Historic VW dealer closing after 65 years!

[antiqueshell]

New Milford Volkswagen is closing its doors after 65 years in business, it was one of the earliest VW dealers in the USA.

Here is the link: New Milford VW dealership closing down after 65 years in business!

I think that VW would be wise to keep this tiny store open somehow, it is a milestone for them in the USA, and to boot this store even today is what VW dealers across the USA used to be like when it came to amazing customer service, and competent technicians back in the 60s and early 70s.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Link does not work....

 

[edwardh1]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
New Milford Volkswagen is closing its doors after 65 years in business, it was one of the earliest VW dealers in the USA.

Here is the link: New Milford VW dealership closing down after 65 years in business!

I think that VW would be wise to keep this tiny store open somehow, it is a milestone for them in the USA, and to boot this store even today is what VW dealers across the USA used to be like when it came to amazing customer service, and competent technicians back in the 60s and early 70s.


our local VW dealer used to close for 1 hour each day in the mid 70s for lunch, made it real hard to get parts on YOUR lunch hour. Japanese put them out of business a few years later

 

[earlyre]

according to the video on that site, the dealer has had 3 straight years of losses, and can't even order new cars, as VW Revoked their Credit Line.

 

[powayroger]

This link works- http://www.autonews.com/article/20150315...-after-65-years

 

[HangFire]

$180 profit per car... that'll kill any dealer.

The past few Winters in the NE have been rough, it's no wonder lack of 4WD's is killing the brand in CT. Auto making is a very cyclical business, having the right car or line-up at the right time can mean huge profits, having a limited/outdated lineup and dealers drop like flies.

VW had a dealer implosion some years back, and almost disappeared from the US. Lots of angry dealers went with the new Korean makes or anything they could find to get away from VW. 2012 was a big year because the Japanese marques were suffering from Tsunami parts shortages and VW had a new US plant.

This article indicates things are in a downturn, or at least, have slowed down for VW.

http://europe.autonews.com/article/20150126/COPY/301309990/how-vw-veered-off-target-in-the-u.s.

 

[hattaresguy]

VW's are everywhere, especially the new little SUV, I guess the larger dealers along the coast are killing them.

I guess maybe the resurgence of American brands is hurting them.

 

[antiqueshell]

VW definitely has to start offering 4 Motion in more of their line up, I think they are supposed to offer it in their new Golf
Sportwagen this year, but they also need to have a large wagon as well like a Passat 4 Motion, to compete with the Outback.

 

[Silverado12]

VW got a bad rep for quality in the 2000's. It's hard to shake that. People still think Chrysler is junk from some of the cars they put out in the late '70s (I had a 1977 Volare, which was actually a very good car). Import brands in general have less profit margin than domestics, but $180 per car profit is ridiculous.

 

[HangFire]

Originally Posted By: Silverado12
VW got a bad rep for quality in the 2000's. It's hard to shake that. People still think Chrysler is junk from some of the cars they put out in the late '70s (I had a 1977 Volare, which was actually a very good car). Import brands in general have less profit margin than domestics, but $180 per car profit is ridiculous.


The Cerberus era introductions were no great shakes, either, mediocre looks, handling, fuel economy, and poor reliability.

Cerberus and Bob "platinum helicopter" Nardelli thought they could do the classic turn-around thing, invest a little in new model design (can't bring myself to call it R&D), put out a bunch of new models, some would catch and sell like hotcakes, profit! The reality was also-run cars introduced during an economic downturn don't sell that great. People want real value. So, they did the best they could... took the profitable finance arm with them, and let the rest go bankrupt.

 

[rjundi]

VW sells very well locally. The dealer is excellent in my town. I know quite a few folks who are happy with dealer enough to repurchase. The cars are mixed for sure in reliability from excellent to rolling lemons.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
VW's are everywhere, especially the new little SUV, I guess the larger dealers along the coast are killing them.

I guess maybe the resurgence of American brands is hurting them.
ROFLMAO

 

[HangFire]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
VW's are everywhere, especially the new little SUV, I guess the larger dealers along the coast are killing them.

I guess maybe the resurgence of American brands is hurting them.
ROFLMAO


Well, somethings is hurting them. Read my links. VW sales are down while domestics are up. Perhaps you would prefer to blame it on Toyota or the luxury import brands?

 

[jimbrewer]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig

VW's are everywhere, especially the new little SUV, I guess the larger dealers along the coast are killing them.

I guess maybe the resurgence of American brands is hurting them.
ROFLMAO [/quote
No joke. Vw has chronic problems maintaining market share in North America, and almost nowhere else.

 

[hattaresguy]

From what I have seen since Saab is no longer making cars Subaru seems to be taking their place. You guys have to remember if you judged Saab by the numbers you see on the road in CT it would have been one of the major car manufactures. Same with Volvo.

So the people who liked off beat cars are moving to Subaru from Saab and VW is going more mainstream so why bother when a Camry is more reliable?

You have to remember the Northeast like the west coast worships at the alter of the Japanese and European car. Half of the people around here just go and buy a Toyota, Honda, or Lexus and refuse to even look at anything else.

However that is changing, I'm seeing more domestics than I have ever seen. I doubt we will ever be like the midwest with a domestic on every corner but their are certainly more.