Volkswagen

[Spazdog]

So with all the responses to the recent MINI and Fiat 500 posts, and all the enthusiasm for the Fit, Fiesta, Mazda2, Kia Rio, and Chevrolet Sonic, what is Volkswagen doing?

If nothing else, introducing the Polo to the United States would get people on car forums like this to talk about Volkswagen.

Rumors have been circulating for years about the Polo's imminent arrival. Thus far, nothing.

I've seen Polos out and about here (albeit with Mexican tags). They can be operated on US roadways. I don't know if they can pass US safety and emission standards, but they can drive here.

Can South African wages be that high? Would a S.African made Polo cost as much as a Mexican Golf? Based on the number of Mexican plated Polos, I would say no.
Mercedes Benz has no problem selling South African made C-Classes so South African cars can be imported to the United States.

Prawn labor is cheap in South Africa.

After the VW Fox, I can see why they might be reluctant to import Gols from Brazil. But that's a ready made flex-fuel vehicle.

To me, the current Polo is closer in size to the original Rabbit/MkI Golf and could be a very practical, fun, and economical car. But I may never get to see a new one.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Yeah, the Polo is a bit of a puzzler. My guess is, most buyers in the US that want a small car also want it to be cheap. That is probably why Fiat 500 isn't selling at high volumes. And I'm not sure that VW can make it cheap. I mean, they probably can, but is it in line with the image that they've created in the US over the past decade of being a fun, yet well appointed/equipped car? They're not going to compete on price - Koreans will have them beat.

 

[javacontour]

Maybe this should be it's own thread, but this thread and an article I read today may shed light on why the small car isn't doing well here.

As someone mentioned, cars like the 500 are not moving like hotcakes.

People associate small cars with fuel economy. (Among other things...) The problem is, small cars don't necessarily achieve the fuel economy one might expect from a car that small. I.E. how much difference is there in the fuel economy of a Mazda2 vs a Mazda3, or the Ford Fiesta vs the Focus? Not much. Or at least not much in the type of driving we typically do in the US, which is a lot of urban freeway driving. If you live in the country, you drive to town at highway speeds.

This morning I was leafing through my step-sons latest issue of Popular Mechanics that addressed this. The bottom line was around town, the lower mass of these cars allowed them to get better fuel economy than their larger counterparts. But put them on the highway and they get the same, or maybe lower economy. Why? Not long enough to get a good teardrop shape to help cut drag at highway speeds.

Since our typical drive cycle is not a congested European city or town, the small car doesn't seem to be worth the costs in comfort, convenience for little or in some cases no improved fuel economy.

 

[DuckRyder]

I thought that they had said they were bringing a "Polo" (not necessarily "THE" polo) but can't find the information anymore.

I think that the Germans don't think the US will buy hatchbacks, if you look at sales of Golfs they may not be too far off. (yes I know GTI's and TDI's sell fairly well).

Anyway, it seems like VW feels they will be better off slotting a low priced Jetta in the line than another carline.

 

[rjacket]

One country whose small cars we don't get here is France. I think they could compete on the price and fun factor, but I'm not up to date on whether their reliability has improved.

 

[jigen]

VW's new Jetta is proof that sticker price is what moves cars more than anything in the US. With the success of the new Jetta and the positive reviews of the new Passat, I could see now being a good time to introduce the Polo. The Jetta is a big seller, but fuel economy isn't its strong point. The Polo could fill that gap for some potential buyers. Only time will tell I guess.

 

[Spazdog]

Maybe they're making us wait for the 70mpg Bluemotion 1.6 TDi until fuel hits $5.00 a gallon again. Then they can sell them at a premium.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: rjacket
One country whose small cars we don't get here is France. I think they could compete on the price and fun factor, but I'm not up to date on whether their reliability has improved.

I'm not sure if they are any better either.

I always figured Renault would use the Nissan company to sell certain French models in the USA.

It never happened.

 

[eljefino]

You should be complaining about VW of North America, the authorized distributor. They tell "VW" what they want. And yes they want to be a prestige brand, along the same lines of why you can't get some BMW hatchback here, as it's associated with cheapness.

Also, have you been in an aircooled bug lately? They're tiny inside by modern standards. A mini car would bring back all the archived jokes from the 1950's... might be an anti-halo, and not "cute" like another make could get away with.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
I always figured Renault would use the Nissan company to sell certain French models in the USA.

It never happened.

The closest you're going to get to it is Cube - it's built on a shared Nissan-Renault platform.

 

[Spazdog]

The top of the line VW Gol GT hatchback comes in just under $13,000 when converted to US dollars from Mexican Pesos.

So there may be something to the prestige brand thing.

But their base Jetta is about $19,000

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I always figured Renault would use the Nissan company to sell certain French models in the USA.

It never happened.

The closest you're going to get to it is Cube - it's built on a shared Nissan-Renault platform.



Versa too, right?

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
The top of the line VW Gol GT hatchback comes in just under $13,000 when converted to US dollars from Mexican Pesos.

So there may be something to the prestige brand thing.

But their base Jetta is about $19,000

http://jalopnik.com/5783395/

^ $14k Jetta!

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: jigen
Versa too, right?

Yes... the V platform.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
http://jalopnik.com/5783395/

^ $14k Jetta!

Sweet. The poll results speak for themselves.

 

[DuckRyder]

Originally Posted By: jigen
...The Jetta is a big seller, but fuel economy isn't its strong point...


CD has reported that the engine line up in the Jetta is changing along with some other upgrades, but this is pretty much all I've been able to find about it.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/volkswagen-jetta-to-get-subtle-upgrades%E2%80%94and-a-new-1-4-liter-turbocharged-four/

 

[91344George]

I've been pushing bringing the Polo to the USA since the early 1990s.

Some of you may know me as "Golf Strom" over on VWVortex.com ...Where I was banned from "The Car Lounge" because VW hacks that help fund VWVortex.com didn't like that I endlessly pushed for this and frankly I made them look foolish because my arguements were solid and impossible to refute.

The fact is that VWoA HAS NO ENTRY LEVEL VEHICLE IN THE US WITH A LEADING PRICE AND GREAT GAS MILEAGE. THIS IS SHAMEFUL FOR A COMPANY THAT CLAIMS IT WANTS TO BE A SALES VOLUME LEADER IN THE USA IN THE NEXT DECADE...IF they don't bring such a car soon they will never become a major player in the USA.

The fact is that with the VW Polo being built in labor cheap Brasil there is no reason why VWoA couldn't bring the Polo here at a reasonable price , reasonably equipped...probably around 13,500 with a 2L engine with automatic, and AC...less with the manual. Perhaps 12,500.

The Polo IS a very good subcompact, no it isn't a Fit or Mazda 2 in handling, but it is very good, and more importantly this model oozes quality that no rival can come close to ..AT THE PRICE.

Frankly VWoA are idiots not to have already brought this car.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
The top of the line VW Gol GT hatchback comes in just under $13,000 when converted to US dollars from Mexican Pesos.

So there may be something to the prestige brand thing.

But their base Jetta is about $19,000

http://jalopnik.com/5783395/

^ $14k Jetta!


In Mexico, it appears the $14,000 "Classico" is a MkIV Jetta

 

[silverrat]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
The top of the line VW Gol GT hatchback comes in just under $13,000 when converted to US dollars from Mexican Pesos.

So there may be something to the prestige brand thing.

But their base Jetta is about $19,000

http://jalopnik.com/5783395/

^ $14k Jetta!


In Mexico, it appears the $14,000 "Classico" is a MkIV Jetta

We had that in Canada as a carry over of the previous generation after Mark V came out, named City Jetta.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: 91344George
The Polo IS a very good subcompact, no it isn't a Fit or Mazda 2 in handling, but it is very good, and more importantly this model oozes quality that no rival can come close to ..AT THE PRICE.

So you're saying that a Brazilian-made Polo beats a Fit when it comes to quality?