Volkswagen South Africa produces one-millionth Polo at its Kariega plant
Posted by JoburgBBC@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 8 comments
Posted by JoburgBBC@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 8 comments
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
South Africa is good place for German automakers. BMW also exports their SA models to worldwide.
durrtyurr@reddit
My cousin used to have a 3-series made in the dirty south at Rosslyn. It seemed well-made to me. What I've never understood is that the 3-series/C-class/A4 reviews always cite a lack of rear legroom, but they're all made in long wheelbase versions for the Chinese market. Why not just sell the LWB variant here instead? It already exists, this isn't an engineering problem. Volvo did it with the S90 for the US market, so it isn't like there is no precedent.
Nass44@reddit
Because it cannibalizes their own sales. They want to push you to the higher model. If they offer both the normal and L spec, you just shift customers around to your lower price models. In China they only offer the L variants of the A4 and A6 afaik.
In Europe at least the A4/3-series/C-Class are seen as family cars mostly (especially as estates), you just need enough space for kids.
And for carrying 4 adults every once in a whim they’re adequate. If you want to get a long distance car with space for 4 adults you get the A6/5-series/E-Class.
durrtyurr@reddit
I've owned both an S90L and an E350. The LWB is so convenient for passengers. Those are broadly equivalent cars in most ways, but when I had to take my neighbor's dog to the vet the extra rear room in the Volvo was a massive plus. The only reason I sold the car was because my insurance rates almost doubled due to trade issues impacting the cost of repair parts. The 2023 Volvo was made in Henan, China. I straight traded it into a 2026 Honda Civic Si (Lewiston, Ontario), there was a small difference but it was so small that I was allowed it to run it on a credit card without a fee. It was Black Friday and my credit union was closed, and I snagged a few dollars of cash back. I netted out owning the S90 for less than $4000 for 18 months, that's cheaper than leasing a Mitsubishi Mirage.
feelybeurre@reddit
Keep in mind this is a different polo. A sedan châssis which feels much more low cost than the one we have here
x7im@reddit
Taken from the linked article. What do you mean by "here"?
Vaaag@reddit
Similar to in south America?
JoburgBBC@reddit (OP)