2012 Passat already outsold the entire 2010 Passat sales volume!

[iPinch]

The last time we had a Passat in the US was in 2010. After a year off VW replaced by it with the new and refocused 2012 Passat. So how well is the new Passat doing? Very well! It already won many comparo test and the coveted Motortrend car of the year (first time for VW since 1985). But the true testament to how well it is doing is sales numbers. With 15,951 already sold, the 2012 Passat has already out sold the entire 2010 sales volume of Passat!. Question is do you have one?

http://askavwsalesguy.com/blog/2011/...wo-months.html

[simple]

Do you have one?

Nope. Does nothing for me. I keep waiting to see one on the road but I think they have been Jettas. Maybe they were Passats? I can't tell.

Bring back the Passat Wagon...

[Yo Teach]

It ought to have done that. The previous Passat was completely invisible in the marketplace.

[cougar]

It's December... I'm not sure that really deserves an "already" considering the 2010 Passat had a base price $8k (40%!!) higher than the new one. You'd *expect* the cheaper car to sell in higher volume.

EDIT: Ah, perhaps I'm missing the bit about *when* the new Passat went on sale... probably wasn't January... Was it September? If so, then yes... that's impressive. Carry on.

[joe97]

Hardly surprising, given the sales volume in 2010, and a new and lowered price car in 2011.

[mhjett]

Comparing 2012 sales to 2010 is hardly worth anything, considering the Passat was barely "on sale" anyways in 2010.

That said, 16k sold already is promising. Saw a loaded black TDI near NYC last weekend and it looked really good. Much better than the hideous other cars in this segment (Camry, Accord, Sonata, etc.).

[VDub2625]

It may look like a Jetta XL but that's what it's supposed to be. I like them and hope they take off even more.

[WannaCorrado]

when I saw the first pics of the production US Passat, I was disappointed. When I saw one on the road, however, I was very impressed. It just looks a lot better in real life and in dark colors.

[155VERT83]

It may look like a Jetta XL but that's what it's supposed to be. I like them and hope they take off even more.

After a quick glance at the new VW parked in my neighbors driveway across the street, I mistakenly told my wife it was a Jetta (Oops). After closer inspection, I realized it's a B7 Passat. I was disappoint in my faux pas. In 2 or 3 years, I'll be looking for a used, low mileage VR6 4Motion B7 Wagon. I hope VW sells many of these bad boys.

[6cylVWguy]

This is very good news for VW. So congrats to the genius at VW who thought that selling a car in the US built to the specs of the US market was a good idea! Especially one that's a sedan.

Having said that, the question of whether I own one is a definite no. I think it's boring looking, personally and the engine choices don't really excite me all that much. I'd be in a GLI or CC before considering a Passat. I'm happy that VW still sells a couple of cars that I would actually buy.

[6cylVWguy]

In 2 or 3 years, I'll be looking for a used, low mileage VR6 4Motion B7 Wagon.

Where are you going to find one of those?

[Volvo_D]

And it all started with this....

[Jesse]

generic, but quite attractive nonetheless.

[VDub2625]

So congrats to the genius at VW who thought that selling a car in the US built to the specs of the US market was a good idea!

I wouldn't say "genius" exactly... more like the best of the dolts. Honda, Toyota, even Hyundai figured this out YEARS ago...

I'm hoping the wagon and 4motion come later, but I'm not holding my breath. VW finally realized people don't buy everyday wagons anymore, they buy entry-premium wagons and cute SUVs, and the Passat no longer fits that. Audi has it covered with the A4 though, and VW with the Tiguan.

[Mononym]

I'm a big fan of the new Passat.

[AutoUnion32]

Good job VW

I am seeing more of these recently

[SSLByron]

New vehicle outsells old vehicle that manufacturer had effectively discontinued. Fanboys rejoice. News at 11:00.

Seriously, I'm glad VW built a car worth selling, but this isn't a story about how good the new Passat is. It's a story about how poor of an effort VW made with the last one in the U.S.

[.LSinLV.]

the build quality is sub-par....rattling in the rear deck, the roof hand-holds flex far more than the previous model (which we traded in on a 12' touareg).

we would have bought a new passat, but it's NOTHING like the older B6 on when dealing with build quality.

the touareg has more of the tight fit and finish. I think they lowered their engineering in the new passat to be able to sell it at the low price point.

[Vamped]

Dont have one, dont want one.............VW is so boring these days!

[Aonarch]

Hardly surprising, given the sales volume in 2010, and a new and lowered price car in 2011.

[Brendan@bwalkauto]

Seriously, I'm glad VW built a car worth selling, but this isn't a story about how good the new Passat is. It's a story about how poor of an effort VW made with the last one in the U.S.

Well, to be fair, the B6 was an excellent car. It just didn't offer what American's want at that price point. In the high $20k range, it better be big, have the latest tech goodies, and a huge trunk, and a reputation of being reliable.

[bzcat]

VW stop importing the 2010 Passat sedan midway through the model year so this shouldn't come as a shock. Basically, there was only a handful of 2010 Passat sedans available vs. a crap load of CC in 2010.

[6cylVWguy]

I wouldn't say "genius" exactly... more like the best of the dolts. Honda, Toyota, even Hyundai figured this out YEARS ago...

I was being a bit sarcastic there. For some reason VW thought that most Americans would buy their Euro-centric products in the same quantity as they did for the original Beetle. And yet, model after model, year after year, they somehow didn't realize that time passed VW by in that respect and they still kep giving us car that only people like myself would buy. Good for me, bad for VW. I hope VW doesn't get too crazy though and Americanize everything they sell. As long as they keep the Golf line largely euro-based in design and features, I'll be able to sleep at night.

[6cylVWguy]

VW stop importing the 2010 Passat sedan midway through the model year so this shouldn't come as a shock. Basically, there was only a handful of 2010 Passat sedans available vs. a crap load of CC in 2010.

Well considering that the passat has only been on the market for what, 3-4 months, I'd say that selling as many passats in around half the time is pretty darn good!

[VDub2625]

I was being a bit sarcastic there. For some reason VW thought that most Americans would buy their Euro-centric products in the same quantity as they did for the original Beetle. And yet, model after model, year after year, they somehow didn't realize that time passed VW by in that respect and they still kep giving us car that only people like myself would buy. Good for me, bad for VW. I hope VW doesn't get too crazy though and Americanize everything they sell. As long as they keep the Golf line largely euro-based in design and features, I'll be able to sleep at night.

Oops, right over my head

They were tricked by their own wolf in sheep's clothing, the Jetta. Euro-style and basically a Golf, disguised as a compact sedan that we so love here. It was such a good seller that even VW was convinced that was what we really wanted You can't sneak that by in the Passat segment because it's exactly the same car as over there

(yes the Jetta is sold in Europe too, but it's so low volume, probably for the same reasons the Golf is low volume here)

[Hajduk]

In 2 or 3 years, I'll be looking for a used, low mileage VR6 4Motion B7 Wagon. I hope VW sells many of these bad boys.

So when are you moving to Europe?

[Golgo-13]

[kiznarsh]

As long as they keep the Golf line largely euro-based in design and features, I'll be able to sleep at night.

I'm with you on that

I love that my GTI has a Euro feel to it and I even did a couple of mods to make it more European, with the Euro headlight switch so I can drive with just the city lights at dusk and the Euro-spec R32 smoked tail lights that came from Germany. I now only have 1 reverse light since the other one is the rear fog light but knowing it's Euro-spec makes it more fun to drive and own for me.

[AutoUnion32]

the touareg has more of the tight fit and finish. I think they lowered their engineering in the new passat to be able to sell it at the low price point.

...And the Touareg also costs 2-3x the price of a Passat

[Vision33r]

A lot has to do with the fact that cheap money is back and cheaper finance rate.

[randy]

I work at a Fortune 500 company. We have reserved parking for our top executives. There is one guy who has had in his spot a Lexus 450 sedan (hybrid something or other), a Maserati, and a Mercedes GLK in the past.

Yesterday, I walked by and he's got a brand new 2012 Passat. This car does look good, it's classy yet elegant.

[iPinch]

I work at a Fortune 500 company. We have reserved parking for our top executives. There is one guy who has had in his spot a Lexus 450 sedan (hybrid something or other), a Maserati, and a Mercedes GLK in the past.

Yesterday, I walked by and he's got a brand new 2012 Passat. This car does look good, it's classy yet elegant.

[VarianceVQ]

I work at a Fortune 500 company. We have reserved parking for our top executives. There is one guy who has had in his spot a Lexus 450 sedan (hybrid something or other), a Maserati, and a Mercedes GLK in the past.

Yesterday, I walked by and he's got a brand new 2012 Passat. This car does look good, it's classy yet elegant.

I wonder how many places your company fell on the list.

[.LSinLV.]

...And the Touareg also costs 2-3x the price of a Passat

but the build quality was my point. my B6 had MUCH better build quality, more on par with the new Touareg than the new Passat.

it's a nice car, but you get what you pay for, and you are not paying for materials and engineering like you did in the B6.

the two cars are night and day.

[2.0T_Convert]

I wonder if the Passat is eating into Jetta sales now that both cars are present on lots. Depending on incentives it looks like the Passat SE is very close in price to a Jetta SEL or even the volume SE with sunroof package.