http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/vol...icle_1647.shtml

I'd buy one with a sidekarr
Funny, they exhibited at SEMA in 2005 (first time ever) and forgot to bring this one.
Guys at the VW California Design Haus>> discuss !
Marty

QUOTE (Maltese Falcon @ Jan 4 2006, 09:25 PM)

I'd buy one with a sidekarr Funny, they exhibited at SEMA in 2005 (first time ever) and forgot to bring this one. Guys at the VW California Design Haus>> discuss ! Marty

There is a second seat

Looks like what BMW did a few years ago with their trike. It never made it past the concept stage though. Will be interesting to see if this actually makes it to production...

Its an interesting idea. I don't know if the local cops would let that pass for a motorbike in the carpool lanes though. At least not in NOVA where I am usually driving.

Zach

I would buy one..... With out a doubt

If it had a speedster windshield and top then I would consider it as a commuter/fun car also!

Here is an idea, perhaps VW should work on (a) QC of the components they recieve from thier suppliers and ( Customer Service

A strong resemblence to the Morgan 3 wheelers.

QUOTE (solex @ Jan 5 2006, 08:50 AM)

Here is an idea, perhaps VW should work on (a) QC of the components they recieve from thier suppliers and ( Customer Service

I agree!
Get the gremlins out of the current production cars. VW has a very bad rep right now concerning the quality of its build.

Zach

QUOTE (Vacca Rabite @ Jan 5 2006, 06:30 AM)

QUOTE (solex @ Jan 5 2006, 08:50 AM) Here is an idea, perhaps VW should work on (a) QC of the components they recieve from thier suppliers and ( Customer Service I agree! Get the gremlins out of the current production cars. VW has a very bad rep right now concerning the quality of its build. Zach

They have already worked on that, the QC issues they had were from the cars built in Mexico and Brazil (Jetta and Golf). Those cars are now being made in Germany. Only time will tell though.
I think it's a cool idea, but just a fun car, nothing serious. If you want a bike, get a bike...

Someone beat me to it, but cool, VW reinvented the Morgan 3 wheeler.

QUOTE (ken914 @ Jan 5 2006, 05:34 AM)

If it had a speedster windshield and top then I would consider it as a commuter/fun car also!

I would purchase one if the above was available.

QUOTE (JmuRiz @ Jan 5 2006, 07:24 AM)

QUOTE (Vacca Rabite @ Jan 5 2006, 06:30 AM) QUOTE (solex @ Jan 5 2006, 08:50 AM) Here is an idea, perhaps VW should work on (a) QC of the components they recieve from thier suppliers and ( Customer Service I agree! Get the gremlins out of the current production cars. VW has a very bad rep right now concerning the quality of its build. Zach They have already worked on that, the QC issues they had were from the cars built in Mexico and Brazil (Jetta and Golf). Those cars are now being made in Germany. Only time will tell though. I think it's a cool idea, but just a fun car, nothing serious. If you want a bike, get a bike...

The QC issues were not restricted to cars built in Mexico or Brazil. My car 03' Passat was built in Germany problems/recalls included but not limited to:

Heater Core (this has been a problem for at least 10 years with all VW's)
Lower Control Arms
Window Regulator
Seat Heaters (that catch fire)
Coil Packs (this effected all 1.8T equipped cars including Audi)
Head lamps
Premature wear of Rear Brake pads (<12K)
Premature wear of Continential Tires (<12K)

Bummer, my 99.5 A4 is top notch...aside from the large scheduled maint bills...and that's the same as the B5 Passat. Maybe it's the later ones that have the issues. The coil packs on the 1.8T were a big SNAFU.
I still have hopes for the 2.0T GTI

Is VW still having issues with those coil packs? That was an issue long before I got rid of my VW, they should have fixed it by now.

I loved my VW. It just started falling apart around 100K miles. The engine was solid as a stone, but everyhting was breaking around it.

The trike is cool. I said the same about the BMW one that came out a few ears back. I doubt it ever sees US consumption though.

Zach

This is totally CEO Bernd Pischetreider at work. He's a raving anglophile.

This is why BMW built the Z3 the way it did (which feels a lot like a modern take on an old British roadster in the way you sit over the rear axle), the Z8 (which, disappointingly, feels like what the ultimate Jag XJ would).

Then there's "little" things like the MG/Range Rover acquisition (a total boondoggle, but one that gave BMW help with the X5 and, eventually, the Mini) and placements like the Z8 and 7 series in James Bond films.

All that said, I wish VW would do more things like this.

But it might not happen. Word has it that ol' Bernd wants Piech off his board. Apparently, he didn't know too much about the Porsche/Piech plan to acquire 20 percent of his company until it was too late. He is not happy and has issued nice statements like VW won't change its direction or strategy to accomodate Porsche....

I predict a falling out for him. Again.

pete

QUOTE (Vacca Rabite @ Jan 5 2006, 05:10 AM)

Its an interesting idea. I don't know if the local cops would let that pass for a motorbike in the carpool lanes though. At least not in NOVA where I am usually driving. Zach

"It opens a new driving dimension, turns even the daily commute to work into a small trip to freedom, allows you to cruise in the carpool lane, even if you’re driving solo (the GX3 is a motorcycle, after all!) "

Maybe they should rethink the three wheel idea...

Maybe?

QUOTE (TROJANMAN @ Jan 5 2006, 01:15 PM)

QUOTE (Vacca Rabite @ Jan 5 2006, 05:10 AM) Its an interesting idea.  I don't know if the local cops would let that pass for a motorbike in the carpool lanes though.  At least not in NOVA where I am usually driving. Zach "It opens a new driving dimension, turns even the daily commute to work into a small trip to freedom, allows you to cruise in the carpool lane, even if you’re driving solo (the GX3 is a motorcycle, after all!) "

Yeah. They _say_ its a motorcycle. NOVA cops are legendary in thier ability to craft the law into thier own views. And it does look rather carish.
I suppose what would matter was what kind of liscense the states required you to have to drive it. If you could drive it legally on a motorcycle liscens, then probably not an issue. If not, I'd stay clear of the car pool lanes.

Zach

Cool Concept Car/motorcycle!!!

Solex,
Those are definately things VW needs to work on. I personally have experienced their lack of customer service. I have a customer that they have given bad enough service she wont let them touch her car. They also didn't do most of the work correctly. I had to put a clutch in her car that the dealership had replaced 10K mi before. They forgot to tighten quite a few bolts. They only tightened 3 out of 6 of the pressure plate bolts. The others we're even threaded in all the way. She was telling me the clutch never felt like it was engaging correctly since they put it in. This is only one incidence. There have been several like this with them. VW lost a good customer over that. She will not buy another one due to the service, or lack of, that the local dealership provides.

John

QUOTE (stock93 @ Jan 5 2006, 11:51 AM)

Cool Concept Car/motorcycle!!! Solex, Those are definately things VW needs to work on. I personally have experienced their lack of customer service. I have a customer that they have given bad enough service she wont let them touch her car. They also didn't do most of the work correctly. I had to put a clutch in her car that the dealership had replaced 10K mi before. They forgot to tighten quite a few bolts. They only tightened 3 out of 6 of the pressure plate bolts. The others we're even threaded in all the way. She was telling me the clutch never felt like it was engaging correctly since they put it in. This is only one incidence. There have been several like this with them. VW lost a good customer over that. She will not buy another one due to the service, or lack of, that the local dealership provides. John

John,

I have had similar experiences with the Dealers in my area (NYC/metro) but most of the problems stem from VWOA customer service. Everytime I got on the phone with them to get the leaky heater core fixed I felt that I was talking to a lawyer. It took a year for them to authorized the replacement of the heater core.

My next car will not be a VW for sure.

Dan

You can get a Trex today, pretty cool IMHO.

TREX

QUOTE (horizontally-opposed @ Jan 5 2006, 01:08 PM)

But it might not happen. Word has it that ol' Bernd wants Piech off his board. Apparently, he didn't know too much about the Porsche/Piech plan to acquire 20 percent of his company until it was too late. He is not happy and has issued nice statements like VW won't change its direction or strategy to accomodate Porsche.... I predict a falling out for him. Again. pete

The reason that porsche was convinced to aquire its stake in VW was purely a german thing.

VW was open for a foreign body (ford, GM) to come in a buy up that 20% share.

It was for sale...

In Germany there are quite a few laws that make it almost impossible for a company, especially such a large german symbol like VW, to be purchased by foreigh investors...

No investor can hold more than a 20% stake. This is an old law that is still in effect.

Also there are alot of anti-foreign laws about aquiring certain companies...I say that with tongue in cheek....these laws are applied for certain companies...like vw...etc.

It is not a bad thing, but from what I heard, porsche was the only company with similar interests that actually had the cash...merc is still back pedaling from aquiring chrysler..bmw also has lost quite a bit in several recent aquisition that did not work out...

Porsche did this as an investment, and a poor one if you ask me...the return on investment for porsche would have been better if they stuck to trading versus sinking all that cash into vw...

Rich

The so-called "Volkswagen law" in under attack by the EU, and most seem to think it's days are numbered. Then VW would be open to acquisition by outside investors.

Porsche's move was a hedge against this -- and a strategic move to keep another company with interests different than its own from buying into VW and eliminating the partnership Porsche has benefitted from in the SUV field.

Analysts predict that Porsche will save more than one billion euros in future electronics development costs by sharing the R&D costs with VW where possible -- and that's one third of the price of its VW share acquisition.

Bad invvestment? Time will tell. I may disagree with Wiedeking's moves in some areas, but I cannot question his business sense. Still, I get the feeling the main driving force behind all this is our good friend Ferdinand Piech -- who is a whole different kettle of fish entirely.

Can anyone say "Phaeton?"

pete

Wish all you want, auto-futurists... MY MOTHER WILL NEVER REDEFINE DRIVING IN THAT FREAKING TRICYCLE!



M