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The Future of Volkswagen in the U.S. - READ ONLY

57 messages,  Last post on Oct 29, 2007 at 5:59 PM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen, Automotive News

Messages Page 2 of 6

#8 of 57 Re: You know what's weird... [guss] by andys120

Apr 24, 2007 (2:46 pm)

Replying to: guss (Apr 24, 2007 10:32 am)
Sorry if I confused you but that is not a Fox in that photo, it's a '69 Audi 100LS.
 
This is a Fox/Audi80 as it appeared '71-'74.>

 
Rumor has it VW is preparing a sub-$15K entry, I 'spect it will be Lupo-based and made in Mexico or Brazil.

#9 of 57 I think by fezo

Apr 24, 2007 (4:19 pm)

that VW is realizing that it needs more of the cheaper cars. They now advertise that they have three under $17K.
 
That is certainly where their traditional market used to be. I would think they'd do better following that and top off at the Passat.

#10 of 57 does VW by nippononly

Apr 24, 2007 (8:29 pm)

really have a future in the U.S.? Sales are off.....AGAIN.....so go the reports. The Passat is new, yet sales are off. Some might say, way off. The professional reviews of the car aren't that great. The Jetta has been bargain-basemented in its second year after it stalled coming out of the gate.
 
The New Beetle is going to be barely refreshed, and the name change for the Rabbit didn't perk up sales. It's always the same old same old at VW. The Euro-dollar exchange is going to hurt them for quite a while yet, I think. So where will they find new sales? When they say they can't make any real profits off Jetta and Golf sales, how are they going to magically pull big profits out of sales of a $14K Lupo knockoff? I would have thought a slightly federalized Polo would do the trick - they sell them in Mexico already and you see them in the southern states all the time, cute little cars, nicely priced. But even if they did that, I don't suppose it would cure what ails them.
 
Then there is this big plan to finally bring back VW vans.....by borrowing almost everything from Chrysler (including production of the chassis, right?), the North American leader in fleet van sales, right when minivan sales finally seem to be doing the slow decline that people have long predicted but which has only recently materialized.
 
If I headed up VW, I think I might seriously consider pulling out of the U.S. for a few years and plugging away at the Audi sales, which apparently are very profitable, without any of the challenges the VW brand presents.

#11 of 57 Re: does VW [nippononly] by gagrice

Apr 24, 2007 (9:00 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Apr 24, 2007 8:29 pm)
I think the only thing VW really has going for it is the diesel cars. They sold good when available. They are claiming a 50 state TDI by 2008. I would say that is their only real chance at success.

#12 of 57 Re: does VW [nippononly] by fezo

Apr 25, 2007 (2:27 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Apr 24, 2007 8:29 pm)
You certainly ask a legitimate question and I think Gary has a plausible answer. Diesels could be the difference because they already have the engines.
 
The nearest VW dealer to me - 20 miles away burned down in late 99 early 2000 and it still hasn't been rebuilt! They are now slowly building. I'd bet that if the same thing happened at the Honda dealership they'd be open in trailers the next day!

#13 of 57 Re: does VW [nippononly] by boaz47

Apr 30, 2007 (9:18 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Apr 24, 2007 8:29 pm)
The single biggest problem for VW in the US is there is no word in German for parts and service. At least VW doesn't know of the words.

#14 of 57 Re: does VW [boaz47] by nippononly

Apr 30, 2007 (9:39 am)

Replying to: boaz47 (Apr 30, 2007 9:18 am)
LOL!

#15 of 57 Re: does VW [boaz47] by fezo

Apr 30, 2007 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: boaz47 (Apr 30, 2007 9:18 am)
I don't think they have a word for reliability either.
 
They win awards for creative electrical glitches though. Maybe that's what happened to old Lucas Electric..

#16 of 57 VW technology by benjaminh

Apr 30, 2007 (6:10 pm)

One problem that VW has, in addition to reliability and service, is the technology of its base engines. Basically, the VW Jetta engines are duds compared to what's out there today. The Jetta has a 2.5 liter 5 cylinder engine that makes 150 hp and has EPA ratings of 22/30. The Accord--a substantially bigger car--has a 2.4 liter i-VTEC that has 166 hp and is rated 26/34. It makes it less likely that someone's going to buy a Jetta now that gas is around $3 a gallon. And VW's used to be economy cars in all senses of the word--purchase price and mpg. Add on top of that a well deserved reputation for shoddy quality and reliability and poor service (I too knew my VW service tech by name at one point) and you can see why the company is in such trouble.

#17 of 57 Re: VW technology [benjaminh] by boaz47

Apr 30, 2007 (6:24 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Apr 30, 2007 6:10 pm)
Yes, you knew him by name and every time they saw you coming they knew that would be able to afford to take the family back to Germany for their yearly Vacation. I will say that VW has earned their reputation in the US.

Messages Page 2 of 6

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