VW Ireland will sell direct to customers starting in 2026 and end sales from its dealer network

[pjm-84]

Business, I wouldn't care but it would have to be an EV. When parting with your own money its slightly different.

Actually my shortest test drive was the one I didn't do. It was a Jeep Cherokee back in the mid 90s. I sat in the seat and pedals and steering wheel were offset and somewhat allien to my 6ft 5in frame. The salesman told me that I would get use to it...... I said I wasnt even going to try so not to bother. Bought a Discovery

 

[pjm-84]

Wow, I am amazed at the number of you that are obviously not "DRIVERS". Do you really mean the you will just get into any vehicle, press the pedals and point it where you wish to go?

Perhaps you all live in urban areas where you have never experienced the ability to "drive the open road" and enjoy the experience.
For instance both myself and my wife in separate vehicles, one a T6 and the other a T-Roc drove from Brecon to Hirwaun a couple of weeks ago using the A4059 briskly (avoiding the sheep) (https://www.google.com/maps/@51.8133186,-3.4784481,13z?authuser=0&entry=ttu).
Do that occasionally in various vehicles and you will soon learn how to pick out the rubbish cars and avoid them.

Know the road well....hoped you stopped and bought some Brecon Gin

 

[Aubisque]

Wow, I am amazed at the number of you that are obviously not "DRIVERS". Do you really mean the you will just get into any vehicle, press the pedals and point it where you wish to go?

Perhaps you all live in urban areas where you have never experienced the ability to "drive the open road" and enjoy the experience.
For instance both myself and my wife in separate vehicles, one a T6 and the other a T-Roc drove from Brecon to Hirwaun a couple of weeks ago using the A4059 briskly (avoiding the sheep) (https://www.google.com/maps/@51.8133186,-3.4784481,13z?authuser=0&entry=ttu).
Do that occasionally in various vehicles and you will soon learn how to pick out the rubbish cars and avoid them.

Most people don’t care and Britain too inundated with traffic to ever have ‘open roads’. There are exceptions, I drove across Northumberland this week and much of it was like rural France.

 

[PeteS]

I like to at least view and test drive a car before I purchase it. I expect that you will still be able to do that as the dealers will have to sell the used stock.
I guess the bottom line will be that useless you lease or PCP a car you may take a hit when trading it in. Most dealers will look to put together a deal based on your used car and the new car. If they are not going to get any money from the new car there will be little incentive to offer a reasonable price for your used car.
Personally I like going to the dealers talking to them about the car I am thinking about and then taking over the options. A friend of mine purchased a new T Roc but the model they wanted did not come with Sat Nav. They were going to add the Sat Nav but the salesman said I wouldn’t select that option as you can just use your phone connected to Car Play. An online ordering system won’t offer the same advice.
It would be interesting to know what part of the dealership system people have most concerns about i.e. Servicing, New Car Sales, Used Car Sales, Parts and Accessories. If the answer is New Car Sales then maybe they are right to make that department direct sales but I bet it is not the worst department.

 

[rod_vw]

I like to at least view and test drive a car before I purchase it. I expect that you will still be able to do that as the dealers will have to sell the used stock.
I guess the bottom line will be that useless you lease or PCP a car you may take a hit when trading it in. Most dealers will look to put together a deal based on your used car and the new car. If they are not going to get any money from the new car there will be little incentive to offer a reasonable price for your used car.
Personally I like going to the dealers talking to them about the car I am thinking about and then taking over the options. A friend of mine purchased a new T Roc but the model they wanted did not come with Sat Nav. They were going to add the Sat Nav but the salesman said I wouldn’t select that option as you can just use your phone connected to Car Play. An online ordering system won’t offer the same advice.
It would be interesting to know what part of the dealership system people have most concerns about i.e. Servicing, New Car Sales, Used Car Sales, Parts and Accessories. If the answer is New Car Sales then maybe they are right to make that department direct sales but I bet it is not the worst department.

We've just done a very similar thing. The T6 has gone and been replaced by a LWB MAN TGE so there was a need for a car. We were aiming for a small SUV, i.e. a Skoda Karoq, a SEAT Ateca or a VW T-Roc in the end we found an R Line T-Roc but whilst searching we had driven both of the other models and didn't like them as much as the T-Roc but would never have known if a test drive had not been available.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

A friend of mine purchased a new T Roc but the model they wanted did not come with Sat Nav. They were going to add the Sat Nav but the salesman said I wouldn’t select that option as you can just use your phone connected to Car Play. An online ordering system won’t offer the same advice.

Quick google search from the comfort of their own home (with beer in hand) would have confirmed the same.

Most manufacturers car sat nav are outdated and also need payment for latest maps once free period has expired. We have a VW (kenwood) unit with garmin satnav - satnav is rubbish, Waze over carplay is far superior; Previous owner paid £1500 for VW to install….but later £500 Kenwood units have far better functionality.

 

[rod_vw]

Quick google search from the comfort of their own home (with beer in hand) would have confirmed the same.

Most manufacturers car sat nav are outdated and also need payment for latest maps once free period has expired. We have a VW (kenwood) unit with garmin satnav - satnav is rubbish, Waze over carplay is far superior; Previous owner paid £1500 for VW to install….but later £500 Kenwood units have far better functionality.

Our 2021 T-Roc has a factory satnav which is reasonably accurate and up to date but has an option to give speed warnings. However these are total rubbish, it thinks there are various speed limits below 30mph even down to 5mph and we don't live in Wales!.

 

[pjm-84]

LMAO.......You couldn't make this up....

Volkswagen dealers told car maker is backing away from fixed-price ‘agency sales’ – Car Dealer Magazine

Volkswagen Group dealers have been told the firm will be canning agency sales for the foreseeable future. Outgoing group MD Alex Smith wrote to franchise

cardealermagazine.co.uk

 

[Mehdime]

LMAO.......You couldn't make this up....

Volkswagen dealers told car maker is backing away from fixed-price ‘agency sales’ – Car Dealer Magazine

Volkswagen Group dealers have been told the firm will be canning agency sales for the foreseeable future. Outgoing group MD Alex Smith wrote to franchise

cardealermagazine.co.uk

Fantastic messaging there from VW:

> Volkswagen says agency sales is still its ‘long term’ aim, but has not given any indication of when it will return.

That’s effectively telling dealers: “it remains VW’s goal to exterminate you but please continue to do our work in the meantime while we work out how we’re going to do this because we’re not quite sure yet”.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

When all the dealerships disappear where do you go for Service?
My Local Stellantis (Fiat dealership) for Cumbria is in Preston or Ayr, 70+ miles each way if I am a crow!

 

[colintfcolintf]

When all the dealerships disappear where do you go for Service?
My Local Stellantis (Fiat dealership) for Cumbria is in Preston or Ayr, 70+ miles each way if I am a crow!

Any commercial VW dealer should be able to service them (?)

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Any commercial VW dealer should be able to service them (?)

Commercial will service/fix the van mechanicals with no issues; Only issue is when you have a problem with electric roof, control panel or camping side of things. Will result in longer lead times for a fix which then eats into your warranty period whilst you are waiting.

It’s likely that VW will lose service income once a van is outside of warranty as many owners will shift to motorhome specialists who can service both mechanical & camper side of things.

 

[colintfcolintf]

Commercial will service/fix the van mechanicals with no issues; Only issue is when you have a problem with electric roof, control panel or camping side of things. Will result in longer lead times for a fix which then eats into your warranty period whilst you are waiting.

It’s likely that VW will lose service income once a van is outside of warranty as many owners will shift to motorhome specialists who can service both mechanical & camper side of things.

Indeed that’s true

 

[Mehdime]

Commercial will service/fix the van mechanicals with no issues; Only issue is when you have a problem with electric roof, control panel or camping side of things. Will result in longer lead times for a fix which then eats into your warranty period whilst you are waiting.

Where is this information coming from? Is this something VW has said? I just wonder why servicing would be any different than today.

Most dealers aren’t expert with the California today already. Parts have to be ordered from Germany anyway. What would cause any specific delays?

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Where is this information coming from? Is this something VW has said? I just wonder why servicing would be any different than today.

Most dealers aren’t expert with the California today already. Parts have to be ordered from Germany anyway. What would cause any specific delays?

VW are currently on a cost cutting drive, less dealerships will result in longer lead times for servicing.

 

[WelshGas]

VW are currently on a cost cutting drive, less dealerships will result in longer lead times for servicing.

Why should that be the case?
Dealerships are in the vast number of cases Franchise. Sales of Californias may be concentrated to a small number of specialist Dealerships who might become expert in the Habitation side of things but general vehicle servicing can be undertaken at any VW commercial Dealership. In fact things might well improve regarding the Habitation side of things regarding warranty/repairs.
Afterall Westfalia/Motorhome Dealerships for new vehicles aren't that numerous on the ground but servicing of the base vehicle doesn't seem to be a problem.