A Volkswagen That Finally Rocks

Wow, new style of incentives. I like it.

Oh, yes, and if BMW were offering a lamp shade to go with your new 325xi, you would be saying it's the greatest marketing ever. Of course, you won't respond to this comment, because you're wrong.

mstangpny-

Sure, except VW has a more youthful image than Ford. When you see a GTI or Rabbit, you do think about teenagers, and that's their target with this sales pitch.

this is ridiculous!

Shoot me. Plugging a guitar into a consumer amplifier? This should have some great results... *sigh*

Probably because you just don't get it. The difference between top reliability and the pack is very miniscule. A lot of people want individuality and don't care as uch about the reliability "factor".

Considering that the likelyhood of you getting stranded is VERY remote, I can see why.

You take the reliability as the "holy grail" of auto engineering. It is mearly one factor in the equation, think outside the box and you will find a whole new world out there.

Was able to do some sleuthing and found the site which pics of the guitar. I don't know much about guitars, but it looks very well made.

next up, bmw offer free pianos and mercedes a bassoon.

crazy idea, but it might work.

Toyota will give out bamboo lutes.

Just like the Ford thing from a few years ago.
"Buy a Focus and get a (crappy) Dell!
Then "Buy a Focus and get an iPod!

Did they think that people would fall for this joke?

The GTI has been selling very well, but is a pretty interesting promotion. Nicely done VW.

GTI is one of my fave VW's. They are so damn fast and nimble.

What the hell does a Guitar have to do with a car!
Looks like VW is getting desperate to sell,so their using any gimick they could find!

Here is the official web site

http://www.vdubsrock.com/

BTW, rice dude, the GTI destroys the ricy Honda Civic Si on the track.

There are so many variables that people are not taking into account here, it's stupid.

On the promotion;
In case you haven't noticed, VW is trying to get the segment of the population that DOESN'T enjoy putting stupid wings and performance stickers all over their cars. While Honda and Toyota are known for reliablity, they're also associated with idiots blasting hip-hop at 3 in the morning while doing front wheel burnouts under the influence of pot and mickey's ice. Since these companies already have such a stronghold over that demographic, why not tap a smaller, yet more secure and unapproached group that's really broad and segmented. I'm saying that this promotion applies to the preppy kid who listens to Nickelback, as well as the metalhead who listens to Slayer.

On the car;
VW's reliability issues are a thing of the past, I have a friend that works at a dealer who has informed me that their income from warranty repairs has dwindled greatly. He also went on to explain that it's a nationwide thing; cars aren't coming in for oxygen sensors and transmission malfunctions anymore... they're coming in for regular oil changes and wiper blades. I used to own a mk4 golf, and had an overload of issues, all stupid, petty and minor annoyances that really made me never want to buy the brand again, but my mother's new jetta has swayed me back, and once my current lease is up, provided she winds up having the same experience in the next 30k miles, I might find myself leasing a GTI.

On the guitar;
What do people expect? A free Gibson Les Paul with every purchase? Not only the cost, but I'm fairly certain that the bigger manufacturers of guitars typically only do special limited run guitars for stuff like this, and vw wants to draw people in by offering something. It was either going to be First Act or Squier, and personally, I think First Act was a better choice. They're cheap instruments, but they aren't as horribly built as they were 5 years ago... doesn't the guy from that awful pop band the yeah yeah yeah's use one? Also, they mention on the webpage for this promotion that there's a specially voiced preamp built into the guitar, so it probably doesn't sound as awful as a musician might think... I'm sure that it's no TS-808 tubescreamer, but I don't think it's going to sound like jamming with the Westinghouse boombox.