatched an AA mechanic whom they reckoned would be with us in an hour. While we waited we had a call from Mark at VW assist. 'I hear you got a problem with your California - sounds like debris in the brake calliper - go and gently do several thee point turns and that may well clear it. I'll call you back in twenty minutes'. We (slightly anxiously) did as he suggested and... Problem solved!
He phoned back as he promised & was justly hailed a genius. He cancelled the AA patrol and we were on our way. No problem since.
So my experience of VW assist was very good indeed and saved us a huge inconvenience.

 

[Smiffy4bikes]

Thank you GJ and CW, very useful information, and just what I was hoping to hear

I won't bother renewing my AA cover then! And fingers crossed I won't need the VW Assistance, but its very reassuring to know how efficient they are should I have to call them. Like you GJ, I intend to be doing a bit of exploring on my own so its good to know you can get help when you need it.

Many thanks again

 

[thehorse]

Does the VW assistance give europe wide breakdown or just UK?

 

[CYCLOPATH]

VW assistance is pan European .....
I have a friend who drives for the AA.....worryingly he sais he picks up quite a lot of VW vans.....but, he also tells me that VW jobs take priority over the AA ones, so that might explain the fast response.

 

[Loz]

I won't bother renewing my AA cover then!

That won't stop them calling every month to try and renew you

 

[Teejay]

Afternoon everyone...

As a die-hard VW air-cooled fan, and having owned several in the past, I'm all too aware of roadside repairs in the dead of night, miles from anywhere...

However, I'm very much hoping that with the arrival of the new Cali, that these 'experiences' will be a thing of the past and I can look forward to years of breakdown-free adventures, yay

That said, I'm ever the optimist...so.... do any of you have AA/RAC or similar breakdown cover or do you simply rely on the VW Assistance scheme?

Excuse my ignorance by the way, I'm of the opinion that the VW Assistance comes with the vehicle when bought new?

Thanks in advance...

You may get roadside assistance with the insurer too, I was unable to remove it to reduce the premium.
Use Safeguard not sure who they use, I'm sure someone will know.

...message ends...

 

[Niborn]

You may get roadside assistance with the insurer too, I was unable to remove it to reduce the premium.
Use Safeguard not sure who they use, I'm sure someone will know.

...message ends...

I have never luckily broken down in Uk but in my nearly new Skoda Superb after driving most of the night from Kent I broke down around 10am just North of Clemont Ferrand ( south west France ) , on a Saturday. No garages were open. VW assistance arranged a pick up which took me and the car to a country storage location and then they organised a taxi to the airport to get me a hire car ( now 7pm ) , with loads of bags from the car to carry I arrived in the airport at the only car rental place open , but couldn't arrange a car with fully comp insurance . As I was totally exhausted by then I didn't want to drive with the maximum insurance over the snowy mountains to our holiday home west of Avignon . I also wasn't very well the time . So I asked for a taxi ... and VW , after some discussion , agreed to organise a taxi to get me home. It was 700 Euro and about a 6 hour trip , as it happens we had to travel with some of the worst snow conditions I have ever experienced, we were the only car crossing the mountains that night. I got home eventually. About a week later my car was repaired at the Skoda garage and VW paid for me to get back to CF by train and also for a hotel the night before I collected the car. The fault with the car was a turbo pressure sensor , worth about 250 euro to repair ( common fault with all VW 2ltr engines at that time ) but the whole event probably cost closer to 2000/ 2500 Euro.

I thought the VW service was excellent throughout. Although I wished they had recalled the car when they knew it was a common problem and before I had my problem . The moral is for me always have great breakdown cover and if possible a guarantee on your car .

 

[OCCALI]

Last week we were in the Gower in the Cali. Set off in the morning to an appalling grinding & what sounded like tortured metal from driver's side front wheel. Stopped to inspect: nothing to see. Set off cautiously again - same thing. Decided to call VW assist who promptly dispatched an AA mechanic whom they reckoned would be with us in an hour. While we waited we had a call from Mark at VW assist. 'I hear you got a problem with your California - sounds like debris in the brake calliper - go and gently do several thee point turns and that may well clear it. I'll call you back in twenty minutes'. We (slightly anxiously) did as he suggested and... Problem solved!
He phoned back as he promised & was justly hailed a genius. He cancelled the AA patrol and we were on our way. No problem since.
So my experience of VW assist was very good indeed and saved us a huge inconvenience.

I had a piece of gravel chippings in my pool once of my driveway . ...

 

[OCCALI]

I had a piece of gravel chippings in my pool once of my driveway . ...

Polo not pool.

 

[ChristopherW]

The VW chap said it was a common problem - that's why he recognised the symptoms straight away. I must have been lucky : never known it in 40 plus years of driving

 

[CYCLOPATH]

The VW chap said it was a common problem - that's why he recognised the symptoms straight away. I must have been lucky : never known it in 40 plus years of driving

My scariest brake pad story was earlier this year, not in my Cali, going down a hill and there was a loud bang from the front drivers side , and the brakes stopped working. Luckily the hand brake still worked.
A few pumps on the pedal and the brakes worked a bit, but made an God awful metal on metal sound
It turned out the brake pad material had sheared off its backing plate.

 

[DavidofHook]

Our experience of VW Assist was brilliant.
Off next morning to Dover and the the van on the drive with the roof stuck up.
They got me a new control unit (cost £600 and only 19 in the country) and we caught the ferry.
Very good.
I'd recommend go with them for the first three years and then go with your insurer.

 

[Dottie]

Another vote for VW assist....rescued me and my flat battery 6 months ago when off a B road. They found me and allowed me the time to look out my other key although that turned out not to be the problem....will have to phone them again with a flat battery again (then I'll be reading posts on how to look after the battery in the winter!)

 

[larrylamb]

Just spoken to VW assistance as my 3 year cover will be expiring in March. VW assistance can be taken out again for 1 or 2 year deals, the cheapest being a 2yr deal for £155 (Cali SE).
Very good value in my opinion as it covers Europe, home/work cover, onward travel, caravan/trailer assist. etc. etc.
Link is here

https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/e...stance.html#item=1&gallery=149502634970626565

or for direct dial speak to a very helpful lady called Kelly 0161 495 8046

BTW there is no age restriction on the vehicle for cover.

 

[zcsccg1]

if you extend the warranty to 5 years as i've done, does this extend the VW assistance also?

 

[Meoncoast]

if you extend the warranty to 5 years as i've done, does this extend the VW assistance also?

No.

 

[Meoncoast]

Very good value in my opinion as it covers Europe, home/work cover, onward travel, caravan/trailer assist. etc. etc.

We did this on our 2012 SE (had a year with non VW service but went back to VW) we changed to an Ocean and still had a year left to run gave them a ring and refunded money for months left to run.

 

[studioTUNGSTEN]

Last year my 3 year service expired so I took Greenflag which I used once and they wasted full day to replace the battery. When I called, they reckon it is California SE 2015 and with a flat battery but never brought the right battery! stupid.. So I cancel it and opt in 2 years auto renewal plan with VW.
VW used AA and they are even cheaper compare to when you contact AA directly.
Very pleased.

 

[DavidofHook]

Last year my 3 year service expired so I took Greenflag which I used once and they wasted full day to replace the battery. When I called, they reckon it is California SE 2015 and with a flat battery but never brought the right battery! stupid.. So I cancel it and opt in 2 years auto renewal plan with VW.
VW used AA and they are even cheaper compare to when you contact AA directly.
Very pleased.

When mine went wrong it was still under warranty and VW sent the RAC who were very good. They got my roof down, located a new part to keep it down(!) and got us to the boat on time the next day..

 

[WelshGas]

When mine went wrong it was still under warranty and VW sent the RAC who were very good. They got my roof down, located a new part to keep it down(!) and got us to the boat on time the next day..

In the past VW Assistance was partnered with the RAC but changed to the AA, sometime around the 2013/2014 mark, I think.

 

[DavidofHook]

In the past VW Assistance was partnered with the RAC but changed to the AA, sometime around the 2013/2014 mark, I think.

Ah, that's about right mine is a 2012registration.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

We have always had annual European/UK cover with AA or RAC, service always been excellent from both. VW, RAC and AA all carry full diagnostic equipment so Shouldnt be much difference as they all have good access to necessary spares.

It has always worked out cheaper for us to just add breakdown cover to our insurance policy than to go direct. Additional cost is around £75 per year (comfort insurance & justkampers) so pretty good value as sure you would pay more than this just for full UK breakdown in most cars.