What would YOU do?

GA Treg · Oct 27, 2009

I purchased my Touareg a little over a month ago. When the salesmen (yes, salesMEN because my salesman didn't have much knowledge of the Treg) went over the vehicle with me and what features it had, they told me the bluetooth was easy to hook up and showed me the heated steering wheel button. When I tried to hook up my phone, I called my salesman and he said "It doesn't have bluetooth." What? But the other salesman told me it was easy to hook up. "No, that's an option you didn't get."

I let it go, since I rarely used my bluetooth anyway.

The following week I emailed my salesman because I couldn't get the heated steering wheel to work. He said he thought it was because it wouldn't come on until it was less than 50 degrees outside, but I could bring it in and they'd check. I took it in and yep, that's what the service department said too.

A couple of weeks ago, it got down to 32 degrees here in Georgia and the steering wheel still wouldn't heat. Instead of driving 35 miles to the dealer I bought it from, I decided to take it to the local dealer in town (who I tried to buy from, but they "couldn't find" the car I wanted.) My appointment was today. They called me after lunch, "I'm sorry, but your car didn't come with heated steering wheel. We even checked with VW according to your vin and it's not listed!"

I haven't called back up to the dealer I bought it from yet because I'm still to mad. Am I SOL? Or should I ask to be "compensated" somehow for the difference between what they TOLD ME I had when I bought it and what I actually have. And before you ask, no it wasn't listed out anywhere. I was told the bluetooth and heated steering wheel were part of the "packages."

Advice?

VWZach · Oct 27, 2009

That is a tough one... which dealership did you buy from in Atlanta? I would attempt to talk to the salesperson that you dealt with. Make sure that he is still there, go what he told you and see if you can get him to say all of that again. If he does this, then hit him with the fact that your T2 does not have the options. If he is not there or has no recollection of you then you are SOL.

On a personal note. I went over my Touareg with a fine tooth comb. I knew what options it had and if they did not work at the time (Sat Radio) I made them make it work before I would take possession of it. I was in the "pick up" area for about an hour.

GA Treg · Oct 27, 2009

Zach, I didn't buy it in Atlanta. I had them give me a quote, but the salesman responded "You do know this is a $50,000 vehicle, right?" There was more to it, but I ended up buying it in Chattanooga.

I normally go over vehicles with a fine tooth comb myself, however with this one I couldn't decipher the packages. The "package" listed on the dealer invoice didn't match up with the "packages" listed on VW's website.

As for going back to my original dealer, I have emails from the salesman asking if I ever got the heated steering wheel to work. I have proof of being told it has one.

I suppose my first step will be to call up to the service department of my dealership and ask them to run my vin, verifying it has heated steering.

Yeti · Oct 27, 2009

They all have the button, but they all don't have a heated wheel. You have to have the winter package to get the heated wheel. As far as the bluetooth, not a factory option that I am aware of, but you can get it as an add on feature. It could be bluetooth ready, but not necessarily have the feature. Bottom line is the dealership that sold it to you has no clue and should have ran the VIN to see if it was truely an option before you bought it.

mscot · Oct 27, 2009

What year do you have?

nickm · Oct 27, 2009

This sucks but I'd say you're SOL unless it was explicitly stated in the bill of sale...buyer beware.

gregtay · Oct 27, 2009

Bluetooth is a factory option for 2009/2010 (but not prior.) There are some aftermarket kits (Fiscon) or you could add the factory VW BT module (I am adding it to my 2008 as soon as i get my RNS510 installed.)

Heated Steering wheel was available in 2008 on V10's only. Not available on 2009 or 2010 Touaregs (and i don't believe it was available in 2007 but not sure.) As someone stated... they all have "the button"

(this is all for US models only... in Europe you can have whatever you want on any model.)

DCC · Oct 27, 2009

gregtay said:
Bluetooth is a factory option for 2009/2010 (but not prior.) There are some aftermarket kits (Fiscon) or you could add the factory VW BT module (I am adding it to my 2008 as soon as i get my RNS510 installed.)

Heated Steering wheel was available in 2008 on V10's only. Not available on 2009 or 2010 Touaregs (and i don't believe it was available in 2007 but not sure.) As someone stated... they all have "the button"

(this is all for US models only... in Europe you can have whatever you want on any model.)

Bluetooth is now standard on 2010 T2s
For 2010, the heated steering wheel comes with the Lux package.
You are correct that only 2008 V10s got the heated wheel, but they were also available back in 2004 but was absent from 2005-2007.

DCC · Oct 27, 2009

GA Treg said:
I purchased my Touareg a little over a month ago. When the salesmen (yes, salesMEN because my salesman didn't have much knowledge of the Treg) went over the vehicle with me and what features it had, they told me the bluetooth was easy to hook up and showed me the heated steering wheel button. When I tried to hook up my phone, I called my salesman and he said "It doesn't have bluetooth." What? But the other salesman told me it was easy to hook up. "No, that's an option you didn't get." I let it go, since I rarely used my bluetooth anyway.

The following week I emailed my salesman because I couldn't get the heated steering wheel to work. He said he thought it was because it wouldn't come on until it was less than 50 degrees outside, but I could bring it in and they'd check. I took it in and yep, that's what the service department said too.

A couple of weeks ago, it got down to 32 degrees here in Georgia and the steering wheel still wouldn't heat. Instead of driving 35 miles to the dealer I bought it from, I decided to take it to the local dealer in town (who I tried to buy from, but they "couldn't find" the car I wanted.) My appointment was today. They called me after lunch, "I'm sorry, but your car didn't come with heated steering wheel. We even checked with VW according to your vin and it's not listed!"

I haven't called back up to the dealer I bought it from yet because I'm still to mad. Am I SOL? Or should I ask to be "compensated" somehow for the difference between what they TOLD ME I had when I bought it and what I actually have. And before you ask, no it wasn't listed out anywhere. I was told the bluetooth and heated steering wheel were part of the "packages."

Advice?

You can call to see if they will compensate you some, but I don't think there is much more you can do...

GA Treg · Oct 27, 2009

Thanks everyone, that's what I was afraid of ... I'm SOL. I've contacted the sales manager and explained the situation to him. He's looking into it and will call me back. The bluetooth is still not an issue for me, that was my goof for assuming. The heated steering wheel ticks me off. They flat out told me this vehicle had the heated steering wheel and then when I took it in for service said it was "just fine."

As DCC suggested, I'm going to politely request compensation. Since I have service documentation and email proof of being told I had a heated steering wheel, perhaps I have a little bit of negotiating power.

NottsTreg · Oct 27, 2009

Ask them to fit the heated steering wheel, you will need the wheel controller, wheel, and slip ring. Although it might not have been on the car from new, the parts are all available and it can be retrofitted. At the very least, ask them for the price of the parts to get it fitted so you can get it done yourself should you decide to do so.

lgibson · Oct 27, 2009

I think the wheel itself may be around $800.

turtle · Oct 27, 2009

I had a similar problem when I bought my used 2004. It was an honest miscommunication within the dealership but I asked that they bump my extended warranty to the Premium from Gold plan and they did. I'd try and be nice about it but negotiate for some equivalent goodies.

gregtay · Oct 27, 2009

BTW... you never told us what year/model you have.

gdibeneditto · Oct 28, 2009

If you have the service record that they inspected your vehicle and told you that the heated steering was working properly - then yes you should have some leverage.

I am not a dealer or a technician - so for those who know better please correct me - but most manufacturers are very sensitive that their dealers are performing service and repair properly and responsibly. This is especially because they reimburse the dealer for parts and labor work performed while under warranty and for certified vehicles. Thus companies like VW have to trust each dealer that they are doing the work necessary and ONLY the work necessary to satisfy the warranty. A dealer could in theory replace a whole bunch of things that were working fine, and would get the labor compensation for it - even though nothing was wrong. Of course a dealer who does this a lot, or is statistically deviating from the rest of the country's dealers, it sends up a red flag and they may get audited. I know dealers are sensitive to how much warranty work they perform because they always seem hesitant to perform all the repairs necessary even though its only extra business for them in the end.

Of course if my understanding is incorrect, this whole argument is moot anyway, but if the service report says your heated wheel is fine then: a) - they lied or b) they're incompetent. VW would not be happy about it either way. Thus you could try and contact VW directly and complain - or threaten the dealer that you will if all else fails. Thats hopefully enough to get you somewhere.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.
__________________
2010 T2 TDI on order: White, Lux, Tech Prem, Hitch, Air

What would YOU do?

GA Treg

VWZach

GA Treg

Yeti

mscot

nickm

gregtay

DCC

DCC

GA Treg

NottsTreg

lgibson

turtle

gregtay

gdibeneditto

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