VW-Audi Diesel Scandal: Desperation Needed

[lubricatosaurus]

"Volkswagen of America has their head in the sand," Steve Kalafer said. "It's not just going to be another incentive or another bonus that gets Volkswagen out of this. It's going to be the dealers who get Volkswagen out of this. The reputation of Volkswagen is spiraling towards worthlessness." http://www.autonews.com/article/20151207...-sales-nosedive

How to fix? I like their Golf GTI, others they have. What moves should they make now to recover from bad sales and bad reputation?

 

[LoneRanger]

To [censored] with emissions, they should bring the Toureg TDi V10 back to the USA and sell to me uber dirt cheap. Only that will redeem them.

That thing had some torque.

 

[hansj3]

Unlimited lifetime bumper to bumper warranty? Cash back?
KIA made it right with my soul with the difference in fuel economy+ 15%.

Its great news for me, I have always wanted a tdi...

Stuff that v10 into a Audi s6

 

[Andrew1972]

Quit trying to compete with masses and make a niche product. Subaru has had amazing success because they sold niche products and did not try to directly compete with mass sellers. A niche product they had (least expensive diesel) is torched.

GTI and Golf SportWagen are definitely niche products, the balance of cars no so much.

 

[javacontour]

The irony!

The dealers, customers of the automaker, upset by unethical behavior of those from whom they purchase.

 

[FowVay]

Volkswagen of America has many issues and their dealership network is one of them. Nobody trusts the dealerships because of repeated failures at repairing issues or even performing routine maintenance.

I presently own a 2009 Jetta TDI and it is one of the vehicles being recalled. I have no intention of ever letting anyone at a VW dealership touch my car. The ONLY way VW could satisfy me would be with a cash payment. I presently am eligible for a $500 Visa card to be spent anywhere and also a $500 Visa card to be spent only at a VW dealership. My vehicle has lost about $4000 in resale value and VW can either pay me $5,000 to settle their debt with me or they can cut me an incredibly good deal on a VW/Audi product of my choosing.

I don't dislike the VW brand. I do however detest the corporation as a whole. They are crooked, arrogant, incompetent people that have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

I don't want to have to deal with them any longer. Giving me a lifetime warranty would be worthless to me.

 

[Andrew1972]

Is a 2009 TDI Jetta now worth less then a equivalent 2009 Jetta gasser? I always felt TDI was seriously overpriced because it had no competition.

 

[lubricatosaurus]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
The irony! The dealers, customers of the automaker, upset by unethical behavior of those from whom they purchase.
Its not the ethics the dealers dislike, its the gettin' caught.

 

[lubricatosaurus]

I guess I don't understand Steve Kalafer's (guy who franchises/owns a bunch of dealerships) comment that dealers are the saviors here. ?????

Dealerships need good product & the national advertising to strike a cord with the public, so out of their control and really in the hands of the makers.

Maybe Kalafer just wants VW-Audi to send him cars way below manufacturer's cost (gasoline models) so he can sell them below the price of a Kia Forte.

 

[javacontour]

Dealers feel they are an integral part of the process. Dealers are the ones who buy the cars and the franchise from the automaker.

You and I are NOT the customer of any automaker. We are the customers of the dealer from whom we buy.

Now one can argue if that's a good model in the internet age. But it's the model we have, so dealers do move the metal for the car makers.

But on the other hand, most consumers don't know this. Most dealerships have the automakers logo in the biggest font and the name of the dealership below. So to the average consumer, the dealership is the VW store, or the Ford store, or whatever. It's not Smith's autos, featuring VW or Ford or whatever.

So when the automaker steps in it like VW has, it's the dealer who takes the heat as well, because both names are on the marquee.

Originally Posted By: lubricatosaurus
I guess I don't understand Steve Kalafer's (guy who franchises/owns a bunch of dealerships) comment that dealers are the saviors here. ?????

Dealerships need good product & the national advertising to strike a cord with the public, so out of their control and really in the hands of the makers.

Maybe Kalafer just wants VW-Audi to send him cars way below manufacturer's cost (gasoline models) so he can sell them below the price of a Kia Forte.

 

[Andrew1972]

Our local VW dealer is really sad. It had a massive lot that was as large as other major dealers.

Now they space the cars over the lines because it looks stupid from the road being nearly 1/3 full as normal. Locally tdi accounted for 40% of sales according to owner and was sort of a local trendy car to have.

 

[NHGUY]

I guess this was VWs well delayed revenge for the demise of the original Beetle due to US safety and emissions standards.

 

[CKN]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
I guess this was VWs well delayed revenge for the demise of the original Beetle due to US safety and emissions standards.




Really? The original Beetle belongs in the junk yard right next to the Crown Vic.

 

[Eddie]

VW will survive like GM (whose issue killed people) has survived. VW needs new upper management who is interested in being truthful and, go after the problem aggressively.

 

[crazyoildude]

VW Has had its problems for years their vehicles are nothing but trouble stay away

 

[hattaresguy]

Consumers have short memories lower the price and they will come right back.

 

[DuckRyder]

The absolute last thing VW needs is a half baked solution rushed to market to satisfy dealers.

 

[javacontour]

Perhaps I'm not the typical consumer. My 1981 VW Rabbit is still a vivid memory and I've not owned another since.

The diesel engine was decent, but the car around it was a leaking window regulator breaking mess.

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Consumers have short memories lower the price and they will come right back.

 

[lubricatosaurus]

As far the very real VW low-quality reliability image problems, maybe the answer will be to take a page from GM's bankruptcy book and get rid of the VW brand, in favor of concentrating on the Audi brand which has upscale credibility. (Remember how GM just made extinct the Saturn, Pontiac, and Hummer brands as the weakest.)

Then Audi could introduce some more "affordable luxury" models which really just inject VW models, spiffed up in styling, into the Audi family of sedans, crossovers, sports cars, SUVs, etc.

This might work since Audi's name is somehow being omitted in the public conversation, instead people are blaming "VW" and not recognizing its really the VAG company.

This is already going on, so sheetmetal appearance can follow from the MQB modular chassis which now underpins the Audi A3, TT, with the VW Tiguan, Passat, Golf, Sportsvan models right now. Change appearance some and call them all Audi's. The public is stupid and won't be able to figure it out.


Originally Posted By: javacontour
Perhaps I'm not the typical consumer. My 1981 VW Rabbit is still a vivid memory and I've not owned another since. The diesel engine was decent, but the car around it was a leaking window regulator breaking mess.
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Consumers have short memories lower the price and they will come right back.
Memories of the Rabbits! Cool design anyway, but there was no German word for "quality" at all.

I bought the Dodge (Chrysler) copy of that car, complete with a genuine stroked VW engine inside, the Omni, and it worked OK but was a real adventure to keep running.

 

[Bladecutter]

Originally Posted By: lubricatosaurus
How to fix? I like their Golf GTI, others they have. What moves should they make now to recover from bad sales and bad reputation?


Step 1 is for VW to figure out who they want their customers to be.
You can't just simply say you want all the customers, you have to make a specific product for specific customers.

Step 2 is to make products for the customers you want.
Toyota Camry customers don't buy Passats because they are nowhere near as reliable.
Hyundai Sonata customers don't buy the Passat because its warranty isn't as long/good.
Ford Fusion customers don't buy Passats because VW doesn't sell in huge discounts to rental companies.

Step 3 is to have a dealership group that's sole purpose is to make the customer happy, especially when the owner is asking to have the car serviced under warranty.
VW will never do it, however.

BC.