Comments on: TTAC Sums Up VW’s “Train Wreck” Stateside

By: Mrad

Mrad — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 03:24:15 +0000

30.7mpg on your Matrix? You must be doing something right – the best my folks have ever done with theirs is 26mpg. While I agree that the mileage is a shade on the low side for the Rabbit, I will maintain that it is still a greatly equipped car. But 4 banger Toyotas don’t age well in the power department – my family has had 9 to attest to that. Turning off the AC was always our brand of turbo.

But the Touareg? I also agree that VW has strayed from what made the brand great. I have fears about them moving the brand “upscale”. I’ll continue to hold my breath.

By: Marie Novello

Marie Novello — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 02:34:11 +0000

We owned a 1976 Rabbit. Ready to buy a new one. Until we saw what they were really doing. What follows is my response to the coupon offer sent by VWoA. Their response? “Thank you again for sharing your comments about fuel consumption”

Matthias Seidl, Chief Operating Officer
Volkswagen Brand – VWoA, Inc.
PO Box 214378
Auburn Hills MI 48321-4378

Dear Sir:

I received your letter 28605 which congratulated me on my previous purchase of a Passat, and suggested it might be time to buy a new vehicle soon. You enclosed a coupon for $1,500.00 off a Passat or $3,000.00 off a Touareg.

You were correct in your assertion that it might soon be time to purchase a new vehicle, but not to replace one that is barely over three years old. It was time to replace the 1992 VW Jetta. I hated to give it up with only 204K miles, but it had electrical problems that I wasn’t willing to have repaired so it was time for a new vehicle. The Passat was out – mileage is lower than the Jetta, and a Touareg? You’ve got to be kidding. You abandoned your core market with that model.

But I was excited to see that the Rabbit was back – our first car was a 1976 Rabbit and I already knew I wanted to have a hatchback again. The other criteria were:
1. Same or better mileage than the Jetta (I was getting 28+ mpg)
2. Yellow turn signal indicators
3. Daylight Running Lights
4. ABS Brakes

I cannot express my disappointment when I saw that instead of really bringing back the qualities of that old Rabbit, you abandoned your base market once again by putting a 2.5l 5 cylinder engine in the car, yielding a ridiculously low mileage rating of 22 miles per gallon!!! This should have gone in the GTI style model, not your main model. People are incredulous when I tell them this number, and believe me, I am spreading that word to everyone I talk to about it.

So it’s goodbye to you, VW. I love what you do for me, Toyota Matrix (30.7 mpg on my first tank).

By: Mrad

Mrad — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:49:22 +0000

Rock out Justin! Yes, it is frustrating to Volkswagen fans everywhere. And if they move the brand upscale like they're rumored to, all hell's gonna break loose. Thanks for the comment.

By: Justin Berkowitz

Justin Berkowitz — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:37:59 +0000

As the author of the TTAC piece, I should just mention that I own a 2006.5 GTI with the DSG, and it is indeed a phenomenal machine. If only the rest of the VW lineup in the US were as good. And I do give some suggestions for VW (improve quality, sell the Polo in the US, offer better petrol and diesel engine selection). I find VW one of the more frustrating brands because they are once again on the cusp of being fantastic in the US, rather than just fantastic as they were 5 years ago.