Bloomberg Reporter Seeking US Overlanders: Could VW or Audi Win You From Toyota, Jeep or Ford?

[William Wilkes News]

Hi — William Wilkes from Bloomberg News. I’m reporting on Volkswagen’s plans to move into more rugged SUVs and pickups in the US and would love to speak with owners who actually use Bronco, Wrangler, Tacoma, 4Runner etc. off road or for overlanding. I’m particularly interested in what capability and credibility a new VW/Audi entrant would need to earn your consideration. Brief 10–15 minute calls. DM me or email wwilkes1@bloomberg.net.

 

[MOAK]

I don’t think it possible to win over the many folks that have been burned by VW over the past decade & 1/2. I’ve used an 04 Jeep Rubicon, then a ‘96 Landcruiser, each for 11 years. Now we travel full time in a Ford F-350 with a Fourwheelcamper Grandby Flatbed. The Landcruiser was/is by far and away, the vehicle to which all others are measured. When I sold mine to a collector it had 382,000 miles on the original drivetrain and is now 30 years old. We had a VW gasser. Since new, the check engine light came on constantly. They knew the problem was a bad design, they couldn’t fix it. Once out of warranty I could not get it inspected because of the CEL. We traded it in on a RAV4 and never looked back. Earn consideration from the overlanding crowd that VW hadn’t burned? Solid front axle, body on frame, simplicity, ie- the less electronics the better, the ability to repair breakdowns in the field and last but not least, payload. Something along the lines of an Ineos Grenadier

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I wonder what the Mods and owners feel about this project taking place here on their boards?

But as for me, don't have one of the targeted vehicles. I have a GMC truck, and had an old WJ Jeep Grand Cherokee before that, and a big sized 1994 Chevy Blazer Silverado before that.

What I did see when I was in Iceland was a lot of Toyota Land Cruisers and a shortage of 4Runners for some reason. Even a few GMC Sierras.

And, at the restaurant that we enjoyed after delving into Thingviller National Park, Lindin Restaurant in Laugarvatn (where the best tomato soup I've ever tasted was served), the owner/chef drove a VW Amarok (based on the Ford Ranger?). It seemed pretty cool. He said some sort of multi link suspension. So it seems like VW already has a viable body on frame platform that can be used for a truck or SUV. The owner/chef also had an old Defender parked out front with his restaurant logo painted on the door. I don't know how long it has been since that thing moved...

Even if VW did not want to go body on frame, that's fine. Few among us would eschew a Jeep Cherokee XJ as a good platform, right? But yes there are far fewer unibody or monocoq Overlanding vehicles out there.

At any rate VW owns the previous US based International Scout and they say by 2028 they will begin delivering Scout vehicles. I'm sure this is a matter of testing the waters to see if they can lift their legs as high as the big dogs.

Best of luck. While the Toyota Tundra by all accounts is a great truck, they, for some reason haven't delved into the 2500 HD territory. Let's see what's going on I guess

 

[12C20]

Hi — William Wilkes from Bloomberg News. I’m reporting on Volkswagen’s plans to move into more rugged SUVs and pickups in the US and would love to speak with owners who actually use Bronco, Wrangler, Tacoma, 4Runner etc. off road or for overlanding. I’m particularly interested in what capability and credibility a new VW/Audi entrant would need to earn your consideration. Brief 10–15 minute calls. DM me or email wwilkes1@bloomberg.net.

Absolutely not.

My wife has a 2018 Atlas that has cost me more to repair than my 2008 JKU and 2016 Tacoma combined.

Even if VW could make a reliable vehicle, they’re unaffordable to repair - if you can find a shop to work on them.

Your question borders on the nonsensical.

 

[socal66]

If you look at a Jeep Wrangler which is designed to be very off-road focused and capable at the expense of on-road day to day use the vast majority of its buyers seldom go off-road. Sadly across the broad market image is more important than substance many times. If it looks the part regardless of capability many people will buy that vehicle. True off roaders and overlanders are a small segment of the overall market and whether we buy a certain vehicle it won’t come close to covering the billions of dollars needed to bring out a new model.

That said I think that a huge barrier to the acceptance of a VW entrant into the “tough” truck and SUV market of the US is the VW nameplate. The brand doesn’t have that image in the mind of American consumers. A VW truck would probably be treated like a Honda Ridgeline competitor if anything. VW would be better served to produce these vehicles under a different brand identify perhaps expanding the product line of their Scout brand.