Not too many years ago, the regular answer to car buying queries was "what about the Seat?". If buyers were looking at a Galaxy for example, the Alhambra was better and so on with the Ibiza, Leon etc.
However, prompted by an article in Auto express, I realised that as far as I am aware, I have not yet seen a new Toledo or Altea on the road yet! I assume they still make the Ibiza, Cordoba etc but again, not seen many on the road that I can recollect.
Is it a case now that all the sensible money is going on Skodas? Very rarely does a thread pass here without someone recommending either a Fabia or Octavia as the answer.
Maybe once Skoda branch into MPV territory as well, then it might be very bad news for Seat?
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>>Maybe once Skoda branch into MPV territory as well, then it might be very bad news for Seat?>>
Either way VW can't lose...:-)
I see quite a few Seats in my area even though there isn't a dealership all that near but not the new Toledo yet, although the odd Altea spotted has been admired for its funky front end.
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I think there may be something in this, although it could just be a matter of time for people to get used to the "different" style of the Altea and new Toledo.
I personally rather liked the immediate past Toledo (saloon design)and the Leon. Maybe I'm old fashioned or not forward thinking enough, but the Altea and new Toledo don't do anything for me. But the Octavia, being a "more traditional" design, does appeal.
I think we may start to see Seat come back again (not that they've gone away) when the new Leon arrives, which from what I can tell, it a very acceptable design between the tradition of the Skoda models, and the more radical Altea/Toledo.
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I have seen the new Toledo and i do not think it will sell in any great numbers. Whilst the previous version would hardly win any beauty contests but it was not a bad car. The new model is butt ugly and regardless of how good it drives i cannot see many people being brave enough to buy them.
The Skoda's are fairly annonymous and inoffensive and offer great value for money.
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If I was in the market for a new saloon then the Skoda Superb would be top of my list. Outstanding value for money.
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The Altea seems to be selling well out here in Germany and you can see why. IMHO it looks fantastic. Really eye-catching, and a nice variation on the one box MPV thing - particularly when compared to the Touran. The Toledo, however, looks like the Vel Satis and will probably sell about as well too.
Skoda seem to have hit the button with the Octavia, nearly as big as an A6 estate for the price of an A2 - makes sense. Maybe in a few years....still a bit pricy second hand for me.
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I think VW are trying to create brand identities and in that way cover all the market segments.
Seat = young, stylish, racy, trendy. For the young at heart and daring. Advertising, designers, and actors.
Skoda = Unexciting, reliable, value for money. Cloth cap blue collar workers, retired folks on a pension.
VW = Solid, classy, reliable, dependable, aspirant. For middle managers who think they have what it takes but cant get a BMW or Merc yet.
So it depends on where you live. If you are a boring old person who lives in NW england you see VW's or Skodas.
If you are an out of work coal miner or steel worker in the North east or Midlands you see skoda's only
Down south we see Seats and VW's.
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So it depends on where you live. If you are a boring old person who lives in NW england you see VW's or Skodas.
Oi! I live in the NW (near Chester) and see a few Seats - but I probably notice them because we own an Ibiza, bought by daughter because the Polo equiv was a lot dearer and still didn't have remote locking or a CD player.
The issue around here is that there isn't a Seat dealer in Chester - we had to go to Crewe, which is a fair old trek. I often contrast that to Honda (as we also have a Jazz) - you'd think there wouldn't be a large number of Honda dealers yet in this area there seems to be loads of them. Consequently you see a lot of Jazzs (Jazii?).
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>>I think VW are trying to create brand identities and in that way cover all the market segments.>>
There's never been any question of "think" about it - it's a proven fact.
You've actually forgotten the luxury division. Audi.
By the way I'm not a boring old f....:-)
Neither are the two early 30 somethings, one a lass with a husband and two young children and the other a single male, who both admired my silver Bora so much they both got one themselves; in the lass's case it was for the sheer build quality, which she felt would protect her offspring better than her previous Rover 400 in the event of an accident.
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Good point, Yes I missed Audi. What are VW doing there then with the VW badged Phaeton? bad case of cross market segmentation.
And yes Good question. What does come first, The dealer or the market?
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>>The dealer or the market?>>
If you got the right mix of products then the dealers will queue up to land your franchise....:-)
The Phaeton, superb car though it is, isn't attracting buyers such as one of my mates, who normally gets a new S-Class every 18 months to two years, but who has just plumped for an about to be built Bentley.
He says he just cannot imagine people like himself buying a high cost luxury version of a brand such as VW that's badged as one of the marque's models, even though he's always admired the group and its engineering attributes. Naturally he feels that Bentley doesn't come under this category as VW maintains the status quo.
He also points out quite rightly that Toyota and Nissan had to invent the Lexus and Infiniti(?) brand names to have any chance in this area of the market anywhere in the world.
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I agree - I can't see the point of the Phaeton when VW already have Audi and Bentley. Image means a lot at this level and it looks too much like a big old-model Passat.
SEATs appeal to the young and others who put style before substance - I'd never have one as I am becoming fanatic about being able to see out of the back of a car, and SEAT are gradually reducing the amount of glass in their cars.
Skodas are shaking off the flat-cap image - they have a satisfaction rating in the JD Power and Auto Express surveys as good as the Japanese, largely because even if pople buy them as workhorses they are then pleasantly surprised that they are relaible and well-built, and if you go for the bigger engine choice they have a good turn of speed.
Mercedes have gone down in the ratings recently because they don't always meet up to high expectations, whereas Skodas exceed a rather lower level of expectation.
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My wife & I have a car each - hers is a current shape Seat Ibiza and mine is a company car Octavia estate. We live in the south of England - what does this say about us ?
She wanted something that looks a bit groovy, I'm thinking about the cash !
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Matthew Kelly
No, not that one.
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what does this say about us?
It means she is only after you for your money
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She's easily pleased then !
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Matthew Kelly
No, not that one.
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Cars with a shared platform, in which country do they make the platforms? If they have any sense they would build them where the labour is cheapest. VWs are probably not really German if this is true, more like the kits sent out in the past by UK car builders to foreign parts.
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VW produces cars in many countries, including China, Mexico and South America and they are very popular in South Africa, although the model ranges are usually somewhat behind those of Europe.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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