Driven, Then Driven Away

 

1. Unfortunately the US market has been force feed automatics for years and manual transmissions are seen to be for oddballs only it appears.

   The dsg gearboxes VW fit to their cars are pretty slick though having owned one and seen it do the PRNDS death flash on one occasion (in this case the key switch lost communication with the gearbox interlock) I am a bit wary of them. Its a shame they don’t import the Skoda or SEAT range into the US as its the same VW chassis but a lot less money.

   You should take a spin in a VW with the 2.0 turbo gasser Drew its a decent engine. Pretty good torque and it spins up to 6500rpm if you need acceleration.

   We currently have a 2.0l Audi diesel with the 170Hp lump. This one has the PD injectors not the common rail on the current range. What I don’t like about diesels now is the amount of garbage attached. The particulate filter on ours has been taken out and the box welded back up but that also needs an ecu recoding. Obviously this is an “off road only” modification The DPF’s are notorious for filling up with ash and they are stupidly expensive to replace. Then on the new common rail engines they are getting a rash of high pressure fuel pump failures. Again very costly to fix.

   Here in the UK diesel is more expensive than petrol and whilst diesels get better mileage. They cost more initially and with all the stuff to go wrong on them now I am not sure I would buy another one now.

   Posted by LyndonB       05/21/2014  at  03:28 AM  



2. The last manual I drove was the ‘worst’ (car magazines - first car I ever owned that I got over 100,000 miles) car of the year (Oldsmobile Firenza) - we loved it and drove it in Germany on the autobahn with the gauges going around a second time.

   I miss driving a manual and at our po’ status - won’t be getting one soon. My best friend had an MGB her hubby bought from the factory in Britain - and I tooled around Lawton, OK at 50 one day - did not realize how much I missed driving a stick.

   I hate VW’s - I can never get them into reverse! (Driven 3 - an original beetle, a sedan and a van in Germany).

   Sadly - our (ex and I) Audi was a manual (he won’t even try to drive a manual) - and the Germans laughed at us for both the manual and of course shipping an Audi to Germany.

   Posted by wardmama4       05/21/2014  at  08:11 AM  



3. You will get alot more car and have more choices if you consider one year old lease returns instead of shiny zero miles NEW.Most have low miles and are driven by the “slugs” so wear and tear is usually at a minimum.BTW, did you try out a Miata while you were there,thats a analog dream car. No fuss,no cutesy,just fun.And yes it has no room for much more than the wife and a grocery bag but so what.
   

   Posted by Rich K       05/21/2014  at  11:36 AM  



4. No Miata. Too darn small. And frankly, they’re underpowered. The Honda S2000 ran rings around them. So did that Toyota MR2 thing.

   Posted by Drew458       05/21/2014  at  12:24 PM  



5. Sounds like you really need a 3 series beemer.Or maybe check out the new Scion FRS.
   http://www.caranddriver.com/scion/fr-s

   Posted by Rich K       05/21/2014  at  03:53 PM  



6. What about a Prius? Very good acceleration and you can wedge a piece of cardboard near one of the wheels to get the vhrmmmm sound. What’s not to like?

   Posted by TimboToo       05/22/2014  at  02:06 AM  

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