Will we get the BlueSport in the U.S.?

[Jon?]

I think he means in the US, where VW's presence us quite limited.

Actually, I think all those cars listed are available in the US.  Perhaps they need a wider dealer presence?

[2o6]

Actually, I think all those cars listed are available in the US.  Perhaps they need a wider dealer presence?

Or, just cut the price.

[Xer0]

MORE cars?

Besides the VW range (Golf, Jetta, Passat, Passat CC, Tiguan, Touraeg, that minivan thing), there's the ever expanding Audi (A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, TT, R8, Q5, Q7).  In the rest of the world, there's SEAT and Skoda.  Not forgetting Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti.  VW now has a stake in Suzuki too - what's the betting they'll take it over in full at some point?

I think that's not far off the Toyota/Lexus range in the US in terms of choice, and they do pretty well in sales.  GM proved that more is not necessarily more, and as a fierce GM critic I'm sure you'd agree...

Don't forget Porsche

[Raza]

$25k? Ha ha. I call bullshit.

I trust them over you...

[nickdrinkwater]

I think he means in the US, where VW's presence us quite limited.

...which my post specifically addressed.

[Jon?]

...which my post specifically addressed.

I count 13 models at the US VW website, if you don't break out diesel models.  Toyota's US site lists 16.

[TurboDan]

...which my post specifically addressed.

But how are they limited here? We don't get the Fox, Scirocco or Touran, but we get everything else. At least in this area, there are plenty of dealerships, and until one burnt down a couple years back, there were 3 VW dealers within 20 minutes of my house.

On that note, I'll just say for the record that I wish they did sell the Scirocco here.

[omicron]

I certainly don't want such a lovely convertible with a diesel engine, and I doubt many Americans would, either.

[AltinD]

I count 13 models at the US VW website, if you don't break out diesel models.  Toyota's US site lists 16.

New Beattle, Golf, GTI, Jetta, EOS, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Routan, Touareg ... what are the others?  (don't count wagons as separate models, even splitting the GTI isn't neccessary.)

[AltinD]

But how are they limited here? We don't get the Fox, Scirocco or Touran, but we get everything else.

You also don't get the Phaeton or the Caddy, Sharan, Transporter, Multivan etc.

[Jon?]

New Beattle, Golf, GTI, Jetta, EOS, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Routan, Touareg ... what are the others?  (don't count wagons as separate models, even splitting the GTI isn't neccessary.)

They have the wagons separate on their site.  They also break out the Beetle Convertible.  I think that accounts for 13.

[AltinD]

Thank god they don't differentiate by engine trim also. Sometimes, 5 years ago, they were offering (in Europe) more then 10 engine trims on the Passat alone

Petrol: 1.6, 1.8T, 2.0 8v, 2.0 20v, 2.5 V5, 2.8 V6, 4.0 W8,
Diesel (TDi): 1.9 90HP, 1.9 110Hp, 1.9 130Hp, 2.5 V6 which I think reached 180HP at the end of the life-cycle

And then you had the option of MT or AT and AWD 4Motion on most of them.

[nickdrinkwater]

But how are they limited here? We don't get the Fox, Scirocco or Touran, but we get everything else. At least in this area, there are plenty of dealerships, and until one burnt down a couple years back, there were 3 VW dealers within 20 minutes of my house.

On that note, I'll just say for the record that I wish they did sell the Scirocco here.

I meant that post was with regard to the US market - I was demonstrating the VW do have a significant presence there and I only listed models available in America (as I recall anyway, I didn't check on the VW site).

Don't forget Porsche

Of course!  I keep forgetting!

I count 13 models at the US VW website, if you don't break out diesel models.  Toyota's US site lists 16.

I think VW more than compensate with the amount of Audi models vs the amount of Lexus models.

[TurboDan]

Ha, I didn't even know they still made the Phaeton. They sold that here until a couple years ago. Hardly anybody bought them.

[BimmerM3]

They have the wagons separate on their site.  They also break out the Beetle Convertible.  I think that accounts for 13.

I don't care what they call models. The models that they sell are the New Beetle, Golf, Eos, Jetta, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan. Any variation of these are trim levels/body styles. 

That said, it's still a pretty comprehensive lineup.

[BimmerM3]

why sell a $30k VW sports car when the same people who'd buy it would be willing to buy a CPO Boxster or just get the $40k Porsche version instead?

Because they wouldn't be willing to buy a CPO Boxster and not everyone just has an extra 10 grand laying around?

[the Teuton]

Because they wouldn't be willing to buy a CPO Boxster and not everyone just has an extra 10 grand laying around?

If you're buying a sports car, you're most likely not buying it as your primary people mover.

[2o6]

If you're buying a sports car, you're most likely not buying it as your primary people mover.

Dude, you lost. Just stop. The neighbors are staring.

[the Teuton]

Dude, you lost. Just stop. The neighbors are staring.

NEVAR!

[Jon?]

I don't care what they call models. The models that they sell are the New Beetle, Golf, Eos, Jetta, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan. Any variation of these are trim levels/body styles. 

That said, it's still a pretty comprehensive lineup.

Yeah, that was the point I was making.  Their lineup here is really only lacking a truck.

[Galaxy]

Yeah, that was the point I was making.  Their lineup here is really only lacking a truck.

Amarok



Not in the US yet, but probably soon.

[TurboDan]

If you're buying a sports car, you're most likely not buying it as your primary people mover.

But what does that have to do with how much money you have? You can like sports cars but not be able to afford a $40K sports car.

[TurboDan]

Amarok



Not in the US yet, but probably soon.

Wow, how can they not be selling that in the U.S.? Does it sell well anywhere else?

Looks kinda like a nicer Honda Ridgeline.

[TurboDan]

Hmm... After a little reading, it looks like the hurdle is the "chicken tax." Basically, there is a 25% import tax on German-built pickup trucks as a result of Germany imposing a 25% tax on imported chicken from the U.S. in the 1960s. Neither tax has ever been repealed, hence why VW make elect not to sell it here.

[Galaxy]

Wow, how can they not be selling that in the U.S.? Does it sell well anywhere else?

Looks kinda like a nicer Honda Ridgeline.

Sales are just getting underway. The sales goal is 90,000 a year.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Hmm... After a little reading, it looks like the hurdle is the "chicken tax." Basically, there is a 25% import tax on German-built pickup trucks as a result of Germany imposing a 25% tax on imported chicken from the U.S. in the 1960s. Neither tax has ever been repealed, hence why VW make elect not to sell it here.

Chickens are stupid. They should "build" them in Mexico.

[AltinD]

The Amarok is build in South America not Germany

[TurboDan]

The Amarok is build in South America not Germany

Yeah. But it's a German company. So apparently that trade law is in effect anyway. Weird stuff, but such as the complexities of international trade. Our chickens versus Germany's pickup trucks... who knew.

[MX793]

Yeah. But it's a German company. So apparently that trade law is in effect anyway. Weird stuff, but such as the complexities of international trade. Our chickens versus Germany's pickup trucks... who knew.

I don't believe that's the case.  Such import tariffs are why companies will set up shop and build a vehicle in the market in which it's sold, making it no longer an imported vehicle.

[TurboDan]

I don't believe that's the case.  Such import tariffs are why companies will set up shop and build a vehicle in the market in which it's sold, making it no longer an imported vehicle.

Well, I'm going by what all of the auto sites are saying. It seems pretty universal that the chicken tax is the reasoning behind why VW isn't bringing it here.