Is the Golf Tech Package worth it?

Discord

New member
Joined
Aug 27, 2009
Location
Colorado
TDI
2010 Jetta, 2013 Golf
Have had the 2012 4dr TDI 6sp Manual with tech package for about 6 weeks now. I do a crazy 180mile round trip commute to work and many times its in the dark so Xenon's were non-negotiable for me.

Unless you have true functional need for Xenon's or the KESSY I'd say save your money and do aftermarket NAV/Xenons.

I'm quite underwhelmed by the dynaudio so far and the Nav is a joke for anything beyond point A-B- there is no real time traffic information integrated so for the commuter like me without realtime re-routing based on traffic (which you can get on Tomtom's, iDrive, etc) I almost never use it. The wired and bluetooth interfaces are extremely buggy and wired through the MDI offers no additional features. I'm so sick and tired of having to turn my ringer volume back up every time I get out of my car.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Xenons, the KESSY and Sunroof are nice. The driving mechanics of the TDI are simply great, handling, quiet interior even at 80mph and well selected tire/suspension (again, for the highway commuter like me).

The Nav definitely leaves me wishing I could've gotten the Xenon's ala carte and skipped on the Nav/Dynaudio.

my 2c
Bringing this post back from the dead -

Got a '13 tdi w/tech and and 160 mile r/t 5-6 days a week...I couldn't agree more with your observations.
 

homelessgdog

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Location
So. Cal
TDI
12 Golf TDI 4dr 6spd m/t
I didn't think sobut that is me. I put18k down! So it wasn't like I couldn't afford a tech pkg. At close to 30k for a fully loaded with taxes I couldn't justify it. I would have like the bi xenon lights. Was not impressed with nav or dyna. We have sunroof in one of our other cars. Wife has a hissy to have wind in her face. So I just got my 4dr base stick. I didn't want to think of how much a dsg rebuild would cost down the road. How much is a rebuild DSG cost anyway? Just my two cents.
 

ksing44

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2010
Location
Southeast PA
TDI
2010 Golf TDI
It would have been worth it if they kept the RNS-510 navigation system! They really messed it up with cheaper RNS-315 in the US market. Sure it costs less, but it isn't worth anything at all. In fact it is actually a step backward in some ways compared to the standard RCD-510 that was updated to include HD radio. I was lucky to get mine in 2010, so I have the RNS-510.

Hopefully the MKVII will have a much nicer navigation system than the RNS-315!
 

jni3

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2012
Location
pennsylvania
TDI
2012 sportwagen tdi / 2012 golf tdi
I didn't think sobut that is me. I put18k down! So it wasn't like I couldn't afford a tech pkg. At close to 30k for a fully loaded with taxes I couldn't justify it. I would have like the bi xenon lights. Was not impressed with nav or dyna. We have sunroof in one of our other cars. Wife has a hissy to have wind in her face. So I just got my 4dr base stick. I didn't want to think of how much a dsg rebuild would cost down the road. How much is a rebuild DSG cost anyway? Just my two cents.
when you get the car for $23,8XX it makes the tech package worth it.
 

BarnyardsTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2010
Location
Sacramento California
TDI
2010 Golf w/DSG, Malone Stage 2 (all emissions intact), HID's, Sunroof, Dynaudio, NAV
I remember when life was simple in 2010 and a thing called the "Tech Package" didnt exist. Sure would heated seats be nice? Yeah If I didnt live in south central Texas.
 

03_01_TDI

Banned
Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Location
Denmark
TDI
Na
My policy is, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Therefore, I refuse to buy HIDs. I find them to be kind of selfish because it's an attitude of, "I don't care if I'm blinding oncoming traffic....my safety is more important than yours, dammit."

Your probably confusing the illegal conversion kits that people install with safe, legal, and approved factory design hid lights.

What you should do I call and complain to local law enforcement or the state patrol about blinding illegal lights. The kits are illegal to import, sale, install or use on the road.
 

03_01_TDI

Banned
Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Location
Denmark
TDI
Na
He's not in a small minority. I have a 50-year-old friend who hates driving at night because of headlights. And when I bought my 2010 JSW, I had an elderly friend ask me, "Your car doesn't have those blue headlights, does he?" (HIDs/Xenons) I replied, "Nope," and he said, "GOOD!!"

I don't know what you're talking about when you say that the 'majority of drivers have to settle for reduced visibility.' It's the HID folks that are in the minority. The rest of us do just fine with standard halogens. Never been an issue. Never even hit a deer here in the MI/WI stomping grounds I've called home.

Just because we once went from old-skool sealed headlights to halogens doesn't mean that we can just keep upping and upping the lumens as if there was no end to the process. At a certain point we have to say, "Enough!" Personally, I feel that the regulators have allowed lights to get too bright. I'd prefer that HIDs be outlawed, and that cops would even have the authority to ticket people for driving around with their foglights on all the time, whether it's foggy or not, putting out the light of 2 cars from the front end of 1. Some of them are as brighter than their headlights. Years ago they were just a couple of small spotlights aimed at the ground in front of the car (as it should be with foglights, to undercut the fog.) And now we've got super-bright fog lights that scatter light everywhere....and idiots that drive around with them on all the time, under the misguided belief that they're safer because of it.

And part of the problem is that speeds have gone up. People feel they need more light to be safer because they're going faster.

The bright fog lights probably contain illegal hid conversion bulbs. Unfortunately many officers do not know about the illegality of the lights and/or they don't enforce it.
 

TDInewbee

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Location
Atlanta
TDI
2012 Golf TDI w/ Tech, 4dr, BGM, 6-spd manual
Definitely get the Tech if that's what you want. You'll regret not getting it. The xenons are awesome (contrary to an earlier post, I find them far less blinding than halogens, and you can see far better), the Dynaudio is great, and the KESSY is the most convenient option I've ever had in a car.

Like someone posted earlier, it doesn't cost that much extra over the life of the car. If it helps any, I negotiated my price down to $25,500 for my 4dr Tech 6sp, so that might help your decision.

I also prefer the ease of a 4dr over a 2dr.....The doors are lighter (as someone posted), and rear seat access is undenably better.
 
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TDInewbee

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Location
Atlanta
TDI
2012 Golf TDI w/ Tech, 4dr, BGM, 6-spd manual
Your probably confusing the illegal conversion kits that people install with safe, legal, and approved factory design hid lights.

What you should do I call and complain to local law enforcement or the state patrol about blinding illegal lights. The kits are illegal to import, sale, install or use on the road.
Agreed 100% - lots of illegal "xenon" looking aftermarket lights which are more blinding than direct sunlight!
 

03_01_TDI

Banned
Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Location
Denmark
TDI
Na
The illegal xenons are going to get worse as they now are selling 55 and 100 watt lights. OEM hid is just 35 watts.
 

dhectorg

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2012
Location
Ohio
TDI
2012 Golf TDI w/ Tech Package
I've had my 2012 4dr TDI 6-spd tech package in black for about 10 months now and I love it. I'm approaching 16,000 miles and they've all been a joyride! Love the HIDs on my early morning commute through deer country. All that said, the Dynaudio system has left me slightly disappointed. I connect an iPod containing lossless files, which should knock my socks off, but it falls short at higher volume. It sounds good, but it's missing something. I'm considering swapping out the speakers at some point down the road. In any case, the HIDs and heated seats make up for it.

 
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bfalke1

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2012
Location
Houston
TDI
2013 Golf TDI, Tech Package, 6MT, 4 door - SOLD
I've had my 2012 4dr TDI 6-spd tech package in black for about 10 months now and I love it. I'm approaching 16,000 miles and they've all been a joyride! Love the HIDs on my early morning commute through deer country. All that said, the Dynaudio system has left me slightly disappointed. I connect an iPod containing lossless files, which should knock my socks off, but it falls short at higher volume. It sounds good, but it's missing something. I'm considering swapping out the speakers at some point down the road. In any case, the HIDs and heated seats make up for it.

Hey, another 4dr, 6MT, Tech package. I think we have the rarest combo in the states. I am just shy of 14,000 miles on my 2013.

I love mine as well. I added leather aftermarket less than a month after purchase, and everyone who is in my car is always shocked at how nice it is, as they expect the quality to be that of an Audi, not a VW. I just couldnt buy an Audi, because I really wanted a manual. Love the headlights and LED DRLs, look very nice, and make LED tails look even more fitting on the car.

I am not overly impressed with the stereo either, but I have no issues with it, because I am far from an "audiophile" (I haven't ever loaded a single song on my phone - unless they came on there from the factory). I just think that is what you get in a 30K car - which is not cheap, but far far from expensive. FWIW, the is much better than the "premium" Bose surround stereo that was in my Cayman S - which was a ~$65K car new - sounded horrible... Though I have heard that Ferry Porsche did say "I never understood why anyone would want to a radio in one of our cars". I guess the engineers took it to heart, and even if you upgrade, its still crap. That is pretty much the same company as VW. I really think if you want a great stereo in a car, you have to go aftermarket. The upgraded factory is for people like me, that want pretty good, but don't really care that much. If you care, you gotta pay for after the fact.
 
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