Winter pack

[Gryzor]

OK guys, I just had a phone call from VW UK.  The woman said that they can now confirm that a Heated Front Windscreen IS an option, BUT, it comes at a cost...

£285

PLUS

You also need to order it in conjunction with a £310 advanced telephone preparation option, that provides a cradle for your phone...  Bit of a scam really, but there ya' go, that's what she has been told. 

£595 for a heated front screen then...spendy, but on reflection I know I'll regret not getting it.

[Bill_the_Bear]

I just cancelled the winter pack option.

[Aidey]

hmmm, i think i would have to get the heated screen, i also had one on my Focus St..
But you have to order it with a phone cradle ...

[Bill_the_Bear]

Why the hell would the heated windscreen require a phone cradle? That's absurd.

 Had One on my Fiesta for £100, can't see a good reason why we should have to pay £600.

[Gryzor]

Why the hell would the heated windscreen require a phone cradle? That's absurd.

 Had One on my Fiesta for £100, can't see a good reason why we should have to pay £600.

No idea mate.  VW said it's something to do with an aerial being integrated or something - doesn't make sense to me, nor does it make sense to anybody I've spoken to at VW Customer Care or my dealership!  Basically, it's a £600 option...ridiculous.

[SF-GTD]

I had a look at the Passat price list, you can order a heated windscreen for £145 and it doesn't require any special phone option.  Bizzarly you do need to spec £270 heated seats though.

[Gryzor]

Yeah it's crazy - I wouldn't mind, but the "useless to me" £310 extra phone prep also comes with a cradle mounted on the dash which I don't like the sound of - spoils the looks completely.  Major error or VW's part this one.  Instead of making it a sub £200 option, they charge £285 for it PLUS a mandatory £310 unrelated option. 

OK, so I believe the heated windscreen technology is different in this new one, so might be why it costs more.  In the Passat it is much like the Ford version with the thin wires, whereas this new one appears to be a clear conductive sheet laminated between the two layers of glass.

[SF-GTD]

Cheers, that explains the difference then.  I thought the Passat one would be the same as the Golf's.

I was wondering about this phone cradle.  It would be handy to know for sure if it is on the dash.  It would be better if it was in the centre console under the arm rest like in some other cars.  A cradle on the dash is a bit old fashioned.

[Gryzor]

I agree, on the dash is really a bit old-hat.  Still so much to learn about the standard spec and all these options!

[p3asa]

No idea mate.  VW said it's something to do with an aerial being integrated or something - doesn't make sense to me, nor does it make sense to anybody I've spoken to at VW Customer Care or my dealership!  Basically, it's a £600 option...ridiculous.

Maybe the new windscreen blocks out the phone signal hence why you have to get an integrated aerial!! That would make sense.