big change in spec

[leowfc]

I was after the 5 seat version and was told it was not available in the UK. Now you can ONLY get the 5 seat version.


http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/volkswag.../news/item/228

Regards



Leo

[johnloaderuk]

There must have been a change over period this year sometime as the company I work for purchased four new CC GTs earlier this year, all of which came with cruise and front & rear parking sensors as standard, but only four seats, which surprised the local dealer. All cars were purchased through VW fleet, but came via our local VW dealer.

I have the RNS 310 nav unit and touchscreen phone system which is also in the new CCs in my Passat Highline Plus (standard equipment) and imo they are both fairly naff and very obviously bottom of the market pieces of equipment.

[eob]

Other than the rear seat, the GT will be the car it should be. Sat-Nav, Bluetooth, Parking sensors and cruise control should be standard in a car of this ilk.
VW are obviously including the middle seat to make the car more attractive to buyers but I think they should have kept it as a four seater.

[leowfc]

The Bluetooth they are including is not linked into the steering wheel (what's the point) and as yet the only full factory kit appears to be the one that only works with a very very small number of now out of date phones.

My dealer recommended http://www.satnavsystems.com/index.html for Bluetooth, can't comment on the work as I have not used them however they appear to know what they are talking about.

A £20K+ car sold without a proper Bluetooth kit that works with 90% of phones ?

[johnloaderuk]

The Bluetooth they are including is not linked into the steering wheel

If you check out the interior photos you can see the bluetooth phone system is exactly what I have in my standard Passat, and it DOES work via the steering wheel phone button. In my previous Passat I had the Premium bluetooth system which is the best integrated phone system I have ever had in any car. The new system is nowehre near as good, but better than a system that isn't linked to the steering wheel, where you have to take your eyes off the road or hands off the wheel to use it.

The link you gave suggests the VW RNS510, again not much good, but better than my RNS310. The Audi RNS also there was in my previous A6. I don't rate any of these sat nav systems, my trusty TomTom is more accurate and reliable to get you where you want to go by far.

[leowfc]

If you check out the interior photos you can see the bluetooth phone system is exactly what I have in my standard Passat, and it DOES work via the steering wheel phone button.

VW told me that Bluetooth touch adaptor does not work with the buttons on the steering wheel ? Can you select addresses etc from the steering wheel ?

In my previous Passat I had the Premium bluetooth system which is the best integrated phone system I have ever had in any car.

According to a number of sources, the Premium kit may sound good however it does not work with any phones that are currently on sale, no to the iPhone, Motorola, Ericsson, Sony and no to anything but a very small number of Nokia phones.

Regards


Leo

[johnloaderuk]

Meant to put this picture in of my Passat Highline Plus. Almost the same as the new CC except for the climate controls - mine has the manual aircon. If you check the interior photos on the VW web site for the new CC you will see the sat nav and phone systems are the same.

[johnloaderuk]

VW told me that Bluetooth touch adaptor does not work with the buttons on the steering wheel ? Can you select addresses etc from the steering wheel ?Leo

No. It doesn't copy the contents of the sim card like the Premium system does to the car. Calls can be accepted or rejected from the steering wheel only. VW dealers also do a retrofit of the same unit, but I think I'm right in saying that doesn't connect via the steering wheel - but I might be wrong here.

According to a number of sources, the Premium kit may sound good however it does not work with any phones that are currently on sale, no to the iPhone, Motorola, Ericsson, Sony and no to anything but a very small number of Nokia phones.

Regards


Leo

The software is supplied to VW from Nokia, hence it only really fully integrates with Nokia products, plus a few others through luck more than anything else, and then only those that allow full sim access. Still the best system I've used by far.

[leowfc]

John,

I think we are both agreeing the same point you can either have compromise one (very limited model phone support) or compromise two (no proper hands free dialling). While if you have an Audi or even a Seat both come with VAG factory fitted car kits that work with most phones on the market and can hands free and even voice dial.

Anyway wish I could reorder and get the 5 seat model.


Leo

[johnloaderuk]

John,

I think we are both agreeing the same point you can either have compromise one (very limited model phone support) or compromise two (no proper hands free dialling). While if you have an Audi or even a Seat both come with VAG factory fitted car kits that work with most phones on the market and can hands free and even voice dial.

Anyway wish I could reorder and get the 5 seat model.


Leo

You're right, we do agree.

The new basic phone kit also looks and feels very aftermarket - not what you expect from a 'premium' car manufacturer like VW. I think they're trying to keep up with everyone else, and it's actually a Bury CC9060 Bluetooth Car Kit with a VW badge on it. The sat nav is a Blaupunkt system, again with a VW badge on it. In both cases I guess you can upgrade if finances allow.

Although I have five seats in my Passat, no one has ever travelled in the middle seat - yet.