Topic: 2006 VW Golf?

[GTI-Gabe]

is VW really going to put the 2.5 I5 in the Golf? 
I think that would be overkill.

Now, I'd take the 2.5L over the 2L in the Jetta anytime. 
Do you guys know that the Jetta iweighs in at 3200 lbs?

Yeap, I'll take that Suburban with the civic engine in it

[a4_tom]

Since 2.5L I-5 already in Jetta and Beetle, its almost no-brainer VW is going to put it in Golf.

[EV-Light]

isnt the new Golf going to be mfgered in Mexico?

[GTI-Gabe]

isnt the new Golf going to be mfgered in Mexico?

Nope, they will be manufactured in Germany.

[a4_tom]

Both Mk5 Golf and GTI will be produced in Germany. Speaking of new Golf/GTI, they already shooting commercials/printed ads in downtown Vancouver.

[bassix]

Both Mk5 Golf and GTI will be produced in Germany.

Why did they choose to build it in Germany? Were there problems with the Mexico plant? Did they close it??

Won't this increase the cost as well? It's already difficult for the Golf to compete against Japanese and Korean cars in this class!

[EV-Light]

read somewhere that VW invested a big amount of $$$ to modernize the Mexico plant because of the new Jetta and Golf that are going to be produced over there....maybe the first Golfs will come from germany and after sometime they will start manufacturing it in Mexico???

Or VW changed their plans and any media published it....

[bassix]

From my own personal experience, I've been impressed with the quality of workmanship from the Mexico plant. I owned a 1989 Fox and now a 1997 Golf CL that were both built there and the quality is very high. Something both VW and Mexico should be proud of and try to keep. Just my opinion, obviously.

[avtoller]

My 1994 Golf was built in Mexico, and had more problems than any other non-domestic car I have ever owned. It was a very nice car to drive, and I kept it for 6 years, but the reliability over the first 2 years was nothing short of pitiful. I was far from the only customer who knew all of the service staff on a first name basis.

[mrthompson]

The quality inspector must have been taking a siesta while your VW was being assembled.   

[avtoller]

As I said, I was far from the only one.

Let's see what I can remember off handedly from first 2 years:
head gasket  < 10k
rear window defroster
2 struts leaked
cruise control twice, went again out of warranty
left headlight - repeatedly until unit replaced
ate brakes for breakfast, but not a "quality issue"
window regulator
1 fuel injector
dash rattle

There were other minor things, but you get the idea. Strangely, it was quite good after the 2 year warranty expired until the 6 year mark when it was about to get VERY expensive. It was traded for more than it was worth because it was a VW.

[bassix]

cruise control twice, went again out of warranty
ate brakes for breakfast, but not a "quality issue"
window regulator

Oops... my 2 Mexican VWs didn't have cruise or power windows (I assume that's what the window regulator is for?), so maybe I got lucky on those! Was yours an automatic trans? I have a manual and the rear brakes last over 100,000km (twice so far)... fronts a little less (I think only around 60k).

That does suck though. VW more than likely has lost you as a customer, and with the amount of competition (especially in this segment) that is particularly bad.

[gabl]

I don't understand VWoA's decision to import the Golf this late.

On the other hand, some people might not like first year production vehicle, so getting the car late might be good! So you can get a fixed up car instead of a first year "prototype".

[avtoller]

Not auto, a 5-speed GL, sunroof, all the bells and whistles. The best I ever got out of a complete set of pads AND rotors was 40k, and I have always been very easy on brakes on every car I've owned in the last 40 years.

[bassix]

Not auto, a 5-speed GL, sunroof, all the bells and whistles. The best I ever got out of a complete set of pads AND rotors was 40k, and I have always been very easy on brakes on every car I've owned in the last 40 years.

Yikes, my apologies! That *is* bad...

I once had an AWD Talon (1992 model)... At 100,000 km still had original brakes! I had to sell it so I don't know how long they ended up lasting!

Of course the other end of the spectrum is a Hyundai Stellar my father had in the 80's... About 20,000 km and then they'd be metal on metal! (I'm sure Hyundai's are MUCH better now!)

[avtoller]

No need for you to apologize - unless you had a hand in designing or manufacturing those brake components. 

By way of comparison, my Forester (1st ever slushbox) still had 80% left on the fronts and 90%+ left on the rears when I had to sell it at ~35k. The rotors were like new. Trust me, it wasn't the way I drove that was the problem. 

[bassix]

Out of curiosity, where is the new Yaris being built?

[avtoller]

Out of curiosity, where is the new Yaris being built?

Ours are built in Japan. I can find out which city if it really matters. They will be opening a new plant in Thailand in a couple of years, and there is talk about the Yaris being built at the new Woodstock plant. It is also built in Europe, but we won't be getting any of those.

[a4_tom]

The Thailand plant Toyotas only supple Southeast Asian markets, even HK bound Toyotas are from Japan.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The older gen Golf was made in Mexico till the 1999.5 redesign, then the cars came from Germany till mid 2001, when they switched to Brazil. Golfs have come from Brazil since then - new Beetles and Jettas come from Mexico. Right now there is a strike at VW Brazil and VW is losing some 10,000 vehicles of production a day there. I believe Polo is also built there, among other models. I don't think the Brazilian currency has been very stable the last while, so it's probably not a great export base at the moment.

The Golf should come from Germany in June '06 as an '07MY with the 2.5 I5 and TDI. The GTI with the 2.0T. It's in the US dealer ordering system that way as it stands. The delay in the Golf importation is partially blamed on the strong Euro, but little while have changed by next year on that front I'll wager. The Golf has grown just like Jetta has, and coming from Europe I bet the gap in price between the two will be even less. I wish I could get a 3dr GTI TDI, or "GDI" as I think they're going to be badged in Europe. Even a TDI GT would be nice.

As far as I knew, the Mexican plant was and is being expanded. Future European market Jetta Wagon/Variants will be built there, along with the North American crossover Jetta Wagon-thingy planned.

I wish they'd just import the Touran and Polo and be done with it. Passat TDI manuals, Touareg V6 TDI's etc etc etc. Drives me nuts, what they do. Or don't.