Beachside Volkswagen — Frankston, VIC

— Stefan Tulloch

AVOID THIS DEALERSHIP My son worked hard for years to save for his first car and purchased a vehicle from Beachside Volkswagen. It has been one of the most disappointing consumer experiences our family has ever had. At the time of sale, we were assured the vehicle had been inspected by the dealership's service department, was in excellent condition and had no mechanical issues. We relied on those representations when deciding to purchase the vehicle. Within just two days of taking possession, after driving only approximately 20 km home, significant mechanical defects became apparent, including major oil leaks and oil contamination of the coolant system. Since purchasing the vehicle on 17 April 2026, it has been returned to Beachside Volkswagen numerous times for diagnosis and repair. Despite multiple repair attempts, the problems have never been properly resolved. In total, the vehicle has spent 76 days in the Beachside Volkswagen Service Centre, which is an extraordinary amount of time for a vehicle that was supposedly in excellent condition when sold. Most recently, the vehicle suffered a coolant system failure, overheated, displayed warning lights and required RACV roadside assistance. My son is now without a reliable vehicle despite spending years saving to buy his first car. What has been equally frustrating is the lack of transparency. Despite repeated requests, I was not provided with documentation explaining what faults had been identified, what repairs had been performed, or why the same issues continued to occur. It was only after escalating the matter directly to General Manager Ben Edmunds that service records were finally provided. The constant staff turnover and poor communication from the service department have made the situation even more frustrating. Staff have often been unable to clearly explain what repairs were undertaken or why previous repair attempts failed. I repeatedly requested a refund due to the ongoing defects and failures. Those requests were rejected. Rather than taking responsibility for selling a defective vehicle, the dealership appears willing to force customers through lengthy Consumer Affairs processes instead of providing a fair resolution. Now, after multiple unsuccessful repair attempts and months of inconvenience, the dealership wants the vehicle returned again for yet another repair attempt. If you are considering purchasing a vehicle from Beachside Volkswagen, especially for your son or daughter as their first car, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. There are many reputable dealerships that stand behind the vehicles they sell. Based on our experience, Beachside Volkswagen is not one of them.