Borris
Super Poster
VIP Member
Hi all,
Yesterday, after more than three years of planning and research, my wife and I collected our dream machine. An ex demonstrator, pearl black, T5 California SE, dsg, 4Motion, Blue Motion along with all its many optional bells and whistles. We agreed to buy it a week after it had been registered at the end of June and accordingly placed our deposit. We were the first people to sit in it and as luck would have it this vehicle had every thing that we had wanted as an option, including a kitchen sink. It even had things that we wouldn't have chosen but have since realised were a good option choice, namely Sportline front bumper upgrade, stainless side bars and Autoglym Lifeshine.
Then just before we were due to collect it, the VW Emissions scandal hit the fan. Our anticipation and excitement were well and truly tainted at the last minute. However after much thought and discussion we decided that we would finish what we had started and go ahead and collect our new Cali.
We bought it from SMG at Tonbridge. From the outset we dealt with Laine Watts in sales. He was quite simply superb through out. He is a Cali enthusiast himself and really knows these vehicles inside out. He took time to explain every aspect including the problems and preventative measures to keep you out of trouble. His enthusiasm and knowledge finally sold us on Cali ownership. His handover was also extremely comprehensive and the vehicle was very well prepared. So in these turbulent and uncertain times, top marks to SMG VW and in particular to Laine Watts.
Our trip home in this vehicle was silky smooth and rattle free. We even stopped for our first picnic in our Cali on the then sun drenched Romney Marsh. In such a short space of time this amazing vehicle has re kindled our enthusiasm for the Cali and convinced us that we have made the right decision. If we had cancelled our order I feel sure that we would always have regretted it.
Also, I feel strongly that despite the actions of a those individuals at VW who felt it was acceptable to cheat and deceive, the many hundreds of thousands of VW employees world wide and the even greater numbers of people who are employed in subsidiary companies, all make great products and badly need people to continue buying VW vehicles. Having "screwed up badly", VW will now want to be more than squeaky clean in order to win back customers and to try and regain their global reputation. So whilst being bitterly disappointed in VW management, it will not put me off buying their products. They are about to become better.
Whether you agree with me or not doesn't really matter. We have made our decision and if our Cali is affected and requires a remap then we will cross that bridge if we come to it. Also, there is a lot of talk on the forum about residual values being affected. Well they may be, but as the Cali is such a brilliant design, there will always be many people who will want one therefore, IMHO, residuals should remain strong.
Sorry one and all for the length of this post.
Yesterday, after more than three years of planning and research, my wife and I collected our dream machine. An ex demonstrator, pearl black, T5 California SE, dsg, 4Motion, Blue Motion along with all its many optional bells and whistles. We agreed to buy it a week after it had been registered at the end of June and accordingly placed our deposit. We were the first people to sit in it and as luck would have it this vehicle had every thing that we had wanted as an option, including a kitchen sink. It even had things that we wouldn't have chosen but have since realised were a good option choice, namely Sportline front bumper upgrade, stainless side bars and Autoglym Lifeshine.
Then just before we were due to collect it, the VW Emissions scandal hit the fan. Our anticipation and excitement were well and truly tainted at the last minute. However after much thought and discussion we decided that we would finish what we had started and go ahead and collect our new Cali.
We bought it from SMG at Tonbridge. From the outset we dealt with Laine Watts in sales. He was quite simply superb through out. He is a Cali enthusiast himself and really knows these vehicles inside out. He took time to explain every aspect including the problems and preventative measures to keep you out of trouble. His enthusiasm and knowledge finally sold us on Cali ownership. His handover was also extremely comprehensive and the vehicle was very well prepared. So in these turbulent and uncertain times, top marks to SMG VW and in particular to Laine Watts.
Our trip home in this vehicle was silky smooth and rattle free. We even stopped for our first picnic in our Cali on the then sun drenched Romney Marsh. In such a short space of time this amazing vehicle has re kindled our enthusiasm for the Cali and convinced us that we have made the right decision. If we had cancelled our order I feel sure that we would always have regretted it.
Also, I feel strongly that despite the actions of a those individuals at VW who felt it was acceptable to cheat and deceive, the many hundreds of thousands of VW employees world wide and the even greater numbers of people who are employed in subsidiary companies, all make great products and badly need people to continue buying VW vehicles. Having "screwed up badly", VW will now want to be more than squeaky clean in order to win back customers and to try and regain their global reputation. So whilst being bitterly disappointed in VW management, it will not put me off buying their products. They are about to become better.
Whether you agree with me or not doesn't really matter. We have made our decision and if our Cali is affected and requires a remap then we will cross that bridge if we come to it. Also, there is a lot of talk on the forum about residual values being affected. Well they may be, but as the Cali is such a brilliant design, there will always be many people who will want one therefore, IMHO, residuals should remain strong.
Sorry one and all for the length of this post.
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