Seriously thinking about buying a 2nd hand Scirocco 2.0 TSI, say 2012/2013. When I rang my insurance company to get an idea of the premium they told me that there were originally two trim levels sold here - Highline and Comfortline (former costing 200,000 more than latter). Is there an easy way to tell them apart i.e. Highline has the sunroof and chestnut leather seats etc?

Also I read somewhere on TV recently something about VW having pulled the distributorship from Thai Yarnyon. Is this true and, for any VW owners in BKK, has it made any difference to servicing? I'm sort to hoping that, given VW have just got approval to build a factory in Thailand, that the dealer network will also expand over the next couple of years.

Cheers in advance.

No idea on trim levels etc but I was considering a 2012 a year back; make sure you go for the post 2011 update, most notable change was the dash and steering wheel

Also make sure the servicing has been done properly and the oil changed regularly - VERY important to ask if the updated timing chain tensioner has been done. And ask for a fault code check. Mainly 2.0 TSI altho some 1.4 litre VW's are affected..too many failures ..you can hear the noise on start up. If it fails, its a new engine (I'm guessing around 400,000 baht). This is the same with the Golf mk 6 too

http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47128

http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1447009&mid=0&nmt=TSI+Chain+Tensioner+worry.

EDIT

the R version has a different engine with cambelt. Hence alot of R's get sold with around 35-45,000 on the clock before the serious service / belt needs changing etc

First is the Scirocco grey or thru VW. If grey forget servicing at VW and find a decent independent garage, which sure won't be too hard in Bkk, as I have found one even in Phuket.

For spare parts, and I am sure you will need to...as those VW seem definitely liking to have some faults, etc. go Www. Europaparts.com. US based, great service, fast delivery, cheaper than Thailand.

Look, you will get a car for about 1m Baht with performance no other can compare in this price bracket, but at least in my limited experience with a GTI Mk6 here you need a bit of spare cash for repAirs.....and DO stay away from any flooding water...managed to 'kill' 2 ABS/ESP sensors in 1 year just by driving thru a bit of flooded streets.

Look carefully at the DSG for any leaks etc.

....as a "70%" option look at a Mazda 3 if you want to avoid any bills. It ain't as fast by a long way, but does drive reasonably well...and I thought on the test drive...not bad, not quite my GTI but not as far away as I thought or previous cars (Civics etc ) I tested

Thanks for the input guys. I'm only interested in something that was officially imported and dealer serviced. I'm aware of the CCT and DSG issues some folk have had; 6-speed DSG sounds like it has fared a bit better than the 7-speed. I'll ask any seller to make sure engine is cold when I go to look at the car.

Mazda 3 wouldn't cut it for me .., was actually thinking of changing my CRV for a diesel CX5, but I would want the facelifted model which of course Mazda Thailand can't say when / if it will come. Went and looked at one in Singapore and the interior is way nicer than the current Malaysian built model sold here.

I did vaguely consider the Benz CLA 250 AMG but I don't like the interior that much (I do however love that chestnut leather in the Roc). They're going to start selling locally-built ones later this year for around 2.4M according to Benz Thonglor, who also just rang me to offer 150,000 discount off the 2.69M sticker, free 1st class insurance and a bottle of champagne if I took one of the last CBU import models by 30 Sept. However I don't see 'Made in Hungary' as necessarily any more desirable than 'Made in Thailand'. My CRV is built here and after 2 years since buying new it's not developed any irritating rattles or loose bits.

Back on topic. I've always liked the Scirocco and as many have said, for the money a recent second-hand one is way up there on the list of affordable (for Thailand) sporty cars. What with Unitronic / APR etc here, for me it's even more compelling.

Still looking for input on Highline vs Comfortline ...

As far as i remember the main difference between Highline and Comfortline is the Interior. Highline has automatic aircon, multifunctional steering wheel including radio control and computer, which Comfortline doesn't have. Also i think that Comfortline doesn't have adjustable shock absorbers, whereas highline has 3 options: Comfort/Normal/Sport. I th

If you want to get a proper first class insurance you will spent about 35k/year. All cars bought thru Thai Yarnyon can be serviced in any VW garage. Actually before VW Thailand, Thai Yarnyon was the only official car dealer of VW in Thailand. If you are still interested, i have my one for sale now. PM me for details if you want.

Cheers

Jack