Passat Alltrack availability in Australia?

[booba]

Yes, I was just explaining what the charges would be from the list price to being drive away.. the few thousand that the stealer, transport dept and govt sting you with.

If its drive away that should be the price inclusive of everything or its not drive away price

[Marakai]

<rant>
Surely I can't be the only one who looks at the Alltrack brochure, page 18, image 06 and goes into a helpless rage?

What incompetent nincompoop within the mentally-stuck-in-the-last-century bureaucracy in charge of vehicle certifications thought that slicing open the rear of a car, thus creating a perfect rust magnet and an eye-sore you can see from space, to install a towbar instead of the perfect, modern and aesthetic solution provided by the manufacturer themselves, was a great idea?

Seriously?! Does the government pay for rust damage? Or value loss as a result? Or ugliness factor?!

I want to hit something... and seriously considering whether this abomination is worth installing at all. Think about it: this is likely the best looking of the crimes committed, as it made it's way into the VW Aus brochure. Meaning when it's your average field install it will be worse (see also yonder other thread on this forum from some time ago)
</rant>

On a milder tone: are there really no demo vehicles at dealers that have a few of the extras installed? I mean, you'd think being able to test ACC or see a car with sunroof would be a Good Idea, no? Never mind, getting a sale *now* instead of 6-8 months down the road!

Think I'll call my local one up today and see what's up.

[cru22z]

Trivett VW in Blacktown has a black all track on display

[Inego]

I'd been thinking towball mounted bike carrier, but seeing this seriously wonder whether just goign with roof carriers is the better option, also given the vertical/horizontal attachment issue.

And yes, I'm not going to go for expensive suspension options if I have no idea how effective they are....

[Marakai]

Spoke with Bayford Volkswagen and they do have a few with extras, namely sunroof and sports package. The sales guy couldn't explain the abomination that is towbars either. Something about different standards - but then I check the calendar and yep, it's still 2012 not 1970. They can mirror a whole car from LHD to RHD, but couldn't put a different size ball and plug on a towkit?!

Still, time to finally go for a test drive, methinks!

[VAG newbie]

Spoke with Bayford Volkswagen and they do have a few with extras, namely sunroof and sports package. The sales guy couldn't explain the abomination that is towbars either. Something about different standards - but then I check the calendar and yep, it's still 2012 not 1970. They can mirror a whole car from LHD to RHD, but couldn't put a different size ball and plug on a towkit?!

Still, time to finally go for a test drive, methinks!

I suspect it's got something to do with ADR. For those accessories that are available in Europe, even though they are proven to be safer and higher standard than ADR, simply because VW didn't provide ANCAP with a car fitted with these accessory for crash testing.

[Marakai]

I suspect it's got something to do with ADR. For those accessories that are available in Europe, even though they are proven to be safer and higher standard than ADR, simply because VW didn't provide ANCAP with a car fitted with these accessory for crash testing.

Having now lived and worked here for 8+ years, I'll sadly have to say it may also be because Australia has one of the worst "not invented here" and "we've always done it this way" cultures I've experienced.

[brad]

Having now lived and worked here for 8+ years, I'll sadly have to say it may also be because Australia has one of the worst "not invented here" and "we've always done it this way" cultures I've experienced.

Blessing & a curse. Can lead to fantastic innovation as well as mind numbing stagnation.
Keep in mind that it is often hard to get support from the other side of the world, so being on the bleeding edge isn't alays a good thing.

[Marakai]

Blessing & a curse. Can lead to fantastic innovation as well as mind numbing stagnation.
Keep in mind that it is often hard to get support from the other side of the world, so being on the bleeding edge isn't alays a good thing.

No doubt, and I'd like to emphasise that it's really government and regulatory inertia that I mostly rant about. Free enterprise does amazingly well with the limits of that straightjacket and the demon of remoteness!

[brad]

No doubt, and I'd like to emphasise that it's really government and regulatory inertia that I mostly rant about. Free enterprise does amazingly well with the limits of that straightjacket and the demon of remoteness!

How funny. I found the opposite. Private companies very conservative but government quite adventurous (opportunity for junkets & not spending their own money???). This includes one company that was very innovative as a government entity & has become very conservative since being sold off as a private company.