VW's new storage unit

[BLAIR]

The 2 photos above were taken at Volkswagen's new storage facility in Wolfsburg, Germany. The actual space that the facility occupies is approximately only 20% of a comparable facility with the traditional design that is used primarily in the US. Not only is the German structure less expensive to build, but vehicles are also "retrieved" in less time and without the potential of being damaged by an attendant. Collecting your new car is an event in itself. "In a fully automated procedure, your new car is brought down to you from one of the 20-story Car Towers. Large signboards in the Customer Center show you when your turn has come. Then, you're handed the keys, your picture is taken, the glass doors open and your brand-new car appears. You're all set to go"

[Andy]

I remember reading about this a while back. Gotta give it to VW for some cleaver design.

[ScottyB]

that rocks! i'd really like to tour the phaeton factory too, i think it has a totally "open floor plan" design, wood floors, all really nicely done.

[Feersty]

Very cool, too bad the cars still have electrical issues

[ViPER1313]

Nonsensical retort

[BLAIR]

Very cool, too bad the cars still have electrical issues

wow.. thanks for that wonderful helpful info that retains to this post. hey.. can you come pick me up? my vw broke (electrical problem)

Ive owned 9 VWs and never once had an electrical problem. at least if your going to make a USELESS POST say something that you can back up, besides just something you read on the internet somewhere

[PGK]

and our BMW motorcycles at work still come in wooden crates.

so, is this just for people who pick up their cars at the factory?

[Sijray21]

Very cool, too bad the cars still have electrical issues

i've had more electrical issues in my honda then i've had in my (now parted out) '86 VW :lol:

thanks for the insightful post :roll:

that's pretty nuts for just retreiving your cars! i'd like to see it in action and use it.

[Jeff]

So is it for picking them up new at the factory? Do they do direct to customer selling over there? Or is this a dealer?

[Ginger]

It reminds me, in a vauge way, of the Maybach facility. Not in the super luxurious sense, but the way that they've taken a really boring part of automaking and turned it into a showcase for the customer. It's cool to see manufacturers realize that competition isn't strictly monetary - the more they can tailor the experience then the more people will want to have something do with it. Neat!

[Andy]

A lot of the euro brands sells packages that allow you to pick up your car at the factory which I assume this is. You save a few thousand on the price of the car which then pays for the sweet trip to europe.

[G.Irish]

Wow that's a pretty impressive feat that they can be cost competitive with a traditional facility. I wonder if the design would work well (cost competitive) for parking garages in major cities where parking is a problem like New York or Tokyo.

[Mike]

I wonder if the design would work well (cost competitive) for parking garages in major cities where parking is a problem like New York or Tokyo.

i'm thinking they actually got the idea from japan... remember all those car elevator things?

[Hunter]

I don't really understand how that is going to be less expensive to build than a traditional storage garage, but oh well.

Feersty, dont get VW's confused with my BMW. I know their both german, but I think the electrical system in my car was designed as a 6th grade class project for some students growing up in munich.

[Dragon]

I wonder if the design would work well (cost competitive) for parking garages in major cities where parking is a problem like New York or Tokyo.

i'm thinking they actually got the idea from japan... remember all those car elevator things?

Exactly, didn't you see Tokyo Drift. :lol:

[Maengelito]

Feersty, dont get VW's confused with my BMW. I know their both german, but I think the electrical system in my car was designed as a 6th grade class project for some students growing up in munich.

i've heard that the north american vw's and audis (built in mexico since the late 90s) all have electrical problems per feersty's comment. i've never owned one, but anecdotal stories from a few people i've known that had a vw or audi say that something electrical related has failed on their car. and driving around, i seem to notice that vw's and audis have either a brake light or headlight out more than most other models. sorry for perpetuation feersty's offtopic rant. that car storage area does look really cool

[Feersty]

I don't really understand how that is going to be less expensive to build than a traditional storage garage, but oh well.

Feersty, dont get VW's confused with my BMW. I know their both german, but I think the electrical system in my car was designed as a 6th grade class project for some students growing up in munich.

Understandable. I didn't bring it up because I had never heard of people having problems but rather that I had heard people stating that it was a common issue, and considering Audi has issues as well and being owned by VW, the problems upon a very mediocre observation seemed to have propetuated.

I also see the rand0m brake lights and running lights on and off like Maeng stated.

[BLAIR]

since when did a burnt out bulb become an electrical PROBLEM?

[Maengelito]

i'm just stating that i notice that vw's and audis are far more common for goin padiddle, not necessarily saying its because of some haywire electrical nightmare

[G.Irish]

Ive owned 9 VWs and never once had an electrical problem.

Good lord I think we have a winner for most cars owned of one make! Then again maybe Jeff is close...