Quote:
Originally Posted by CosworthKid
Don't get why you don't like it swizzle, weren't you the one saying that VWs are overpriced and wanted a cheaper version?
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Ok I'll take the bait.
The previous Passat was too small and overpriced for its segment, but it was not by any stretch of the imagination more refined than the Camry or the Accord which are pretty smooth machines.
The Fusion, Optima, Sonata, Mazda6, and the latest Malibu all easily match the smoothness of the Accord and the Camry.
VW fundamentally does not understand the American market and it arrogantly thinks it can crap in the market and have everyone kiss its butt. Aside from the TDI crazies who have sworn a blood-pact loyalty to VW, VW has outted itself in this market as being truly reprehensible.
Since the arrival of the American Passat which is right-sized and almost right-priced, we've learned that VW thinks cobbling garbage together and calling it a day will bamboozle the NA buyer. FCA cobbled the Dart and 200 out of Fiat bones and both are dead.
For example, if you sit behind the steering wheel of the American Passat you will notice that instead of it being straight ahead, it's about a inch or so nearer center than it should be because this is essentially a hastily widened and lengthened Jetta WHICH WAS DONE so that Puebla and Chattanooga could have major parts sharing.
Yes the previous Passat was a Super Jetta as well, but this one is especially a crass piece of shame.
The Passat simply does not drive as well as the competition, so when you figure in its poorer reliability and lower build quality, VW has a lot to learn.
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VW has all the right products to be as big as Toyota, Ford, or Honda in the NA market, but they are mired in "Germany knows best" when Toyota has ruled the roost by listening to what the NA market wants and steadfastly delivering precisely that.