Quote:
Originally Posted by Vash
Last time I drove a VW is because I had no choice (mothers when I was a kid).
|
Well, if it's been that long, you might want to try again.
My VW is a lot like a GM. The biggest reason I chose it over other cars was that when I sat in it, I felt like I was sitting in my GMC pickup. The controls feel like GM; the engine sounds, performs, and feels like GM; the seats, interior layout, etc feel like GM; and so on. I have to admit, it even does one thing better than GM; I didn't buy into the stereotype of German cars having better ride and handling, but it truly does ride more comfortably AND handle better than I would expect from an equivalent GM car (and in fact, comparing specifically to two GMs that should be
better).
Of course, it's not all good news. VW engineers think the computer is always smarter than the driver, so the e-nannies turn the car into a dictatorship at times. Taking your foot off the gas pedal does not necessarily mean that the RPM will drop. When you operate lock and unlock controls, you merely give suggestions to the car as to whether it should lock or unlock doors (and there's NO manual controls!). Trying to get it locked or unlocked how you want can be frustrating. VW shares GM's awful ideas on how windshield wipers should operate when you squirt the washer; and they take it a step further, with a "teardrop" function that will run the rear wiper once more 30 seconds after you shut it off. I know that hydraulic clutches can't transmit engine vibrations, but the VW's clutch feels like it's attached to a video game. VW put in close ratio gears and no highway gear (which I think GM may have done in the V6 Camaro too -- can anyone tell me how many RPM at 70mph?).
Anyway, bitching about details aside, a modern VW is actually quite nice to drive, from a GM fan's point of view.