Golf R Observations and Questions

[SilvrFoxX]

Hey all. Got a Golf R on order and am keen for some feedback on the R in the wet. I have been a long time Subaru owner and one of the key features I loved on it was the little change required in my enthusiastic driving during wet conditions. From what I understand the R has the ability to distribute power as needed between the fronts and rears, rather than being all distributed evenly. Due to my long wait for my R I have been hitting up you tube for videos and reviews. The reason I am a bit worried is that allot of videos seem to point at the fact that under load, the R feels more like a FWD rather than an AWD. Personal opinions are what I am after, even more so from any former WRX drivers.

The Subarus ( and I have one ) are front wheel bias but the R is closer to all wheel drive so I suspect you will not lose anything

[Serge]

The first dealer I went to was Barloworld GW, they actually didn't seem at all in a hurry to help me out to be totally honest, Barloworld Moorabbin were quite unprofessional. Then took it to Sth Yarra VW where I got the quote I ended up going with, but not before shopping round to Burwin, and Bayford (who were absolutely fantastic in allowing me to drive a DSG and a Manual R back to back, but ultimately couldn't match my best quote), and back to B/World.

Burwin came the closest to the Sth Yarra VW quote but ultimately was STILL way out of the Sth Yarra Range (they were very good to deal with though). The rest refused to even come close with one dealer (BW Moorabbin) trying to spook me by hinting that there could be something wrong with the quote and to buy the car off him for $4k more for "peace of mind".... EDIT: Just noticed there is a BW Moorabbin employee here on VWWc might I just say I was pretty dissappointed and really turned off by that tactic. The guy tried to imply to me that when I went to put the deposit on, that the dealer would change their mind, or make an excuse to not honor the quote I had obtained. Needless to say, I then went on to Sth Yarra and put the deposit on, and the quote was honored (as it had been filed in the system and the quote was valid for 14 days), and signed off by the manager without a hitch. All the BW Bloke did was make me ***** bricks. I didn't appreciate it and would avoid VW Moorabbin in future..

Now its all locked in. Please hurry up March!!!!

Will take in consideration everything you are saying.
Look, at the end of the day, everyone has their own tactics on selling cars. And to what you have mentioned about "dealer changing their minds" it does happen. Please dont get me wrong, if you got a bad experience here it doesnt mean that everyone else will get the same. I'm sorry that you have recieved that bad experience in our particular dealership, and wish sales person that dealt with you could have done it in a more professional way (may be it was me , who knows). At the end of the day, you have purchased a VW and thats great.

[AJAY]

I ordered my R on July 8 and arrived Melbourne on 10th Oct. I expect delivery Nov 2. My dealer told me I was lucky because I ordered Manual transmission. The guys that ordered dsg will get their cars after Christmas as there is a production delay on DSG transmission.

Perry

Hi Perry,

Thanks for advising that, my dealer couldn't tell me what the specific problem was on the production line. But that makes sense now as I ordered dsg.

The dealer said that the order of the car delivery is based on the order of the commission number.

I ordered my car on June 20 with a commission number of 15587X . The dealer said it's on track for January delivery due to production line issue.

Cheers
Ajay

[Danny]

Will take in consideration everything you are saying.
Look, at the end of the day, everyone has their own tactics on selling cars. And to what you have mentioned about "dealer changing their minds" it does happen. Please dont get me wrong, if you got a bad experience here it doesnt mean that everyone else will get the same. I'm sorry that you have recieved that bad experience in our particular dealership, and wish sales person that dealt with you could have done it in a more professional way (may be it was me , who knows). At the end of the day, you have purchased a VW and thats great.

I honestly have no clue who it was serge, but I expected that sort of talk from a Ford Dealer or a Car City Ringwood bomber jacket wearing, cigar smoking slick salesman, rather than a Dub dealer. It got me quite anxious. Appreciate your apology though bud. No hard feelings!

-Dan

[triode12]

Will take in consideration everything you are saying.
Look, at the end of the day, everyone has their own tactics on selling cars. And to what you have mentioned about "dealer changing their minds" it does happen. Please dont get me wrong, if you got a bad experience here it doesnt mean that everyone else will get the same. I'm sorry that you have recieved that bad experience in our particular dealership, and wish sales person that dealt with you could have done it in a more professional way (may be it was me , who knows). At the end of the day, you have purchased a VW and thats great.

Why must you even use tactics?
Can't you just treat customers with honesty and integrity and trust them to make up their minds?
The usual tactic of making customers wait (stew) while the salesman goes to "consult the manager" may work but it puts a bad taste in the mouth for most people when they realise what you have done.

Another consequence of the games you guys play is that a lot of people loathe the car purchasing process . So would probably defer purchasing a new car instead of doing so more often. How is this helping your industry? if you make it an easy, upfront (no BS) process -even more people would be willing to come to you.

I am sure if you use the straight forward No BS approach, you'd make just as many sales and in return build up customer loyalty/goodwill which would lead to more sales via word of mouth recommendations. I have helped the finance manager for the dealership I purchased my cars from, with on going word of mouth sales of 6-7 extended warranty sales a week since Dec. So that is one benefit of treating a customer like me with respect and honesty. But treat me like dirt and you'll bet I'll tell everyone I know and meet, how crap you guys are.

I cannot understand why dealers have to resort to American style sales tactics in order to make a sale. Clients are no longer naive and with the help of the internet and forums like these are on to the tricks and tactics you dealers employ. So it behooves your industry to change for the better and adopt more honest practices even though your experience might tell you otherwise.

[triode12]

I honestly have no clue who it was serge, but I expected that sort of talk from a Ford Dealer or a Car City Ringwood bomber jacket wearing, cigar smoking slick salesman, rather than a Dub dealer. It got me quite anxious. Appreciate your apology though bud. No hard feelings!

-Dan

Oh believe me, it happens with all of the VW dealerships I have encountered. They are no different from the rest.

[Serge]

I honestly have no clue who it was serge, but I expected that sort of talk from a Ford Dealer or a Car City Ringwood bomber jacket wearing, cigar smoking slick salesman, rather than a Dub dealer. It got me quite anxious. Appreciate your apology though bud. No hard feelings!

-Dan

I understand what you mean, unfortunatelly everyone is different. Dont forget we are here to make money, you are there to get the cheapest car

Why must you even use tactics?
Can't you just treat customers with honesty and integrity and trust them to make up their minds?
The usual tactic of making customers wait (stew) while the salesman goes to "consult the manager" may work but it puts a bad taste in the mouth for most people when they realise what you have done.

Another consequence of the games you guys play is that a lot of people are loathe of the car purchasing process . So would probably defer purchasing a new car instead of doing so more often. How is this helping your industry?

I am sure if you use the straight forward No BS approach, you'd make just as many sales and in return build up customer loyalty/goodwill which would lead to more sales via word of mouth recommendations. I have helped the finance manager for the dealership I purchased my cars from, with on going word of mouth sales of 6-7 extended warranty sales a week since Dec. So that is one benefit of treat a customer like me with respect and honesty. But treat me like dirt and you'll bet I'll tell everyone I know how crap you guys are.

I cannot understand why dealers have to resort to American style sales tactics in order to make a sale. Clients are no longer naive and with the help of the internet and forums like these are on to the tricks and tactics you dealers employ. So it behooves your industry to change for the better and adopt more honest practices even though your experience might tell you otherwise.

Look at the end of the day, im not here to argue and say who is wrong and who is right and why we or you are getting treated in such a way.
But see you found a person who you liked and referred people to. Everybody is different.
I know where you are coming from as well. If you received good experience you will tell 10 friends, but if you receive bad experience you will tell 100 friends.

[Mr_Bob]

triode12: I believe these games are a byproduct of the customers, in an environment where a discount is expected.

If you negotiated a price, and the rep didn't need to "check with the manager" then it implies that he still has room to negotiate further.
This would then prompt further pressure on the rep, who would need to check, and come back with a "no, that was our best offer."

That would raise concerns that the manager was never asked, he just went into the back room and had some biscuits


Questioning another business's integrity is never a good strategy, even if it is justified.
I think it would be best to ensure you have the correct options and corporate discount details, then encourage the customer to take that offer if you can't match it.

[Danny]

The usual tactic of making customers wait (stew) while the salesman goes to "consult the manager" may work but it puts a bad taste in the mouth for most people when they realise what you have done.

I am sure if you use the straight forward No BS approach.......

Bingo triode, this is why I bought off Sth Yarra VW (I can not recommend them enough). The salesman did treat me as a person, he was honest, friendly, normal, he never ONCE got up from his seat to consult the manager, he actually sat with ME and we both worked at his computer while he took off and added options to show me how the system worked and how individual options affected the price and the LCT, and where he could discount, and we sat there for 20 minutes until I was happy (read: Astonished) with what I saw. No BS, no Managers. The price was just there for me to accept, or not. No pressure. He did the best deal there and then without me even really haggling, he was just open and honest. No other dealer came close to the price, and their treatment of customers, so it was a complete no brainer, they deserved my hard earned, and will continue to deserve my business should I stay loyal to the VW brand.

South Yarra VW gave me the very best experience buying a car that I have ever, ever had. Period. And that sort of goodwill deserves business from as many people that I can throw them, and I sincerely hope that they get business from my testimonials, as a small family owned dealer, they derserve it

[Tim]

I had the complete opposite experience with South Yarra. I got the "ill ask my manager" line repeatedly even though my offer never changed. They even rang me the next day and asked if i had considered *their* offer. To that I replied it was you guys that were considering *my* offer!
The guy was like "ill go ask my manager and call you back in 5 minutes" I had to laugh!

That was a little while ago though. With all the fantastic reviews I hear about Burwin I think i'll head out there to buy my next VW.

[Serge]

Bingo triode, this is why I bought off Sth Yarra VW (I can not recommend them enough). The salesman did treat me as a person, he was honest, friendly, normal, he never ONCE got up from his seat to consult the manager, he actually sat with ME and we both worked at his computer while he took off and added options to show me how the system worked and how individual options affected the price and the LCT, and where he could discount, and we sat there for 20 minutes until I was happy (read: Astonished) with what I saw. No BS, no Managers. The price was just there for me to accept, or not. No pressure. He did the best deal there and then without me even really haggling, he was just open and honest. No other dealer came close to the price, and their treatment of customers, so it was a complete no brainer, they deserved my hard earned, and will continue to deserve my business should I stay loyal to the VW brand.

South Yarra VW gave me the very best experience buying a car that I have ever, ever had. Period. And that sort of goodwill deserves business from as many people that I can throw them, and I sincerely hope that they get business from my testimonials, as a small family owned dealer, they derserve it

Thats great to hear that. The person you have been sitting there was there for a long time, hence he didnt need to go and speak with his boss. Now, lets say you went to same dealership but to a person who has been there for 6 months and his pricing structure had to be approved by a manager. Most likely you would have different experience to what you had. Thats why im saying EVERYONE is different and there are always different circumstances for each case.
But im glad to hear that you enjoyed dealing with that person.

I had the complete opposite experience with South Yarra. I got the "ill ask my manager" line repeatedly even though my offer never changed. They even rang me the next day and asked if i had considered *their* offer. To that I replied it was you guys that were considering *my* offer!
The guy was like "ill go ask my manager and call you back in 5 minutes" I had to laugh!

Here is exactly what i was trying to say above to Danny

[Corey_R]

Lets stop this dealer discussion here guys. It's not the topic of this thread.
Triode, you purchased your car from the same place I did. I had a great experience with them too. Yet others have complained. Danny, you liked your experience at South Yarra, and that's great, but others have had the opposite experience, said they're the worst place they've ever been and gone to Serge's dealership.

As Serge said and Mr_Bob has alluded to, dealers are there to make money, customers are there to get the best price they can. Each person approaches the situation slightly differently. Looking around these forums, and some of the discounts people have expected and some people have received, the industry would not be able to survive if everyone got them.

[Danny]

Thats great to hear that. The person you have been sitting there was there for a long time, hence he didnt need to go and speak with his boss. Now, lets say you went to same dealership but to a person who has been there for 6 months and his pricing structure had to be approved by a manager. Most likely you would have different experience to what you had. Thats why im saying EVERYONE is different and there are always different circumstances for each case.
But im glad to hear that you enjoyed dealing with that person.

That I can 100% understand. Its never so much the dealer, as the sales rep who you deal with. I've also had 2 bad experiences with burwin in the past, but then a fantastic one this time around so yes, you can't always blame dealer as a whole, good or bad.

Corey R sorry to be OT, but Southampton... For while Morning Camilla is Docked.

[triode12]

Thats great to hear that. The person you have been sitting there was there for a long time, hence he didnt need to go and speak with his boss. Now, lets say you went to same dealership but to a person who has been there for 6 months and his pricing structure had to be approved by a manager. Most likely you would have different experience to what you had. Thats why im saying EVERYONE is different and there are always different circumstances for each case.
But im glad to hear that you enjoyed dealing with that person.



Here is exactly what i was trying to say above to Danny

Perhaps then your industry should do away with this different pricing structure for different levels of seniority arrangement. It would level the playing field and give all customers a consistent experience. Wouldn't it be better to sell to every customer you get even though you get a smaller profit margin. i.e. sell by volume.

The resultant increase in business would also then increase your dealership's goodwill/reputation exponentially and your customer patronship would snowball. You would then be hard pressed to keep people out of the showroom.As it is now, you have customers with both good and bad impressions of your dealership - how can that be a good thing?

I know you cannot please everyone but for those customers who try to lowball you, just stand firm and say that you cannot do the deal politely. Instead of playing the "I'll check with the manager" game or other unsavoury tactics.

Corey - this is my last post on the subject. I was not trying to start an argument with Serge, just want to try to suggest an alternate solution to his industry's practices.

[Fab_R]

Bingo triode, this is why I bought off Sth Yarra VW (I can not recommend them enough). The salesman did treat me as a person, he was honest, friendly, normal, he never ONCE got up from his seat to consult the manager, he actually sat with ME and we both worked at his computer while he took off and added options to show me how the system worked and how individual options affected the price and the LCT, and where he could discount, and we sat there for 20 minutes until I was happy (read: Astonished) with what I saw. No BS, no Managers. The price was just there for me to accept, or not. No pressure. He did the best deal there and then without me even really haggling, he was just open and honest. No other dealer came close to the price, and their treatment of customers, so it was a complete no brainer, they deserved my hard earned, and will continue to deserve my business should I stay loyal to the VW brand.

South Yarra VW gave me the very best experience buying a car that I have ever, ever had. Period. And that sort of goodwill deserves business from as many people that I can throw them, and I sincerely hope that they get business from my testimonials, as a small family owned dealer, they derserve it

I had exactly the same experience with Barloword Moorabin and the salesperson I dealt with.
I also feel the same way in so far as loyalty to the dealership is concerned as well as recommending friends and family to them..