VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCHES MULTI-PLATFORM POLLING INITIATIVE TO FIND OUT “WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT." We could start with upper and lower case typography, proceed to cheap, reliable transportation, detour to a dealership that isn't a stealership and call it good. Of course, VW's not really asking for your (or anyone else's) opinion. At best, they're looking to confirm their expensive research data. But the real point of this campaign, like the Chrysler Listens marketing mishegas: pretend to be web 2.0 to spread your pre-established marketing message. But don't make my word for it. "Utilizing media, technology and user-generated content like never before, the campaign allows consumers to engage in live online and mobile polling. A real-time mouthpiece of the people’s collective voice, user-generated live polling begins at the hub site, vw.com/whatthepeoplewant, and then spreads across the web and in-market. The initiative is part of Volkswagen’s new global brand platform, Das Auto, and underscores its fundamental message of It’s what the people want." Their emphasis– which sounds a bit, uh, forceful. Oh, and VW claims that it already "knows" that "65% of the people want boxers not briefs." Yeah, that info will help re-build your brand…
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If they like boxers so much, why not buy a Subaru? (sorry)
Lame! (not you Sherborn, but VW)
So I’m assuming they have ‘No electrical Gremlins’ listed?
What the people want is very easy to discern. One only has to look at all the sales reports put out by the automotive news for a nominal subscription fee. “What the people want” is a lovey-dovey ad campaign.
Judging by that lame excuse for a research site, VW wants to know what the people want – I’ll be glad to help.
The people want:
RELIABILITY! Both of my VWs were AWFUL in terms of reliability. They drove nice, but were in the shop WAY to often for “unscheduled maintenance”.
Good fuel economy. Not just in diesels or hybrids. 35 MPG is possible from a gasoline engine. Light weight design is the key. Alternative fuel compatibility is a bonus.
Nice interiors. Any materials that could substitute for Tupperware should not be on the short list.
Low cost: $26,000 for a Jetta is ridiculous. No Jetta should cost more than $20,000.
Performance: Not tire smoking performance, but good handling and 0-60 in around 6-7 seconds would be nice….while maintaining 35MPG highway.
Safety: The car must be safe in a variety of collisions – no exceptions.
VW are you listening?
VW did something called “the Moonraker project” a couple years ago, which was supposed to be a campaign run by German VW employees that were sent to the US to find out what people in North America actually want. Apparently there were some dolts that told them they wanted a chromed up Corolla clone or something. So the Germans made it so and called it good.
I’m a special customer, so I’d like a Polo with a choice of efficient gas and diesel engines, 2 cupholders (for water bottles only), cloth interior, 3 pedals, 5 or 6 gears, and I’d like it in the form of a hatchback. Don’t sedanize a Polo, there’s no need of that. I guess it’s time to move to Europe, because we all know there’s no chance in hell of seeing something like that over here, even though it’s available in the rest of the world.
Wow, that is one dumb survey site. Completely irrelevant with a bit of insulting thrown in for flavor. Yuck.
Had they been serious about the question, I think zerofoo answered it perfectly.
VW has cranked out some very shoddy junk in recent history. Try searching Google for “Jetta Problem” and see how many and what kind of misery their customers have encountered.
Then they have chosen to play the “that never happens”, “not covered under warranty”, “you didn’t maintain it right”, etc. game with warranty coverage. Not to mention the bad coils, engines incorrectly assembled, malfunctioning transaxles and so on that they know about and refuse to do anything about.
More fun: call your local VW service department; they won’t answer but you can leave a message. Tell them you have a 2002 Jetta with a catalytic converter problem and see how long it takes for them to call you back.
VW knows all this is going on – how can they ask with a straight face what customers want?
brettc :
April 28th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I guess it’s time to move to Europe, because we all know there’s no chance in hell of seeing something like that over here, even though it’s available in the rest of the world.
Take a look at the readily available sales figures.
IF VW was interested in selling Americans what they buy they’d either produce a body-on-frame 1/2 ton pick-up or some sort of compact or mid-size(ish) fwd sedan with either a 130hp I4 or a 250hp V6.
You’re asking them to take a flyer on a product that hasn’t traditionally sold well here.
The rest of the world doesn’t drive what we do. That may be changing, but it might not.
I’m with Brettc and zerofoo. My VWs have been good but not good enough I’d recommend them to friends or family reliant on a dealer or an independent mechanic.
Bring me back a 1980s GTI (lightweight, frugal, zippy, and good handling). Add in a little more soundproofing and rust protection. I’d prefer slightly more modern styling but it is not a requirement. You can leave off the ABS and all the other nanny wizardry including the airbags.
I’m thinking a modern 1.6L making 100-120HP hauling 2000 lbs of car would be just right. Aim for 40 mpg. Put a power/economy button inside so I get dual fuel maps. Power gives me zip at 30mpg and economy gives me frugality at 40 mpg.
No decontenting it from Europe. Leave the badging the same. Keep it simple – no point in building two unique vehicles. Just sell me what the Germans get. Painted steel interior parts is acceptable if the price reflects the abreviated door panels.
Basically my 1984 Rabbit ‘vert (GTI details) was excellent. Now, clean up those angles with some minor curves – not bloated looking – and some better rust proofing. Watch the weight! Not too much! Keep your Rabbit/Golf for the person who “NEEDS” all the gadgetry and give me something else. Call it a “City” edition or something.
Better yet a Polo/Fox electric with a 75 mile range.
what is this nonsense??? bring back farvegnugen.
Unbelievably lame…hey, if I’m going to slip into the corporate time-stealing weasel mode here don’t waste my time with the e-version of a high school slam-book……they’re hopeless.
I want a 250HP GTI that gets 70 MPG, thanks.
In every VW thread on every car blog I read about VW’s inherent unreliability. I have an ’07 GTI purchased 20 months ago with 20K miles on it. I’ve had no problems other than a weird fuel pump issue when I was driving through the mountains to Vegas in 115º heat, but that problem hasn’t happened since that one trip.
This is my first VW. When can I expect the engine to blow up or the wheels to fall off?
Beware the dealer network. They are expensive at best and dishonest at worst.
I have have had 4 daily drivers VWs that were good reliable cars.
My ’97 Cabrio has had a couple issues come up that were obviously the result of VW cutting corners when I’m sure the consumer would have gladly ponied up the cash to improve the engineering.
One was a plastic “water neck”. Well, both of the water necks on my ’97 started leaking. The plastic gets brittle and cracks and starts leaking. If you are a turn the key and go driver never checking the fluids, a person could ruin an engine with that cheap POS part. I’ll take aluminum please… Every late model VW I have worked on has had this problem eventually. Part is not expensive (still plastic) but I suppose if you had to rely on a dealer they could really stick it to you. They could also lie to you and make it seem worse than it is (head gasket, water pump, cracked head). $15 I think for the part at any FLAPS.
Another were the cracked coils. Mine cracked eventually and required 15 mins and $35 to replace. The dealer would not be so kind. Car eventually got to a point where it would not start in wet weather. Honestly – who signed off on a whole generation of coils that cracked like that. Was there no testing of these parts?
VW is like any other car manufacturer. They like to cut corners by using a plastic when they should be using aluminum. For example my car has a transmission shifter relay shaft that enables the shifter to put the transmission into reverse (5 speed). Plastic. That will break someday. There are very cheap plastic shaft repair kits. There are also aluminum upgrades for slightly more. Then there is the plastic clutch pedal. Seriously! That saved how much? Please – I want some steel or aliminum here too okay? No word of these breaking in the forums that I have seen.
My Hondas generally have not shown evidence of this kind of corner cutting.
FWIW my VW has been very cheap to maintain and that is it’s single saving grace concerning it’s quality. I like the way it drives, I like the way it sounds, I like the way it rides and the way it looks. I’ll put up with those few cheesy details because they are cheap to fix and easy to spot before they strand me.
However, I won’t recommend VWs to anyone b/c the average person that relys on the dealer or a semi-dishonest mechanic would be in trouble. The car might cost me $20 a month to maintain but an average person might be dropping $150+ a month into it. $100 oil changes? Seriously? I can do it with Mobil 1 synthetic oil and a Mahle oil filter for less than $30. Dino-oil and a cheap filter would cost $15?
Frankly I don’t know how the average person can afford to not do their own maintenance and repairs.