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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: drisser on 04 July 2013, 23:00

Title: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: drisser on 04 July 2013, 23:00
Isnt it frustrating when you get close to thinking about ordering and cant decide on anything !?  Nav or not, sunroof or not, metallic paint or skip it... grr !

Anyway I conducted an experiement on the configurator - 3 dr, manual, carbon grey with basic nav, Perf pack and Sunroof most likely to be my order spec if I go ahead - total price around £28,500.  On the PCP the GFV after 3 years is just over £13000.


I then configured a 3 door with DSG, and ticked virtually every box possible to give an eye watering price of £35,500 !!  GFV after 3 years, £13,500.  So for an extra £7k of options it hardly has any impact on residuals after 3 years.  I guess in the real world that car might go for a bit more than the lower spec car but it shows you..

Incidentally I visited another dealer today to chat about it, always good to get a few opinions and she recommended me if you tick no other options, the basic nav would be the one to go for regarding re-sale.  Interesting as I wasnt that fussed but am slowly coming round to the idea that the basic nav is money better spent than the pano roof even though I love a sunroof.

Now entering negotiations with 3 different dealers to play them off for the best deal  :wink:
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: GolfTi on 04 July 2013, 23:08
Most options are pretty worthless come resale/trade in.

Basic nav? Why?

I wouldn't want it if I was buying used.
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: mjh_056 on 04 July 2013, 23:11
Isnt it frustrating when you get close to thinking about ordering and cant decide on anything !?  Nav or not, sunroof or not, metallic paint or skip it... grr !

Anyway I conducted an experiement on the configurator - 3 dr, manual, carbon grey with basic nav, Perf pack and Sunroof most likely to be my order spec if I go ahead - total price around £28,500.  On the PCP the GFV after 3 years is just over £13000.


I then configured a 3 door with DSG, and ticked virtually every box possible to give an eye watering price of £35,500 !!  GFV after 3 years, £13,500.  So for an extra £7k of options it hardly has any impact on residuals after 3 years.  I guess in the real world that car might go for a bit more than the lower spec car but it shows you..

Incidentally I visited another dealer today to chat about it, always good to get a few opinions and she recommended me if you tick no other options, the basic nav would be the one to go for regarding re-sale.  Interesting as I wasnt that fussed but am slowly coming round to the idea that the basic nav is money better spent than the pano roof even though I love a sunroof.

Now entering negotiations with 3 different dealers to play them off for the best deal  :wink:

Seen a few on here mention Drivethedeal.com and must say if I was buying private I would be tempted as you pay no money to them and deal direct with a dealer but at an already agreed discount.

Think the consensus on options here is if you really can afford it and really want it then option it! and be damned with any residuals as to drive around each day kicking self and wishing you had is something have to live with otherwise  :wink:
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: drisser on 04 July 2013, 23:13
I do tend to agree with you,

I think the one option that dates rapidly is sat nav because the technology moves so fast.  My e46 3 series for example, if you look at the nav in an M3 from the same era (2005) it was the dogs bits then and a Must Have option but looks truly awful now..  When I was considering an M3 like that I specifically looked for one without nav because the dash looked cleaner without it.

I guess ultimately if you like gadgets then go for it or other options, but knowing they add little value 3 years later..
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: Bill_the_Bear on 05 July 2013, 00:30
mjh says it right.
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: CraigW on 05 July 2013, 03:23
The pano roof on any other colour than white is lost on the car imo
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: monkeyhanger on 05 July 2013, 08:04
Buy the options you want because you will use them or enjoy having them, don't be under any illusion that they will enhance GFV.

My dealer talked me out of Leather when I was tempted - £1740 spend on my Scirocco that would add £300 to the p/x value vs cloth.

DSG, about a £1400 spend, again you'll see about £300 back. Everything else? Next to nowt back, and i'd include satnav in that. If you want everything all integrated and you rely on satnav then by all means spend £700 ratehr than a high end separate unit that will brodit clip onto your vents.

I'm personally not speccing any options. The GTI and GTD are so well equipped, i'm not at all tempted. SatNav? Never used one, except on holiday. You can buy £200 units with better functionality than the optional unit.

Dynaudio? Can't see the point of high end audio in a car with so many noise intrusions to spoil it and the standard VW set-up is very good in itself.

ACC: I leave it in Sport on my Rocco except when there's pothole risk in the winter and i'll leave it in comfort to lessen any potential blow to the wheels, £800 - not for me.

Sunroof? Nope, looks good on a white car, but should you really be buying one for external visuals rather than function?

19" Santiagos? Prefer the Nogaros, and the brake discs look small enough behind 18"ers plus potential ride spoiling characteristics.

Lane assist? £500 for that, are you kidding VW? Seems like an option to help those who have a lack of attention on the roads.

Park assist? Cheap option but a bit of a gimmick for me (can see the value for those with back or neck problems)

Rear Camera? As per park assist.

Leather? Cold in the winter (until the heaters kick in), hot in the summer, £1700 and 1/2 the coverings aren't even leather. Jacara Cloth is great.

Xenons? I'd pay good money for these, but they're included already - VAG Halogens are like a pair of candles.

VW made it easy for me with the equipment they supplied as standard on the GTI/GTD, and adding nigh-on no value for high ticket extras i'll be keeping my money in my wallet for other wastes of money like beer!  :whistle:
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: mjh_056 on 05 July 2013, 08:47
Buy the options you want because you will use them or enjoy having them, don't be under any illusion that they will enhance GFV.

My dealer talked me out of Leather when I was tempted - £1740 spend on my Scirocco that would add £300 to the p/x value vs cloth.

DSG, about a £1400 spend, again you'll see about £300 back. Everything else? Next to nowt back, and i'd include satnav in that. If you want everything all integrated and you rely on satnav then by all means spend £700 ratehr than a high end separate unit that will brodit clip onto your vents.

I'm personally not speccing any options. The GTI and GTD are so well equipped, i'm not at all tempted. SatNav? Never used one, except on holiday. You can buy £200 units with better functionality than the optional unit.

Dynaudio? Can't see the point of high end audio in a car with so many noise intrusions to spoil it and the standard VW set-up is very good in itself.

ACC: I leave it in Sport on my Rocco except when there's pothole risk in the winter and i'll leave it in comfort to lessen any potential blow to the wheels, £800 - not for me.

Sunroof? Nope, looks good on a white car, but should you really be buying one for external visuals rather than function?

19" Santiagos? Prefer the Nogaros, and the brake discs look small enough behind 18"ers plus potential ride spoiling characteristics.

Lane assist? £500 for that, are you kidding VW? Seems like an option to help those who have a lack of attention on the roads.

Park assist? Cheap option but a bit of a gimmick for me (can see the value for those with back or neck problems)

Rear Camera? As per park assist.

Leather? Cold in the winter (until the heaters kick in), hot in the summer, £1700 and 1/2 the coverings aren't even leather. Jacara Cloth is great.

Xenons? I'd pay good money for these, but they're included already - VAG Halogens are like a pair of candles.

VW made it easy for me with the equipment they supplied as standard on the GTI/GTD, and adding nigh-on no value for high ticket extras i'll be keeping my money in my wallet for other wastes of money like beer!  :whistle:

Agree on all of that and very reason swapped brands is most Audi options were standard on GTD

I gave into ACC as reflex to my poor experience now and taking no chances and use Sat Nav irregularly but as spending my lease 'credit' the OCD in me had me take it though if own monies I would have likely passed.

DSG and 5 Door were what were going to be spec regardless of brand and again part of my overall spend allowance.

Getting a lot of car with all the real essential options such as them Bi-Xenon, which will be another huge leap for me.

The final decider is as said above in no matter what spec are you personally happy with it, as if you feel you compromised every time sit in it you should have paid the money - We pay for the feeling a car gives us more than anything and if have a nag of doubt that feeling is dented each and every day.   
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: sam67GTD on 05 July 2013, 09:14
I went for a shed load of options on my GTD, but then I'm a perfectionist and I have found that in every area of my life being a perfectionist has cost me a lot of money!  :grin:

Remember spending over £1,000 in 1985 for a top end hifi, oh well, enjoyment is the name of the game and if you are going to enjoy it, then it's worth paying for.  :laugh:
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: matchboy on 05 July 2013, 09:18
Buy the options you want because you will use them or enjoy having them, don't be under any illusion that they will enhance GFV.

My dealer talked me out of Leather when I was tempted - £1740 spend on my Scirocco that would add £300 to the p/x value vs cloth.

DSG, about a £1400 spend, again you'll see about £300 back. Everything else? Next to nowt back, and i'd include satnav in that. If you want everything all integrated and you rely on satnav then by all means spend £700 ratehr than a high end separate unit that will brodit clip onto your vents.

I'm personally not speccing any options. The GTI and GTD are so well equipped, i'm not at all tempted. SatNav? Never used one, except on holiday. You can buy £200 units with better functionality than the optional unit.

Dynaudio? Can't see the point of high end audio in a car with so many noise intrusions to spoil it and the standard VW set-up is very good in itself.

ACC: I leave it in Sport on my Rocco except when there's pothole risk in the winter and i'll leave it in comfort to lessen any potential blow to the wheels, £800 - not for me.

Sunroof? Nope, looks good on a white car, but should you really be buying one for external visuals rather than function?

19" Santiagos? Prefer the Nogaros, and the brake discs look small enough behind 18"ers plus potential ride spoiling characteristics.

Lane assist? £500 for that, are you kidding VW? Seems like an option to help those who have a lack of attention on the roads.

Park assist? Cheap option but a bit of a gimmick for me (can see the value for those with back or neck problems)

Rear Camera? As per park assist.

Leather? Cold in the winter (until the heaters kick in), hot in the summer, £1700 and 1/2 the coverings aren't even leather. Jacara Cloth is great.

Xenons? I'd pay good money for these, but they're included already - VAG Halogens are like a pair of candles.

VW made it easy for me with the equipment they supplied as standard on the GTI/GTD, and adding nigh-on no value for high ticket extras i'll be keeping my money in my wallet for other wastes of money like beer!  :whistle:

You forgot the Performance Pack - a no brainer surely?  :lipsrsealed: :laugh:
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: KyleB on 05 July 2013, 09:46
I've gone for basic nav only just because otherwise I knew I'd get annoyed when I have to stick a TomTom on my screen. Did want keyless but thought he gimmick would wear off after a couple of weeks.

Agree about only getting options to make the car more enjoyable, can't see a car with Nav being much of a deal breaker though, especially when all the Golfs are going to have the screen anyway.
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: mike. on 05 July 2013, 10:26
I have just been on Drive The Deal and specced the following

3 Door GTI

DSG
Performance Pack
Metallic paint
Adaptive chassis control
Navigation pro with 8.0 colour touch screen
Dynaudio sound pack
High beam assist
Park assist system
Rear view camera
Winter pack

On the road price £28600

Seems like a bargain, has anyone used Drive The Deal before and do they stick to this price.
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: Jimble on 05 July 2013, 18:53
Removed all the talk about lead times as was way off topic and getting a bit angry. ;)
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: Running Man on 05 July 2013, 19:26
The pano roof on any other colour than white is lost on the car imo

Agreed, very pleased I have it ordered on my PURE WHITE GTI, lovely jubbly  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: monkeyhanger on 05 July 2013, 19:36
Some gimmicks make you smile every day even though you don't really need them.

We got a new composite front door 2 years ago and at the time Yale doors were launching their snazzy new electronic keyless door, where you gain entry by either a bleeper or you can enter a code of your choosing, up to 12 digits, it was about £110 extra instead of £330 as a launch price. The external handle is clutched so it decouples from the lock after 10 seconds (to stop unauthorised people following you in). A female voice says "door open" when you put the right code in or use the bleeper, "please lift the handle to securely lock" when you're in the house and have closed the door, and a few other things like when you enter the code wrong and it shuts off the keypad for 5 mins after 5 wrong attempts etc. The fitter called it the "Resident Evil" door as the voice sounds like the "red Queen" computer system in the movie. I was convinced i'd deactivate the voice for the bleeps you can use. Still using the voice! Best £110 I ever spent!
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: Jimble on 05 July 2013, 19:55
Some gimmicks make you smile every day even though you don't really need them.

We got a new composite front door 2 years ago and at the time Yale doors were launching their snazzy new electronic keyless door, where you gain entry by either a bleeper or you can enter a code of your choosing, up to 12 digits, it was about £110 extra instead of £330 as a launch price. The external handle is clutched so it decouples from the lock after 10 seconds (to stop unauthorised people following you in). A female voice says "door open" when you put the right code in or use the bleeper, "please lift the handle to securely lock" when you're in the house and have closed the door, and a few other things like when you enter the code wrong and it shuts off the keypad for 5 mins after 5 wrong attempts etc. The fitter called it the "Resident Evil" door as the voice sounds like the "red Queen" computer system in the movie. I was convinced i'd deactivate the voice for the bleeps you can use. Still using the voice! Best £110 I ever spent!


I need this in my life!!! 8) ;D
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: Running Man on 05 July 2013, 20:02
Some gimmicks make you smile every day even though you don't really need them.

We got a new composite front door 2 years ago and at the time Yale doors were launching their snazzy new electronic keyless door, where you gain entry by either a bleeper or you can enter a code of your choosing, up to 12 digits, it was about £110 extra instead of £330 as a launch price. The external handle is clutched so it decouples from the lock after 10 seconds (to stop unauthorised people following you in). A female voice says "door open" when you put the right code in or use the bleeper, "please lift the handle to securely lock" when you're in the house and have closed the door, and a few other things like when you enter the code wrong and it shuts off the keypad for 5 mins after 5 wrong attempts etc. The fitter called it the "Resident Evil" door as the voice sounds like the "red Queen" computer system in the movie. I was convinced i'd deactivate the voice for the bleeps you can use. Still using the voice! Best £110 I ever spent!


I need this in my life!!! 8) ;D

I'm lost  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: dubber36 on 06 July 2013, 14:17

I'm lost  :smiley:

May I suggest Pro Nav Sir?
Title: Re: The Joy of Specs !
Post by: Gryzor on 06 July 2013, 14:53

I'm lost  :smiley:

May I suggest Pro Nav Sir?

Nah, standard nav will get you there just fine, and with cash left over for a proper good party when you get there! ;o)