VW layoffs & reliability

[marc at getty.net (Marc Getty)]

The low German car reliability numbers you write about are new and
based on four things.

1. Spending on print advertising by German car makers is *WAY LOW*
lately. Hint Hint.

2. Most of the problems reported are minor, as in "my heated mirrors
don't work" kind of stuff. My Benz has never left me stranded by
loosing it's ability to take me places (other then flat tires), which
is the core intrinsic purpose of a car.

3. The level of expectation for reliability  is very high on all
luxury cars, slightly higher on German cars. If the horn breaks on
your Chevy Caviler you don't care, if the cigarette lighter breaks in
your E500 you get pissed!

4. All luxury cars are incredibly complicated and have a lot more
parts then an economy car. Heated mirrors is not an option on Chevy
Caviler. The key to my Benz is more complicated then the engine,
transmission, or fuel injection system on a Chevy Caviler.

-Marc



-----Original Message-----
From: scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org
[mailto:scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org] On Behalf Of Chris
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 11:09 AM
To: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
Subject: Re: VW layoffs & reliability


Reliability is going to have to be "Job One".  Just got the new care
issue 
of Consumer Reports. In the Small Car category: Reliability for '01 -
'03 
for 5 VW models ranged from 40% worse than average to 104% worse than 
average (the turbos).  They ranked below 2 Hyundai models and a Chevy 
Cavalier.  The saving grace for Vws is that repair costs are probably
much 
lower than many or most cars.   The '03 VWs ranked well on
reliability. 
Maybe they have got it right now.

The Asian cars topped the reliability charts.  American cars from the
Big 
Three ranked, on average, slightly above the European cars. (For the
"first 
time in decades.")  M-B did not come out very well.  Luxury cars: BMW
7 
Series - 175% worse then ave.  Boy what an insult to BMW buyers.  Pay
a 
whopping sum for the car.  It doesn't run and you know they pay
through the 
nose for repairs.

But people love some cars despite their short comings on 
reliability.  Reliability chart. "Sporty Car" category.  Mini Cooper.
99% 
worse than average.
Flip back to another chart. "Most Satisfying", Small Car category.
Mini 
Cooper is one of the three cars listed.

Chris

At 10:44 AM 03/09/2004 -0700, Eric S wrote:

>Maybe VW will wake up soon.  Upmarket moves like the Toureg and the 
>Phaeton were stupid...now they feel the stupidity of those decisions 
>biting at their heels.
>
>--
>Eric
>www.vintagewatercooleds.com
>
>79 VW Iltis
>81 Rabbit Truck 2.0 16v
>81 Scirocco S (TDI Swap project)
>90 Corrado TDI
>91 Cabriolet (2.0 Crossflow swap project)
>
>Julie Macfarlane said:
> >
> > Even our favorite company is hurting. Over extended?
> >
> >
> >
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/09/vw.layoffs.reut/index.htm
> > l
> >
> > Julie Macfarlane
> > 1981 MKI 2L 16v
> > Amsterdam NY
> >
> >
> > Ev
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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