Vw Drive Chains

[Mike5483]

I just drove today a VW Sharan. Not the sportiest of drives I grant you, but the engine and gearbox!!!

 

It is one of our company cars and it has a 2.0 Litre TDI engine with 140BHP and a 6 speed manual shift, and it is just amazing.

 

The engine just pulls so strongly all the way up the rev range, I could wheel spin it on the move in 2nd and 3rd (granted, the roads are slippery) and the gear shift is so slick and precise and short.

 

THIS IS A PEOPLE CARRIER!!!

 

Its really well built to, no rattles or anything. All the controls feel solid and everything was just a pleasure to use.

 

The brakes were really powerful to, and progressive, the clutch was smooth with a very low, widespred biting point, making smooth gearchanges a doddle.

 

I tell you, you could easily lose your license in that thing, its so quiet and smooth.

 

Absolutley lovely car.

 

My only criticism is the steering is just unbelievably light. The wheel is nice, chunky and soft, it kind of moulds to the hands.

 

Other then that, well, im really smitten with that engine and gearbox... I want one, a Golf or EOS would be nice!!!

[wozza]

Unfortunately the entire range is know for the steering thing. Audi's have a reputation as being amazingly capable cars but ultimately dull to drive.

[C4VTS]

You would not want an Audi/VW as you would have nothing to complain about apart from the very expensive servicing and spare parts. <_< :P :P

[wozza]

Yeah but the 1.9TDI's are easy to get a fair bit of power from. 190bhp can be had fairly easily.

[Mike5483]

I know they are expensive to run and ultimately, I would never buy a VW, not really my 'thing', but I cant get over that engine.

 

It just pulled like a train, felt quite, refind and smooth. The car was actually a full second to 60 slower then my own, but it was so easy to drive.

 

I know you can get loads of power from them also, a mate did it with an A3, that had 150,000 miles on it when he bought it, and it was still as good as the day it was built.

[hertsnminds]

it has a 2.0 Litre TDI engine with 140BHP and a 6 speed manual shift, and it is just amazing.

 

Went to look at the Dodge Caliber yesterday, couldn't believe the poor the quality of the interior plastic, felt very cheap and nasty.

 

The salesman said they use the 2.0 VW diesel for the Caliber. I thought it was strange to try and sell a Dodge based on the fact it was using VW parts. But I guess that Skoda use their sister companies reputation to add to the perceived quality.

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

[xavtia]

I had trouble at the dealers when I had a VW van was considering a golf before I got the C4 but having seen the interior and heard the problems my mate had with the dealer and the polo I stuck with Citroen

[Mike5483]

I must admit, well built though it was, the Sharans interior was a dull as watching paint dry. I did like the funky electric blue and red interior lighting though.

[Rich_Eason]

I did like the funky electric blue and red interior lighting though.

 

Hmm see to me, all the blue backlighting was ok in the Golf Mk 5(?) when it was a new thing but now I dunno I just think it looks a bit...dated. The whole blue backlighting, blue LED thing in everything with LED's in them passed me by without excitement back in the mid 90's.

 

In this day in age, with the reduced production costs I'm surprised LCD isnt used more used like on the C4 and Civic. There are obviously practicle considerations, glare, reflectivity, "read and compute" speed, it just seems that the days of a spinny dial is not only mechanically complex but "old hat". I just sometimes wonder that its that final break from "tradition" which manufactures are scared off, at least I think the C4 certainly has bravely tried...

[ham's c4vts]

i drove my mates seat leon fr(170)tdi with the 6 soeed box and found it a bit rubbery, but, its only done around 200 miles. it didnt feel any better than the gear box in my C4.

and the FR has a red led thing going on ;)