This is the responce from VW it realy gives you confidence TAKE A NOTE OF THE TYRE WEAR FIGURES
READ LETTER 1 AND THEN LETTER 2 AND I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THE TRANSFER BOX HASE NOT BEEN CHECKED TO MY KNOWLIDGE AT ALL.
Letter (1)
I write further to my email dated 20 October 2005. I would like to start by apologising for your disappointment at the wear that has affected your Touareg's tyres.
I have taken the opportunity to discuss your concerns with Malcolm Macmillan Service Manager at Isaac Agnew of Belfast. He has confirmed that in May 2005 your Touareg's alignment was out. The Luxury Car Support Centre paid for this to be corrected as a gesture of goodwill.
Malcolm has advised that they have also carried out a diagnosis on your Touareg to determine if there is a fault present and after a full inspection, they have found no issue with the vehicle. On this occasion, as the alignment has been corrected since you have owned the vehicle, any issue now regarding wheel alignment cannot be a result of manufacture and therefore will not covered by Volkswagen UK.
The findings of Isaac Agnew of Belfast's investigations would indicate that the wear present on the tyres is the result of fair wear and tear and any remedial work cannot, therefore, be carried out under the warranty.
I can advise that modern vehicles provide a wide range of demands on their tyres and a tyre's ability to perform will be governed by its physical construction and quality of the materials used. Key considerations in tyre design include safety, cost, grip, longevity, ride comfort and noise levels.
Performance improvements in one area will very often lead to a reduction of performance in another. In essence, as with all engineering design, there are compromises to be made. It is because of this unavoidable compromise that tyres will demonstrate differing wear characteristics dependent on several factors including:
• Brand and compound of tyre
• Type of tyre
• Class of vehicle they are fitted to
• Driving style
• Conditions of use.
Tyres for high-powered vehicles are required to have a high level of surface contact and surface grip across the myriad of operating conditions the car might be exposed to. For example:
• Wet road surface
• Icy/slippery surfaces
• Flooded surfaces
• Very hot or very cold road surface temperatures
• Off road capability
Tyres specifically designed for high-powered, performance vehicles are likely to have a shorter life expectancy than tyres developed and approved for other vehicles.
The Touareg is a specialised, luxury four-wheel drive vehicle; designed to offer the driver unrivalled flexibility and a unique driving experience. Recognising all of these variable factors, we accept a tyre can typically have a life expectancy of between 3,000 to 24,000 miles.
The following factors will also influence the life of a tyre:
Inflation pressure - Correct inflation pressure is of paramount importance to ensure maximum tyre life. It is imperative that the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tyre pressures are strictly adhered to at all times. Any deviation from the recommended value will have a detrimental effect on service life, and possibly vehicle safety.
Vehicle development - Modern vehicles are equipped with systems designed to deliver unprecedented levels of safety and driver comfort. The driver is often unaware of the intervention of these systems and is perhaps unaware of how close he or she is to the limits of safe operation with ABS and ESP compensating for enthusiastic driving styles. Driving on the limit of a vehicle's physical ability will greatly accelerate the rate of tyre wear. Furthermore, the positive benefits of power steering must be balanced against the increased tyre wear caused by the effortless ability to turn the steering lock to lock when parking and manoeuvring.
Classes of vehicle - The style of vehicle, will to varying extents, control the height, length, weight distribution and dynamics of the vehicle. All of these factors will affect tyre wear characteristics.
Having taken the above information into consideration in conjunction with your Touareg's specific circumstances, I regret that I am unable to offer financial contribution towards the replacement of your vehicle's tyres on this occasion.
I have also noted your comments in relation to various internet forums that you have visited. I would like to advise you that Volkswagen can not comment on general opinion found on such forums and we are only able to comment on individual circumstances as I am sure you can appreciate, each case is individual.
Letter (2)
Thank you for your email of 25 October 2005, from which I was sorry to note your disappointment with my letter of the same date.
I have noted your comments regarding the wheel alignment not being correct from manufacture and can advise that it is for this reason we previously agreed to cover the cost of a full wheel alignment.
Unfortunately, I am unable to discuss any other customer's vehicle or situation therefore I can not comment on the information you have provided from the internet forum. Nor can I comment on a customer's personal reasons for posting such remarks on an internet forum.
I assure you that customer satisfaction is of great importance to Volkswagen UK and we do look to assist our customers as much as possible both prior to and after sale. In the circumstances we are unable cover the cost of the tyres or the second wheel alignment, as this issue was corrected once and therefore can now not be as a result of manufacture.
I am unable to assure you that if you replace the tyres that they require replacement or rectification again as ultimately this is dependent on a number of different external influences, as detailed in my last letter. It is due to the various external influences that the estimated life span of the tyre is between 3000 and 20000 miles.
I am sorry that I am unable to provide you with the answers you require but trust that I have been able to clarify Volkswagen's position in the matter.
Yours sincerely
Jessica Pizarro
Luxury Car Support Centre Advisor
SO IF YOU HAVE A T/REG YOU CAN EXPECT TYRE WEAR OF BETWEEN 3000 AND 24000 MILES THEY DON,T HAVE MUCH OF AN IDEAR DO THEY.
READ LETTER 1 AND THEN LETTER 2 AND I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THE TRANSFER BOX HASE NOT BEEN CHECKED TO MY KNOWLIDGE AT ALL.
Letter (1)
I write further to my email dated 20 October 2005. I would like to start by apologising for your disappointment at the wear that has affected your Touareg's tyres.
I have taken the opportunity to discuss your concerns with Malcolm Macmillan Service Manager at Isaac Agnew of Belfast. He has confirmed that in May 2005 your Touareg's alignment was out. The Luxury Car Support Centre paid for this to be corrected as a gesture of goodwill.
Malcolm has advised that they have also carried out a diagnosis on your Touareg to determine if there is a fault present and after a full inspection, they have found no issue with the vehicle. On this occasion, as the alignment has been corrected since you have owned the vehicle, any issue now regarding wheel alignment cannot be a result of manufacture and therefore will not covered by Volkswagen UK.
The findings of Isaac Agnew of Belfast's investigations would indicate that the wear present on the tyres is the result of fair wear and tear and any remedial work cannot, therefore, be carried out under the warranty.
I can advise that modern vehicles provide a wide range of demands on their tyres and a tyre's ability to perform will be governed by its physical construction and quality of the materials used. Key considerations in tyre design include safety, cost, grip, longevity, ride comfort and noise levels.
Performance improvements in one area will very often lead to a reduction of performance in another. In essence, as with all engineering design, there are compromises to be made. It is because of this unavoidable compromise that tyres will demonstrate differing wear characteristics dependent on several factors including:
• Brand and compound of tyre
• Type of tyre
• Class of vehicle they are fitted to
• Driving style
• Conditions of use.
Tyres for high-powered vehicles are required to have a high level of surface contact and surface grip across the myriad of operating conditions the car might be exposed to. For example:
• Wet road surface
• Icy/slippery surfaces
• Flooded surfaces
• Very hot or very cold road surface temperatures
• Off road capability
Tyres specifically designed for high-powered, performance vehicles are likely to have a shorter life expectancy than tyres developed and approved for other vehicles.
The Touareg is a specialised, luxury four-wheel drive vehicle; designed to offer the driver unrivalled flexibility and a unique driving experience. Recognising all of these variable factors, we accept a tyre can typically have a life expectancy of between 3,000 to 24,000 miles.
The following factors will also influence the life of a tyre:
Inflation pressure - Correct inflation pressure is of paramount importance to ensure maximum tyre life. It is imperative that the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tyre pressures are strictly adhered to at all times. Any deviation from the recommended value will have a detrimental effect on service life, and possibly vehicle safety.
Vehicle development - Modern vehicles are equipped with systems designed to deliver unprecedented levels of safety and driver comfort. The driver is often unaware of the intervention of these systems and is perhaps unaware of how close he or she is to the limits of safe operation with ABS and ESP compensating for enthusiastic driving styles. Driving on the limit of a vehicle's physical ability will greatly accelerate the rate of tyre wear. Furthermore, the positive benefits of power steering must be balanced against the increased tyre wear caused by the effortless ability to turn the steering lock to lock when parking and manoeuvring.
Classes of vehicle - The style of vehicle, will to varying extents, control the height, length, weight distribution and dynamics of the vehicle. All of these factors will affect tyre wear characteristics.
Having taken the above information into consideration in conjunction with your Touareg's specific circumstances, I regret that I am unable to offer financial contribution towards the replacement of your vehicle's tyres on this occasion.
I have also noted your comments in relation to various internet forums that you have visited. I would like to advise you that Volkswagen can not comment on general opinion found on such forums and we are only able to comment on individual circumstances as I am sure you can appreciate, each case is individual.
Letter (2)
Thank you for your email of 25 October 2005, from which I was sorry to note your disappointment with my letter of the same date.
I have noted your comments regarding the wheel alignment not being correct from manufacture and can advise that it is for this reason we previously agreed to cover the cost of a full wheel alignment.
Unfortunately, I am unable to discuss any other customer's vehicle or situation therefore I can not comment on the information you have provided from the internet forum. Nor can I comment on a customer's personal reasons for posting such remarks on an internet forum.
I assure you that customer satisfaction is of great importance to Volkswagen UK and we do look to assist our customers as much as possible both prior to and after sale. In the circumstances we are unable cover the cost of the tyres or the second wheel alignment, as this issue was corrected once and therefore can now not be as a result of manufacture.
I am unable to assure you that if you replace the tyres that they require replacement or rectification again as ultimately this is dependent on a number of different external influences, as detailed in my last letter. It is due to the various external influences that the estimated life span of the tyre is between 3000 and 20000 miles.
I am sorry that I am unable to provide you with the answers you require but trust that I have been able to clarify Volkswagen's position in the matter.
Yours sincerely
Jessica Pizarro
Luxury Car Support Centre Advisor
SO IF YOU HAVE A T/REG YOU CAN EXPECT TYRE WEAR OF BETWEEN 3000 AND 24000 MILES THEY DON,T HAVE MUCH OF AN IDEAR DO THEY.
