Post #276,801
12/27/06 2:38:22 PM
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Automobile Magazine: VW GTI 2007 is "Car of the year".
[link|http://news.techwhack.com/4912/volkswagen-gti-2007/|Link]: Automobile Magazine has said that they are naming the Volkswagen AG GTI as their car of the year.
o o o
The car price starts at under $23,000 and it comes loaded with 200-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. The car can touch 60 mph in mere 6.6 seconds.
This is not all. It offers highway fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon. I guess things like reliability are not a factor. Motor Trends "car of the year" is the [link|http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/112_0701_2007_coty_2007_toyota_camry|2007 Toyota Camry]. Alex
When fascism comes to America, it'll be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis
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Post #276,810
12/27/06 4:41:02 PM
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VW is very reliable.
Toyota is also very reliable.
However, the Camry is snore-inducingly anodyne[0], and the AG (aka the VW Golf) at least pretends to be interesting.
And, let's face it, looks much, much nicer.
Pretty (for a hatchback):
[image|http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/334997570_544296ad39.jpg||||]
ZzZzZz:
[image|http://www.itnetwerk.com/photography/albums/userpics/10019/Toyota%20Camry.jpg||||]
Aside: I would have said that my car of the year was the new baby Aston, and look at what's at the bottom of the linked article!
[0]I am aware that for some people this is a plus point.
Peter
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Post #276,817
12/27/06 6:11:38 PM
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A friend of mine took the GTI for a test drive recently.
Unfortunately he's been going on about it ever since. Being able to chirp the tyres in third gear can do that to a person, apparently.
Two out of three people wonder where the other one is.
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Post #276,818
12/27/06 6:37:13 PM
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That's [Volkswagen AG] [GTI], not [Volkswagen] [AG GTI]
They seem to be ignoring that it's a Volkswagen Golf GTI altogether, basically actually calling it just a "Volkswagen GTI" (as if there weren't also, or had never been, or couldn't very well be tomorrow, a Polo GTI, a Passat GTI, a Scirocco GTI, etc) -- but they also call the brand by the full (lawyerly) company name. (So what you seem to have thought was the Yank-market version of the model name is actually ze Cherman version of "Inc", "Co", or "Ltd".)
Both are, IMnshO, prime cases of Damn Stupid Nomenclature, but at least the drop-the-actual-model-name thingy is nothing new from the Yank motoring meeja; they used to gabble about "Pontiac Trans Am" and "Pontiac Firebird" as if they were actually different models, pretending the Trans Am wasn't actually just the high-performance variant of the Firebird model of the Pontiac brand, to take just one old example I vividly recall.
Dunno if the other candidates were Ford Motor Company this-and-thats, Toyota Inc Boromobiles, Dr Ing. h. C. F. Porsche Gmbh & Co. KG Caymans, etc, in stead of just Ford this-and-thats, Toyota Boromobiles, Porsche Caymans, and so on, as normal people like you and me would say. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if they were, though.
[link|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode|Christian R. Conrad]
(I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.)
Ah, the Germans: Masters of Convoluted Simplification. — [link|http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1603|Jehovah]
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Post #276,819
12/27/06 6:59:26 PM
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re Different models that aren't...
The practice of giving the same car different names is very common in Australia. Probably to make our small market look a bit bigger :)
e.g. You can buy a Holden Commodore, Berlina or Calais - and you get the same body shape, the names are just for different levels of trim. Same with the Ford Falcon, Futura, and Fairmont.
Other companies have done similar things in the past. Nissan used to sell the Pintara and the Skyline. Same body, just different engines. Toyota are doing it now with the Camry and the Aurion.
As for the GTI - I don't think either the Golf or the Polo GTI's sold here have anything but a 'GTI' badge on them.
Two out of three people wonder where the other one is.
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Post #276,862
12/28/06 1:14:21 PM
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Re: VW is very reliable.
Well looking at the [link|http://www.online.consumerreports.org/homepage/default.html|Consumer Reports] past record shows electrical problems much worse than average and fuel system, body integrity and body hardware worse than average.
Engine, cooling, transmission, A/C, suspension, brakes, and paint/trim are better than average.
Drive system, A/C, exhaust, and power equipment are much better than average.
These are based on feedback of consumer experience.
Alex
When fascism comes to America, it'll be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis
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Post #276,865
12/28/06 1:39:48 PM
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VW is really several manufacturers.
Much of the reported electrical problems with recent VWs were with the [link|http://drizzten.com/blargchives/000205.html|ignition coils on the 1.8 liter turbo engines]. TDIs don't use coils, so that's not an issue with them. I believe the V-6 engines used different coils as well. VW eventually resolved the problems with the coils.
I can't comment on the other issues you cite.
VW makes cars for the US in Germany and in Mexico. The quality of cars from the two countries varies. If one is interested in VW, one really needs to know the point of origin of the car and not pay as much attention the brand rating as a whole.
One should see what CR has to say, but I think one should generally take it as a starting point and not as the final word on manufactured goods. That said, car brands that consistently have high reliability ratings are certainly more appealing than brands that don't - if all else is equal... ;-)
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #276,867
12/28/06 2:09:34 PM
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Looking at it that way, which car company isn't?
Koenigsegg and Morgan come to mind, but not much else...
[link|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode|Christian R. Conrad]
(I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.)
Ah, the Germans: Masters of Convoluted Simplification. — [link|http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1603|Jehovah]
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Post #276,870
12/28/06 2:41:37 PM
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McLaren.
McLaren F1:[image|http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:wSjYPSfea25WpM:http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/07/mclarenf1lm95_02.jpg|0|McLaren F1|98|130] ;-) Ok, I wasn't as clear as I hoped to be. Consumer Reports loved the Passat for many years - it was their top-rated mid-size sedan for several years recently: E.g. Overview: The Passat continues to be defined by a solid, luxurious feel; comfortable, quiet ride; capable handling; and an interior that exudes quality. Those strengths and advanced safety gear unavailable on some competitors make the Passat among the top choices in this segment. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers lively performance; the V6 is quiet and strong. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly, but the standard five-speed manual improves the driving experience. AWD is available but it makes the car slower and thirstier. The economical turbo-diesel engine that debuted in 2005 returned 28 mpg overall in our testing. Overall reliability has been spotty for various engines and body styles. Last emphasis added. If one had a 1.8T Passat with coil problems, one probably wouldn't be too happy with it if one was stranded by coil failure. I believe all the Passats are made in Germany. The New Beetle, OTOH, is generally made in Mexico: Overview: The New Beetle, introduced in 1998, is a thoroughly modern hatchback that bears a nostalgic family resemblance to the VW "Bug" discontinued in the 1970s. In our tests, we found the car's ride to be good, and its handling nimble. The 2.0-liter four cylinder accelerates adequately but was noisy. A more economical diesel is also offered. The front seats are firm and supportive. The rear is cramped though the seats fold for increased cargo space. The New Beetle has performed notably well in crash tests, but reliability has been sub par. A quicker turbocharged model was added for 1999. A convertible joined the line for 2003. Emphasis added. Without a breakdown of 1.8T versus 2.0 versus 1.9TDI, it's hard to make predictions of reliability of a particular VW. It's widely believed that German New Beetles (e.g. early convertables and early sport models) were of higher quality than those assembled in Mexico. Comparisons among various Toyotas are much easier because the engine choices are much more limited (1.6 versus 1.8 in most years) even if you're comparing among, say, a Japanese and a US and a Canadian Corolla. That's all I was trying to say. :-) Cheers, Scott. (Who recognizes that it's just handwaving so far. ;-)
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Post #276,871
12/28/06 2:52:13 PM
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On the New Beetle.
It's a Golf in a frock, and it doesn't wear it well. I've not driven one, but I know a couple of people who've taken them for test drives and the reaction has always been the same: it just doesn't handle nicely and they're small inside. And one of the people who said that is someone I'd previously taken as a driver who wouldn't notice the difference if they were driving a Smart or a Maybach.
Plus, it's a cynical, tepid remix of a car that was actually fairly shit to begin with.
Two thumbs down.
Peter
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Post #276,872
12/28/06 3:04:30 PM
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Agreed. It's a boutique car.
I briefly looked at one on a dealer's lot when getting my Jetta TDI. The interior has an awful lot of hard shiny plastic - like on the top of the door (where one would rest one's arm). It seems like a very cheap car - interior-wise.
It's a car for those who are interested in grabbing attention by driving something different. It's probably an ideal car for students at UCLA. I like the fact that VW brought it back. It showed that there was interest in cars that didn't look like a Corolla/Civic/Sentra/etc. and got the domestic manufacturers to do more to make their cars look different.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with sharing chassis - if it's done right. The Audi TT shares a lot with the New Beetle, but it's a much better car. Of course, it costs 2+ times as much, but there you are. Apparently the Nissan 350Z shares a lot with the Murano (and it's one of the reasons why the Z is heavier than many would like). If it's done right, sharing components makes sense and everyone benefits.
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #276,883
12/28/06 6:06:10 PM
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Sharing is good.
The Mitsubishi Lancer and Mirage from a few years ago weren't quite two different cars: there was a lot of overlap. Several engine options were the same, and a lot of the body and trim was the same, too. It was one of the more obvious cases I've seen of how to save money making two 'different' car models. But it was done well.
Wade.
"Don't give up!"
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Post #276,876
12/28/06 4:08:12 PM
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Disagree on the original - it met its design goal perfectly
As the "people's" car, anyone could fix one, they were cheap to buy and to run. There's a reason the bug and bus became icons of hippie lifestyle - helped in part by the [link|http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101|Compleat Idiot] books. Filled with helpful hints on how to get your engine rebuilt while camping by the side of the road and suggestions on bartering for machining work - any fool - including me who rebuilt my bus engine from scratch with no prior knowledge - could own, operate, and maintain one of these things.
For people with more time than money, it was a smashing success.
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Post #276,878
12/28/06 4:12:19 PM
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Mod parent up, +5 Insightful. <//.>
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Post #276,879
12/28/06 4:13:43 PM
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All true.
And it was still crap.
Peter
[link|http://www.no2id.net/|Don't Let The Terrorists Win]
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Post #276,913
12/29/06 5:32:12 AM
12/29/06 5:35:07 AM
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Then too, it's (still) good enough for Bob Pease
Guru at National Semiconductor, maybe the only Rock-class lectronics columnist ever? (Electronic Design) .. known quite beyond his field: just for the great writing + quips; trekker of the Himalayas, raconteur - and driving exclusively early Beetles, each one maintained so as to beat the usual MTBF (before it's finally retired, just shy of Aloha-Airlines-style 'metal fatigue' failure.)
OK he's a curmudgeon, but one likely to be well aware of airbags, ABS (and of the current beer-can skin thickness dictated by Econ, fashion and a certain amount of F=MA econ-omy.) One of the few, the bright, the unMurican Ones who possess a comprehension of the word, adequacy.
I too find much not to like about the bug, but agree it was the first skillfully executed Actual 'People's Car' (may still..? be built in Argentina) and is OK transport if your driving skill is above average and your attention span (for avoidance of UAVS/cel-fones) is equally good. Someone must have tabulated the cumulative miles (deaths?) since s/n #1.
We have to recall the state of US lead barges / Insolent Chariots \ufffd when the first two-piece rear window bugs arrived. Snapped up by the first Greenies. (I'd never consider a car whose gas tank is just.. in front of my knees, thankyouverymuch.)
OK I lie: I WILL accept a Porsche anytime offered.
Not-so-funny VW story:
A cohort managed to off self, while tuning carb/mixture - a hazard when parts you need to fiddle force your snout too close to THE EXHAUST. And you don't Pay ATTENTION... for not. all. That. long. And yes, he knew enough chemistry :-/
(Altogether, now: Knowing's Not Enough)
Edited by Ashton
Dec. 29, 2006, 05:35:07 AM EST
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Post #276,869
12/28/06 2:34:42 PM
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Re: VW is really several manufacturers.
One should see what CR has to say, but I think one should generally take it as a starting point and not as the final word on manufactured goods. That said, car brands that consistently have high reliability ratings are certainly more appealing than brands that don't - if all else is equal... ;-) Which it never is. I'm sure a lot of people walk away from Subaru cars solely because of the interiors, which are almost uniformly crap. And yet when I had a 2L Legacy for a 500-mile trip, I was most impressed with it. Comfy, quiet-ish, quick, and it felt very planted on the road. The interior was shit, though. Cars are complex things and if you buy a modern one expecting it never, ever to break, then you'll be disappointed. A good website for car owner opinions is [link|http://www.carsurvey.org|Car Survey].
Peter
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Post #277,036
12/31/06 12:14:36 AM
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I know a number of people who will never buy VW again
because of problems with VW's they'd owned and frankly, although I think VW makes interesting cars, I've seen much better looking hatchbacks.
--Tony
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