Dear VW

"CB" (jrcb) 10/25/2016 at 00:01 • Filed to: Volkswagen

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I know you offer tartan cloth seats for the GTI, and I love you for it, but is there any way I could get one with my family’s tartan instead? Because that would be a pretty damn rad way to customize a car.

Also, if I hate VWs so much, why do I keep thinking about a GTI or an R as an adult car?

For Sweden > CB 10/25/2016 at 00:02

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[imagining massive warehouse in Germany full of small swatches of every tartan imaginable]

This is where the aftermarket is your friend.

CB > For Sweden 10/25/2016 at 00:04

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I know, I know. Maybe VW wouldn’t store it, just order it per special order. I mean, that’s what I did for my kilt: the shop didn’t have the tartan, so they had it made and shipped from Scotland.

bob and john > CB 10/25/2016 at 00:07

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VW isnt really one to be hated. they make decent cars.

CB > bob and john 10/25/2016 at 00:09

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Eh, not the biggest fan. Of the three I interacted with over the summer, all of them were broken in one way or another. The diesel New Beetle was awesome, though.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CB 10/25/2016 at 00:16

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I’d love this, too.

Considering the number of people with my surname, you’d think my tartan would be easier to obtain, but it isn’t. So frustrating...

I did use stones with my tartan colors on my wedding band, though, as a subtle way of having it with me all the time.

bob and john > CB 10/25/2016 at 00:16

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admittingly you didnt interact with outs. wasnt broken. ran like a top at 200k.

also, if any mk4s or early 5s, then..yea. those werent great years for VAG group.

CB > bob and john 10/25/2016 at 00:22

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The Beetle and Jetta (Mk 4) both had issues with their engines, but they both had over 200k, so I can’t entirely fault them. My step-sister bought a Mk 5 Jetta as a commuter, and she’s had plenty of issues with it so far, including something with the wiper motor. I dunno. Just not really a top brand pick for me.

CB > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 10/25/2016 at 00:23

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Go to a straight up Scottish shop. They might have a book on hand filled with tartans. Was super handy when shopping for my kilt.

bob and john > CB 10/25/2016 at 00:26

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mk4s all had issues (called it) mk5s were about 50/50. tdis seemed to hold out the best.

CB > bob and john 10/25/2016 at 00:27

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Both the New Beetle and Mk 4 were diesels. The Mk 4 had an issue where the turbo would quit out while driving, making acceleration impossible. Turning it off and on would fix the issue, though. My girlfriend would always do that while driving, though. Good thing the roads are straight in Manitoba.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CB 10/25/2016 at 00:30

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I know what it looks like, it’s just a matter of obtaining it. Pretty much has to be ordered...

Unless you’re in Scotland. I found kilts in it in kilt shops in Edinburgh.

CB > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 10/25/2016 at 00:34

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We have a few around. One a few blocks from me in Toronto, and there was one a few busses from me in Ottawa. But yeah, they had to be ordered from Scotland. Took a month, but damn is it high quality stuff.

Ssfancyfresh > CB 10/25/2016 at 00:37

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Good advice. Also, don’t go in a kilt shop and ask to see their assortment of plaid.

I did that once. In Glasgow. Not good.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CB 10/25/2016 at 00:41

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Lucky. Canada got so many more Scots as a percentage of their immigrants that they can support such shops. In the US, you’re lucky to have a British shop nearby...

CB > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 10/25/2016 at 00:43

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Depends where you are. Ontario has pretty large Scottish populations (having lived in the country’s largest city and fourth place also helps), but those numbers drop in the prairies, from what I recall.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > CB 10/25/2016 at 01:13

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Not really. The prairies just tended to be settled in clumps by groupsof immigrants. So you’ve got little ethnic pockets all over the place. There are lots of places around here with Scottish origins, with town names like Rossburn (as a hint, it’s on the banks of Ross Creek), Oakburn, Angusville, and Clanwilliam all not too far from where I live. The scottishness just tends to get swallowed up by more domineering cultures, largely Ukrainian, German, and where I live, Scandinavian. The english-speaking cultures just kinda blurred together after a while, while the non-english speakers tended more to stay in their own little groups, where isolation lead to the perpetuation of traditions.

Tapas > CB 10/25/2016 at 02:10

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Typically, VAG will charge an arm and a leg to do anything “special”, even if they did offer that option. Just ask any Porsche owner.

I still don’t understand why car manufacturers don’t allow customers to chose from a wide array of interior upholstery and exterior color options. It’s not like they make the paint or weave the fabric/tan their own leather.

They just buy it from a supplier. With the literally metric ton of car companies in the world, you’d think that finding a vendor that gives you awesome options and make your cars more popular would be easy. But NOooOOooo!

1. Ask someone in Scotland to send you yards of the type of Tartan you need.

2. Get any car

3. Ask car upholstery place/your mom to replace sections of existing upholstery with your Tartan. (Make sure you request for secret pockets to be tailored in for storing emergency cash/cards)

4. Make wallets/belts/socks/thongs from the left over fabric

5. Profit!

Birddog > CB 10/25/2016 at 02:37

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Jeez. VW isn’t done with Dieselgate yet. Offering custom interiors for every Mic and Scot out there would surely kill them.

Cé hé sin > Tapas 10/25/2016 at 04:42

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“I still don’t understand why car manufacturers don’t allow customers to chose from a wide array of interior upholstery and exterior color options”

Because it disrupts production. Having to slow or stop the line to fit something unusual just isn’t worth it unless you’re somebody like RR or Bentley who produce in small numbers and charge an arm, a leg and miscellaneous other body parts for customisation.

Tatanko > CB 10/25/2016 at 08:04

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Even though the leather has already been a boon in the “easy to clean” metric for me, I do wish my ‘16 GTI had the cloth seats. Sadly they are only available on the S, and I have an SE (standard leather).

Tapas > Cé hé sin 10/25/2016 at 11:48

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Production can be managed.

Switch the paint spray reservoir connections when a particular car is passing through the line.

Have a supplier for different patterns and designs or a special supplier that does custom stuff as requested by the buyer. I’m not against charging customers for the options they pick, as long as its reasonable.

Besides, Audi has the balls to charge $4k for Nardo Gray - which is a “standard color” from the manufacturer. I believe their accountants orgasm in unison every time someone orders it, because their margin on that paint alone is ginormous.

I think they should be able to do any color if anyone pays $4k, or even $3k.