I think VW is trying to appeal to the enthusiast. The new golf R will make just under 300 HP and VW is hinting at a factory 400 HP special edition.
VW makes some great cars now. I have a 2012 4 door gti that is great car for the money (paid 25 new). It is a very quick car making ~240 hp and >290 lbs torque with just a reprogrammed ECU. I did also upgrade the clutch (still prefer to shift myself). The suspension is the best part of the car and puts a smile on my face at every turn. If you haven't driven a GTI lately (MK 5 - 7) they are very good cars. The Mk 7 will be available with a mechanical differential and big brake upgrade for around a $1,200 option early next year. So VW has not totally abandoned the enthusiast. I still love my 91 gli, which has been in a restoration the last 10 years (honestly working on the house and other cars, bikes etc., I will finish her one day). Prior to the 2012 gti I had a V8 touareg that was a great 5,500 lbs SUV, but 13 mpg got old. I miss it all the time. Before that I had a 2001 golf 1.8t, which was good/quick car and it lasted over 10 years before trading it in. Good to see some discussion on the old list. Constant lurker since...so long ago I can't remember when. Regards, Jesse -----Original Message----- From: a2-16v-list [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Matthew Yip Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2014 4:05 PM To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting The R32 was a very strange vehicle with incredibly bad release timing. Compared to the STI and the Evo, the R32 is a much nicer, more refined GT car BUT it was compared to the boy-racers and in that comparison, the R32 fell flat. What was more interesting was that the R32 simply would not sell at dealerships - the cars languished for months because no one saw a reason to pay that much for a 3-door VW Golf. Only after the last of the cars were virtually given away did the value suddenly skyrocket. It's tough to understand what VW's goal is for the American market. After decades of living on the fringe, VW made a concerted effort to go main-stream and they've done a fine job with the current Jetta, Passat and Sports Luxury Utility Trucks in their line-up. Unfortunately they haven't made a strong attempt to go after the enthusiast market but Larry is spot-on - enthusiasts are a very vocal and very frugal bunch. They'll whine and cheese about what they don't like but they won't pay a penny more to buy the "special". On Wednesday, September 3, 2014 3:54 PM, Larry Velez <[email protected]> wrote: Charlie, We on this list are in denial that any new car is as good as our older cars. :) We'll have to make up TShirts: "134hp and proud of it!" But seriously that Scirroco looks cool. But I think VW gave up on giving in to enthusiast pressure in the USA when they they sold the R32 and they sat on the lot for a while. Enthusiasts talk a big game but don't vote with their wallets. Larry -----Original Message----- From: a2-16v-list [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Charlie Russo Sent: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 2:30 PM To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting About a year ago a friend of mine in Maryland purchased a RHD VW Scirocco Storm. It had been imported from England to here in Pennsylvania. He says driving and shifting this VDub is a blast. -----Original Message----- From: Matthew Yip Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2014 3:32 PM To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting I remember reading that auto-tragic transmissions in Europe were a rarity although I think that's changing since the concept of a Global Market is such that what sells the most is what is foisted on the rest of the world. I had a Mini (not a MINI) that was RHD - shifting was easy compared to less complicated tasks such as finding the turn signal indicator stalk which was on the right side of the column. On Tuesday, September 2, 2014 3:25 PM, Les Noriel <[email protected]> wrote: Amusing. Five years ago while vacationing in Ireland, we rented a car. We had to pay extra to get an automatic. It was highly recommended to get the auto because I spent more attention on driving the opposite side of the road. Shifting through the gears with the left hand also felt awkward. So the extra money was well spent. Don't know if it's still that way today. Les On Tuesday, September 2, 2014, Charlie Russo <[email protected]> wrote: > Sadly manual transmissions in vehicles are going the way of the dinosaur. > Current VW offerings are no exception. IIRC less than 5% of VWs have > manual > transmissions. That is a far cry from where VW was when our 16Vs were new. > > I enjoy manual shifting when I drive my '85 Golf on my days off or when I > am > exercising my other old VWs so I consider myself very lucky. > > I plan on taking my '87 GTI 16V to the Antique Car Show at Hershey, PA > this > October. So, I will be enjoying manual shifting and talking about 16Vs > and > VWs. Last time I took my 16V to Hershey I could not believe how many > former > VW salespeople and Techs I talked with. I spoke with a few former 16V > owners > as well. If anyone here on the list is going to Hershey this year look for > me and my '87 GTI 16V in the HPOF Class in the show on Saturday. > > Charlie > > -----Original Message----- From: Larry Velez > Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 9:37 AM > To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list > Subject: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting > > I am sure you all are reading in the various car rags how Porsche seems to > be abandoning the manual gear box with the latest GT3. Ferrari only sold > 1% > of their cars as manuals last year. Apparently well budgeted people no > longer want to shift their transmissions themselves. The robots have won > another battle. > > So enjoy your manual shifting in your 16Vs this weekend, you'll be > telling > stories to future generations of how things were in the old days. > > Speaking of shifting, Chad came by my place this past weekend and he was > able to check out the patient in the garage (I am determined to get her > running this year) and I got a chance to get a ride in his Jetta GLI 16V > Turbo. Chad made me self-conscious about shifting too fast/aggressively. > How did you all learn to shift the "right" way and are some habits better > on > the transmission for longevity? > > Larry > 91 GTI 16V (New Fuel Filter installed, New Transfer Pump installed, > Transfer > Pump Assembly rebuilt, fuel delivery troubleshooting continues to main > pump > next) > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > -- Sent from Gmail Mobile _______________________________________________ a2-16v-list mailing list [email protected] http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list For list archives, see listinfo link above. _______________________________________________ a2-16v-list mailing list [email protected] http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list For list archives, see listinfo link above. _______________________________________________ a2-16v-list mailing list [email protected] http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list For list archives, see listinfo link above. _______________________________________________ a2-16v-list mailing list [email protected] http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list For list archives, see listinfo link above. _______________________________________________ a2-16v-list mailing list [email protected] http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list For list archives, see listinfo link above. 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