So, you have bad habits like I would guesstimate 25-35% of drivers do. There is no way a clutch should kill itself after so few miles. I think you are being too accepting of the garages explanation to be honest.
If (and it’s a big if) I had got the van to the dealership before the clutch was totally destroyed, then maybe. Unfortunately though I totally destroyed it, and by doing so removed any evidence (if it did exist) of manufacture defect.
I paid the extra in part to buy a vw as I was informed on a few places that vw and Mercedes dealership garages could be trusted to do the work right. Whilst paying for the replacement has been painfully, nothing they have said or done has given me grounds to distrust them on it, and I really do believe that if it was a warranty job they would have claimed it.
Destroying a clutch at 9k is rare, but it is possible. I had a more than one bad habit and didn’t pick up on it in time. So...
Every time you change gear the clutch wears slightly, but it constitutes probably less than 1% of your mileage. After say 90K it is worn out and needs changing.If you are resting on the clutch enough for it to slip, even only 10% of the time your 9K clutch could easily be equivalent to a 90k one. I'm surprised that he never got any signs of overheating though ie that horrible smell.
I did at times, but put it down to smells in the area rather then the clutch. Always seemed to smell it the most in the country side or city edges (thought farmers burning etc).
Obvious in hindsight data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Maybe the setup of the clutch was out (it's been suggested earlier in this thread) such that a feather on the pedal could have moved the clutch to partially disengaged - slipping - which in this instance was cause for failure which in the other 25% of clutch-riding drivers, a setup needing more pedal pressure wouldn't have.
I was thinking the very same thing, given that it failed with such a short mileage. As if the clutch wasn't 100% engaged, even with no foot pressure on the pedal.
"As if the clutch wasn't 100% engaged, even with light foot pressure on the pedal."
Is what it sounds like to me.
I have slightly numb feet and in a previous car didn't realise my left foot was leaning on the clutch rather than the foot rest. Although it appeared to drive perfectly it complained after only a few miles by overheating the clutch.If the OP has been doing this for 9K I can easily see how he would have burnt it out.The Clutch is not a foot rest. Not in a brand new car or any other.
How often do I see vans/cars "rocking" on their wheels at traffic lights because the drivers are "riding the clutch"? Answer = almost every day!
Why? Because most "modern" drivers have absolutely no understanding of what they are doing to the drrivetrains - and the clutch systems in particular - of their vehicles, whereas many "ancient" drivers" (of which I can probably claim to be one!) were generally brought up with some understanding of how their car systems worked, and that maltreating the clutch/ gearbox/clutch would inevitably lead to uncomfortably large bills sooner rather than later.data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Forgot to say, I'm no expert, but I do have a Ross Tech and a spare license if you ever fancy meeting up to make any alterations to your vcds. I'm down in Shrewsbury every few weeks so it's not far from you. Done at own risk etc etc.
Only done a few things on mine like acoustic locking or increase rear parking sounder volume, but it well worth the money data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Nice display of ageism. What a lot of twaddle. At what age did you all of a sudden understand it?