VW may be moving from Detroit to Washington, DC. So it's out of the frying pan, into the home of liars. Other than DC's proximity to the regulators who determine what kind of cars get built and the city's more convenient airline connections to the Fatherland, I can't fathom any good reason for the brand to move to Cap City (in both senses of the word). I've got nothing against DC, but it's another highly insular company town. I mean, if you were the head of a car company looking for a place to attract world class talent and keep them from sticking their collective heads up their collective asses, wouldn't you go to the home of car culture? As Jed Clampett's friends said "California's the place you ought to be!" Actually, I'd put my people in Knoxville, TN. Low-cost of living, friendly folk and The Tail of the Dragon, one of this country's wildest public roads. Yeah I know: the police have cracked-down on TOD hoons, big time. But you could cut a deal. Anyway, as much as I love Little Rhody, this is not motorhead mecca– as Mr. Berkowitz so KINDLY pointed out. I wonder how much houses go for down in Knoxville…
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DC must have given them some breaks. I would think Cali would be better, but either coast is better than the middle of the country to keep your fingers on the pulse of car buying America. I’m betting you see a few more VW’s and Audis in DC than in Michigan so may as well be closer to your buyers.
Deal’s gap is motorcycling version of pure heroin.
A friend of mine took his new Corvette to Deal’s Gap for a little fun when he first bought it. He came back with stories of crotch rockets blowing by him like he was standing still. I figured it was just a matter of time before the cops put an end to the Southern Autobahn. Doesn’t hurt my feelings–I live about an hour away but I’m only packin’ 103 hp. Doh!
What with the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center and a billion other cultural attractions, DC is a great place to live, especially as a teen.
If this move comes off, I’ll be wanting to work for VW. If I worked for VW, would I get free maintenance on a VW? That would be worth thousands.
To be honest, I’m not sure why people buy German “appliance” cars. They’re good quality and fairly reliable, but you can get MUCH better quality and reliability from Toyota or Honda AND it’s about a third cheaper.
Am I missing something here?
With regards to VW moving their NA HQ to DC (4 acronyms!), they may scale it down or withdraw it all together. Let’s face it, I’m not aware of any VW manufacturing plant in the USA (please correct me, if this is not true) but also, Germans love to centralise things to “das motherland” (I work for a German company, trust me, I know!). Not to mention Porsche are stalking VW like bankruptcy is stalking Detroit so more cost cutting could be afoot. Unless VW increase their market share in the United States (which brings me back to my initial point about the Japanese doing the “appliance” thing better and cheaper) VW won’t invest too much in the United States.
Whether thats a good thing or a bad thing, that’s another issue…..
Yes, DC has some culture, but it is a low-rise city that sprawls to exurbs thirty or forty miles outside the beltway. The resulting unending traffic congestion, even in the ‘burbs, make it difficult to contemplate living there again.
DC nails you on parking and traffic tickets, too. Get one and you have to show up just to set a court date to actually fight it.
What on earth do 1500 people do in the Detroit HQ?
Hopefully one of the reasons VW picked DC is because they are planning to build a couple of factories in the south.
I think KatiePuckrik is putting the cart before the horse, VW needs to invest in NA in order to be successful.
Quality and reliability are wayyyy overrated. Owning a VW isn’t about that.
“Quality and reliability are wayyyy overrated. Owning a VW isn’t about that.”
I hope for VW’s sake that you’re being facetious. Although, it would confirm some of my suspicions about VeeDub and Audi. Anyone see the story about the R8 catching on fire?
We got stuck with a VW Jetta Wolfsburg Edition while our Subaru has some work done and I have no idea what you VW lovers love about these crapmobiles. Only has 4000 miles and feels like its falling apart. It drives like crap and feels unsafe past 40mph, sportiness is nonexistant. It sounds like an oilburner but it’s their all new 5 cylinder with the slowest shifting 6-speed auto I have ever witnessed. The interior is cheaper looking that even GM’s usual messes, but the panel graps are close for the rubbermaid plastics. I like some of it’s little dodads, like the way the wipers slow down when you come to a stop and we really like the key/keyfob when it works, and I like the little sunroof knob.
Don’t get me wrong it’s not a bad little basic transport car but not worth the VW premium. Especially with cheaper better handling Subaru’s on the same lot.
I have a question for anyone in the know, who is VW sourcing its 6-speed auto’s from? The sticker says they are coming from Japan, why they can’t make their own?
“I have a question for anyone in the know, who is VW sourcing its 6-speed auto’s from? The sticker says they are coming from Japan, why they can’t make their own?”
My guess would be Jatco (Nissan), considering VW’s previous use of their trannys. Most manufacturers source their transmissions from other companies; Honda being a notable example of one who generally does not. The other main Japanese supplier of transmissions is Aisin, which is a Toyota subsidiary.
Detroit, not unlike Tennessee, is a reasonably affordable place to live. California, though expensive, is a fun place to live (and the current center of the automotive universe). I don’t see that D.C. has any redeeming qualities; Smithsonian, Kennedy Center and a billion other cultural attractions notwithstanding.
The move to D.C. will do nothing to help VW attract world-class talent or stop its sales slide in the U.S.
Hey, they could move to Boone, be near Deal’s Gap, and rub the fact that the local team (ASU) beat up poor ol mighty michigain to all their friends back in detroit!
Knoxville aint bad, Chattanooga is underrated as well, and they have the space and the need for a plant. Of course they also have the wwww.worstmayorever.com
As a native Washingtonian and fellow rat racer in the Fed Govt/IT/Contractor lifestyle, I would kill (with a now unbanned handgun!) to work for VW should they end up in DC. You’d be surprised how many IT/Graphics/Engineering types here are utterly bored with their jobs, dealing w/ idiot gov’t clients (who can’t make up their minds, but they know what they don’t like) and who would jump at the chance to allow their inner car guy to burst out and take wing, working on VW’s web site, perhaps? Or maybe that’s just me…
Mmmmmm, GTI company car…
I’m a longtime TTAC reader, gearhead, and 20+ year Knoxville resident (originally transplanted from New England).
Believe it or not, there are a lot of companies headquartered in Knoxville and surrounding areas (presumably) for that reason. Pilot Gas, IdleAire (makes truckstop internet/entertainment/AC pods that connect to cab windows), Ruby Tuesday (actually in nearby Maryville), Operations for the 3rd largest credit card processor in the US, Regal Cinemas, Scripps Networks (HGTV, Food Network, DIY, etc…) and more.
As for the price of housing, you can get a nice 4 bedroom, 3 bath 2000+ square foot house in a nice neighborhood with a huge yard for less than $200,000.
Anyone at VW listening? I’d be applying to the corporate IT department…
“the city’s more convenient airline connections to the Fatherland”
Did Northworst cancel the Detroit-Frankfurt non-stop when Daimler got rid of Chrysler?
Speaking of dogs and cars…
When I was a kid, the family dog took a whiz on my leg while riding in our ’81 Monte Carlo. Everyone was happy, except for me. The dog ruined my pants, but the Monte’s cloth seats remained unmolested.
Now THAT’s entertainment!
I need to get in on this podcasting thing.
Taxes alone in DC will kill them.
Never mind the traffic, the self-important aids to the aids of the junior congressman, the filthy lobbyists, and the kids taking political science majors at GW thinking that’s enough qualifications for president one day.
There’s a reason I left (after 8 long years).
Cretinx,
As a former resident of DC, you should know that DC doesn’t always mean “DC.” It usually means VA or MD ‘burbs. And as I thought, they’ll be way out near Dulles airport. Big surprise.