What's your Uber experience?

[Himeno]

I managed to do it all without data too - was on wifi whenever I requested a car and managed to stay in range until I got into the car

That's how I've done every Uber booking other then my CBR-Home rides.

 

[Himeno]

I would have taken them to court.

I agree. This sounds like a big breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Uber not complying to the laws of a Sovereign Nation? WOW - who would have thought that would ever occur?

 

[mannej]

Uber not complying to the laws of a Sovereign Nation? WOW - who would have thought that would ever occur?

However the quote you are referring to refers to VW not adequately fixing a lemon car and not Uber.

 

[N860CR]

I agree. This sounds like a big breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

Yes probably. But we had to think what would really be achieved by taking them to court?

"Consumer Affairs" (or Fair Trading as they're known in NSW) actually have no authority. Their suggestion was to pay for any repairs and then take legal action to recoup the losses.

We did the maths and decided the best course of action was to get it running again (which they did by sticking yet another battery in) and get rid of it (which hadn't been the plan... we bought it to keep for a lot longer than 3 years). We took the loss and bought a Japanese car that's been trouble free.

The problem with taking a big company to court is it will take forever (while we're stuck with a useless car), it will be very expensive, and it's unlikely to result in an outcome that's really going to help.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

However the quote you are referring to refers to VW not adequately fixing a lemon car and not Uber.

Does it matter? So tell me just how is Uber's record of adhering to the laws of Soverieign Nations?

 

[mannej]

Does it matter? So tell me just how is Uber's record of adhering to the laws of Soverieign Nations?

In the context of the conversation yes it does matter, and your question isn't relevant to the discussion.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

In the context of the conversation yes it does matter, and your question isn't relevant to the discussion.

My apologies for posting about Uber in the 'Uber' thread - I will refrain in future.

 

[sighing]

FWIW I use UberX in Singapore all the time. Works great and can use Apple Pay directly through the app, meaning no need for a (physical) wallet.

 

[Franky]

FWIW I use UberX in Singapore all the time. Works great and can use Apple Pay directly through the app, meaning no need for a (physical) wallet.

Given that cab fares in Singapore are about the cheapest thing you can buy, I would have thought that Uber would find it hard to compete up there. How do they compare in pricing?

 

[Happy Dude]

My apologies for posting about Uber in the 'Uber' thread - I will refrain in future.

My apologies Cruiser Elite, for creating the confusion by taking the thread OT in the first place.

In my defence, I'm flabbergasted to hear of N860CR's appalling experience but also very interested as we're shopping for a new car and Mrs Happy Dude is very keen on a VW. There's no way I'd consider it now.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

My apologies Cruiser Elite, for creating the confusion by taking the thread OT in the first place.

No need to apologize HP - if I had read back a few posts I would have been on the same page - I think my love of Uber is well understood - IMHO as Corporate Citizens they are nothing short of vermin. Uber lovers talk solely from their pockets - but that's cool - we are all different aren't we.

 

[N860CR]

My apologies Cruiser Elite, for creating the confusion by taking the thread OT in the first place.

In my defence, I'm flabbergasted to hear of N860CR's appalling experience but also very interested as we're shopping for a new car and Mrs Happy Dude is very keen on a VW. There's no way I'd consider it now.

That's my recommendation to everyone I speak to. Just don't put yourself through the stress.

There are people who love VWs (and in fairness, the Passat was quite nice when it worked) but the chance of getting a dodgy one is just far too high. Only have to look at how VW Aus have behaved with the DSG failures and now Diesel-gate to realize they're a company that can't be trusted (and really, shouldn't be allowed to trade in Australia until some quality controls are improved).

 

[sighing]

Given that cab fares in Singapore are about the cheapest thing you can buy, I would have thought that Uber would find it hard to compete up there. How do they compare in pricing?

Franky, I find the price to be similar to normal taxis (you pay a booking fee if you book a taxi too). It's the convenience I prefer. I don't need to carry cash or credit card in order to get an Uber. Some taxis only accept cash as well.

 

[N860CR]

Franky, I find the price to be similar to normal taxis (you pay a booking fee if you book a taxi too). It's the convenience I prefer. I don't need to carry cash or credit card in order to get an Uber. Some taxis only accept cash as well.

I found the same in Abu Dhabi (although uber seems to have given up there). The local taxis were cheaper, but uber payment is much more convenient.

 

[Quickstatus]

That's my recommendation to everyone I speak to. Just don't put yourself through the stress.

There are people who love VWs (and in fairness, the Passat was quite nice when it worked) but the chance of getting a dodgy one is just far too high. Only have to look at how VW Aus have behaved with the DSG failures and now Diesel-gate to realize they're a company that can't be trusted (and really, shouldn't be allowed to trade in Australia until some quality controls are improved).

im on my 4th VW all diesels
3 Golfs
1 Passat Alltrack

1 Golf is nearly on 200000km

Had 2 problems over the years- one turbo issue fixed first go, one seat belt buckle fixed first time
So maybe I've been lucky.

Have just purchased another Golf.

Dieselgate - it will be sorted.

Its sort of like plane crashes. Until you have been in one.....

 

[Skyring]

That's my recommendation to everyone I speak to. Just don't put yourself through the stress.

There are people who love VWs (and in fairness, the Passat was quite nice when it worked) but the chance of getting a dodgy one is just far too high. Only have to look at how VW Aus have behaved with the DSG failures and now Diesel-gate to realize they're a company that can't be trusted (and really, shouldn't be allowed to trade in Australia until some quality controls are improved).

I'm on my second Golf, and I love it. Looking around me on the roads I see an increasing number of VWs, and my Uber passengers who own VWs are happy to talk about their experiences - entirely on the positive side of the ledger so far.

Not to say that there may be lemons and dodgy car dealers (perish the thought!) here and there.

OK. The DSG is an ingenious design, but in some situations (such as reversing up an incline) can be a little balky. Swings and roundabouts. In normal operation it takes 8ms to shift a gear, which is pretty bloody efficient.

I drive a diesel. The Nox emissions thing is a total crock. America's stringent standards - to avoid the photochemical smog of decades ago - don't have much meaning here. VW emissions, whether the test-detect mode is enabled or not, are within Australian standards. I'd rather have the extra power than cripple my vehicle to meet the unreasonable standards of one particular foreign jurisdiction.

My VW driving experience has been quite satisfactory. I've driven many other makes, both in ownership and rentals overseas, and I know the options. I'm quite happy to keep on buying Volkswagens. If I had the money, I'd buy Audis - or Mercs or BMWs - but very impressed with German design, engineering, and construction.

Of course, there are those - a great many, looking at the global car fleet - who are happy with their Toyota Camrys, and that's fine. And there are millions who would drive nothing but an American designed and built car. I think these latter have their heads in their bums, but if they are happy with their choice, again, that's fine.

Of course, some may fulminate and insist that the politicians they vote for are honest, their car dealers of the highest standard, and their pigs do not fly.

 

[Skyring]

Franky, I find the price to be similar to normal taxis (you pay a booking fee if you book a taxi too). It's the convenience I prefer. I don't need to carry cash or credit card in order to get an Uber. Some taxis only accept cash as well.

My experience as well. I just need a working cellphone when travelling. The system works globally. The car will arrive promptly, the driver won't rip you off, your credit card details won't be stolen.

It's a known quantity, like Starbucks or McDonalds. You aren't going to get a limousine, but you will get cheap, convenient, efficient transport.

Thinking about that analogy, it holds up very well when you consider that with taxis in Australia, you generally get an authentic foreign experience just talking to the driver.

 

[Quickstatus]

In some places like KL, the uber success is not so much that UBer is cheaper, it because uber is more efficient, with better cars, nicer drivers, and you don't get ripped off especially as a tourist.

There will be bad lemons, but easily dealt with under the uber ecosystem.

Im not doing the voluntary recall for the 200000km golf and Passat which are affected. I will wait one year to see what happens. I can't believe that a software fix will not result in a reduction in economy and performance. These will take a slight hit, and the EGR ratio will be higher resulting in possible higher costs - some say EGR increase will result in higher maintenance costs in due to this

The 6 speed wet sump DSG has been superb. I think the problems have been in the dry sump 7 speed DSG for the petrols. The could not put the dry sump 7 speed into the diesels due to the high torque environment. The dual clutch in the wet sump is said to last 500000km or more. Those who burn out their clutches tend to be the ones who chip their engine or drive it like a hot hatch - and hang little Martians and fluffy toys under the rear bumper

 

[Franky]

Agree with all those who are more than happy with their VeeDubs, as am I with my Caddy maxi van. Quickstatus - can you explain how to 'chip my engine' and what does it do?..