What is this, ClubEconomics?! To be honest I don't see the relevance of production costs. This is a narrow argument, not a detailed study of Volkswagen AG's profit margins. Hayesey said, "The mk5's expensive but the mk2 was worse." I said, "I bet the mk2 wasn't as bad as it seems at first glance."
What the materials and labour cost and the subsequent production cost is is directly relevant to the price you pay. But, if you study marketing then some will say that is the wrong way to price a product. Some say, you determine the price on factors such as the competitive landscape etc etc and you 'price' other parts/processes to fit this model. Looking at price indexes, inflation figures etc gives a misleading picture (potentially).
Hayesey's point was just about the price though. Besides which, if you're looking at an index of car retail prices then I'm sure industry-wide production cost variables average themselves out? Not my field of expertise really. Anyway, it's far too late for all this.
a lot of people have had probs on porka.net. also, i've yet to drive an 085 equipt car that shifts well, you'd think they were cable change boxes (most aren't).
085s are by definition rod change, and with the exception of the Passat 32b boxes are about the slickest VW boxes I've used... at least in the type 86 polos: no ridiculous linkage like the mk2 golf, no squidgy cable feel either. Still, each to their own.
Probably the case... not quite sure. On the mk1 to 3 polos, it barely counts as a linkage; one straight rod, and a lever with a ball joint at the bottom LOL not much to it.
ok guys some interesting points made here. prehaps someone would clear this up for me. i phoned a few scrappy's, vw breakers. and they didnt have a gearbox for the polo and told me they are unique to the 16v, but you guys are saying it should be an 085 box. which is true? (hope its a 085 for cost) also if it has got a box unique to this car would an 085 box fit. seems unlikely that VW would desighn a box for 1 car and not use it in, say some seats or skodas or something. unless they made it then realized it was a weak piece of poo.
it's an 085 box but it has different ratios to other 085 gearboxes. a mk3 Polo GT box is supposed to have similar ratios. but that'd be harder to find than a mk4 16v box.
aha! funny this one. our 3 year onld lupo, with 23K on the clock, has a whining gearbox! it's crunched a few times going into 4th and i've always thought it was abit noisy. but now, it whines in 3rh, WHINES in 4th and WHIIIINNNES in 5th. b4stard thing. going to ring VW in the morning, not having that.
True Japanese cars are at the forefront of 1970's production techniques. Let me explain, whereas VW are busy updating there production methods every generation (Laser Welding, Seam welding, Mig Brazing, whatever) The Jap cars are still produced with spot welds and basic Mig Welding. Where the variation in quality will be noticable is 8 to 10 years down the line when the older production methods prove the same results in bodywork as most 70's or 80's cars are after 8 to 10 years. (I'll avoid any female dogy comments about wheels falling off)
For 2nd hand bits try : http://www.247spares.co.uk I got an 020 box for my Mk2 for just over 100 from these guys and they had loads of different ratios to choose from. And it came with a bit of a guarantee.
