Volkswagen has best sales since 1973!!

[nissangirl74]

Volkswagen is having a banner 2012. Sales are the best they've seen since 1973 and they are buying the other half of Porsche.

Volkswagen of America moved 38,170 units last month (not including sales from sister companies like Audi), putting VW 35.4% ahead of last year's figures.

Not surprisingly, the Jetta leads the VW pack, boasting 83,203 units sold this year. The Passat follows in second place with 55,065, and the Golf comes in third with 20,882 sales.


Does this surprise anyone? I've never owned a VW but I know a few people who do. Owners seem to be quite loyal to the brand. Do you think it's because they run on Diesel or some other reason?



http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/10 ... d+Blogs%29

[asoomal]

Hipsters.

[Jesda]

VW finally built a US plant after the trainwreck they attempted in Pennsylvania. Westmoreland put out some real turds. It seems so far like they learned their lessons when they built the new plant in Tennessee.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen ... mbly_Plant

Since VW is still perceived as a premium-plus brand with some Apple-like cachet, US production allowed them to slash prices and increase sales.


Would I buy a new Jetta? No, the interior stinks, but the new Passat looks appealing if you avoid the 2.5.

[frapjap]

Owners tend to be loyal to VW, even if they have issues with the cars; which seem to happen pretty frequently. The older Golfs and Passats have some decent fit and finish on the interior, but the Jetta deserves to be driven off a cliff. From what I observe from the friends who own them, its a breaktastic Honda Civic. However, for some reason they keep their cars, even after they spend 2k on a transmission for the second time...

[snwbrdr435]

The new passats are awesome. The back seat is simply massive, the only time i've had more legroom has been in a limo.

[Bubba1]

I'm not very surprised. VW announced their aggressive evil quest for world domination a few years ago. I think the Japanese tsunami, which put a dent in several japanese carmakers ability build enough cars this past year, came at a great time for VW and gave them a boost.

But they are building better cars now, and they've kept their prices reasonable. Plus with the volatile price of fuel, more people are going to notice VW's much improved diesels, which get upwards of 50 mpg without silly complex, hybrid systems with expensive batteries that the US and japanese companies seem infatuated with at the moment.

What keeps me away from VW's and eventually owners will figure it out is that you are a slave to the VW dealership. That's how they are designed. For example it requires an expensive tool just to check the A/T fluid. And the fluid itself is ridiculously expensive and there is no aftermarket substitute available without voiding the warranty. unless it's a Veedub expert, doubtful most independant shops will spend the money for the special tools to handle VW.

[Rex]

As much as people may point to the "TDi factor" I just don't think they sell enough of them to attribute the strong sale growth to that alone.

I've always considered them "Budget BMW owners". There's cachet in owning one, it's supposed to have fantastic "drive-ability" and the high repairs costs are just part of owning "German engineering".

I'll never forget this one Ad agency CEO I knew that moved from a 540 to the G8 GXP - "If I drop the same $4k a year in maintenance, it should last just as long and save me >$20k."

[Bubba1]

As much as people may point to the "TDi factor" I just don't think they sell enough of them to attribute the strong sale growth to that alone.

I think the Tdi factor is more significant than you think, and it's growing. Yes, diesel engined car sales represented about 2% of all US car sales last year, but they are rapidly growing and the Germans cashing in almost exclusively because the US and japanese manufacturer's are still infatuated with unnecessarily complex gas/electric hybrids for the US market. Did you know VW reported a 35% increase in their US diesel sales last year? and that was before the big gas price spike. That number is going to be even bigger this year if they can build enough of them.

Unfortunately, when many middle aged/older Americans think of diesels, they immediately recall those awful 1970's GM diesel cars that went clackity clack, belched smoke, and were even slower than a 240SX , not the current generation ones that seem to surprise people when they discover them.

Once those expensive hybrid batteries start wearing out and the manufacturers stop replacing them under warranty, which will kill their resale values, combined with the cost of fuel inching closer to what they pay in Europe, I'm sure diesels are going to become much more popular here. they are already popular in Europe where they make up 50% of their car sales. And VW is perfectly positioned as they've been developing their diesels for years.

[Rex]

I stand corrected ... well not really, I did say alone.

According to VW's media/press release site
- 2011 sales total 324,402 units, a 26.3 percent increase over prior year sales
- High-mileage, clean diesel TDI models account for 21.6 percent of sales in 2011 and 18.4 percent in December.

If I do the math correctly, they sold ~80k more units in 2011 than 2010 and the sold ~70k TDi's in 2011, so some could say the TDi's made up ~75% of the 2011 increase. That's a significant amount of the increase, but it wasn't TDi's alone , as VW reports they sold ~56k TDi's in 2010.

So, it appears TDi's made up 14k of the 80k increase (2011 over 2010), which comes out to ~17.5% of the increase.

Based on those #'s which I pulled from VW's site in ~5 minutes it would appear the "full line" sales growth at VW over the last year has been at a higher rate than the TDi sales growth.

Also note, there was a stronger TDi sales growth previously in December each year due to people trying to claim the Federal Tax Credit for diesel engine automobiles, but that was phased out in 2011.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I remember telling co-workers at Bosch about how VW is sold by advertising them as "German Engineered" (and hence why you should buy one).
Their answer? "Really? Why? German Engineering is no better than American or Japanese...."

[MinisterofDOOM]

The new passats are awesome. The back seat is simply massive, the only time i've had more legroom has been in a limo.

You need to ride in something bigger than a Camry then. The new Passat is by far the least impressive model to bear the name...and that includes the first generation US model that was nothing more than a big Jetta. There are dozens of options out there offering that kind of "impressive" legroom but with more fun and better (read "any") reliability.

You know the Passat could be had with a W8 for a while? Not anymore. All in the name of pricing it to sell. Because despite their posturing, VW has NEVER been a premium brand. In fact Spartan interiors were a trademark of VW cars for a long time.

I've never understood the spell the brand holds over it's exceptionally loyal customers. I don't think THEY understand it either; most VW fans I know can't even tell me what it is that makes the cars special to them. Probably it's simply the fact that they've never owned anything else and thus have no basis for comparison.

It says a LOT about the brand that it is only after significantly cheapening their lineup (in terms of both purchase price and product value) that their sales have become remotely good.

Same thing would happen to Acura if they dropped the price of the pointless RL by about $15K. It's not impressive. It's facing reality.

Oh, also 38k brand-wide sales is not impressive. Nissan sells that many Altimas ALONE in a month.

[telcoman]

Had three Volkswagens.

First one a 66 Beedle purchased in Germany while stationed in the Army. Paid $1325.00 with US options. Safety glass, sealed beam headlights and seat belts. Shipped it back to the US and blew the engine for failure to adjust valves in a timely manner.
Dealer in Queens, NY gave me $500 on a trade in for a brand new 69 Beedle for $2000.00. Kept it until 1980 as the drivers side seat was rusting thru the bottom.
Then came the 74 Mazda RX4 Rotory
Bought a 1980 Diesel Rabbit that gave me 246k miles until the oil pump failed in 1991
Then came the 88 Mazda 929
Then came the 92 Lexus ES300 and the wife bought a 93 Mazda Protege
Then in December 05 I purchased my G35
I probably would not purchase another VW but would go for a new G37

Telcoman

[Bubba1]

[
I've never understood the spell the brand holds over it's exceptionally loyal customers. I don't think THEY understand it either; most VW fans I know can't even tell me what it is that makes the cars special to them. Probably it's simply the fact that they've never owned anything else and thus have no basis for comparison.

I think the spell is very easy to understand if you've actually owned one of their earlier cars back their heyday. I'm talking original aircooled Veedubs: Beetles, squarebacks, karman ghias, and extending to the early liquid cooled 1st generation rabbits . Those Veedubs were special because they were incredibly simple. They were also well made, reliable, affordable cars that were nimble and had charm despite their looks, and could be fixed by anyone. Compare one of those simple cars with the gawdy luxury goodie, chromed beheamoth barges being offered by the American car makers at the time, or a newer complex VW that requires a $500 tool just to check the automatic transmission fluid (which costs over $50 a pint)

Many of us baby boomers owned an original Rabbit or aircooled VW at some point. Very hard not to be nostalgic. For example I miss changing a radio station on the car radio with one simple twist of a knob, rather thantwisting/pushing/pulling a friggin i-drive knob 43 times.

[OriginalWheelman]

Yeah, I think you nailed it. It's the reputation of those early VWs that people remember. Like how Ford couldn't sell the 500, but they rebadge it Taurus and it flies off the lot. Americans car buyers seem to forget that car makers can change over the years.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I think the spell is very easy to understand if you've actually owned one of their earlier cars back their heyday. I'm talking original aircooled Veedubs: Beetles, squarebacks, karman ghias,

I love those cars, too. But that has nothing to do with it. The carmaker who built those cars is not the carmaker who is building Passats today. None of the modern models have anything in common with those older ones. There's none of the charm and none of the simplicity. Those classic models have nothing to do with it.

And, at any rate, the fanatical VW owners I'm talking about never owned those cars anyway. They bought a Jetta once, and loved it for some reason, and now all they buy is Jettas. But unlike the Camry owner who barely even thinks about their car (appliance), the VW owner talks endlessly about how wonderful their VW is, and how they only buy VW and how they'd never buy anything else. But they can't tell you WHY. People like my aunt, who buys a new red Passat every 3 years. She doesn't even consider anything else. But she's sure determined that the Passat is the best of the best. Nearly all the VW owners I know (who are not enthusiasts) are this way. They're mindlessly enthralled for unknown reasons. None of these people I'm talking about have been within a hundred yards of a classic air-cooled VW, and none of them could tell you why those cars were so great. In fact, the VW owners I'm talking about would probably HATE a Karman Ghia if they had to drive one. And many of them are too young to have been around when those cars were common anyway.

These are people who love MODERN VW. And I don't understand why. I can see the enthusiast gravitating toward the R32 or GTI (even though I'd never own either myself). But the average joe being impressed to the point of never shutting up about his generic Passat is baffling to me. You get people who couldn't tell a cotter pin from a heim joint talking about their love of their car. But it's not the kind of mechanical, or fun-to-drive talk you get from people who don't shut up about their F-bodys or Integras or Evos. It's love for an applicance. Generic, unfocused passion for a refrigerator.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I too am very familiar with the VW owner that MOD is talking about. It has always baffled me too... moreover, I see more stupid apple stickers on VWs than any other car... its like they go hand in hand. If you own VW, you MUST own a mac/apple product.

[OriginalWheelman]

The type of people for whom looking trendy and cool is more important than functionality or practicality.

[Bubba1]

Ok, now I understand you. I'm not sure I see how the folks you describe are any different than any other brand loyal consumer. What you might see as bland and boring, your aunt evidently sees as functional, familiar, and comfortable. I hope you realize we enthusiasts represent such a small percent of the buying public. And our perception of what a car should do or should be differs from the norm. That's why boring cars like the Camry sell so well.

VW's are a good choice for non-enthuiasts that trade their cars every 3 years, (before the warranty expires), who have no problem putting their faith in their dealers. I'm sure that demographic contains a lotta Applie owners I have a neighbor that swears by VW's too. New VW's are clearly not for me, but if he's happy, I'm happy. FWIW, the "Geek Squad" computer repair company, has a fleet of new Beetles. Kinda ironic.

I would argue that owners like your aunt are far more rational than say, a Dodge or Ford buyer who is loyal because their favorite NASCRAP driver races one. It appears your aunt, like many other loyal owners, has had good experiences with her cars to the point she keeps on buying them. Why shouldn't she?? I'd only be concerned if they fell apart and gave her lotsa problems, and she still continued to buy them.

[Jesda]

The job of an auto enthusiast (or anyone who has knowledge or expertise on any kind of product) is to guide and steer those who know little.

It's why when our friends and family need a car, they ask us first. People with the misfortune of having no friends or relatives willing to speak to them are forced to get their advice from Consumer Reports, the world's foremost experts on toasters and curling irons.

[Bubba1]

It's why when our friends and family need a car, they ask us first. People with the misfortune of having no friends or relatives willing to speak to them are forced to get their advice from Consumer Reports, the world's foremost experts on toasters and curling irons.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

The job of an auto enthusiast (or anyone who has knowledge or expertise on any kind of product) is to guide and steer those who know little.

Much agreed. I generally take myself out of the equation though. I ask them what is important to them and base the vehicle(s) I tell them to test drive on their criteria.

Now that I think about it, we could easily create a computer program or ap to do our jobs for us.

[Bubba1]

The job of an auto enthusiast (or anyone who has knowledge or expertise on any kind of product) is to guide and steer those who know little.

I also agree to some extent, but you cannot assume those who know little are going to be receptive to advice from someone who knows more. For example, I kinda doubt MoD's aunt is going to accept her knowledgeable nephew's assertion that there might be better choices than VW after her having good ownership experiences with several of them.

[OriginalWheelman]

The job of an auto enthusiast (or anyone who has knowledge or expertise on any kind of product) is to guide and steer those who know little.

And when they buy some piece of crap anyway, cause they saved $500 and got the color they liked better.

[themadscientist]

Companies that make good cars should be rewarded.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7R00nVQ ... ure=relmfu[/youtube]

[MinisterofDOOM]

People with the misfortune of having no friends or relatives willing to speak to them are forced to get their advice from Consumer Reports, the world's foremost experts on toasters and curling irons.

*Applause*

For example, I kinda doubt MoD's aunt is going to accept her knowledgeable nephew's assertion that there might be better choices than VW after her having good ownership experiences with several of them.

That's just my point, though: she shouldn't NEED to accept my assertion. Test driving any other car should PROVE it.

[Bubba1]

That's just my point, though: she shouldn't NEED to accept my assertion. Test driving any other car should PROVE it.

That's your perspective. Unfortunately, it's not hers. She's obviously found comfort with the familiarity of her VW ownership experiences. So leaning on her to test drive something else will not likely change her attachment to VW as it might for you. Besides, you know she doesn't keep her VW's long enough for most of their traditional big dollar problems to occur, so it should not be such a huge sin that she owns one. You're just gonna have to accept it is what it is. It's her choice, she's happy. Be happy for her.

[Jesda]

And when they buy some piece of crap anyway, cause they saved $500 and got the color they liked better.

I think this is how so many Cavaliers and J-body variants managed to fly out of showrooms after more than two decades of production. Between consumer publications and the advice of those in the know, the people buying them must have been completely blind and deaf.

[MinisterofDOOM]

You're just gonna have to accept it is what it is. It's her choice, she's happy. Be happy for her.

I don't think the situation bothers me as much as you've inferred. It was simply an example.

[Jesda]

I used to be in love with the Mk III Jetta (think late 90s). Drove one and fell completely in love with the look and feel. It was comfortable, handled well, and rode beautifully. I'm glad I didn't own one at that age. The headaches would have buried me.


My Dad once owned a Westmoreland-built Rabbit. It was his first and last Volkswagen.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Ugh, I've always thought MKIII Jettas were hideous. The most bland, vanilla, featureless form of the 3-box. The hood dips WAY down to the nose but the rear deck is seven storeys high. The car has fifteen beltlines. And VW cheaped out and used the same doors on the hatch, sedan, and wagon so you've got that goofy emptiness in the sharp c-pillar behind the rear doors on the sedan. The low nose and TINY wheel arches exaggerate the crummy proportions of the massive greenhouse that the sky-high rear deck fails to disguise.

I've never liked Jetta styling, but the MKIII and MKIV are the embodiment of everything I hate about small-car styling. Tall, stubby, narrow, misproportioned and poorly realized. It was the cube before Nissan started building the Cube, except without the bizarre/cute factor.



And that's supposed to be a flattering photo.