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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: kingbilly on 24 February 2014, 17:11

Title: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: kingbilly on 24 February 2014, 17:11
Hi all,

Was interested in buying the new Golf R, and was reading through the mk7 Golf brochure, where the Fixed Price Service Plan offers the following -

year 1 - oil change service
year 2 - interval service
year 3 - inspection service and brake fluid change

For £299 (less any discount) this sounds like a fantastic option to take.

I currently own a mk5 GTI, whose manual states that the interval service includes oil change, pollen filter and a good look round most of the car...the inspection service includes oil change, air filter, spark plugs and a comprehensive look round all of the car.

On the assumption that these criteria are still valid 7 years on, the £299 deal is now even more attractive.

So I had a look at the GTI service manual from a mk7 model in my local dealer's showroom. There is absolutely no indication as to the work scope for any type of service mentioned.

I then queried the Service Manager who told me the following schedule -

year 1 - oil change service
year 2 - inspection service (old style interval or minor service)
year 3 - oil change service
year 4 - inspection service (old style interval or minor service)

Quite different from the Fixed Price Service Plan in the glossy brochure.

When quizzed he admitted a mistake and gave me another scenario, which is up to date and supercedes the brochure -

year 1 - oil change service
year 2 - inspection service (includes oil and a look round the car)
year 3 - inspection service (includes oil and a very good look round the car)

The pollen filter, air filter and spark plugs are not until years 4, 5 and 6, which is well after your supposed excellent deal on the Fixed Price Service Plan runs out.

Just wanted to point this out to anyone who has chosen this optional extra, if you are of the same mind as me as above at the start.

Thank you,
Billy
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: ROO1 on 24 February 2014, 17:58
Hi all,

Was interested in buying the new Golf R, and was reading through the mk7 Golf brochure, where the Fixed Price Service Plan offers the following -

year 1 - oil change service
year 2 - interval service
year 3 - inspection service and brake fluid change

For £299 (less any discount) this sounds like a fantastic option to take.

I currently own a mk5 GTI, whose manual states that the interval service includes oil change, pollen filter and a good look round most of the car...the inspection service includes oil change, air filter, spark plugs and a comprehensive look round all of the car.

On the assumption that these criteria are still valid 7 years on, the £299 deal is now even more attractive.

So I had a look at the GTI service manual from a mk7 model in my local dealer's showroom. There is absolutely no indication as to the work scope for any type of service mentioned.

I then queried the Service Manager who told me the following schedule -

year 1 - oil change service
year 2 - inspection service (old style interval or minor service)
year 3 - oil change service
year 4 - inspection service (old style interval or minor service)

Quite different from the Fixed Price Service Plan in the glossy brochure.

When quizzed he admitted a mistake and gave me another scenario, which is up to date and supercedes the brochure -

year 1 - oil change service
year 2 - inspection service (includes oil and a look round the car)
year 3 - inspection service (includes oil and a very good look round the car)

The pollen filter, air filter and spark plugs are not until years 4, 5 and 6, which is well after your supposed excellent deal on the Fixed Price Service Plan runs out.

Just wanted to point this out to anyone who has chosen this optional extra, if you are of the same mind as me as above at the start.

Thank you,
Billy

Good find. I wonder if this is similar to the GTD and GTI?
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: MattCupra on 24 February 2014, 18:15
How much would it cost if you pay for each of these inspections, individually??
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: Sockk on 24 February 2014, 19:12
I have just got back from signing my finance documents ready for Saturday and the topic of servicing came up. VW have changed their plans, as of today it's changed to monthly payments of 15.99 for either 18/24/36 payments. It's now more expensive as a three year service deal comes to about £380
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: Suklpm on 24 February 2014, 19:37
???..... 15.99 x 36 = about £576 ?
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: Sockk on 24 February 2014, 19:46
Yea for the three years you pay 24 payments according to the leaflet
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: Mk1Macca on 24 February 2014, 20:27
I got the servicing thrown in as part of the deal :)
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: 2014GTi on 24 February 2014, 20:29
I have the service plan on my Polo Bluemotion, same plan as the GTI so you could potentially do around 46k miles before having to pay penny in maintenance.
I covered 52k miles in my Polo and only had to pay for servicing the once costing £279.00  :cool:
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: ffrank on 24 February 2014, 20:33
Even better if you take out VW PCP, you get 100 quid off - so £199. Bit of a no brainer for that.
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: Mark V GTD on 24 February 2014, 21:15
This is all very welll (and I have had the service plans several times) but if you are keeping the car say two years - surely all thats going to be needed is the first one ast (what is it?) say £150. As longlife oil will be used the car will then not call for one until after the two year ownership period is over and its then down to the next owner.... result £149 or £49 saved (the latter being of you took the plan with a PCP deal at £199.
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: evo1986 on 24 February 2014, 22:09
I have just got back from signing my finance documents ready for Saturday and the topic of servicing came up. VW have changed their plans, as of today it's changed to monthly payments of 15.99 for either 18/24/36 payments. It's now more expensive as a three year service deal comes to about £380

That's right the upfront service plans are no longer available as of today.

3 years of servicing is now £15.99 for 24 months so £383.76
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: Mark V GTD on 24 February 2014, 22:33
Wont be going down that route then - will just pay for the first service when the time comes...
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: GiT1984 on 24 February 2014, 22:40
I was sent this by the dealer:

Quote
The following is included in the service plan*:

12 months/10,000 miles - Oil change service
24 months/20,000 miles - Interval service (including oil change)
36 months/30,000 miles - Inspection service (including oil change) and brake fluid change

*Based on typical servicing requirements for a vehicle covering 10,000 miles per annum. Vehicles which exceed the 30,000 mileage before 3 years may not benefit from all of the service elements listed.

The fixed-price service plan is available on any Golf GTI model that has been bought and registered from 7th January until 23rd February 2014. The service plan must be taken out within 90 days of the vehicle being registered. This offer is open to retail customers from participating Retailers only. Subject to vehicle availability. Offer maybe varied or withdrawn at anytime. Terms and conditions apply. Administered Volkswagen Finance.

The "new" pricing is now for 3 years/30,000 miles, based on 24 payments of £15.99. Total = £383.76. So you're still paying in advance and frankly, more ....

Personally, I don't think VW charging £300 for 3 synthetic oil and filter changes, plus a brake fluid change on the last service is too bad for a franchised dealer and the preservation of the warranty ....  :whistle:
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: monkeyhanger on 25 February 2014, 07:50
The last time I bought a VW service not as part of a pack, it was £159 for the standard oil change and inspections, and that was 5 years ago. Maybe Evo1986 can advise what his dealership charge right now. Don't forget also that service 3 of the pack includes a brake fluid change (some places seem to contest this, but it's in the conditions of the service pack) and I believe that the air and pollen filers are changed in years 2 or 3, so straight away you're probably well over £230 to buy year 3's sevice on your own.

Under EU law, VW can't penalise you with regards to your warranty if you choose not to go to the main dealers for your servicing. You can choose anywhere you like as long as they use genuine VW parts and VW approved oil (and other fluids).
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: matt2 on 25 February 2014, 09:16
I was under the impression that the legislation was actually more permissive than that. I believed that the parts used had to be of the same quality as VW parts. Many people use official parts to make it very easy to demonstrate that the parts are of sufficiently high quality but I think that is for simplicity rather than necessity.
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: monkeyhanger on 25 February 2014, 10:44
I was under the impression that the legislation was actually more permissive than that. I believed that the parts used had to be of the same quality as VW parts. Many people use official parts to make it very easy to demonstrate that the parts are of sufficiently high quality but I think that is for simplicity rather than necessity.

You may well be right, but for the sake of saving 50p on a fuel filter (VAG parts are very reasonably priced, more so usually if you go to a Skoda garage or TPS for them) I’d rather avoid the potential contention of whether a Halfords own make or Champion oil filter used was the cause of that big engine issue you took your car back for under warranty.
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: V5Ade on 25 February 2014, 12:02
I was under the impression that the legislation was actually more permissive than that. I believed that the parts used had to be of the same quality as VW parts. Many people use official parts to make it very easy to demonstrate that the parts are of sufficiently high quality but I think that is for simplicity rather than necessity.

You may well be right, but for the sake of saving 50p on a fuel filter (VAG parts are very reasonably priced, more so usually if you go to a Skoda garage or TPS for them) I’d rather avoid the potential contention of whether a Halfords own make or Champion oil filter used was the cause of that big engine issue you took your car back for under warranty.
I've often had warranty goodwill as I've always stuck with main dealers and the servicing schedule. I wouldn't expect any goodwill if I'd had a car serviced outside the dealer network.
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: monkeyhanger on 25 February 2014, 12:11
I was under the impression that the legislation was actually more permissive than that. I believed that the parts used had to be of the same quality as VW parts. Many people use official parts to make it very easy to demonstrate that the parts are of sufficiently high quality but I think that is for simplicity rather than necessity.

You may well be right, but for the sake of saving 50p on a fuel filter (VAG parts are very reasonably priced, more so usually if you go to a Skoda garage or TPS for them) I’d rather avoid the potential contention of whether a Halfords own make or Champion oil filter used was the cause of that big engine issue you took your car back for under warranty.
I've often had warranty goodwill as I've always stuck with main dealers and the servicing schedule. I wouldn't expect any goodwill if I'd had a car serviced outside the dealer network.

Another good point worth making. I’ve never had to make a goodwill claim, but with 7 VWs bought from new, I would expect some if I kept my GTD beyond 3 years. £380 via the monthly payment route won’t leave anyone short-changed vs paying for them individually if they’re going to a VW dealer anyways – it just isn’t as much of a bargain as it used to be.

At 5 year ago prices at my local dealership, you’re talking 3 x £159 for oil change services + £60 brake fluid change (if done at the same time as a service), add £30 for your air/pollen filters and you’re talking £567.
Title: Re: Fixed Price Service Plan
Post by: matt2 on 25 February 2014, 13:11
I was under the impression that the legislation was actually more permissive than that. I believed that the parts used had to be of the same quality as VW parts. Many people use official parts to make it very easy to demonstrate that the parts are of sufficiently high quality but I think that is for simplicity rather than necessity.

You may well be right, but for the sake of saving 50p on a fuel filter (VAG parts are very reasonably priced, more so usually if you go to a Skoda garage or TPS for them) I’d rather avoid the potential contention of whether a Halfords own make or Champion oil filter used was the cause of that big engine issue you took your car back for under warranty.

I agree with you - just pointing out the inaccuracy in the earlier post.