Car "Dude" Evan
VW's "Secret" Models on Sale Now
It seems like VW's U.S. marketing department is missing in action. VW has several interesting, special edition models available; but no marketing to back them up!
I think VW has fired Mistress Helga in favor of some new marketing agency. What exactly is that new strategy? I don't know. I really liked Mistress Helga, the very German S&M mistress dressed in a skin-tight white leather outfit with mid-calf high spike-heeled boots. She has her own MySpace.com page. Myspace.com/MissHelga. Helga has over 8,700 friends!
Mistress Helga still appears on the VW website when you build a GTI. I don't know how much longer she has on her VW contract, but I think VW would be wise to retain her services as she appeals to the coveted young male audience with money to burn.
Let's look at the new products VW is offering these days:
Triple White VW New Beetle Convertible
The triple while Beetle is the quintessential California chick car -- and it's back. Who knew? The white interior is really white. Be prepared to clean it often. It even comes with an embossed VW convertible logo on the head rests and white wheels! This is one white car. The VW website is very vague about ordering or buying one. The white one shown on the website is $25,990 but you can't build it in the regular build section. They say it's a limited edition and you should contact your VW dealer to get one. I hate that.
All information isn't lost. You can view more information about the triple white New Beetle Convertible n other car research/build websites like Edmunds.com and KBB.com.
Eos with the 3.2 L VR6 engine
For months, the Eos 3.2 has been absent from dealers' lots. It's here now and it's convertible season. Shouldn't VW be putting some marketing muscle behind it?
Last year, VW really got behind its new-to-the-US GTI. As introduced, the GTI was a 2-door hatchback Golf. Then instead of introducing the new Golf to the US market, VW decided to reintroduce the Rabbit nameplate. Ok, that's great but the 4-door Rabbit wasn't exactly the first choice of an enthusiast.
In 2007, VW quietly rolled in and a 4-door GTI. I've seen them driving around town, so I know they are selling -- at least around here. A 4-door hatchback GTI is definitely a car that answers the call of practicality at the same time it delivers bushels of driving fun. It puts the GTI in a league of its own.
The Honda Civic Si now comes in a 4-door sedan; but the GTI is a hatchback -- something infinitely more practical. The MINI Cooper S only comes with two doors (at least until the MINI Traveler S shows up sometime in 2008).
This special edition GTI comes only in Magma Orange with the 2.0 L direct-injection turbo gas engine mated to VW's six speed DSG. It's loaded with all the goodies (although no navigation) and the only options are satellite radio, color-keyed floor mats and a GTI ground effects kit. If you like orange, this is your car. VW is only bringing 1,200 of them here and the base price is $27,665. Fully loaded, they are $30,515. I expect that VW dealers aren't dealing on the price of these cars. Don't try to build one on the VW website, it doesn't let you! Try Edmunds.com or KBB.com.
As with the GTI, the Fahrenheit GLI comes in only one color -- Fahrenheit Yellow. It screams yellow. I hope you like yellow because like the GTI, the outside color flows inside the cabin and even to the stitching on the upholstery and steering wheel. The Fahrenheit GLI starts at $28,995 and with the mats, spoiler, splash guards and satellite radio, it hits $31,073. For this lofty price, you still don't get DVD navigation; however, you do get the choice of a six-speed manual or the slick DSG clutchless manual. Again, the VW website is useless -- you can't build a Fahrenheit GLI.
You usually get some extra value with a Wolfsburg Edition VW. It's hard to know what you get, but I can tell you it's not much.
Jetta: VW only offers the Wolfsburg in four colors: Black, White, Silver and Gray. You can get either a stick (base MSRP $19,460) or a six-speed automatic (base MSRP $20,535). The option list is sparse but pricy: $3,000 can buy you an "enhanced" ground effects kit or $1,350 will get you a spiffy wheel upgrade. Save your money and go with the basic Wolfsburg Edition.
Passat: The Passat is probably a better deal unless you pop for the $3,500 "Passat Hi-Def Body Kit". You can choose from any color -- it's not limited to four -- and while it's only available with the corporate 2.0 liter turbo and DSG, it's pretty nice. It's also the only Wolfsburg Edition that you can get the company's DVD navigation system at a relative bargain of $1,800. The base Wolfsburg price is $26,990 and hits $29,780 with the nav system and side airbags. Edmunds.com thinks you can get at least $2,000 off at the dealer as the Passat isn't selling as well as the "hotter" products.
VW teases us with the Golf MkV R32 which makes its return (finally) to the US late this summer. My guess is that it will be badged a 2008 model. As usual, the hot hatch gets a 3.2 liter VR6 engine with 250 hp mated to VW's 4Motion all wheel drive system. This time around however, no manual transmission will be offered. VW will use it’s DSG clutchless manual transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Recaro seats will be standard as will just about every other goodie except DVD navigation.
There's no word yet on what options, if any, will be available when the R32 hits our shores. VW plans on bringing 5,000 units to the US, and it will probably sell all that get here. Pricing hasn't been announced but expect the R32 to start at $30,000. VW wants to build excitement and a waiting list for the R32. They will get one; I just don't know if they will get 5,000 firm orders anytime soon. It has a cult following, but the R32 comes at a pretty steep price for a VW GTI. Perhaps VW will have a marketing plan in place when the R32 arrives -- and hopefully it will include Mistress Helga!
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