VW promises more U.S.-focused models

No no no VW we want European focused. Not cars designed for fat people.

— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2011 3:29:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Bugger! It pisses me off too. And it is not just VW doing this, the Japanese models are better equipped in Europe as well. Even the bottom of the barrel ones like the Yaris and the Fit/Jazz

— vdiv (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2011 9:21:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

You mean now we can have a car that drives just as crappy as a Toyota with less reliability?
Sounds like a hot idea, Bob.

— irishmike (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2011 8:49:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

A lot of import companies don't realize there are a lot of us self-loathing Americans here. We want the real deal, we don't want our next-door neighbor having input on a committee deciding how plush and comfortable they want our damper rates.

— t_bone (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2011 10:00:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I used to really love VW's starting with my '86 Scirocco. We have had Golf's, two Fox's (my daughter in college), three Corrados, a Passat,and my last VW, a 2009 CC, as well as my wife's current and last VW, a 2009 Passat wagon. These last two, both 2009, have been decontented to the point it is a joke. I went to the local dealer and looked at the "new" Passat, and again, this is a joke. Decontented to the point of being insane. They even deleted the HVAC vents from the rear of the center console. And, we will not even address the seats with the fake leather look, plastic smelling "stuff", I am not even sure what it is. I am sure they will pick up many new customers in the Honda, Toyota group,if they are lucky, but they have lost two very loyal customers. In fact, I was (I cannot believe I saying this) looking at the Buick Regal GS, 2.0L Turbo, with a 6 sp manual, 280 HP, leather, etc. What the new Passat should have been. I bet the Chinese get a better VW Passat model then we do.

— Mustang953 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/24/2011 10:49:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

WTF! VW used to be What I would call the poor mans BMW in terms of interior quality and handling. For those who want the excelent driving dynamics and good interior of a German car without the price. They were far better handling, and had driving dynamics light years of the American and Japanese competition, and the interiors were much better built and had far better quality materials than the American and Japanese. Now it is just another bland car. The CC is the only thing good they have left.

— 85bmw745i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2011 3:01:54 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

"VW executives stated that they are committed to reducing the price of key volume models as well as improving quality and customer relations. Leading the charge is a group of executives who have mostly worked for the rivals. Jonathan Browning, a former executive at Ford and GM, has headed the VW brand in the United States and Volkswagen Group of America since last October." That is exactly the problem. They have done the opposite. They have put cheaper interior and parts, not improved quality but what do you expect. These guys worked for Ford and GM, It's easy to see how that translates to VW with the new "cheap" interior. What makes anyone think they are going to improve VW? They are doing to VW what plagued the American car industry from the 80's to mid 2000's. But since we Americans are oblivious and ignorant when it comes to cars they will sell better than the far superior cars they replaced.

— 85bmw745i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2011 3:08:05 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Here's the problem. Most people are not car enthusiasts. When they buy a car, the PRICE is the deciding factor and not the quality of the interior or the performance (except perhaps gas mileage).

VW is simply adapting to this problem in the US, where the MASSES want a cheap price to go with their cars. In order to meet this demand, VW has to delete a few things from these cars which the average American could care less about and that includes the overall Germanic interior feel (materials), advanced suspension etc.

The new Americanized VWs aren't that bad in my opinion. The interiors are no cheaper than that of their rivals. Styling-wise, the new Passat and Jetta aren't offensive. They're neither exciting nor bland, just normal, I guess.

— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2011 6:46:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

More U.S.-focused models? Does that mean more boring Passats and Camry wannabes? Yeah... That sounds exciting.

— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2011 9:55:04 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Appliance

— Shredmo (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2011 11:47:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This is the Chevy Impala refresh, right?

— 1c3am5 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/25/2011 1:18:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1