2011 VW Driver Training Course

[team_v]

Advanced driver training only requires an open licence from memory.

If you have L's or P's (or maybe if you are under 20) then you do the begginer one.

[Ranga]

Registered, thanks for the link.

[Sharkie]

Now up on VWA's website to book.

There is a cost this time, $250 for the advanced sessions.

http://volkswagenaustralia.com.au/Dr...ourse/Advanced

Brisbane sessions on 21 June 2011.

[team_v]

Now up on VWA's website to book.

There is a cost this time, $250 for the advanced sessions.

Driving Insights Course | Volkswagen Driving Experience | Volkswagen

Brisbane sessions on 21 June 2011.

F That!
No way I am paying to drive cars that aren't as enjoyable as my daily.

VW are losing out on this one from alot of people as it worked well for advertising when it was free but asking people to pay $250 to test drive a few cars for a few minutes is rediculous.

[mikinoz]

I posted this elsewhere, but will put it here as well.

Can someone explain to me why everyone expects that they are entitled to attend such an event at VW's expense? Did anyone that went to the free event last year send a thank you to the organisers for putting it on or a bottle of wine as a sign of appreciation?

Apart from it being free last year, why should VW actually put on a free event for you?

For good value for money, you might want to consider MRT Performance driver training days.

[team_v]

I posted this elsewhere, but will put it here as well.

Can someone explain to me why everyone expects that they are entitled to attend such an event at VW's expense? Did anyone that went to the free event last year send a thank you to the organisers for putting it on or a bottle of wine as a sign of appreciation?

Apart from it being free last year, why should VW actually put on a free event for you?

For good value for money, you might want to consider MRT Performance driver training days.

I sent them a thank you email last time and put the comment on stating that i would be happy to pay a small fee (under $100) if it was an event that was more engaging rather than the stand around for 70% of the time, drive 15% and be driven 15%.

I also spoke to the local VW dealer about the event and praised VW for putting it on.

I saw it more of an advertising event for VW to show off their tech and cars to prospective/current owners rather than the driver training as the only thing i learnt was where to position the driver seat.

Hence why i expected it to be free or a lot cheaper as it was good advertising for them.

[mikinoz]

Fair cop, I was not having a go at you personally, just the general view is VW should put these on for free all the time. I think your a minority for making the effort to show appreciation - it is a dying habit.

That said, I reckon as it was free heaps of people will have missed out so there is probably low chance of being selected twice.

Funny thing is I registered an interest but never received an email to notify me that the bookings had opened.

[Highlander]

I posted this elsewhere, but will put it here as well.

Can someone explain to me why everyone expects that they are entitled to attend such an event at VW's expense? Did anyone that went to the free event last year send a thank you to the organisers for putting it on or a bottle of wine as a sign of appreciation?

Apart from it being free last year, why should VW actually put on a free event for you?

For good value for money, you might want to consider MRT Performance driver training days.

I would have been very disappointed if I paid for last years event in Sydney. The skid pan event (with full ESP operational) just demonstrated that you could drive most current VWs through a slalom in the wet and no matter how much of a mug you were, the car would cover up your faults. Not one word of instruction from the "instructor" except "Go for it".

Then 10 or so laps in a GTD or a GTI on the Eastern Creek very short corporate circuit. Apexes all marked with cones and brake markers also there (and somewhat a little conservative). Again not a word from the accompanying instructor. Fun but I didn't learn anything and I know that my driving has lots of room for improvement.

Perhaps the most "instructive" part of the morning was the 4 up Eastern Creek laps in the R with the driver commenting on the lines he was taking, particularly in double apex corners.

To call the day an "Advanced Driving Day" was a very cheeky misnomer. I have to admit that it was a fun morning, nice sandwiches for lunch and a free grab bag of VW goodies.

It was a showcase for VWs latest offerings at the time and I think most people saw it as that. Or maybe it was just coincidental that the R was released on the Saturday before the Sydney event?

If you recall, participants last year were given an evaluation form to complete and the comments I made have been echoed in my comments here. They did ask if participants would be prepared to pay for an advanced driving course and my response was "Yes, if it includes genuine tuition/evaluation".

Before registering for this year I would ask a few questions as to what is being supplied to participants by way of instruction. My thoughts are, with a price attached, much more will be offered. $250 is cheap if something meaningful is offered and you get to drive more than about 5 kilometres for your money. Not sure what the current price is for the BMW Driver Training Day but last time I looked it was $995.

So I hope this explains to you why everyone expects that they are entitled to attend such an event at VW's expense. Key words being "such an event".

[Sharkie]

An event like last years really was a marketing event .... not worth $250 from me.

If I were to pay $250 I would expect better tuition and more time driving ..... not 4 hours of driving, but at least more than the 8-10 laps from last time. This is after all billed as advanced driving training, which last years event was not.

I have attended a few BMW advanced driving days and they were actually much instructional events with lots of driving. Cost a lot more but worth every cent.

If VW charged me $595 and gave me 40+ laps in a R or GTI I'd think its worth it, but not this. We'll have to see how quickly (or not) these book out.

They really should post a detailed itenary of the event so you can judge what will be in it.

EDIT:
Oh, and some driver trainers that are actually fans of VW cars .... last year had a few there that did not know 1 VW from another (the big ticket guy in particular .... you know who) and was not interested in mods to VW at all or what those mods can do .....