New Beetle Sales-2006

[Pushing Fifty]

I wanted to put this thread in the "Latest News" section, but for some reason, I am unauthorized to create it there..... Anyway, the numbers are in: VWoA as a whole increased sales by 4.9% over 2005, a much-needed boost after falling 37% from 2001. However, what is disturbing is that 2006 started out like gangbusters, and then the top models, the Jetta & Passat, started declining as each month passed. The New Beetle, our favorite car, ended up on an odd note: The coupes are up 6.8% in 2006, but the convertibles are DOWN 12.4%, for a net loss of 3.4%. I was curious to see what others' thoughts were on this. Why are convertible sales dropping? Is it the $5000 difference in price? Has the Eos taken potential NB 'vert buyers away? I'm glad to see that overall NB sales are fairly steady year-to-year, but if the convertibles had matched 2005's numbers, the New Beetle total would have been up about the same amount as they are now down. What gives? This is disappointing.

[dunno513]

The vert #'s had been dropping, and as expected. The coupe's were driven by high gas prices and the new redesign. Remember, if one wants to save money on gas by buying a new car, they tend to limit it to the basic, not toys like the verts.

I wonder what kind of sales hit the coupes will take with the lack of the TDI for the next 12+ months. Reality may be 18+ months.

As long as Detroit goes down and everyone else up, I'm happy.

[Pushing Fifty]

I may be overly optimistic, but I don't think the lack of a TDI, (and just for a year at that; maybe less) will make much of a difference. Diesel fuel costs about 30 cents more per gallon, plus the cars are $1500-2000 higher in price and are more expensive to maintain. These factors virtually negate the extra 15 miles per gallon.

[SMG]

Diesel is cheaper than regular 87 gas in Nova Scotia.

SMG

[yeller beetle bug gal]

convertible new beetles cost an arm and a leg, even used, i looked at a 2004 at a used car dealership-mitsibuishi, spelling? and they wanted for it for about the same price as a spanking brand new new beetle. i couldn't afford but a leg, so i got a used '01 beetle with the sunroof for less than half the price they wanted for the '04. plus, the insurance usually costs a bit more. alot of the used beetles that i checked out in my area aren't being sold because they are standard transmission. dealers i spoke with said kids these days cannot drive standard. geewhiz, i live in georgia, where everyone should know how to drive even a tractor!

[Moviequill]

VW is dropping the Jetta price tag, and I hear the new NB will be cheaper too

[kcfoxie]

The lack of a TDI in the lineup is a reason for many people to NOT go to a VW dealer. My bf wanted a TDI and was talked into a good deal on a 2.5 with compensation (ie a discount of $3200) because they couldn't get him in a TDI.

To many the TDI is the only reason to even look at a VW, then you get hooked on the features and handling. Diesels are also way more efficient, while costing 30 cents more per gallon it gets double - at minimum - the MPG of even their most efficnet gasser -- 48MPG to 32MPG highway. That averages to roughly 600 easy miles to a tank of diesel vs 290 miles in a comparable Jetta with a 2.5L engine. If my expensive upkeep you mean you must take it in for belt changes every 50,000 (or 60k as the book says if you want to do it by the letter of the text), then I guess you're not looking at any turbo vehicles because all turbo vehicles have a less than 100k high maint. upkeep schedule because they work much harder than a Naturally Aspirated motor (like the 2.5/2.0L motors).

FWIW, the Diesel is considerably better all the way around than the gas counterparts. It matches HP to Ft Lb Trq in almost all cases and it can run on a variety of oils as fuel (from hydrogenated cooking oil to algae to peanut oil), which cost a lot less to refine for fuel production at home and isn't illegal (yet) in this country.

Ok, back to your regularly schedule thread

Regarding the drop in sales, it's pretty normal. I am not surpried that more Pkg0 new beetle hardtops sold than convertibles, and I do think Eos is making a big change in what people want in a convertible. Given that it's next to impossible to find a manual top convertible (the only kind I'd personally buy), I also understand the buyers concern about upkeep of a hydraulic top -- especially if they owned a car where the gas shock/hydraulic lifters to the trunk or hood had failed and they paid to replace them at the dealer. The Jetta and Passat sales sagging well, about time. The 2006 models were quite limited for the price compared to the 2005 models -- so hopefully things will be better with the rest of the 07 stock and who knows what the 08s will be like.

btw has anyone noticed that we're coming up on the 10 year anniversary of the beetle? I wonder if the hardtop will be nixed in 08?

[Pushing Fifty]

The only way I would ever buy a turbo VW of any kind was if it were brand spanking new. Turbos tend to be driven hard and used examples can be severely abused. As for diesel, I look at it this way: A "regular VW" gets about 30 mpg; a diesel; 45.
At $2.40 a gallon (here in Wisconsin) and 15K miles a year, that's about $1200. At $2.70 for diesel, it would be about $900Okay, a $300 savings, but then your maintenance and initial car cost spread out over the time of ownership would negate that. In fact, a 2.5 with no timing belt changes might actually even be cheaper in the long run.

[kcfoxie]

The tension on a chain system must be replaced at 120k. Don't believe me? Ask high mile VR6 owners (esp. Corrado) about their tensioners and if they've failed. The tensioner replacement is going to cost more than the belt.

I still feel that a Diesel, with an average lifespan of 350,000 miles, is a better vehicle if you drive a lot. I average over 30,000 miles per year on any given car I own. They make a lot of sense for me because I would save a lot on fuel, plus my work gives away their grease from the kitchen for use as a bio fuel. We have a small cult of TDI owners

[Pushing Fifty]

Hmm...I did not know that about tensioners. I know if a timing chain breaks, you're in for major bucks, but I thought chains never needed maintenance. My bad.....To be truthful, I'm about as mechanically savvy as a mentally-challenged gerbil. Thanks for the tip. I hope you're wrong about the possibility of 08 being the NB's last year.

[dunno513]

Originally Posted by SMG

Diesel is cheaper than regular 87 gas in Nova Scotia.

SMG

Thats it... where's my passport Honey, pack the kids and grab the bags... we're goin north.



On a serious note.. I read where the TDI common rail re-introduction will see an increase in price for the extra emmission control systems installed in the vehicles. Funny how they up the anticipated price for this, but do not calculate the savings that a common rail system will provide over the costlier PD injector system that they currently discount to keep the additional price for a TDI reasonable.

I just can't wait to see the disappointing EPA #'s that the new 2.0L TDI (8v or 16v ?) gets assigned. I'm betting that it's not going to be good, plus with the new EPA mileage calculations where most diesel stickers will increase, while gassers decrease will add to the "reality" shock for new owners. Guess we'll have to wait and see what REALLY happens. I think the bigger issue will be if the new car will have any tax credits assigned to it.