Insurance

[Arnold]

Is there any evidence that insurers offer lower insurance premiums on cars equipped with the DAP?

For $1300, DAP seems to add a veritable trove of driver aids, notwithstanding the inclusion of the largely unnecessary Park Assist 2, and lower insurance premiums for DAP-equipped vehicles would seem to be in order.

Whatever the case, the $1300 DAP seems to be as much of a no-brainer for the Mark 7 Golf as the $500 reversing camera was for the Mark VI GTI/R.

[readerr0r]

Is there any evidence that insurers offer lower insurance premiums on cars equipped with the DAP?

For $1300, DAP seems to add a veritable trove of driver aids, notwithstanding the inclusion of the largely unnecessary Park Assist 2, and lower insurance premiums for DAP-equipped vehicles would seem to be in order.

Whatever the case, the $1300 DAP seems to be as much of a no-brainer for the Mark 7 Golf as the $500 reversing camera was for the Mark VI GTI/R.

I think NRMA are the only insurance company in aus to actively recognise City Stop Braking, and that only if it's standard on the car. All the other insurance brands are taking the angle of "well it'll lower the accidents happening, and that'll show in our calculations sooner or later".

See here NRMA offers cheaper insurance for cars with AEB as standard | CarAdvice

[Dutch77]

It was covered off in the insurance thread - they can't be bothered as it is to hard to deal with it unless fitted as standard.

Definitely not a no-brainer for me, happy to have pocketed $1,300 for stuff I won't use. Again each to their own.

As for having it standard and getting a worthwhile insurance saving - the insurance company would need to be paying me to warrant outlaying that sort of cash for the technology.

[Arnold]

Unless you never use cruise control or drive in 50 km/h zones, how can you not use Adaptive Cruise Control or Collision avoidance technology?

What's $1300 for such useful technology on a $40k car that drops $4000 the second you drive it out of the showroom?

[Dutch77]

I don't use cruise correct, but that's just me. I'm sure the tech is good for others, and that's fine - "each to their own". I prefer to control things directly and would not use it so it was a no-brainer for me not to pay for it. As a benefit the front of my car looks clean and uncluttered.

Better it drops $4k out the door than $5.3k.

[Arnold]

Yeah, but, as I said to the VW saleswoman yesterday, car purchases are growing more and more like computer purchases and as a result I always buy new to gain the latest technology and future-proof my purchase as much as possible.

For example, when I bought my Macbook Air in 2010, 2Gb RAM was standard, but I paid an extra $100 or $150 or something (after a short while you never remember the extra cost that might stop you at purchase time, just the benefits, including peace of mind, they bring) for an extra 2Gb of RAM to "future proof"my Macbook. Soon after, all Macbooks boasted 4Gb RAM and I was comforted to reflect that my $1500 Macbook, bought a year earlier, remained on a par in this regard, for a mere 10% extra.

As time goes by, more and more factory options become standard equipment, eg the RVC on the Mark VI GTI / R was a no-brainer. Some of the people who said they did not need one or would not use and would prefer to pocket the $500 later discovered retrofitting was a $1500 exercise. All will be at some degree of disadvantage in the used car market when they sell as more consumers expect such technology in later model cars.

Similarly, Driver Assist will be standard on Mark 8 Golfs but for $1300, such a useful factory option, that cannot be retrofitted, makes a wise investment in my opinion.

As far as cost goes, paying less than 3% extra on a GTI to add potentially life-saving technology (not necessarily your life) is, for the reasons outlined above (including that you would never feel or recall the extra cost after a few months let alone years), to me, a no-brainer.

But each to his own.

[Dutch77]

I fall into the 'options are worthless on resale' camp, so do not spend on items I do not need. The only option I wanted this time around was DSG so I ticked the box, everything else held zero value to me. To others if they can justify the spend then good luck, there is no doubt an optioned GTI is a great car but for me it's pushed into R territory and I'd be inclined to jump into that instead.

The Apple example is different - if I knew I was buying a laptop to last a few years, and expected I'd need the extra power to run software in a year's time then sure, have it fitted. But a pointless option to me today, is pointless to me next year as well.

Not sure investing into something that depreciates to nil value falls into the wise category.

[Arnold]

All options, including DSG, are ultimately worthless but some use "magic technology" that make them worthwhile in a smile-inducing way.

Plus DAP is half the cost of DSG, and less than 3% of total cost of car (all of which depreciates to close to scrap value) and unlike the DSG, DAP does not rob you of pleasure or engagement!


(Interesting review of 6MT vs DSG Mark 7 GTI by-and-large favours the 6MT, save for benefits of DSG in traffic for lazier drivers: Volkswagen Golf GTI gearbox comparison : Manual v DSG | CarAdvice.)

A manual GTI with DAP for $43000 or an auto without DAP for $44200? Now that's a no-brainer!

[Moonee]

A manual GTI with DAP for $43000 or an auto without DAP for $44200? Now that's a no-brainer!

Indeed.

I agree with comments that with all you get with DAP making it a bargain option, especially since it cannot be retrofitted.

[AdamD]

Unless you never use cruise control or drive in 50 km/h zones, how can you not use Adaptive Cruise Control or Collision avoidance technology?

What's $1300 for such useful technology on a $40k car that drops $4000 the second you drive it out of the showroom?

I have to agree with Dutch77 on this one. I've ordered a new S3 and have not gone with the Assistance pack (essentially the same as the DAP, but with the addition of blind spot warning and lane guidance systems). I for one dislike the radar cruise control and far prefer the standard system where I manage the distance to the vehicle in front (and there is no ambiguity as to who's going to do the braking). I've used the system plenty in my father's Passat CC, and fully appreciate that some people love it. I'm not one of them.

I also spec my cars to suit me, and me alone. Buying a new car (short of a La Ferrari) is not a sensible financial decision and I'm not about to kid myself that any option I tick is going to be in any way financially prudent. I'm not going to spend money on options I don't want, in the hope that they'll be more desirable or valuable come resale time. Extra options will make a car more attractive to a wider range of second-hand buyers, but they're unlikely to make much of a difference to the ultimate sale price. So if you're prepared to take care of your car and take time selling it privately to the right buyer, then you're unlikely to suffer from omitting certain options. And just remember, if an option is of no value to you, it's highly likely it will be of no value to at least some future buyers as well - regardless of whether that option has become commonplace on new vehicles or not.