None of the Japanese make money in Europe George. Cost of imported or Japanese specced parts is the main reason. Lack of volume means higher European supplier prices. The Germans haven't screwed up Asia at all, in fact the opposite.

I've worked for several suppliers to all of the Japanese for best part of 20 years, including Japanese tier 1 subsids. VAG are one of the strongest oems globally, the modular design concept and aggressive price volume demands mean they have a tight grip on their supply chain and costs. Believe me it's rather easy to make good margins on Honda business, and Nissan if you're patient.

Really,

Biggest selling vehicle in Hungary for years before recent Skoda sales was Suzuki, that is where the Factories are.

 

India & Skoda having to stop Fabia production was rather costly.

 

EDIT.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2014/08/16/volkswagen-focuses-on-costs-bottom-line-as-europe-weakens-china-threatens

Edited 6 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

So where are the top 5 hatchbacks or others coming from.

 

What might they be for 2015?

Civic Type R will be in there.

Civic Type R will be in there.

You might be right there George ,bit OTT for me.

New Ford Focus ST @£24000 A pop.

Audi RS3?

A45 AMG Facelift with power uplift.

 

Small hatch to take crown from Fiesta ST?

 

Probably need to transfer this forecasting to a new thread. for 2015.

Good idea Keith. A separate general hot hatch thread.

Oh more threads about hot hatches haha

Well, it would be Skoda-free for sure

 

I'll get my coat....

Just doing my Insurance renewal for the Golf R.

£210 including business use, & 2 x non fault claims.

Quite happy with that. Would have been under £200 if my next door neighbour hadn't crashed into last car when he was parking.

Renewal from my current insurer came in at £310.

That included a stage 1 remap, as I had that on my S4 & they had kept that option on the insurance when I got the Golf R. Not bad for at all for the power increase

£210???

 

Cripes I thought mine was reasonable....mind you a remap on the cupra = £0 on cost.

£210???

Cripes I thought mine was reasonable....mind you a remap on the cupra = £0 on cost.

Definitely much cheaper than the S4.

The majority of the quotes came in around £250. Was very surprised business use hardly added anything to the premium.

Who is the insurer / broker who doesn't add a premium for power increases? handy to know for the future

Greenlight. Been with them for 4 years or so now, same with the Octy, no cost if stage 1 or not. Same for Cupra apparently, as it's "20%" power increase. The underwriter is LV

Greenlight. Been with them for 4 years or so now, same with the Octy, no cost if stage 1 or not. Same for Cupra apparently, as it's "20%" power increase. The underwriter is LV

Cheers, might ask for a quote before I sign up.

Just had a look at their site, & one thing made me smile. In their list of excluded vehicles they list:

- ALL BMW's

Yes lol!

 

I should also have added that there was only a £24 premium increase from the remapped Octy to the Cupra. It's still somewhat more than £250 though, but then I don't quite yet have a full 5 years NCD having slithered into my neighbours Astra in the snows of 2010....

Spoilt for choice, trying to find out when the configurator will be available for R Estate.

https://twitter.com/vwrallytheworld

Keith, are you seriously considering trading your R for the estate? How long have you had the former?

Keith, are you seriously considering trading your R for the estate? How long have you had the former?

No worries stever, just interested in how it specs out and price .

Still love the hatch- it would be a R400, if the bank account can take it. Probably 1.5 - 2 years away yet.

No worries stever, just interested in how it specs out and price .

Still love the hatch- it would be a R400, if the bank account can take it. Probably 1.5 - 2 years away yet.

I did wonder!

I can't imagine a faster daily driver as these hot hatch things, so anything "new" will be something used for tooling around on at weekends etc. I've always wanted a rover (buick) v8 powered motor, and an alfa v6. SEight and a 156 GTA it is then....

Someone posted this very cheap Golf GTD deal on another site I use-

http://www.centralukvehicleleasing.co.uk/vehicle/choose_your_lease/57649/volkswagen/golf/20_tdi_gtd_5dr.html

Seems very cheap for a 2 year lease £5780 total cost for the term

Take a look at this 3 way test from EVO ?

http://www.evo.co.uk/audi/s3/14908/audi-s3-video-review

Unfortunately not a true 3 way test. Interesting experience comment that's all. A bit of S3 road and track work in video.

Edited 9 January, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Take a look at this 3 way test from EVO ?

http://www.evo.co.uk/audi/s3/14908/audi-s3-video-review

Unfortunately not a true 3 way test. Interesting experience comment that's all. A bit of S3 road and track work in video.

Cant beat a 3 way.

Like evo mag tbh. Last one i read was testing cars on the roads around me.

They did their car of the year tests up in Kielder near the Scottish Borders, only an hour or so from me. Named, predictably, the Ferrari 458 Speciale as their car of the year! Golf R was in there too though.

Edited 9 January, 201511 yr by dan4291

Take a look at this 3 way test from EVO ?http://www.evo.co.uk/audi/s3/14908/audi-s3-video-reviewUnfortunately not a true 3 way test. Interesting experience comment that's all. A bit of S3 road and track work in video.

Interesting how most people say the S3 is predictable, safe and boring (which I agree with having driven one) but the Golf R is much better. I really must drive an R to see for myself. I wonder what VW have done to make them drive differently as they obviously share the same engine, gearbox and 4WD system? Must be different suspension settings I guess.

Interesting how most people say the S3 is predictable, safe and boring (which I agree with having driven one) but the Golf R is much better. I really must drive an R to see for myself. I wonder what VW have done to make them drive differently as they obviously share the same engine, gearbox and 4WD system? Must be different suspension settings I guess.

It is a little boring imo. Just gets on with the job. Its quick, but its smooth n quiet n just goes through the gears.

Its more exciting when things are loud n feisty IMO.

Vehicles anyway, Dont like loud women haha.