Puddle lights

[stevereeves]

[/quote]
Based on the number of anomalies and inconsistencies in information that have appeared in VW product literature over time (not just the brochures for the current model Polo), you get the impression that VW either haven’t heard of, or don’t understand, the concept of proof checking prior to publication........
[/quote]
It would appear not. Incedentally, when you guys say 'brochures' do you mean on VW site, or actual paper brochures? I certainly prefer the latter as I don't wish to keep going online to check car spec, but dealers & VW say they are no longer printed (as do Skoda), though I'm told by by others that they are, so too are Audi & Seat apparently....

[SRGTD]

Incedentally, when you guys say 'brochures' do you mean on VW site, or actual paper brochures? I certainly prefer the latter as I don't wish to keep going online to check car spec, but dealers & VW say they are no longer printed (as do Skoda), though I'm told by by others that they are, so too are Audi & Seat apparently....

I don’t think there is an option to get a paper ‘hard copy’ brochure any longer. Just checked on VW’s website, and it looks as if you can only get a downloadable version now.

I also had a quick look on Audi, Skoda and Seat websites, and I couldn’t see an no option to request a hard copy printed brochure - so it looks as if it’s on line or nothing for Audi, Skoda and Seat too.

The fact that brochures are on line should mean that when VW are made aware of errors, they should be quick and easy to correct - not the weeks or months it took to correct the Winter Pack content in the price list. Also there’s no expensive reprinting costs or costs of disposal of incorrect brochures to be incurred with on line only versions.

[monkeyhanger]

If you need a hard copy of a brochure, your dealership prints off the relevant pages of the PDF for the model you're after, Hard copy brochures have been gone about a year now.

On the subject of puddle lights, I have scrutinised the brochure and pricelist issued in May - the Pricelist is far more specific on options/standard equipment. According to the brochure, the "convenience pack" mentions foldable and rear dipping heated door mirrors with puddle lights - and that pack is an option for SE only. Elsewhere, in the "comfort and convenience" section, there is the entry "electrically foldable door mirrors", it is an option on all models except R-Line and GTI+ where it is standard.It is electrically heated, foldable and adjustable door mirrors, with kerb view adjustment on reverse. No mention of puddle mirrors.

Seems then that the only people expecting puddle lights are those that are getting the SE with the optional convenience pack bought.

Seems daft that for the Polo there would be 2 variants of the folding mirrors available on the Polo.

[SRGTD]

Seems daft that for the Polo there would be 2 variants of the folding mirrors available on the Polo.

Agree. And, according to the price list, for puddle lights to only be available on the SE models as an option, and not available as an option or part of the standard spec on other Polo models higher up the model range seems particularly strange.

If I was a gambling man, I’d put money on the price list being incorrect (puddle lights aren’t included in the Convenience Pack description on the configurator), and if you specced the optional Convenience Pack on an SE, you wouldn’t get puddle lights

[stevereeves]

If you need a hard copy of a brochure, your dealership prints off the relevant pages of the PDF for the model you're after, Hard copy brochures have been gone about a year now.

You'd think, but a friend for whom change of car is imminent received printed brochures from Audi & Seat by post.....

[AndyGTi]

Last time I was checking, Audi had printed brochure available and this was long after VW had stopped the issuing of printed material.

It can only be a matter of time before the printing stops.

I like printed brochures but think it’s a dying format.

Andy

[monkeyhanger]

If you need a hard copy of a brochure, your dealership prints off the relevant pages of the PDF for the model you're after, Hard copy brochures have been gone about a year now.

You'd think, but a friend for whom change of car is imminent received printed brochures from Audi & Seat by post.....

May still be available by post, but if you've got to apply for one and give address, you don't just do it on a whim, you must be considering that model. Audi send me a glossy magazine every quarter.

[stevereeves]

VW only write to tell how me how much the car is costing each month, as do my bank (it's on 4 yrs PCP), though every couple of months or so the dealer sends me general 'time for your next car?' brochures. What none of them yet realise is I will prob change cars before the 4-yr period is up....

[Aube]

Hi,

The plot thickens!

I’ve now been told by VW Customer Services that the convenience pack should include door mirror puddle lights and advised to go back to the dealer to discuss. I’m not convinced he is correct as a few cars I’ve looked at in a number of VW dealerships don’t have these lights when the convenience pack is fitted.

Thankfully we have an excellent dealer who I’m sure will do their best to help. But in the meantime, if anyone has the convenience pack or is visiting a dealer, can you please check and let me know if you discover a car with these lights.

Thanks

[SRGTD]

Hi,

The plot thickens!

I’ve now been told by VW Customer Services that the convenience pack should include door mirror puddle lights and advised to go back to the dealer to discuss. I’m not convinced he is correct as a few cars I’ve looked at in a number of VW dealerships don’t have these lights when the convenience pack is fitted.

Thankfully we have an excellent dealer who I’m sure will do their best to help. But in the meantime, if anyone has the convenience pack or is visiting a dealer, can you please check and let me know if you discover a car with these lights.

Thanks

Sounds like the Winter Pack fiasco all over again. The same VW Customer Services were telling customers who’d ordered the Winter Pack that it included headlamp washers when cars that had been built with the Winter Pack option clearly didn’t have them.

I think that when customers query anything to do with a car’s spec (standard spec and that of options), their ‘bible’ for responding to these queries is the latest version of the price list. It’d be interesting to get VWCS to confirm the source of information they use, and also ask them to explain the inconsistency in the Convenience Pack description between the price list and the on line configurator on VW’s website .

[mike sel]

Hi,

I had a call from VW customer service who explained that in the brochure and price list there are notes saying some illustrations and details do not necessarily reflect UK specifications and may not be available. So basically that’s the get out clause. However I mentioned the price list is updated regularly, so asked why can't that at least reflect the UK spec! He said that will be flagged up to the brochure team.

I live in hope.

I can understand the illustrations in the all model brochure may not reflect UK spec and there’s a statement to that effect in the brochure. But details of standard and optional equipment on each model in the UK price list brochure should surely reflect the correct details for UK spec cars; would-be customers will be using the information in the price list to help them decide on the spec of their purchase.

Based on the number of anomalies and inconsistencies in information that have appeared in VW product literature over time (not just the brochures for the current model Polo), you get the impression that VW either haven’t heard of, or don’t understand, the concept of proof checking prior to publication........

I think its more fundamental than that. The brochure is one thing as you correctly say. the price list on the other hand is basically an offer to treat. effectively if you genuinely thought that what was listed in the price list was what you were getting (in most cases so does the sales guy) and you selected that option and paid for it then a contract has been formed and you have a right to expect what you have paid for or VW are in breach of contract.

[SRGTD]

You make a good valid point Mike. However, VW would probably fall back on their ‘get-out clause’ that they print in most, if not all, their product literature. The Polo price list includes the following;

‘The prices and specifications contained in this price list are for information purposes only as our products are continually updated and changes may be made to the prices and specifications at any time.’

So, VW would say it was made clear that you might not get what you thought you would.

Differences in actual v’s expected spec is most likely to happen if a car is ordered before VW have announced the next year’s model year changes, and the car is built after the start date of next years model production. Sometimes model year changes will mean additional equipment is added to a car’s spec, but it can also mean less equipment if VW remove certain items of equipment as part of model year changes.

As for the Convenience Pack option and whether or not puddle lights are included; I would suggest to any owners who have specced this option on a new Polo SE, they save a pdf copy of the current price list which includes puddle lights in the description of what’s included in the Convenience Pack. If their car doesn’t have puddle lights when it’s delivered, they take this up with their dealer with the view to getting a partial (or total) refund of the cost of the Convenience Pack option, on the basis that what has been supplied is not what was expected. We know that owners (including yourself) have been successful in being compensated for missing items from the winter pack, so there’s no reason why those customers who’ve specced the Convenience Pack shouldn’t be similarly successful if puddle lights are missing.