My new ride

I've had my sights on a Subaru Outback Sport for quite a while now, but the Golf was always a close second, but I always said I would only get one if I got a good deal. On a whim I decided to do a dealer query on Edmunds for a 2-door Golf GL with auto (No guff please:nono:) to see what kind of a deal I could get. My 1988 Camry is up for inspection in November, and while the engine and tranny are fine, the springs/struts are getting very soft and corrosion is getting REALLY bad around the rocker panels, inner fenders, and exhaust.

To my surprise, VW of Rome, about an hour east of Syracuse NY, emailed me with a quote that was $1,400 below sticker. They said they really wanted to get a car with their plate-holder in Syracuse so they would give me a good deal.

They had a couple 'new'' 2005's on the lot, but the Indigo Blue one had a bunch of the appearance mods on it, but they said they'd take off whatever I didn't want. I called around to the dealers in Syracuse and they wouldn't get within $600 of the Rome offer, and they all said there were about 7 of these in their 'district' or whatever, and the new model wouldn't be here until spring 2006: One had no cars and the other had one, blue with the beige interior. I actually liked that combination, but when I saw how much dirt the modded one on the Rome lot showed (There is some MASSIVE roadwork going on out front of the place) I knew road salt would be a killer and scratched that immediately.

I test-drove the Reflex Silver with gray interior last Saturday, faxed over the VW Credit application Tuesday morning, and picked up the car Wednesday night. It had 72 miles on it, and I've since put about 170 on myself. but nearly 80 were spent going home the 'back way'. I forgot my wallet (Oops) and didn't have my EasyPass so the Thruway was out, plus I didn't want to do an hour at 65mph with a brand new engine.

So far I LOVE this car. I can see where the GTi would be attractive for the extra power, although the stock 2.0L seems pretty peppy to me, but the standard suspension on this GL feels great. The hatch area is plenty roomy and it's great putting stuff back there so that it's out of sight but still 'in the car'. The front seat has plenty of room for me (6'2", 255lbs), and it supposedly has only about 1 cubic foot less space than my Camry.

I think is looks awesome, just about perfect out of the box. Those hubcaps are so good they look like alloys, and I think the profile of the 2-door looks a lot better than the 4-door. The only thing I can see doing to the body is adding the little spoiler, but I'll wait until spring I think. When I get some more cash I think I'll pop for some 16" versions (Potholes....) of the wheels on the red GTi there.

My only complaints are minor, and have probably been addressed on the new model:
- I can't fold the rear seat down and still keep the driver's seat all the way back. Maybe if there is a way to quickly, and safely, remove the rear seat cushions that flip forward it would work. For now, I can deal with short trips sitting closer to the steering wheel.
- When the rear seat is folded, you don't get a flat cargo floor. Not a major problem, but I can see longer boxes getting hung up.
- It seems to rev about 500rpm higher at speed than most of the other cars I have driven recently, about 3000rpm at 65mph. There is no 'O.D.' switch on the shifter like all of those cars had, wonder if there is no overdrive?
- For what this car costs, or rather is supposed to cost, versus the 'competition', I would like to see either more power of better fuel economy out of the engine. The fuel economy is a given, though 24/30 isn't all that bad, but I don't like the idea of Focus and Cobalt owners snickering at their 20-30hp advantage. Granted I could point out that their extra horsepower comes at the expense of having to drive a Focus or Cobalt, but people like that just don't get it.....
- While I love the standard electronic features (Windows, alarm, immobilizer, etc), a simple trip computer or something would have been a nice touch to separate it from the other 'common' hatchbacks.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/SteveK2005/Golfs01.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/SteveK2005/Golfs02.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/SteveK2005/Golfs03.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/SteveK2005/Golfs04.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/SteveK2005/Golfs05.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/SteveK2005/Golfs06.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/SteveK2005/Golfs07.jpg

All of these were taken at the dealer last Saturday. I haven't taken any new ones because, well, I haven't really seen my car in daylight since I got it! I picked it up in the dark, drive to work in the dark, it's been overcast and rainy the entire month of October, this weekend I've been away from the car the whole time. It's supposed to be nice Sunday, I'll get some new pictures then.

Good choice on cars dude, but the Indigo still would of looked better, but thats just my opionin:thumbsup:

To get more pep to the engine you can always change out air filters to a better flowing one. I'm almost positive that K&N has a filter that will fit your car. That will help with the horsepower and give you better gas mileage. You can also order an exhaust system to let your car breath a little better. This will also increase horsepower and gas mileage.

One of my neighbors has a dark blue car, and we just had out first snow and road-salting of the season: I made the right choice in going with Reflex Silver LOL.

I do want to add a new air cleaner, but I didn't see one on the K&N site when I checked. Eventually I might do the exhaust as well, or at the very least more free-flowing headers. MPG isn't horrible now, about 24mpg with maybe 70% of my driving being city traffic, but it could always be better. I'll see how it is after it breaks in (1400 miles as of today).

Ever heard the mufflers VW offers in their Drive Gear catalogue?

No. Instead of like looking for OEM parts for my car in the exhaust department I have deleted my catalytic convertor (shhh don't tell) to a cherry bomb to a 3a Racing Muffler. Yeah not exactly the best exhaust system but it does give me a nice aggressive sound with more pep to the engine. For my air filter...laugh if you want to but I removed the air box took the bought a coupler to match the mass air flow sensor to the filter which is a K&N round filter. So I get more pep there. That's about all I have done to my car so I'm not a huge massive horsepower junkie but I want to be one.