Sat Nav now Standard on VW Golf Models in Singapore

[SilvrFoxX]

Now why is it Asian Countries have this coming online and we get smacked for $2500...



VW Singapore, the distributor for VW cars here, announced in a statement yesterday that factory-fitted satellite navigation systems will come standard on 10 VW models.

These models are the Golf Sport 1.4 TSI, Golf GTI, Golf R, Scirocco 1.4 TSI, Scirocco Sport 2.0 TSI, Scirocco R, Tiguan Sport 2.0 TSI, Passat CC 1.8 TSI, Passat CC Sport 2.0 TSI and Multivan 2.0 BiTDI.

http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20101022-243694.html

[simonm]

It's not like Singapore is even a big place, it's one city!

[peedman]

When you realise that a Golf GTI costs $130k AUD in Singapore i think you'll be happy that we have to pay a measly $2500 for a satnav!!!

Volkswagen Golf GTI 2.0 (A) 5DR - Singapore New Hatchback Cars - ST701 Cars

[Pepe]

Yep, having a car costs crazy money there... They have to pay 30-40k just to get a Certificate of Entitlement, the right to have the car in the first place!

Been there a few times in the last couple of months though and there are a ton of Sciroccos on the road there, no Rs though a far as I could see.

[SilvrFoxX]

I would have to go and have a look at what the average income is but if you use the big mac economy it is apples for apples.. if they can offer an item as standard then it cant be that much of a cost overhead and like ACC should have been standard on the R

[Corey_R]

The average Singapore wages are less than here in Australia. In fact, several members of my team have moved to Singapore in the past year and all had to take a pay cut.

Yet, as people have mentioned, cars are incredibly expensive.

If I had to earn less money, and pay 3 times more for my car, I'd expect to get Sat Nav for free.

However, I'd much rather pay $2500 for my Sat Nav and keep my Australian pay and initial car price

[pologti18t]

Haven't skoda included Sat Nav on the entire range....

[Transporter]

Haven't skoda included Sat Nav on the entire range....

But not the RNS510 kind.

[dave_r]

Haven't skoda included Sat Nav on the entire range....

Being hit with the ugly stick is also included at no extra cost

[Stoney!]

Actually the RNS510 is standard on the Superb and Octavia elegance models. I think the superb is one fine looking vehicle to, as is the octavia especially the RS model.... Looking at a superb for my next car, fantastic standard features on the 1.8t elegance model.

Stoney!

[pologti18t]

But not the RNS510 kind.

Of course it is....

[Maverick]

Haven't skoda included Sat Nav on the entire range....

No they haven't.

Only on the upper spec models like Superb Elegance, Octavia 118TSI, 103TDI, RS and Scout does the car come with the Columbus head unit.

The Octavia 90TSI and 77TDI comes with the Bolero head unit as does the Superb 118TSI and 125TDI.

[Maverick]

Now why is it Asian Countries have this coming online and we get smacked for $2500...

You mean one Asian country that is paying for it in the price of the car (as peedman said $130K for a GTI - actually $135,000).

They also don't have dealers in that country so their costs are lower as their ONE retail location is run by Volkswagen Group Singapore.

It's also a country that has limited models/variants imported, they import one passat, two tiguans, one eos, two passat cc's, two touregs, two phaetons, two polos, one bettle, three jettas, seven golfs and three scirocco's. All DSG.

The entry level car is a Polo 1.4 DSG starting at S$86,300 (AUD$68,000) - 1 SGD = 0.788356 AUD

Completely different markets with completely different customers with completely different requirements. If I were paying $135,000 for a GTI I'd be wanting Sat Nav standard and want them to be almost fully loaded like they are. You can't choose any options for them either, the GTI comes with nearly every option whether you want it or not. It also only comes with 17" rims as well with no option for 18's.

At least in Australia we have a choice as to the configuration of our cars, plenty of people don't want Sat Nav so why should they pay for it just because you want it standard? If you want it order it with the car or retrofit it later. If you really feel that strongly about it give me $135,000 and I'll supply you with a GTI with any or all accessories and options fitted that you want.

[hooba]

The average Singapore wages are less than here in Australia. In fact, several members of my team have moved to Singapore in the past year and all had to take a pay cut.

The experiences of your team members is not a statistically reliable enough sample, for the organisation I worked for (over 200,000 employees worldwide), the Singaporeans had the 2nd highest wages in Asia-Pac behind Japan. If you can quote a reliable source comparing average Singaporean wages with Australian ones, then I'd be interested. Brownie points if it focuses on upper quartile (i.e. those that can easily afford a new car) and takes into account after tax wages (Singapore has lower income tax rates than Australia).

[Corey_R]

Given that the GTI is over 3 times the cost that it is here, does it even matter what the specific average wage is?
It's definitely not 3 times what Australia is