Volkswagen Oz Screwing Oz Buyers

[Altf4]

unfortunately i think that's the way it is. When purchasing a product, it's an exchange of money for goods. It's a 2 way negotiation, if you are unhappy with the goods then you can refuse to buy it. I'm not saying suck it up or don't complain.

But it's a matter of a large business based purely on profits vs small powerless consumers. Only thing you can do is organize a VW consumer organisation large enough to negotiate with VW, but that'll never happen.

btw did VW ever introduce the 5% import tax cut??

[Spec83]

btw did VW ever introduce the 5% import tax cut??

VW will likley just add a couple more standard features I am guessing, rather than cut the price by 5% and annoy a lot of people who bought MY09 models

[pologti18t]

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.

Browse this http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legi...04comp2V10.pdf

Seems to indicate that isofix child restraints can be used and that EU seatbelt compliance is adequate for a Oz delivered car.

[POLARBEAR666]

Small market should make no difference as the cars are all produced in massive volumes at the big golf factories world wide, South Africa for 5 doors, Germany 3 doors and 5 doors etc.

Why is it possible for VW to drive the GTI with factory leather to a ship bound for the UK and europe with leather as a ZERO cost standard feature, but they can only send that same leather car to Australia if VW OZ gouges $3000AUD out of the punter.

It is called "creaming" where you take the cream off the top to make profit. It is the same way that certain people sell products here for $1600 that are $600 everywhere else in the world. "Small market argument" = "Monopoly Profit taking" in real terms. You can't argue small market if the small market is just part of a global market that is huge with massive production runs.

I used to do the car distribution orders for Toyota Australia every month for almost 3 years so I know what I am talking about. The specs and features would be left out or requested by Toyota Australia. To be fair though sometimes they were requesting more spec but due to global supply limitations they were unable to get the good spec of a car. This is probably not the case with VW Australia as supply of leather was never an issue at toyota, the requests that got knocked back were for Engine and transmission combo's that were in short supply or stuff that required factory fitment like ESP or sunroofs.

[CatonaPC©]

I like my Golf. I got it delivered to me in three days. And what the hell are bi-xenons anyway?

[G-rig]

I don't see why EU standards aren't good enough for AUS. They are ahead in everything and have higher speed limit roads and test the cars for all conditions.

I would still consider Australia as a decent size (not small) market for Volkswagen popularity.

[pologti18t]

Why is it possible for VW to drive the GTI with factory leather to a ship bound for the UK and europe with leather as a ZERO cost standard feature, but they can only send that same leather car to Australia if VW OZ gouges $3000AUD out of the punter.

.

Have I misread you?? BUt if you look at any VW site leather is not standard on a Golf GTI. For instance its a 1800UKP option in the UK.
Mind you the brits pay extra for cruise control and the stereo we get standard here. Poor Brits, getting screwed over by VW

[Maverick]

Small market should make no difference as the cars are all produced in massive volumes at the big golf factories world wide, South Africa for 5 doors, Germany 3 doors and 5 doors etc.

The Golf isn't produced in South Africa, they're all produced in Germany and have been for the last 18 months.

Small market does make a difference as changes have to be made which means they get pushed back until the bigger markets are taken care of. Saying that the cars are produced in massive volumes and that small markets make no difference to the production makes absolutely no sense.

Why is it possible for VW to drive the GTI with factory leather to a ship bound for the UK and europe with leather as a ZERO cost standard feature, but they can only send that same leather car to Australia if VW OZ gouges $3000AUD out of the punter.

Once again you're comparing apples with oranges. The local importer makes the decision as to how the car is packaged and this is also a reflection of what the customer wants.

The UK and Europe (including Germany) has never had leather standard on the GTI yet you keep making this claim.

NZ and Singapore can only buy DSG cars. Are you going to make the outlandish claim that we're being ripped off on the DSG now because those countries get them standard? Or will you accept that the DSG cost is factored into the price of the car?

Singapore has only GTI's with leather and bi-xenons. Of course they're something like AUD$150,000 so do you think perhaps the market expects those features at that price?

It is called "creaming" where you take the cream off the top to make profit. It is the same way that certain people sell products here for $1600 that are $600 everywhere else in the world. "Small market argument" = "Monopoly Profit taking" in real terms.

It's called business and you're either unaware of how many taxes and duties that are imposed on businesses in Australia at all levels of government or choosing to ignore it. Look up economies of scale for a start because this is entirely relevant.

Australia is a minor market for many items, you can can make your unsubstantiated claims that we're being ripped off all you like if it makes you feel better but the facts are that Australia has a spread out population over a large area and we sell less Volkswagens than Texas each year.

I used to do the car distribution orders for Toyota Australia every month for almost 3 years so I know what I am talking about. The specs and features would be left out or requested by Toyota Australia. To be fair though sometimes they were requesting more spec but due to global supply limitations they were unable to get the good spec of a car. This is probably not the case with VW Australia as supply of leather was never an issue at toyota, the requests that got knocked back were for Engine and transmission combo's that were in short supply or stuff that required factory fitment like ESP or sunroofs.

Clearly you don't if you make outlandish claims like leather being standard and costing Volkswagen $0 over the cloth versions (seat heating and electric lumbar must also be zero as well) and claims about high volume production not being affected by changes. Why do you think New Zealand had the Golf GTI, Golf R and other models long before Australia? Because they take the European spec version.

You can't compare Toyota with it's very limited options and Volkswagen, they are completely different operators and have nothing in common.

[POLARBEAR666]

My golf was made in South Africa. Only 3 doors and R32's were "always" made in Wolfsburg. If they have changed it recently it does not make a difference to the concept that they have global factories producing for many countries and don't have the "small batch" excuse for down speccing.

Leather was standard with recaro's an option http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/p/186965/1221242.aspx
Mk6 golf has leather as an option now, which is what you are seeing on the website http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1780

[John Deere]

Browse this http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legi...04comp2V10.pdf

Seems to indicate that isofix child restraints can be used and that EU seatbelt compliance is adequate for a Oz delivered car.

If only Aussie retailers sold the seats!

[Kirium]

Should I complain that they are 'screwing' us because I cannot purchase a Phaeton as well?

How about a Scirocco Mick??

[Maverick]

Browse this http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legi...04comp2V10.pdf

Seems to indicate that isofix child restraints can be used and that EU seatbelt compliance is adequate for a Oz delivered car.

There are no ISOFIX approved child restraints in Australia, it's illegal to use ISOFIX child restraints in Australia and illegal to sell them (may even be illegal to import but I plan to bring them in from Europe as others have done). The Australian Standards in relation to child restraints will be reviewed in another 2 years and they may allow ISOFIX seats than if they do a major rewrite which they may not as they passed up the opportunity to add in ISOFIX on the last few times.

Despite the evidence being clear that ISOFIX would save the lives of children they don't see it as urgent or required (their words). This study from 2003 proves it (check out the photos) yet nothing has been done - http://www.rsconference.com/pdf/RS040079.pdf?check=1

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/news-and-reviews/car-news/volvo_urges_child_safety_seat_re_think

Volvo is pushing for a re-think on child safety seats in Australia.

The international standard for child seats, called Isofix and linked to a special location in the back seat of all vehicles, is not ratified for Australia it does not include a top-tether strap on seats.

But Volvo, which advocates rear-facing child seats up to the age of four, believes international safety regulations should apply in Australia.

"I don't think that Australia needs a separate set of safety regulations when they are very competent safety evaluation has been carried out in Europe or the US," Alan Desselss says.

"I think that Australia could quite comfortably accept what has been done in the US and Europe on things such as Isofix."

An acceptance of Isofix in Australia would also allow Volvo to sell its own child seat.

"I do believe it's a very, very good feature and it certainly has been tested extremely rigorously in both the US and Europe. And by our own engineers.

"If Volvo endorses it you can be sure it has been tested to the nth degree."

[POLARBEAR666]

Here is the proof that leather was standard on the UK spec car while we got the shaft.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/12586427/Golf-GTI-VW-Brochure

So that should provide some antacid for the wind coming from above.

[Maverick]

My golf was made in South Africa. Only 3 doors and R32's were "always" made in Wolfsburg. If they have changed it recently it does not make a difference to the concept that they have global factories producing for many countries and don't have the "small batch" excuse for down speccing.

Actually it does make a difference to your reliability of your information, you're telling everyone how it works yet your information is inaccurate and outdated.

The importer is responsible for the spec of the car, can't you understand that it's not a factory decision? The factory builds what has been ordered by the importer and it's the importers choice as to the spec of car that is ordered.

When changes to vehicles are required for countries like Australia this delays the initial launch of the vehicle because they have to produce different parts to fit to the car when being made. This can be seen by the delays of the Golf VI coming to Australia and is also partially because we are a minor market.

[G-rig]

How about a Scirocco Mick??

That's right. A simple 'yes it will be coming' or 'no it won't' would be nice. FFS, they sell enough GTI's who cares if it affects the 3dr sales. Australia should just have 5 door golfs or 3 door Sciroccos... Considering going to NZ to live for a year and putting up with the accent, would almost be worth it .