What other cars have you DRIVEN as you consider replacement?

[ziggy55]

One of our company cars is a Chevy cruze premier. I was pleasantly surprised how well it drove and how quiet it was. Will be interesting when they bring over the diesel.

 

[seth1065]

I test drove a 2016 Volvo v60 FWD 4 cyl wagon today and it was ok , great seats, a little smaller than my TDI wagon but not much, a good amount of cheap plastic for a car that list for of 40,000, no pano roof but a sunroof, mileage was 27/37 i think and that seems pretty good compared to what else is out there but I was kinda of underwhelmed to be honest, it would keep me in a wagon and very good gas mileage ( w RUG) less storage space then the TDI wagon up front. It drove pretty well but not well enough for me to want to write a check for the difference from what VW will give me.

 

[STRANGETDI]

I'm wondering if the iPod connector can be removed from the Golf and put into the Mazda 3? I have an older iPod with a ton of memory, but it doesn't have Bluetooth. So I'd like to move the connector from the Golf to the new car. Does anyone know if that's possible, please? Thanks!

My wifes 2012 3 has the head phone jack. She uses and old style ipod too. She uses the ipod jack and the cars head phone jack. I bet the 2016-17s have the headphone jack or a usb, you can plug your apple cord into and get music through the speakers that way.

 

[jaberoo]

After 6+ years with my 2010 TDI Sportwagen, I was distinctly unimpressed with the quality of the interior of the Golf TSI Wagen, even though the space is similar. A friend who had to return his leased TDI Sportwagen felt the same. He finished up leasing a Mercedes SLA 250 for, so he says, a lower monthly than he would have had to pay for a Golf Wagen SE. The space is less but the luxury feel of the Merc is miles above that of the Golf. Haven't yet seen the Alltrack and don't know if they've cheapened the inside look and feel, as they have with the Golf. VW raised our expectations with the Sportwagens. They risk losing some of us, and not just because of diesel.

 

[ray96disco]

VW raised our expectations with the Sportwagens. They risk losing some of us, and not just because of diesel.

I agree. The sportwagens have a lot of features not seen in more upscale cars. That quality was part of the appeal, too. Hope they don't forget their roots.

 

[lvfnchs]

My wifes 2012 3 has the head phone jack. She uses and old style ipod too. She uses the ipod jack and the cars head phone jack. I bet the 2016-17s have the headphone jack or a usb, you can plug your apple cord into and get music through the speakers that way.

Thanks! It does have a USB connector, but it's very exposed. There isn't one in the center console or the glovebox, and there's no cover where the connection is. So the iPod would be visible all the time. It would be better if there was a connection that was more hidden. Appreciate the response!

 

[STRANGETDI]

Thanks! It does have a USB connector, but it's very exposed. There isn't one in the center console or the glovebox, and there's no cover where the connection is. So the iPod would be visible all the time. It would be better if there was a connection that was more hidden. Appreciate the response!

Her car also has the headphone jack in the center console between the seats. All of it is hidden.

 

[ATR]

I drove the 2017 Mazda 3 and Mazda CX-3 last week, both automatic with Tiptronic. I've always driven manuals, always, but I'm thinking of switching since I can switch to manual mode on hills in the winter. I preferred the Mazda 3 and that's probably what I'll go with.

I love my 2011 Golf, but with 145k miles and needing a new intake manifold, I feel like it would be wrong to turn down the ~$15,000 they want to give me for it.

I'm wondering if the iPod connector can be removed from the Golf and put into the Mazda 3? I have an older iPod with a ton of memory, but it doesn't have Bluetooth. So I'd like to move the connector from the Golf to the new car. Does anyone know if that's possible, please? Thanks!

You might be able to get a adapter for the older iPod.

Shoot if the replacement car has a USB port you should be able to use the same cable you use to plug your iPod into your computer.

 

[duteman2]

We have three TDI's, two that are covered by "the issue". We also have an e-Golf and I'm surprised among the electric cars mentioned no one has mentioned it. I've had 6 TDI's and this darn eGolf is the nicest VW I have ever driven. Sadly, it only gets 100 miles per charge, but the next one is rumored to get 2-250. GREAT car. GOBS of torque, it's the most fun to drive, hands down! REALLY well built too, all made on one assembly line in Germany, tight, GREAT quality. We'll likely sell back our TDI's... Jettas, an auto sedan and (sigh) my beloved manual JSW. I've considered keeping the wagon and taking my chances. I've seriously been considering getting a B5 Passat and converting it to a manual. Might try to do a 4motion B5 wagon TDI conversion. More to come...

 

[mopower]

B5 wagon 4motion manual? That's the ticket!

 

[mopower]

The local dealer just called me to come test out the Subaru Outback with the 250hp 3.6 H6. I don't have high expectations for the engine compared to the base model but need to try it out!

 

[VeeDubTDI]

The H6 is a big improvement over the little 4-banger. More responsive, more torque, more everything (except fuel economy).

 

[emerscape]

Drove a 16 Jetta sport 1.8t 5spd, 16 Jetta s 1.4t 5spd and a 17 Jetta sportwagen auto today. Loved the sport, thought the 1.4t was more fun to drive engine wise but couldn't deal with the cheap plastics of the Jetta s. I was not impressed by the sportwagen but maybe it's because I'm spoiled with my tdi. I have a sportwagen now debating if I can live with a sedan. I spend 80% of my time in the car by myself but once in a while take my kids and the dog to my moms house in CT. Tough decision.

 

[mopower]

I spent some time looking at the VW usa website and noticed that it looks like the golf s sportwagen 4 motion comes with the 6 speed auto, while the alltrack comes with the dsg? The pictures dont exactly match the description but I haven't seen either car in person yet. has anyone been out to a dealer with both??

 

[ATR]

I'm almost positive that they are both DSG equipped.

A bit of Google footwork and I found the answer:

For now, Volkswagen’s slick-shifting dual-clutch automatic is the only transmission, but a six-speed manual will be available in early 2017. Stick-shift enthusiasts are practically frothing at the thought of an all-wheel-drive wagon with a manual transmission.

From this review:
www.caranddriver.com/amp/reviews/20...umented-test-review?client=ms-android-oneplus

 

[Tfuce]

Looked at an Alltrack, a GTI and a Tiguan, drove a couple of BMWs, bought a 3 series GT last week. My third bimmer. I will definitely miss the TDI; don't think I'll miss VW.

 

[atomicfront]

I can tell one car NOT to consider, a Toyota Corolla. I rented one a couple of weeks ago for a trip back East. Gutless engine coupled with the worst CVT I have ever experienced. It was an LE model, but I think the drivetrain is the same for all trim levels. The cloth seats were putrid as well. I nicknamed it "the turd"...

Yeah I just had a RAV4 rental with my BMW in the body shop. Terrible vehicle. No power, crappy interior, badly designed. I don't know why people buy Toyotas.

 

[mopower]

I got to go drive the Subaru Outback 3.6 the other day. It was a nice touring trim, their new top of the line. A few weeks back I test drove the Subaru Forester XT and posted about that experience, this lets me compare it, the outback and my sportwagen. The first thing that jumps out when comparing all three of these is that the Outback is clearly the larger of the three. The forester actually feels similar to the sportwagen size wise, just taller. The Outback feels longer, wider, and taller. Having to fit child seats and stollers will be easier in an Outback. Much like the rear seat in a Jetta sedan is larger than the rear seat in a sportwagen, the Outback has more room in the 2nd row compared to the Forester.

What I really felt like posting was the powertrain. This 3.6 is paired to the CVT, a newer combo for the Outback. 2010 - 2014 Outbacks with the 3.6 still had the solid 5 speed automatic while only the 2.5L came with the CVT. The 3.6 uses regular grade fuel, non-synthetic engine oil, and a timing chain instead of belt means services should be more affordable. The power output is 250HP, and it feels like a nice grunty engine, it pulls well and doesn't feel underpowered. While quick enough and considerbly quicker than the sportwagen, its not sporty. The outback doesnt come with Subaru's SI drive system that lets you configure some settings from relaxed to more sporty response, that made a difference in the Forester XT. In the outback you can select D or L, L just keeps the revs high while still CVTing, and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. From a dead stop the Outback starts moving well, it has great torque low in the rpm range. It doesnt leave with tires spinning like the sportwagen wants to do in 1st gear before it quickly runs out of steam. Driving along the rpms stay below 2000 and you can still feel some torque available, the 2.5L engine needs to modulate the CVT much more for any acceleration. Compared to the Forester XT, the XT would get into boost quickly most any time you hit the accelerator, it also felt like it would race toward the red line encouraging the rush while the 3.6 was able to do much more work without reving up, so you didnt feel like you were driving the car as hard.

Overall the outback felt like a larger and stronger vehicle than the sportwagen. The Outback and Foresters with the base engine compare to the TDI better. The performance is similar, but more relaxed due to the CVT programming, I'll agree with most professional reviews to say that the 175 HP is enough and these just arn't sporty cars. The fuel economy is great for their size and what they can carry along with their best is class AWD system. The base 2.5L 4 cylinder engine also uses a timing chain, but needs synethic oil changed every 6k miles. One outback feature of note is even the base model comes with a little button by the shifter called X-mode. This lets the AWD system act much more like it has locked differentials at low speeds. You can have wheels with no traction and the system puts power to the wheels that still have traction, pretty neat, and something most AWD's on the market are not able to do. Another neat feature of the outback is that it comes standard with active torque vectoring, thats a nice treat. The Forester is available with X-mode, standard in higher trim models of any engine, but does not offer active torque vectoring.

 

[halfast3]

I got to go drive the Subaru Outback 3.6 the other day. ...snip...

Thank you. Nice review.
.
I've always felt Subaru chassis feel was a bit numb. Would you care to comment on the handling, compared to VW? ...or Mazda?

 

[Conrad -JSW]

I was planning on replacing our Jetta with a Mazda CX-5 but I've changed my mind.

Going with a 2017 Golf Sportwagen SE Tungsten/black instead. Gotta great price and I get to use my $500 Goodwill card towards the purchase.

With the money I get back from VW on the buyback I'll only have to kick in around $1.5k for the new car.

 

[mopower]

I feel like handling is very confident and conservative in the Subaru, but different from VW and Mazda, just like you say, numb. I like to call it zoom-zoom in Mazda, VW's always just drove pretty nimble. Subarus just dont seem to come from the factory set like this. They need more steering input to change direction and hold a corner. You can adjust the alignment to make it want to change directions more eagerly, but honestly once you accept that these cars take more steering input you realize that they dont have any issue holding a corner and feel so much more confident in rain or snow too. If you test drive the three brands on a rainy or snowy day I think the Subaru handling deficit changes to a benefit over Mazda or VW. Even the WRX handles like any other Subaru, very conservative in normal driving, but get into the power and suddenly it handles much more sporty, the power coming from the rear end helps turn in and eliminates understeer.

I dont have much experience driving Mazda, I spent a few days with a 5-speed 2002 protege5, it handled really beautifully, but the suspension was very soft and very little power. It also had an engine that wasn't rewarding to rev. I've got a lot of VW driving experience, both diesel and gas, old and newer.

 

[mortimersnerd]

Have been driving B8 Audi A4 Avants. A little less grunt per pound than my TDI Golf, but very nice to drive. Better steering feedback. Looking to switch to AWD for ski days (I'm in Denver), and they're priced equally to Outbacks for anything 2012 and older.

 

[ATR]

Have been driving B8 Audi A4 Avants. A little less grunt per pound than my TDI Golf, but very nice to drive. Better steering feedback. Looking to switch to AWD for ski days (I'm in Denver), and they're priced equally to Outbacks for anything 2012 and older.

Where did you get a wagon? I didn't know that was available

 

[TDI_G]

I drove an older E90 BMW 335i the other day and think I may get one of them to replace my JSW. I was considering the 335d but they are significantly more expensive to both purchase and maintain and the 335i can be picked up for next to nothing these days. Think I'll grab one of them, install catless downpipes and a tune and stash the rest of my buyback money for a rainy day (which is likely to happen owning a BMW). I will certainly miss the TDI efficiency but look forward to driving an actual "fast" car for once.

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