Has anyone seen a 3DR GTI in the flesh?

[mr fox]

No idea, I got it done at Tint A Car, its the Formula One tint.

hey sharkblue. was it tint a car Niddrie....?

[sharkablue]

hey sharkblue. was it tint a car Niddrie....?

Nah it wasent. Complete opposite side of Melbourne in fact.

But they should all be the same, its really nice tint. I think its the 2nd most expensive one they have next to the rip off prices they ask for Bolle' tint?

Definitely recommend it. From memory it has the highest or one of the highest UV ratings, life time warranty, looks good. Cant really complain.

[kaanage]

Don't see too many 3drs, but that's a good thing as it means that if I do decide to go down the GTI route I will be somewhat unique.

Which makes me wonder why VW don't bring over the Sirocco instead of the 3 door GTi - the resale for a proper coupe would have to be better than 3 door Golf. Over in Singapore, the Sirocco is cheaper by about A$2000 than the equivalent Golf (there are TSi Sports, GTi and R versions).

Then you could get a truly different looking, sporty, Golf based car (you can already get a different looking, equally impractical, Golf based, poser car by buying a Beetle).

[AdamD]

Which makes me wonder why VW don't bring over the Sirocco instead of the 3 door GTi - the resale for a proper coupe would have to be better than 3 door Golf.

True, but as has been said many times before, it would cost VWA significantly more to comply and import the Scirocco to Australia than the 3-door Golf. The 5-door Golf is already sold in high volumes, so expenses like compliance, spares stocks, ordering/distribution and to an extent marketing are all covered off; significant outlays aren't required in those areas to sell the 3-door Golf. But the Scirocco, as a distinct model, would require ADR compliance, parts inventory, service training, marketing, etc etc... given the very small volumes for the 3-door Golf in Australia, I'm not surprised the 'Roc doesn't currently stack up as a profitable exercise for VWA.

[Banzai]

True, but as has been said many times before, it would cost VWA significantly more to comply and import the Scirocco to Australia than the 3-door Golf. The 5-door Golf is already sold in high volumes, so expenses like compliance, spares stocks, ordering/distribution and to an extent marketing are all covered off; significant outlays aren't required in those areas to sell the 3-door Golf. But the Scirocco, as a distinct model, would require ADR compliance, parts inventory, service training, marketing, etc etc... given the very small volumes for the 3-door Golf in Australia, I'm not surprised the 'Roc doesn't currently stack up as a profitable exercise for VWA.

I'm not so sure of that argument. If the floor pan, drivetrain and suspension are the same between the roc and the Golf there isn't a lot of difference. Pretty much every panel from the A pillar back is different between the 3 and 5 door Golfs as are many of the interior panels.

With the arrival of the new Megane and announcement from other companies that they will soon have new "sporty" 3 door coupes on the market, VW may need to revisit their decision.

I also think most 3-door Golf buyers would have been happier with a Scirocco and it may even pick-up extra buyers who like it because it looks less like a Golf.

I can however, understand their reluctance to launch a new model at the same time as the new R and Polo.

[AdamD]

I'm not so sure of that argument. If the floor pan, drivetrain and suspension are the same between the roc and the Golf there isn't a lot of difference. Pretty much every panel from the A pillar back is different between the 3 and 5 door Golfs as are many of the interior panels.

While they may share many components under the skin (although nothing like as much as the Golf 5-door and 3-door), they're still different cars. And that means different identities from the perspective of crash testing, many servicing procedures, model awareness (leading to more marketing), etc etc. They're also built in a different factory in a different country, which may mean that the vehicles are purchased in a different currency, and there may be other economic factors involved.

Either way, VWA has ruled it out for now - and you'd assume they've conducted the business case fairly well based on costs and anticipated volumes.

[triode12]

I find it odd that in NZ where they have a population of 4 million people (if you don't count their sheep), VW thought it worth the trouble importing the Scirrocco for their very small population - likewise in Singapore with a similar sized population they get the vehicles like the Scirocco and Touran too.

Australia has a population three times the size and VAG thinks it unviable to do so. Doesn't make sense to me.

The Kiwi's have more choice of models than we do when it comes to cars and that applies to all the brands. Why are Australia's car marketing blokes so conservative?

[Lima]

I think it probably has more to do with out dated ADRs than conservative marketing. Although there's possibly a bit of both, haha.

[simonm]

I think it probably has more to do with out dated ADRs than conservative marketing. Although there's possibly a bit of both, haha.

No, it's that NZ recognises compliance done by other countries - so if it meets compliance in the UK (for example), then it's legal to import into NZ.

So the manufacturer just has to pay shipping, no further crash tests or compliance work required.

[Corey_R]

Plus, NZ has a much smaller model range and very limited options compared to Australia. The businesses are run very differently. If us not having the Scirocco is the only negative of the greater model range and options we have here, then I say "oh well". Plus, I'm on of those people who fall out side of the "most 3-door Golf buyers would have been happier with a Scirocco". If the Scirocco was here instead of the 3 door Golf, then I'd be buying another brand's car, because Volkswagen wouldn't have a product suitable for me.

[AdamD]

No, it's that NZ recognises compliance done by other countries - so if it meets compliance in the UK (for example), then it's legal to import into NZ.

So the manufacturer just has to pay shipping, no further crash tests or compliance work required.

Which is effectively what Lima was saying anyway - our ADRs are antiquated because they don't simply conform with those of Europe, Japan, etc etc - and instead have annoying (read: expensive) idiosyncrasies that cause manufacturers to modify their cars specifically for sale in Australia.

There's also that issue of scale - once you go to the trouble of spending the money to comply the car, you then need to make a sufficient fuss about it (promotion) to sell the volume of cars that will allow you to cover your expenses complying it in the first place. In NZ, no need for expensive compliance, so no need to do the marketing to ensure the demand to sell the volume. No sales, no loss.

At the end of the day, the barriers to entry are greater here in Australia than they are in NZ.

[sharkablue]

If VW Australia had the Scirocco in Australia I would not have purchased my 3 Door Golf GTI. Simple.

I asked the head of VW at the time via Email what the plans were and that I was very interested, but they have said that it wont happen.

Which is a great shame, because they look great.

[Lima]

No, it's that NZ recognises compliance done by other countries - so if it meets compliance in the UK (for example), then it's legal to import into NZ.

So the manufacturer just has to pay shipping, no further crash tests or compliance work required.

Well same thing in a roundabout way, that is, ADRs make it a PITA for manufacturers to import cars. AFAIK ADRs were set up back in the day when we started local manufacturing and its been a slow process to keep the up to date with the rest of the world in the subsequent 50-60 years.

[Lima]

Plus, NZ has a much smaller model range and very limited options compared to Australia. The businesses are run very differently. If us not having the Scirocco is the only negative of the greater model range and options we have here, then I say "oh well". Plus, I'm on of those people who fall out side of the "most 3-door Golf buyers would have been happier with a Scirocco". If the Scirocco was here instead of the 3 door Golf, then I'd be buying another brand's car, because Volkswagen wouldn't have a product suitable for me.

Haha, seeing as we already have a 3dr GTI I think I would have been very keen to look at the Scirocco instead of the S3, but this is a never ending circle!

[triode12]

Well same thing in a roundabout way, that is, ADRs make it a PITA for manufacturers to import cars. AFAIK ADRs were set up back in the day when we started local manufacturing and its been a slow process to keep the up to date with the rest of the world in the subsequent 50-60 years.

Smells of protectionism...