GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: CraigW on 28 June 2013, 11:49
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I know this may be a few weeks off for some but just wanted to find out what your expectations will be on the day when you finally collect your car?
In terms of handover do VW dealerships tend to do anything special such as having the car in the showroom with a cover over it or is the car simply sat in the car park and you just drive off?
I was hoping it may be the former but I have never collected a car from a VW dealership before. Those who currently own VW's, what have your previous experiences been of collecting your new car ? Can we expect any special treatment?
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Last few times I've been into a dealership they have had the covers on the car in the showroom for the new owner. So I reckon they do this now. Last time I picked up a new car from them I didn't get anything. Time before that I got a picture of my car. Either way, you won't care less as all you'll want to do is get the paperwork out of the way, get the keys, and get off the forecourt!!!
If they give me the choice I'll tell them to not bother with this presentation malarky, just make sure everything is ready for me to sign then I can leave asap and get driving!!
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Most dealers have a handover bay, or roped off area in the showroom, so that new cars can be kept clean and dry.
When I picked my Passat up, I asked them not to make a fuss and let me go as quickly as possible as I had to get to a meeting. It was a case of, "here's my debit card - sign here, here and here - here are the keys - thank you, goodbye"
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When I picked up my new car from Ford (sorry, not VW I know) they had it say outside by the front door to the showroom with no cover or anything. I think they put it right by the door because with the wheels and body kit I ordered it looked pretty sweet! :cool:
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It depends on your dealer. I got my first MK5 Golf from Lookers Burnley via UKnewcars broker. The sale was dealt with through their Fleet arm. When I was going through all the documents to sign and take it away, the slaesman had noticed that both keys for the new car had a dealership keyring fitted, quite nice, but nowt special. The salesman tried to discretely take one of the keyrings off the key by initially comically sliding the piece of paper that the key was sat on (which had been right next to me) over to him, then worked the key off the keyring and slid the paper back. Very subtle. I signed everything and said to him, "if a keyring means that much to you then you can have the other one too". He sheepishly said "we're only supposed to give 1 keyring to the non-retail customers". What a tightarse! :grin:
I've had flowers for the missus before, a free autoglym valet set of car care products that I wasn't expecting, and a very nice keyring that was taken off me at the airport because it had a pen-knife and bottle opener folded into it's body that I hadn't noticed - handy for drink driving and road rage I assume.
At Benfield Scotswood Road, my car was in the showroom for pick-up and they allowed me to drive it out through the opened glass doors. Was tempted to hare it out as if I were James Bond chasing Scaramanga in "the man with the golden gun" when he takes a car for "a test drive".
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At Benfield Scotswood Road, my car was in the showroom for pick-up and they allowed me to drive it out through the opened glass doors. Was tempted to hare it out as if I were James Bond chasing Scaramanga in "the man with the golden gun" when he takes a car for "a test drive".
:grin: :grin: you so should have done that!
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No - I have never had special treatment so to speak. My Scirocco was just parked out in the yard amongst other vehicles, yes- I think they do make the effort to bring it as close to the showroom as possible, but no red carpet treatment. :sad:
My former car (Mazda RX8), there was a bunch of flowers for my wife on the passenger seat which was a very nice touch, but sometimes I think they should make the occasion feel more special. You are after all, spending £25- £30K! We are not buying loaves of bread!
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Our dealer has a roped off section for new car collections.
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When I was working for VW, we would always ask customers if they wanted a formal handover or a simple one.
Either way, it would be Flowers/Champagne/Sport brolly type gift to be presented at the end of the handover. The car would normally be roped off with/without a cover (depending largely on whether the cover was in a good enough condition!).
Remember each one of us who have bought from a retailer will be contacted by VW UK after collection, and we will be asked to rate our experience from start to finish.
This score is worth £1,000's to each retailer in terms of additional payments from VW, so they all want to make sure they do it right, and it is a special occasion for you.
If you have bought through Fleet (so broker etc) then these retail bonuses dont apply. Therefore they are likely to just point you in the direction of the car sat outside, and tell you to "crack on".
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If you have bought through Fleet (so broker etc) then these retail bonuses dont apply. Therefore they are likely to just point you in the direction of the car sat outside, and tell you to "crack on".
Nice. :rolleyes:
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I used to have a big Audi brolly, until my dad pinched it. I pinched it back from the boot of his car last time he was up, and he pinched it back when I was last down there. :grin:
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Very interesting responses. I was expecting most to say that they would like a nice reveal but doesn't appear the case. I know when I collected my TT I was expecting it to be in the showroom covered but to my surprise the dealer just said wait here and ill go get it. He drove it round from the back and that was me. Quite disappointed after hearing of other people's experiences.
As a previous poster said, I would hope for better treatment after paying so much for the car and its the small details that add to the overall experience
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It would be nice, but then I get kinda embarrassed by... well anything. So I'm not really that bothered if they just hand me the keys and point me towards it.
Like I say the Ford dealer just had it parked by the showroom entrance (on the outside). The chap gave me a run down of the features and a fancy keyring but that was it. Here are your keys, off you go!
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I've had many Golfs from different dealers around my location and all were different. The last one had my new car in the showroom absolutely minted up, no flowers for the mrs or anything! One dealer once sent a salesman out with some flowers and a crate of Stella as they had forgotten to put the mats in the new car! They all seem different, expect the new GTI to be in the middle of an empty showroom with a rope around it gaurded with dogs :laugh:
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I do wonder whether how hard a bargain you struck determines any nice gestures. Lass who paid full RRP gets a £20 bunch of flowers and the full VIP treatment, lad who struck an 11% deal gets told off for having more than one "free" coffee whilst getting through all the paperwork.
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I'll be making sure the salesman shows me how to turn off the ADC before I jump in the car and drive it home!
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My Mini was in the showroom, with a sign in the windscreen saying "I'm waiting for (my name) to start my MINI Adventure". They opened up the door and I drove it out.
Both my Mark 5 and Mark 6 were outside (different dealers). I got nothing with the 5 and got a cuddly toy (dog) with the 6.
The only "nice" experience I ever had was with an Alfa 147 which had a red Alfa cover on it (which I didn't get to keep). I think this is the exception rather than the norm for mass market manufacturers like VW.
If I had the choice, it would be: (i) pay; (ii) handover; (iii) drive off. I can't be done with anything else. Too embarrassing.
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Well, this is what is waiting for me on Monday - sorry for teasing guys :laugh: :laugh:
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/joeA3/GTI/null_zps276192ee.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/joeA3/GTI/null_zps1338f5bc.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/joeA3/GTI/null_zps4fcefd5f.jpg)
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:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
Excitement is building strong now! heh heh
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You lucky s0d Joe! This will be the longest weekend of your life!!
I'm with most of you boys - don't want a fuss, a nice low key handover is fine with me!!
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That looks brilliant Joe. Makes our wait feel even longer :cry: :cry:
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My parents tended (mum and step father dead and dad unwell now so can't drive) to buy new cars so I've plenty of experience of different marques. They only used to buy fairly mundane stuff but even there its interesting the difference between different dealerships.
My step father used to buy new fords when I was young but switched to Volkswagens then after that moved marques depending on what deals he could get.
My dad drifted into VWs because I was always into them but then moved away from them again due to poor dealers.
I'm a serial car swapper as I tend to buy them, change a few bits on them then move onto something else hence I normally buy used to minimise depreciation.
The mk7 was going to be my first new car ever just to scratch an itch and from the delays and general feedback here I think it will also be my last!
I've bought plenty of 'nearly new' cars though and have used lots of VW dealers and my general experience is that with a few exceptions they are very corporate. The salesmen don't normally try all the 'add ons' sales patter with me as they know that I know exactly what I want from the offset so it's normally just a drive up the motorway, have a pee, drink a coffee whilst signing bits of paper, thoroughly inspect car and head off home as I'm normally needing to get back in time for something to eat then a night shift to look forward to after a long day on the road (I have only twice used my local dealer and twice they've been rubbish).
The best experiences were from Holders of Congresbury when buying sporty SEATs over ten years ago when VW were going through their 'lost the plot' era of mk3 then mk4 Golfs. Holders were great to deal with. Family owned, reasonably priced and looked after their customers, flowers in the boot, follow up courtesy calls, completely non corporate and even didn't use VW/SEAT used car scheme or finance unless the promotions were better than what they could offer. So I bought a couple of cars from them.
My local SEAT dealer were stingy but the sales guys were ok.
My experience of nearly all VW dealerships were just of them wanting you to get the paperwork signed and off out the door as the sales guys always gave the impression that they were too busy.
So I just treat buying a car the same as any other disposable item now.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, never mind the flowers, how many coffees you get offered or whether the girl on reception flutters her eyelids at you; The important bit (especially if you're travelling a long distance) is to thoroughly check the car over. Look through all the pomp and waffle and make sure the car is 100% as it has been travelling quite a distance before it gets to you and is quite likely to have had some damage en route.
Check the PDI has been done correctly and check the fluid levels if you're about to take it on a long journey.
Put your business head on and remember that you've just signed over the thick end of £30k and you don't want to spend the next few days on the phone trying to deal with the after-sales people whilst your blood pressure goes through the roof!!
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I'm with you on this one Exonian.... I've bought enough new cars in my time to realise that the trick is not to get over excited with the whole "picking up" a new car experience, but to check & DOUBLE check the car over & over. Lift up the bonnet, check underneath the car, boot, spare wheel, locking wheel nut, missing door grommets, pieces of interior trim, paint defects, body damage, blanking plates, seat mechanism etc etc I know I'm stating the obvious, but its surprising how many just jump in and drive off.
It's surprising what you find.
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Pretty good list here:
http://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-s5-topics/11437-what-check-when-picking.html
Also if you go down to here:
http://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-s5-topics/11437-what-check-when-picking.html#post120064
Someone has attached a check list for the A5, very comprehensive!
And here:
http://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-s5-topics/11437-what-check-when-picking.html#post120231
Is an example of paintwork being crap. Does anyone have any more examples of this or anything else a noob like me should be looking out for?
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If I were in Joe's position, I'd be worried about people sticking their mucky paws over my lovely new car or trying to sit in it. There should at least be security guard or twelve, plus a guard rail or electric fence.
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:laugh:
I've warned them to keep messers away from it and its locked.
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:laugh:
I've warned them to keep messers away from it and its locked.
Good move, I always cringe somewhat when I see toddlers being allowed to get into the drivers seat and putting their grubby mitts over everything.