VW sucks (the company, not the cars)

[Dan Simoes <dans@ans.net>]

As one of the original coauthors of the group's FAQs, this is not
a troll, just a vent.  I run the quattro list (soon to be known as
audifans.com) and I'm ccing that list because some of the things
here relate to Audis.

I came back from vacation in Europe this past August with the
following thoughts:

- VW is still trying to sell us old A3 Golf/Jettas here, no sign of the
  A4 platform car, which has been on sale in Europe for over 2 years
  (probably 3 now) and is about to be replaced again.

- VW gives us the crappy 90hp TDI engine, which was one rev behind
  the euro model (110hp) and is now 2 revs behind (115hp).  
  The latest engine is highly tweakableof course, while ours is
  not.

- VW refuses to sell us the Polo, which comes as a nice 4 door, hot hatchback,
  or wagon (OK, I'm less crazy about the latter, which is actually a 
  rebadged Seat model).  It can't be the size, because Hyundai is selling
  cars smaller than the Polo here.

- VW won't sell us the Passat with 1.8t engine, 5sp, and Syncro
  (available as the A4 Avant 1.8tq for an extra $4-5k).  It's the
  logical successor to the Quantum Syncro wagon, and a great way to
  keep buyers away from SUVs.

- VW won't sell their minivan, the Sharan, which although I don't like
  minivans, becomes an interesting vehicle when outfitted with a VR6
  or TDI engine and a 5 speed.

- VW discontinued their Euro delivery program years ago, promising to 
  replace it with "something innovative" and never did.

That's it.  VW has been doing this for years.  I remember waiting endlessly
for the new A3 cars to come out.  It's the same story all over again.

Fortunately, we have the Passat, and just so it doesn't sound like everything
is peachy in Europe, we get it for 20k while in Europe it's more like
35-40k.

I always reflect on this dicotomy:  in Europe, they have all the best models,
and then some, they can drive a lot faster than we do, but gas is 4x as 
expensive and the cars are 2x as expensive.
Here in the US, home of "the Motor City", cars are relatively cheap, gas is
pathetically cheap, but we get very limited choices in models, mushy
suspensions (the better to keep that oversized Slurpee cup from spilling),
and we're stuck driving at slow speeds.

I guess nothing's perfect, but I'd love to be able to combine the good
points above :)

<end vent>

| Dan |
-- 
Dan Simoes			          dans@ans.net
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