Where oh where did VW go wrong?

[JAG7001]

For me the new one isn't a Transporter. It's a Transit with a Transit engine with a different front end and badges. Big mistake by VW IMO. Sales figures will define whether it's a success or not. We'll see.

I agree, but the manufacturers good old days are over, they need to collaborate with other marques in order to keep a margin , they are all doing it

 

[Ch1pbutty]

EV’s for say first 4 years mean little or zero income from servicing / parts for dealers. Hence, they have to be smart and design decent model that will sell, as this is now the only decent opportunity to generate income, otherwise they get overtaken by the competition / R&D money wasted (hence a lot of tech sharing).

 

[larrylamb]

I agree, but the manufacturers good old days are over, they need to collaborate with other marques in order to keep a margin , they are all doing it

Yeah, I get it. Just seems end of the line for such an iconic vehicle. The Transporter heritage stops at 6.1 for me.

 

[FivetonesCali]

Pertinent to this thread.

 

[Corradobrit]

Pertinent to this thread.

I saw that over the weekend. A lot has been said regarding the Ford wet belt design being a weakness. I thought it interesting when the presenter stated the VW engine is also a wet belt...... so I assume the VW engines designers knew what they were doing and the same failures are not a common issue.

 

[FivetonesCali]

Well, the assertion is that they need to be serviced on time and in any case they’ve toughened that wet belt up.

The electric (or hybrid even) are more attractive to me anyway. Not the current specs but in a few years.

 

[larrylamb]

I saw that over the weekend. A lot has been said regarding the Ford wet belt design being a weakness. I thought it interesting when the presenter stated the VW engine is also a wet belt...... so I assume the VW engines designers knew what they were doing and the same failures are not a common issue.

AFAIK the vw wetbelt is purely the oil pump belt not the cambelt. The cambelt is the one under stress and subject to failure under certain conditions not the oil pump.

 

[Corradobrit]

AFAIK the vw wetbelt is purely the oil pump belt not the cambelt. The cambelt is the one under stress and subject to failure under certain conditions not the oil pump.

Yes, I raised an eyebrow when I heard the presenter make the comparo. The cambelt in the VW is dry. I think he's getting his belts crossed.