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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: clubsport on 14 October 2016, 17:08

Title: Courtesy Car?
Post by: clubsport on 14 October 2016, 17:08
My GTi is in for a service later in the month and the dealership suggests it may take 2 days if they need to order any parts.
I have been offered a Polo courtesy car, on a first come first served basis.

Having experience with other brands, they much seem keener than VW on marketing.

In an ideal world, I would like to try a Golf R, preferably with DSG to see how I get on with it for a couple of days, the thought being this could be my next car, or not, depending on the drive.

Is it the case now that VW just sell through lease purchase where no one tests the car and it just arrives.

The service and sales department are not interested, is it worth contacting VW directly to see if I could try an R, or is that just a dead end?

Does anyone have experience of upgrading courtesy cars?  I appreciate this may be opportunist, but I didn't think it was a ridiculous idea?

I get the impression it would be easier to get an RS6 for a day, but I don't want or need one of those!

Cheers.
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: Watts on 14 October 2016, 17:35
Good luck with that! My local dealer group shared it's GTI and R demo models between 3 or more branches to cover test drives so your request would've been definitely out of the question. It maybe a problem due to them being a niche model.

Mind you, you're getting a Polo, I had an automatic Up!, possibly the worst driving car I've ever been in!
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: Jackie Treehorn on 14 October 2016, 18:47
I would be surprised if you could upgrade on something that is provided just for the day to "help you out"  Most places use the cheapest of cars in the brand range to get the job done. (hence the VW UP)

BTW what the hell kind of service takes 2 days???
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: wigit on 14 October 2016, 19:18
Good luck, I did get a courtesy R for 10 weeks after an issue with my order and enjoyed it very much
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: scottyboy99 on 14 October 2016, 19:24
The best car I have ever received as a courtesy car at VW is a Beetle  :whistle:
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: mcmaddy on 14 October 2016, 19:57
I've had a beetle once and then polos all the other times.
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: clubsport on 14 October 2016, 20:03
Thanks for your thoughts, I don't think I will bother with the Polo as I don't need the worry & hassle of damaging it, scuffing a wheel etc...
I have other cars to drive, but thought it would have been a good opportunity to see if an R was for me.... I think not and wouldn't buy one to be proved correct.

Porsche can be quite reasonable with some of the cars you can try, which is why my original question didn't seem ridiculous from my perception.
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: mcmaddy on 14 October 2016, 21:28
It's always worth an ask and if the dealer thinks they can possibly sell you a car then they may give you a test drive for a day. Doubt they'll stretch to two though but if you don't ask you'll never know.
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: wigit on 14 October 2016, 22:20
Porsche can be quite reasonable with some of the cars you can try, which is why my original question didn't seem ridiculous from my perception.

I think Porsche work on the approach that you progress through the range whereas VW do not really give a monkeys. My dealer did lend me a Mk7 GTI for a weekend but they pretty much knew we were in the market for two Mk7s
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: p3asa on 15 October 2016, 09:27
Ive always found BMW and Audi have upgraded to a reasonable car but with VW its a downgrade.
I suppose though that is because I was at the bottom of the food chain with the Audi A1 and a mini so the "only way is up"  :grin:
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: GeoBog on 15 October 2016, 23:39
The best car I have ever received as a courtesy car at VW is a Beetle  :whistle:

+1 to that. Both services I had done to my old 2014 GTI I had received a nice convertible Beetle. First time it rained so couldn't enjoy the convertible too much but this summer it was really sunny so I could pop the roof down.

The other choice was an Up but fair play for the dealer that he offered me the choice.
Title: Re: Courtesy Car?
Post by: jjgreenwood on 16 October 2016, 13:21
Most service cars are polo's and ups because writedown on them costs £200 a month instead of £700 a month on tiguan/performance golf/beetle cab etc. Most service fleets run a couple of larger cars and a couple of automatics for customers that request something bigger or only have an auto licence but of course booking times can be extended.

Virtually every dealer has 1 of every car on demo though so if you want to buy or experience one then its easy enough to arrange a test drive. I can understand why a dealer doesn't hand out their R for a service customer that "just wants to try it" as for the 2 days its out then there isn't one for any customers who walk in to try. The expectation for the customer to show some interest and dedicate some time to booking the test drive seems reasonable.

Also comparing a vw service department to Porsche is a bit like comparing macdonalds to the savoy. Margins, volume and product range are completely different.