Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 08:02:17 -0700
Reply-To: Sam Scholten <vwvanagon@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Sam Scholten <vwvanagon@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Advertising & the Demise of the Westy, longish,
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I have already noticed an attempt by VW to improve their reputation in
the U.S. which is encouraging, because considering their good position
in the world market, they could easily give us Amerikaners the shaft
like they did in the mid-'70s to early '90s.
The evidence that they are competing with their ghost is there. Aside
from the obvious stuff like the neue Käfer, they are giving out the
100,000 mile warranty which to me is the sign that they are trying to
improve their recently dismal customer/dealer service track record.
Mechanical reliability in their vehicles, another way they have
"dropped the ball," has improved, as indicated by Consumer Reports'
frequency of repair records. CR also rated the new Passat as highly as
their favorite son, the Toyota Camry. The Golf and Jetta A3s rank
highly in their tests as well.
Now, if anybody from Volkswagen AG or VWoA is monitoring this list:
MAKE YOUR VANS PRICE-COMPETITIVE IN THE U.S. AND YOU JUST MIGHT SELL
SOME!!!!!!! With the stiff competition in the U.S. minivan market,
VWoA has made just about every bad decision one could possibly make in
selling theirs. Seemingly arbitrary pricing, perfunctory service
policies... Feh. We do like the product.
However, we do see improvement...
My $0.02,
Sam
---KENWILFY <KENWILFY@AOL.COM> wrote:
>
> I have often wondered about why VW doesn't really advertise thier
product in
> the US. Here is what I have gleaned on the subject.
> VW is the 4th (or maybe its the third now) largest vehicle
manufacturer on the
> planet. They are number one in Europe, China, South America (I
think), and a
> couple other places. They are basically selling all the cars they
produce at
> the moment. I read an article that the new Passat is backordered
two months
> in Europe, Jettas are selling like crazy, the New Beetle is
backordered.
> Since they are selling everything they produce and are backordered,
why should
> they spend money to advertise vehicles that are already sold? They
are
> continually expanding and some day soon, perhaps, they will be able
to focus
> on the American market again (when they have a surplus of vehicles).
I have
> heard the President of VW say that they have a goal of being number
1 in the
> US but I think it is really long term. So even though it looks like
VW is
> asleep at the switch here in the States they really were building up
thier
> other market places so that when they focus back on US again I think
it will
> be with a vengance. I would not be surprised to see them number 1
in the
> world within the next 20 years.
> That's my 2cents on the subject.
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> PS our local dealer never advertises at all and he sells VWs like
crazy and
> this is Southern New Jersey where it used to be rare to see VWs.
Now I can
> count 20 new Jettas in a 30 min drive around the area.
>
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