Gotta say, I'm not surprised personally. I would never buy a Volkswagen, period, full stop. Helped work on two in the mid-2000's and what a joke. Proprietary everything, had to make 2 extra trips to the auto parts store to get adapters and sockets that you wouldn't need anywhere else to replace a CV joint and replace some brake pads. Not to mention the damn CV joint was like $275. You could buy a similar part for my Yaris sedan at the time for $80.
Windshield wipers? Yeah, those are proprietary (or were on that one anyway). It was a relatively-modern car at that time, too.
Buddy and I did an oil change, replaced the CV joint and boot, did brakes and windshield wipers (his sister's car) and it STILL cost her a fortune.
Not to mention the electrical issues that every VW owner I've ever known, without fail, has had to contend with. AND they have a high sticker price. AND they don't seem to be terribly competitive with Japanese cars.
My wife's 2015 Honda Fit breaks 40 miles per gallon without trying, cost us ~$17,000 brand new, and we've hauled a gym-sized elliptical, a table with 4 chairs, a treadmill, a refrigerator, two bicycles...
Show me a VW with that kind of utility, gas economy, and anywhere near that price point.
Matter of fact show me any car that can compete and still be considered a subcompact.
So, yeah. In America at least, I can't see VW ever making sense, and I really don't get the people who buy them on purpose. To me, it's like buying a Chevrolet. Why buy something less efficient, less utilitarian, and more expensive for what you get?
That's my rambling, nonsensical opinion anyway.
((Full disclosure though, I don't get the majority of the reasons most people do the things they do. I have never owned a car for less than 8 years, and aside from my wife's have never bought a car new. Your mileage may vary))
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSH
The death of the VW Golf isn't surprising. Sales in USA:
2010 - 27,674
2011 - 34,706
2012 - 43,638
2013 - 30,930
2014 - 33,675
2015 - 65,308
2016 - 61,687
2017 - 68,978
2018 - 42,271
2019 - 37,393
2020 - 21,927
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