Das Auto

[Speedbag]

Well, the Germans finally got me. Being of German heritage, I'm amazed it took this long.

Bought a VW Tiguan S this weekend to replace the '07 Jeep Compass that takes the major brunt of the mundane errands, grocery getting, beer running, and hauling the vast array of smaller (non-pickup) cargo required to support Chez Speedbag. A small car with less ground clearance doesn't work where I live (learned that the hard way) since the roads I drive tend to get ignored for quite a while after a good snowfall, so some sort of SUV/crossover was required.

I looked at and drove a wide variety of stuff, including the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4, etc. Nothing made me grin like a mental patient quite like the Tiguan. Mine's got the 2.0 turbo, 4-Motion, and DSG trans with Tiptronic.

Whee!!! Not only does it fit the bill in terms of utility, it handles remarkably well, goes like stink, and gets pretty damn good mileage to boot.

[sno_duc]

Ich verstehen.

Herzlich Glückwunsch  


We have not driven anything but German cars for 25+ years.

Wo sind die Bilder?? pictures

[ducpainter]

I can smell the new car smell from here.

Congrats.

[Speedbag]

As new car smells go, this one is a little bizarre. They must use some different materials.

[lethe]

Yay, GTI on stilts. 

[ducpainter]

As new car smells go, this one is a little bizarre. They must use some different materials.

You're talking to a painter.

Nothing smells like anything.

[Speedbag]

Yay, GTI on stilts. 

Pretty much. 

[badgalbetty]

congrats on the new ride!

[Howie]

Been driving German cars since '78 except for a few sad years with a Honda.  The Honda was one of the few cars that earned a name.  "That Stupid Little Red Car". 

Congrats!

[sugarcrook]

My GF is looking at a Tiguan to replace her Cooper S.  I'm interested in learning what you think of the car after 30 days, particularly how the ride is on the highway, which is her biggest complaint about the Cooper. 

Congrats on the new ride. 

[sno_duc]

My GF is looking at a Tiguan to replace her Cooper S.  I'm interested in learning what you think of the car after 30 days, particularly how the ride is on the highway, which is her biggest complaint about the Cooper. 

Congrats on the new ride. 

It's not German cars, it's our sh*tty roads.
The down side is when driving on German roads the next constuction zone is only 50 kilometers away. (about the time you get it wound out and into the groove....80 kph construction zone next 40 km  )

[iDuc]

I was just out to visit my son in Albuquerque. They let us borrow their Jetta TDI to go up to Santa Fe. It's a little boggy off the line, but once you're up around 2000 rpm, it's just torque city: good midrange power. Also, the posted limit is 75 mph, so we had fun. Smooth ride, very quiet, well laid-out interior- all that good stuff. Made me miss my good old first-gen Scirocco.  Parts and service can be pricy on the German stuff though.

[ZLTFUL]

Hey Dave, I have been considering the same as my track day hauler...mind if I come up and take her for a test drive?

[Speedbag]

Um, sure.  

A couple pics:





I've put about 300 miles on it so far, of which almost 200 was highway. Very quiet on the road, nice and tight. Build quality is very good, and the interior is light years better than the Jeep was.

I tend to break things in like I plan to drive them (), and still got 24 MPG on the first tank of gas....

[zooom]

I kept saying I would trade in my workhorse beater for a Tiguan if they brought the damn variation over here I wanted...they build it for Europe...a diplomat even had one here for service one day...

Tiguan TDI 4-Motion with a 6 speed manual trans...

then I saw the Amorok...even better for my needs but still it ain't coming here.....YET!

damnit!