Focus has a Fight on its Hands..New Golf Below $20k ??

[csv8]

Volkswagen will make its most popular model more accessible when it launches in April.

The brand’s Australian arm plans to introduce an entry-level Golf which could arrive priced below $20,000.

Volkswagen’s current entry point to the Golf range is the 77TSI, which sells for $21,990 plus dealer and on-road costs. The all-new Golf is already on sale in the UK, where a manual-only 62kW model undercuts their 77TSI trim by more than £1000.

Volkswagen boss Anke Koeckler would not say exactly how cheap the new model would be.
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“At the end of April we are unveiling our prices, and you will be astonished,” she says.

“We make sure that the price point is the right one from the beginning of the launch.”

The Australian 77TSI currently has a turbocharged 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine putting out 77kW and 175Nm outputs. That car offers a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions.

The cheapest Golf VII as sold in the UK has a 62kW, 160Nm, 1.2-litre turbocharged engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Volkswagen has been doing deals in recent months, offering the Golf 77TSI for $20,990, and the three-cylinder Up for $12,990 drive away.

The brand’s Australian marketing boss, Jutta Friese, says the brand’s marketing team worked hard to maximise the new model’s appeal.

“The Golf is our volume seller, it makes up - depending on the season - 45 to 50 per cent of the volume for our brand,” she says.

“Our engineers, our quality people have done a really good job with it, and we have done our part as well.

“We have created a new entry level model with the Golf that we will present to you, and we’ve added a lot of value to the car as well.”
http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/mo...130-2dkqd.html

[ryeman]

If only they had boring Toyota reliability. They'd be unbeatable.
Not to forget Fixed Price Servicing !!

[Joe5619]

I personally thing Volkswagen is going to struggle with this model. For an 'all new' model it looks exactly the same as the old one. I can see them going backwards in this segment in coming years

[ShootsWithFilm]

You lost me at 'Volkswagen'...

So, the base model Golf is going to have 62KW, compared to the base model Focus @ 92?

Heck, isn't this Fiesta territory?

[SSVPom]

Fixed price servicing announced today by VW too...

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

I personally thing Volkswagen is going to struggle with this model. For an 'all new' model it looks exactly the same as the old one. I can see them going backwards in this segment in coming years

MK VI wasn't much different in style either to it's predecessor.
The update of the interior of the MK VII is far more than that between V and VI.

I don't think they will have an issue with the sales unless VW drop the ball completely but so far reports are favorable for the new Golf.

Originally Posted by ShootsWithFilm

You lost me at 'Volkswagen'...

So, the base model Golf is going to have 62KW, compared to the base model Focus @ 92?

Heck, isn't this Fiesta territory?

Well with the new model comes in a raft of weight saving measures, apparently up to 100kg of weight taken out of this new model. So with that much saved the base model doesn't need the extra oomph. Combined with the 7spd DSG it should mask any perceived power deficiencies.

[mcnews]

The DSG in the recent model I drove for a few days in Darwin was an abomination. Okay in the country but painful in the city.

[Wretched]

fair enough, each to their own i guess. i've used it in the Polo 77 on and off for the past 2 years with no problems. Especially after a software upgrade it has been flawless.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by SSVPom

Fixed price servicing announced today by VW too...

Fixed price servicing at present is only applicable to VW Up, for scheduled servicing during the first 6 years or 90,000km. They announced today it will become available on other models over the next 12 months, its not yet available. VW's currently are relatively expensive to service, will be interesting to see what rates they will charge for the fixed price services.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/558...vicing-in-2013

However buyers probably wont realise until at 7 years (or less, depending on kms travelled) there is a very expensive service (>$1500) to replace the timing belt and water pump, which it seems wont be covered by fixed price servicing.

[Mercury 8]

Focus has fight on it's hands?More like the Golf has had it's hands full trying to wrestle sales from the Focus which has been priced under twenty grand for some time.I would be more worried about replacement cost of these new DSG boxes after 7 years,the $1500 for the timing belt will be chicken feed.But having said that who keeps a new car for that period of time anyway?

[mcnews]

$12,000 was the sticker on the box a few years ago and shedloads of them have been replaced. One government department had a greater than ten per cent failure rate under two years... it seemed that the failures were on cars that sat for weeks at a time, something to do with some sort of grease lubricant seeping out of servo actuated bits when sat still. Hopefully those problems sorted now.....

[ryeman]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

?.........to replace the timing belt and water pump, which it seems wont be covered by fixed price servicing.

That's it, if it has a cam belt, for me, forget it!

[blueoval]

if you get a manual, the DSG issues will be null and void, yes?

[SSVPom]

My colleagues Polo Gti DSG has spent many a day at the main dealer for software updates relating to the surging or hesitating throttle and gearbox maladies, not to mention TWO clutch packs ( under warranty of course )

The icing on the cake was the $650 minor service last month ... !

[mcnews]

Going Euro can be fraught with danger as for buying/owning out of warranty that is brave....

[blueoval]

I wouldnt buy a euro car without some form of factory warranty attached throughout my ownership. I know a transmission mechanic here in SA whose business is booming just repairing/replacing DSG gearboxes for Audi's and VW's alone. His advice was to stay away from them unless u have an iron clad warranty from the factory to cover faults.

[xw302gs]

I own a mk v gti with a dsg box which I have owned since new and is my daily drive I use for work. It's done 55000km and not a single problem encountered so far. It has been a great car with tremendous performance, handling and economy to boot. I've heard and read all the reports on poor reliability with Golfs but thus far I've been fortunate to escape them. Happily buy another one tomorrow. Together with the fpv sc GT I own I have the best of both worlds and consider myself to be very lucky - great drives 7 days a week!

[mcnews]

Knew somebody must have got the good one they made :-)

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

For an 'all new' model it looks exactly the same as the old one.

Umm ... that's the whole point. It looks like a Golf. Why change a formula that works? A lot of cars don't change their styling dramatically with a new model: Porsche 911, for instance.

[XR Martin]

VW have recently increased the warranty for DSG to 5 years/150k kms.

[ryeman]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

VW have recently increased the warranty for DSG to 5 years/150k kms.

5 years warranty assuming 5 years of dealer service which would more than pay for it anyway me thinks....

[Resurrection]

I would rather the Golf than the Focus.

[ryeman]

They're both German!

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I would rather the Golf than the Focus.

Suggest if anyone is interested in purchasing a base Golf, to check all equipment before buying, what is fitted and what isn't.

When I purchased my wifes Polo Match 6 years ago, it wasn't the base model, and it was ordered with the safety pack (airbags, ABS etc), it cost around $23-24,000, but didn't even come with a boot light, and only had two audio speakers in the front. What other car doesn't have a boot light?

VW buyers beware, thoroughly check everything fitted before buying. Don't assume anything.

[mcnews]

Yep VW/BMW add thousands to make it into something you would like. Add 5-10k to add what a base Hyundai comes with standard. Oh you want to drive it... that will be an extra 2k for a steering wheel to enable you to do that et. al...

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by ryeman

They're both German!

German-built Fords have a better reliability record than German-built VWs. Unfortunately the Australian Focus is not German-built I believe.

And anybody who wants a reliable VW buys the Skoda equivalent.

For VW (and Skoda) to make any real headway here, though, they need to bring the service and parts costs down to what Ford and Holden offer. (And maybe the insurance will come down too but that'll be the day!) Until then, they're not really competing except with those buyers who only think upfront.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by ryeman

They're both German!

LOLs
One is built in South Africa, the other in Thailand

[ryeman]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

LOLs
One is built in South Africa, the other in Thailand

I'm not talking about assembly but design which is the important thing.
What would Thailand know about steering geometry?
BMW is built in USA X5 so that's not German?

[XWGT]

Originally Posted by SSVPom

Fixed price servicing announced today by VW too...

Are you sure? According to this link they are only evaluating it.

They are also acknowledging they placed last in a few reliability surveys so perhaps Ford can get a few free kicks with fixed price servicing and good dealer service (take note Ford!)

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...130-2dktq.html

[Resurrection]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Suggest if anyone is interested in purchasing a base Golf, to check all equipment before buying, what is fitted and what isn't.

When I purchased my wifes Polo Match 6 years ago, it wasn't the base model, and it was ordered with the safety pack (airbags, ABS etc), it cost around $23-24,000, but didn't even come with a boot light, and only had two audio speakers in the front. What other car doesn't have a boot light?

VW buyers beware, thoroughly check everything fitted before buying. Don't assume anything.

I choose cars based on the way they drive rather than what standard features are fitted.