Topic: VW / Audi / VW Group Tidbits

[sirAQUAMAN64]

You know it is funny, as I read this I think WOW, they are really trying to bring back their customers but it is interesting that this is the corporate goal but when you walk into a dealer as a current VW customer and looking for a good deal on another VW...they don't want to give you anything right off the bat. You still have to fight tooth and nail to get a good discount off of the retail price and also not having the "service perks" that some others get. For instance I just had to bring in my Rabbit for some warrenty work and VW will no longer give you a courtesy car to drive around in (I'm in Outside Sales so my car is my office...I have to be on the road or I get fired).
Brand new car with issues and VW won't pay for a car...not all warrenty work is 8 hours (overnight) long and there is no way I can spend more then an hour at a dealer out of my work day to get stuff fixed.

They have sent me $1,000 loyalty coupons in the past few years, but not in 2006. I don't mind that they don't discount much (keeps residuals high), but would like to see lower rates on leases/financing.

As per your Rabbit, what was wrong with it??? Absolutely no issues with mine yet.

[airbalancer]

You know it is funny, as I read this I think WOW, they are really trying to bring back their customers but it is interesting that this is the corporate goal but when you walk into a dealer as a current VW customer and looking for a good deal on another VW...they don't want to give you anything right off the bat. You still have to fight tooth and nail to get a good discount off of the retail price and also not having the "service perks" that some others get. For instance I just had to bring in my Rabbit for some warrenty work and VW will no longer give you a courtesy car to drive around in (I'm in Outside Sales so my car is my office...I have to be on the road or I get fired).
Brand new car with issues and VW won't pay for a car...not all warrenty work is 8 hours (overnight) long and there is no way I can spend more then an hour at a dealer out of my work day to get stuff fixed.

They have sent me $1,000 loyalty coupons in the past few years, but not in 2006. I don't mind that they don't discount much (keeps residuals high), but would like to see lower rates on leases/financing.

As per your Rabbit, what was wrong with it??? Absolutely no issues with mine yet.

Maybe try a different dealer for warrenty work

[Rabbit Girl]

You know it is funny, as I read this I think WOW, they are really trying to bring back their customers but it is interesting that this is the corporate goal but when you walk into a dealer as a current VW customer and looking for a good deal on another VW...they don't want to give you anything right off the bat. You still have to fight tooth and nail to get a good discount off of the retail price and also not having the "service perks" that some others get. For instance I just had to bring in my Rabbit for some warrenty work and VW will no longer give you a courtesy car to drive around in (I'm in Outside Sales so my car is my office...I have to be on the road or I get fired).
Brand new car with issues and VW won't pay for a car...not all warrenty work is 8 hours (overnight) long and there is no way I can spend more then an hour at a dealer out of my work day to get stuff fixed.

They have sent me $1,000 loyalty coupons in the past few years, but not in 2006. I don't mind that they don't discount much (keeps residuals high), but would like to see lower rates on leases/financing.

As per your Rabbit, what was wrong with it??? Absolutely no issues with mine yet.

It stalled and it is an automatic transmission at 1400kms. They can't figure it out. It was at half a tank of gas.

The speaker on the left driver side makes noises even when the radio isn't that loud or bass is not all the way cranked.

The radio stations do not come in as clear as my old 2003 Jetta and I didn't have the Monsoon sound system in it so this Rabbit radio must have a really weak signal in it. I live right in Toronto, the stations should all come in clear.

It vibrates at 125 - 130kms but they say that there is nothing wrond with it. Apparently they test drove on a side street behide the dealer (in the city at 130kms a hour?? I don't think so) I figured they would of put the car on a apparatis inside the dealer and tested it that way. Can this be done? Can I request this to be done?

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Winterkorn considers jettisoning VW's Spanish brand
Seat could be put up for sale

Pia Krix  |  Henning Krogh  |  Automobilwoche / December 5, 2006 - 1:00 am
 
Ingolstadt. The future of Volkswagen's troubled Seat subsidiary will be more uncertain than ever under Martin Winterkorn, the incoming chairman of the Spanish carmaker's parent company, Volkswagen group.

Consideration is being given to separating the Spanish brand from VW and selling it, executives close to Winterkorn told Automobilwoche.

In his current position as Audi CEO, Winterkorn is responsible for Seat, which is part of the Audi brand group. Winterkorn already is omitting Seat from his current planning.

Audi's new A1 entry-premium car for 2009 will be built in VW's Brussels factory, not by Seat in Spain. Winterkorn and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt reached an agreement on this on Friday, Dec. 1.

Winterkorn has had direct oversight of Seat since 2002, and he is known to have lost patience with the Spanish automaker's inability to deliver profits.

Bernhard opposes Seat sale

The Spanish company has been deeply involved with the Audi A1's development, as it was with the A3 Sportback, and Seat executives had hoped production would be assigned to the Martorell plant in Catalonia, Spain. The additional volume there would have improved Seat's capacity utilization and profitability.

VW brand chief Wolfgang Bernhard is believed to oppose the sale of Seat, but he is thought to be on his way out. According to VW sources, Bernhard is trying to negotiate a way out of his employment contract, possibly to return to DaimlerChrysler.

Outgoing VW Chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder also is opposed to dumping Seat. In October, he was quoted as saying that selling Seat would be a mistake because the unit had access to technology from the Volkswagen group, which would give a possible buyer technical know-how and insider knowledge about the carmaker.

Seat sales for the year through October, the most recent figures available, were up 4.4 percent from the year-earlier period to 313,595 units, according to the European carmakers' association ACEA. Market share edged up one-tenth of 1 percent to 2.5 percent, the group said.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

You know it is funny, as I read this I think WOW, they are really trying to bring back their customers but it is interesting that this is the corporate goal but when you walk into a dealer as a current VW customer and looking for a good deal on another VW...they don't want to give you anything right off the bat. You still have to fight tooth and nail to get a good discount off of the retail price and also not having the "service perks" that some others get. For instance I just had to bring in my Rabbit for some warrenty work and VW will no longer give you a courtesy car to drive around in (I'm in Outside Sales so my car is my office...I have to be on the road or I get fired).
Brand new car with issues and VW won't pay for a car...not all warrenty work is 8 hours (overnight) long and there is no way I can spend more then an hour at a dealer out of my work day to get stuff fixed.

They have sent me $1,000 loyalty coupons in the past few years, but not in 2006. I don't mind that they don't discount much (keeps residuals high), but would like to see lower rates on leases/financing.

As per your Rabbit, what was wrong with it??? Absolutely no issues with mine yet.

It stalled and it is an automatic transmission at 1400kms. They can't figure it out. It was at half a tank of gas.

The speaker on the left driver side makes noises even when the radio isn't that loud or bass is not all the way cranked.

The radio stations do not come in as clear as my old 2003 Jetta and I didn't have the Monsoon sound system in it so this Rabbit radio must have a really weak signal in it. I live right in Toronto, the stations should all come in clear.

It vibrates at 125 - 130kms but they say that there is nothing wrond with it. Apparently they test drove on a side street behide the dealer (in the city at 130kms a hour?? I don't think so) I figured they would of put the car on a apparatis inside the dealer and tested it that way. Can this be done? Can I request this to be done?

Wow, that's quite the list 

There's quite a few complaints about radio reception. Mine's not bad, but I have 2 antennas - the whip and the diversity in the rear window. Not sure if Rabbits have the rear window one.

RE the vibration, yes they should drive it at the speed or rebalance the wheels and tires.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Talk about a mess...

VW brand boss Bernhard could return to Chrysler
Discussions center on canceling his contract

Henning Krogh  |   |  Automobilwoche / December 5, 2006 - 1:00 am
 
Wolfsburg. The uncertainty over Wolfgang Bernhard's future at Volkswagen is blocking incoming VW group Chairman Martin Winterkorn's personnel reshuffle.

"Bernhard is seething," said a confidant of Winterkorn.

"It's clear that Bernhard will leave us," said the insider who works at VW Wolfsburg headquarters.

Bernhard was taken by surprise by VW supervisory board Chairman Ferdinand Piech's success in forcing current VW group Chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder to resign his post at the end of the year.

Internal discussions now center on canceling Bernhard's contract, said the insider.

Bernhard wants a clause in his contract that prevents him from working for a rival for up to two years to be eased, as well as a substantial pay off and pension payments.

Bernhard has VW product plans

"Bernhard would be a highly dangerous man for VW until at least 2012," said a company insider. "He has internalized details of all the product and manufacturing strategies."

VW wants a quick decision over Bernhard's future. Otherwise, a planned reshuffle of top management posts could be considerably delayed.

Winterkorn plans to appoint Audi production boss Jochem Heizmann to the new position of VW group production chief.

Juergen Lunemann would take Heizmann's post at Audi. Lunemann is manager of Audi's Neckarsulm plant in Germany.

Winterkorn wants Audi technology chief Ulrich Hackenberg to become head of development for the VW group. Michael Dick, who heads Audi's new model development, would take Hackenberg's post.

DaimlerChrysler rumors grow stronger

Rumors that Bernhard will return to DaimlerChrysler are getting stronger.

Bernhard recently met with DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche to sound out the possibility of returning to his former employer, a source said.

DaimlerChrysler's German works council would not accept Bernhard as head of the Mercedes Car Group, a post he was due to get in 2004. Zetsche is considering with U.S. managers whether Chrysler group CEO Tom LaSorda should continue in his post following recent heavy losses at the group. Bernhard could succeed LaSorda.

"Bernhard would be welcomed back in the U.S.A.," said one of his confidants.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I wish we could get the Golf Plus or Touran. The Touran would be well suited to Canadian tastes me thinkith and would offer just enough room for growing families wanting to stay in the VW fold.

CrossTouran...
http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/vortex_news/article_1878.shtml

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The optional Jetta 2.0T 17" wheels have changed for 2007MY. I prefer the 2006MY ORCA wheels myself, as they look racy and expensive. The new ones do lend a sporty flair but are more generic in appearance.

ALSO, word is Canada is set to get a 2006 Jetta TDI Sport Edition in very limited quantities, anytime now. Since sport seats are only in GLIs with the plaid, I doubt we'll get them - maybe get leatherette like in US base Jetta 2.0Ts. Has a spoiler, and I'm hoping for some snazzy wheels, but don't think it'll be a decent sport upgrade package like before in '04 (I think that was the year). I'm not a huge fan of the US Jetta 2.5L Wolfsburg Edition (too plain) http://www.vw.com/models_overview/specialedition.html, so hoping it's not a derivative.

If anyone has info on the new Cdn TDI Sport Edition, please relay. If it's not coming, set the record straight.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Audi now has TDI diesel snippit on their US site, claiming 2008 intro...

http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/experience/technology/Audi_TDI.html

[quadzilla]

Audi now has TDI diesel snippit on their US site, claiming 2008 intro...

http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/experience/technology/Audi_TDI.html

What are the odds of this finding its way into the A4 as that would be the only Audi I would look at.

"The 3.0 TDI engine produces 233hp and 369 lbs-ft of torque at 1750-2750 rpm. The torque produced by this new powerplant is 14% greater than the currently available 4.2 FSI engine."

It vibrates at 125 - 130kms but they say that there is nothing wrond with it. Apparently they test drove on a side street behide the dealer (in the city at 130kms a hour?? I don't think so) I figured they would of put the car on a apparatis inside the dealer and tested it that way. Can this be done? Can I request this to be done?

Couldn't they say they can't test the car at those speeds because they are illegal?

Maybe you lost a wheel weight?  Does it vibrate through the steering wheel or seats or both?

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Volkswagen recalls just over 300,000 Passats

Reuters / December 8, 2006 - 12:00 pm
 
FRANKFURT -- Volkswagen, the world's fourth largest carmaker, is recalling just over 300,000 VW Passats in Germany, North America and several other countries due to three different problems affecting models from the year 2005 to 2007, it said today.

Many have problems with a wiper motor, while some diesel-powered Passats can leak fuel and those equipped with a 200 horsepower engine may have a power brake vacuum line that could fracture at low temperatures, requiring more effort from the driver to stop.

Roughly 130,000 of the cars being recalled are in Germany, while 62,000 affected vehicles are in the United States and Canada.

Volkswagen said it would begin to notify the vehicle owners in January.

[JSCC]

The optional Jetta 2.0T 17" wheels have changed for 2007MY. I prefer the 2006MY ORCA wheels myself, as they look racy and expensive. The new ones do lend a sporty flair but are more generic in appearance.

ALSO, word is Canada is set to get a 2006 Jetta TDI Sport Edition in very limited quantities, anytime now. Since sport seats are only in GLIs with the plaid, I doubt we'll get them - maybe get leatherette like in US base Jetta 2.0Ts. Has a spoiler, and I'm hoping for some snazzy wheels, but don't think it'll be a decent sport upgrade package like before in '04 (I think that was the year). I'm not a huge fan of the US Jetta 2.5L Wolfsburg Edition (too plain) http://www.vw.com/models_overview/specialedition.html, so hoping it's not a derivative.

If anyone has info on the new Cdn TDI Sport Edition, please relay. If it's not coming, set the record straight.

If I told you, I would have to kill you. 

Personally I prefer the 2006 2.0T rims also, they look like M3 and 05 GLIs.
The 07 rims are now like RSX, Mazda6. 

Of course the R32 rims are the best.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

ALSO, word is Canada is set to get a 2006 Jetta TDI Sport Edition in very limited quantities, anytime now. Since sport seats are only in GLIs with the plaid, I doubt we'll get them - maybe get leatherette like in US base Jetta 2.0Ts. Has a spoiler, and I'm hoping for some snazzy wheels, but don't think it'll be a decent sport upgrade package like before in '04 (I think that was the year). I'm not a huge fan of the US Jetta 2.5L Wolfsburg Edition (too plain) http://www.vw.com/models_overview/specialedition.html, so hoping it's not a derivative.

If anyone has info on the new Cdn TDI Sport Edition, please relay. If it's not coming, set the record straight.

If I told you, I would have to kill you. 

But you're not denying? 

[JSCC]

Yes, no, maybe so. 

Time will tell, time will tell. 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/061211-4.htm
Audi Canada teams with Canadian marketing agency Lowe Roche

Ajax, Ontario - Audi Canada has announced that it has chosen Canadian marketing agency Lowe Roche as its agency of record for 2007. It is the first time that Audi has had a Canadian marketing agency supporting its business.

"This is a pivotal moment in our history," says Diego Ramos, head of Audi Canada. "Lowe Roche's experience in the premium luxury and premium automotive segments will help take us from an insider's luxury brand to a recognized prestige brand. Their national structure and agency partners in Montreal and Vancouver will allow us to better support our dealers and connect with customers across Canada."

Founded in 1991, Lowe Roche has won over 800 major international creative and advertising effectiveness awards; it has been named Agency of the Year five times, and two weeks ago was named one of the top three agencies in Canada by Strategy Magazine.

[Rabbit Girl]

Audi now has TDI diesel snippit on their US site, claiming 2008 intro...

http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/experience/technology/Audi_TDI.html

What are the odds of this finding its way into the A4 as that would be the only Audi I would look at.

"The 3.0 TDI engine produces 233hp and 369 lbs-ft of torque at 1750-2750 rpm. The torque produced by this new powerplant is 14% greater than the currently available 4.2 FSI engine."

It vibrates at 125 - 130kms but they say that there is nothing wrond with it. Apparently they test drove on a side street behide the dealer (in the city at 130kms a hour?? I don't think so) I figured they would of put the car on a apparatis inside the dealer and tested it that way. Can this be done? Can I request this to be done?

Couldn't they say they can't test the car at those speeds because they are illegal?

Maybe you lost a wheel weight?  Does it vibrate through the steering wheel or seats or both?

It vibrates through the seats..

[quadzilla]

It vibrates through the seats..

Some would pay extra for that 

Take a look to see if a wheel weight is missing.  I think to re-balance a wheel it is around $20/wheel.  You may get lucky and find the first one isn't balanced saving you balancing both.

[Rabbit Girl]

It vibrates through the seats..

Some would pay extra for that 

Take a look to see if a wheel weight is missing.  I think to re-balance a wheel it is around $20/wheel.  You may get lucky and find the first one isn't balanced saving you balancing both.

I'm hoping that ssince it has been doing it since I left the lot that they will just fix it without the $20 but I appricate the advice. I was thinking that something like this was probably the case.

Cheers!

[sirAQUAMAN64]

VW dealers face dry spell for diesels
'06s dwindle; no new models until spring 2008

Richard Truett  |   |  Automotive News / December 25, 2006 - 1:00 am

 
VALENCIA, Spain - Volkswagen AG's 600 U.S. dealers face a diesel dry spell that could last at least a year.

The last of the 2006 Jetta diesels are on their way to dealers. Because sales of the popular model did not slow down when fuel prices eased this fall, VW dealers are expected to run out of the cars by March, said VW spokesman Steve Keyes.

VW built extra 2006 Jetta diesels this fall in hopes that inventories would hold up through next summer.

Most dealers have a few Jetta diesels in stock and likely will get a few more in the coming weeks. The last of the models are not expected to linger long.

"They will get sucked up," said Bob Grace, owner of Southpoint Volkswagen in Baton Rouge, La. He said diesel sales have increased this year and now represent 22 percent of Jetta sales at his store.

Grace said he and other dealers are disappointed about facing next summer without the Jetta diesel. He said the car sells extremely well during the summer driving season when fuel prices spike.

"It's huge to us," he said. "We are seeing a lot of new customers."

Production of the new version of the Jetta TDI won't begin until January 2008. The TDI will have a new 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine and an all-new common-rail, high-pressure fuel-injection system. The cars are not expected to reach dealers in volume until late spring of 2008.

That means VW dealers will be without one of their most popular cars for almost an entire year.

About 30 percent of all Jettas sold in the United States are diesels. They have been more popular than usual in 2006 because of their fuel-thrifty engine, EPA-rated at 34 mpg city and 45 highway.

Sales figures for the diesels are not available. Overall, VW reported that it sold 93,057 Jetta sedans in the United States through November, up 5.7 percent over the same 11 months of 2005.

Production of the new model cannot be pulled forward, said Ingo Koertje, the engineer in charge of the emissions system for the 2008 Jetta. The reason: The 2008 will be sold in all 50 states, and engineers need the next year to complete at least half a dozen durability and emissions tests to meet federal and California standards.

For 2007, the Mercedes-Benz E320 will be the only diesel car available in the United States.

The 2008 Jetta TDI, which journalists test-drove here, is expected to cost at least $1,000 more than the outgoing 2006 model, which has a base sticker price of $22,305. Most of the increase comes from emissions equipment designed to meet strict federal standards that require diesel engines to run as cleanly as gasoline engines. 

[safristi]

 PHISSH ON THAT......Urea Catalysers and Particular Carbon pickers...... ....It's a Diesel diesel diesel  err GAS GAS GAS fer a year and a half....