What options are worth the money?

[brainbow]

Hi all, have an early 2018 R Line 115.

Very happy with it but had standard package.

Looks like I’ll be getting a newer one ordered soon and wanted to get peoples thoughts on what options were good for them and what was probably a waste of money???

I’m thinking of going with LED front lights, active display and 17 inch wheels in a new r line.

Anything else really worth having???

[john896]

If you are sticking with the R-line I personally would go with the following for my preference:
Panoramic roof - like the roof open on nice days
Climate control - seems daft when having panoramic roof but some days are just warm and wet or when on faster roads.
Keyless entry - more convenience than anything
ACC cruise control - wouldn’t buy a car without it now
Cockpit pro - nice options to set display to personal taste or function
LED Headlight - far better clarity of light at night than standard bulbs
1.0L 115hp 7speed DSG - will never buy another manual car

Looking at the price though it would be list price of about £26,600 for a 1.0L polo with 115hp. You could get the GTI+ with all the extras listed above and 200hp for £27,000. Obviously could be a reason for choosing the R-line like mpg or age and insurance purposes but it does seem to be a bit too close in price for a 1.0L run around and 2.0L hot hatch.

[SRGTD]

Whether an option is a waste of money or not will depend on the value placed on it by an individual and how much VW are charging for it. We all have different likes and dislikes so what’s important to one person won’t be important to another. Here’s my list of the options I’d definitely either want or not want. Any other available options I’ve not listed I could either take or leave.

• Sat nav - waste of money IMO when you can use Google Map or Waze.

• Diamond cut alloys - I’d always avoid them if they weren’t fitted as standard - the diamond cut finish isn’t very durable and they nearly always succumb to white worm corrosion; usually around the 2-3 year mark. If the standard wheels are painted / powder coated, stick with them, or if you want to upgrade to larger wheels go for a painted / powder coated option if VW offer it.

• LED headlamps; I’ve been spoilt with xenons and LED headlamps on my last two cars so these are a must for me. They are expensive though as a factory fit option (only standard on the GTI+).

• Art Velours alcantara upholstery; expensive for what it is (artificial suede). I wouldn’t buy it.

• Panoramic sunroof; I’ve not had a car with a sunroof for 20 years so I wouldn’t spec one now. Expensive too at around £900-£1,000.

• Electric folding mirrors; I’d spec these as I park my car in my garage, and being able to fold the mirrors gives more clearance when going in/out of my small garage with limited clearance.

• Climate control; I’ve had this in my last two cars and don’t really feel it’s any better than standard air con, other than the control panel might look better than the standard air con’s rotary dials. I’d not pay extra for climate control on any new car.

• Parking sensors / reversing camera; although the Polo isn’t a large car and has good visibility so should be easy to park, I’d probably go for one or both of these options if they weren’t standard on the model I was considering. I have a long standing back problem that periodically restricts my movement, so these options help me ‘see’ the extremes of the car when I’m struggling to twist and look over my shoulder when reversing.

• DSG; I’ve never owned a DSG but would seriously consider it next time. My back problems can make clutch work uncomfortable, especially in stop start traffic

But as said, it all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. When the time comes to sell the car, the value of most of these extra cost options is lost and you’re unlikely to get much more money for a highly specced car if trading in against your next car compared to one with less options. The highly specced car will probably be easier for a dealer to sell though, provided it’s priced sensibly.

My next car will be a GTI+ which is pretty well specced as standard, so there’d be very little - if anything - I’d want to add.

[brainbow]

Thanks for your thoughts.

Very true in the end it depends on what’s important to you.

I’m going with another R Line 115 so it’s got decent kit to start.

I’ve never driven a DSG so don’t know what I’m missing but the cost over the manual is too much I think.

LED front lights definitely. Stayed with standard lights first time and that was probably my only regret.

Not bothered about panoramic roof.

Got climate control at the moment and think it’s rubbish. Looks nicer in the cabin but could use that money elsewhere.

I want to upgrade to 17 wheels but the only option is the diamond cut ones so no choice really. They look nice. In the end VW will have the car back so if they ‘go off’ VW can sort it!

I like the look of the digital cockpit.

Not sure about ACC. Had that in my old car. Ok but don’t miss it.

It will have front and rear parking sensors. Would you go camera as well?

Anyone know if the driver profiles is worth it for a non GTI non DSG? It’s not expensive

[Ima]

In real terms no options are worth it as they offer so little value come trade in time if on PCP. Nicer wheels and climate etc make the car more attractive to sell to private buyers as they make the car look nicer and stand out from the other standard cars but won’t add financial value and as you’re on PCP go with what’s best for you. I’d personally say a rear camera on a car this size is unnecessary and not worth the money as you already have reversing sensors. The car is well equipped as standard anyway. If it was my money I’d have specced LED lights, better wheels and climate and nothing else. Enjoy the new car smell again.

[lancslad1985]

It’s down to personal choice. If some of the options you want are on the next trim level up that will be better from a financial point of view if you plan to trade the car in for another in 2-3 years. The dealer will give you a trade in based on your trim level with no options.

However, each option may have personal value. My wife is looking at a United or an R line because she needs the lumbar - her SE doesn’t have it and you can’t spec it on other trim levels. Paint is a purely personal preference as well and one I’d always pay for. No point having a car in a colour you hate.

I’d say look at the options you want and the next trim level up. If adding LED lights and a couple of other options shoves the price of an rline near a gti plus I’d get that as you get most of the toys you’d need on the plus. You don’t need sat nav these days as google and Waze are much better, climate isn’t necessary but it’s nice, I have bad knees so would always spec dsg now and so on.

[TheRacingRat]

In January Before I ordered the GTI+ I specced up a R Line Though Car Wow with the options I really wanted,

Limestone Grey paint£450
LEDs £950
DSG £1500
Climate£300
Upgraded wheels £350
Beats £350
Active Dash£350
Came out £22100, £200 more expensive than what the GTI+ cost me with those options!

[BootsOnBallast]

If you can afford the DSG get it. I’ll never buy a manual again.
LED headlights are awesome, get them.
The reversing camera is worth it considering the minimal cost and the money you’ll save when you reverse in to a post and then wish you’d got it.
On a car as small as a polo climate control is pointless, after a 15 minutes you’ll either had hot air or cold air... but the dials look pretty.

Forget the art velours, they were on the stock car I bought and are not worth a grand, I wouldn’t have paid for them. The heated seats are nice though!

I prefer the bressia wheels but do yourself a favour and read the forums threads on tyres and ride comfort.

I said it before but ultimately get what you can afford and what you’ll enjoy. I love my little car and the fact people mistake it for a golf...

[SRGTD]

One additional item not mentioned yet but certainly worth having is the service pack. Not really a physical optional extra as such, but getting the service pack at £199 (covers the first two services on the time and distance service regime) when you order the car is a bit of a no brainier IMO, especially when you consider VW’s current published price for the first service only (essentially an oil and filter change and a visual check) is £184 if you don’t have the service pack.

[lancslad1985]

One additional item not mentioned yet but certainly worth having is the service pack. Not really a physical optional extra as such, but getting the service pack at £199 (covers the first two services on the time and distance service regime) when you order the car is a bit of a no brainier IMO, especially when you consider VW’s current published price for the first service only (essentially an oil and filter change and a visual check) is £184 if you don’t have the service pack.

Completely agree. I’ve just bought it for that reason. Another option I’d always recommend is gap insurance but DON’T buy it from VW. I just bought three years cover for back to new price (not the cheaper invoice) for £235 and VWs was £400 for the same ALA gap insurance.

[SRGTD]

One additional item not mentioned yet but certainly worth having is the service pack. Not really a physical optional extra as such, but getting the service pack at £199 (covers the first two services on the time and distance service regime) when you order the car is a bit of a no brainier IMO, especially when you consider VW’s current published price for the first service only (essentially an oil and filter change and a visual check) is £184 if you don’t have the service pack.

Completely agree. I’ve just bought it for that reason. Another option I’d always recommend is gap insurance but DON’T buy it from VW. I just bought three years cover for back to new price (not the cheaper invoice) for £235 and VWs was £400 for the same ALA gap insurance.

GAP insurance from VW is horrendously expensive and that’s because they’re greedy! They apply a significant mark up on the ALA net price - that mark up is effectively their profit margin.

As you’ve said, much better (and cheaper) to buy GAP cover direct from the insurer. That’s what I did when I bought my current car. From memory buying GAP direct from ALA (the better ‘New Vehicle Replacement’ basis of cover) was less than half the price VW wanted for the inferior back to invoice GAP cover.

[Ima]

Another big tick from me on ALA. I’ve used them for years and a fantastic company to deal with. If you change your car before the end of the insurance period they automatically give you a rebate on the unused period. No quibbles and great value dealing direct as SRGTD says. Never buy these extras from the dealer as they are totally overpriced.

[The Random Dan]

I can only speak about the GTI from experience but I’d say money wise the bigger wheels are probably the only thing ‘worth’ the money considering they are only £350 optional extra.

If I was ordering from factory then that would be the only extra I’d have. I got mine with a rear camera also but thats only because it was a stock car so had no choice, i never even look at it when parking

[Simonz]

I can only speak about the GTI from experience but I’d say money wise the bigger wheels are probably the only thing ‘worth’ the money considering they are only £350 optional extra.

If I was ordering from factory then that would be the only extra I’d have. I got mine with a rear camera also but thats only because it was a stock car so had no choice, i never even look at it when parking

Good point - £350 is a bargain for the best alloys, bought separately could be double or triple that cost.

[monkeyhanger]

I can only speak about the GTI from experience but I’d say money wise the bigger wheels are probably the only thing ‘worth’ the money considering they are only £350 optional extra.

If I was ordering from factory then that would be the only extra I’d have. I got mine with a rear camera also but thats only because it was a stock car so had no choice, i never even look at it when parking

Spot on. My GTI+ was an allocation grab to avoid a long wait. It came with Nav and rear camera. Google maps is as good as built in nav and almost anyone would consider a rear camera with a limited close-up view unnecessary on a car with park pilot (graphical representation of parking sensor distances and beeps).

The Brescias look so much better than the standard Parkers IMO, having to ditch the Bridgestones for OS4 was worth additional cost.

To get a fully loaded R-line vs a GTI+ that has Oliver half the options you want as standard makes for a very expensive car as those options hold very little residual value. PCP a car for 3 years and you're financing maybe half the car cost in depreciation. Finance a car laden with options and you're financing half the car's cost and 80-100% of the cost of the options. In that case, a £250pm car can easily become a £450pm car.

The GTI+ holds its value better than the R-Line too (better GFV as a % of RRP), making it a far better buy than an R-line optioned to the same level of equipment.

I'd urge you not to get a sunroof - it'll turn the car into a rattle box, warranty issues are very common for them, and it's an expensive option.