Passat Alltrack news

[martinQ]

Hi all

I couldn't see much on here about the new Alltrack coming soon to Australia so I thought I'd share what I knew from the dealers in case someone else is interested. As of last week, I heard that a very few models will be coming in at the end of July, with few if any options fitted. People placing orders (of which I am one) should expect to wait until about February to get the orders fulfilled. Price was estimated at $55,000 base which is more than I'd heard from earlier estimates.

[Marakai]

Ouch, yeah, significantly more than originally announced. Who's putting in their mark up? Dealers, because they can (car sales are booming in Aus, it seems)?

<rant>

Also beyond me, why you would have models without options: isn't that at least one reason why you would want a German car? The technology and features? Why would I get a base model? Just so I can show off "look at moi, I've got a German car (had to cancel the kids' private school and the only option I could afford is rubber floor mats, but I'm keeping up with the Joneses)!"

Of course, if they finally stopped the rort of banning parallel imports for cars, they couldn't rip us off like this. I cry every time I look at how much cheaper I could get one bought and imported from the UK (so it's already LHD of course).

</rant off>

PS: is 55K base drive-away? Or are we seriously talking 60+K drive-away for a no-features model? I might look at Audi after all.

PPS: I'm using a generic "you" above, Martin, not accusing YOU of doing that.

Hi all

I couldn't see much on here about the new Alltrack coming soon to Australia so I thought I'd share what I knew from the dealers in case someone else is interested. As of last week, I heard that a very few models will be coming in at the end of July, with few if any options fitted. People placing orders (of which I am one) should expect to wait until about February to get the orders fulfilled. Price was estimated at $55,000 base which is more than I'd heard from earlier estimates.

[booba]

I don't think the dealers have a say in the first load of cars, they will have an allocation later to pick and choose what option they will get. Still, that is not excuse for vwa to pick **** combinations.

Ouch, yeah, significantly more than originally announced. Who's putting in their mark up? Dealers, because they can (car sales are booming in Aus, it seems)?

<rant>

Also beyond me, why you would have models without options: isn't that at least one reason why you would want a German car? The technology and features? Why would I get a base model? Just so I can show off "look at moi, I've got a German car (had to cancel the kids' private school and the only option I could afford is rubber floor mats, but I'm keeping up with the Joneses)!"

Of course, if they finally stopped the rort of banning parallel imports for cars, they couldn't rip us off like this. I cry every time I look at how much cheaper I could get one bought and imported from the UK (so it's already LHD of course).

</rant off>

PS: is 55K base drive-away? Or are we seriously talking 60+K drive-away for a no-features model? I might look at Audi after all.

PPS: I'm using a generic "you" above, Martin, not accusing YOU of doing that.

[Marakai]

I don't think the dealers have a say in the first load of cars, they will have an allocation later to pick and choose what option they will get. Still, that is not excuse for vwa to pick **** combinations.

Understood. It's just sort of backwards from what I've experienced in some other countries (US and Germany is where I can speak going by experience): there your showroom models are load to the hilt.

Which you take a test drive in. Psyched up, it's *then* that you glumly look at the price tag and start subtracting.

[Spook]

I came across this from a VW Dealer's blog. Don't know if the specs are off a general/global press release, but seems rather specific:

The new Volkswagen Passat Alltrack has everything you need to venture off the beaten track.

With its raised ride height, 4MOTION four-wheel drive and rugged body enhancements, it will take you places the standard Passat wouldn't dare.

Based on the versatile Passat Estate, the Passat Alltrack's 4MOTION four-wheel drive and raised ride height give it greater agility off-road, while body enhancements provide some protection from scrapes when covering rough terrain.

These features endow Passat Alltrack with the practicality of an estate car and much of the versatility of a conventional SUV, while a high standard specification level adds more than a touch of luxury. Just one trim level is likely to be offered here - with all the bells and whistles.

There will be a choice of two drivetrains: a 2.0-litre TDI with six-speed manual gearbox and a 2.0-litre TDI 125kW with six-speed DSG transmission.

Standard equipment includes Alcantara upholstery, dual zone electronic climate control, RNS 315 touchscreen satellite navigation, DAB radio, MDI iPod connectivity, Bluetooth telephone preparation, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring system and 18-inch Canyon alloy wheels.

A Driver Alert System that monitors the driver's responses to raise awareness of fatigue is also standard, as is ESP. Options include climate seats with massage function, high beam assist which automatically controls dipping of the headlights, side scan lane change assist, which monitors the vehicle's blind spot and adaptive chassis control.

City emergency braking function is also a likely option along with park assist, rear-view camera and an electrically deployed towbar. The Passat Alltrack has a generous towing capacity of 2,000 kg (braked).

[team_v]

I came across this from a VW Dealer's blog. Don't know if the specs are off a general/global press release, but seems rather specific:

RNS315 is the American non premium nav system which is not available in australia as far as I am aware.
Also we don't get DAB radio in our models so i don't think it would be Australian specific.

[Marakai]

I came across this from a VW Dealer's blog. Don't know if the specs are off a general/global press release, but seems rather specific:

If the pricing of 55K mentioned earlier is based on that load it wouldn't even be that bad. I've budgeted 65K drive-away.

However, the Alltrack in Germany is rated for 2,200kg towing. Would that be down-rated in Australia for some reason? It's kind of important for us.

[FSI 220]

If it is close to the spec of the V6, then the price premium for the premium diesel engine is roughly the same as the premium petrol engine...

It seems fair-ish...

[phaeton]

If the pricing of 55K mentioned earlier is based on that load it wouldn't even be that bad. I've budgeted 65K drive-away.

However, the Alltrack in Germany is rated for 2,200kg towing. Would that be down-rated in Australia for some reason? It's kind of important for us.

I believe it will be rated at 2 tonnes.

[Marakai]

I believe it will be rated at 2 tonnes.

Why the hell would they rate it lower than the manufacturer?! Australian nanny-state " we know what's good and safe for you and better than you do" in action again?

That blows and quite likely puts me back at the drawing board. The Alltrack (in fact any cross-over apart from the A6 Allroad) would be out of consideration. Leaving only a full-bore SUV.

[Lance B]

Why the hell would they rate it lower than the manufacturer?! Australian nanny-state " we know what's good and safe for you and better than you do" in action again?.

You got it. Nanny State socialism strikes again.

Leaving only a full-bore SUV.

You got it again.

[Guy_H]

I have been told it wont be out until "late" this year now. 60k drive away.

[Marakai]

I have been told it wont be out until "late" this year now. 60k drive away.

There seem to be so many "I heard" you'd think this was some secret military project. The first post in the thread states the first ones are on their way and will be here this month - and the poster expects to take ownership of his ordered one in February. Where does the "late this year" rumour come from? It's also contradicted in that vendor blog.

This is starting to burn under my nails. Our current clunker, while it served us OK, is coming apart such that every repair it will need now is going to cost more than the car is worth on the market. I hate throwing good money after bad. I expect it to last until about year's end - which is when I expected and hoped I would just about be driving to the dealer to pick up the new baby - which I would have order late this or early next month. (yeah, I'd also "heard rumours" about 9 months delivery for the Alltrack and was trying to ignore those. just more stress I don't need).

Of course this all becomes moot if the nanny-staters downrate the towing capacity. Thank the gods it's Friday, I think I need a pint or five.

[Guy_H]

I "heard" from my dealer principal as I have one on order (subject to a few things).

There certainly won't be any official towing capacity released until it's ready for sale.

My understanding is the problem in AU with towing is not so much the pulling capacity, its the ball weight capacity, and the ability of the chassis (or lack of chassis) to carry the ball weight. In AU 10% ball weight is considered "normal" in Europe it's not.

If it tows 2000kg's & can only have 150kg ball weight, it doesn't really matter then.....

[Marakai]

I "heard" from my dealer principal as I have one on order (subject to a few things).

There certainly won't be any official towing capacity released until it's ready for sale.

My understanding is the problem in AU with towing is not so much the pulling capacity, its the ball weight capacity, and the ability of the chassis (or lack of chassis) to carry the ball weight. In AU 10% ball weight is considered "normal" in Europe it's not.

If it tows 2000kg's & can only have 150kg ball weight, it doesn't really matter then.....

Well, I suppose "availability" I measure as to when I can test drive one - and should I be so inclined buy one off the lot. If you ordered one un-testdriven true availability would be when your ordered model actually arrives, I take it? Which is 6-7 months down the road, as Emden apparently can't roll out the 4Motion/DSG models (incl Alltrack) any faster. That's after correlating info from this forum with the German Motor Talk forums and news posts.

I would have disputed the "only 150kg ball weight" - until I started looking into Autralian made horse trailers. What a bunch of horribly unbalanced pieces of crap. Started looking into (again, German-made) Boeckmann trailers and quel surprise! they offer lower weight with *far* lower ball weight and yet much better frame stability and quality than any Rowville. And they're perfectly balanced. It would have been a match made in heaven with an Alltrack: even with 2 warmbloods in there you'd be in the safe zone.

Where the hell did this 10% ball weight come from anyway? Just yet another thing the Vicroads et all pulled out of <self-censored>? A properly balanced trailer doesn't put 10% of its gross weight on the bearing. Never mind, don't want to get this thread off track and bring down mod wrath upon my head.