Filed under: Economy, Euro, Volkswagen
Coming to America: VW Polo may come stateside
Click image for a hi-res gallery of VW Polos
"Do you need the Polo?" That's going to be Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn's query to US dealers when he meets with them this week. The answer could determine whether or not we see a sub-Golf sized VeeDub here in the United States. Rising fuel prices have made small cars big again, and VW's taking a hard look at capitalizing on that. The inrush of Volkswagen's competitors to smaller models also makes the segment hard to ignore. BMW's got the hotly anticipated 1-series, Daimler's trend-tastic Smart has been foisted upon us, Saturn's slick Astra is nearly here, and Ford's threatening to give us the Fiesta in a couple of years, too. If we were a VW dealer, our answer to Winterkorn would be a resounding "YES!"
[Source: Auto News - sub req]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
remusrm 6:39PM (1/15/2008)
where do i sign up
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Robert O 8:53PM (1/15/2008)
I want to sign up, too. The coolest daily driver I ever had was a first generation Jetta 2-door. Man, do I miss that simple, efficient, fun to drive car.
geo.stewart 12:56AM (1/16/2008)
so... what's the diff between the Polo and the Golf?
looks identical to me. if its like the others in the market, its 85% of the size for 95% of the price and 100% of the fuel ratings. and if its like VW's other offerings, it will have 150-200% of the service costs.
Don 1:40AM (1/16/2008)
Absolutely! I miss my '95 Civic hatchback...this would fill the gap splendidly!
Atomicbri 10:31PM (1/16/2008)
OK geo.stewart.... where do you come up with VWs being so expensive to service? I have had 4 VWs and 2 Hondas and the Hondas cost me way more to service than an of the VWs.... this must be a common myth among American consumers.... VWs are not any more expensive to service than Hondas....
Mulad 6:43PM (1/15/2008)
I'm pretty sure 80% of the folks over at tdiclub.com would want one, at least if they ever came with the diesel engine. But, folks there have wondered if the general population would be interested enough in fuel economy or the small size to support it (nevermind that the Polo is probably the same size as the Golf was 10 years ago or so...)
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Luis 6:44PM (1/15/2008)
How 'bout you keep your Polo and bring the Scirocco over instead? Hmmm
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Duncan 6:54PM (1/15/2008)
Bring them both over - or give us the five-door Polo for less image-conscious buyers (with a GTI option, though) and the three-door Scirocco to fill the sportier role.
Kumail 7:00PM (1/15/2008)
i agree. PLEASE BRING THE SCIROCCO STATESIDE!!!
Atomicbri 10:33PM (1/16/2008)
Bring em all!! Americans love choice! ; )
J M C 3 6:48PM (1/15/2008)
If You're a V Dub dealer tell him;"Yes,We need the Polo,especially the Polo GTI".
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Duncan 6:50PM (1/15/2008)
Give us the three- and five-door versions with FSI power, a GTI version of at least the three-door, and run ads telling Honda that they can keep the Fit - VW's got small cars that "fit better".
That should do it, methinks.
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Duncan 6:52PM (1/15/2008)
As I think about it again, though, I guarantee Ralph Lauren - who does love the finest of automobiles - might bitch about them using the "Polo" name in the US. Fine, whatever - call it the Fox if you have to, just bring it over!
Guenther 7:46PM (1/15/2008)
While it would certainly be a problem in Canada, in the US cross-market branding doesn't apply.
Maestro1 8:50PM (1/15/2008)
Duncan,
Have you ever ridden in a 5-door Polo? They are tiny with almost no leg-room. I should know since i've driven one and my friend had one as his first car when I lived in Europe. You definitely want the 3-door and the 5-door would be too small and too impractical for the US.
Vexorg 7:04PM (1/15/2008)
Since I bought a Rabbit last Summer I think I'm out of the market for a while, but it would be nice to see more TDI options available for sale.
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the law 7:16PM (1/15/2008)
Opel Corsa looks better!
I'll keep my pennies until that Arrives (probably same time)
with Diesel option.
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GTX141 7:17PM (1/15/2008)
I've been saying this for years.
Bring over the Polo GTI only. For this to make any financialk sense for VWoA, they need to limit the models and variants of such a low cost car.
Bring just the Polo GTI. It could potentially be the 83 GTI all over again. A small, tossable, fun, economical sporty hatch. Look at the Polo's competition in the US. Cheap hatches like the Yaris, Versa, Aveo, Suzuki Aerio (sp), Scion (froma price standpoint). Which of those cars is truly fun? No, VW wouldn't have the advantage in fuel economy, but they'd have the lock in fun to drive, which is what VW used to be all about.
The Polo GTI in the US has the potential to "re-launch" VW to the US. I'v ebeen saying it fo ryears, and will continue to.
Yes, a TDI would be a mileage champ, but it would steal sales from the more profitable Jetta TDI. Bring just teh GTI, can't say that enough.
As for the Scirocco, keep that pointless thing out of the US. That car serves absolutely no purpose in the US and would tank. It'll be a more expensive GTI with less utility. Oh please, sign me up!! *rolleyes*
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Duncan 7:29PM (1/15/2008)
If it was just the GTI they brought over, the car would be right up against the Mini Cooper.
Which is either good or bad news, depending on how you look at it. Not everyone likes the look of the Mini, so maybe there's room for another car in its segment (of one?) that's not styled like an acid flashback. (I like the Mini, actually, but I'm just saying.)
The aforementioned Corsa is also a good choice - badge it as a Saturn, give us a hot Red Line version, and you might have something.
Alex B 7:21PM (1/15/2008)
I won't buy another VW until I can be assured it'll make it to 100K miles without needing $8K in repairs like my Passat did!
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