Filed under: Car Buying, Chrysler, Ford, GM
Showing great discipline amid declining sales, the Detroit 3 have held back on the temptation to dump vehicles on fleet customers in order to boost numbers. As we reported last month, selling vehicles to corporate fleets and daily rental companies has been a long-practiced method to offload automobiles when sales slow down. Unfortunately, it also results in lowered residual values in the marketplace as these vehicles are dumped in quantity at auctions at the end of their service. Over the years, some models have even earned a “fleet” or “rental vehicle” stereotype, additionally damaging their public image, and sales, at the retail level. The Ford Taurus, for instance, was only sold to fleet customers during the last generation’s final year of production, which may have further damaged the brand and affected sales of the renamed 2008 Taurus.
Even though the Detroit 3 are limiting fleet sales, it is still a large chunk of their business that accounts for nearly 35 percent of total U.S. sales for Ford and Chrysler. While fleet sales to Chrysler, GM, and Ford are down, other automakers are increasing their volume. It is reported that Toyota sold an additional 10,000 units to fleets during the first four months of 2008.
[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd, Photo by Stan Honda, Getty Images]
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Volkswagen prices 2009 Jetta TDI from $21,990
Filed under: Car Buying, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Volkswagen
Volkswagen revealed today that $21,990 will be the base price for its highly anticipated 2009 Jetta TDI, while the Sportwagen model will start at $23,590. This is extremely aggressive pricing on the part of Volkswagen that places the Jetta TDI in direct competition with the Toyota Prius, as eco-minded shoppers will surely cross-shop the two.
The TDI model will be the equivalent of the SE trim level for gas-powered Jettas. A 2009 Jetta SE 2.5L manual sedan starts at $19,990, which tells us that the high-tech, 50-state-compliant clean diesel engine is worth about a $2,000 premium. The Jetta TDI will, however, be available with either a manual or DSG transmission.
The EPA recently rated the 2009 Jetta TDI at 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway, which were disappointing numbers for Volkswagen. It has since hired an independent, third-party certifier, AMCI, to ascertain what it refers to as the Jetta’s “true fuel economy”. AMCI came back with a better rating (surprise!) of 38 mpg city and 44 mpg highway. Whether or not you think it’s fair for Volkswagen to go around the EPA in search of a higher fuel economy rating, we were just as surprised at how low the EPA numbers were. We’re eager to get one in the Autoblog Garage ASAP for a review so we can test its “true fuel economy” for ourselves.
[Source: VW]
Continue reading Volkswagen prices 2009 Jetta TDI from $21,990
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