Golf 7-5 V. Golf 8 cost cutting

[fredgroves]

Doesn't stop both of the small vw suv's from being huge sellers, so I guess most customers don't give a hoot...

[SRGTD]

Doesn't stop both of the small vw suv's from being huge sellers, so I guess most customers don't give a hoot...

I guess not. But if I was considering buying a T-Roc R with a list price of nearly £41k before adding any options, I’d expect better quality interior plastics.

VW can fit a dashboard with soft touch plastics in a £16k Polo but not in a £41k T-Roc .

[ar899]

To my mind, VW has traditionally sat in the gap between the 'run of the mill brands' such as Ford, Vauxhall, Renault etc. and the premium brands such as Audi, Merc & BMW. You bought a VW because it was as step up from the run of the mill and got you close to the quality of the premium options. You also got a lot more for your money, equipment wise.

With the T-Roc and the 8, VW now seem to be moving towards a level of quality comparable with the 'lower' brands. And at the same time, Ford have been steadily improving quality.

If this trend continues, you have to ask what is the reason to buy a VW?

[fredgroves]

And at the same time, Ford have been steadily improving quality.

And price, Ford have been increasing price.... the Focus used to be the cheap family sized car  vs the Golf or others.

Its not longer cheap, its virtually the same price.

TBH the daft thing is that VAG have multiple brands, all with price points. The cheap Golf is a Skoda or a SEAT. The expensive Golf is an Audi.

[ar899]

I haven't checked prices, but I'm currently driving a leased Fiesta ST-line and the build quality is pretty good. In fact, it's a great small car.
The boundaries between the various VAG brands seem to be getting muddied. I even read somewhere that the quality of the next A3 'isn't quite as good' as the old one, though it's all relative. Maybe Audi are lowering quality a bit and VW are having to do the same to keep some distance?

[SRGTD]

I watched the Carwow review of the new Skoda Octavia estate on YouTube yesterday. I’d say that the interior looked just as ‘premium’ as the Golf’s interior, with soft touch materials in all the right places - I noticed that the Skoda has the sliding cover over the cupholders in the centre console that the mk7 / 7.5 had, but this  has been dropped on the mk8.

I know a sliding cupholder cover isn’t a deal breaker, but it’s those little touches that existing mk7 / 7.5 owners notice, along with other deletions like the useful lidded cubby / storage compartment on the lower driver’s side of the dashboard.

[ar899]

SRGTD - I saw it as well and was thinking the same. I could live with the exterior of the 8 but it's the inside that seems to be disappointing (albeit that I haven't sat in one yet). I do (well did....) 18k miles pa and am looking for a nice premium place to sit.

[fredgroves]

Is this cost cutting too?

https://www.motor1.com/news/435142/volkswagen-golf-moose-test-results/

[SRGTD]

Is this cost cutting too?

https://www.motor1.com/news/435142/volkswagen-golf-moose-test-results/

Maybe cost cutting in terms of the tyres fitted to the car used in the test; Bridgestone Turanzas. The subtitles to the video state that the tyres didn’t provide much grip. Same tyres fitted to a Mercedes CLA and similarly disappointing test results.

It’d be interesting to see how the car performed with different tyres and a different driver.

[king monkey]

And at the same time, Ford have been steadily improving quality.

And price, Ford have been increasing price.... the Focus used to be the cheap family sized car  vs the Golf or others.

Its not longer cheap, its virtually the same price.

TBH the daft thing is that VAG have multiple brands, all with price points. The cheap Golf is a Skoda or a SEAT. The expensive Golf is an Audi.

I read somewhere the other day (not sure where) that the new focus interior was slightly better than the Mk8. Obviously that’s an opinion but I nearly spat out my drink.