Scirocco Register

VagCat is down for me, and although i'm aware of ETKA, i'm not sure how to find it online if its available. Is it a hardcopy database or website?

Been unable to connect for a couple of weeks now

ETKA is the programme that the dealers use, never seen it on line before! I did get a hooky copy but it never worked.
Vagcat works for me, are you logged in? I just tried it there.

Every time I try to log on to the vagcat forum, I just get some kind of runtime/SQL error. Not sure if it's a Safari/Apple Mac problem, but I used to be able to get on without any problem at all. Not been able to use it for months.

Yeah I used to be able to get vagcat but for a week or two its no go. There was another site but that stopped alltogether, hope thats not the case here. Would be great to get hold of the etka.

When I try to sign in I get a Driver Error. However, if I just go to the main vagcat.com home page and click on the Parts Catalogue I can get navigate my way through the Scirocco stuff just by clicking on the various headings. Have you tried that?

Bonusrocco wrote:There was another site but that stopped alltogether ...

I'm guessing you're talking there about wagenstad.com which was a truly brilliant site and one which I too used often.

It's a real shame we couldn't have gotten our hands on those pages before they disappeared and maybe they could've been hosted on the Register.

I did try doing a bit of online digging in the hopes of finding out who was actually behind wagenstad, but never got anywhere.

Like I say, a real shame because it was excellent and I'm guessing that although the site has been taken down who ever was behind it would still have access to the content.

I can't get in through the front end but can if I go round it, if that makes sense. The iPad had saved a page I was looking at so I clicked that.

.

That site doesn't look too promising after reading the feedback.
Just checked Vagcat again, it is working fine for me.
Feel free to ask me for any numbers.

Wagenstad was a truly brilliant site and I hope it returns. It's also bad news if VAGCat goes the same way......

I cannot understand why the likes of VW do not make versions of ETKA available for users such as ourselves. We have a greater interest in buying parts than Mr & Mrs Average do for their 7 year old Passat. It makes ordering parts so much easier, not only for us, but also for VW's dealers and agents too.

I've had various assemblies on my Mk2 completely renewed with genuine parts, right down to the last nut, bolt and washer. This means that there are actually many more parts needed than just the main item. Being able to give the dealer a list of all these part numbers saves them time and allows us to order the right parts. Without access to ETKA, it would literally take hours and hours for a parts guy to collate an order.

hiltow wrote:I cannot understand why the likes of VW do not make versions of ETKA available for users such as ourselves.

my local dealer doesn't like giving out part numbers at all. it's probably coz they're not interested in selling you 3 nuts and a washer, unless they're also billing you a few hours labour to fit them.

My local Stealership parts department couldn't be more different. They've got an excellent reputation with the local club because they're so happy to help.

Mr Funk wrote:My local Stealership parts department couldn't be more different. They've got an excellent reputation with the local club because they're so happy to help.

The same goes for the three dealers I use, all of them are more than willing to help.

I've always found my local dealership happy to help, but as I said above, it's much easier going through a hefty parts order when you've got a list of numbers to give them. That said, one can sometimes come across the 'yoof' behind the counter who knows diddly-squat about the cars made before they were born and doesn't really want to give someone the time of day who needs them to go through ETKA to identify all the parts and numbers needed.

I've recently been using VW Trade Parts Specialists (TPS). If you've got one near you, they're worth doing business with. I find they know their stuff and, what with being just a parts operation, you don't have to queue behind Mr/Mrs Average wanting a new keyfob for their modern on a Saturday morning either!

Managed to get into ETKA to see the part numbers tonight via the Google hit for the 'online spare parts catalogue', but not via logging-in via their homepage.

VAGCAT also has another good use. When I'm been having work done, I buy all of the parts myself, then bag them up with a printout of the exploded diagram for that assembly in ETKA. I then number the individual parts bags with the corresponding number in the ETKA diagram - just like a big Airfix kit! This makes mechanics lives so much easier and saves money in labour time too, as they don't have to spend time figuring out what goes which fixings go where out of a large bag of anonymous parts.

Losing VAGCAT and Wagenstad will be tragic.......

hiltow wrote:I've always found my local dealership happy to help, ..... That said, one can sometimes come across the 'yoof' behind the counter who knows diddly-squat about the cars made before they were born and doesn't really want to give someone the time of day who needs them to go through ETKA to identify all the parts and numbers needed

Before the new Scirocco came out I went into the dealership and asked for some parts. The spotty Yoof working on parts said "what car", when I said a Scirocco he said "Is that a Volkswagen?"