Clubsport order thread

[Korszun]

Not that I feel complaining will get me anywhere, but has anyone tried to raise this further than customer services? Currently customer services are doing a copy paste answer to do with global supply issues and refuse to answer any specific questions.

Is there anyone anyone beyond customer services that could answer more specific questions. An email address for a real person?

I believe the best tactic for improving one's personal situation would be to get a journalist to focus on it.  The problem is that there's a general consensus that all manufacturers are affected more or less equally, and any journalist with an interest in VW would presumably see publishing this kind of thing as a risk if it casts VW in a poor light.

However, I do think the apparent priority for the CS45 cars in the production queue is really bad treatment of anyone who has ordered a CS (or presumably std. GTI and R).  So that is the angle I would use as anecdotally it appears that VW are not making cars in the same, or even a similar sequence to the orders they received.  Thus, any customer who orders today is essentially at the behest of the VW planners, AS WELL AS the acute component shortages the whole industry is facing.  Who's to say they won't suddenly decide to prioritise another model over your order?

[ar899]

Not that I feel complaining will get me anywhere, but has anyone tried to raise this further than customer services? Currently customer services are doing a copy paste answer to do with global supply issues and refuse to answer any specific questions.

Is there anyone anyone beyond customer services that could answer more specific questions. An email address for a real person?

I believe the best tactic for improving one's personal situation would be to get a journalist to focus on it.  The problem is that there's a general consensus that all manufacturers are affected more or less equally, and any journalist with an interest in VW would presumably see publishing this kind of thing as a risk if it casts VW in a poor light.

However, I do think the apparent priority for the CS45 cars in the production queue is really bad treatment of anyone who has ordered a CS (or presumably std. GTI and R).  So that is the angle I would use as anecdotally it appears that VW are not making cars in the same, or even a similar sequence to the orders they received.  Thus, any customer who orders today is essentially at the behest of the VW planners, AS WELL AS the acute component shortages the whole industry is facing.  Who's to say they won't suddenly decide to prioritise another model over your order?

Is there any 'law' or even moral obligation for a manufacturer to treat all orders as equal? It doesn't help the customer, we know, but I would think it highly likely (in normal times and perhaps even more so now) that orders/production/delivery is based on max profit primarily.

[fredgroves]

You've always got bumped around on factory orders.... depending on where your order was placed through.

Its just that now what might have been a couple of months extra delay is 6 months on top of what is already a problem.

My guess with the CS45's is that they need them out of the door as they were planned for a single build run - not inserting randomnly into the production line.

Under normal circumstances that probably would have taken the Golf production line a week or two to complete.... these days...

[SRGTD]

Not that I feel complaining will get me anywhere, but has anyone tried to raise this further than customer services? Currently customer services are doing a copy paste answer to do with global supply issues and refuse to answer any specific questions.

Is there anyone anyone beyond customer services that could answer more specific questions. An email address for a real person?

I believe the best tactic for improving one's personal situation would be to get a journalist to focus on it.  The problem is that there's a general consensus that all manufacturers are affected more or less equally, and any journalist with an interest in VW would presumably see publishing this kind of thing as a risk if it casts VW in a poor light.

However, I do think the apparent priority for the CS45 cars in the production queue is really bad treatment of anyone who has ordered a CS (or presumably std. GTI and R).  So that is the angle I would use as anecdotally it appears that VW are not making cars in the same, or even a similar sequence to the orders they received.  Thus, any customer who orders today is essentially at the behest of the VW planners, AS WELL AS the acute component shortages the whole industry is facing.  Who's to say they won't suddenly decide to prioritise another model over your order?

Is there any 'law' or even moral obligation for a manufacturer to treat all orders as equal? It doesn't help the customer, we know, but I would think it highly likely (in normal times and perhaps even more so now) that orders/production/delivery is based on max profit primarily.

Agree. VW’s suppliers is also likely to be a factor in when specific vehicles are scheduled for production, and many of VW’s component / parts manufacturers will also be affected by the same issues as VW (e.g. semiconductor supplies, Covid impacts on workforce). If suppliers have issues in fulfilling orders to VW for certain model-specific parts / components, then the build of other vehicles not needing those parts are likely to be given priority.

[Korszun]

Not that I feel complaining will get me anywhere, but has anyone tried to raise this further than customer services? Currently customer services are doing a copy paste answer to do with global supply issues and refuse to answer any specific questions.

Is there anyone anyone beyond customer services that could answer more specific questions. An email address for a real person?

I believe the best tactic for improving one's personal situation would be to get a journalist to focus on it.  The problem is that there's a general consensus that all manufacturers are affected more or less equally, and any journalist with an interest in VW would presumably see publishing this kind of thing as a risk if it casts VW in a poor light.

However, I do think the apparent priority for the CS45 cars in the production queue is really bad treatment of anyone who has ordered a CS (or presumably std. GTI and R).  So that is the angle I would use as anecdotally it appears that VW are not making cars in the same, or even a similar sequence to the orders they received.  Thus, any customer who orders today is essentially at the behest of the VW planners, AS WELL AS the acute component shortages the whole industry is facing.  Who's to say they won't suddenly decide to prioritise another model over your order?

Is there any 'law' or even moral obligation for a manufacturer to treat all orders as equal? It doesn't help the customer, we know, but I would think it highly likely (in normal times and perhaps even more so now) that orders/production/delivery is based on max profit primarily.

I'm not aware of any law but I don't think there needs to be.  Any supplier of pretty much anything that messes about with customers in such a way can expect to lose business to their competitors.  The problem needs to be big enough to affect a large number of customers, or outrageous enough to be considered remarkable to get anything done about it I would think.

fredgroves is probably correct, but I also still think if this is the case, communication would have been helpful and given customers an option to take an informed decision.  It's obvious why they didn't communicate - because they would have been looking at a lot of cancelled orders - but this is just not right in my opinion.  I will not be rushing to a VW dealer for my next car.

[SRGTD]

I'm not aware of any law but I don't think there needs to be.  Any supplier of pretty much anything that messes about with customers in such a way can expect to lose business to their competitors.  The problem needs to be big enough to affect a large number of customers, or outrageous enough to be considered remarkable to get anything done about it I would think.

fredgroves is probably correct, but I also still think if this is the case, communication would have been helpful and given customers an option to take an informed decision.  It's obvious why they didn't communicate - because they would have been looking at a lot of cancelled orders - but this is just not right in my opinion.  I will not be rushing to a VW dealer for my next car.

Agree that communication could be better, and IMHO VW have never been good at communication.

The current situation of very long lead times is affecting pretty much all car manufacturers, so I dare say many customers are reluctant to cancel, as ordering an alternative vehicle from another manufacturer is likely to mean going to the back of the queue and facing a similarly long wait. The other alternative might be to try and find a nearly new car. However, with demand for nearly new cars being high and dealer stocks low, used sale prices will almost certainly carry a price premium.

[Korszun]

I'm not aware of any law but I don't think there needs to be.  Any supplier of pretty much anything that messes about with customers in such a way can expect to lose business to their competitors.  The problem needs to be big enough to affect a large number of customers, or outrageous enough to be considered remarkable to get anything done about it I would think.

fredgroves is probably correct, but I also still think if this is the case, communication would have been helpful and given customers an option to take an informed decision.  It's obvious why they didn't communicate - because they would have been looking at a lot of cancelled orders - but this is just not right in my opinion.  I will not be rushing to a VW dealer for my next car.

Agree that communication could be better, and IMHO VW have never been good at communication.

The current situation of very long lead times is affecting pretty much all car manufacturers, so I dare say many customers are reluctant to cancel, as ordering an alternative vehicle from another manufacturer is likely to mean going to the back of the queue and facing a similarly long wait. The other alternative might be to try and find a nearly new car. However, with demand for nearly new cars being high and dealer stocks low, used sale prices will almost certainly carry a price premium.

Yes, but VW is the only manufacturer who appear to be making people wait for their order at the expense of a special edition in addition to the delays.  I believe our friend WelshGolf ordered his car before the CS45 was even announced, I was in this position too and it's pretty galling over on the equivalent CS45 thread seeing people taking delivery months before your 99% similar car has even been built.  If this point could be publicised, VW may actually help him by delivering the car so he stops embarrassing them.  I realise this is a long shot, but other than finding an alternative vehicle or waiting, I don't see another option.

[Carl_45]

You are correct regarding the CS45. I ordered in May and hopefully collecting next week (currently on route to the dealer).

I do get why they prioritised in this way, a special edition is worthless to VW if it’s 3 years late. But I 100% get your frustrations too and would also be annoyed in your position.

I actually originally enquired about the clubsport and it’s only because a dealer was saying “have you not seen the 45?” that I then looked and subsequently ordered, I suppose I’ve been lucky in that regard.

It’s the false promises of a year ago that annoy me the most, I was quoted September/October delivery then had unscheduled build after unscheduled build. At least the dealers are being honest with new enquiries now and quoting 18 months.

I hope this post isn’t taken the wrong way, I fully sympathise with all of you that currently have a long wait ahead of you.

[VW_Golf_nut]

Out of interest, when a dealer confirms the build week, has anyone had that move or is that set in stone when confirmed?

[Korszun]

You are correct regarding the CS45. I ordered in May and hopefully collecting next week (currently on route to the dealer).

I do get why they prioritised in this way, a special edition is worthless to VW if it’s 3 years late. But I 100% get your frustrations too and would also be annoyed in your position.

I actually originally enquired about the clubsport and it’s only because a dealer was saying “have you not seen the 45?” that I then looked and subsequently ordered, I suppose I’ve been lucky in that regard.

It’s the false promises of a year ago that annoy me the most, I was quoted September/October delivery then had unscheduled build after unscheduled build. At least the dealers are being honest with new enquiries now and quoting 18 months.

I hope this post isn’t taken the wrong way, I fully sympathise with all of you that currently have a long wait ahead of you.

I'm sure nobody would object to CS45 owners getting cars delivered, it's good for you to confirm here that your lead time was *only* 9 months.

I agree the false promises are really irresponsible.  When my order was live I received build weeks of 26, 36, 44, 45, 4, 11, 13, and finally May (didn't bother to ask which week).  The decent deal that I got when I ordered and the constant "hopefully this will be the last time it moves" really got to me and actually cost me money because my prior car eventually had to go back to the lease company and I had to buy a runabout to cover the gap.  In the end I simply realised I was being treated like a fool and if I carried on playing their game I was kind of behaving like one too.  After this realisation I found I had gone right off the car and the brand in general!!

It is good that dealers are now quoting 18 months, I ended up feeling quite sorry for the salesman who always called me to deliver the bad news that my order had moved again.  No doubt many will not order in the first place with such a long lead time but all VW should be interested in is filling their capacity and I would wager that demand is such that they can achieve this regardless.  At least customers' expectations are being properly set.