Hidden Extras

In your March issue you claim quite wrongly that VW has reduced the price of the Golf GTi “cosmetic kit” model. From October last until January this year the price of the old 3-door GTi was £7,992 including alloy wheels. With the introduction of the “new” model the price appeared to fall by some £300 – however this is for a car on steel wheels. Should you specify the four (only) alloy wheels that were standard on the old model you are obliged to pay an extra crippling £406. This when most manufacturers charge around £200 extra for five alloy wheels. On attempting to order an example of the new model on steel wheels (at the end of December) I was told by more than one dealer that they could not as yet order a car on steel wheels and that if I wanted one for early delivery I would have to have one on alloys. Before mine was delivered there was a general price increase of some £300 – a 3-door GTi on alloys now costs close to £8,400.

I was lucky enough to get a 5-door car at the old price — but of course I paid much more money than I intended originally. I fail to see where there was a reduction in price.

B.R. Watts

Downham Market