New Volkswagen Golf goes for quality over quantity

The sixth generation Volkswagen Golf goes on sale in the UK in January 2009, 34 years after the first generation version arrived. Over 26 million have been sold worldwide of which nearly 1.5 million have been sold in the UK.

Volkswagen in the UK had planned to sell around 55,000 new Golfs in 2009 but due to the decline in the overall new car market, down 11.3% in 2008, that expectation has now changed.

The first new generation Golfs to reach the market are three and five door hatchback models; Golf Plus models will join the line up this Spring, GTi models in early Summer, BlueMotion 99g/km of CO2 versions at the end of 2009 and the Golf Estate in 2010. A new Polo range is also due at the end of this year.

Michael O’Shea, VW’s product marketing manager, said this week at the UK’s press launch of the new Golf range that the company now expected to sell around 45,000 new Golfs, although there is still the provision to build more if the market picks up. He said they had sold over 65,000 units in 2008 making it the UK’s fifth best selling model range. The best year for Golf sales in the UK was in 2005 when 74,191 were registered.

O’Shea said, “The new Golf is an evolution of the previous model but there is a greater emphasis on improving the overall driving refinement, lowering CO2 emissions upgrading engine performance and enhancing the quality and specification of the car’s interior. The reduction in our sales forecast is a reflection of market conditions and Volkswagen will manufacturer cars at the appropriate volumes, no oversupply and no distress selling tactics which destroy residual values.”

Figures from VW and industry analysts CarCost, show the main selling 2.0-litre TDI Golf retains 41.45% of its value over a 36 month period. This is higher than its similar specification main competitors, the Ford Focus at 33% and the Vauxhall Astra at 29% but marginally less than the best in the sector (lower medium size), the Audi A3 which retains 44.3% of its value.

O’Shea said that fleet and business customers would account for 65% of new Golf sales, 60% of registrations would be for diesel models, five-door variants will take 84% of sales and 87% of customers would specify a manual transmission. The single best selling model has the new 2.0-litre TDI 110PS turbodiesel engine followed by the 1.4-litre TSI 122PS petrol unit. SE is likely to be the most popular choice of specification accounting for half of all sales.

He added that the improved quality and refinement of the new Golf, in addition to offering more high-tech options, the new range would appeal to current owners of luxury and premium cars downsizing to the smaller Golf. “The new Golf offers premium segment refinement and equipment levels but with small car efficiency, advanced technology engines and transmissions and attractive price positioning.”

Prices for the new Golf models show an average 2% increase over the outgoing versions and now range from £12,875 up to £20,537. The expected main selling model, the Golf SE 2.0-litre TDI 110PS five-door, five-speed manual, costs £16,911 on the road and with its 128g/km of CO2, Band C rating VED is £120.

Michael O’Shea said that around 80% of all new cars are purchased with some form of finance or borrowing and VW had seen the demand for PCPs, personal contract purchase, grow. We have seen significant increases of people who are finding it difficult to get loans to change their cars and there is now even more pressure due to the credit crunch for manufacturers to provide finance options.”

In addition to lease, lease purchase and contract hire options for business users, Volkswagen is offering a finance plan to all retail customers who purchase a new Golf. As an example the new Golf 1.4-litre TSI 122PS SE five-door, the likely best selling retail model with an on the road retail price of £15,962, can be bought over a 36 month, 10,000 mile per year period with an advance payment of £4,353 and monthly payments of £199.

There is an optional final payment of £7,230 or the customer can just hand the car back after three years. The typical APR is 9.7%.

Read hundreds of extensive car reviews

Our car reviews section provides in-depth reviews of hundreds of models on the roads today.

Honda Civic Type S GT review

The new Honda Civic S, Civic Type S and Civic Type S GT, will go on sale in the UK in January with prices ranging from £14,000 up to £19,800.

2006 Ford Focus ST

Tango orange has been the trump card in drawing the public’s attention to the advance selling programme Ford has been running for the new Focus ST hot hatch.

Top 200 BHP cars - on a budget!

We can´t help it: We love horsepowers, in hot hatches or saloons. But we don´t want to pay too much for them. MotorTorque selects the cheapest power-beasts available for less than £25K.

Ford confirms all-new Focus RS hot hatch for 2009

Ford announces the all-new all-performance Focus RS - for those who think the ST is for wimps.

Name

Comments

Validation	Please enter the text to the left (case sensitive)
Reload