GTI Clubsport Launched - 2016

[evo GT]

PH's video comparison Golf R vs Clubsport.  R's additional weight balances out performance differences

http://youtu.be/MkLrq2mc9Mc

[caprigreen]

PH's video comparison Golf R vs Clubsport.  R's additional weight balances out performance differences

http://youtu.be/MkLrq2mc9Mc

Very interesting and looks like the Club sport is a lot closer performance wise than first thought. Although 4 wheel drive in the wet will obviously have advantages.
It has to be a GTI for me but a GTI with close to R performance is very tempting, have already e mailed my dealer 

[Brenbo]

I have also contacted a dealer, regarding a possible waiting list for the GTI Clubsport.  The salesman said they do not have one yet but he would get any details he could from his manager and get back to me soon.....    This was beginning of this week so not very prompt.   The usual scenario of salesmen selling a product they know nothing about even when information regarding their product is updated.  I found myself telling him about it, which happened last time I bought my GTI PP.   It's strange they should know there is this thing called the internet which provides the latest info before they receive it through the right channels i.e. via VW UK.  You would think information was the greatest tool and advantage to a dealer, but it seems the have not discovered this yet. 

Apologies for my rant, it just baffles me?

Anyway back to the subject of this thread, I am leaning more toward the Clubsport at present but it does depend if things like the seats are standard and the price of the car after I have configured it is not going to cost more than a similar spec Golf R? 

[caprigreen]

I have also contacted a dealer, regarding a possible waiting list for the GTI Clubsport.  The salesman said they do not have one yet but he would get any details he could from his manager and get back to me soon.....    This was beginning of this week so not very prompt.   The usual scenario of salesmen selling a product they know nothing about even when information regarding their product is updated.  I found myself telling him about it, which happened last time I bought my GTI PP.   It's strange they should know there is this thing called the internet which provides the latest info before they receive it through the right channels i.e. via VW UK.  You would think information was the greatest tool and advantage to a dealer, but it seems the have not discovered this yet. 

I see you are in Cornwall so if like me you have made the mistake of going to our local dealer I share your frustration. I spoke to the sales guy last week while I was waiting for my car . He was nice enough but did tell me he had just come back from his VW training and proudly produced his framed certificate. He then told me he was selling sofas last week. Yes he is learning but he knew very little about the cars and was quoting the wrong figures . I made an enquiry about the value of my car against a new GTI. He said he could not give me a price as it was not a serious enquiry !!
I then e mailed Plymouth and quoted a very competitive price from my supplying dealer (JCB Medway) for a GTI PP for March delivery , and asked if they could match it . They would not believe the price and asked for written proof. When I supplied it they have not responded.
Anyway JCB have been first class the guy is on leave but still responds to my emails.
If you are interested in the club sport perhaps we can join forces and see what we can do. 

Apologies for my rant, it just baffles me?

Anyway back to the subject of this thread, I am leaning more toward the Clubsport at present but it does depend if things like the seats are standard and the price of the car after I have configured it is not going to cost more than a similar spec Golf R?

[caprigreen]

I have also contacted a dealer, regarding a possible waiting list for the GTI Clubsport.  The salesman said they do not have one yet but he would get any details he could from his manager and get back to me soon.....    This was beginning of this week so not very prompt.   The usual scenario of salesmen selling a product they know nothing about even when information regarding their product is updated.  I found myself telling him about it, which happened last time I bought my GTI PP.   It's strange they should know there is this thing called the internet which provides the latest info before they receive it through the right channels i.e. via VW UK.  You would think information was the greatest tool and advantage to a dealer, but it seems the have not discovered this yet. 


 see you are in Cornwall so if like me you have made the mistake of going to our local dealer I share your frustration. I spoke to the sales guy last week while I was waiting for my car . He was nice enough but did tell me he had just come back from his VW training and proudly produced his framed certificate. He then told me he was selling sofas last week. Yes he is learning but he knew very little about the cars and was quoting the wrong figures . I made an enquiry about the value of my car against a new GTI. He said he could not give me a price as it was not a serious enquiry !!
I then e mailed Plymouth and quoted a very competitive price from my supplying dealer (JCB Medway) for a GTI PP for March delivery , and asked if they could match it . They would not believe the price and asked for written proof. When I supplied it they have not responded.
Anyway JCB have been first class the guy is on leave but still responds to my emails.
If you are interested in the club sport perhaps we can join forces and see what we can do. 


Apologies for my rant, it just baffles me?

Anyway back to the subject of this thread, I am leaning more toward the Clubsport at present but it does depend if things like the seats are standard and the price of the car after I have configured it is not going to cost more than a similar spec Golf R?

[Brenbo]

I went to VW Exeter.  The guy I was hoping to eal with was on holiday so had to deal with someone else who was nice enough, but not too interested unless I was buying one of the cars on their forecourt. This is after I explained I was serious and wanted to originally buy a Golf R with as much extras as possible.  He yet again was no too forth coming but felt obliged to email me a personal video presentation of their existing Golf Rs on the forecourt. 

The thing with me knowing more from the internet than the salesman I deal with when buying a car happens a lot.  It even happened when i bought Civic Type R's in the past at Honda Plymouth. I guess it's a common occurence.  If you are selling a product how you be so clueless about? 

@ Caprigreen: It may be a benefit if we do join forces and swap quote values for car specs to get an idea if we are getting a good deal locally.  I will be looking in to checking out Exeter, Plymouth etc, and even maybe further afield / online to see if I can get a deal to haggle with like CarWOW and Drive the Deal. Will keep in touch. Let the games commence.

[CraigW]

Slightly off topic but it amazes me how you don't get more car salesmen who are actually car enthusiasts. If they actually employed staff who are both knowledgeable about cars and are big petrolheads no matter what the brand, surely they would sell a hell of a lot more cars.

The number of times I've went into a dealership and was able to tell the dealer more about their own cars and future developments is ridiculous. I suppose in one sense it gives us an advantage over the dealer cause they know they're not dealing with someone who doesn't have a clue.

[Brenbo]

I completely agree with you CraigW.  It is insane they are not enthusiasts about the one thing they are trying to sell, as I feel they would sell more as well.  It would be like me being a Graphic Designer without knowing how to draw or use the software it would be ridiculous....   Oh wait a minute there are people I know off, who are Graphic Designers and cannot use the software or draw,  so I take that back. 

However thinking about it I do know of one salesman at VW Exeter who is an enthusiast about cars, but I was unable to deal with him on this occasion as he was on hols.

Anyway changing subject and back on topic I really do hope things like the Bucket seats are standard. 

[monkeyhanger]

Slightly off topic but it amazes me how you don't get more car salesmen who are actually car enthusiasts. If they actually employed staff who are both knowledgeable about cars and are big petrolheads no matter what the brand, surely they would sell a hell of a lot more cars.

The number of times I've went into a dealership and was able to tell the dealer more about their own cars and future developments is ridiculous. I suppose in one sense it gives us an advantage over the dealer cause they know they're not dealing with someone who doesn't have a clue.

Trouble is, they have to know about 7 or 8 different models and 6 to 10 trims and special editions for each model. Unless they've got a huge interest in that one specific variant you're interested in, chances are you will always know more about it than they do.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

Slightly off topic but it amazes me how you don't get more car salesmen who are actually car enthusiasts. If they actually employed staff who are both knowledgeable about cars and are big petrolheads no matter what the brand, surely they would sell a hell of a lot more cars.

The number of times I've went into a dealership and was able to tell the dealer more about their own cars and future developments is ridiculous. I suppose in one sense it gives us an advantage over the dealer cause they know they're not dealing with someone who doesn't have a clue.

Sorry to stay off topic but this is exactly why I won't go into dealers anymore. Full stop. Period! I would rather do all my research, negotiation and discount stuff online. Only on collection of a vehicle will I step foot into the dealer to pay them and drive the car away. I vowed to do this after a particularly unpleasant experience in a VW dealership some years ago.