[Johnno83]

Hey folks
Wonder if anyone can help with a link or otherwise...for standard spec and options on the early GTE estate.
For context I’m looking for the usual holy grail; Advance estate pre April 17 when VED changed!!
Few and far between obviously. The two I’ve seen over the last week or two both had the smaller central screen with the physical buttons - I’d assumed the big screen was always standard but clearly not, how much was it as an option might guide me as to whether to try and hold out for one or not!

 

[Stuieeeeeev]

Hi Johnno83,
I THINK the bigger screen with no buttons arrived as a facelift post 2017.

I went for a 2018 estate, with advance pack, VED is painful, but only once a year, and I consider the savings over petrol compensate for this.It also opens up more choices for your search.

I also THINK the VED drops to zero after the cars 5th birthday - although that may change in a budget......

 

[Patent]

Did the pre- upgrade advance not lack the better LED lights too?

I ordered a standard GTE and specced up because I didn't want all leather seats. A slightly unclear brochure meant I didn't realise that the upgraded LEDs weren't standard. This was a mistake because the basic LEDs are rubbish on the dipped beam. So l if you're shopping used this is the only thing I'd say is a must have!

On the upgrade date. They tend to upgrade specs mid - late summer after the summer factory shutdown. So a 67 is generally the post upgrade, but you'd need to pay attention to the date of manufacture

 

[Johnno83]

Yeah the VED drops off at year 6, but almost £2.5k (? ish) later just seems a bit mean!

Oh didn’t know about different LED lights too. Hmm, this is getting out of hand. Anyway there’s none for sale in any spec now so I’ll still be waiting regardless!

 

[BruceH]

If it's helpful, here's the copy of the brochures I saved back in early 2018 which I think covers spec from autumn 2017 onwards. The main difference from earlier 2017 cars was a newer infotainment system, most of the rest was carried forward IIRC.

It is possible to find a later GTE estate under £40k luxury tax limit (I did exactly this for financial reasons when picking my company car as I intended to buy it at the end of the lease), but you only got to choose a handful of options to keep the price down. Essentially it boiled down to either dynamic LED headlights, metallic paint or Active Info Display, plus a little budget left for one other cheaper item like reversing camera.

 

[Johnno83]

The brochures are handy thanks. Did pre-facelift 2016/17 cars have Apple CarPlay?

 

[Patent]

Yes but as an option rather than standard fit. If they don't have it, VW will still install it for around £300

 

[dpl]

If you're looking for an Advance estate pre-April 2017, the other thing to look out for is a very well specced non-Advance. I have one of those, it was provided to the dealer as a demo but they never used it as such, it just sat in the showroom for a few months and then they gave me a good deal on it. Because this "standard trim + lots of options" was sent out to lots of dealers as a demonstrator, I think there are quite a few of them around.

It has almost everything that the Advance does, except the pano roof (it has a black headliner instead). But it has all of the other toys - Active Info Display, Area View, LED premium lights, etc. It just might not show up if you're only looking for Advance trims.

 

[Patent]

The benefit of standard + options is that you're more likely to get one with the alcantara chairs which are better than the leather ones imo

 

[Neilto]

If you're looking for an Advance estate pre-April 2017, the other thing to look out for is a very well specced non-Advance. I have one of those, it was provided to the dealer as a demo but they never used it as such, it just sat in the showroom for a few months and then they gave me a good deal on it. Because this "standard trim + lots of options" was sent out to lots of dealers as a demonstrator, I think there are quite a few of them around.

It has almost everything that the Advance does, except the pano roof (it has a black headliner instead). But it has all of the other toys - Active Info Display, Area View, LED premium lights, etc. It just might not show up if you're only looking for Advance trims.

Thats what happened in my case - I got a 31/3/17 reg car (estate) non Advance but with £8220 worth of extras inc Premium LED,Deployable Towbar (very rare), Nappa Leather, Pan Roof, keylesss Electric Tailgate with remote, Park assist, area view, Driver assist package, Pro Nav inc Apple CarPlay, net partition. Its been a great car and I still marvel at the technology which has never let me down - the fact that its 0 VED is pure Icing on the cake! A keeper for sure.