Mk7 Golf GTI Discussion Thread

[Arnold]

Ask the dealer about its repair history.

[Brendan_A]

So got the GTI back after being in for 2 days, the service center have now changed both top mount barrings and all bolts as well. First impressions is the noise is reduced considerably the knocking noise seems to have gone, but their is still a hollow movement at the top of the strut's travel. So I'm going to monitor this over the Christmas break and we go from there in the new year. I'm waiting for the full service invoice to be emailed to me listing all the parts changed.
The service center has said that the service managers car is also making the same noise, so will keep in touch with them in case they come up with another fix.

Hi, how's the fix for the clunk in the suspension going?

Had ours in today to replace the RHF lower control arm and so far the noise has gone. Will monitor it and see how it goes. Fingers crossed.

[bobg]

So the dealer I was speaking with wouldn't go below $47,900 for carbon steel, dsg and leather. Just refused, so I went to a broker who within 30 minutes got me a price of $46,500

The broker said that carbon steel won't be in until April though and that the dealer stating February for carbon grey was just trying to get me off the market...

[bobg]

As stated previously the first dealer obviously had no idea on corporate pricing, how it is financed has nothing to do with it.
.

Hi Dutch, sorry to harp on about this,
But I was wondering when you got your corporate discount did you need to get a letter from your employer and what did it have to say? Just that you were an employee? I was speakin with a relative today who had a dealer tell them that VW wanted the letter to say that they were eligable for flee pricing and the car would be used for work.

[Jimi]

I got a fleet letter for the corporate pricing I had. Workplaces are pretty well versed at these things and most have a template that says something like "Joe is a full time employee and may use this car for work purposes". That seems to do the job

My car is 100% private usage

[bobg]

Thanks Jimi, so the dealer didn't give you a template?

I've seen the VW corporate program template that states that;

'This car forms part of the employees salary package/remuneration and is primarily used for work purposes'

This is what concerns me, if this is the case then I'm not eligable and fear that the sales guy is just luring me in with the promise of this discount.

I've been speaking with someone who went through this recently and had the same problem.

[Dutch77]

Hi Dutch, sorry to harp on about this,
But I was wondering when you got your corporate discount did you need to get a letter from your employer and what did it have to say? Just that you were an employee? I was speakin with a relative today who had a dealer tell them that VW wanted the letter to say that they were eligable for flee pricing and the car would be used for work.

My situation may have been slightly different - I just needed to show I was a member of a particular professional body.

But I would agree with what Jimi said otherwise, it shouldn't be an issue in getting it organised. Otherwise what was the basis for the broker doing the deal at $46.5k? I'd be holding them to that..

[andrew7]

G'day Bob, my understanding g of the corp discount program was that for the vehicle to qualify it would need to be salary packaged i.e via novated lease (perhaps car allowance would also qualify?). I have purchased 2 Golfs now from different dealers with the same understanding. Anyway once you get the corp disc there's nothing to stop you negotiating further discounts

[andrew7]

Dutch I think your situation is different as your corp disc related to a professional membership. Those non accountants/lawyers/engineers amongst us need to work for qualifying govt/public co's and additionally salary package the vehicle

[bobg]

Thanks guys,

Andrew they was the
Brokers original understanding, however another dealer told me they only needed a letter stating I was an employee of the company and the car would be for personal use, I told this to the broker and he called vw australia and confirmed with me that it was ok and I'd be eligable.. But I'm hearing so many different stories hard to know what's true

[Dutch77]

Just this once I may need to stand corrected, consider it my xmas gift.

With the different providers these days mostly anyone can package a car, although if it's predominantly or wholly private use and in the GTI/R price range it will often end up costing more than if just bought with after-tax dollars. Gotta do the sums to see if the corp discount changes that equation, I'd suspect not.

Would be good if we could finally summarise what the various conditions are and post it somewhere, VW as usual aren't very forthcoming with help on the issue which seems counter to the whole point of a marketing rebate.

[bobg]

Well there's this document here

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=35400&d=1228264840

[Dutch77]

Well there's this document here

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/attach...0&d=1228264840

Interesting read - particularly the straight discount off list price (and how it is funded/shared) and the reduction in delivery charges.

I suspect this may be an older document and/or excludes the corporate support provided to the various professional bodies that are now included in the program. The letter Jimi referenced certainly hasn't changed.

I got something like $4k off in 2010 when I was looking to order a Mk6 GTI; in 2014 this was halved to $2k split across the list price and delivery (meaning the marketing expense may have been shared between VWA and dealer the same way). The flipside was they had little interest in negotiating further in 2010, but in 2014 there was still plenty of room to do so as per my final buy price.

It is worth noting as well though that it was six months plus in 2010 for a GTI, in 2014 at the time I was shopping I pretty much could choose any color, spec combo and PP or standard and get delivery within a few months.

[bobg]

Ok guys, so it turns out I wasn't eligable for the corporate program afterall... Essentially the car must be part of the a salary packaging deal.

That's the bad news... Good news is I just purchased a GTI

Ended up costing $48k for dsg,leather and carbon steel, so about 10% off which I'm happy with.

The only thing that sucks is a have to wait 3 months until it arrives

[Dutch77]

Glad to hear it, the wait is painful but worth it - be thankful it isn't six plus.