@B1663R: sorry i was looking for an excuse to use that picture since VW launched that stupid commercial with the talking bug that sounds an awful lot like Sgt. Shultz #volkswagen
Ah Jalopnik, so predictable - everybodys' sister's uncle's cousin's ex-girlfriend knew a guy one time with a VW and it was crap. All I know is I've got everything in the family from a 30 year old Rabbit ITC car to a 3 year old GTI daily driver owned since new with the "shite" DSG and all of them see harder service than any new Toyota or Honda will ever see on the weekends (racing, track days, autocross etc.) with no problems. Per JD Power this is impossible.
As far as the myth of the the eco-friendly nature of electrics and hybrids ask yourself 2 things -
1. Where does the battery go when it's dead and what chemical by-products were generated making it's replacement?
2. For the plug in crowd - how much pollution was made generating the electricity that was sent down the wire to charge your battery? Don't forget the transmission losses.....
How many VWs and Toyotas started the last lemons race at MSR-H and how many were running at the end?
@rickerbr: At what VW is charging these days, they should be pretty reliable. I like VWs, but the only really attractive price is on the GTI, which is enough to make one at least look at the Japanese cars.
Transmission losses are a good point...it can be up to 50% from generation to consumer. Evil losses. But refining and burning petroleum is not very efficient either, relative to the ideal. It is more fun, though. #volkswagen
@rickerbr:
1. The batteries are valuable and get recycled. NiMH and lithium aren't particularly toxic, far less than the LEAD-ACID battery in every conventional car.
2. Electric propulsion is more efficient than burning gasoline to make heat and a little forward motion. So pollution goes down even with current mix of electric generation in the USA, and gets better with natural gas generation and renewables
@brandegee: Maybe there's some aging transmission line to nowhere with 50% losses, please tell us where it is. Meanwhile average transmission & distribution losses in the USA were a mere 7% in 1995. When know-nothing anti-environmentalists bring this tired talking point up, they overlook the huge energy consumption to produce, refine, and transport gasoline. It's been said (but I haven't reviewed the math) that you can send an electric car further on the electricity it takes to make a gallon of gasoline than an internal combustion engine can travel on that gallon. #volkswagen
My friend and his dad between them own 2 Volkswagen Passats (one was practically given to them) and they have been the most unreliable pieces of garbage. Every weekend, the dad is in the garage wrenching away at something. It's either the rear trunk cable, power window regulator, a check engine light, various vacuum hoses, various valves, sensors, need I go on?
In fact, every German car since the E30, maybe the E36, is a rolling nightmare of poor design and over-engineering.
@rickerbr: Ya, VW is das junk. Has been for years.
How about VW/Audi electric window regulators that broke from 1982-2000+ before they fixed it (if, in fact they really have)? How about the leaking heater cores VW sold to the public for OVER 10 years before recalling and fixing? Just 2 examples of the NUMEROUS quality problems VW has had for DECADES!
Do some research!
VW=Overpriced Junk #volkswagen
1. VW is smart enough to anchor their floormats and has been for 10+ years.
2. VW fixed their oil sludge problems
3. VW doesn't perpetrate the myth of the eco friendly nature of Hybrids.
In Australia VW's are more expensive and less value for money than a Toyota. If Wolfsburg can change this around, then I'll believe that VW will continue to be on top for a very long time. #volkswagen
My history teacher told us that he spoke to a Polish war veteran once. Someone asked after what would Poland do if they got the double invasion treatment again - who do you go after, Germany or Russia?
The old man paused and said "Germany, then Russia. Business before pleasure."
I defy you to be more badass than that.
And on a tangentially related note I'd like to posit that Strongbow is awesome. #volkswagen
@wrx-tyrannosaurusWrx: This will bring peace in our time. (I can't believe I forgot this one. My Euro teacher in high school would be so pissed) #volkswagen
@wrx-tyrannosaurusWrx: My good friends, this is the second time there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now I recommend you go home, and sleep quietly in your beds. #volkswagen
Here's hoping they bring the Polo Bluemotion to the US market soon in an attempt to dominate the fuel economy race. If they want more market share here, a low cost, efficient car would be a good start. #volkswagen
@Jim-Bob: Because in the US consumers are interested in a hatchback smaller than the Golf with a diesel engine which is slow (0-100 km/h in ~13 sec), which has a nice interior, a manual gearbox and which is relatively expensive?
Sure, it does do 70 MPG (US) average according to the European measurements. But is that enough as a unique selling point?
Edit:
And I forgot to mention: a 3 cylinder engine...
@duurtlang: According to WhatGreenCar, the VW Polo 1.4 TDI Bluemotion +DPF gets 74.3 Imperial mpg (combined) or 3.8 litre/100km on the Euro combined cycle. That's only 1.9 mpg more than the Prius 72.4 Imperial mpg or 3.9 litre/100km, which is a big powerful car by comparison and still emits less CO2.
It would be good to have the choice to buy a smaller car and get better MPG instead of the worse MPG a Mini, Smart, or Yaris saddles you with, but unless VW can sell the Polo cheap it's unlikely to be popular. #volkswagen
@skierpage: Your innformation is about the old model Polo. They will introduce a Bluemotion based on the new Polo soon, which is supposed to be significantly more economical with its Common rail 1.6 TDI engine.
I just read that the US will not get the 3- and 5-door hatches, but will get the sedan (which we luckily don't get, because it'll be ugly) #volkswagen
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
11/10/09
I KNOW NOTHING! #volkswagen
11/10/09
11/10/09
As far as the myth of the the eco-friendly nature of electrics and hybrids ask yourself 2 things -
1. Where does the battery go when it's dead and what chemical by-products were generated making it's replacement?
2. For the plug in crowd - how much pollution was made generating the electricity that was sent down the wire to charge your battery? Don't forget the transmission losses.....
How many VWs and Toyotas started the last lemons race at MSR-H and how many were running at the end?
11/10/09
Transmission losses are a good point...it can be up to 50% from generation to consumer. Evil losses. But refining and burning petroleum is not very efficient either, relative to the ideal. It is more fun, though. #volkswagen
11/10/09
1. The batteries are valuable and get recycled. NiMH and lithium aren't particularly toxic, far less than the LEAD-ACID battery in every conventional car.
2. Electric propulsion is more efficient than burning gasoline to make heat and a little forward motion. So pollution goes down even with current mix of electric generation in the USA, and gets better with natural gas generation and renewables
@brandegee: Maybe there's some aging transmission line to nowhere with 50% losses, please tell us where it is. Meanwhile average transmission & distribution losses in the USA were a mere 7% in 1995. When know-nothing anti-environmentalists bring this tired talking point up, they overlook the huge energy consumption to produce, refine, and transport gasoline. It's been said (but I haven't reviewed the math) that you can send an electric car further on the electricity it takes to make a gallon of gasoline than an internal combustion engine can travel on that gallon. #volkswagen
11/09/09
In fact, every German car since the E30, maybe the E36, is a rolling nightmare of poor design and over-engineering.
So I ask: how? #volkswagen
11/10/09
The next fad: sodomisation without lubrication. #volkswagen
11/10/09
11/09/09
How about VW/Audi electric window regulators that broke from 1982-2000+ before they fixed it (if, in fact they really have)? How about the leaking heater cores VW sold to the public for OVER 10 years before recalling and fixing? Just 2 examples of the NUMEROUS quality problems VW has had for DECADES!
Do some research!
VW=Overpriced Junk #volkswagen
11/10/09
11/09/09
2. VW fixed their oil sludge problems
3. VW doesn't perpetrate the myth of the eco friendly nature of Hybrids.
oh and Deustchland Uber Alles... #volkswagen
11/09/09
11/09/09
Good on 'em! #volkswagen
11/09/09
< #volkswagen
11/09/09
The old man paused and said "Germany, then Russia. Business before pleasure."
I defy you to be more badass than that.
And on a tangentially related note I'd like to posit that Strongbow is awesome. #volkswagen
11/09/09
11/09/09
11/09/09
11/09/09
@wrx-tyrannosaurusWrx: My good friends, this is the second time there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now I recommend you go home, and sleep quietly in your beds. #volkswagen
11/09/09
11/09/09
Sure, it does do 70 MPG (US) average according to the European measurements. But is that enough as a unique selling point?
Edit:
And I forgot to mention: a 3 cylinder engine...
11/10/09
It would be good to have the choice to buy a smaller car and get better MPG instead of the worse MPG a Mini, Smart, or Yaris saddles you with, but unless VW can sell the Polo cheap it's unlikely to be popular. #volkswagen
11/10/09
I just read that the US will not get the 3- and 5-door hatches, but will get the sedan (which we luckily don't get, because it'll be ugly) #volkswagen
11/04/09
Please Bring the Abarth SS
Please Bring the Abarth SS
Please Bring the Abarth SS
Please Bring the Abarth SS
Please Bring the Abarth SS
And Make it (Somewhat) Reasonable in Price.
Please?
Thanks,
Fd3rsrz #chrysler