VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick.....

2439 Views 36 Replies 32 Participants Last post by flippinvw, Mar 6, 2002

MRP2001GTi

Discussion Starter · Feb 8, 2002

Ok so first there was the WRX, now Toyota seems to think there is a market for a 180hp AWD sport compact with a 6 speed manual tranny, all for under $19k. Yeah I know its no Golf but the fact remains, this is VW competition and they sit back and do nothing about it. If anything at least shoot a 4M turbo Polo our way.

[Modified by MRP2001GTi, 8:53 PM 2-7-2002]

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1 - 20 of 37 Posts

Jetta_J

· #2 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (MRP2001GTi)

MkV should be coming in faster !
J-F

phreak9i6

· #3 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (MRP2001GTi)

OOOOGLY

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NCabbyT

· #4 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (MRP2001GTi)

under 19k my eye

Silver Jetta 1.8T

· #5 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (MRP2001GTi)

Why should VW worry. Its ugly... maybe if I was in the market for a mini van.

MRP2001GTi

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (NorthBoraT)

Not that I would buy one but even under $23k it would impressive. Just checked the specs, its pretty much the same size as a Golf with the exception of having a little more head room. Weighs in at about 2900lbs.
Matrix XRS 2WD 6-speed Manual $19,235
Why should they worry? Like Golf sales in NA are not bad enough, cars like this could all but kill it. I guess my point is that the Japanese are expanding on the things we are begging VW for at a price that VW cant touch.

[Modified by MRP2001GTi, 8:59 PM 2-7-2002]

Rave'nGTi

· #7 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (MRP2001GTi)

not to mention you cant get the AWD in combo with the 180/6spd
fugly.... and I think in a road test they 1/4 miled at like 16.5 with the 180?

TabulaRasa

· #8 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (Rave'nGTi)

Kill the Golf GL and bring in the Polo to fill that spot.
Make the GLS the midrange performance model with mostly 1.8T's and a smaller alotment of VR6's.
Make the top of the line available with the VR6, 6spd, and 4motion.

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-GTR-

· #9 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (MRP2001GTi)

...of course it's no vw competition, because vw's are overweight and porky, whereas the the "competition" is leaner and faster. oh, and nobody will want to buy a 4motion polo if they "shoot" it over here.

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A4Jetta

· #10 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (MRP2001GTi)

Someone told me Matrix is a "minivan".

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3

Prostrho

· #11 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (A4Jetta)

according to specs, it weights in only at 2765lb. around 200-300lb lighter than the MK4 models. C&D got 7.3sec/15.7 for Pontiac Vibe, which is its exact twin.
However, the seating position does feel like a minivan.

randy

· #12 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (Prostrho)

AWD version I think is only 123hp. Not sure.
While it looks like a mini-van, when you see it in person, it actually has pretty good dimensions. It's smaller than a mini-van, has lots of interior room, and supposedly handles well.
Seats are sporty, with the material I like in the base Jetta. But with much better bolstering.
Kinda like a mini-panel truck hot rod.
They will sell A LOT of these cars.

VWteknik

· #13 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (randy)

One thing I like about VW, is to a certain extent, they could give a flying about what everyone else is doing. Obviously the preferences of the average customer reflect heavily on the way the cars ultimately turn out, but VW is not quick to be influenced by brands in the same class. In a world full of rakish, shapely Japanese sport coupes and hatches, VW turns out cars of immense teutonic character that are comparable to nothing in form or style. That's why I like 'em!

2lowA4

· #14 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (VWteknik)

OK, reading your posts I understand;
the thing drives like a minivan
you cant get AWD/180 6spd
Its ugly
uhh...no thanks

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grue

· #15 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (MRP2001GTi)

edited: I suck and repeated what everyone else said.

[Modified by jetta_fiend, 9:32 AM 2-8-2002]

roman16v

· #16 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (jetta_fiend)

Bet the window regulators won't fail on them though...

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Rob

· #17 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (roman16v)

I heard that the first incarnation of the Mark V platform (with real IRS) will be a minivan type of deal similar to the Vibe/Matrix and many European models. It should be available in Europe, at least, later this year.

Code-7

· #18 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (roman16v)

I think it's a cool a little car and I think it'll be a hot sell. The commercials are cool (they actually drive the car a little bit, unlike some Vw ads I know

) and I think its a neat looking hatchback. Something I want to see more of in america. (HB'S)
Just the fact you can get it in AWD for under $20k is awesome. Assuming the motor is up to snuff, there's tons of performance potential to be had.
As for the Mk4's, the center console is poorly laid out and the steering is too heavy. Two things which are more important to me than what its covered with.

I'll take cheap plastic and functional over buttered up and backwards.

[Modified by Code-7, 9:05 AM 2-8-2002]

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Flacker

· #19 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (MRP2001GTi)

UGLY

and a real lack of torque

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A4Jetta

· #20 · Feb 8, 2002

Re: VW should counter the Japanese and do it quick..... (roman16v)

quote:[HR][/HR]Bet the window regulators won't fail on them though...

[HR][/HR]

Its also so high that you won't scrap the oil pan.

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3

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