Anyone else on here from Republic of Ireland?

[Fabio Bignose]

Hi all,

Been following this forum for a few months now and have to say for all things GTI/GTD its a great read and resource. Thanks to all who contribute.
I previously had a mk6 GTD which i loved and am seriously considering a mk7 GTD which i have been waiting for since October last.
Just wandering how many ROI forum members use this site and would be interested in hearing your opinions regarding the standard spec of the GTD here in Ireland as i was disapointed to see it is nothing like the car shown at Geneva (wheels, lights etc...). Is VRT the only reason?

[JoeGTI]

Hi all,

Been following this forum for a few months now and have to say for all things GTI/GTD its a great read and resource. Thanks to all who contribute.
I previously had a mk6 GTD which i loved and am seriously considering a mk7 GTD which i have been waiting for since October last.
Just wandering how many ROI forum members use this site and would be interested in hearing your opinions regarding the standard spec of the GTD here in Ireland as i was disapointed to see it is nothing like the car shown at Geneva (wheels, lights etc...). Is VRT the only reason?

Hi there! I'm in Ireland. I've ordered a MK7 GTI, trading up from a mk6 GTD. I was told yesterday it is scheduled for production build in 2 weeks!

Yes, the standard spec is very mean. I've ordered the xenons, wheels and climate, among other items for mine, so it will be a nice spec but I'm paying well for it!!
VRT is the main reason, coupled with the utter ineptitude of VW Ireland. VW Ireland have never given much care for what the customer wants, the sooner VW goes the way of BMW and takes control away from them the better. They aren't giving the option of the performance pack on the GTI either!

I've loved the GTD... But this time round the GTD is 2k more expensive than the petrol which is just taking the piss.... Again VW Ireland, as there is no logical reason for this pricing. I don't do big miles, so I feel the switch back to petrol made more sense for me.

[Fabio Bignose]

Hi Joe,

Good to hear from you and congrats on the new car! Very exciting! Yep, gotta have the xenons and the wheels as it would never feel or look like the real deal! Would you have considered the P/pack if it had been available to you or maybe going north of the border to get it? Did you contact VWI to ask why its not available here?
I fancied the Dynaudio this time but guess what, not offered here..lol!
You're right about the pricing as well and i would have done the same only i do big miles so GTD it is..

[mk7gti]

I never understood why the Irish spec was always so poor when I live in Dublin. It makes no sense...

[JoeGTI]

Hi Joe,

Good to hear from you and congrats on the new car! Very exciting! Yep, gotta have the xenons and the wheels as it would never feel or look like the real deal! Would you have considered the P/pack if it had been available to you or maybe going north of the border to get it? Did you contact VWI to ask why its not available here?
I fancied the Dynaudio this time but guess what, not offered here..lol!
You're right about the pricing as well and i would have done the same only i do big miles so GTD it is..

I might have opted for the perf pack alright, but it's £980 in UK, so you can imagine what VWI might have wanted for it! I asked them why not and they said it was down to VRT/emissions... Which is bull crap! The pack doesn't affect the emissions rating as far as I know.
This is nothing new. VWI have been anti customer and miserable for as long as I've known. All through the 1990's they sold Golfs by the bucket load with windy up windows and optional central locking!! If you look at the likes of BMW, the Irish and UK specs are identical... So VRT is just an easy excuse for them.

Anyway, despite all that I love the cars, so I keep going back haha! It should look the business with the xenons, wheels, etc... If I'm to believe the dealer I should have it by end of month!

The pricing of the GTD is mad. 2k over the GTI even though its in a lower tax band. It makes no sense and screams of taking advantage of the current diesel obsession. It makes it a very expensive car indeed if you add a few essential options...

[Fabio Bignose]

Tbh, when i posted this, i was hoping for more of a reaction and for more ROI users to maybe come out of the wood and voice their frustration towards VWI. People power and all that...
It is so deprssing that VWUK are able to offer to such good value on the new GTI/GTD at a reasonable price whereas VWI are at the complete opposite end of the scale, poor value spec wise at an extortionate cost!!! Factor in the website marketing which is doing nothing to build excitement (even the VWUKshow the press pics with a logical layout of standard spec, compared to VWUK which often has inconclusive descriptions) all adds up to a feeling of complete apathy towards the car and their customers!! 
OK, rant over as i dont want this to descend into a completely negative thread, rather what can we do to highlight VWI complacency to them....