Buying extra seats from VW is expensive. . The April 2017 price list for California Beach vans gives the cost of including 2 second row seats in a new vehicle as either £756 or £1086 depending on child seat configuration (these prices include VAT). The quote I have received from VW is approx. £2,322.00 EX VAT (for each additional seat). This, the cost of fitting new seats provided by VW to a 5 seat van (with the four rail system) is 5 or 6 times the cost of supply with a new van.
I asked VW customer care to explain why the cost was so much greater than supply with a new van. There answer follows:
'Thank you for your enquiry regarding the pricing of parts which are made available direct from factory. I apologise for the delay in my response.
I can confirm that the price which has been given from our Volkswagen Van Centre in Kettering is the one which has been given from factory and will not change. I understand that the seats are a considerable amount more expensive than what it would be as a factory option, but there is no influence either Customer Care or the Van Centre can have on this.
I understand that this was not the answer you were hoping for but there is no information we can advise you on why parts have been given a particular price from factory.'
In other words, VW UK does not know why the cost is so different. It's a weird culture at VW; it's a shame they are still not very customer focused.