This is all a good lesson in talking a tape measure with you to the dealer when looking at a new car. 

 

 

We've done this - Wandering about the cars with the tape measure checking that the Dog crate will fit.  You do get some funny looks though.

The VBF is an option on most trims and only standard on the Elegance and L&K(in UK I think). I specced it as an option on my still to be built VRS.

So I would guess it is removeable but not sure what it would leave as floor covering.

However I would imagine there would be SE, VRS estate owners willing to do a deal and swap boot carpet for VBF.

We've done this - Wandering about the cars with the tape measure checking that the Dog crate will fit.  You do get some funny looks though.

 

Let them look.......it's your money, if they don't like you measuring their cars you can spend your money somewhere else!

 

I'm sure the dealers think 'why not just look at the schematic diagram with the measurements on' but I find these diagrams to be slightly misleading as they always quote maximum dimension, and can sometimes have errors, so it's always a good idea to take a tape measure.    

Edited 10 June, 201412 yr by booke23

I've been stung in the past as an object would fit IN the space - but wouldn't actually go through the aperture in the first place...

I got confused at the beginning believing the VBF could be removed (brining a new telly home) when all that can be done is the floor dropped.

 

This thread reminds me a bit of when the wife says "Do I look good in this" and "I just say yes" she is pleased and I have no hassle.

However I would imagine there would be SE, VRS estate owners willing to do a deal and swap boot carpet for VBF.

 

Not possible as it's not just the floor that different it's also all the side trim, that's why it can't be retrofitted.

 

TBH I've never understood the point of it, if you need the space of the estate why spec an option that makes the boot smaller, why not just order the hatch pocket the money?

TBH I've never understood the point of it, if you need the space of the estate why spec an option that makes the boot smaller, why not just order the hatch pocket the money?

 

Because it gives a perfectly flat load area......very handy when carrying very heavy objects. 

Because it gives a perfectly flat load area......very handy when carrying very heavy objects. 

 

And heavy object are usually large so a bigger boot is ideal.

And heavy object are usually large so a bigger boot is ideal.

 

Not when you're having to lift it over the boot lip scraping the trim in the process! 

Not when you're having to lift it over the boot lip scraping the trim in the process!

Ah right get ya know, I'm careful with my car, that's why I don't have any issues.

Not possible as it's not just the floor that different it's also all the side trim, that's why it can't be retrofitted.

TBH I've never understood the point of it, if you need the space of the estate why spec an option that makes the boot smaller, why not just order the hatch pocket the money?

TBH I've never seen the point in commenting negatively on other people's needs and preferences, it just shows ignorance. Besides, the hatch is just a bit too ugly for me.

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TBH I've never understood the point of it

 

Having a completely* flat load space from the boot lip inwards makes life easier.

Being able to partition the boot to stop the shopping sliding round is useful.

Then there's the flexibility to drop it to make the load space bigger when you need to.

 

And that's just off the top of my head.  Hope that helps with your understanding... 

I was unsure of the vbf so decided not to get it but I must admit I miss the flatter load space of my old Passat. The boot seemed monstrous in that. Again it had the handy hooks although they were chrome unlike the plastic ones in the octy they are great for keeping shopping in check.

I haven't put anything big in the boot yet so can't comment on its load capacity but it took 80 block pavers last night and hardly knew they were there.

I was unsure of the vbf so decided not to get it but I must admit I miss the flatter load space of my old Passat. The boot seemed monstrous in that. Again it had the handy hooks although they were chrome unlike the plastic ones in the octy

Just plastic chrome though.

I haven't put anything big in the boot yet so can't comment on its load capacity but it took 80 block pavers last night and hardly knew they were there.

 

I'm betting your suspension did...

Looked a touch lower but still plenty of arch gap. Sure I could have got loads more in safely.

I'm sure the hook/eyelets in the Passat were chromed metal, steel or alloy of some kind, always cold to the touch and took a right load from my ratchet straps with no flex?

Looked a touch lower but still plenty of arch gap. Sure I could have got loads more in safely.

 

 

The transport blocks probably stopped it from sinking too low.

it took 80 block pavers last night and hardly knew they were there.

 

When I first read this I thought it was 80 paving slabs!....even light paving slabs are probably 10kg each...800kg! 

 

But block pavers probably average 2.5kg each. So 200kg in total. Not too bad when you consider 3 average adults in the back seat would be about 240kg.........but I wouldn't carry 3 adults in the back plus the 80 block pavers!  

Edited 11 June, 201411 yr by booke23

When I first read this I thought it was 80 paving slabs!....even light paving slabs are probably 10kg each...800kg!

But block pavers probably average 2.5kg each. So 200kg in total. Not too bad when you consider 3 average adults in the back seat would be about 240kg.........but I wouldn't carry 3 adults in the back plus the 80 block pavers!

Haha no worries. I'm not sure 80 slabs would fit and if they did it really would test out the bump stops lol. It was just me in the car and I do have a sheet of ply in there to spread the load over the flimsy looking standard floor. It probably helped that all the weight was kept low with them laid out across the floor in a flat layer and a bit. Felt a bit bad filling my new car up with building materials but that's why I bought an estate.

Edited 11 June, 201411 yr by V6Jules

The lower 'bench' of the mkIII rear seats is fixed, all you can do it fold the backrests down.....

I queried this when I picked my car up today. Was told the the seat base is fixed because the mountings for a child seat ( think its a special sort) has to be fixed to the chassis, this prevents it from being moved. Shame this is not an option as I will never fit a child seat and would prefer a flat floor when the rear seats are folded down.

I queried this when I picked my car up today. Was told the the seat base is fixed because the mountings for a child seat ( think its a special sort) has to be fixed to the chassis

 

The Mk2 has these (Isofix) but still has the facility to lift up the rear bench. I wonder if this is some sort of cost cutting measure on the Mk3. 

 

Just to illustrate how useful it is to have a flat load area, I bought a 37kg parasol base the other day at B&Q. I could single handedly put it into and take it back out of the boot as there was no lip. Doubt I'd have managed this by myself if the raised floor was removed. 

I queried this when I picked my car up today. Was told the the seat base is fixed because the mountings for a child seat ( think its a special sort) has to be fixed to the chassis, this prevents it from being moved. Shame this is not an option as I will never fit a child seat and would prefer a flat floor when the rear seats are folded down.

 

They were taking rubbish. the ISOfix mounts are fixed to the floor, not the seatbase.

They were taking rubbish. the ISOfix mounts are fixed to the floor, not the seatbase.

Exactly, my Passat seat bases lifted to allow the backs to be folded flat and that had isofix too. Just cost cutting on hinges and fixings for the bases I guess? Bad design in my mind.

The old mans accord does it the best as you pull a leaver and the seat base pops up, the seat backs fold forward and the headrests tuck in all in one motion. Shame it looked a bit like a hearse

I'm so glad I got an answer to my original question...not!

 

No need for sarcy comments, yes we should have measured etc....

 

The dealer had the same dog crate as us and same car,  led us to believe that the crate actually fit in the boot, he obviously lied.......

 

We bought a smaller crate!

I'm so glad I got an answer to my original question...not!

 

No need for sarcy comments, yes we should have measured etc....

 

The dealer had the same dog crate as us and same car,  led us to believe that the crate actually fit in the boot, he obviously lied.......

 

We bought a smaller crate!

 

That is the beauty of Briskoda! Ask a question, get plenty of irrelevant responses, the odd argument and if you're really lucky an actual answer!