15 May 2024Justin Daly our General Manager shares his thoughts on one of our 6 brands we specialise in at SD european. The Volkswagen.
When it comes to Volkswagen vehicles, do you have a favourite model and colour?
Certainly! For me, it's the Amarok— it’s the best truck out there. It boasts exceptional power, towing capacity, and driving comfort. As for colour, I lean towards white. It's not just visually appealing, but also easy to maintain, camouflaging any minor damages seamlessly.
In terms of driving experience, do you prefer manual or automatic?
While I used to enjoy the manual gearbox, my preference has shifted towards automatic transmissions, especially with age. Automatics offer superior convenience in heavy traffic and towing situations.
Are you a fan of customising or modifying Volkswagen vehicles?
I don't mind a few subtle modifications. Performance tuning is definitely top of the list and then upgraded wheels. A highlight of my Amarok is the extra space provided by the canopy on my Ute—it's a game-changer as I use my truck to do all sorts of stuff, from collecting hay bales to moving engines around, taking the dogs out and moving larger items from place to place.
When it comes to interior features, do you prioritise comfort, technology, or aesthetics?
I like comfort. A well-crafted, snug-fitting leather seat, preferably electrically adjustable, is definitely a priority.
At the parts center, what criteria do you use to determine which cars we bring in and the parts suitable for resale or refurbishment?
Our selection process is streamlined through our computer program. It guides us based on stock levels and inquiries, ensuring we have on hand the most sought-after parts. It's all done via our computer program. It tells us what we need and what we don't need via stock levels and the inquiries that come in. We buy cars from retail customers, workshops, auctions, insurance companies and sometimes the average person ringing up. When a car comes in, we check and label the parts, then dismantle all the reuseable parts from it. We try and maximise as much as we can off it for the least amount of waste. For new parts we mostly import parts from Germany, France and Taiwan.
Are there any Volkswagen models or components that are in high demand from your customers?
Off the top of my head, we sell a lot of VW ABS pumps for all of our models. However, if a specific part isn't readily available in New Zealand, we can look to order it in from overseas to meet our customer’s needs.
Are there any aspects of Volkswagen vehicles or their parts that you find particularly fascinating or intriguing?
I find it fascinating how parts can be switched between Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, and Seat models effortlessly. It really shows off their great engineering and how well everything works together.
Justin's passion for Volkswagen's versatility, adaptability, and reliability solidifies its standing as one of our premier brands here at SD european.
