[Ali B]

Don' kill the messenger. Opinion piece from The Truth About Cars. The writer is advocating for cancelling both Arteon and NMS Passat and bringing over the MQB-based Passat sedan here instead.

http://https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/10/opinion-volkswagen-needs-to-cancel-the-arteon-immediately/

 

[Toyin]

The article makes sense to me. The Arteon is such a niche vehicle. A near premium, German hatchback coupe without the "premium" badge? Wrong for most but absolutely perfect for me.

 

[eteather]

The article makes sense to me. The Arteon is such a niche vehicle. A near premium, German hatchback coupe without the "premium" badge? Wrong for most but absolutely perfect for me.<img src="http://www.vwvortex.com/Anthony/Smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Big Grin" class="inlineimg" />

Yup. Niche car I'm glad I got for 11k off list and saved a ton vs audi a5 sportback (and tuned to 340hp). Yes the sedan is DED, but I'm having fun and no one around me has anything like it....

 

[GTINC]

Customers should have choice. If VW can make a financial case for any vehicle, no matter how "niche", it should be offered. There is no maximum limit on vehicles they can offer.

 

[The G Man]

Sounds like the author wants to play weekend automotive executive. The U.S.-specific Passat is aimed at the US demographic, the MQB platform Passat is more expensive to build, $40K Passat anyone? For $40K, I would rather buy an Arteon. Almost every 4 door coupe is a niche car, in the Arteon's case, it is also VW's halo car which serve a greater purpose than sales number. Although in the Arteon's case, it did not achieve what a halo car is suppose to, which is to bring attention to the VW brand.

 

[AlexSky]

I agree!
Marketing wise, the Arteon makes no sense.

My opinion:
Cancel the Arteon right away.
I really like the fact that people, after 1 year of ownership, still ask me questions at the gas station.
I like the idea that you don't have to drive a 300K car in order to have people interested in it.

So VW, please cancel the Arteon so we can be the only lucky ones drive this unicorn of a car hehe.

 

[KCJeep]

Please don't cancel the Arteon until after I've worn my Passat out. :laugh:

 

[zackiedawg]

I love that the occasional low-selling niche car makes it across the pond - I wish more did, and hope some still do in the future. I don't disagree with the general concept of the article though - I was a long-time Passat buyer starting with the 2000 model, which was basically a slightly decontented Audi brought over straight from the Euro market. Then the weird niche W8 wagon which I loved, and the 3.6 4 motion wagon after that. As long as an AWD wagon Passat model was available I would have likely kept buying them. But when they switched to a NA-specific Passat, which lost everything that made the Passat interesting to me (European design, AWD, wagon body option, high-end lux-car features in a downmarket brand/body)...I moved away...first to the CC which was still running on the Euro Passat chassis and with the VR6 and AWD options...then when that was gone, over to Audi.

The Arteon is what brought me back...especially considering the similarly specced Audi model would have been smaller, had less power, still less overall equipment, and cost me an easy $10-15K more.

If the Euro-market Passat wagon were shipped here, I'd certainly consider it - assuming 4-motion and hi-spec motor were options.

But I'll always consider a niche vehicle too. The Arteon was something I wanted badly, years before it even hit our shores...I knew it was for me. Maybe when I'm ready to replace the Arteon in 3-5 years, if it's no longer on the market, some other oddball European niche vehicle will be, in a wagon or hatch body, with AWD, and good power. I've never cared if 10 or 10,000,000 other people buy one...or if it stays on the market for one model year or 10 - as long as it serves my needs and looks good. Even with advertising dollars - regular TV spots, big magazine and online spreads, etc to inform Americans that this car actually exists, they still wouldn't sell very many...so it was always going to be a niche car...and that makes it all the more enjoyable when people ask about it, walk around it in parking lots to see the model name, and pull out their phones to snap pics of it...the rarity and obscurity are what makes it get such attention.

 

[Arteon Wayne]

I agree with everyone in here. The unique position it plays in the market wasn't by coincidence, and yes, all the marketing focused on it probably wouldn't get people to come beat down their doors. Regardless, when people see it, it gets them talking, and that's the point. It was never about appealing to the masses, but to the few who really enjoy a sporty sedan with the wanted features of Audi trickled down. It's a unicorn, sure, but it's a unicorn thoroughly enjoyed by all who've been lucky enough to snatch one up. Yes, it lacks power for what it could be, but you can always modify that aspect. The looks is what really seals this deal. This car looks just as great going down the road as it does in the parking lot of your local grocery store. And at night? It's over for any one else in the segment. If sales stay the way they are, I wouldn't be surprised if they did cancel it out of sheer financial responsibility. But for me, I'll be enjoying it for years to come, content in knowing I got one of the few great European sports sedans that somehow made it to this side of the pond.

 

[m_jel]

I agree!
Marketing wise, the Arteon makes no sense.

My opinion:
Cancel the Arteon right away.
I really like the fact that people, after 1 year of ownership, still ask me questions at the gas station.
I like the idea that you don't have to drive a 300K car in order to have people interested in it.

So VW, please cancel the Arteon so we can be the only lucky ones drive this unicorn of a car hehe.

Saw one driving up to the cottage and immediately hopped on.. I mean, totally waited until I got to the lake to look up exactly what it was. I was a fan right away driving by it on the highway.

 

[The G Man]

This is my third 4 door coupe or 5 door coupe whatever you want to call it and the Arteon has been a great car overall. I saw the Arteon online about 6 months before the car hit the US shore. Shop around for other 4 door coupes while I was waiting and it was the price or the styling or the ride or all the options that always draw me back to the Arteon.

 

[SpokaneGTI]

TTAC is one of my favorite car sites, and I usually enjoy Corey's takes. One thing he fails to address is that VW sells both the MQB Passat and the Arteon together in Europe, and both cars seem to do well. Although I suppose the sales numbers here in NAR speak for themselves... we're too crossover-crazy over here, and premium large cars (Maxima, RLX, Avalon) really don't sell in large numbers.

Pls don't cancel until you drop off the first shipment of 2021s so I can eventually pick one up... thanks VW.

 

[CustomBuilder]

Agree with Most - BUTT ~ Disagree with Placement of Model ..

I agree with everyone in here. The unique position it plays in the market wasn't by coincidence, and yes, all the marketing focused on it probably wouldn't get people to come beat down their doors. Regardless, when people see it, it gets them talking, and that's the point. It was never about appealing to the masses, but to the few who really enjoy a sporty sedan with the wanted features of Audi trickled down. It's a unicorn, sure, but it's a unicorn thoroughly enjoyed by all who've been lucky enough to snatch one up. Yes, it lacks power for what it could be, but you can always modify that aspect. The looks is what really seals this deal. This car looks just as great going down the road as it does in the parking lot of your local grocery store. And at night? It's over for any one else in the segment. If sales stay the way they are, I wouldn't be surprised if they did cancel it out of sheer financial responsibility. But for me, I'll be enjoying it for years to come, content in knowing I got one of the few great European sports sedans that somehow made it to this side of the pond.

When Original CC came out , ever one Flipped even other Auto Manufactures - did Knock Off's . .

Today there are still Design Elements in many Models from Original CC . .

Great Touring Ride & Yet very Useable also .. for Those that Don't Wish to Own Boring Ride or Mini Van - or Look Like Mom & Pop in Wagon . .

Yet easy enough to throw Lumber in there and take Off , Now 8 speed is still able to Tow what 3500 lbs , as DSG was NOT ..

Look at Latest Ren_Dishen of Honda Accord 10th Version it's trying to steel some of that Sportiness and Usability .. But I must say it has Failed !
It doesn't have the Towing . It doesn't have the Nice Flop down Seats , one has to walk around after pulling Release and then Lower Seat Manually to Load Long Items = PITA
It doesn't have Quality of Body Build ..of VW
Passenger Seat too Low / has had around 10 Transmission Failures _ Replacements so Far - Believe to be Low on Fluid . . Honda like many other Deleted the Stick to Check !
Only Tows 1000 lbs which is more then DSG , but Way less then 3500lbs which would be considered Normal . .

Pluses:
It does excels in Power , MPG 32- without trying 34 If You try , Motor has several Advances NOT seen by Other Manufactures . . of GDTI . .
Navigation Great Voice Control , still has Tuning Knobs which are better Road Focused 4 Driver . . ( Eyes Not required )

. . 6 speed was Available , but No more .. could be Converted to 6 speed Std. Very Tune-able User Friendly ~

Cost is Lower . .

Paint is Superior as it Holds Up better to Road Debris . .
Still has the Windshield - Rubber Wicker @ Top that Keep Leading Edge of Roof Paint from Being - Worn off from long extended Miles of use . . ( Looking Out for Long Term Buyer )
Easy Transmission Oil Changing . . ( Looking Out for Long Term Buyer )

PS: To Name a Few Items

 

[GTINC]

.....has had around 10 Transmission Failures _ Replacements so Far - Believe to be Low on Fluid ....

And your source or proof that this is true?

 

[Atl404sFinest]

Disagree with this stance. Passat hasn’t been what it used to be in years. Now that we know Passat is leaving NA, VWoA has opportunity to streamline its offerings. Jetta has grown significantly larger over the last three generations. If anyone needed that much space the Passat carried, move to the Atlas or Tiguan.

For the fanboys, VWoA has created Arteon and carried over GLI/GTI as the legacy VWS. Take it for what it is, but times have changed. The Asian automakers have played it smart for years by giving bland offerings and great reliability. Now that VW dropped the ball with dieselgate, the other automakers have room to capitalize on the near entry luxury market VW fumbled.

In short, Arteon is to us what Passat/Phaeton/Touareg used to be, albeit in one vehicle for now.


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