VW Tiguan buyers get a Golf... temporarily
Click the image above for a gallery of live shots of the Volkswagen Tiguan
In a rather odd yet intriguing move, Volkswagen in Germany is handing out a new fifth-generation Golf to anyone who orders a Tiguan. The customer will keep the Golf until their new Tiguan utility vehicle is available, which, at current rates, will not be until next January at the earliest. In an effort to cover the cost of giving away a new car and getting it back used, VW will be providing its dealers with a one-time payment of €1,000 for each Tiguan sold. Unfortunately for the affected dealers, that won't be enough to recoup the lost value of the Golf, but it shows how eager VW is to sell its new small-ute in the face of similar new models coming from its key competition, namely the Mercedes-Benz GLK.
We've previously reported that the Tiguan will start at $22,490, which equals $23,840 after the expensive shipping cost is tacked on. After AWD is added, though, the price climbs to $29,515. Considering that seemingly lofty price point, Volkswagen isn't expecting to face such sales shortages in the U.S. where it is marketing its lil' ute as the GTI of CUV's.
[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
zamafir 7:10PM (5/27/2008)
makes sense, if you follow automotive news at all you're aware this thing is outselling the yaris (toyota's biggest seller in germany).
Reply
Guenther 7:49PM (5/27/2008)
apples to orange juice. Toyota is a small player in Germany.
asurroca 11:11PM (5/27/2008)
Even so, I would assume SUVs are an equally small player in Germany?
R 12:50AM (5/28/2008)
From what I saw, small SUV's weren't too scarce. You wouldn't see an X5, which seemed like a huge boat relative to everything else over there, but an X3-sized SUV wouldn't be unusual.
But yeah, most of the vehicles I saw in Germany, were German. In fact, I don't even remember seeing a Japanese car there, but I'm sure there were some.
psarhjinian 3:10AM (5/28/2008)
Toyota is making serious inroads in Europe; the Yaris and C4-D engine were watershed moments for them and the Aygo and Avensis good followups. The RAV/4 and, to a lesser degree, the Auris.
European buyers are starting to learn what North Americans figured out twenty years ago: cars don't need to be flakey pieces of crap, and absolute performance comes second to decent liveability. My (Italian) relatives bought an Accord after years of Fiats and the lack of repairs and servicework have been a revelation.
I've heard a lot of carping about German engineering and quality and, with a proviso, it's true that German cars are some of the most reliable in Europe. That proviso, though, is that the benchmark is very low: VWs and MBs are solid if you line them up against Renaults, Citröens, Fiats and Alfas. Toyota, Honda, Ford and Hyundai are going to make real trouble, especially now that the big European domestic advantage--excellent diesel powerplants are available from the Asians--has been overcome.
Seminole 7:11PM (5/27/2008)
The local VW dealer has 3 Tiguan's on their lot.
One, a SEL 4Motion has a sticker of $35,000 without navigation! The stripped base was $25,000. And it rated at 18 city 24 highway. I don't know how VW is hoping to compete against the CR-V and Rav-4 at that price/ mileage.
Reply
Seminole 7:12PM (5/27/2008)
it's rated*
zamafir 7:18PM (5/27/2008)
Simple, there are people in that market who like to DRIVE and simply want more then a box on wheels. Go try to order a CRV with a 6 speed MT. Or to drive a Rav 4 like a GTi. There's a market for this car, it's not huge, vw won't sell 500,000, but there are Americans who like to drive and some will test drive and purchase this car.
Seminole 7:27PM (5/27/2008)
zamafir,
Yes, but the Rav4 V6 will run circles around the Tiguan and get substantially better fuel economy, while carrying more cargo. Is it as pretty or have the prestige of a "German" brand? No, but guess what, in a time of economic downturn and $4.00 and rising gas prices I don't know a lot of people who can justify spending $3000-$4000 more for a Tiguan over a fully loaded V6 Rav4. Hell, at that price you are looking at fully loaded CX-7's, base RDX's, etc. People are tightening their budgets, the Tiguan is going to struggle a lot.
zamafir 7:31PM (5/27/2008)
Ever driven a Rav4 assertively? Wait. I'll back up. Since you're so convinced the Tiguan is lacking, tell me where, during your most recent drive of the car, it failed to impress. I've only driven the Rav4, CRV, and Tiguan FWD and 4Motion, so I've only those cars to reference.
Looking forward to your pertinent driving impression of the car, and to understanding why it differs from the rest of the automotive press, domestic and foreign.
Richard 7:43PM (5/27/2008)
"Simple, there are people in that market who like to DRIVE"
UM, All I can say is XT. As in Forester!
Why drive a GTI when you can drive a WRX?
Seminole 7:54PM (5/27/2008)
It comes across like I hate this car, but I really don't. I love it a lot. But I just can't justify the premium in price. Maybe if I had more of a disposable income, but with my current situation I can't. I never said anything about the Tiguan lacking. Great car, wrong price for most people. The only things I don't like are the price, fuel economy, and the dash design is only O.K. to me. The exterior is gorgeous.
And I didn't know I wasn't allowed to have a different opinion then the automotive press. The Rav-4 will take it easily in a straight line. When going around corners the Tiguan will be better. I actually test drove the Base Tiguan today while my S40 was in for service (The Volvo and VW are together here). It handled nice, good acceleration compared to a CR-V/ Rogue/ 4-CY Rav-4. Good cargo room. Comfortable seats and easy placement of controls. But I've also driven a CX-7 and RDX and I think they are just as good if not a tad better in the handling dept. Which brings me back to the price. For the price I'd take an RDX. Or save a couple grand and get a CX-7.
zamafir 7:55PM (5/27/2008)
I dunno, go ask all the GTi owners. some people prefer cars that are able to corner 9/10ths as well and are substantially more compliant on the highway? or the prefer the interiors? why ask a rhetorical question when sales figures already have an answer?
Val 12:25AM (5/28/2008)
Well, I have seen ONE CR-V on the streets and two RAV-4s, one of which was the older generation, and thousands of golfs, polos and passats, so I wouldn`worry about how they are gona compete with that. Ever heard of toyota giving out Corollas while waiting for the RAV-4 to become available?
Val 12:30AM (5/28/2008)
Oh, you are probably talking about the US market, while the aricle is about germany... In that case, of course toyota and honda will sell thousands more than VW.
icetraxx 2:07AM (5/28/2008)
@Richard:
I'd rather drive (my) GTI than the new WRX. I've driven a new WRX and I feel the GTI is not only a nicer place to be (I dislike the new WRX's cheap hard plastic interior), but the GTI is much more of a driver's car. The new WRX is just too soft and has way too much body roll in corners. Also, the GTI is faster than the WRX around a track (fifth gear). But I agree that the Forester XT is a great CUV-wagon-car thing.
tekdemon 4:29AM (5/28/2008)
zamafir, if you like to DRIVE you shouldn't be buying an SUV. This whole performance SUV nonsense has been ridiculous since Porsche started it.
Quite frankly, most of the people I've seen driving Cayennes and the like haven't been driving it in a manner that's even vaguely sporty. They drive it like they'd drive any other beast of an SUV.
I mean I think the Tiguan looks pretty neat, but claiming that it's fantastical performance will sell it over other vehicles is a little silly, since hardly anybody shopping this segment really cares.
Seminole 9:51AM (5/28/2008)
Val,
Yes, I was referring to the U.S. market, not Germany.
Seminole 9:52AM (5/28/2008)
Val,
To add on, these will do much better in Europe due to the more fuel efficient engines, such as the TDI, that are available.
Chris 3:37PM (5/29/2008)
I was really excited about the car...till I saw the price...the SEL going for 35K and you're right...the one I looked had no nav at that price....4K more gets you a Touareg.