LAC! Re: Passat 2001.5; VAG musing

[Chris Dyer]

Oh, those nutty VAG marketing gurus.  After a five year schwing of good 
ideas, products and fortune, are we seeing a brief return to the dark days 
of '87-95?  Or even '75-95?  By this I mean nutty product lines, names, 
placements and pricing that serve to confuse the consumer, even though 
fundamentally the products are good stuff.  We'll see.

Holy product lines, Batman! Will VW's "upscale" image truly compete w/M-B in 
the US market?  Will consumers be able to differentiate VW as a M-B fighter 
(not a Toyota/Chevy fighter) and Audi as a WMB fighter?  Will the upcoming 
recession require Audi to sell Lupo's rebadged as A8 Jr.'s?  Tune in next 
time, same Bat time, same Bat channel.


>From: Lawrence C Leung <l.leung at juno.com>
>To: chrisdyer at hotmail.com
>CC: quattro at audifans.com
>Subject: Re: NAC! Re: Passat 2001.5
>Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 16:59:04 -0500
>
>Went back to the dealer today to test drive (didn't call ahead as I
>forgot, so I only had a FWD one for now) one and I asked specifically
>WILL GLS V6's be availible in the future (up to one year) with 4-motion?
>He said, "No, they USED to be availible that way, but VWoA decided not to
>do that anymore." I commented how VW has just abandoned the $25k - $30k
>market for AWD sedans/wagons to Subaru. His comment, "There's enough
>people who want German cars that can't afford Audi (hah, I noticed he
>didn't mention BMW nor Mercedes) so they'll buy the GLX instead."  Team
>Doorhandle meets Team Public Relations.........
>
>LL - NY
>
>On Fri, 16 Mar 2001 16:22:57  "Chris Dyer" <chrisdyer at hotmail.com>
>writes:
> >Dealer's on crack. I checked w/vwvortex, vw.com, carpoint.com (by fake
> >
> >ordering one) and edmunds.com.  Either vw's press, web and marketing
> >teams
> >are all wrong, or the dealer is.
> >
> >I'm guessing the dealer didn't order, or wasn't allotted, any gls
> >4mo's. Or
> >perhaps they won't be available for a few weeks/months.
> >
> >Maybe you're asking the wrong question ;) :
> >
> >you:  are there any gls's w/4motion?
> >him:  nope
> >you:  are you sure?!
> >him:  yes
> >*click*
> >him:  guy wanted to know if we had any gls's w/4motion.
> >
> >
> >>From: Lawrence C Leung <l.leung at juno.com>
> >>To: chrisdyer at hotmail.com
> >>CC: quattro at audifans.com
> >>Subject: Re: NAC! Re: Passat 2001.5
> >>Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 22:17:16 -0500
> >>
> >>Actually I KNOW that 4-motion was availible on V6 GLX AND GLS in
> >2000/1.
> >>For 2001.5  the web and brouchure both say this remains the same, but
> >the
> >>local dealer denies it (being availible on the GLS with V6). THIS is
> >what
> >>I'm trying to determine. If VW really only offers 4 motion on the
> >GLX,
> >>they've totally abandoned the under 30K AWD market. I've meant to
> >call
> >>the VW Customer Service line, but haven't had the time. The VW web
> >site
> >>doesn't have any way to e-mail questions.
> >>
> >>LL - NY
> >>
> >>On Thu, 15 Mar 2001 16:49:21  "Chris Dyer" <chrisdyer at hotmail.com>
> >>writes:
> >> >False (check w/vwvortex.com, vw.com or Car & Driver). Is also
> >> >available on
> >> >GLS.  It may be that dealer only has that in inventory?  Or just
> >> >doesn't
> >> >know? (2001.5's; 2001's he'd be right.)
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >>From: Lawrence C Leung <l.leung at juno.com>
> >> >>To: quattro at audifans.com
> >> >>Subject: Re: Passat 2001.5
> >> >>Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 16:21:44 -0500
> >> >>
> >> >>Okay,
> >> >>
> >> >>More confusion here. Dealer again claims on the "new" Passat
> >> >(2001.5)
> >> >>that 4-motion is only availible on GLX models. Anyone know where
> >I
> >> >can
> >> >>confirm this?
> >> >>
> >> >>LL - NY
> >> >
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