Volkswagen Oz Screwing Oz Buyers

[elisiX]

I don't see how they're actually screwing AUS customers.

There is some argument about the differences (or lack of) between NZ and AUS markets but I believe I read in another thread recently that NZ don't have the same strict import regulations that we do.

I obviously don't know for sure but perhaps this might have something to do with it?

[G-rig]

Bi-xenons would still b a reasonable option to expect, fair enough about the other fancy stuff like ACC and park assist.

[mikinoz]

Should I complain that they are 'screwing' us because I cannot purchase a Phaeton as well? Or a Lupo? Or any other number of other models.

The situation you may find is more complicated than you first realise. The compliance issues mentioned above may cause part of this. The other I may suggest is that as it is not an option NOW, it may appear as an option in the new MY11 model release. VWA determine what the market will buy and how much they will pay and fit cars to match that. It is a risk on their part not offering this option for their own reasons, but, I'd say that they would not be upsetting too many by not having it on the list.

[Sales @ Mentone Skoda]

Nice argument but loses some logic when bi xenons are available across the range in New Zealand. Only the landmass argument holds up then.

Yeah, also doesn't ring true as i am in and out of Singapore twice a year and if you check out there website they have Sharon, Touran, Phaeton and a few more options we can't get. I remember in 2005 (when i worked for VW) asking why we do not put the 1.6FSi engine in our cars. A lot of people were put off by the lack of power and the almost asthmatic response we got when test driving.

The response was "our market is too small', something that made sense and something i didn't question until i was again in Singapore. I was at a carpark and a man parked next to me in a 1.6FSi Golf, i asked him whether he had imported the car and he replied 'no, why would i? I just ordered from my dealer'. Apparently even then they had more engine and option choices e.g foglights on comfrtline when we did not.

To put that into context they are a population of around 4-5 million and 80% don't drive as public transport is phenominally good and vehicles cost around 4-5 times the amount they do here.

I'm not saying we are being screwed, far from it but i am also very curious as to why we are restricted in getting some of the gadgets that should in this day an age almost be standard or at the very least an option.

[Maverick]

Yeah, also doesn't ring true as i am in and out of Singapore twice a year and if you check out there website they have Sharon, Touran, Phaeton and a few more options we can't get. I remember in 2005 (when i worked for VW) asking why we do not put the 1.6FSi engine in our cars. A lot of people were put off by the lack of power and the almost asthmatic response we got when test driving.

The response was "our market is too small', something that made sense and something i didn't question until i was again in Singapore. I was at a carpark and a man parked next to me in a 1.6FSi Golf, i asked him whether he had imported the car and he replied 'no, why would i? I just ordered from my dealer'. Apparently even then they had more engine and option choices e.g foglights on comfrtline when we did not.

To put that into context they are a population of around 4-5 million and 80% don't drive as public transport is phenominally good and vehicles cost around 4-5 times the amount they do here.

Volkswagen in Singapore until Feb 2007 were imported by a private company, the same as occurs in NZ today.

How many Golf models do they have in Singapore? A total of 4.

Golf 1.4 TSI (DSG ONLY!)
Golf Sport 1.4 TSI (DSG ONLY!)
Golf GTI 2.0 TSI 3 Door (DSG ONLY!) - standard bi-xenon, leather, pdc and 18"
Golf GTI 2.0 TSI 5 Door (DSG ONLY!) - standard bi-xenon, leather, pdc and 18"

All the vehicles listed are DSG or Auto, there are no manuals listed.

Plus no options listed, most of the cars already have a number of options listed.

So Singapore has limited range of models, all DSG or Auto, only mid spec available and with virtually no options except to have them dealer fitted later.

Sounds great!

I'm not saying we are being screwed, far from it but i am also very curious as to why we are restricted in getting some of the gadgets that should in this day an age almost be standard or at the very least an option.

And what percentage of Golf buyers (excluding GTI) would purchase Bi-Xenons and be prepared to wait 3-4 months? 1%? Maybe 2%? Hardly worth offering if no-one takes up the option plus it doubles variations of the model.

As I said earlier look at the limited range of cars available in NZ including the lack of manuals and half the cars are order only. If the dealers keep little to no stock of the cars they can afford to offer all the options but it's a different story when you have dealers holding stock of cars and trying to keep popular selling variants.

I'm sure that Volkswagen will offer the bi-xenons at some point but take a look at the market and how many competitors to the Golf have bi-xenons? Australia is a different market to other countries and can't be compared to them especially with the selective quoting going on in this thread, ie the comparison of a factory fitted bluetooth unit with the same unit that is dealer fitted but neglecting to point out that the RNS 510 is nearly double the price of locally.

[elisiX]

And what percentage of Golf buyers (excluding GTI) would purchase Bi-Xenons and be prepared to wait 3-4 months? 1%? Maybe 2%? Hardly worth offering if no-one takes up the option plus it doubles variations of the model.

This I think is essentially what it all comes down to.

Its one thing for me to wait for a GTI... but the mum's and dad's out there or young couples who choose a more entry level model would not be inclined to wait I don't think.

[G-rig]

This I think is essentially what it all comes down to.

Its one thing for me to wait for a GTI... but the mum's and dad's out there or young couples who choose a more entry level model would not be inclined to wait I don't think.

I agree, not worth the wait just to add bi-xenons, but if you can afford them then VW probably figure you can afford a GTI.

[pologti18t]

I just checked the UK VW site and couldn't find bi-xenons as an option on the Non-GTI/GTD Golf. For the most part the options on the UK match what we get here.

[Sales @ Mentone Skoda]

Volkswagen in Singapore until Feb 2007 were imported by a private company, the same as occurs in NZ today.

How many Golf models do they have in Singapore? A total of 4.

Golf 1.4 TSI (DSG ONLY!)
Golf Sport 1.4 TSI (DSG ONLY!)
Golf GTI 2.0 TSI 3 Door (DSG ONLY!) - standard bi-xenon, leather, pdc and 18"
Golf GTI 2.0 TSI 5 Door (DSG ONLY!) - standard bi-xenon, leather, pdc and 18"

All the vehicles listed are DSG or Auto, there are no manuals listed.

Plus no options listed, most of the cars already have a number of options listed.

So Singapore has limited range of models, all DSG or Auto, only mid spec available and with virtually no options except to have them dealer fitted later.

Sounds great!



And what percentage of Golf buyers (excluding GTI) would purchase Bi-Xenons and be prepared to wait 3-4 months? 1%? Maybe 2%? Hardly worth offering if no-one takes up the option plus it doubles variations of the model.

As I said earlier look at the limited range of cars available in NZ including the lack of manuals and half the cars are order only. If the dealers keep little to no stock of the cars they can afford to offer all the options but it's a different story when you have dealers holding stock of cars and trying to keep popular selling variants.

I'm sure that Volkswagen will offer the bi-xenons at some point but take a look at the market and how many competitors to the Golf have bi-xenons? Australia is a different market to other countries and can't be compared to them especially with the selective quoting going on in this thread, ie the comparison of a factory fitted bluetooth unit with the same unit that is dealer fitted but neglecting to point out that the RNS 510 is nearly double the price of locally.

I am not disputing what your are saying Maverick or argueing with your logic, the Singapore scenario has obviously changed since i looked indepth at it in 2006, i was unaware that it was a private distributor before this so it may explain why this was the case.

Maybe it highlights a global rationing approach to VW worldwide and an attempt to reign in production costs by feeling out smaller markets with restricted options. I'm clutching at straws but i think it highlights what i meant in my original post, why is it a a distributor they were allowed to offer all the options that are available to those in Europe and yet when in the hands of VGS they reduce the model line up and its options to a bare minimum?

[Maverick]

I am not disputing what your are saying Maverick or argueing with your logic, the Singapore scenario has obviously changed since i looked indepth at it in 2006, i was unaware that it was a private distributor before this so it may explain why this was the case.

Maybe it highlights a global rationing approach to VW worldwide and an attempt to reign in production costs by feeling out smaller markets with restricted options. I'm clutching at straws but i think it highlights what i meant in my original post, why is it a a distributor they were allowed to offer all the options that are available to those in Europe and yet when in the hands of VGS they reduce the model line up and its options to a bare minimum?

I don't think it has anything to do with production costs but rather the cost of having so many options available on cars that are stocked by the dealer. Why offer something like bi-xenon when the uptake on low end cars is so low and probably <1%? The bi-xenons are different to the GTI ones which will have the black inners so it would be another part to stock as well.

In the case of NZ they don't really stock any cars so they do orders for most models plus they have less bureaucracy.

As for Singapore limited market plus high cost of cars means they spec them up a bit but limit the number to options so they can keep a limited number of cars in stock that meet most buyers requirements.

In Australia we have lot of models and options to choose from, not as many as Germany but we do also sell less cars than Texas and VW would look at the options to see if it's worthwhile introducing them and if only a tiny percentage would take the bi-xenons it wouldn't be worth offering it as an option (people will buy the car anyway), none of the competitors offer bi-xenons and the vast majority of people wouldn't know what bi-xenons were anyway.

Going back to your example Singapore and NZ both offer limited models and no manual options. We have far more options than those countries and more choice when you add it up and to add more in Australia would make it very difficult to find a car in stock that meets a buyers requirements.

BTW I'd love the side air bag (rear seat) option but nothing I can do about it!

[G-rig]

It is rooted that NZ get the Golf R before us (and a more powerful version at that) and also if they get the Scirocco and we don't.

[STV4SYT]

It is rooted that NZ get the Golf R before us (and a more powerful version at that) and also if they get the Scirocco and we don't.

They have no car industry of their own, therefore no import restrictions like us.

On the downside, look at how many of the dodgy Japanese imports have made there way over there because of the same reasons.

Manufacturers have to jump thru hoops to get models in here, and even then are restricted by the number of different models they can bring in.

[pologti18t]

They have no car industry of their own, therefore no import restrictions like us.

On the downside, look at how many of the dodgy Japanese imports have made there way over there because of the same reasons.

Manufacturers have to jump thru hoops to get models in here, and even then are restricted by the number of different models they can bring in.

There are no "import restrictions" for the Australian market. And I find it hard to believe they need to "jump through hoops" to get a car into this market. Otherwise what would be the attraction for low cost car manufacturers trying to sell cars here?

People will carry on about ADRs but in fact Australia has been "harmonised" with EU regs for quite awhile.

[G-rig]

They have no car industry of their own, therefore no import restrictions like us.

On the downside, look at how many of the dodgy Japanese imports have made there way over there because of the same reasons.

Manufacturers have to jump thru hoops to get models in here, and even then are restricted by the number of different models they can bring in.

So what, it's a brand new VW just as good quality as any other VW we get, not an old Silvia we're talking about.

[Maverick]

There are no "import restrictions" for the Australian market. And I find it hard to believe they need to "jump through hoops" to get a car into this market. Otherwise what would be the attraction for low cost car manufacturers trying to sell cars here?

People will carry on about ADRs but in fact Australia has been "harmonised" with EU regs for quite awhile.

Explain why Australia doesn't allow the use of isofix mounts for baby/child seats than?

We may follow some of the EU rules but we still have plenty of specific ones that delay new car launches into this country.

We also don't allow isofix mounts on the front passenger seat, nor do we allow the front airbag on the passenger side to be disabled. We have no requirements for cars to carry a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, vest or safety hammer although to be honest it's probably a good thing as the average driver wouldn't know what to do with them.

Seatbelts also have specific requirements and the list goes on and on which is part of the reason for the delays with new models, NZ get them much sooner because they don't have all those requirements and accept that the EU ones are sufficient.

So there are plenty of hurdles to bring cars into this country, take a look at the number of manufacturers who don't bring in cars because it's not worth the expense for low volume or low profit cars.