Hey
I take it that was a typo, and you actually meant to add "Edition 30". And whilst I agree with your stance on the extra power, I disagree with the "limited" point.
Yes. Slight typo. I was referring to the Edition 30. Not the GTi. Can I ask why it is you disagree with me saying that most owners dont care that the Edition 30 is limited? You said it yourself later in your post. You agreed that some people didnt even know it was a limited run and then contradicted yourself by saying that people bought it for that reason.
For point 2, I disagree. The GTI, in whatever guise, is an "enthusiasts car" - and even more so in the Ed30. Therefore, I would strongly suspect that the vast majority of original owners of the Ed30 will have done some "research" before purchasing. Weather they are actually "registered members" of forums such of this can miss the point, as many peeps will simply Google "GTI Edition 30", and read whatever results they find. There will be a mix of sites, such as Vortex, all the various "blog" sites, and then the forums. For the forums, they will probably just read the relevant thread as a "guest", and then move onto the next result from the search. So basically, there will be a huge awareness that the car was sold as a limited run of just 1500 units.
I agree. There are people that bought the GTi because it was limited. But can I highlight something that is closer to heart. In this forum whenever a car is brought up it is always the power etc that is focused on and then the looks. To say that the Gti is "enthusiasts car" does not apply to the majority of people that own GTi's and Edition 30's. Most people bought it because it (As has been said on numerous occasions on this forum) is an all rounder. Not because it is thirty years old and full of heritage. Much like the open fog grill debate it is mearely your personal opinion. My mother owns a GTi and is not an enthusiast at all. Whereas I am and I have ordered a Smart Car. Thats living proof of what I am saying.
Which is exactly what SteveP is doing, by going to VWUK. Ever heard of the old saying - "you must learn to walk before you can run"? One really needs to let VWUK have a proper bite at the cherry, before moving on up the chain. To side-step VWUK will probably just get their backs up.
Throughout your post you have expressed concern about upsetting VW. That is understandable.
Please explain though why we have democratic elections where masses of people make decisions that result in which president runs their country?
Why do we hold polls to find about issues in society or simply which rims to choose?
We do this because irrespective of the situation mass power always wins. The Russian Revolution, French Revolution and even Apartheid in South Africa. Mass action played a huge role in these historical events. Perhaps a placque from VW is not as important as important as over a thousand black students dying in Soweto in 1974 but the concept is the same.
If you want action you have to head for the jungular. If storming VW with negetive press is needed then so be it.
Everyone seems to be saying that we must give VW time. Rubbish.
The Edition 30 was released in 2006. It is now two years later. People have been upset about the overun for at least a year and a half already and have been complaining.
Why should you give VW more time? They have had more than enough. If a few placques had been issued as promised and we knew more were coming then fairplay. Deal with VWUK and play nicely. But after being lied to about 1500 cars only and then promised placques that have yet to arrive with some dealers never having heard of them.... Why should it be taken gently? If the GTi is such an enthusiast car then VW should value these loyal customers.
I agree wholeheartedly about trying to maximise numbers, but the "blanket aproach" you suggest wont really be the ideal way. Would VWUK really take any notice of "MaxPower" mag? Or would they take any notice of dare I say, SCN? Whilst SCN is a valuble resource, they, by the nature of their forum title, concentrate on Seats. Yes, their members may also have Ed30s, but VWUK will quite rightly say that a Seat website is totally irrelevant to a Volkswagen issue.
Perhaps my thoughts have not been too clear on why this is a good idea. The reason i suggested this is not to make VW look in a Macpower mag and say. "Oh my the secret is out". Much like you said about people just typing in "Edition 30" and clicking search and moving on to the next website after that, well word of mouth is just as useful. If it out there and people (Especially those owners that dont know the car is a limited run and that placques have been promised) read about it they will also start emailing VW. Its easy to ignore 40 users off a car forum. But 1400 or customers is not something they can just slip under the carpet. Renault got into huge trouble for it and so should VW. By alerting the media it not only informs others but can also get more people onto your side. Which inevitably means you might stand a chance of getting those placques before the next ice age.
It depends on what you mean by "focus". For individuals, then their contract of sale will be with their supplying stealer, but for the kind of "group action" which SteveP is persuing, then the dealers are sort of now out of the loop. However, I reckon it would be a good idea to simply mass mail all the stealers, but simply just highlighting the issues, and actually ask them to refer any such owners to contact SteveP directly, or go straight to VWUK. Afterall, the stealer didn't actually build the cars.
This true. I wholeheartedly agree. I figured that three or four dealers questioning VWUK would not have made as much impact as say every dealer questioning (Which would also make VW realise that this is serious).
Bad move. Very bad move. Especially the Vortex comment. Put anything remotely derrogatory on a yank site, and with their very narrow minds they will simply bad mouth VW. That will REALLY get the backs up at VW.
The TopGear TV show may produce results, but it would be a very high-risk strategy. TopGear seriously divide opinions - whlist some worship the show, others would see it banished into the deepest anals of hell forever. Sure, JC is a GTI "fan", but I strongly doubt you could get a serious "consumer" piece from them, with the restrained but finely targeted aproach which these issues need.
Much like the Yingyang with good comes bad. Yes Topgear commenting on the Edition 30 might anger VW. But then again. Is it not TopGear that sold the MK5 GTi to you in the first place? If they hadnt raved about it most people would not have bought it. I agree they are not the only form of media that tests cars but my mom and even Redrobin (If I remember correctly) said that if Jermemy Clarkson or Topgear says its good. Then it must be. This applies to certain people. For one Im certain that you (As in you TT) didnt buy the car cos Clarkson said it was good. You bought it because of your affiliation with the VAG brand and your technical background etc. But for 90% percent of the people out there they bought it because of Topgear and the reviews. This proves that it works. So why not use it?
Who do you have in mind?
I have friends at jaguar and Lamborghini etc and although this sounds irrelevent they are very close to VW SA and I can have contact with the Director of VW South Africa through them by simply asking them to pop him an email about the concerns. Although this is South Africa Im certain VWUK would be concerned if even someone from South Africa was worried which might get them moving because as I have said many times. Bad Media, bad perceptions will kill a brand.
With regards to VWVortex I agree. It probably is not best to involve them. But it is yet another medium through which you could get those placques. I mean no disrespect to SteveP but I dont see you getting those placques by being nice.
I may not have an Edition 30 or my very own GTi. But if I ordered a Smart Car with a sunroof and it came with a plastic bag on the roof then I would not be satisfied. You bought a car called the Edition 30. Irrespective of wether you knew it was limited run or not you have not received what you paid a premium towards.
Please be aware that everything written here is in good will. If I caused offence I opologise in advance.
Mike
