the downfall of VAG
Discussion
Some Yanks have read the tell tale signs:
www.nytimes.com/2003/03/16/automobiles/16VOLK.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5062&en=d7f007165f790212&ex=1048395600&partner=GOOGLE
Why haven't our journalists recognised those signs ?
Levensnevel
a smile every mile
www.nytimes.com/2003/03/16/automobiles/16VOLK.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5062&en=d7f007165f790212&ex=1048395600&partner=GOOGLE
Why haven't our journalists recognised those signs ?
Levensnevel
a smile every mile
GM say they don't think VW's reputation for reliability is deserved! 
scandal! (Which, in any case, is a great example of how VW are crap at marketing and customer relations 
)
And VW are faced with an appreciating Euro ... err, just like BMW, Dailmler Chrysler, and err ... anyone else in Europe.
Note also how VW has lost ground to the competition by still making the ancient Polo, Passat and Golf, unlike BMW who are making the innovative 3 series, SAAB with their brand spanky 93 (which has nothing in commn with the 900). How dated they look next to a Vectra, or a Mondeo, and how much we care.
The Phoetus is of course completely mad.
scandal! (Which, in any case, is a great example of how VW are crap at marketing and customer relations ) And VW are faced with an appreciating Euro ... err, just like BMW, Dailmler Chrysler, and err ... anyone else in Europe.
Note also how VW has lost ground to the competition by still making the ancient Polo, Passat and Golf, unlike BMW who are making the innovative 3 series, SAAB with their brand spanky 93 (which has nothing in commn with the 900). How dated they look next to a Vectra, or a Mondeo, and how much we care.
The Phoetus is of course completely mad.
The Polo's brand new, isn't it? New Golf this year, too. Audi's doing splendidly, so too Skoda, while Seat is improving all the time. Okay, so I'm loyal to Group Volkswagen, but it's not all that bad. People may not agree with Phaeton, but VW is the only mainstream manufacturer that could have the balls (yes, I know, some would say arrogance...) to even think about building such a vehicle.
Ford is suffering too, and it, along with GM, has just announced a production cut of 17% or so in the States.
It's all swings and roundabouts, anyway.
Edited to say: My boss drives one of the last old shape 9-3s (Saab nut for many years) and recently borrowed a new one. He concluded that it handled okay, if a bit remotely - like a Vectra, unsurprisingly - but was surprised to find even less room in the back than his version. Puzzling.
>> Edited by ahonen on Monday 17th March 20:01
Ford is suffering too, and it, along with GM, has just announced a production cut of 17% or so in the States.
It's all swings and roundabouts, anyway.
Edited to say: My boss drives one of the last old shape 9-3s (Saab nut for many years) and recently borrowed a new one. He concluded that it handled okay, if a bit remotely - like a Vectra, unsurprisingly - but was surprised to find even less room in the back than his version. Puzzling.
>> Edited by ahonen on Monday 17th March 20:01
A rather harsh article I think - I mean lets drag up the past with the 'Audi and the sudden acceleration problem' from the early 1980's... hardly current is it. Ok, so the writer then subsequently notes that Audi were exhonerated on that, but whats the saying - sleeping dogs?
Ok, so the coil thing is pretty crap, but lets be honest though - at least they are doing something about it. Its a huge cost to them as a company and it will take ages to fix. But hey, what about Ford and their Firestone tyre problem? Didnt they conceal, lie and use their corporate muscle to hide from that one? Only when the government steped in to sort out the mess did some of the truth get told. VW could have done the same, but didnt. Doesnt quite sit in the same league does it? Best not mention the exploding GM cars either should I....
Are VW's more reliable than other cars - no not really but its all marketing in the end. But do they deserve such an attack? No - there are a lot worse manufacturers out there and in the great scheme of things VW aint bad by any stretch....
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. I also thing that the Pharton thing is a waste of time. Just think though - local taxi fodder in a couple of years - now thats more like it!
Ok, so the coil thing is pretty crap, but lets be honest though - at least they are doing something about it. Its a huge cost to them as a company and it will take ages to fix. But hey, what about Ford and their Firestone tyre problem? Didnt they conceal, lie and use their corporate muscle to hide from that one? Only when the government steped in to sort out the mess did some of the truth get told. VW could have done the same, but didnt. Doesnt quite sit in the same league does it? Best not mention the exploding GM cars either should I....
Are VW's more reliable than other cars - no not really but its all marketing in the end. But do they deserve such an attack? No - there are a lot worse manufacturers out there and in the great scheme of things VW aint bad by any stretch....
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. I also thing that the Pharton thing is a waste of time. Just think though - local taxi fodder in a couple of years - now thats more like it!
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