Volkswagen Fox

[wuvvum]

Not strictly shite-related, but it's something that struck me today (not literally). Has anyone else noticed how few of these things there seem to be on the roads? Considering they're a supermini made by one of the largest car manufacturers in the world, they seem to be selling like Cornettos in Greenland. I saw one on the way to work today, and it's the first one I'd seen in ages. In fact I've seen more Alfa Breras, Ferrari 360s, Lamborghinis and Audi A2s (two of each) in the last fortnight than I've seen Foxes. Does anyone know if there's a reason for this? After the success of the Polo and the relative popularity of the Lupo it's a bit surprising.

[reallyloud]

Maybe the public are not as stupid as VW think. The bland styling looks like it pre-dates the Lupo - not only that, one cannot be 100% sure of Brazilian build quality.

[Jazzy Jeff]

There's quite a few around here, sadly.

[Guest]

I don't think you can advertise a car as being cheap without people getting snobby about it nowadays. "A Fox? Pfft. That's the poor people version, I'll have the Golf thanks."

[pogweasel]

I have seen a couple. Maybe more, but they are ultra-bland and escape my attention.Plus they are not -very- cheap. "VW" customers (retired home counties women) will buy a Polo. Budget motorists will buy a KA or a Picanto or, well something good....

[Jazzy Jeff]

I don't think you can advertise a car as being cheap without people getting snobby about it nowadays. "A Fox? Pfft. That's the poor people version, I'll have the Golf thanks."

That's the thing though, Foxes are one of the most snobby cars in the world. How many Fox owners would buy one if it was called the Brasilia Amazonia? Not very many. But because it's a Volkswagen suddenly it is socially acceptable.That's my take anyway.

[Guest]

Both points are valid really, VW people won't like buying the "entry-level" one and non-VW people will just be happy it is a "fancy" make.However, you could buy 10 Charmants instead. If you could find that many.

[Betaphile]

Doesn't help that the Lupo was an eminently agreeable and thoroughly decent little car......and the Fox is just a waste of space. 'Most everyone apart from VW dealers admits that the Lupo was just a better device, period.

[Karmann Ghiaman]

It's not really a Supermini, is it? Just a much cheaper, smaller, underpowered, rather ugly version of the Polo which is itself a less-snazzy Golf. Isn't it that manufacturers feel obliged to make it look like they're providing cars within everybody's budget? So VW chuck in a few Foxes. I've seen a few round Notts, though they're still outnumbered by Rovers & Protons.

[Mr Lobster]

Not many around these parts either, it does seem that they are too expensive to be a cheap small car and not posh enough for any badge snobs.That and they are bland and unremarkable means most people don't even consider them when going small car shopping I would imagine.

[bones96]

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new_cars/foxthey dont look to bad to me

[Milford Cubicle]

The specced-up ones are passable, but you'll pay a whopping £6,590 for one with black bumpers and boggo-spec. Definite future-shite.

[reallyloud]

7k for a sub-supermini is a lot. If it had some twist or innovation - like say the Fiat 500 or Mitsubishi I, then you wouldn't question it. I've been looking at a new shape Fiat Panda as a replacement for my daily driver, and that makes more sense than a VW Fox will ever make.

[binhoker668]

Aye mate - drove my Mum's new shape Panda t'other week. Was sceptical at first, but they're actually well tight wee cars.Can recommend.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

As a Lupo fan, I hate the Fox. It's so god damn boring. I can't remember ever actually seeing one on the road, but then I might have seen loads and just thought they were something else.

[r.welfare]

I drove a Lupo 1.0 once. They seemed to be the "Group A" hire car of choice from Avis for a time. I'm not sure why they should be seen as better than the base Fox, because I'm sure that the Fox has rear seats you could actually use and a boot that will take more than Jimmy White's snooker cue.I could get more excited about a diesel or GTI Lupo though, whereas the Fox is just basic, basic transportation for those who must have a VW badge. I reckon you'd see more if VW discontinued the 1.2 Polo which ain't that much more expensive on a like-for-like basis, and at least it's a known quantity. Are you all sure it's smaller than a Polo? I'm pretty sure it's bigger - at least, taller anyhow, so it's not compromised on interior room like the Lupo was. Kinda looks like a low-rent Golf Plus to me - should I have gone to SpecSavers?Agree that £6,590 list is a fair wedge, but then the list price for the basic KA is actually £7,095 Must admit that if I was in the market for such a car, I'd either get a broker-sourced Panda Multijet diesel for £6k, or buy a KA for £5k and spend the saving on lashings of Waxoyl and a dehumidifier for my garage

[Albert Ross]

I've only seen one, and it was in our salvage yard at work. It had a heavy front and nearside rear quarter hit.....I'd guess 18 inches shorter, 6 inches narrower, and about 3 inches taller (on one side) Was totalled, but the doors still opened, and the seat runners still worked, and it drove onto the truck taking it away. Let's see a Fiat do that.............Vw build quality even if it is from elsewhere.

[Mr Lobster]

Aye mate - drove my Mum's new shape Panda t'other week. Was sceptical at first, but they're actually well tight wee cars.Can recommend.

I'll second that! We have a few Pandas at work and they are a better car than I expected, quite nice to drive and reasonably nippy. If you are after a small, new car then you could do a lot worse.

[outlaw118]

Agree with all points made so far; Fox is bland and too dear seeing as its made by children in Brazil for £173.97, and at least the Lupo had character.New Panda; lovely little thing, unless you are broad, and then the interior is a little "restrictive" width ways.The sales chappie who tried to flog me one when we were buying Madams 206 was a largish chap, and I'm biggish too, and we could barely shut the doors!! Head room great though!

[AnthonyG]

Whats the price of the cheapest Polo? - I bet a lot of potential Fox buyers get sold a Polo when they're at the showroom.

[stoterstangen90]

I drove a Lupo 1.0 once.

The one with the skoda estelle engine, with 3 mainbearings, pushrods, etc.

[r.welfare]

Was it? You could be right. It seemed just as wheezy as the OHV 1.4 Skoda Fabia my in-laws suffer with.

[andrewp]

VW may sell more if they bought this version over, just perfect for "the olds" to take garden rubbish to the tip and the labrador should not feel too embarrassed in the back. P.S. Agree with comments on a new Panda multijet for £6k being probably best new mini-hatch.

 

[Karmann Ghiaman]

Got One!

 

 

This is just about perfect. Three years old and obviously still running on the first tankful of petrol ever inserted. And what a delightful colour. (Pity this wasn't taken from the Ghia, which would have made an interesting Volkskontrast, but from a contemporary Polo).

[mk2_craig]

...whuh?? The maximum age a 57-plate car will be is 370 days

[Jazzy Jeff]

I'm amazed at the rarity factor these appear to have everywhere else according to you all on here. There are bloody loads in Sheffield and it's environs. I must see about 4 or 5 every day. (Working near a VW Garage probably helps too I admit.)

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The Fox is a shocking thing. It's pig ugly and they're bloody huuuge. The Lupo was great, the Seat Arosa somehow better. The Fox is a turd that hit the water and sank straight away. They don't sell many.Compare that to the Ka which has sold in huge numbers and still looks as weird today as it did 12 years ago.The Ka will go down as classic bit of design. I'd say 50/50 on the love hate aspect (I've had 2, both new and both superb) and if you shop around you'll get a new base model for around £5700. They do rot well, but hey, for £5700 and ten years of motoring it's not really a problem.

[Marty]

Looks big....

 

Looks fUgly