Heppubansan Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Weve been to 3 differnt VW dealerships and not one has been in the least bit competent. One of them had lost the keys to their demonstrator (!!!) and replacements were on order from Germany, the other one tried to talk us out of buying one and the other was totally indifferent. Excuse me?? If someone walked into my (hypothetical) showroom with 30K cash wanting to buy our new (and widley publicised) top of the range car Id be bending over backwards to sell them one! Instead they just keep feeding BS about "oh its limited edition sir... only 1700 will be made" "you wont be able to get one until Feb next year, would you be intrested in a Passat?" ... NO I dont want a passat I want an R32 5dr with DSG leather and Nav! is this too much to ask... clearly it is. If VWUK is listening - Why dont you want our money is it not good enough for you? AAAAAAAAAHHHH - rant over... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 This is certainly not the first time I've heard this. Some dealers seem convinced that they can't get them easily whilst others can get them in approx 3-4 months. Sounds like your shopping around though so maybe there is a problem with supply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Phone VW UK on 0800 711 811 and tell them of your problem and ask for help. Another alternative is to contact Richard at Euroimports in West Sussex - Quite a few of the other GTI 'boys' have used him. Have you had a test drive yet ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heppubansan Posted April 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 No, no test drive yet - this is proving to be one of the major sticking points as none of the three dealers has access to a DSG equiped demonstrator. And due to the nature of the DSG box I would not order the car without having driven a DSG equiped model first. Its just so disheartening to have finally found the car you think you want, accumulated the money to pay for it and then be activly disuaded from buying it by the very people that should be selling it to you... crazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindaloo Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 I picked mine up @ Warrington VW after 13 weeks & they have 2 for sale & are still quoting 13 weeks for a factory order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32HAZ Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Try Listers in Evesham - we had excellent service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 also widen your specification search e.g. find a black one with leather then add the Nav later on - it will probably be cheaper to do this anyway. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32Geordie Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Yep same problem for me, except dealers either said "they couldn't get one in 2006" through to "about 30 weeks" - eventually bought an ex-demo with the spec I wanted. Cost list price mind with 3K on the clock. They have lost the spare key as well - still in major hassles to get hold of the spare with the dealer (Sidlow Gatwick) who are proving to be less than helpfull after paying out nearly 29 THOUSAND POUNDS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brisel Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I tried to get a test drive out of Cooks in Peterborough. They have a 5dr DBP DSG with leather, lux pack 1 but wouldn't even return calls. Do they just want to keep their stock cars as trophies or for the boss to run around in? Crowsons in Spalding have a 3dr DBP with black leather Recaros + sat nav & they were more co-operative. Sounds like it might be a bit far away for you. Try Brammall & Jones or one of the bigger dealerships IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenny Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I had a mk4 R32.... looked at a mk5 but was fed so much 8ull5hit from dealers that I walked away.... Also the trade in price for my R32 was Feckin stupid!!! Plus..... VW service just stinks! My missus was changing her car at the same time... I could have given VW £40k for new motors but I wised up and just walked! The mk5 R32 is not a limited edition run (TBH it means noting anyway) Dont let them rub you eye m8... Just tell them what you think.. There seems to be a few Mk5 R32's kicking around. If you are really wanting one phone about. It may not be the exact spec you want but you should get pretty close... Enjoy whatever you buy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I used to own a MK4 Golf R32, the sales and dealer sucked... obviously this doesnt reflect other dealerships etc and im sure alot of you have good praise for them but if one dealership cant get it right then it does indeed refect on VW on a whole... I would never buy a car from my local VW dealerships again.. useless feckers. Riz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1monty Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Lenny, why dont you forward your comments regarding £40K on new VW's to VW head Office? Somebody just may take notice! I am amazed that VW just do not pick up this widespread dissatisfaction. Good luck anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heppubansan Posted May 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Thanks for all your replies! I will deffinetley be contacting VWUK directly. However, I dont know whether to be glad or appauled to know Im not he only one in such a situation. It seems a very strange position that VWUK has got itself into... In contrast my dealings with the local BMW (BMW is another consideration) dealer have been exceptional - giving me a 3 day test of a 6cyl 3 series next week, will deliver the car to my door and then collect it when Im done. Havent driven one yet so Im quite excited... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 [ QUOTE ] In contrast my dealings with the local BMW (BMW is another consideration) dealer have been exceptional - giving me a 3 day test of a 6cyl 3 series next week, will deliver the car to my door and then collect it when Im done. [/ QUOTE ] another thing to point out to VW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 VW uk dont actually care - if you dont buy the car, someone else will. My new Beetle Cab is one of a string of VWs, I have had ten from Wayside in Milton Keynes. Went in just after xmas to look at a 4mo bora as a run around, still waiting for a call back. This is after I tried to px 2 cars for 2 new VWs and told them to "Tell me how much cash I need to give you to keep payments around £200". I've had Golf Anni, Golf R32, Lupo GTi (one of first 6 speeds produced), New Beetle at launch, New Beetle cab at launch - never got asked if I was interested in a drive of new GTi or R32. New Car came from Croydon VW (GeeBee off of here) and he was excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xscreamsuk Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I had the same with BMW. I looked at a Z3 about 8 years ago, no joy from dealers. Bought a Boxster, then an X5 2 years ago, no dealer joy, bought an XC90. Did get a free track day / 4wd driving day at rockingham from them out of the blue. Mrs Endoman rescued the envelope from the bin as I threw it away as junk mail. 1st impressions count, I'd be hard pushed to buy a BMW from my dealer apathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I can soooo relate to this.... see Link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praxis Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I might as well add my own experience here. I arranged a test drive of a R32 with a local dealer. The morning of the test drive I was called to be informed that the dealer's MD had taken it for the weekend, so would I like to rearrange? My weekends are in short supply and so it was a few weeks later that I eventually got to try it. I was impressed despite the test drive being very limited in duration and the salesman insisted on accompanying us and chattering all the time. I eventually decided to order the R32.... but its not that simple!! £500 gets you a deposit to go on a waiting list, I am now told it will be Oct/Nov before the dealer can place an order and then another 3-4 months after that for delivery. I'm told that it might be possible to get one before that provided I don't mind it not being quite the spec or colour I want. Well, sorry VW, but for £30k I want my spec not something that someone else has ordered. I have no intention of waiting almost a year for a new car, this is not exactly a non standard machine. I have tried another dealer who intially gave me much the same story, then said he could posibly get me one more quickly, but has never called back to confirm. I thought that buying a new car should be a pleasurable experience.....this is anything but and smacks of extreme arrogance on the part of VW and their dealers. Unless I can get one of these cars within a reasonable time period I shall be looking for something else.....a pity because it seems to be a good machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32HAZ Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Its not just VW who can give poor service. It seems endemic throughout the entire industry in my experience. I have bought many cars and in general they're all the same. I have bought Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, Peugeot, Land Rover, Subaru, Toyota - all have given bad / mediocre service. The dealer doesn't see it from your viewpoint - if you are spending 40k on the purchase of a lifetime then you are just a 'number' and 'ten a penny', they don't seem at all bothered that its a lot of your hard earned money they are dealing with. Having said that my experience of VW isn't too bad, propably the best out of all the above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashleywater Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I think that we peeps should get the whole supply thing in perspective. Stealers main core business is Polo's and base Golfs. The more expensive & exotic is not their bread and butter. I also suspect that the margin on an R32 for the stealer is not that different from a polo, so play the devils advocate, for a mo, and see it from the stealers side of the fence. Why bother trying to sell something, you cant get hold of, for the forseeable future, when you can be shifting stuff you have on stock in the system. I reckon stealers see cars such as the R32 as more of a "pain in the arse" than anything else. And as for the 30K argument, been to a BM or Merc dealer recently with a lot more than that, to spend, and see what you get, yep a rather long waiting time for delivery on anything not on system. I would agree that it is a very "British" thing to enjoy telling someone that; "sorry sir, you cant have it" Try walking into a british hotel late in the evening and ask if they have any rooms available, and just clock the expression on the receptionist's face, when she/he replies: Sorry sir, we are fully booked! The sadistic pleasure, which smacks of: stupid b*st*rd should have booked. Anyway if you want your own spec car, which is'nt one of the generic mass motors, then you are going to have to wait. If you are prepared to compromise, then there are cars available out there, DSG is the big prob at the moment, but that applies to all cars that have it as an option. So I am going to start moaning about when my fully specced up R36 is likely to arrive..............that should keep me going well into the next millenium and beyond......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Good Point Fagash32 - perhaps if car salespeople were on a larger basic salary and less commission, VW and the franchises would have a little more control of sales ethics. Your right that if a salesman is making the same on an R32 as say a Polo then he will not care. I understand that car salesmen can be on a basic salary as low as £6k and the rest has to be earned in commission. If you've got mouths to feed and mortgage to pay, your gonna be a bit selfish and single minded. The industry definitely needs a bit of a shake up imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGK512 Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 FA & TT I don't dobt the average margins but if that's the case it's a bit odd a dealer is 'rewarded' with more r32's if they flog passats etc ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTiMK5 Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 A friend of mine is a sales guy for a BMW dealership and his commision is the same on any car whether he sells a bottom of the range 1 series or an M5. The only exception to this is on a couple of 7 series models and the top of the range X5 however, he makes most of his commission on 1 and 3 series. He also gets a similar commission on used cars and a very small amount on any finance deal. His basic salary is £12K and IIRC he gets £200 roughly per sale on new cars (£500 on a couple of 7 series and top X5 model). His targets are quite high, it varies from month to month, obviously March and Sept are higher than Feb and Aug for example because of the new registrations but on average he has to sell approx 100 new cars per year and a similar amount of used. He doesnt receive his commission until the car has been delivered so it is in his interests to deliver the car as soon as possible. Also, if at anytime he leaves he looses all the commission on the cars he has sold that are still awaiting delivery to customers. IMO it is a feckin haed job, 6 days a week, long hours and fecking hard work just to earn half decent money. I am not sure how this compares to other marques and dealerships but this example shows that it makes little difference which car he sells and some cars are easier to sell than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1monty Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 None of this is an excuse for poor customer service! Many of us have difficult jobs and have to deal with the public. We are paying a lot of sometimes hard earned cash for our beloved cars and deserve to be treated in a civilised and efficient manner. Companies such as VW are doing alright so can afford to give us some courtesy when we enquire about or buy any particular model of vehicle. I would be out of my job if I behaved like some of these sales people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTiMK5 Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 [ QUOTE ] None of this is an excuse for poor customer service! Many of us have difficult jobs and have to deal with the public. We are paying a lot of sometimes hard earned cash for our beloved cars and deserve to be treated in a civilised and efficient manner. Companies such as VW are doing alright so can afford to give us some courtesy when we enquire about or buy any particular model of vehicle. I would be out of my job if I behaved like some of these sales people. [/ QUOTE ] I didnt say it was an excuse for poor customer service. All I was pointing out was it makes no difference to the sales person which model they are selling if they are on this type of commission, there is no extra incentive for them to sell a top of the range car over a lower model. However, if they want to earn their money then their customer service needs to be good to secure enough sales each month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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