VW reduces service-plan costs

IN A bid to reduce the cost of ownership of selected Volkswagen models, the Wolfsburg-based brand’s Australian subsidiary is bolstering the value proposition of some passenger-car models, offering service plans at reduced costs on new LCVs, and subsidising 4Plus Care Plans for products more than four years old.

As of today, in the Volkswagen passenger-vehicle range, T-Cross variants – Life and Style – receive a complimentary three-year Care Plan when purchased from new and financed with Volkswagen Financial Services before June 30.

Similarly, Golf 1.4TSI variants – including the Golf Life and Golf R-Line – gain the same offer, again, if newly purchased and financed before September 30.

New Arteon and Arteon Shooting Brake variants – the 140TSI Elegance and 206TSI R-Line, as well as Touareg variants – 170TDI, 210TDI Elegance and 210TDI R-Line – receive a complimentary five-year Care Plan when newly purchased and financed with Volkswagen Financial Services before June 30.

Whereas the complimentary service plans on those passenger models are more of a direct sales incentive, Volkswagen will also offer buyers of VW commercial vehicles (bought before June 30) an optional five-year service plan at a reduced cost thanks to its “five-year Care Plan for the price of a three-year Care Plan offer”.

Available on new Caddy, Transporter, Multivan, Caravalle, Crafter and Amarok models, the offer provides two years of free servicing over the first five years.

Under the offer, five-year servicing costs are $1500 for a Caddy (a $1448 saving), $1600 for a Transporter or Multivan (a $1739 saving), $1450 on a Caravelle (a $1539 saving), $1750 for a Crafter (a $1621 saving) and $1900/$2050 for Amarok four-cylinder/V6 models (savings $1761 of $1825 respectively).

Until the end of the month (April 30), the first 500 commercial vehicle- or 1000 passenger-car customers (of VWs older than four years old) will be offered a “two Essentials Services Free when you purchase a four-year 4Plus Care Plan”.

Half of the servicing costs are free once a Volkswagen is older than four years or has travelled more than 60,000km and is due for its fourth service, the brand says.

Under the offer, four-year servicing costs are $921 for a Caddy MY16 2.0 TDI320 (a saving of $602.28 – compared with the total recommended retail price of four services, Volkswagen says), $1074 for a Transporter MY16 TDI 400 (a $744.52 saving) and $1,039 for an Amarok MY16 (a $709.12 saving).

Owners of new Volkswagen commercial vehicles could benefit from both offers if they bought a “five-year Care Plan for the price of a three-year Care Plan” in conjunction with taking the “two Essentials Services Free when you purchase a four-year 4Plus Care Plan” offer, essentially taking care of nine years’ servicing.

Under the offer, four-year servicing costs for Volkswagen passenger vehicles are (to give but two examples): $852 for a Golf MY16 Highline 1.4TSI, $852 (a $596.92 saving compared with the total recommended retail price of four services, the brand says) and $843 for a Tiguan MY16 Highline 1.4TSI, $843 (a $592.72 saving).

In other words, the Golf works out to be $213 per service, a Tiguan $210.75.

“These servicing offers once again demonstrate that cut-price servicing and driving a cut-above European vehicle are not mutually exclusive,” said Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand director Ryan Davies.

“Our commercial vehicle owners have been among the hardest hit with rising fuel prices, while customers of new vehicles have been incredibly patient while we work through some supply constraints – this is our way of helping.”

Brand Director of Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles Michal Szaniecki said that the new and pre-owned vehicle servicing offers “ensure that we are thinking of Volkswagen customers now, and after purchasing a vehicle several years ago.”

“To offer the owner of a four-plus-year-old Golf or Tiguan the next four years of servicing from under $250 per service is another demonstration of how cost efficient it can be to own a Volkswagen,” Mr Szaniecki added.

The 4yr 4Plus Care Plans include two Essential Services (including oil and filter replacement and the brand’s safety and diagnostic check) and two Essential Service Plus services (also includes pollen filter and brake fluid replacement).

For all offers, customers can pay up-front or manage the servicing cost as part of their finance for maximum flexibility, Volkswagen Australia says.