Performance Pack or Not? Have you?

[Gryzor]

I'd considered the retro-fit approach, but in the end, it'll cost a fair packet to get an official one bought and fitted anyway - potentially way more than the £285 they are charging for a factory fit. Plus it just won't be the same in terms of wiring.

As daft as it sounds, the heated screen is probably the most useful thing on the car for me! lol

[Bill_the_Bear]

I'd considered the retro-fit approach, but in the end, it'll cost a fair packet to get an official one bought and fitted anyway - potentially way more than the £285 they are charging for a factory fit. Plus it just won't be the same in terms of wiring.

As daft as it sounds, the heated screen is probably the most useful thing on the car for me! lol

I'm gutted they don't fit it as standard!  I mean, they give you adaptive cruise control, xenons and 18inch alloys...

Also I bet it costs them peanuts to add it.  The cynical me says its not there because xenons and 18inch wheels are the things that "sell" the car, not the windscreen.  And because they can then shaft everyone who wants it over the price.

[Gryzor]

I'm gutted they don't fit it as standard!  I mean, they give you adaptive cruise control, xenons and 18inch alloys...

Also I bet it costs them peanuts to add it.  The cynical me says its not there because xenons and 18inch wheels are the things that "sell" the car, not the windscreen.  And because they can then shaft everyone who wants it over the price.

I know, crazy huh? I've no idea why they couldn't have just gone with the same heated screen tech as they have in the Passatt CC, which to say, is essentially the same as that used by Ford, with embedded wires.  Could have been a cheap £150 option, but no.

[AAddict]

I'm gutted they don't fit it as standard!  I mean, they give you adaptive cruise control, xenons and 18inch alloys...

Also I bet it costs them peanuts to add it.  The cynical me says its not there because xenons and 18inch wheels are the things that "sell" the car, not the windscreen.  And because they can then shaft everyone who wants it over the price.

I know, crazy huh? I've no idea why they couldn't have just gone with the same heated screen tech as they have in the Passatt CC, which to say, is essentially the same as that used by Ford, with embedded wires.  Could have been a cheap £150 option, but no.

I hate that system on fords, my eyes focus on the zig-zags even when I try to stop them. 

[Gryzor]

It's never bothered me, either as a passenger or a driver, but at least this new system eliminates that completely.  I guess it's also more durable against stone chips as there are no individual wires to break.

[david25]

I'm gutted they don't fit it as standard!  I mean, they give you adaptive cruise control, xenons and 18inch alloys...

Also I bet it costs them peanuts to add it.  The cynical me says its not there because xenons and 18inch wheels are the things that "sell" the car, not the windscreen.  And because they can then shaft everyone who wants it over the price.

I know, crazy huh? I've no idea why they couldn't have just gone with the same heated screen tech as they have in the Passatt CC, which to say, is essentially the same as that used by Ford, with embedded wires.  Could have been a cheap £150 option, but no.

Swings and roundabouts....

This new plastic film reduces IR radiation (which I assume the Ford system doesn't) thus giving VW a "marketing" advantage over competitors (and giving you a tiny efficiency gain in summer).

[Gryzor]

True, it is supposed to reduce IR to keep things slightly cooler in summer - the wired screens don't do that I assume.

[Bill_the_Bear]

So they are putting it on every window then, not just the windscreen?  Because if not that is going to work how exactly?

I don't buy it (and I'm also not buying it).  Quite apart from the questionable effectiveness why offer one high priced option and then force it to be paired with another high price option?  They could at least give us a cheaper wire based windscreen as standard or even as a lower cost option to the premium laminate one.  Oh wait, that wouldn't net them much profit would it?  (Ok, fine, can't really complain about capitalism while simultaneously benefiting from it I know...).

I have the "quick clear windscreen" option on my 59 Fiesta.  Cost £100 smackers straight up and worth every penny.  It is zigzags and I never notice them, so may be newer design than the one AAddict has seen?  Actually today I was thinking about the VW film idea while driving and had to consciously look to see the zigzags, I really don't find them that noticeable.

[Gryzor]

No, just the windscreen, and the IR thing has absolutely no bearing on anything for me whatsoever.  The reason why they have paired it with the premium phone prep is so that if anybody has phone signal issues due to the screen, they can (if it's compatible) hook up their phone via Bluetooth rSAP, and make use of an external aerial to boost the phones reception.  I'm not convinced that phones will not work without it, but whatever.

At the end off the day, it is what it is and if you want it, you have to pay.  I went through the whole argument with them, but there's nothing we can do about it (apart from vote with our pockets, or not).

[monkeyhanger]

If the screen is available without the phone option in other markets then the argument about signal losses with the new screen fitted would appear to be bollocks.