[Lenny]

I have a 2012 Touareg and my sirius radio subscription has ended, which is fine no biggy. What concerns me is that my traffic updates that are part of my VW navigation system does not work anymore.... Are you required to have sirius radio for Navigation traffic updates? I find that to be unfair that I must pay a monthly cost for a product that is already equiped in the vehicle when i bought it. I know that sirius is a perk but why cant the traffic updates come though the regular radio....

 

[Yeti]

Traffic updates were actually part of the Sirius subscription, not part of the Nav. They just work with the Nav system, but you have to pay to get it be there all the time. Now can you get traffic without Sirius radio, that would be a question for Sirius when you call to find out. I know it is an additional charge for me on my system and my monthly cost is not that bad really for traffic and radio.

 

[swampg8rs]

I just went through this. What a nightmare. Situation - bought '12 TDI in Sept '11, told it had a 3 mo trial and to call Sirius when trial ended. No problem. Service actually didn't shut off until this Tuesday, so basically got a year free Sirius and Traffic worked fine up until then. Called Sirius and they told me that because I bought a new VW I qualified for a free 3 month trial (I wasn't gonna argue the point), and I asked that they turned the traffic on as well. That's where the problem started. Since the 850 apparently only has one ESN (Same Radio ID for both Sirius radio and traffic), Sirius says that the radio doesn't get traffic. After arguing with 3 or 4 different reps who all insisted that traffic won't work because there is only 1 ESN, I called VW Touareg Exec Service who told me they will get with Sirius and correct the issue, and call me in a few days. I had my radio service back but no traffic. Then yesterday, traffic magically started working again. Honestly, I don't think it's because VW got anything accomplished, but because Sirius is running a free trial for traffic from 8/29-9/13 SiriusXM Traffic Overview - SiriusXM Radio My guess is that they turned traffic on for all customers whether their radio supports it or not, and since ours does, it works, even though the Cust Service Reps don't agree. Guessing on the 14th it will shut off again, unless VW Exec team gets the issue fixed at Sirius.

Try your traffic today and see if you get it due to the free 2 week trial.

 

[Technyne]

A few things here:

1. Yes you can get a traffic only subscription from Sirius for your RNS-850 equipped treg. It is $7/mo or $61.04/year

2. I had the same problem with the rep not being able to "verify" the radio ID. The rep was then web chatting with another group that had a different level of access to the proper plans/screens. They were then able to process my payment and bam, the traffic was available.

Hope this helps.

-Davin

 

[swampg8rs]

Thanks, it's been "escalated" and I've also placed a call to VW Exec Service. I've talked to about 6 different Sirius reps, and ALL of them, including "supervisors" say that it isn't available on the treg, and since it only has 1 ESN that confirms it. annoying to say the least. Not looking for a traffic-only service, just want it added to my regular Sirius.

 

[CBRDude]

In order to get the traffic you have to have a radio plan.

I bought a small Garmin and use the traffic feature that comes "FREE" no fees to pay what so ever. This also beats the 200.00 the Navteq wants for the yearly upgrade for the VW in dash GPS unit.

Everything seems to work great until your "FREE" time is over.

Then the fun begins with Sirius. They are complete idiots. Had the same issues with my Infiniti. Which runs off the XM platform.

Got the 3 months of "FREE" Radio, Traffic and Weather when I bought it, so I thought. It worked when I drove off the lot and a few hours later it all stopped.

I did qualify for the "FREE" radio and not the Traffic and Weather. I bought a CPO vs new. I had to wait until the 3 months expired until I could get the Traffic and Weather. Why is the million dollar question. I was willing to pay for it. I then had a battle royal in FaceBook doing a public beatdown until they turned it on. Since then I get nothing on specials, mailings or emails. It's like I dropped off planet earth.

I've let all my plans expire and have not done business with them since the Infiniti issues.

 

[swampg8rs]

I actually do have a radio plan. The issue was finally resolved yesterday when after several weeks of dealing with both Sirius and the Touareg Executive Service Team, I have working traffic. VW had to escalate the issue at Sirius in order to get things working. I was even on a three way call with VW and Sirius where the VW rep thought he had the issue worked out, and then the Sirius person told us that they can't offer traffic if only 1 ESN. VW had to get their management involved with Sirius management. What a cluster*! Anyways, if you want traffic, and can't get anywhere with Sirius because of just 1 ESN, call the Touareg team.

 

[CBRDude]

The issues is VW has only 1 ESN for the radio and none for the traffic. The village idiot at sirius does not know a dam thing.

Same with Infiniti and perhaps other makes.

My Ram 3500 actually had 2 ESN's. One for the radio and the other for traffic. Chrysler's "FREE" lasts 12 months.

I only commute 8 miles to work and did not see the need to continue with paying for it. If I were behind the wheel like my wife I'd look into it again. Until then the money is better spent elsewhere.

 

[ConservativeConsumer]

Ever since my free Sirius subscription expired, I’ve been regularly bombarded by Sirius with all kind of offers – one better than the other. The latest was a full year promotional subscription for $45. I did reject all of them. I’ll wait when I’ll get a year’s subscription offered for the price of cup of coffee.

P.S. The VW NavTeq map upgrades for $200 are just ridiculous. My wife’s using Garmin GPS with traffic feature AND lifetime maps updates (two free downloads per year) purchased at Sam’s Club for under $250.

 

[CBRDude]

ConservativeConsumer,

That's exactly what I'm doing.

Have Garmin will travel.

I refuse to pay for something like the GPS upgrades.

 

[CBRDude]

Navigation system w/premium 8" color screen & rearview camera *4-year Free Sirius Traffic Service Subscription*

Did anyone see this?

I'm guessing this only works if you sign up for the radio portion after the 3 months is over? Without the radio portion the traffic portion is SOL!

 

[Woodygo]

How does one contact the Touareg Executive Service Team?? I have exactly the same problem with trying to explain to at least 4 different Sirius representatives that my 2011 Lux is Traffic capable and I'm getting nowhere. Please help! Thanks!

 

[swampg8rs]

877-389-4928

 

[CBRDude]

When I log on to the Sirius site it gives me the option to purchase the plan for an extra fee on top of the radio plan. I'm thinking it's 3.99 a month plus taxes? You have to have the radio plan in order to have the traffic portion added and working.

On my Infiniti, I had a several week tug a war getting them to buy into having the traffic and weather portion. It worked when I took delivery but was cut off several hours after. Being a CPO I was only intitled to the radio portion for 3 months and that was it. I was then told I would have to wait until my trial 3 months was over until I could subcribe to traffic and weather.

I have just the limited service working now for 9.99 a month. It includes just 70 channels. "Just Music", you have to dig through the site to find it.

 

[sappunni]

Does anyone know when the 2012 Tregs are getting the Sirius Travel Link update ? The 2012 Passats have got them.

 

[sappunni]

I just signed up for 1 year of Sirius traffic for $63.01 all included.

 

[CBRDude]

It's my understanding that the travel link is a software update for the radio. As least it was for my Ram. I look at other Radios and say WTF is up with VW. Why don't they have the Apps, Entune, ect.... lacking and behind the times comes to mind. Using T-Mobile in the Audi's for the Wi-Fi is like using 2 cans and a string for a phone! Come on!

The biggest hurdle is getting Sirius to buy into the fact that you have that feature now on your radio. It's an seperate added cost on top of the radio, and traffic packages.

When I had that added to my Ram 3500 it was a battle royal with Sirius getting them on the same sheet of music. I gave up on it. For others it worked seemlessly. Perhaps a programming error?

How this is pushed down to Sirius is the big mystery? Does it start with the dealer that did the programing, letting Sirius know the radio is now able to receive that signal? Does the radio transmit that info to Sirius and says hey here I am?

I find working with Sirius to very difficult. This includes the XM side of the house too. Others complain about the traffic portion on the VW side. They seem to be a wee bit better with customer service. Though I'm not 100% sure that's the case. When the 3 months of "FREE" select radio ended on my Infiniti I let it die as I was so pissed off with them. The same with my Honda. Not once did I get any promotion offering me a discounted service, yet on my Ram I was over whelmed with calls, emails and mailings to the point I felt like I was being bombarded with it. I still get promotions for that vehicle, even though it's long gone. I have yet to get anything for the the Infiniti and the Honda. I do get them for the VW.

Good luck to you. My relationship with VW is about another 2 weeks and it's peace out VW! It won't be another VW I can tell you that for sure. We have a while before we have to dive into another vehicle so I'll be doing a lot of test driving and researching before we are into another vehicle.

 

[dskwc]

interesting how some people seem to have battles with all kinds of things.

 

[Woodygo]

The Touareg Executive Service Team did what no one else could do! What a fantastic service that I didn't even know about. Thanks for the recommendation! It took them a full 24 hours to battle it out with Sirius but I eventually received a call from Sirius customer service that my 2011 Touareg is indeed eligible for navigation and in 5 minutes it was up and running again. $50.55 for a full year with all taxes/fees included. I'll probably never let the service lapse again as I don't ever want to go through this again.

 

[tmag]

I got traffic only from Sirius

I was able to extend my sirius traffic for $3.99/month after only perhaps 4 hours total on hold with Sirius who gave the same bogus, " our files show the Touareg cannot get traffic service" bs.
I escalated it and finally got a, "our computers are in error. you can get service but our software won't let you order it" They said it would take three weeks for them to fix their system, No such luck. After raging at them they gave me three more months free while they tried to fix their system.
Loooong story short I finally started up the car one day and traffic was working. Traffic only, no radio service and only $3.99/month. I find the traffic service, showing where road slowdowns start and end in real time very very useful.
Now, if VW would only fix their fine German nav system that cannot find many cities in Massachusetts by name, only by zip, then I'd be sort of happy