| Author | Message | ||
     Babired |
FYI in these changing times. Don't know if anyone saw this on the biz-wire last week. Pass along a/n ... or not Volkswagen Buys One Fifth of Suzuki for $2.5 Billion... What's Next? Wednesday December 9, 2009: VW Buys Suzuki Motorcycles After repeatedly expressing a burning desire to purchase a bike company-- preferably a "small, valuable motorcycle manufacturer," VW head Ferdinand Piech has now gone for the gold, announcing a $2.5 billion, one fifth stake in Suzuki. Piech is a self-professed bike junky, once stating that "I myself drive a Ducati. 180 horses and more power per kilogram weight than a 1,001-hp Bugatti." But it seems the Suzuki transaction would hit two birds with one stone: it would help Piech edge Volkswagen towards the goal of becoming the world's number one carmaker-- especially with the aided penetration of crucial emerging markets like India-- while satisfying his craving to control a motorcycle manufacturer. What will happen to the Suzuki motorcycle lineup, which includes icons like the Hayabusa and the GSX-R lineup? Presumably not much-- at least initially-- since motorcycles constitute only 16.9% of Suzuki's net sales. But the repercussions of the German/Japanese union is intriguing, to say the least... thoughts? Source: Reuters | ||
| Jrfitzny |
The last time the Germans and the Japanese teamed up....something world changing happened; I forget what though. | ||
| Hootowl |
Really well built cars? | ||
| Mndwgz |
Jeez, they could of had Buell for 1/100 the price if it was for sale, and had the whole thing instead of just a 1/5. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I think Suzuki, I think DRZ, but then again I have my own narrowly confined motives, agendas and predispositions. gives new meaning to... "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" | ||
| Midknyte |
"...I myself drive a Ducati..." how does one drive a Ducati? | ||
| Hootowl |
I wondered about that too. Perhaps he owns a Ducati, washes it on Sundays, and thinks that makes him a motorcyclist. | ||
| Hex |
how does one drive a Ducati? With a trailer, of course. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Its probably a schemantics to german, in Russian you ride a horse, you conduct a motorcycle, and you drive a car but you walk a bus ? or he could just be uber rub. | ||
| Rex |
VW had a concept three wheeler a year or so back. THey should have purchased Buell. A lot less, and the Buell name kinda sounds german. REX | ||
| Fast1075 |
They are going to team up and build submarines that deliver and launch falcons. (Message edited by fast1075 on December 16, 2009) | ||
| Skntpig |
I don't know where I read it but apparently Suzuki isn't releasing any 2010 bikes in the US. Europe and Japan are the only ones getting the BNG | ||
| Rex |
That is what I heard. I wonder if buying in to Suzuki, gives them access to the car division also? REX | ||
| Sayitaintso |
I wonder if buying in to Suzuki, gives them access to the car division also? That was along the lines of what I was thinking. A much more natural fit. Unless of course VW suddenly got a case of BMW envy and wanted to play in the 2 wheel business also (which I doubt). | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I wonder if buying in to Suzuki, gives them access to the car division also? Yes. They bought into SUZUKI. Period. Motorcycles are only 16.9% of suzuki's net sales. But who the hell would want to buy into suzuki car devision??? Oh did I say that out loud? | ||
| Malott442 |
The last time the Germans and the Japanese teamed up....something world changing happened; I forget what though. Really well built cars? What what what? I'm not going there..... rofl and wtf simultaneously! | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
Really well built cars? Anyone work on a VW from the last two decades? Suzuki will go away quickly... Bikes that fail mid corner due to 28 gauge wiring where the harness needs to flex will really boost sales. Someone just needs to bomb us back to the stone age, and feeling guilty about it, come in and, re-equiping all our destroyed manufacturing facilities with state of the art equipment, agree to purchase goods to prevent our economy from collapsing... We were the gold standard for decades because the war machines turned out consumer goods instead of bombs. Everyone copied our products... ever see the early datsun or honda four door that was a 3/4 scale copy of a '55 Chevy? We probably can't make half the stuff being sold in this country, we no longer have the personnel or facilities. Try buying An American made dress shirt, I do, they're just about impossible to get... The garment industry in NYC once produced 3/4 of the clothes sold in this country. I'd be surprised if 1% of what's being sold here is made here now. "I want it, but I don't want to pay my neighbor a decent wage to make it" is going roll us under if we all don't smarten up. | ||
| Hex |
Amen brother. | ||
| Hootowl |
My VW Jetta is the single most reliable piece of mechanical equipment I have ever owned, period. But the well built car remark was for German cars in general, not VW specifically. | ||
| Hootowl |
Oh yeah, and Amen Brother! I buy American when I can, but as you point out...it ain't easy. | ||
| Stalker |
" Anyone work on a VW in the last two decades" I can say yes I have, and I will say the brakes on my 06 Touareg are the best designed brakes out there. I will do pads and rotors on all four wheels faster and with less frustration then on any of my jeeps! Even the CJ I completely built myself. As someone that worked in a garage for 6 years and has been wrenching for 20 years (as a hobby ) they are very well designed to be repaired. Back to the main subject..... VW bought a large part of porsche last week and have started a facility in Tennessee to start building cars here. They have had a Jetta diesel in euro that was getting in excess on 70 mpg in the late 90s. Still trying to figure out why our government wouldnt let that be imported here. I guess they will just build them here then! | ||
| Sayitaintso |
My 91 TDi Jetta regularly get 50+ mpg on the highway. In town with the a/c on its in the high 30's low 40's depending on how I drive. I have nothing but good things to say about my VW....except for the cheap rubber coated plastic interior pieces. that rubber started peeling off right after the warrenty ran out, now its 1/2 gone 1/2 there. Parts of the interior look like crap but overall it still runs like a champ. I've often wondered why VW, in its long history, has never tried to emulate BMW with the motorcycle thing. | ||
| Koz5150 |
Jeez, they could of had Buell for 1/100 the price if it was for sale, and had the whole thing instead of just a 1/5. Das Buell??? no thanks! If you are going to revive Buell, do it in America, otherwise let it be. | ||
| Swampy |
I have been thinking alot about Ford. Ford Motor Company is quite a company, the Ford family is involved in making sure the company thrives. I think Buell would be a good fit there, branching out to different transportation venues, cross use of technology, bring the Buell manufacturing processes to Dearborn, that way Michigan can have a "State Motorcycle" | ||
| Prowler |
My '73 VW Bug is probably the most unreliable, uncomfortable car I've owned (next to the '62 ragtop), but it'll also be the fastest, most fun car to drive that I own......come spring time. | ||
| Rick_a |
Every manufacturer has their issues. Suzuki has had a few here and there like anybody else. | ||
| Barker |
TDI DRZ! | ||
| Barker |
Maybe they will finally bring my favorite Vee-Dub to market. The Sub $17k VW GX3. Can-am Spyder Killer? http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/articles/volkswagen _gx3.asp | ||
| Brumbear |
This I believe is much more automotive than motorcycle as Suzuki has a good piece of the Indian and eastern car sales which are significant in comparison to some western area's I watched a deutche welle piece on it the other day. | ||
| Reepicheep |
TDI DRZ! Now *that* would be cool. Wonder how they would do the uber high pressure fuel pump (which I am guessing the TDI DRZ would need). I'm guessing it wouldn't be kick start either  . | ||
| Greg_e |
I've owned a couple Suzuki based cars (Chevy Geo types), they were not bad vehicles at all! WOuld I buy another? Possibly. Would I buy the direct Suzuki car instead, possibly. They make some pretty decent little cars with high performance motors in the sport packages. Suspension is decent for the cost, comfort is decent, and they last as long as anything else in the salt and snow country where I live. Most cars rot before the running gear is wrecked here. | ||
| Greg_e |
I still don't understand the concept of these 3 wheeled motorcycles... All the downsides of a motorcycle (helmet being the big one) none of the benefits. That VW even has a roll bar, too bad they can not get it classified as a car so you could put a small windshield on it and drive without the helmet. | ||
| Xb12mel |
So, what's so new about that? the "T-Rex" has been around for years and still hasn't caught on. (don't get me wrong) I'm not criticizing, it's just that it's nothing new. (The design that is) I hope that VW uses the opportunity to make motorcycles of the traditional manner. | ||
| Slaughter |
Where is even a hint or mention of motorcycles? WSJ reports VW interest in Suzuki's small and micro cars and their foothold in Eastern markets: WSJ Article (click) |
