Highly optioned vehicles

[kogvos]

Hi All,

I'm a new member of the forum. I'm looking at a VW van for my business. I didn't think it would be so complicated!

Having looked at Vito's, Renault, Citroen, Fiat and Hyundai, I think I've settled on a SWB Transporter Crewcab with 4Motion. One I've been offered is in stock at VW and has a heap of options (locking diff, comfort seats, second battery, alloy wheels, full airbag package, fog lights and a couple of other things I can't quite remember). I've also looked at a Caddy Life that had about $8k worth of options!

I'm just a bit puzzled as to why a lot of the cars in stock seem to have so many options. I'm going to delete the alloys since it's a work hack but add a towbar and paring sensors.

I've been told the 'tow pack' is $1800 because it includes all the wiring. I would have thought by now there would be a plug in the rear loom and the tow pack would add a half metre piece of cable to connect to that plug. Can anybody comment on that price please?

Also having done a lot of research it seems that other markets get the locking diff as standard but we have to pay $1100 for it.

Regards,

Jamie

[phaeton]

Welcome Jamie

I think the demos maybe highly optioned because they sell better; also if one were to order one with all these features it may take months to build whereas the demo is already here.

[gregozedobe]

An alternative (and more cynical) view is that all the extra options add extra profit for VW and the dealer, and if you are impatient you might pay more to get a vehicle now rather than wait for a cheaper vehicle with less options

Towbars are very expensive for T5s. The rationalisation I've been told is that they need an extra ECU to allow the trailer lights to integrate with the T5s CAN-BUS system (old style wiring attempts cause faults). If they had been designed properly they would have the interface built in, not need ultra expensive bits added

Sorry for the grouch, I wanted to put a tow bar on mine but am too much a tight-@rse to pay the exorbitant costs wanted by either VW or Hayman-Reese.

[gerhard]

Hi All,

I'm a new member of the forum. I'm looking at a VW van for my business. I didn't think it would be so complicated!

Having looked at Vito's, Renault, Citroen, Fiat and Hyundai, I think I've settled on a SWB Transporter Crewcab with 4Motion. One I've been offered is in stock at VW and has a heap of options (locking diff, comfort seats, second battery, alloy wheels, full airbag package, fog lights and a couple of other things I can't quite remember). I've also looked at a Caddy Life that had about $8k worth of options!

I'm just a bit puzzled as to why a lot of the cars in stock seem to have so many options. I'm going to delete the alloys since it's a work hack but add a towbar and paring sensors.

I've been told the 'tow pack' is $1800 because it includes all the wiring. I would have thought by now there would be a plug in the rear loom and the tow pack would add a half metre piece of cable to connect to that plug. Can anybody comment on that price please?

Also having done a lot of research it seems that other markets get the locking diff as standard but we have to pay $1100 for it.

Regards,

Jamie

Car price in AU = Car price ex factory + freight+10% tariff+currency hedge+freight in AU+VWA profit+LCT + +

To enable a RRP of, say, $49999, the diff lock has to be deleted from the factory invoice, but if you really need one, you'll happily pay the $1100 - that's marketing at play.

All of the importers do it, as do the local builders.

[vanDub]

I'm going to delete the alloys since it's a work hack but add a towbar and paring sensors.

Kogvos, before you go for a genuine towbar investigate the ball download limit on it carefully.

If my Passat experience is any guide, you may find that a placarded low ball download severely limits what you can tow given that Aussie towable products tend to use the 10% rule (that is ball download = 10% of max towed weight).

In my case the claimed 1500Kg max tow weight is only 850Kg in real life as the ball download maximum is 85Kg.

[WEDEL.1]

I paid $1400 for the towbar on the Golf....same thing, all to do with the wiring loom.

Maris

[phaeton]

An alternative (and more cynical) view is that all the extra options add extra profit for VW and the dealer, and if you are impatient you might pay more to get a vehicle now rather than wait for a cheaper vehicle with less options

That makes more sense than what I said

[4wheels]

Hi Jamie,

Welcome to the fold.

The diff-lock is a very worth while option if you plan to do any off-roading at all. (holidays etc?) You'll find such a van surprisingly effectice, only limited by its ground clearance. They don't have the suspension travel of a Landcruiser, but will cheerfully wave their wheels in the air, and keep going. Even 2 at once with a diff lock. A bit more underbody protection would be good if you get serious. $1100 is a good price. As I recall mine was nearly $1300 (May 07), through Trakka. The tow pack, on the other hand, was only about $1000. Its a Hayman Reece, as I don't think VW bring the European towbars to Aus.

Brian
2007 Trakkadu 4Motion.

[Tornado T5]

My T5 was heavily optioned and 16 week wait....I ordered a HR towbar modified by a local installer with a rear step added. This was after the dealer intially said their supplied tow bar would interfer with the factory reverse sensors, they were referring to physical blocking of the sensor units...and then they went and fitted the same aftermarket unit and charged me $500 more then I had been quoted by the aftermarket company. They claimed this was necessry for the "special wiring" to deactivate the sensors when a trailer is attached. Only problem is I needed the round pin socket and the rectangular one has the required internal switch to send a signal when a trailer is attached, or so I was lead to believe after my 30K service. My order was organised so that the dealer would be paid for all dealer and aftermarket work. I raised the issue of paying $500 more and not getting the feature as described and they fitted a small switch under the dash which turns off the sensors manually....

[MultiplexMan]

My T5 was heavily optioned and 16 week wait....I ordered a HR towbar modified by a local installer with a rear step added. This was after the dealer intially said their supplied tow bar would interfer with the factory reverse sensors, they were referring to physical blocking of the sensor units...and then they went and fitted the same aftermarket unit and charged me $500 more then I had been quoted by the aftermarket company. They claimed this was necessry for the "special wiring" to deactivate the sensors when a trailer is attached. Only problem is I needed the round pin socket and the rectangular one has the required internal switch to send a signal when a trailer is attached, or so I was lead to believe after my 30K service. My order was organised so that the dealer would be paid for all dealer and aftermarket work. I raised the issue of paying $500 more and not getting the feature as described and they fitted a small switch under the dash which turns off the sensors manually....

I would send in a comprehensive written complaint to VWA. You should be refunded for the difference and your wiring loom correctly installed.

Rear sensors deactivation should be by engagment of the rear hitch. If this does not happen with your current install and requires an external switch, I would hazard that a non VAG harness has been used or has been incorrectly installed.

I would be more than little p@ssed