Effective as of April 3rd 2008, the popular selling Golf GTI Edition 30 has been removed from sale in the UK. No longer listed on VW UK's website this a rather abrupt end to an eagerly awaited special edition. This has come at the end of a somewhat bumpy period for the Edition 30, after it was learned from VW Dealers that the model was in fact not a limited edition. Owners complaints, raised on uk-mkvs and other forums, over conflicting information gvien by VW over this problem do seem to have culminated in an early end for the model.
It would seem that in recent months VW UK Dealers were then told
model
could be ordered with no cut off in allocation, signaling that the
model wasn't in fact the limited edition that owners were initially led
to understand. This of course came as a suprise to current Edition 30
owners, who understandably were concerned over their original decision
to purchase the car. Dealerships
were also unwilling to discount the Edition 30 due to its limited
status. Now, it would appear, this has become a highly sensitive issue
certainly for those who were under the impression it was a limited
edition.
The original press release which was issued by VW UK hinted that the model was to be a limited eition, something which surely attracted many prospective owners to ordering the 230 PS 2.0T FSI engined GTI. Given the success and high residuals of the MKIV 25th Anniversary model it's fair to suggest that the Edition would have been destined for the same fate. However, now that VW UK have pulled the model from Dealerships there is a good chance the limited status could in fact be saved.
VW have commented that they will be releasing exact details of how many Edition 30 GTI's have been sold in the UK to date. Backing up their case for now ensuring the model will be a limited production.
There is light at end of this tunnel. though. As one model is removed from sale another is on the horizon - in the form of the Golf GTI Pirelli Edition. No firm details yet on it's spec and trim level, however judging by the European model bright paint and numbered plaques could be on the cards.
We'll have more news on this as it develops.