I wonder if those increases are in VW or the whole autogroup. I know that Skoda took dramtic leap in Europe because of quality of it’s product. VW is actually scores very poorly in Europe by JD Powers.

booah!

Good reliable products with great interiors and superior build quality at reasonable prices will win you sales all the time.

and they showed us they could care **** of the cars they sell in here (Brazil). that crappy FOX had a scandal recently involving a poorly made ring that you have to push to bring the back seat down, causing some 40 people to lose their fingers in that thing. and the problem is that the same building plant that makes the BR Fox, makes the EURO Fox that comes with a belt on the ring!! Later, they released a recall and said to the press that the scandal did not affected their sales. Stupid brazilians!!

Here’s a link, google translated and all:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fvoutecontar.net%2Fcompre-um-vw-fox-e-ganhe-um-dedo-decepado.htm

Chedck out the new EPA TDI ratings for the upcoming clean diesel Jetta..http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm

Ummm… if this is correct… 30 city, 41 hwy…(and a 2K premium over gas jetta, I was told,by one dealership, meainging nearly 20K msrp..and diesel is 50-60 cents per gallon more in my state than gas right now)….good luck selling tons of them.

The only thing, I guess, is you could wait for a 2010(if you can wait) Fiesta(at end of 2009, 4th quarter, I read, in Automobile magazine.. recent issue)…and drive a 12ft(and a few inches extra)….long car, maybe weighs 2,300 lbs…and pay 16K, and get 40 MPG with gas, or get a ”
real” car..say 3000 lbs or so….15 ft long, and be safer, and get 41 MPG, but cost 3-4K more, and you know tune ups, etc, parts, will cost more at VW, I bet.

Maybe those hybrids won’t be so bad after all, from Honda(fit and CR-Z) next year, when they come out?

LJ, Honda cars are much more reliable then VW, actually I’d be stumble something as unreliable as VW. However, the site you mentioned is not all that accurate. I took a look and tried to compare Jetta diesel to gasoline counterpart. Site mentions 2.0L 4 cylinder version, but not 2.5L 5 cylinder. I believe 5 cylinder runs on regular and 4 cylinder on premium. The difference beltween premium and diesel is less 50-60 cents (only 25-30) but and that is less then 10% (about 5%) yet the mileage is 35% better in diesel (22 vs 30 city 35% and 30 vs 41 hwy is about same 35%).

I never knew of VW to be reliable. I like the way they look, but have always been told to steer clear. Word is the ones built in Mexico are especially troublesome, wiring problems galore.

I’ve seen the site. Somewhat like this one in professionalism. It is free, like this one, and you read what you paid for. In my simple mind there is no better read about cars and technology associated with cars then Car & Driver for $10/year.

The entire VW organization and all of its products are crap. The build quality and reliability just aren’t there.

I’m shocked … I wouldn’t buy a VW POS, ever. OK, maybe one day … until the warranty is up.

Guys, in Europe Skoda, which is wholly owned VW subsidiary makes great cars with VW components. We get only Mexican garbage or German one made by Muslim population of Germany during 28 hour work week. They have no time to screw cars between breaks and prayers.

xyunya: one of my relatives just bought a new DSG GTI that came from Germany. The guy’s kind of a doofus, but I’ll make a point of asking him every so often if there’s any new magazines in the dealer’s service waiting room.

‘xyunya’, it’s not just how they’re screwed together … their dashes are some of the most boring crap there is.

Johnny, remember you were asking if in Spain population dislikes their own SEAT in favor of Skoda? Well, SEAT is ranked below VW in quality ratings. Perhaps it explains why cabs in Madrid and Barcelona are mostly Skoda. As xyunya said, the parts are the same, but screwed differently. If your business depends on it you’ll get what works.

VW is going to try and change their image in America, by building vehicles here, and fixing their parts and customer service image. SEAT is moving to become a junior, entry level Audi, not to mention since the guy who did Lambo designs is working there now, they should get there. Skoda is great as entry level cars before you step up to VW and is working well in that position.

NoNameDenton1, thanks for info.
I wonder what the thinking @ VW about this plan: you start with inexpensive car that works and move up to a crap that falls apart on your way from dealer? The more you pay, more messed up vehicle you get? Works for me.

VW has a better service record in Europe, but that is probably due to less wait time in the service shop as comapred to us who have to wait for the parts to come across the Atlantic.