Multivan 103kW drive away deal $49,990 check out VW Australia website

[brasstinman]

Ouch! 100k is a bit steep for a T5 when you get a Comfortline for 50k drive away and even with options you'd hope would still be less than 100k.

[mikinoz]

The differences are very large in the features and trim level which justify a larger price bit it's the LCT that really bites.

[The_Hawk]

The differences are very large in the features and trim level which justify a larger price bit it's the LCT that really bites.

It's crazy how many "family" style people movery cars hit that bracket with only a few options... Should be an exemption when your buying a van really

[mikinoz]

Let me get on the phone, we can have cash for clunkers and no LCT on 'utilitarian' cars - Hey Julia!

[Sharkie]

The differences are very large in the features and trim level which justify a larger price bit it's the LCT that really bites.

Actually no, the differences in additional features are quite small. Its the price of those features that adds to the cost. Big ticket items are the SatNav, Leather seats and 132kw engine. Have a look at the spec sheet on VW's website. Most of the smaller differences can be added as options at a reasonable cost.

I've ordered a Comfortline that has a RRP just over $62K which would put it into LCT territory .... but for the drive-away deal, corporate discount and Phillip's generosity ...... which saves me thousands off that ....

My Comfortline in comparison to the Highline would only be missing out on leather seats, 132kw engine and automatic doors ... everything else is on par for much less than $100K. I even have the optional factory integrated new Bluetooth which is not standard on the Highline ....

Decent value can be had if you option a Comfortline wisely.

[mikinoz]

It is the big ticket items that I am most interested in - mainly the leather and 4Motion.

[brasstinman]

The Comfortline can option up for the 4 motion and the leather. Best bet is to drop Wes at Trivett Blacktown a call and I guarantee he'll give you a great price with a Multivan all optioned up.

[The_Hawk]

Is leather a factory option in the Comfortline or is it a dealer fit?

[PhillipAudiDealer]

Leather only in Highline no Factory option for comfortline Would have to be aftermarket retrimming if the dealer wanted to go ahead and do such a thing.

[brasstinman]

I don't think leather suits the Australian climate. Maybe just that there are too many cheap leather cars running around but whenever I've been in a car with leather I've gotten all hot and sweaty and could wait to get out mo matter what time of year. I had a work Golf with leather and hated it.

[Sharkie]

I've had bad experiences with kids and leather, so for the Van which will be the kids transport leather is not an option for me.

In any case, very little of VW leather seats are actually leather. Only the fronts are , sides and backs are vinyl and they still charge you as if it was all leather ....

If leather is the thing you're after (other than being able to say "I've got the Highline with factory leather" which really is the only option you cannot add from the factory to a Comfortline) then a fully optioned Comfortline with FULL aftermarker leather would be a wiser and much cheaper choice ....

[The_Hawk]

I originally wanted leather BECAUSE of the kids, the Golf has leather and it's nice to be able to just wipe "stuff" off

In the end I came to the conclusion that I would be paying the dealer to cut up perfectly good seats and put in leather... assuming I could do it for myself at the same or less $$ I might as well see how the stock seats fare, then put the leather in later after I have given the stock ones some hell, that way I get new seats twice!

[Cousin]

Leather is 'easy to wipe', but it actually requires a lot more maintenance than fabric
I have vans with 400,000 ks, in fabric, and even the drivers seat is still hanging in there
All three rows can be properly cleaned in about 3 hours
Leather on the other hand requires constant application of softeners and protectors, or the polyurathane coating will wear. Then it's downhill rapidly
The T5 I've just purchased second hand took me over a day to get the leather seats back to good condition, and at 120,000 ks, there is definite signs of wear
I'm not a fan of leather in cars, it's not very practical
And Vee Dub fabric is excellent for durability, and cleans up brilliantly
Definately go the fabric and save your money


M

[Transporter]

I've had bad experiences with kids and leather, so for the Van which will be the kids transport leather is not an option for me.

In any case, very little of VW leather seats are actually leather. Only the fronts are , sides and backs are vinyl and they still charge you as if it was all leather ....

If leather is the thing you're after (other than being able to say "I've got the Highline with factory leather" which really is the only option you cannot add from the factory to a Comfortline) then a fully optioned Comfortline with FULL aftermarker leather would be a wiser and much cheaper choice ....

You're absolutaly right!
I must admit that leather seats in our Touareg are not that great or good looking, they feel really cheap and yes, the sides are vinyl. I clean and condition them regularly and I can see that the driver seat is showing some wear already (40,000km). Sadly, we didn't have the option of the fabric seats.
So, give me the fabric seats any time.

[Sharkie]

Kids & leather = scratches, rips and all kinds of fluids (some bodily) in the leather cracks ..... and leather cracks/creases are a given no matter how you treat it .... as per Transporter & Cousins posts above.

Smelly fluids (especially the bodily kind) that get into the cracks soak into the foam and on any reasonably hot day emits a really foul odour .... no amount of wiping helps as you normally get to it too late to prevent it ....

My VR6 had full leather and my oldest 2 kids were small at the time and ruined the leather experience for me. To such an extent that I covered up the standard leather in the back on 4 BMWs after that with cloth seat covers ... !!! imagine having leather and then having to cover it to protect it ....

When they got older I unwisely removed the covers and was promptly rewarded with unfixable scratches and little rips as nails, shoes, boots and bags got to work at it. Expecting a young child (and an older child, even a teenager) to respect your precious car and leather seats is stupid I've found.

Thus my next car with leather will have 2 seats only and no kids will be allowed in it .....

I've never met anybody who after 60 000km in a car with leather seats was happy with its condition irrespective of how they treated it. As Cousin said, even after 100 000km in a car with good cloth seats, a quick fabric wash and vacuum will have it looking like new ....