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ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:33 pm
by Kev
Something just occurred to me.
When I was on my test drive the dealer guy changed the suspension settings to show me what they were like. The button was on the left of the gear selector. I just looked in Autocar and on the manual they are also on the left side. In the UK brochure though (page 16), they're on the right. The German brochure has them on the left.
I just checked iroc's photos of his lovely black car and his are also on the left.
Shouldn't they be on the right, nearest the driver?
As the other buttons are blanks I assume they're individually wired to the switch and so they just pull out and can be put back where you want.
Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:46 pm
by morrissey
In a lot of these of these brochures, they simply reverse the pictures, so all ain't what it seems.
Despite the UK being a massive market for VAG, they don't bother to convert a lot of things for RHD.
I noticed on my test drive that the suspension button is hidden behind the gear shift, so it's not easy to see which mode you are in.
Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:51 pm
by Kev
morrissey wrote:In a lot of these of these brochures, they simply reverse the pictures, so all ain't what it seems.
Then the text on the buttons, the DSG written on the gear stick and the PRDS down the side would also have to have been shopped.
Seems a lot of effort to go to.
It's no big deal for them to just plug the buttons into the holes on the right instead of the left, surely.
Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:26 am
by morrissey
Be interesting for someone to see if this mod is possible without any wiring changes.
If it is as simple as swapping the position with a blank, why don't VW do this as standard?
Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:58 am
by wigit
i think the buttons on the outsides have a rounded corners which does not aid a straight swap, annoying as have moved switches on my old mk 3 gti
Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:06 am
by iroc
andy wrote:i think the buttons on the outsides have a rounded corners which does not aid a straight swap, annoying as have moved switches on my old mk 3 gti
Just checked mine and you are correct.
Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:08 am
by morrissey
But if it's just the button shape, it seems a bit penny pinching not to move it, given the ergonomic gain
Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:27 pm
by wigit
i'll just have to keep it in sport then

Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:15 pm
by Kev
Could you move the suspension one over to the right? I guess the two middle buttons are the same shape. You're more likely to swap settings on that than flick the ESP on and off. Just seems daft to me to have them where you cant see them.
Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:35 pm
by wigit
looking at buttons may well be able to swap the trye monitor around with the suspension settings, leave esp alone as tend not to turn off the button of death (for front tyres anyway)
Re: ESP and suspension buttons on the wrong side?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:51 pm
by langlord
I guess its one of those little cut backs which have enabled VW to price the car so competively. I know people have said they would all pay a bit more for the little things to be corrected but I think all those little things would add up to quite alot more and would you still be happy paying say £24k for the base model.