Kenny won't be pleased ( ) but despite VAG's PR the new Golf is a sales disaster. With 107,000 units 2003 sales were terribly short of the projected 135,000 cars, a fact that formed a large part in VAG's disappointing financial performance over 2003, of which the figures were announced yesterday.

VAG as a whole has seen its profit slashed in half and has suffered from the cheap dollar, evaporating US margins. Apart from the Golf, the Phaeton sales are also disappointing, Volkswagen lowering its production forecast from 20,000 to 15,000 cars.

More here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,588-1007194,00.html

Says what many of us were already thinking.

I always thought Golfs did a lot better in sales in the second-hand market, as they've had a hit of depreciation and have a better reliabilty record than Focus/Astra.

'tis a boring car though - that said, if the adverts are to be believed it's the same people who developed this as who developed the first one, so they will inevitably have got older, calmer, and paid more...

Rob.

im fine with that news . afterall i chose my vRS over the golf. my onlycoment on previous posts was that the golf still is a decent car. but boring! far cry from the mk1 and mk2.

buy as rob said, second hand ones are more sought after. specially when the new ones are overpriced!!! :P

Well, my Dad's upping their 2004 sales by 1 with an 04 MkV 2.0 TDI Golf...

Following the announcement of Volkswagen's disappointing results, Mr Pischetsrieder warned that VW might be going into a "longer period of decline" and will be scrapping 5,000 jobs.

He also said that he ordered the VAG brands to share even more components among their cars in an effort to cut costs.

WHAT?

Is he digging his own grave?

Even more shared components? So that's yet another reason not to buy an expensive VW but a reasonably priced Skoda instead...

Let's face it: VW missed the latest design trends with the new Golf, which on looks is firmly stuck in the nineties, while the other VAG factories have better build quality. So the image-driven customers will look elsewhere, while the people's car customers will first check out the new Octavia: bigger car, same interior, identical technology, better build quality, "old Golf" price.

"A longer period of decline"... yes, indeed. A self-inflicted one, IMHO.

I agree, I think VW have lost the plot, concentrating there efforts on trying to build cars like the toe rag or whatever its called to compete with Audi/BMW will never be a success. They should concentrate on the main stream cars, the new Golf IMO is a total statement in bland uninteresting cars & both Seat & Skoda now build as good a car if not better for less money. Its difficult to see where VW are trying to place themselves in the Market place.

The only negative side in this from our point of view is that as Skodas popularity increases so will the prices

Perhaps its time to research the up & coming Korean car makers !! After all these days its hard to find a car thats actually a bad car

Yes it is bad news for VW, not really the Golf as such. The Golf has fallen foul to poor sales in its early month of launch and I think it more down to price than anything else. The New Golf is expensive, but only on paper. With the recent launch and price details of the New Astra, it is apprent that the Golf is only

The New Golf is expensive, but only on paper. With the recent launch and price details of the New Astra, it is apprent that the Golf is only

I hope VAG dont make a mistake in the pricing of the new octy, to overpriced that a potential skoda owner will be put off.

Recent Autocar test had the Golf better than the Focus or the new Astra.

Handling was supposed to a revelation although steering not as good as the Focus.

Golf does look expensive even though...I think the 1.6 FSI tested was over

The way I see it, VAG will soon need a brand BELOW Skoda and Seat if they are not careful.

Rovers rumoured to be going bust in the next 2 years, perhaps they could bid for that !!

I've always liked the Golf, but thought it a little pricey, must say that I think the new Golf looks better than the competition (Astra / Focus etc), but its biggest problem will be the new Octavia - that looks like a very nice car.

Vince

AutoExpress have announced that the New Octavia will only have a slight increase in price over the out going model. So it shouldnt affect sales

I saw a road test of the new Golf vs the New A3... and the Golf was marked down because it was very close on price to the Audi...

Also if the Octavia has better quality interior plastics than the Golf then VW will be seen as the poor mans Volkswagen..

cheers

Dazz

The way I see it, VAG will soon need a brand BELOW Skoda and Seat if they are not careful.

I agree, I really like both my Octys, but I have felt since the Fabia came out that Skoda is now missing its traditional market. The Felicia was a mechanically reliable spacious car that was available for a budget price. The Fabia is too expensive and too small. Skoda's original customers must be moving over to the Koreans while the new customers are liable to be those defecting from other VAG brands which is bad for Seat and VW.

But the trouble with the Korean cars is that they aren't particularly basic, reliable and spacious. For example, Kias - they come with a fair few toys, but none of which are made with any quality...they are simply there to put ticks in boxes for marketing people. The metalwork is flimsy, paintjobs are eggshell, and basically I can't see them proving to be good long term investments.

But then, it's increasingly hard to buy a "simple" car these days... :(

Rob.

News Press release today:

MK5 Golf sets Record sales in UK!

Read it here: http://www.clubgtiworcs.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=76&mode=&order=0&thold=0

Then the UK is an exception...

This was in the German and Dutch newspapers today:

German VW and Audi dealers want cheaper models

VW and Audi dealers in Germany want the VAG factories to produce cheaper models. "We don't just need the expensive cars that VAG have been producing lately, we want entry models too", said German dealer society chairman M. Lami

The last Golf model is a really good car , looks great, my gf's got the PD130, I just don't like the look of the new one as much, maybe loads of other people feel the same ?

Has anyone seen any Mark V golfs on the road, I know one has been mentioned here and i've seen a 3 dr one in black, thats two to my knowledge!!!!

Matt

Not yet that I am aware of. :(

My Dad has one... I'll take a piccie and post it in a second.

And it's fookin quick to drive too....

Here we go - not the best two piccies, but it's dark outside and my pocket digital has a really cr4ppy flash! :(

Really reall not a fan of the Mk V Golf looks like a Seat