Clubsport order thread

[WelshGolf]

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.

The temptation is there to take this further but VW aren't giving in to anything at the moment. Any contact I make with them now is replied with the same word for word generic response. The email also states that the message has been logged and probably won't be replied to as they can't help me further.

I fully understand that there is much more to scheduling builds than it being first come first serve but I can't believe that the magical parts they are waiting for my car are 12 months delayed. Any other time I would of told them to stuff their order but if I do that now i'm the one that looses out.

[allybapperty]

Hello all,

New here

For the record, I ordered a Clubsport in August, currently being quoted March build. I'll be doing fairly high mileage so didn't want the 19" wheels, this ended up being a stock car with no options...

From what others are saying I guess the build week is fairly optimistic. I'll keep you posted.

[WelshGolf]

Hello! i'd probably say that is optimistic unless it was an order in the system already. Some people, myself included, ordered at the start of 2021 and won't get it until after March. I'm currently looking at June/July time!

[Korszun]

Unfortunately I would agree, my (now cancelled) order was placed in Feb 2021 and at the point when I cancelled almost a month ago had an unconfirmed May build week.  Standard car without options should help a little I guess though.

[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.

The temptation is there to take this further but VW aren't giving in to anything at the moment. Any contact I make with them now is replied with the same word for word generic response. The email also states that the message has been logged and probably won't be replied to as they can't help me further.

I fully understand that there is much more to scheduling builds than it being first come first serve but I can't believe that the magical parts they are waiting for my car are 12 months delayed. Any other time I would of told them to stuff their order but if I do that now i'm the one that looses out.

Clearly nobody is going to give you a satisfactory answer through the normal channels, it's absolutely clear the parts are being consumed by other cars which VW have deemed to be high enough priority to jump the queue ahead of yours.  I understand that you probably have a much better deal than is currently available now but don't you feel they're just taking the pi** out of you?  This is how I felt and whilst there were other factors to manage, I just couldn't abide being treated in this way so felt I had to vote with my feet.  I am paying a little more for the car I bought but I felt the cost was worthwhile to maintain dignity and to get an actual vehicle rather than empty promises.  VW could come clean to you and tell you why the car hasn't been built yet, this is a choice by them to keep you hanging on.  Obviously the choice is yours and yes other car companies are facing similar issues but I was able to find a car, go for a test drive, adopt an order that was previously cancelled by another customer, and take delivery of the car in less than a month.  And I did get some discount.

[WelshGolf]

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.

The temptation is there to take this further but VW aren't giving in to anything at the moment. Any contact I make with them now is replied with the same word for word generic response. The email also states that the message has been logged and probably won't be replied to as they can't help me further.

I fully understand that there is much more to scheduling builds than it being first come first serve but I can't believe that the magical parts they are waiting for my car are 12 months delayed. Any other time I would of told them to stuff their order but if I do that now i'm the one that looses out.

Clearly nobody is going to give you a satisfactory answer through the normal channels, it's absolutely clear the parts are being consumed by other cars which VW have deemed to be high enough priority to jump the queue ahead of yours.  I understand that you probably have a much better deal than is currently available now but don't you feel they're just taking the pi** out of you?  This is how I felt and whilst there were other factors to manage, I just couldn't abide being treated in this way so felt I had to vote with my feet.  I am paying a little more for the car I bought but I felt the cost was worthwhile to maintain dignity and to get an actual vehicle rather than empty promises.  VW could come clean to you and tell you why the car hasn't been built yet, this is a choice by them to keep you hanging on.  Obviously the choice is yours and yes other car companies are facing similar issues but I was able to find a car, go for a test drive, adopt an order that was previously cancelled by another customer, and take delivery of the car in less than a month.  And I did get some discount.

Absolutely feel like they are taking pi** as they are holding all the cards at the moment. They wouldn't care at all if I or anyone canceled their order at the moment as they will sell that order on instantly to someone else. I'm in the lucky position at the moment that I don't need the car, so can afford to wait, I just don't like being lied to and being pushed to the back of the queue behind other orders.

[RoryB]

Just been given week 26, ordered last June

Looked for an update today... BW has been removed 🤦‍♂️

[WelshGolf]

Just been given week 26, ordered last June

Looked for an update today... BW has been removed 🤦‍♂️

Spoke to my salesperson yesterday, i'm still on week 23 but she did say other orders have moved along 15 weeks!

Also, I queried the price rise and how it would change what I pay for road tax if it went over £40k. I've been assured that because I ordered before the price rises (and don't amend my order) it won't change it. I'm skeptical of this but have it in writing from them so I have something to fall back on.

[phope]

Just been given week 26, ordered last June

Looked for an update today... BW has been removed 🤦‍♂️

Spoke to my salesperson yesterday, i'm still on week 23 but she did say other orders have moved along 15 weeks!

Also, I queried the price rise and how it would change what I pay for road tax if it went over £40k. I've been assured that because I ordered before the price rises (and don't amend my order) it won't change it. I'm skeptical of this but have it in writing from them so I have something to fall back on.

Well, she's wrong for a start....the VED for your car will be calculated based on the list price of the car at the time of registration, not at the time of order. The price you are paying for the car may be price protected, but the VED is another matter, and not one that she can change the rules for.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/534511/ved-reform-briefing-for-motor-industry.pdf

[WelshGolf]

Just been given week 26, ordered last June

Looked for an update today... BW has been removed 🤦‍♂️

Spoke to my salesperson yesterday, i'm still on week 23 but she did say other orders have moved along 15 weeks!

Also, I queried the price rise and how it would change what I pay for road tax if it went over £40k. I've been assured that because I ordered before the price rises (and don't amend my order) it won't change it. I'm skeptical of this but have it in writing from them so I have something to fall back on.

Well, she's wrong for a start....the VED for your car will be calculated based on the list price of the car at the time of registration, not at the time of order. The price you are paying for the car may be price protected, but the VED is another matter, and not one that she can change the rules for.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/534511/ved-reform-briefing-for-motor-industry.pdf

Yep. Exactly what I thought and what worried me. I have it in writing that I won’t pay extra so let’s see where they stand with this when the time comes.