Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2015 17:42:11 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: (Friday NVC) When Euro hits parity
In-Reply-To: <080f01d0632c$3d283360$b7789a20$@gmail.com>
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People are buying electrics like the Volt and I know someone who just got a
Tesla. There are folks justifying these cars and buying them. As for the VW
Vans they never sold well due for a number of reasons including price and
lack of power, features, reliability etc. My Syncro Westy was on the lot for
about 6 months before I bought it and they really tried hard to help me get
it. We are now seeing European styled vans like the new Ford coming in but
time will tell if these European power plants can hold up to American use.
The current Golfs and Jettas seem to popular and there early reliability and
maintenance costs have greatly improved. I would be weary thinking that
these are 200K mile vehicles. I have seen failures of the direct injection
fuel systems and major repairs such as engine or transmissions are becoming
best handled by using that money for the trade in.
I think VW knows that until they have products that truly compete with the
Ford or Mercedes van or trucks there is little sense going for the American
market. As for campers most folks want fully featured units including
toilets and showers and enough room to be comfortable. As you start heading
North of $40K there are a lot of choices beyond a van with a pop up tent.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Stuart MacMillan
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 12:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: (Friday NVC) When Euro hits parity
VW has a limited product line in the US, and their biggest problem here will
be meeting the ever increasing CAFE fuel economy standards, hence the
introduction of the very expensive e-Golf Who's going to buy this for
$34,000? And, the subsidized $299/mo lease is only available in 10 states
and DE.
CAFE means selling more fuel efficient cars to bring up the fleet average,
and bringing in vans without a subsidized electric or hybrid high mileage
car to offset them won't help. I think that's the main reason we won't see
a van any time soon. Or maybe we'll see only TDI vans!
Compared to #1 Toyota with the Prius, a bunch of gas sippers (including the
tiny 37 mpg Scion iQ), two pickup trucks (at least one is essential in the
US), their bread and butter Camry, and a Van, distant #2 VW has a long way
to go. But I would like to see them try harder.
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jon VO
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 8:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: (Friday NVC) When Euro hits parity
Except the Eos, the Golf R, and the CC are mainly optioned versions of
existing NA models, the California is not imported in any form.
On 3/18/2015 8:39 PM, James wrote:
> Volvo has been way behind Toyota in reliability for the last five
> years or
so.
>
> Thing is, reliability or the lack thereof isn't the buying factor it
> used
to be, as overall automotive reliability is now so high - the 'average' in
Consumer Reports now was the five star reliability rating of 15 years ago.
>
> And as to the idea that 'special low volume models aren't part of that
business model" - VW sells the EOS, the CC, the Golf R - all low volume, all
to showcase the brand. Yet most of the public could hardly place a CC or an
EOS if they were challenged, when everybody knows the VW bus. Importing the
California camper, with special trim lines to celebrate the camper, seems a
natural.
>
> As the EOS and R have shown, a 'US federalised' model need not be a
stopper. The handful of years they've sold the R on this side of the
Atlantic, they've brought in as few as 400 per year, IIRC.
>
> James
> Ottawa, ON
>
