Changes on VW Configurator - new bundled 'Packs' added

[Exonian]

I did point them at this thread (hope that's not against the forum rules) to show how many people are similarly annoyed.

I also asked them to justify the price increase. The response I got to that was:

UKVolkswagen: The pricing can fluctuate for many reasons and these models appeal to a wide range of different customers

Ha - talk about reading from a script.

Welcome Crispy Duck (great name!) and my hat off to you for being proactive and taking VW UK to task very openly.

This wide range of customers must include an awful lot of affluent mugs if what they're trying to lead us to believe is correct.

Well done for pointing VW in this direction too. I do have a twitter account but I've never used it so not sure how it works - I think it's one of those things I set up a few years ago as it seemed a popular thing to do and the first thing I saw was my younger brother arguing online with someone after he'd had a few pints so I decided at that point I'd leave it there...  :roll eyes:

I'm still adamant there's something lost in translation and that there will be a major spec change. If you look at the price increases across the board for MY 2016 Golfs they vary quite a bit and ignoring the e-Golf most models have a £420 increase (the Inflationary price rise of £135 doesn't apply to MY 2016 cars) a few of them have £570 increases and then we get to the big increases for the GTI/D and R.


I've been seriously considering a fresh order myself (taking into account the six month wait being possible) and right now there's no way I'd give VW any money unless it was an in stock car that came with a big discount as the current situation looks somewhere between a joke and a rip off.
BMW M135i anyone? Just £26k right now at broker prices for a manual.

Thanks Exonian

I've been receiving this CAP data on new models for 15+ years now and I've very rarely known it to be incorrect as its supplied directly to CAP by the vehicle manufacturer i.e VW (I'll probs be eating my words soon - watch this space ;-)).  Some of the terms such as the cherry rear lights may not match the fluffy descriptions in the brochures etc but the spec above is taken directly from the GTD listed as the 2016 model year...  From experience, I think you'll be bang on the money and when the 2016 GTD/I show's its face there will be a number of differences over the 2015MY.

The configurator may catch up in three to four weeks.

You're quite correct Alx and CAP base their retained values on this information so it affects our part exchanges further down the line too (as you'll be well aware!)

There seems to be other interesting stuff going on with other models too but I'll not drag this off topic.

Do tell 

Pick a model from the range and I'll tell you a (not so) fascinating fact!!!   

[Mark V GTD]

MY 2016 changes instigated on the production line are different from the ones we are talking about - the 'free' options that were on the configurator for a week or so can be added (and taken away) by VW UK at any time simply by altering the order codes and changing the base UK spec (every country's official importer has the power to control what options it selects to produce the spec for any given territory). In contrast - factory changes (such as the MIB II with larger screen and the door mirrors opening on unlocking) are physical upgrades to the vehicles that are not done at the instigation of the importer.

[Exonian]

I think we are all clear on the fact anyone who ordered a MY2015 car yet to be built may or may not come with Gen II, it's the £920 increase that's mystifying everyone with the "will they or won't they include nav etc" on MY2016.
Yes, the factory are tooling up for Gen II later this month, it's what VW UK are up to we want to know.
A couple hundred extra for Gen II composition media is fair enough, it's the £920 that's the crux.

[linc-dub]

Totally agree with Exonian - I ordered a new GTD last week when the VW configurator had Sat Nav, Keyless & Winter Pack in the price - however I only really wanted a Sat Nav in this car, so with all the uncertainty about what we will get after BW22 I've told my dealer to put Sat Nav on my options list and if by the time its built that has indeed become standard then that's ok, but a justification is needed by VW UK if there are no spec increases and a £920 extortion charge for the privilege of a 2016MY car!

[Sootchucker]

With all the conjecture on what's changing etc. and with the on line configurator seemingly still as crap as it always was, I've just noticed that VW have a brand new price list for the Golf (dated 5th May), and having a quick scoot around and found these stand out points (if the price list to be believed)

GTD / GTI now come with 6.5" GEN II Composition Media system (same as the Polo 6C), but not the navigation version. In additional to the slightly bigger screen (up from 5.8") it adds SMS functionality – read, compose and send SMS messages using touch-screen display (compatible Android smartphones only). Think Blue. Trainer. – driver tips and journey analysis.

It would seem that Solid black is now the only colour that's free with even Tornado red now costing £260.00.

With regards upgrades to the infotainment system, you can still upgrade to the Discover Pro, or the Discover Navigation (albeit the new version with the 6.5" Screen, as well as add Car-Net "App-Connect" on the Discover Navigation (it seems to be standard on the Discover Pro.

Information on each option below

Car-Net ‘App-Connect’ £100
Combined functionality of Apple ‘CarPlay’, Google ‘Android Auto’ and ‘MirrorLink’ ™ allowing ‘mirroring’ of smartphone display on the infotainment touch-screen via USB connection. Display and operation of certified apps including audio and voice control (if supported by the app). Usage of certified apps only while driving. Only available with compatible smartphones including iPhone 5 and 6. Please see www.volkswagen.co.uk to check smartphone compatibility

Discover Navigation (touch-screen navigation/radio system with Car-Net ‘Guide and Inform’) £750
6.5" colour touch-screen control system for navigation, CD and radio functions. Preloaded European navigation data, 2D/3D map view, three calculated routes (Fast, Short, Eco), dynamic navigation based on TMC+, branded points of interest and Traffic Sign Display. 3-years Car-Net ‘Guide and Inform’ access providing online access to a range of useful information such as traffic, fuel pricing, parking space availability, weather and news feeds. Includes online navigation software updates, enabling you to download the latest map data. Please contact your authorised Volkswagen retailer for full details

Discover Navigation Pro £1,765.00
Voice activated control system – responds to spoken voice commands for navigation and telephone functions. 8.0" colour touch-screen control system for navigation, DVD, CD and radio functions. 64 GB SSD hard drive. Preloaded European navigation data, 3D map view, three calculated routes (Fast, Short, Eco), dynamic navigation based on TMC+, branded points of interest, Traffic Sign Display, photo display from JPEG and PNG files and SD card reader x 2. Car-Net ‘App-Connect’ combines the functionality of Apple ‘CarPlay’, Google ‘Android Auto’ and ‘MirrorLink’ ™ allowing ‘mirroring’ of smartphone display on the infotainment touch-screen via USB connection. Display and operation of certified apps including audio and voice control (if supported by the app). Usage of certified apps only while driving. Only available with compatible smartphones including iPhone 5 and 6. Please see www.volkswagen.co.uk to check smartphone compatibility. 3-years Car- Net ‘Guide and Inform Plus’ access providing online access to a range of useful information such as traffic, fuel pricing, parking space availability, weather, news feeds and Google Earth. Includes online navigation software updates, enabling you to download the latest map data. Please contact your
authorised Volkswagen retailer for full details.

Also, the base prices seem to have shot up. When I purchased my GTD back in 2013, the list base price of my car (5 door GTD DSG) without options was £27,355 and today the same car is £29,005 an increase in 18 months of £1,650 !! What the hell extra do you get for that ?

Apologies if this has already been posted.

[Mark V GTD]

Well- desperately trying to see the positive side - I suppose it does good things for the used values - especially for folks with Discover Pro which will at least not visually look like the 'old' model...

[matchboy]

Word of warning for those tweeting VW UK - when waiting an age for my GTI I tweeted them on a few occasions asking more than reasonable questions - I was subsequently told by VW UK over the phone that if I continued tweeting negatively (I was only asking them questions) that they would cancel my order and they would not allow me to purchase a VW from any retailer.  So, in effect, blackmail and bullying.  Of course I ignored this, I won't bow to that as it's only a car after all, but this is what you're dealing with.  They do not like negative comments via twitter.  Which is why it's a fantastic tool to get them to hear us, and our views.

[ashasg03]

ive just tweeted haha, I said vw customer service is shocking, price hikes for the GTD and GTI and yet nothing to show for the end consumer.

[Crispy Duck]

That's unbelievable about threatening to cancel the order! 

[CraigW]

If you already have the nav pro can you now get Car-Net and how do you go about getting it?