Interesting article.  I think they need to fire the decision makers in North
America and do some of things the way they do in Europe.  They need three
NEW cars in North America.  With these three cars they would become mega
rich and I personally would buy a new Volkswagen as opposed to being stuck
in the 80s with my Vanagons and Golf IIs.  It would require no new retooling
as they are being built elsewhere.  Cost would be in training the dealers
and giving a few demo models to the press.

Polo:  VW needs a small car.  The Golf V is huge, so really is the Golf IV.
There are lots of small and cheap cars in North America that are selling
extremely well in the 15.000 range - VW isn't one of these companies
anymore.  The Golf I [Rabbit] sold extremely well as it was simple, small
and cheap - something that today's VWs are not.  Wouldn't you rather have a
VW Polo instead of a Chevy Cavalier?

Touran:  This is VWs "mini-van" that is built on the A5 platform [Golf V].
This would sell at a 1:1 ratio with the Dodge Caravan as soccer moms who
drive Rabbits in their youth would get one of these.

LT:  Volkswagen needs a commercial vehicle.  Mercedes Benz / Dodge Sprinter
is popping up everywhere!  The Sprinter is a fine vehicle, but the LT is
cheaper and almost as good.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3

http://www.fastforward.ca    mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775        FAX: (250) 992 1160

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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of pete or nancy owsianowski
Sent: February 12, 2005 7:01 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Can VW find it's Beetle Juice?

Great article on the direction of VW.  Mentions the New Bus.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_05/b3918132.htm

Pete and Nancy
'87 Westy
"Joe's Van"