Well said Scott. If the name is still Volkswagen, the "peoples
car"-literally then maybe it's time to start looking to and listening to "the  people"
if  VW is to ever regain the import market share that it once had  in this
country. The VW was born out of economic necessity in  an financially
troubled Germany in the 30's. This car became so  many  things to so many people
based on a real need and market niche. Enter the VW van  and after a few
re-incarnations here we are (mandatory Vanagon content). What is  lacking is the
vision that Ferdinand Porsche and his successors had back in the  "heyday".
Is there a need for niche vehicles? Probably now more than ever. Does  the
technology and consumer interest exist concurrently to mass produce the
perfect VW bus/Van? I think so. Maybe now more than ever. People still want to
get away and keep is simple, compact, discreet and purely functional; or at
least the people I know and talk to. Everything does not need to be a
reincarnation or "retro" to sell in mass. Just produce something utilitarian,
basic, affordable and uniquely different but pleasing in appearance. Doesn't
this all seem fairly basic? The way that Dr. Porsche recognized a need
(market  niche) so many years ago? The new leader of the American market should
go retro  in one respect. Go back to the name, The People's Car. Build the
people what  they want and what they need and make it more attractive to them
in every way  that a consumer might compare it to any competing automobile.
Keep it  simple Mr. Browning but keep it smart. Do what Dr. Porsche and his
immediate  contemporaries did and we're right here with you. I would love
to park the 2012  New Westfalia right next to my 1990 Westfalia, but only if
it is due such  respect.

David Clarkson
1990 Westfalia

In a message dated 9/14/2010 4:30:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM writes:

Hi  all.
just leaving the text below since it's so appropriate to VW in the US  in
current times .....

I've heard about the clock spring, but  believe it or not, the biggest
reason
for air bag failure in the New Beetle  is the flimsy wiring under the seat
to
the sensors. I've done a lot of  research on this, and NB owners have
actually been told by dealers "you  moved the seat back and forth too much".
You couldn't GIVE me a new  Volkswagen!! - Jeff Stewart

and ...
the New York Times says a  new guy , Jonathan Browning, is the new cheif
executive of VW of  America.

I'm thinking we could send him letters saying how much we  think VW should
support older VW's more ...like have parts for Vanagons and  syncro's etc.
and how much VW of America would be smart to support and  embrace their long
time  VW-loving customers.

I get the strong  impression there are many of us that just LOVE these
wonderful older VW  ..
like Vanagons ..and VW  *just does not care.*

like we have  to practice our passion as best we can in spite of VW
themselves and with  zero help almost, from VW.

so here's a new guy on the job ...there  'might' be a slight chance of
'getting through a little.'

I am not  overly optimistic that VW will ever care much about us 'older vw
loving  nuts'.

They are too caught up in the money ratrace and car production  and sales
numbers ..which means looking forward, not supporting the  past,
unfortunately.
( though other companies do ...Mecedes even has a  branch that is just about
older mercedes cars ...keeping those alive , for  example )

here's the  aritcle
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/volkswagen-names-a-new-u-s-leader
/?nl=automobiles&emc=wheelsema2

says  in there they are hoping to get US sales up to one million units, and
they  are doing about 1/3 that currently.
That is a joke of a goal in my  opinion.
Porsche, also, stupidly in my opinion, wants to vastly increase  their unit
sales volume..
and Porsche is a part of VW now ..
so I  think they're going to blow it by moving away from their roots and
what
they really do well.
We should tell this guy thnings like that in  letters to him.

One gets the impression that VW is COMPLETELY out of  touch with real people
with real VW cars in the real day-to-day  world.
I'm not overly opptimistic that they'll change or say anything like  'you
guys are right ...we need to stick to our roots, do what we do well,  and
honor and help out all the millions of traditionally very loyal US  VW
owners. " ..

BUT WE SHOULD TRY.
no harm ....write to the guy,  tell them how we feel..
that we love our old VW's ...dont' think too much  of most of the new stuff
they turn out ..
wish they would stick to funky  fun simple useful even niche vehicles..
and wake up about the millions of  older WV vehciles still loved and driven
on a daily basis in North  America.

I don't get the impression the guy is even much of a hard core  car person
..
though could be wrong. Seems more like a manager type  ..
background with Ford and Jag ...he's British . Wish they'd get someone  in
that job like a say ...
some hard core off road dessert racer that  only runs VW based vehicles...
someone like that.  You know , some  soul and passon about cars and VW's.

from the article -
"The company  not only will build cars in the United States, but it also
plans to begin  designing new models specifically for American tastes."

from our  perspective ...I think it's somewhat safe to say we don't think VW
even  has  a good idea of what american tastes are ...
and We Should Tell  This Guy That !
if that's how you feel anyway.
I sure do.
the way VW  is now in the US , they might as well be Mazda ..

this is key ..this is  what I would want to say to this guy in a letter..
Instead of doing 'their  thing' and what they do best ..
'people's cars' ...semi-modest funky fun  people's cars ..they are trying to
be everything to everyone.
Bad  move.
moving away from their roots, Very bad move.
I wonder what the  sales figures on that Chrysler VW mini van are ..
because if that thing is  selling in good numbers...they'll think they're on
the right track  ..
make socer mom mini-vans that are price and content competitive  ...
and if that's working ......great....
if those are not selling  however ...
then that says VW should not try to be Honda and mazda  ..

heck ....amazingly ..and I suspect this guy does not get this  ..
I suspect all of modern VW does not get this ..though how could they  not
? --

that VW had Cultural Icon status in this country in the  60's ..
they were THE top import car manfacturer in the US ..outselling all  other
foreign cars ...
once upon a time.

That they don't have  'some' link to that is a shame. Though the New Beettle
was
I think as a  product, the New Beetle is brilliant ...
funky cute, retro etc.
I  imagine they sold fairly well. They are now discontinued.
they are made in  mexico.
they can be nightmares to work on in some ways I gather ..
but  as a product, they had the right idea there.

ok, long enough,
just  suggesting with a new guy in charge ( somehow I don't feel he's really
'in  charge' though ..my hunch is more a team member rather than a
passionate
driving force as a company leader ) ...

now is a good  time to send in some letters expressing our desires and
concerns, to this  new guy.
He works for us after all, really, we the consumer and VW lovers  ,  and we
should let him know how we  feel.

Scott
www.turbovans.com