Matt, I agree with you 100%. Most vehicle owners want Toasters and they are
the meat and potatoes for a car manufacturer.
Do you remember when the Jetta was redesigned a few models back and many
people said it looked like a Toyota Corolla?
That was no accident. That was VW getting into the toaster selling business.
They also want value priced new vehicles with cheap total cost of ownership.
That has been VW's challenge the last few years.
The $100-150 synthetic oil changes just didn't/don't cut it. Then VW did
their 2 year free maintenance. That got people to buy VWs. Trouble is, after
the free maintenance is over some of these new owners are not taking care of
their VWs when it comes to maintenance. I have heard more than a few horror
stories from multiple VW Techs I know. Bottom line is DO NOT buy a pre-owned
VW unless it has COMPLETE maintenance records or you are asking for trouble.
To be honest when VW announced a 4 door GTi with an automatic transmission I
took it as an insult to the history and heritage of the GTi name. Turns out
I was far from being alone in thinking that way according to the feedback I
received.
I also agree with you 1000% when you say "The current GTi is a very nice car
but it's more of a luxury car that's fun to drive than a fun-to-drive car
that has some nice features." Some might say that is the difference between
an old school and new school enthusiast.
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Yip
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2014 5:48 PM
To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list
Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting
I believe that's called the "R" because VW keeps changing (increasing) the
engine size. That car would have been called the R36, IIRC.
Call me an old fart but the R32 and the new R don't appeal to me - they're
soft and bloated (just like me). If I wanted a heavy, bloated wannabe
hot-hatch, I'd buy an Audi S7 - at least it doesn't pretend to be a sports
car. The current GTi is a very nice car but it's more of a luxury car
that's fun to drive than a fun-to-drive car that has some nice features.
Remember though, we're "enthusiasts" - the market that the manufacturers
detest. We whine about wanting fun, sporty cars but won't pay a 2x premium
for a stripped down version - Porsche people do that but Porsche people are
also silly enough to believe that the Panamera and the Cayenne are "sporty".
VW has had an epiphany and a very profitable one at that - American buyers
don't want "sporty" or "fun-to-drive". Rather, Americans want vanilla ice
cream sold to them as the most special, exotic and unique vanilla ice cream
ever produced.
Case in point is the new Jetta - it's boring as boring can be BUT it sells
because buyers can drive it without every having to say things that Mk2
owners take for granted. No new Jetta owner will ever have to say "Just
ignore the jumping tach, that always happens when it rains" or "Don't
squeeze the door handle too hard or it'll break and fall out". VW no longer
caters to buyers who like cars, rather, they're catering to buyers who want
to drive a toaster (or a cardboard box if you like the Kia Soul
commercials). The sad reality is those buyers are the real meat & potatoes
of the market and without them, we'd be anxiously watching to see if VW was
remaining in the American market as we did in the early 1990s.
On Wednesday, September 3, 2014 5:32 PM, Holland Phillips
<[email protected]> wrote:
The other day, I saw what I think was a Mk6 R32. Had large twin center
exhaust. Did VW make/import a Mk6 R32?
~Holland
On Sep 3, 2014 1:33 PM, "Walz, Jesse" <[email protected]> wrote:
I think VW is trying to appeal to the enthusiast. The new golf R will
make just under 300 HP and VW is hinting at a factory 400 HP special
edition.
VW makes some great cars now. I have a 2012 4 door gti that is great car
for the money (paid 25 new). It is a very quick car making ~240 hp and
>290 lbs torque with just a reprogrammed ECU. I did also upgrade the
clutch (still prefer to shift myself). The suspension is the best part of
the car and puts a smile on my face at every turn. If you haven't driven
a
GTI lately (MK 5 - 7) they are very good cars. The Mk 7 will be available
with a mechanical differential and big brake upgrade for around a $1,200
option early next year. So VW has not totally abandoned the enthusiast.
I still love my 91 gli, which has been in a restoration the last 10 years
(honestly working on the house and other cars, bikes etc., I will finish
her one day). Prior to the 2012 gti I had a V8 touareg that was a great
5,500 lbs SUV, but 13 mpg got old. I miss it all the time. Before that I
had a 2001 golf 1.8t, which was good/quick car and it lasted over 10 years
before trading it in.
Good to see some discussion on the old list.
Constant lurker since...so long ago I can't remember when.
Regards,
Jesse
-----Original Message-----
From: a2-16v-list [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of Matthew Yip
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2014 4:05 PM
To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list
Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting
The R32 was a very strange vehicle with incredibly bad release timing.
Compared to the STI and the Evo, the R32 is a much nicer, more refined GT
car BUT it was compared to the boy-racers and in that comparison, the R32
fell flat. What was more interesting was that the R32 simply would not
sell at dealerships - the cars languished for months because no one saw a
reason to pay that much for a 3-door VW Golf. Only after the last of the
cars were virtually given away did the value suddenly skyrocket.
It's tough to understand what VW's goal is for the American market. After
decades of living on the fringe, VW made a concerted effort to go
main-stream and they've done a fine job with the current Jetta, Passat and
Sports Luxury Utility Trucks in their line-up. Unfortunately they haven't
made a strong attempt to go after the enthusiast market but Larry is
spot-on - enthusiasts are a very vocal and very frugal bunch. They'll
whine and cheese about what they don't like but they won't pay a penny
more
to buy the "special".
On Wednesday, September 3, 2014 3:54 PM, Larry Velez <[email protected]>
wrote:
Charlie,
We on this list are in denial that any new car is as good as our older
cars. :)
We'll have to make up TShirts:
"134hp and proud of it!"
But seriously that Scirroco looks cool. But I think VW gave up on giving
in to enthusiast pressure in the USA when they they sold the R32 and they
sat on the lot for a while. Enthusiasts talk a big game but don't vote
with their wallets.
Larry
-----Original Message-----
From: a2-16v-list [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of Charlie Russo
Sent: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 2:30 PM
To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list
Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting
About a year ago a friend of mine in Maryland purchased a RHD VW Scirocco
Storm. It had been imported from England to here in Pennsylvania.
He says driving and shifting this VDub is a blast.
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Yip
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2014 3:32 PM
To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list
Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting
I remember reading that auto-tragic transmissions in Europe were a rarity
although I think that's changing since the concept of a Global Market is
such that what sells the most is what is foisted on the rest of the world.
I had a Mini (not a MINI) that was RHD - shifting was easy compared to
less complicated tasks such as finding the turn signal indicator stalk
which was on the right side of the column.
On Tuesday, September 2, 2014 3:25 PM, Les Noriel <[email protected]>
wrote:
Amusing. Five years ago while vacationing in Ireland, we rented a car. We
had to pay extra to get an automatic. It was highly recommended to get the
auto because I spent more attention on driving the opposite side of the
road. Shifting through the gears with the left hand also felt awkward. So
the extra money was well spent.
Don't know if it's still that way today.
Les
On Tuesday, September 2, 2014, Charlie Russo <[email protected]> wrote:
> Sadly manual transmissions in vehicles are going the way of the
> dinosaur.
> Current VW offerings are no exception. IIRC less than 5% of VWs have
> manual
> transmissions. That is a far cry from where VW was when our 16Vs were
new.
>
> I enjoy manual shifting when I drive my '85 Golf on my days off or when
> I
> am
> exercising my other old VWs so I consider myself very lucky.
>
> I plan on taking my '87 GTI 16V to the Antique Car Show at Hershey, PA
> this
> October. So, I will be enjoying manual shifting and talking about 16Vs
> and
> VWs. Last time I took my 16V to Hershey I could not believe how many
> former
> VW salespeople and Techs I talked with. I spoke with a few former 16V
> owners
> as well. If anyone here on the list is going to Hershey this year look
for
> me and my '87 GTI 16V in the HPOF Class in the show on Saturday.
>
> Charlie
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Larry Velez
> Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 9:37 AM
> To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list
> Subject: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting
>
> I am sure you all are reading in the various car rags how Porsche seems
to
> be abandoning the manual gear box with the latest GT3. Ferrari only
> sold
> 1%
> of their cars as manuals last year. Apparently well budgeted people no
> longer want to shift their transmissions themselves. The robots have
> won
> another battle.
>
> So enjoy your manual shifting in your 16Vs this weekend, you'll be
> telling
> stories to future generations of how things were in the old days.
>
> Speaking of shifting, Chad came by my place this past weekend and he
> was
> able to check out the patient in the garage (I am determined to get her
> running this year) and I got a chance to get a ride in his Jetta GLI 16V
> Turbo. Chad made me self-conscious about shifting too
fast/aggressively.
> How did you all learn to shift the "right" way and are some habits
> better
> on
> the transmission for longevity?
>
> Larry
> 91 GTI 16V (New Fuel Filter installed, New Transfer Pump installed,
> Transfer
> Pump Assembly rebuilt, fuel delivery troubleshooting continues to main
> pump
> next)
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