VW Beetle, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Passat And Tiguan
The Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer with headquarters in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the largest automaker in the country, and the Volkswagen is the company鈥檚 most popular product. The company has undergone several changes, and currently 17% of it is held by Qatar Holding LLC. The company is known for the legendary Beetle, Passat and Golf models, but its origins go back to 1937 where it was designed to provide Germans with an affordable car, hence the name 鈥淭he People鈥檚 Car鈥? Mass production of the Beetle began after the end of World War II, and between the end of the war and the middle of the 1950s, had become increasingly popular. By this time, production had gone past the one million mark. By the 1960s and 70s, the Beetle had become a household name, thanks to its reputation for durability and dependability. Unlike other cars, the Volkswagen needed very little maintenance and could be counted on for the long haul. At the end of 1972, the Volkswagen had overtaken the Ford Model T and sold more than 15 million units. In 1964, the company bought Auto Union and five years later in 1969 bought NSU. The experience and expertise of the two firms allowed Volkswagen to expand operations and implement technological innovations in the car, such as water cooled engines and front wheel drive. By the 2000s, Volkswagen began focusing on product expansion, and 2008 saw the release of the 6th generation VW Golf. The success of the Golf led to the development of other models like the VW Jetta and its cousin, the SEAT Altea. Three years earlier in 2005, the fifth-generation Jetta and the sixth-generation Passat made their debut to critical acclaim, and VW announced that the company was intent on bringing back the Scirocco too.
It is clean and uncluttered. The rear is clean and simple, but yet somehow continues to lend that upmarket feel. The interior design is typical VW which is no bad thing, as it looks appealing and inviting. The use of contrasting colors on the vents and controls liven up the interior. To drive, the Eos is agile and competent. The steering is quick and responsive albeit a little vague. It is very balanced as when you run out of line, all you need is a steering flick and the Eos will pull back into line. Body lean is well contained, and the Eos clings to corners well. The ride quality is compliant over normal road surfaces. However, the Eos was not designed to be a convertible in the first place (it is based off the Golf). As a result, it becomes unsettled over anything other than smooth roads. This characteristic is more prominent with the top down. It becomes jittery as road imperfections permeate through the cabin, and the structure starts quivering. One thing I will say about this car is that the turbocharged four cylinder engine is way too much power for this car.
Or it needs a more effective traction control. Torque steer is relentless. Depress the accelerator with medium effort, and you will still peel the tires. At a red light, I was next to a Ford F250, and look at me. Here I am, a male in a chick car with the top down. The light turned green, and I accidentally ended up peeling the tires, attracting attention from the angry looking man with numerous tattoos on his arm in the F250. Now that is embarrassing. But as soon as you get over the initial sharpness, the engine is divine. There is no turbo lag, and it is supremely smooth. Midrange power is impressive. The DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) is an excellent automatic. I still yearn for a manual, but the automatic is smooth and quick. It can be jerky at low speeds though. Put it in S mode, and it actually gives you complete control, and it is very responsive.
Refinement is excellent except for wind noise. With the roof up, there was a noticeable 鈥渨hoosh鈥?during the drive. Other than that, road and engine noises are refined. The engine is subdued but floor it, and there is a satisfying turbo whine. The cabin ambiance eludes a sense of luxury. The cabin controls give off a sense of high quality, and they are mostly soft touch and tactile to the touch. The doors close with a satisfying thunk. The seats give excellent comfort. Even though this is the basic version, it does not feel like one. This comes with a touch screen control display, seat heaters, sunroof, and dual zone climate controls. Long story short, the Eos has incredible value, especially when you consider that the BMW 3 Series convertible does not even have these equipment as standard yet it costs thousands of dollars more. The sunroof is a nice touch. It is a shame that it does not retract fully. Visibility is decent with the top up.
