Shakespeare asked what is in name. With somewhat less poetry, Volkswagen asked what's in a price, that which we call a Jetta. To find out, VW chopped off $1,700 from the base cost for one of the best new car prices of the year.
Such a move has put the Volkswagen mantra of 'Das Autos' on more shoppers radars. By putting the price comparable to competing Corolla and Civic, more shoppers are putting the German automaker on their radar when they shop. The result is in increase in the VW Jetta Sedan, Jetta diesel, and Jetta wagon for sale figures.
The interesting bit though is while the base price has dropped and more people are firing up the Volkswagen dealer locator to pay a visit. The actual average price per a Jetta has not moved much. Tiered package cost and upgrade options has kept new car prices still close to Volkswagens best interest.
In fact interest has nearly doubled for a car that seemed to be known more for its Jetta diesel counterpart as one of the best diesel mpg cars than for its midsized pricing. However that base MSRP number in the window is not the only thing helping VW.
Truth is, Volkswagen is getting some unexpected help. Due to supply shortages, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic Coupe for sale numbers fell to the floor after the Japan earthquake disaster. Such small numbers meant choices on the car search engine shrank and shoppers were left to explore new options.
No longer able to find those Honda Civic Coupe's for sale, shoppers found that Volkswagen and that opened them up to the world that is Jetta. Cheaper base price, an option as one of the best diesel mpg cars in the TDI, many became more opened to the fact that there is a Jetta wagon for sale.
So shoppers stopped checking their car search engine and started checking their Volkswagen dealer locator to find show rooms. What they found is a midsized German car in supply and with a heritage of quality that rivaled their prior Japanese counterparts. What's in a price? Quite a bit when customers buy in.