Obviously no interest out in Gippsland

[GippsCC]

While this will hardly surprise, I asked my local Volkswagen dealer whether anyone had asked about the new Up! - of which the dealer had two sitting out in the car-yard (I was interested to see, in these financially stressed times, whether people were considering downgrading to more economical models).

He hadn't even got a bite - guess sales will be very much a metro thing then. Considering lots of people commute out this way, I was mildly surprised no-one had even kicked the tyres yet. It's a pretty good micro, considering the price.

[JonP01]

While this will hardly surprise, I asked my local Volkswagen dealer whether anyone had asked about the new Up! - of which the dealer had two sitting out in the car-yard (I was interested to see, in these financially stressed times, whether people were considering downgrading to more economical models).

He hadn't even got a bite - guess sales will be very much a metro thing then. Considering lots of people commute out this way, I was mildly surprised no-one had even kicked the tyres yet. It's a pretty good micro, considering the price.

I wonder if salespeople are using the best sales pitch. After I bought my Polo, I caught up with the salesman at the 1500 inspection and we discussed the Up. His biggest talking point was the 5 star safety rating. As far as I would be concerned, safety ratings are the least important since a lot of cars have 5 star these days and even cars from 6 years ago protect the occupants well in an accident. I would be pushing the bigger car feel as the TV ads are doing.

[Astron Boy]

I've only seen 1 on the road in Sydney, and it was a dealers model to advertise the car.

[nightphotographer]

That's weird - we've apparently sold a one or two out here in Albury/Wodonga (and surrounds) - that surprised me considering the amount of 4WDs and Bogan-mobiles we have on our streets. Can't wait to see them in the flesh though.

[phaeton]

Only seen dealer demo OTR so far in my area, am always on the look out.

Having driven one I'm a big fan of the concept of little car that thinks its a big car

[vwmk2]

i was talking to the vw dealer manager here a few weeks back and apparently there has been no orders taken here yet...

[wai]

If you already own your vehicle and were not thinking of updating it, then going for a more economical one might not see you spending less overall as you have to take into account the financing of the replacement. You would have to be doing huge distances to break even.

If you are thinking of updating your car, then you definitely need to look at fuel economy.

The other thing is that people are very set in their ways, particularly so in regional areas.

[GippsCC]

Well, whatever the cause, you definitely have to say you get a lot in the Up! that has never been offered by Volkswagen Australia (or other manufacturer) in this class segment before. And fixed price servicing to boot! I was tempted to take it for a spin just for the hell of it, so I was surprised no-one else had at my local dealer.

I agree with wai that people aren't going to accelerate their vehicle change-over because of it, but there's got to be some micro to light car owners out there due to retire their current wheels.

Unless its the incredible Golf Mark VII that has people biding their time....

[ziggyboy]

I have always predicted that the Up will be a flop. I'm not saying it's a bad car, it isn't, but there isn't much of a target market in Australia for it. I've discussed this with friends, relatives and workmates who are non-VW enthusiasts and none of them were interested at all. ZILTCH! The reaction is less than inspiring. They weren't bagging the Up but less than positive first impressions compared to the competition.

People in this forum don't count as we are VW enthusiasts. I wonder how many non-VW enthusiasts have actually purchased one.

[Tobes_WIR35]

I have always predicted that the Up will be a flop. I'm not saying it's a bad car, it isn't, but there isn't much of a target market in Australia for it. I've discussed this with friends, relatives and workmates who are non-VW enthusiasts and none of them were interested at all. ZILTCH! The reaction is less than inspiring. They weren't bagging the Up but less than positive first impressions compared to the competition.

People in this forum don't count as we are VW enthusiasts. I wonder how many non-VW enthusiasts have actually purchased one.

I don't think it will be a flop. I think people will be slower on the uptake because it's a new thing, and Aussies are typically pretty late adopters. There are still a lot of people over here that think a car's value lies primarily in how much raw metal and plastic it contains, and they think that they need a huge car to lug around one person, but you can see in the sales figures of the Falcon and Commodore, compared with, say, the Focus and the Cruz, that people are starting to "get it". I think the Up! will sell fairly well in Sydney and Melbourne, maybe a little less so in Brisbane, and less again in Adelaide and Perth. I think regional areas will be a very small market - everyone out there thinks they need a Landcruiser to drive to the shops in.