Volkswagen to buy some Suzuki

[Triple J]

why is it that every time i hear someone hating on VWs nowadays, i look in their driveway and they own a Honda Civic with a rear foil and a fart can?

They're still pissed about the unpimp ze auto ads.  

(maybe the greatest ad campaign ever)

VW Unpimp - What time is it

[ducatiz]

They're still pissed about the unpimp ze auto ads.  

(maybe the greatest ad campaign ever)

any ad that uses a trebuchet has my vote

[gregrnel]

Yup and from a practical standpoint, I wouldn't own any of them, that's why i bought a Monster, pure practicality   Sorry, I just happen to have several friends and some family members that are current/former Audi/VW owners. They're just not happy with their reliability, which has made me completely frightened to ever buy one even though I love their styling. That's all, I'm done.

Quote from ducatiz

"Audi..
Bentley..
Bugatti..
Lamborghini..
etc

Yah, they all turned to shit ... huh.."

[bluemoco]

What I find interesting is that VW is ostensibly buying into Suzuki so they can tap into Suzuki's "expertise in building small, fuel-efficient cars."

Doesn't VW already do this? 

Also, what's to become of the Suzuki motorcycle group?  Will they share ww distribution (dealers) with VW somehow?

[yotogi]

Yup and from a practical standpoint, I wouldn't own any of them, that's why i bought a Monster, pure practicality

Yeah... 6K valve service intervals is practical and the reliability history of Ducati.  

We own what we love to drive.

Owned VWs and Audis for the last 15+ years. There are some awful parts in the late 199X to early 200X models that seem to be largely sorted in the newer models. I have seen an overall decrease in the level of service, but I know that I have one of the worst dealerships right by my house.

We would buy another VW, but probably won't due to the distance we would have to drive for decent factory service.

[ducatiz]

What I find interesting is that VW is ostensibly buying into Suzuki so they can tap into Suzuki's "expertise in building small, fuel-efficient cars."

Doesn't VW already do this? 

Also, what's to become of the Suzuki motorcycle group?  Will they share ww distribution (dealers) with VW somehow?

I think it's actually Suzuki's SUV/Jeep market they want into, plus the manufacturing facilities.  VW will have Suzus and VWs being made side by side in the same factory eventually.

The BIGGEST selling small 4wd vehicle in the world is the suzuki.  If you go almost anywhere in Asia, you see hundreds of them, same in the carribean, africa, and much of europe.

[bluemoco]

I think it's actually Suzuki's SUV/Jeep market they want into, plus the manufacturing facilities.  VW will have Suzus and VWs being made side by side in the same factory eventually.

The BIGGEST selling small 4wd vehicle in the world is the suzuki.  If you go almost anywhere in Asia, you see hundreds of them, same in the carribean, africa, and much of europe.

You're right about the small Suz SUVs.  They are ubiquitous in Asia, Europe, and other non-US markets.  I guess I was just surprised to see that VW is seeking "expertise" from Suzuki in the small car category.  Seems to me that VW should have a decent handle on how to build small cars by now.  

Low-cost manufacturing?  I can see that in the VW/Suz deal, as Suzuki has a nice manufacturing base in Japan and throughout the Far East.  Distribution is probably a decent fit, too, especially in regards to the Chinese market.  (with every big auto industry announcement these days, I find it helps to envision how it will play out in the Chinese marketplace)  Looks like India is a big influence on the deal, too:

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2009/gb2009129_356231.htm

I'm also curious to see how this will impact Suzuki's worldwide motorcycle business.  I guess we'll learn more as their relationship progresses over the coming months.  

[ducatiz]

Hayabusa TDI?

[Pip]

If I'm not mistaken, the Suzuki Auto and Suzuki Motorcycle sections are completely seperate, only falling under the large Suzuki Corporate umbrella. Is VW purchasing a share in ALL of Suzuki, or just the Auto segment?

[ducatiz]

If I'm not mistaken, the Suzuki Auto and Suzuki Motorcycle sections are completely seperate, only falling under the large Suzuki Corporate umbrella. Is VW purchasing a share in ALL of Suzuki, or just the Auto segment?

Actually, VW is just buying up the Suzuki violin schools.

[lwszabo]

That means Suzuki qualiuty will go to trash...like VW ,,the 3rd worse QA and customer satisfaction of any manufacture VW used to be quality but not any longer they are a con.

I have always thought VW were on of the best built cars on the road however i have never owned one.

[LowThudd]

Hayabusa TDI?

"I'd buy THAT for a dollar!"

[Cloner]

Oh, please dear god noooooo, I've yet to meet a happy VW (1996 and up) owner, quality issues abound!

Didn't we already have this discussion once when the story about VW buying Ducati first surfaced?  I dunno where you get this shite.  JD Powers not withstanding.  (I don't trust any organization that puts Chrysler near the top of it's quality list.....I'm just sayin')

The only problems I've had with my '05 Touareg are the cost and quality of dealer maintenance here in Albuquerque.  These idiots couldn't be bothered to put an o-ring back onto the oil filter housing when they performed the 40k service for $800.  Nor could they be bothered to check for leaks before returning the vehicle to me.  Oops.

[bluemoco]

Didn't we already have this discussion once when the story about VW buying Ducati first surfaced?  I dunno where you get this shite.  JD Powers not withstanding.  (I don't trust any organization that puts Chrysler near the top of it's quality list.....I'm just sayin')

The only problems I've had with my '05 Touareg are the cost and quality of dealer maintenance here in Albuquerque.  These idiots couldn't be bothered to put an o-ring back onto the oil filter housing when they performed the 40k service for $800.  Nor could they be bothered to check for leaks before returning the vehicle to me.  Oops.

Like any automaker, there are good stories and plenty of horror stories.  I've only heard the latter, but that doesn't mean that every VW is a POS.

[jerryz]

I have always thought VW were on of the best built cars on the road however i have never owned one.

Thats the point exactly they are pecieved by a brainwashed consumer as the best made cars in thet sector , and many moons ago that was true but not in the last 10 years,, VW trade on that lost reputation to sell inferior products at premium prices ...whist the trade knows that VW has one of the worst reliability and warraty records , which actually also affects AUDI and SEAT but strangly not SKODA.   JD power surveys in Europe show VW to 27 out of 30 for reliability and customer satifaction , and poor value for money compared to other brands .
VW are usually priced at a 10-15% premium  and cabin interiors are fantastic ,they drive well too but cost cutting in Elctronics and engine components such as plastic cam belt  bearings and also ludicrous 20,000 mile service intervals that the trade laugh at  as it garantees engine problems ..not to mention VW dealers high service costs  has tarnished the brand .People in the know will no longer buy the hype,

Eventually VW will change again like Mercedes did when their reputaion got rubbished for cost cutting a few years ago.