Subtle add on

[robby71]

Had an engine cover lying around from my last Golf GT, also fitted my 2 Polo GTs, A3 S-Line and previous Leon FR so thought i'd fit it to current FR. - (bought from Aliexpress)

Before

After - complete with Cupra badge

 

[salsajoe]

That looks a lot neater! Was surprised that SEAT did not have an engine cover.

 

[robby71]

Yep it's strange - VW, Audi, SEAT don't fit covers to most models unless they're either diesel or top of the line.
I've just got rid of a new Fiesta 1.0 ST-Line (2018my) and that didn't have a cover but the focus (same engine) did - bought a Focus 1 and fitted that

 

[SRGTD]

That looks a lot neater! Was surprised that SEAT did not have an engine cover.

Seems it’s all about cost cutting these days within VAG. A number of items of trim have been dropped on the mk7 / mk7.5 Golf during its lifespan;
- soft, lidded battery box not fitted
- middle rear seat backrest plastic hinge cover deleted
- plastic cover over door mirror fixing screws no longer fitted
- plastic trim covers on Isofix child seat mounting points deleted
- front engine cover (the smaller of the two) not fitted
- storage drawers under the front seats deleted for most models

If a trim piece can’t be seen and serves little or no purpose, other than aesthetics, then there’s a chance that the bean counters within VAG’s ivory towers will probably decide it’s not needed if it saves a few pounds by not fitting it.

Not a huge cost saving per car by not fitting any of the above, or the engine cover on the Leon, but a significant saving overall when you consider the number of vehicles produced by VAG.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

Yes, I keep seeing people talking about having to pay extra for stuff that just came as standard on my 2014 model.

 

[robby71]

It's like the trim on most cars seems to be getting cheaper - solid plastic door panels that scratch easily instead of the padded on previous models, leather look instead of genuine leather, etc