VW dealer call 9/16

S

sniwallof

Active Member
Reddit reports dealers to discuss pricing or ordering details on 9/16 ahead of the 9/23/2020 release for pre-order.

At least one dealer has jumped the gun, with interesting information at the Jim Ellis Volkswagen of Chamblee, Atlanta Ga website. Be clear that all of this new information could be mere speculation, or previously unreported information from the VW in person ID.4 meeting last November.

Most interesting is the speculation that there are four models, S, SE, SEL, and GTX 146HP, 168HP, 173HP, or 201HP rear-drive. The former two (S SE) "will draw power from a 52kWh lithium-ion battery while the latter" (SEL GTX) "will utilize a 77kWh lithium-ion battery". (This could all turn out to be wrong.)

"We anticipate an S, SE, SEL, and GTX. They are estimated to be priced from $35K starting with the S, and then moving up in $5K increments respectively."

Also interesting, is they speculate AWD (front motor), 12" display and HUD as optional. "The ID.4 makes a 12-inch driver information center available, right alongside an augmented reality heads-up display system that reportedly uses the entire windshield." One would think some or all of these options might be included with SEL and/or GTX?

Jim Ellis VW also has a link "Pre-Order Your VW ID.4 Today". My guess is that simply enters your info for them, so they can later type in your "real" reservation for you on 9/23. Some postings have indicated that you must order through your local dealership, or the reservation will no be taken or canceled (who knows?). Also, what is local? Only your city, region?, state?

My (limited) understanding is that reservations can be made at a VW dealer, or online on 9/23.

(no first hand information, this is all from googling recent postings/pages)
 
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I think the smaller battery pack (which is the medium sized one from the ID.3) is 58kWh. And that is the net usable capacity. The 77kWh is also the net usable capacity. (The ID.3 also will have a 45kWh pack, in addition to the 58 and 77.) The net capacities are a better way to compare what you get.

Are the motor capacities per model - S is 146HP, SE is 168HP, SEL is 173HP, and GTX is 201? Or are the trim levels all available with the various motor capacities?

I think $35K is good starting price.
 
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Any guesses when cars will actually be delivered in the U.S.?

I guess if there is a specific trim you want, you might have to wait longer.
 
Much of the speculation has been that some might arrive as early as Dec, 2020 (assuming no ID.3 like delays).

However, several dealerships have indicated they do not expect demo units from Germany until January.

I am hoping the reservation tool tomorrow is smart enough know what models might arrive sooner (all from Germany in the first year or so), although I think late December is nothing more than a hope.

Early word indicated that the all wheel drive versions will be the last of the "1st" to arrive around spring, 2020, but maybe it's all rumor.
 
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Well, a lot of that original post (fortunately labeled as caution/speculation) turned out to be wrong. The "1st" trim approach, compared to the three 1st options for the ID.3 in Europe, is very different here.

So, now we know (day after 9/23/20), only one pretty loaded 1st option, sold out by late 9/23, and a number of "ID.4 Pro" combinations with two optional packages, "Statement & Gradient", and RWD or AWD.

The only "ID." type option that might be missing is the heads up display that we saw on the highest level of ID.3 trim in the EU, also have not seen hud as a separate option either.
 
NeilBlanchard said:
We put in the $100 deposit on a blue ID.4 1st Edition!
Click to expand...

Assuming dealers don't play games, the 1st Edition is a good value! You get $2k off the two packages on Pro model, plus a tow hitch and some exclusive visual accents. However if you wait long enough I am sure you can get similar deals on other models. Maybe if you wait for the US model you can get even better value.
 
Well, clearly all that SE, SEL, etc rumor (from a VW dealer) that I originally posted (fortunately with some warning that it might be wrong) was wrong.

Now, we can see exactly what the dealers knew a couple of days before the reveal, include the hour long teleconference with dealer Q&A, thanks to @Perpetual_range at the VWIDTALK forum. From his #19 post, download the VW USA dealer newsletter, then click on the video link (or download the video).
 
sniwallof said:
Well, clearly all that SE, SEL, etc rumor (from a VW dealer) that I originally posted (fortunately with some warning that it might be wrong) was wrong.

Now, we can see exactly what the dealers knew a couple of days before the reveal, include the hour long teleconference with dealer Q&A, thanks to @Perpetual_range at the VWIDTALK forum. From his #19 post, download the VW USA dealer newsletter, then click on the video link (or download the video).
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Thanks for that link, very informative.:)
 
What I have confirmed with our dealer:

No heat pump in the US, which is a bummer.
Heated front seats and steering wheel in the 1st Edition, but not the back seats, which is okay ...
No direct heating windshield defroster, which is also a bummer.
It does come with a tow hitch, but we are waiting on confirmation of a trailer light connection.
Leather(ette?) seats only in the 1st Edition, and cloth seats in the base Pro.
Our dealer anticipates that they are getting two ID.4s for test drives; I think he said by some time in December.
 
NeilBlanchard said:
What I have confirmed with our dealer:

No heat pump in the US, which is a bummer.
Heated front seats and steering wheel in the 1st Edition, but not the back seats, which is okay ...
No direct heating windshield defroster, which is also a bummer.
It does come with a tow hitch, but we are waiting on confirmation of a trailer light connection.
Leather(ette?) seats only in the 1st Edition, and cloth seats in the base Pro.
Our dealer anticipates that they are getting two ID.4s for test drives; I think he said by some time in December.
Click to expand...
The no heat pump would be a deal breaker for me, hopefully the Canadian version includes this important energy saving feature.
 
I believe the Canadian models will have the heat pump.
Similarly, the direct heating windshield defroster can save even more energy than the heat pump.
 
NeilBlanchard said:
I believe the Canadian models will have the heat pump.
Similarly, the direct heating windshield defroster can save even more energy than the heat pump.
Click to expand...

How much can they possibly save by not including a heat pump? You still need air conditioning.
 
ericy said:
How much can they possibly save by not including a heat pump? You still need air conditioning.
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I agree - they would sell more cars if they include all the best design and engineering features.

The energy savings of a direct heating defroster are huge - even if you compare it to using a heat pump, for clearing the windshield: a couple of hundred watts vs 2-3kW. Just like the rear defroster, you don't notice any drop in range when you use it.

Heat pumps are better than resistance heaters, so when the heated seats and steering wheel don't cut it, a heat pump helps save a lot of energy. I have heard that VW has developed a better heat pump (using a more efficient fluid with a lower boiling point) and so it probably extends the temperature range for higher efficiency a bit lower - but all heat pumps hit a wall as the temperature drops, and they add in a resistance heater to supplement the heat pump - and this is why it costs more, I think.

The next step in EVs is an even deeper rethink of engineering for EVs. The old habits we got from ICE - really don't make much sense if we just slap them into an EV.
 
You don't have to explain to me - I have the same issue with the Kona. In the U.S. they only give us a resistance heater, while Canada gets the heat pump (in addition to the resistance heater). But in the mid-Atlantic, winter temperatures could easily be handled by a heat pump.

There was a day last winter where I was trying to find a charger so I could boost the battery - not so much to extend the range, but so that I could turn on the heat in the cabin, and still have the range to get to where I wanted to go. But the charger was busy, and I just continued on my way - by the time I got to the next charger, I was close enough to home that I didn't bother to stop and charge.

I ended up just buying a blanket that I can put over my lap. Low-tech, and in reality it makes sense to have one just in case of an emergency.
 
Understood - we also keep blankets in our cars in the winter (really, everybody should do this, no matter what drivetrain our cars have). We are looking to buy the 3rd party heated seat covers for the back seat.
 
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