New vehicle - no block heater?

[Bigfeet]

My wife and I are considering a new vehicle - subcompact SUV. One of the vehicles we looked at is the Volkswagen Taos. Turns out these do not come with a block heater. Sales guy said, even in Canada, with the oil they now use a block heater isn't necessary. I'm not convinced of that (still hard on the battery, starter, etc. in some conditions?), but I'm also not a car guy so don't really know. Looking for some opinions.

[fishnguy]

Wrong thread, lol. Thought I was creating my own. Sorry.

[HuyFishin]

its a volkswagon thing. I'm pretty sure the tiguan also doesn't have it. I dont even know if you can install one. They tell you it doesn't need it but i'm sure its hard on the battery and starter ect.

[KBF]

Originally Posted by HuyFishin

its a volkswagon thing. I'm pretty sure the tiguan also doesn't have it. I dont even know if you can install one. They tell you it doesn't need it but i'm sure its hard on the battery and starter ect.

battery and starter are the least of the worries

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by HuyFishin

its a volkswagon thing. I'm pretty sure the tiguan also doesn't have it. I dont even know if you can install one. They tell you it doesn't need it but i'm sure its hard on the battery and starter ect.

I have a Passat no block heater and no place to hook up a tow rope either. Manual states: if you need a tow you HAVE to phone a towing company with special towing equipment.

Guess it never snows in Germany?

Love the car but I believe, Justin Turd'o must be their design engineer.

[Stinky Buffalo]

The last VW I bought (2015 Jetta) came with the "Canada" package - which included upgraded mats, trunk liner and a block heater. It also had tow hooks (basically a tow ring that threads into the bumper at each end).

I miss that car.

[Beached Whale]

When a vehicle is new it may be less of a problem but as time goes on and vehicles get a little older you might have a harder time starting them. My wife's jetta did not have a block heater and in the manual it even stated that the engine and engine oil were designed to eliminate the need for a block heater. That was the hardest starting vehicle I have ever owned. -30 was no problem. -32 my wife was calling in sick days. Plus when it did start in the cold it sounded absolutely awful and made me cringe.

We no longer own that vehicle and I couldn't be happier about it. Probably the worst vehicle I ever owned although it was nice to drive.

[justsomeguy]

It's a German car thing. Audi is same thing. when I bought one years ago the sales guy told me European laws ban things like block heaters and remote start in order to save the planet. He warned me putting in either would risk ruining my warranty, particularly a remote start as they would blame any electrical issue with the car on the aftermarket starter. I'd bet there isn't even a plug to remove to install a block heater.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

The last VW I bought (2015 Jetta) came with the "Canada" package - which included upgraded mats, trunk liner and a block heater. It also had tow hooks (basically a tow ring that threads into the bumper at each end).

I miss that car.

With my first VW, 1966, I was lucky to have the upgraded heater, still not really up to the job.

Grizz

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

With my first VW, 1966, I was lucky to have the upgraded heater, still not really up to the job.

Grizz

Oh, the torpedo that sat on the gas tank? I had that in my '73 Variant... Never used it because of all of the horror stories... One of my friends had to ditch his when he saw the flames coming out from under the dash. Apparently it was the American heaters that tended to malfunction more than the original German ones.

With my 2015 Jetta, I had no real issues unless it dropped below -35 or so... The heater struggled to keep the windows defogged at highway speeds, and there seemed to be a draft coming from around the transmission hump... In keeping with VW tradition of freezing your buns off in Canadian weather.

[insomniac]

I bought a VW. The sales guy said the same thing. He said a battery warmer is enough. If you talk to other dealers, they will have stock that has a block heater.

It seems like it's a factory installed option for VWs. The sales people will try to sell you cars on the lot that don't have it and tell you that you don't need it.

This being Alberta/Canada, I would recommend a block heater.

I ended up going to a different dealer that actually had stock that had the block heater installed... It was a $300 (or something like that) option on the VW website...

[-JR-]

Originally Posted by Bigfeet

My wife and I are considering a new vehicle - subcompact SUV. One of the vehicles we looked at is the Volkswagen Taos. Turns out these do not come with a block heater. Sales guy said, even in Canada, with the oil they now use a block heater is necessary. I'm not convinced of that (still hard on the battery, starter, etc. in some conditions?), but I'm also not a car guy so don't really know. Looking for some opinions.

If you got a garage to park it in every evening at home you don't need one that bad .
But if it sits outside at work all day ,its a free power plug in at work correct . which means less warm up time . I would be shopping for a new dealer or at least once the deal is almost done like signing on the line . I would say i am going to think about for a day or better throw in a block heater for free. On my sale I had them throw in bucket sets with a console in my truck instead of the split bench . And the split bench was not heated and only had power adjustment on one side . So I got a very big up grade for nothing .
Remember its a buys market . A lot of dealers with same car for less .

[1hogfarmer]

Can always install an inline coolant heater, they are pretty cheap and easy.

[Drewski Canuck]

Just having to put up with the no block heater line is not that bad!!!

Most dealers insist on $6 K of aftermarket things like 3M paint protection, undercoating, tire and wheel insurance, etc.

When you say you don't need that stuff, they tell you they have no choice, that is how the vehicle comes from the factory. Really? I DID point out that the tire and rim insurance has Nothing to do with Building a car, and the monkey in the suit did not reply.

Basically, Car Dealerships will do as little as they can to get as much as they can. If it comes from the salesmen's mouth, you know it cannot be trusted.

I would really like to know what the invoice price was between the two dealerships you went to for the same vehicle. At least it was not a Mercedes! That power cord for their Block Heater is $500.

Drewski

[HyperMOA]

Tell your salesman to put his money where his mouth is. If he can produce literature from VW that states a block heater is not needed at temps exceeding -35C you will pay for one to be installed. If he can’t produce the literature to back up his claim that he pays for the install.

More wear occurs in an engine from one cold start than driving 1000km. That was a study done about 10 years ago from one of the lubricant companies out there. Engine oil is not as effective at its jobs of lubricating and cooling at -35 as it is at operating temperature. The warmer you make an engine at start-up the better.

[antmai]

Plus $ plus $ plus $
Just bought a new car as well. Chevy. $600 hidden charge.

[amosfella]

Originally Posted by Drewski Canuck

Just having to put up with the no block heater line is not that bad!!!

Most dealers insist on $6 K of aftermarket things like 3M paint protection, undercoating, tire and wheel insurance, etc.

When you say you don't need that stuff, they tell you they have no choice, that is how the vehicle comes from the factory. Really? I DID point out that the tire and rim insurance has Nothing to do with Building a car, and the monkey in the suit did not reply.

Basically, Car Dealerships will do as little as they can to get as much as they can. If it comes from the salesmen's mouth, you know it cannot be trusted.

I would really like to know what the invoice price was between the two dealerships you went to for the same vehicle. At least it was not a Mercedes! That power cord for their Block Heater is $500.

Drewski

Here's a funny for you. Mercedes used the same block heater cord on all models for years (at least they used to). The block heater cord from a Freightliner dealer for a Mercedes engine would fit the cars just nicely. And once upon a time, it cost $26.

[vinny]

We have a Golf Alltrack. It’s a 2017 I think. (Wife’s car). No block heater. Not an option. Have never had an issue. Well into the minus 30’s. Starts every time. Still have the original battery in it. No garage, always outside.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Betting you got no spare tire either . Rental Ford Escape I drove in the Yukon made do with a can of inflation foam.

Grizz

[creeky]

Originally Posted by Bigfeet

My wife and I are considering a new vehicle - subcompact SUV. One of the vehicles we looked at is the Volkswagen Taos. Turns out these do not come with a block heater. Sales guy said, even in Canada, with the oil they now use a block heater isn't necessary. I'm not convinced of that (still hard on the battery, starter, etc. in some conditions?), but I'm also not a car guy so don't really know. Looking for some opinions.

In Alberta you need a block heater, don't let any one tell you otherwise-particulary a car salesman.


Creeky....



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[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by creeky

In Alberta you need a block heater, don't let any one tell you otherwise-particulary a car salesman.


Creeky....



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Climate change will take care of that.

Grizz

[elkhunter11]

When I started driving in the 70s, we used to install an extra block heater in our V8 engines, if one gave out during winter, we just plugged the other one in.

[ClutchCanadian4]

Originally Posted by Bigfeet

My wife and I are considering a new vehicle - subcompact SUV. One of the vehicles we looked at is the Volkswagen Taos. Turns out these do not come with a block heater. Sales guy said, even in Canada, with the oil they now use a block heater isn't necessary. I'm not convinced of that (still hard on the battery, starter, etc. in some conditions?), but I'm also not a car guy so don't really know. Looking for some opinions.

Former VW tech of 4 years here. 99% of the newer VW's didn't come with any factory block heater outside of the TDI's which came with a cord you plugged into the front bumper. We typically installed pan heaters, they work just as well if not better then a block heater. If you elect to go this route, please buy a high quality brand name with good reviews, too many of the china made pan heaters at risk of catching fire.



You can also buy aftermarket block heaters that bolt into the block, a little tougher route to go, especially without a hoist to assist with getting your arm up and in there. I see a lot of guys plugging their cars in September to April regardless of the outside temp, all that'll do is burn out the heater element prematurely. IMO, my experience and education through being a mechanic is that with todays oils, you don't really need to plug your car in until temps get below -15 or -20 ambient, remember, wind chill has zero effect on your car.

Edit: I forgot to add that on some of the engines with the plastic oil pans, we installed coolant heaters or in some cases oil heaters that bolted into the pan itself.