Reflashed demo GTi anyone

[Calais]

I believe there are limits to what a dealer will do to car that in standard form has apsolutely no trouble selling itself (mk6 waiting lists anyone?).

Like has been posted before, I'd find it hard to understand why a dealer would flash a car, and invest in something that unless disclosed, wouldn't return a cent to the business.

I'm happy to be proven wrong though, maybe one of the dealers who post on here could clarify if it might be an emerging industry practice? (albeit an unethical one).

[gareth_oau]

sounds very misleading to me. i'm sure consumer affairs would be interested to hear about it

[gareth_oau]

in fact, if its true, then buy a standard one, and then get the dealer to reflash fro free or you will dob him in!!

[Calais]

sounds very misleading to me. i'm sure consumer affairs would be interested to hear about it

I was thinking along these lines too. I'd be pissed if I was sold a car that had been modified without my knowledge, and in being modified, would void my warranty without even knowing it.

[NickZ]

Go to another dealer and take one for a test drive, that will probably best answer your question. If a dodgy tactic is being used, it would not be common enough that you would get it twice I hope.

A flashed polo gti should be quicker than a stock golf gti, so you should have noticed it being a little slower, especially as the polo feels faster than it is.

[gareth_oau]

I was thinking along these lines too. I'd be pissed if I was sold a car that had been modified without my knowledge, and in being modified, would void my warranty without even knowing it.

I suspect I misread the original story, I was thinking more along the lines that the dealer flashed the demo, to make you believe they were all that quick, then sold you a brand new standard one.

I'd be more than happy for the dealer to flash for me, as i'd normally pay extra to do it anyway.

furthermore, if the dealer does it, and doesnt tell you, then you havent voided your warranty. even if VW chose not to honour the warranty, the dealer would have to

[Calais]

I suspect I misread the original story, I was thinking more along the lines that the dealer flashed the demo, to make you believe they were all that quick, then sold you a brand new standard one.

I'd be more than happy for the dealer to flash for me, as i'd normally pay extra to do it anyway.

furthermore, if the dealer does it, and doesnt tell you, then you havent voided your warranty. even if VW chose not to honour the warranty, the dealer would have to

A sh%tfight I'd rather not enter into.

[Maverick]

a) Easy.. a Sale.

And how do they make a sale?

I was responding to the BS claim that dealers sell flashed cars to customers without telling them. Seeing as the customer has already purchased the car how exactly does this make a sale for them?? What does the dealer get for their $1000-2000 additional cost other than warranty issues and possible loss of Volkswagen dealership?

Makes absolutely ZERO sense.

What would make sense would be to flash a demo GTI but even than it's not going to translate into sales and I doubt if many dealers would even bother as they have too much to lose. If a buyer is only interested in speed he's going to go Japanese, if he wants more refinement etc he's going to go European.

b) Just because you've never heard of such things, doesnt mean dealers dont do it, dealers will do ANYTHING to get the sale.

I haven't heard that Volkswagen dealers eat babies but clearly according to you they will. Of course just like flashing cars after a customer has purchased them eating babies makes absolutely no sense either.

But feel free to believe that dealers flash cars out of the goodness of their hearts

[anthony_VWJET]

Mav, Im not going to argue with you, so I'll leave this short to save VWWs the pain of reading a post that has obscure facts/arguments by individuals who think they know it all - I for one dont, but am a believer that various dealers, including VW, will explore ways to attract different markets, and if that means reflashing the ecu's to target a market thats looking for power, they will.

If a buyer is only interested in speed he's going to go Japanese, if he wants more refinement etc he's going to go European.

S3, S4, RS4/5/6, R8, AMG, M series, Astins, Massas... Should I continue? Sorry excuse my understanding of things.. but is that speed or refinement or is it both?

I haven't heard that Volkswagen dealers eat babies but clearly according to you they will. Of course just like flashing cars after a customer has purchased them eating babies makes absolutely no sense either.

But feel free to believe that dealers flash cars out of the goodness of their hearts

Its a farked up world as it is, I wouldnt be surprised if we did find out some dealers were eating babies.

Im out.

[Maverick]

Mav, Im not going to argue with you, so I'll leave this short to save VWWs the pain of reading a post that has obscure facts/arguments by individuals who think they know it all - I for one dont, but am a believer that various dealers, including VW, will explore ways to attract different markets, and if that means reflashing the ecu's to target a market thats looking for power, they will.

So explain why a dealer would flash a car after it was purchased and not tell the purchaser? Why would the dealer spend $1000-2000 on something that could cost his dealership when it was exposed and how would this attract more sales?

I'm not posting facts but common sense would tell you that to this would make absolutely no sense at all and you can argue all you like that dealers do flash cars before delivery and don't tell the customer but it's ridiculous at best.

S3, S4, RS4/5/6, R8, AMG, M series, Astins, Massas... Should I continue? Sorry excuse my understanding of things.. but is that speed or refinement or is it both?

Why would someone looking at the GTI and with a budget to match be considering those cars? Look at the cars around the GTI pricepoint and you have the Impreza and the Lancer to name two. I certainly wasn't considering a R8 and the GTI at the time I purchased and somehow I doubt there would be many. The GTI sells for what it is, an all round great hatch. It doesn't sell based on it's power or it's handling or it's looks but a combination of these and many other areas.

You want raw speed get a Impreza or Lancer but they're totally different cars.