Ordering a new van - test drive? - discounts? - customising?

[scholar]

Well, I am pretty sure I want to order a T6 - problem is, how and where? So I have a few Van-Newbie questions.

First problem is: should I expect to be offered a test drive in a van with the setup I am after? I want a Caravelle 204PS/DSG/4-Motion. My local dealer does not have anything with that running gear and suggests that a 204PS manual or a 150PS (neither 4-Motion) will be representative - that seems a facile suggestion to me. If you are expecting to pay £60,000ish for a van, is it too much to ask that you get to try one? I think the only time I bought a car without driving it was my X5 that I ordered before they came into the country (in fact I decided I didn't like BMW's and have not had one since).

Second question arises from the above: once you have gone through VW's infamous options list, it does mount up - what can anyone say about the current experience of discount availability? Given the options list (or to my mind, the desirable features that are omitted from standard), I am pretty sure that I am going to want to spec my own, rather than find a stock vehicle.

Finally, I think I will want to add a little bit of customisation (this forum is a bad influence!) - other than two-tone paintwork that I am still keen on (as per thread in the bodywork section), starting with the seats. What is the best approach here? Eg, I have looked at the Raceline seats as a start - it's not clear to me whether they retrim the factory seats or replace them entirely. Would I be better buying the whole thing through the custom house? (My research, other than ogling other members' vans here, is only limited to a quick browse on the Raceline website).

Any views would be much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[VanBlanc]

Spending £60K or not finding a precise demonstrator can always be a problem. In fairness to the dealers there are just so many options how can they be expected to have one of each? You may have to have a drive of several vehicles to experience all the options.

Discount on a factory order you should expect 11%/12% and on a stock van perhaps up to 15% depending how keen they are to shift it. If they have a loaded Vel in stock they might be keen to see the back of it.

IMHO your best bet is to buy as much as possible as OE options through a dealer so long as it suits your needs and wants. It would fit and work correctly and you will get your 3 or 5 year warranty. Then once you have your van bling it up with the rest from wherever takes your fancy.

Racelines seats appear to be recovered OE.

 

[scholar]

Hi VB

Thanks indeed - v helpful and much appreciated.

There is a little more to my irritation about the test drive as the dealer told me they had a van of the right mechanical spec coming in, promised me a test drive, then promptly sold it to someone else, then offered the other vans with different mechanicals (where I might as well try a Golf, it seems to me). It's a fair point about all the different permutations, but really VW should be making a fleet available out there, so that most of the main permutations are covered and available for dealers to offer - I'm a dyed in the wool VW loyalist, but they do take a high-handed approach to the market (and I guess the UK is a significant and lucrative one for them).

There will be more questions about the options ....

Cheers

 

[carlg]

Hi VB

Thanks indeed - v helpful and much appreciated.

There is a little more to my irritation about the test drive as the dealer told me they had a van of the right mechanical spec coming in, promised me a test drive, then promptly sold it to someone else, then offered the other vans with different mechanicals (where I might as well try a Golf, it seems to me). It's a fair point about all the different permutations, but really VW should be making a fleet available out there, so that most of the main permutations are covered and available for dealers to offer - I'm a dyed in the wool VW loyalist, but they do take a high-handed approach to the market (and I guess the UK is a significant and lucrative one for them).

There will be more questions about the options ....

Cheers

You could look up some different van centre's and see what they have ,where are you based

 

[VanBlanc]

You could look up some different van centre's and see what they have ,where are you based

Or perhaps @scholar 's proactive dealer could do it for him

If they are part of a group as most are then they should phone around the group or you do it and play them off against each other. Also ask what they have got on the S/H forecourt you could try - they might have something closer to your spec.

 

[scholar]

You could look up some different van centre's and see what they have ,where are you based

Thanks, yes I have got some choice and am just gonna look at this, but I was surprised how few and far between the van centres are.

As a related point, I haven't found any statistics, but I got the impression that the 4-Motion is quite a popular option amongst people here, more so than the fleet of demonstrators appears to imply.

 

[Caravellet6]

Frankly for what they charged me extra on mine it's a relatively cheap option to have, unless someone tells me has shot up as an option ha ha

 

[carlg]

Thanks, yes I have got some choice and am just gonna look at this, but I was surprised how few and far between the van centres are.

As a related point, I haven't found any statistics, but I got the impression that the 4-Motion is quite a popular option amongst people here, more so than the fleet of demonstrators appears to imply.

West Yorkshire van centre had a red and white gen 6 in there show room price was £54000 ,not sure what spec might be worth a call ,@Caravellet6 got his velle there he might have seen there gen6 on display .

 

[VanBlanc]

I'd have liked 4motion but they only do it on a manual 150 and I don't need to run a 204 just to get 4motion with DSG.

Odd because they did do T5 4motion DSG.

If you are getting 4motion to get you out of the mud don't you need diff lock too?

 

[Caravellet6]

West Yorkshire van centre had a red and white gen 6 in there show room price was £54000 ,not sure what spec might be worth a call ,@Caravellet6 got his velle there he might have seen there gen6 on display .

Yep it was there last month in the showroom, very helpful guys too. Not sure on spec though, speak to Mark Wheelwright 01274 985253