Date:         Mon, 14 Feb 2005 20:50:06 -0600
Reply-To:     Mary Beth and Chris Geiser <geiser@EXECPC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mary Beth and Chris Geiser <geiser@EXECPC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Can VW find it's Beetle Juice?
Comments: To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
In-Reply-To:  <a06002000be34408a9dee@[203.167.171.72]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Polo can't possibly be more gutless than my 6000# Vanagon with 48hp
diesel...  I'd buy one in a second if they were available here just for the
mileage.
Power is the most overrated characteristic of vehicles.  I was just
commenting to my wife yesterday how amazed I am that despite being in a
diesel Vanagon that I consistently have to ease off the accelerator for
others when coming off stoplights.  Everyone talks about power - cars are
manufactured and marketed for power - no one uses what they have...


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
Andrew Grebneff
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 10:24 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Can VW find it's Beetle Juice?

>Polo:  VW needs a small car.  The Golf V is huge, so really is the Golf IV.
>There are lots of small and cheap cars in North America that are selling
>extremely well in the 15.000 range - VW isn't one of these companies
>anymore.  The Golf I [Rabbit] sold extremely well as it was simple, small
>and cheap - something that today's VWs are not.  Wouldn't you rather have a
>VW Polo instead of a Chevy Cavalier?

The Polo is a dud. Junk engine (that 1.6 is gutless); understeer &
more understeer. Unless VW has done something about this with the new
generation (not sure last year's  Polo has been replaced with a new
car).

>if VW offered the Toureg with a 2.5TDI--either a
>hopped up five or a V6--people would have lined up
around the block for a nearly 30mpg SUV for $35k.

30mpg in a 2.5-tonne tank?? C'mon!
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut

HUMANITY: THE ULTIMATE VON NEUMANN MACHINE