Too bad about the Scirocco. It would have DEFINITELY cannibalized sales of the GTi, since the bloody GTi is close to $40,000 in Canada after taxes and delivery.

I really would like to pick up a Jetta TDI- but the rate of it being delayed is it really going to happen in 2008 ? or are we slipping to 2009?

Ok guys think about it: VW just did us all a HUGE favor!

We all know VW’s are built like garbage, but anyone with any love of cars and design would have maybe been willing to overlook the crappy build quality of VW to own the new Scirocco. Now that VW is not going to offer it, we won’t have to buy it and wonder why we blew our money on such european garbage.

Oh yeah VW: about any of us ever growing old and aspiring to a Phaeton? You can forget that too.

VW is just like Ford, insisting on pawning off the subpar GTI on Americans instead of actually making an attempt.

Real shame about the Scirocco. Gawd forbid one might venture into a VW showroom and gaze upon something that doesn’t look like yet another variation on the ‘3 box’ design philosophy.

I think their plan of “taking over the world” in car sales is dying already.

Somebody’s head will roll at VW.

At the end of the article, Jacoby basically admits that VW has no ideas left. They have a half-decent level of equity in diesel technology, and that will mean practically nothing in a few years as diesels become more prevalent from other manufacturers.

CA36GTP said it right about comparing VW to Ford (or the GM of old n Chrysler). VW expected to balloon in sales fast and to do so it needs US market penetration. Somehow they are convinced they can do this by offering uncompetive and unreliable product and only stuff no one wants, but unlike the domestics they expect people to pay a premium for it. I don’t get what is going thru their heads. Whereas GM has totally seen the light and Ford is seeing the flickers and Chrysler may see a spark, VW is totally blind.

Thank our government (and complicit automakers) for the TDI delay. I bet the thing will get only 28 mpg city and 33 highway.

id aspire to a phaeton if it was the only diesel luxo-sedan on the market, and i didnt want to be a big showy douchebag.
Also, its a shame about the scirocco… theyre so hyped up about the 5000 limited R32’s that we have and they can barely move them as it is. Ive been to 4 dealers and they all have at least 3 R32’s each. I LOVE volkswagen and even for me is it hard to justify $34,000 for something like that with an automatic transmission. And none of you can argue that it isnt an automatic because it says AUTOMATIC right on the window sticker at VW. These should have come off the boat with 6-speed manuals ONLY, or at most a 4:1 ratio of manuals:automatics. They really did shoot themselves in the foot by not giving us a manual, cause now we’re gonna get into the 2009 model year and there will be PLENTY of discounted R32’s needed to move off the lot. Oh and we dont get a black one? what the hell? i dont want bright blue and super-drab grey. I want black.

VW seems poorly directed from the reports that have come out in past 6 months. No idea what the hell they want to do, other then sell a lot more cars. No clue how to do it worrying about cannabalizing sales. Hell if you lowered the price of the GTI a little youd move more then you could build and make room for the scirroco. Love the overpriced GTI and the DSG but the rest of VW line is also overpriced and doesnt stand out from other makes. You need to stand out if you want to succeed as a premium and improve quality and value if you want to succeed at volume mfg.

saw a Phaeton yesterday and i wasnt impressed

As if it were Snake Plisskin, I thought the phaeton was dead.

LP640: I’ve NEVER seen a Phaeton

Love me some Snake Plisskin, nice reference.

What VW should do is stop selling the GTI and schling the Scirocco; it’s a broader market. All boys and girls love coupes.

JJT is that another of your stupid, retarded, illogica,l sarcastic comments?? or are you being sincere???

No, LP640, I’ve never seen a Phaeton in use. name one stupid, retarded or illogical comment I’ve made. Just one. Sarcastic I’ll com to.

Snake Pliskin alive! I saw him in another movie . jjt, did not miss much not seeing phaeton. I don’t think it warrants writing home about. Statistic speaks for itself all 300 were sold in states.

I think the articel stated that the company started by Fuhrer met the faith of Third Reich. Like Fuhrer in 1943 VW is not aware of it, but kaput is coming.

Yes F451, you have demonstrated superior wit.

The VW Phaeton was a very subtitle luxury automobile with lots of interior creature comforts and absolutely no one who could properly service it in the States. Naturally the Phaeton failed in the States.
.
Snake Plisskin was into American rides so the Phaeton was out of the question other than to blow one up for sport. As Snake transformed into Mike McKay in Death Proof, he too also preferred American rides, and would have only done a head-on collision with a Phaeton.

Oh yes, the ****ing Phaeton. For the DOUCHEBAG MORON who actually said

“I’ve got 70k burning a hole in my pocket….

E-class? Loaded A6? Escalade? 545?

Nah, how about this VOLKSWAGEN INSTEAD?!”

Idiots…..****ing idiots

F451: That was a laugh and a half. Happy thanksgiving,and remember to take y’all’s black asses to bed early so you can be at the mall at 3:03 to buy cheap crap.
Otherwise, the terrorists will win

trying to make the right move

For some reason, the VW Phaeton is pretty popular in South Korea.

I’ve seen more than 6 different Phaetons here in Seoul.

(They tend to stand out as most Koreans drive Korean-made automobiles.)

VW apparently doesn’t have a clue about how to turn its fortunes around in the U.S.

The first thing that must be repaired is VW’s high price/low reliability image in the U.S. market. Until this is done, nothing else will matter much.

As far as the Scirocco; if it has been engineered to enable it to be sold in the U.S., then bring it over. Some people might want GTI/R32 performance in a package that is less dowdy than a tarted up Rabbit/Jetta. If the product is executed correctly, it might develop a cult following much like the Mitsu Evo or Subaru WRX STI.

As far as the next generation Phaeton; if it is priced similar to the current Phaeton, then forget it. Volkswagen doesn’t have the brand cachet to sell vehicles in the price range that the current Phaeton occupied. If it is positioned and priced to compete against the Avalon, Maxima, Azera, Taurus, and Sable, then it might have a chance.

I went online to see the Phaeton factory. Look yourself.

A marvel of polished wood floors and glass walls.

And someone at VW thought they could turn a profit ???

I think VW’s might be allergic to boat trips. In the middle and far east they are expensive & renowned for awful reliability, in north America they seem to have the same problem. In Europe they are bulletproof and good value.