Picked up my new 2012 Golf TDI

[amstel78]

Just got back from the dealership a few hours ago with a brand spankin' new 2012 Golf TDI in Shark Blue with Tech Package. I opted for the 6MT version versus DSG. Anyway, dealer gave me 2 key fobs and a 'valet' key, although I have no idea how the valet is supposed to start the car with it. There is no ignition switch. Can the valet use the regular key to start the car, or must I give him the key fob??

FWIW, car had 90 miles on it when I took delivery. Dealer had to drive it over from another location about 78 miles away. Doesn't bother me as I drive roughly 40k miles per year. I also used the Zag/Amex car buying service and got the car at invoice. Couldn't beat that.

Also, if anyone's interested I bought my TDI from Compass VW in Middletown NY. Great bunch of guys over there. My salesman's name is Tony Monti.

Now to figure out how to install the RNS510 and 9w7 module...

Here she is sitting next to my 1985 W123 300D:

[Koojo]

Nice! Mine is currently on order...hopefully in ~2 months

[chittychittybangbang]

The valet key is the short stubby black plastic only key right? You have to pull the door handle and pop the lock cover off to get to the manual lock. I believe you hold the key up against the ignition switch blank off plate and press the engine start button if you don't have the regular key. Because the lock cover will probably get damaged if someone prys on it I'd just give a valet the regular key or remove the door lock cover beforehand.

And nice car too!

[Conrad -JSW]

With my '12 and keyless entry/start I got two fobs and what the owner's manual calls a mechanical key, no valet key. The mechanical key looks like a normal key.

[ksing44]

Great choice, 4-door, manual, loaded! Shark blue is a nice color too. It is too bad they didn't keep the RNS510 as an option for those willing to pay the premium. I do love mine and would feel terrible to settle for less, but wondered too if maybe I could start to like the RNS315 for whatever benefits it might have. I've heard it is quick.

Good luck with your car!

[amstel78]

Thanks for the comments. I was incredibly torn between this and the Passat SEL. Obviously, I wanted to get the RNS510. However, playing around a bit more with the RNS315, it doesn't seem too bad. In the long run, I doubt I'd miss being able to play a DVD movie. I do wish though that the 315 at least had traffic capability and/or HD radio. Those would be nice features to have.

In the meantime, I've been using Google maps on my iPad to tell me where traffic is on my daily commute into and out of NYC. That has worked far better than my dedicated Tomtom 2535 Live with HD Traffic so perhaps I wouldn't miss the Sirius traffic in the 510 either.

Oh - one big thing that the Golf with Tech package had that the Passat SEL didn't was bi-xenon headlights. Those things are godsend for me. I live in the country and at night, it gets incredibly dark. The headlights of my Golf with AFS work very nicely. I'm quite pleased with my choice.

BTW - when I was at the dealership, I didn't get a chance to sample the new Fender (Panasonic) audio systems in the 2012 models. How do they compare against the Dynaudio in the Golf? Personally, I think the Dynaudio sounds very nice. I've set treble, mid, and bass settings to 0 (flat) and listen to uncompressed reference material through the iPod interface, and for a stock setup, the Dynaudio system is impressive.

[amstel78]

Originally Posted by chittychittybangbang

The valet key is the short stubby black plastic only key right? You have to pull the door handle and pop the lock cover off to get to the manual lock. I believe you hold the key up against the ignition switch blank off plate and press the engine start button if you don't have the regular key. Because the lock cover will probably get damaged if someone prys on it I'd just give a valet the regular key or remove the door lock cover beforehand.

And nice car too!

Thanks Chitty - yes, the key I refer to is what Conrad wrote below or 'mechanical key.' I think I'll follow your advice and just hand the valet my key fob.

Originally Posted by Conrad -JSW

With my '12 and keyless entry/start I got two fobs and what the owner's manual calls a mechanical key, no valet key. The mechanical key looks like a normal key.

Thanks for the correction/clarification.

[amstel78]

This is going to sound stupid, but how do I turn the front seat heaters on? I don't see any buttons to do so, and VW USA states that the front seats are heated.

[Cogen Man]

Originally Posted by amstel78

This is going to sound stupid, but how do I turn the front seat heaters on? I don't see any buttons to do so, and VW USA states that the front seats are heated.

If they're anything like the 2011 Golf's the 2 big round knobs one on the left and one on the right in the centre pod. You just push the button in and it comes on to the highest setting. You'll see i think 3 amber LED's light up. Keep pushing for medium and low then one more push for off. If the 2012 is like the 2011. And remember. There are no stupid questions. My wife has the shark blue. She loves it.

[amstel78]

Originally Posted by Cogen Man

If they're anything like the 2011 Golf's the 2 big round knobs one on the left and one on the right in the centre pod. You just push the button in and it comes on to the highest setting. You'll see i think 3 amber LED's light up. Keep pushing for medium and low then one more push for off. If the 2012 is like the 2011. And remember. There are no stupid questions. My wife has the shark blue. She loves it.

Thanks! I've been playing around with the car plus flipping back and forth through the owner's manual, but there's still so much to learn. The owner's manual doesn't do me any favors either... it seems as the years go by, the manuals just keep getting thicker and thicker.