My VW Jetta GLS VR6 sucks!

My problems and complaints with my 1999 Jetta VR6 since 7/1999.
My Long Detailed Story

In May of 1999, my girlfriend and I purchased two new 
Jettas from Valenti Motors, Watertown, Connecticut; 
the TDI and the VR6. My VR6 has had nonstop problems 
since I purchased it less than a year ago! I have since 
brought the car in for service numerous times. The first 
problem was a valve cover gasket that was leaking oil 
after 3000 miles. After that incident, the car 
was in twice for water and air leaks on the drivers' 
side window. The same window would not open and close 
properly. I brought the car in another time because of
a constant air noise leaking through the same window.
The noise in my Jetta was comparable to riding in a rag 
top Jeep. On that occasion, I complained about unusual 
knocking noises coming from the dash board, similar to 
the sounds of coffee brewing; sometimes as loud as an 
old lawn mower. When I took my car in to be inspected, 
I was told by a Valenti Service Representative that the 
car had been hooked up to a diagnostic machine to run 
tests, but that the engine was fine. I asked the 
Service Rep to walk out to the car with me to listen 
to the engine. At this time, the noise was even more
apparent. I asked the Service Rep what he thought 
of the loud knocking noises, but he said he didn't 
hear them! I looked directly at him and asked, "You 
are going to tell me that you do not hear that loud 
noise coming from the engine?" He responded "YOU DO 
NOT WANT US TO TAKE APART YOUR ENGINE!". A few weeks 
later, I opened my hood to check the oil level and 
found insulation stuffed under the hood! Perhaps it 
was put there to quiet the engine?

Totally frustrated, I finally called my Mechanic, 
who specializes in German cars. He has worked on every 
German car I have ever owned. After paying $150.00 
for his time, he discovered that the oil cooling 
housing was leaking and the engine sounded horrible.
My mechanic also told me to go back to the dealership 
and start up another Jetta VR6 to listen to its 
engine. My engine sounded nothing like it!

I went back to Valenti in January. I was able to 
talk to the Service Manager. I finally felt I that 
maybe I was talking to someone responsible and 
customer orientated. I explained my situation, 
emphasizing the problems with the engine noise.
He implied that it was a waste for me to have 
spent money to have another non VW Mechanic look at 
my car. Another interesting point was that the Valenti 
Service Manager said their service department was 
more experienced in servicing VWs than my Mechanic, 
but yet when he found he knew my Mechanic he later 
said, "We trained him." Wouldn't that make him 
experienced then? Well, my mechanic is one of 
the best around. Almost everyone I know who owns 
a German car has been to him and respects his 
work. Maybe if more people at Valenti were 
better qualified they could also go out on their 
own and run a successful business. Anyway, the 
Service Manager grabbed one of his Mechanics to 
bring him out to listen to my car's engine.
After one minute of listening to it, the 
Valenti Mechanic told me to shut down the engine.
He first diagnosed the situation as a problem 
with the bearings/push rod. He said, "You can't 
drive this car; you can cause serious damage". 
We went back inside where the Service Manager 
pulled up my file. There were no filed grievances 
(or ROC's) for the times I complained about my 
engine noise! An ROC is a term for a work order.
I had the Service Manager confront the Service 
Rep regarding my complaint about engine noise, 
and about making the statement, "You do not 
want us to take the engine apart." The Rep looked me 
and his Manager in the face and claimed he had no
recollection of such a conversation with me regarding 
my complaint about engine noise!

I asked them to fix the engine and check the 
window/door because I was still getting the 
drafts and loud air noises from the drivers side 
window. I left the car with Valenti Motors on 1/26/2000.
A few days later, I receive a call from the Sales Rep 
who informed me that the problem is a air intake 
cylinder not the bearings/push rod. He said the part 
was on order. I received a call on 2/3/2000 from 
the Service Supervisor who told me the part was on 
order from the VW factory and would not be in for a 
month. He stated that he explained the situation to 
the VW factory about my car and the noises, and 
that I could drive the car without doing damage to 
the car, so he said to come and pick it up. I had to 
trust their judgement. I was later told that the 
part was on back order due to numerous orders for 
that same part. Wonder why?

When I picked up the car 2/4/200, there were no 
ROC's or Work Orders to sign. Why? The engine part 
was still on order and they had not fixed the 
door; it still made the same whistling noises. The 
Service Rep told me that when the part came in, 
they would then fix the door/window problem. I 
confronted the Service Manger and told him I 
wanted it fixed right away; I was not going to wait 
until the part came in for the engine to fix the
window noise problem. My window was freezing on 
the inside of the car, due to the cold air rushing 
in from the window/door. I also have to crank the 
radio volume up to drown out the noise of the air 
coming through the car window.

I picked up the car after a day later. The ROC 
(Work Order) stated that the door was fixed and 
that the car was road tested with other Jettas 
and that the air noise was normal.

I drove the car for one day, and the door now creaked 
while accelerating and breaking at normal speeds.
The door now also shut roughly, was loose and rattled, 
and there was a small dent on the inside of the door 
jam where they were trying to adjust the hinges of the 
door. However, the air noise was gone. I go back to 
Valenti AGAIN. I pulled the Mechanic aside that was 
working on my car, and asked him to look at the door.
I described the new problems, minus the air leak.
The mechanic graciously tightened the door hinge.
Driving back home on the highway, the creaking was 
still apparent, and yes, the air noise and draft was 
back.

I was at my wits' end. I made an appointment to 
talk to the Sales Manager and my Salesperson. I 
asked the Sales Manager if I could trade the car 
in for another one. He said he had to run the 
numbers and talk to the Service Manager.They said 
they would be in contact with me. No calls. I had
even offered to take a loss on the car to get a 
new one, but received no help from Valenti or no 
follow up. I went back in on 3/10/2000 to see the
Sales Manager, who informed me that he never stated 
anyone would call me. He said would have to contact 
the Service Manager about my complaints. I simply 
smiled and walked away. At this point, what else 
could I do? The same day, I made an appointment to 
drop off the car, AGAIN I told the Service Rep 
that the door was still causing problems, my 
sunroof would not open because it had come off the 
tracks, and my gas door lid would not close. He
told me that he could not schedule an appointment 
to fix the door, I had to take the door problem up 
with the Service Manager. The Service Rep was also 
very fast to point out that Valenti would not supply 
me with a vehicle while my car was dropped off for 
the day.  I asked the Service Rep to have the Service 
Manager call me when he got in, but YES, YOU GUESSED 
IT. NO PHONE CALL. So here I am, filling out papers 
for the State of Connecticut Lemon Law and designing 
this website.

I must also add that when work was done to my car, 
Valenti failed to properly clean up after their work. 
When they replaced the rubber door seals twice, my car
was returned to me with glue caked on the bottom and 
inside of the door. This also happened when they ajusted 
my VR6 emblem that was put on at a 45 degree angle by the 
factory. I had to take tar and bug remover to clean 
up their mess.