Intellichoice is a scam. Their owners– Source Interlink Media– also own Motor Trend, a buff book with about as much editorial independence as Marines Magazine. Intellichoice pretends to be an objective number cruncher, focusing on cost of ownership calculations. Every year, they announce their "Best Overall Value of the Year" (BOVY) awards at the Chicago Auto Show. Methodology? "This insightful value rating factors the accumulated ownership costs of depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees, financing, and insurance to identify the true standout models in each class." Needless to say, Intellichoice doesn't reveal the specific calculations involved. And if that's not enough to convince you that the whole thing's a con, consider that the VW R32 just won the BOVY award for the "Base Sport" category. We call bullshit. The R32 is the all wheel-drive uber-Golf (base sport?) that's over-priced, over-produced and over here. Check out this chart from Yahoo Autos comparing the relative predicted residual values for the R32 vs. the GTI (never mind any number of Japanese base sport competitors), and then tell me the fix ain't in. Shame on VW– and any other manufacturer– for using (paying?) Intellichoice to promote their vehicle.
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I agree calling the R32 “base” isn’t accurate since it’s mighty high priced for a Golf. However, the last generation R32 kept it’s value with eerily little depreciation for years. I don’t think the new one will continue that legacy, though. It’s up against stronger and cheaper competition now.
But why would VW pay anybody to promote a limited-edition vehicle that’s probably already sold out, as opposed to the very alive GTI, which swims in a sea full of competitors?
beetlebug: However, the last generation R32 kept it’s value with eerily little depreciation for years. The old R32 was an awesome car– right until the new GTI showed-up. At that point, it was game over R32. The new one has customers lined-up none deep. To wit: they're still plenty of them left lingering on VW lots. AKM: But why would VW pay anybody to promote a limited-edition vehicle that’s probably already sold out, as opposed to the very alive GTI, which swims in a sea full of competitors? Because the GTI sells itself. The R32 is DOA.
Edmunds says the MSRP for the base is $33k. From what I’ve seen online, some dealers are asking for more than $34k.
Why would anyone pay this much for a Golf when an Evo or STI are faster, more competent around corners and can actually seat 5 people.
For this much cash I could also twist some Infiniti’s dealers arm and get a G35.
Maybe its just the competitive Speed3 owner in me, but, uh, I’ma hafta call BS on this one.
The VW Golf R32…its not faster than any of our competitors, nor does it really handle much better. In fact, its heavier, and not anywhere near as agressively styled. But it does have soul*.
And a chilled cup holder.
*Soul is not a measurable performance number, nor do we actually know what that means. But hey, if all else fails, slam it!
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa214/deadwayt/GTI.jpg
Wow…the total cost of ownership according to that Yahoo! Autos page for an R32 approaches that of my Volvo S60R at 5 years. Insurance, fuel, and maintenance are more for the R32. That’s pretty poor if you ask me, for a car that starts at $10-15k less. Oh and 50 less horsepower to boot.
Robert, you are right about the value the old R32 gave. It was a real step up from the GTI of the time with AWD, IRS and real power. However, the new R32 isn’t that much better than the GTI. It has AWD, but the added weight and such doesn’t make that so “must have” to me. I’ve seen discounting on the new R32 all over, not to mention great deals on slightly used cars. If it got to the price level of a WRX I might consider buying one, but till then it’s not worth it.
Why bother with the R32 when you can get an A3 quattro? And even then, why bother when you can get a GTI? Do you *really* need AWD? Or the V6?
The GTI has soul, and an interior that puts the STI and EVO to shame (and even the Mazdaspeed3, there, I said it). Yeah, it could be faster, but that’s true of a lot of cars. When you’re stuck in traffic, do you curse every piece of ill-fitting plastic in the vehicle, or do you sit back and enjoy the (non)ride?
As for Intellichoice, I knew something was fishy when I saw that the xB was their car of the year (no one, i repeat, no one else would even dream of giving it such a distinction, not even with substantial quantities of silver crossing palms)… seeing the R32 as the tops in the base sport category confirmed that their list was most useful printed out and used as toilet paper. But printer ink is expensive, so I’ll just have to settle for rolling my eyes at it and being glad that I don’t pay by the bit for internet usage.
John R,
For that much cash ($34,000), I did actually get a new 2007 G35X, and I’ve loved every minute of it.
It isn’t as tossable as an R32 or GTI (it’s bigger), but it is a lot more luxurious, and who can argue with 306 HP on tap from a VQ series V6?
-ted
Megan, don’t be ashamed to say it. I have the Speed3 GT. The interior is amazing…for a car that cost me 24k fully loaded. Its light years ahead of anything in its price and catagory range (i.e. Cobalt SS or Dodge SRT-4). However, compared to my mother’s CX-9, father’s MB, my buddy’s IS300, or my previous BMW, well, its flat out nothing at all.
The new R32 isn’t any faster than a GTI in a straight line
and with a $500 chip, the 2.0T GTI blows the R32 out of the water.
# cretinx :
“The new R32 isn’t any faster than a GTI in a straight line”
I wonder if the new R32 is any faster than a GTI around curves.
Megan Benoit :
Soul? Soul of what? An apple/mac-o-phile with an Ipod chock full of Daft Punk? I never understand it when person says that. It just sounds like a cop out.
As for interiors, I believe that’s just a matter of a person’s priorities. Personally, numbers are more important to me than how luxurious the interior is. As long as its comfortable, functional and as a good stereo, mission complete.
What would irk me is that I could probably own a G35 for the price of an R32 or a faster EVO/STI, and that I’m paying a higher note for the slower GTI versus the MS3 and WRX.
I don’t own a GTI but I have driven one and they certainly do have a certain something, call it a “soul” if you want.
The way the steering wheel feels in your hand, the consistent linear feedback from the wheels, just perfectly weighted steering, the ability of the car to feel both light on it’s feet and stable at the same time, flat cornering, the awesome instantaneous DSG… it all adds up man. I hate when people refer to a car’s “soul” or a certain “something” when they need to jusitfy it as a better car, I hear a lot of MB and BMW owners do it, but the GTI definetly has it over the price-class competition.
Too bad about all the VW reliablity gremlins though.
Look, I know Intellichoice is completely worthless. I just want to know how the conversations go between the manufacturer and the Intellichoice people.
Who calls who? Does Intellichoice drool over low sales reports and give the manufacturer on the short end of the stick a call and say “Psst – we’ve got a great idea. I think your slow selling car just won an award!”?
Does it start the other way around? Evil plans starts somewhere…
I suspect some completely unspoken quid quo pro happens through the motortrend advertising rep’s sales calls if nothing else. I don’t know how intellichoice makes money, so I can’t guess at that.
Landcrusher : I suspect some completely unspoken quid quo pro happens through the motortrend advertising rep’s sales calls if nothing else. Unspoken my ass. Maybe Stephan Wilkinson will tell you what he told me about the Chinese Wall between C/D’s editorial and advertising departments. And that was back when there WAS a wall.
RF,
Wow, what a shame. Did the conversations go beyond complaints by the ad buyers? How conspiratorial did it get?
blautens – to answer your question, no devious pre-award conversations transpire at any level. Believe me when I say that I was as surprised at the R32 win as VW was.
By the way, I am the Editor/Publisher of IntelliChoice and welcome such criticism. But when it gets all conspiritorial, you lose me.
Flujo :
By the way, I am the Editor/Publisher of IntelliChoice and welcome such criticism. But when it gets all conspiritorial, you lose me.
Welcome to TTAC!
So, spill the beans. What’s the exact formula/process/reasoning that led to this award?
And if IC is completely above board, what about a podcast discussing your methodology? Contact me here or at robert.farago@thetruthaboutcars.com
IC is completely above board and that point is not up for review. Zero editorial impact within our data-driven award process. You may disagree with some of the winners, but that would be for your own personal/editorial reasons.
A full write up on how we identify these annual winners is noted here – http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/2008_what_is_bovy
And thanks for the podcast offer, but we are plenty busy getting the word out as is!
Flujo : IC is completely above board and that point is not up for review. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that statement sounds? Your link tells me NOTHING about the judging process. And your unwillingness to explain this process in a public forum in a ten minute phone call tells me EVERYTHING about your transparency. I am saddened but not surprised by your response to our request for clarification.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. This article–especially the comments section–should be bumped back to the front page so more people can see such a ridiculous response.
Flujo –
I appreciate your response, and welcome your criticism, also. Could I reword my original question to somehow change its perception to curiously convenient instead of conspiratorial and convince you to speak to Mr. Farago?
A vast pistonhead audience awaits…