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How worried should I be about getting an ID.4 FE without test driving it first?

3196 Views 15 Replies 12 Participants Last post by JTL, Jan 11, 2021

ElvisM

Discussion Starter · Oct 17, 2020 (Edited)

I was lucky enough to reserve a First Edition, but worry I won't get to test drive it first. How concerned should I be? Will I be able to back out at some point if I don't like how it drives? Anyone else have similar concerns? Or should I just I just "Let it go" like the song says?

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

ixlr08

· #2 · Oct 17, 2020

I believe you can 'back out' up until you take delivery. At least that is what my sales person told me.

Reactions: 1

PGilly

· #3 · Oct 17, 2020

The salesman at my dealership stated that they would not have cars to test drive. They are pretty much a pass through for ordered cars. Can’t test drive a car unless someone cancels their purchase when the care arrives. I assume you would still get your deposit back.

Reactions: 2

ID.4

· #4 · Oct 17, 2020

I was told by my dealer that I can cancel anytime up until the contract is signed and get still get my $500 deposit returned. I would think that if they get a cancellation on a 1st Edition, they would absolutely have no trouble getting another buyer. The local dealer in Cincinnati also seems to think they may have a test car in December.

Reactions: 2

Mark Magiera

· #5 · Oct 17, 2020

Doubters end up with a Brick.

eldecarlo

· #6 · Oct 17, 2020

You can test drive your car when it comes in. My dealer said if you don’t like it don’t buy it.

Reactions: 1

mryflyguy

· #7 · Oct 18, 2020

The dealers will have test cars available to drive soon. They will not be for sale and are for demo purposes only. If I like the ID.4, I'll commit and be using this time to talk trade in on my Golf R.

Reactions: 1

Huey52

· #8 · Oct 18, 2020

Ordinarily a test drive is of value (especially when a vehicle is for my wife) but I've bought a few "early adopter" cars without a test drive and had no issues. It's kind of an adventure.

We pretty well know the form factor (a bit smaller than the current Tiguan, so a bit bigger than the original Tiguan) and I'm also assured by the proven MQB architecture and the mostly robotic assembly.

Some don't like buying first year as they anticipate bugs to be worked out. But I have found that later years are often victims of "value engineering" (= less value to me) and/or oftentimes "facelifting" which is usually not as good as the original.

ErickF

· #9 · Oct 18, 2020

I'd think we'll be seeing a few more media drives on production vehcles. Sofayan, from Redline Reviews, lives near Herndon - I will be watching for another from him. While he seems to have a good relationship with VW, and holds an ID.4 AWD reservation, he seems to be very objective with his VW reviews.

Have options to wait for a later model or another vehicle if need be.

eldecarlo

· #10 · Oct 18, 2020

mryflyguy said:
The dealers will have test cars available to drive soon. They will not be for sale and are for demo purposes only. If I like the ID.4, I'll commit and be using this time to talk trade in on my Golf R.

I’m not so sure they will have test cars soon. My dealer told me 1 demo per dealer and will probably come in when first reserved cars arrive? But I don’t think at this point they know....

Reactions: 1

ixlr08

· #11 · Oct 18, 2020

My dealer has not been an EV dealer, they didn't carry/sell any eGolf's. When I last talked to my salesperson, they were not expecting any demo's until the May/June timeframe.

ID.4

· #12 · Oct 18, 2020

Huey52 said:
Ordinarily a test drive is of value (especially when a vehicle is for my wife) but I've bought a few "early adopter" cars without a test drive and had no issues. It's kind of an adventure.

We pretty well know the form factor (a bit smaller than the current Tiguan, so a bit bigger than the original Tiguan) and I'm also assured by the proven MQB architecture and the mostly robotic assembly.

Some don't like buying first year as they anticipate bugs to be worked out. But I have found that later years are often victims of "value engineering" (= less value to me) and/or oftentimes "facelifting" which is usually not as good as the original.

My son is a car designer and also stated that the early year cars produced in Germany will be the best as VW wants make a good impression with its first MQB EV product in the States. He also told me when I placed my order on 9/23 that later year cars become victims of "value engineering". You are right on.

Reactions: 3

ChristophW

· #13 · Oct 19, 2020

I am not much worried, and have quite a few reasons:

For one, VW has a ton riding on this product launch and cannot afford to miss on this one. Everyone above seems to agree on that.
VW is likely watching everything like a hawk. Each review, all the media reports, etc, and are making sure noted issues get looked at.
The ID.3 uses the same platform - motor, battery, software, and many parts -, and already works quite well in the wild, as do ID.4 test vehicles.
Software issues with the ID.3 have been well documented. I am counting on the fact that VW will slay a few more major bugs before my car is built, Over the air updates should take care of (most of) the rest.
VW is an established car company and knows how to make a solid car. I don't think it is too hard for them to deliver a convincing ID.4 product from the get-go, with fewer issues than Tesla.
Electric cars are quite a bit simpler than an ICE vehicles, other than software.
I trust professional reviewers, and happen to know one personally.

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Reactions: 2

Skyhawk

· #14 · Dec 3, 2020

PGilly said:
The salesman at my dealership stated that they would not have cars to test drive. They are pretty much a pass through for ordered cars. Can’t test drive a car unless someone cancels their purchase when the care arrives. I assume you would still get your deposit back.

Just heard from my dealer and he says first part of the year for their demo.

ixlr08

· #15 · Dec 3, 2020

I have no intention of signing on the dotted line without driving an ID.4 first, even if I have to wait for the car I ordered. For me it is just too much $$$$ to buy untested/untried.

Reactions: 2

JTL

· #16 · Jan 11, 2021

ChristophW said:
I am not much worried, and have quite a few reasons:

For one, VW has a ton riding on this product launch and cannot afford to miss on this one. Everyone above seems to agree on that.

VW is likely watching everything like a hawk. Each review, all the media reports, etc, and are making sure noted issues get looked at.

The ID.3 uses the same platform - motor, battery, software, and many parts -, and already works quite well in the wild, as do ID.4 test vehicles.

Software issues with the ID.3 have been well documented. I am counting on the fact that VW will slay a few more major bugs before my car is built, Over the air updates should take care of (most of) the rest.

VW is an established car company and knows how to make a solid car. I don't think it is too hard for them to deliver a convincing ID.4 product from the get-go, with fewer issues than Tesla.

Electric cars are quite a bit simpler than an ICE vehicles, other than software.

I trust professional reviewers, and happen to know one personally.

VW is not known for quality. I have owned a few of them.

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