New Car Review - VW GTI 2012

Almost two years ago the lease on my BMW 3 Series was up, so I purchased a Chevy Camaro V6 which I rather enjoyed.  However interest rates are in the toilet right now, and I realized that if I traded, I could pick up a new car with a new warranty, get something more economical, and score a lower interest rate that would make my car payment considerably less.

After doing my usual research I noticed that just about every review of the VW GTI (or VW Golf GTI in Europe) was very positive.  Even a reviewer for Consumer Reports did a whole You Tube video about the GTI being the car he would buy if he were personally making a purchase.

Intrigued by all the good reviews, even ones made by Americans who would normally shun a hatchback I took a test drive.  I suspected that the drop from 312HP of my Camaro to 200HP in the VW would be a bit of an issue.  But the lighter smaller car made the 200HP more than enough, delivering exciting, fun and impressive road manners.

In fact considering this was almost a downgrade for me, the VW being $4,000 cheaper than what I paid for the Camaro, it actually felt like an upgrade.  The materials in the GTI put the Camaro to shame, it really does feel as upscale as a decent Audi.  The steering is a perfect weight.  The automatic gearbox is a dual clutch system so efficient it outperforms a stick shift in both fuel economy and 0-60 times, despite being a shade heavier.  The DSG provides paddle shifters for manual mode, a sports mode which is pretty aggressive, and a regular D mode for better fuel economy.  But shifts are as fast (1/10th of a second) and smooth as any automatic I have ever driven.

My old car only had a year of warranty left, had a major crack and chip in the windshield, and so I decided that switching cars now would give me three more years of warranty, free servicing for three years, save me from having to replace that windshield at an insurance deduction of $250, and save me on gas, since the GTI is capable of 32 MPG and even in mixed driving is going to score better than the Camaro.

Despite the logic of the move I was a little skeptical that the dealer could pull off a deal that would lower my payment sufficiently.  Kelly Blue Book and the dealer's Black Book both gave me disappointing numbers for my trade.  Yet when I came to working the numbers, the first deal the salesman presented was actually far better than I had imagined.  In fact the impulsive side of me told me to just sign the papers.  But I kept my poker face and told him I needed to see a better deal.  To my astonishment the salesman returned with an offer of $1,000 more than any trade appraisal I had seen on my trade, along with invoice price for the new car.  Oh, and the interest rate was excellent too.  When all was said and done my car payment dropped $120 a month.  Too good a deal to walk away from, so I took it.

It's still early days for the VW.  Far too early to write about reliability and quality.  But as of right now, I can say that the car is way more fun than the Camaro.  More comfortable driving position, better seats, better driving position, better visibility, better fuel economy (although admittedly it uses premium, so the savings will not be out of this world), easier parking, and so on.  It's just a superior car that manages to feel way more expensive without compromise.

Sure, I'll miss the head up display of the Camaro, but the clean black and white gauges with the precision German red needles look way better than the Camaro's retro greenish dash illumination.  I don't regret my ownership of the Chevy, but for now I want to head in a different direction.

Another thing that impresses with the GTI is the attention to detail.  Peer into the headlights and you'll see that the diffuser is a VW logo.  When the doors are locked the illumination changes to let you know.  VW took the time to trim the window rockers and mirror adjusters with aluminum.  The Bluetooth downloads your address book and then can simply respond to verbal commands like, "Call John Smith on his cellphone" without any prior training, set up or programming.  It just works.

As the many reviews will tell you, the GTI is not the fastest hot hatch out there.  So if out and out power, handling, or 0-60 is key for you, then this is the wrong car.  But the GTI wins out not because of specs on paper, it is what the sum of all its components equal.

I really feel like I got a very upscale and quality car, at a bargain basement price, and thus far I'm very happy.  I'll post again when I have logged a few more miles in this thing!

One Year Review: Chevrolet Camaro 2LT RS

This month is a year since I bought my Chevy Camaro, I've put 15,000 miles on it, and figured it was time for an updated review.  The initial review is here.

I'm pleased to report that the first American car I've ever bought new is still trouble free.  Other than a couple of oil changes, I've not had to do anything to the car.  It starts perfectly every time, including remotely via the keyfob or even via the iPhone or Android OnStar app.  It runs smoothly, it's still fun to drive.  In essence everything I liked about it is still true, and everything that slightly annoyed me is also still true.

The styling that makes the car so unique in this segment does create a few issues of visibility, and it did take a while to learn to park it properly.  With most modern cars you barely have to think about parking, but thanks to the unusual shape of the Camaro you just have to think a bit more and learn to judge the distances.  The trunk is still a bit annoying because of its limited aperture, this can make putting a large suitcase in the trunk slightly more of a chore than it should be, although in truth this is partly due to the fact that the car came with a trunk mat that has ridges on it and the wheels on my suitcases can get caught on those.

But the minor niggles about visibility and the trunk are always outweighed by just how well the car does everything else.  As I've already said, no warranty or maintenance issues so far.  The car is lively and fun yet very well behaved on a run.  Last week I had to drive through some of Louisiana and into Texas.  I reset the MPG monitor and drove for about 250 miles.  I cruised around the speed limit most of the time, and did a few over taking maneuvers with heavy acceleration and 'sport' mode on the gear box.  Despite making no efforts whatsoever to save gas, I was achieving 27 MPG on regular gas.  With lots of city driving, I still am getting an average of 24 MPG.  That's just not bad for a 312 HP car.

As well as being a joy to take on a long run, it gets compliments wherever I go.  People make positive comments all the time, and if I take a passenger or colleague, they talk about getting to ride in my car like it was some kind of special trip; like I had let them sit in a Lamborghini or something!  Considering this car starts at just $22K, it's surprising how many people are so impressed by it.

I count myself among them, and really have nothing but good things to say about it.  I was looking for a sports car experience in a well mannered reliable car, where I could still at a pinch carry a passenger or two in the back seats.  And that's exactly what I got, very sporty performance, a comfortable ride, an attractive car, all for a reasonable price tag.

I've also had the opportunity to drive the latest Mustang in both hard top and convertible forms.  I won't deny this is a fun car too, with better visibility, a lighter and more nimble demeanor, and arguably a more comprehensive stereo system.  But despite the upsides, the Mustang is still so common on the roads, the back lights look stupid when signalling, and I really didn't like the old fashioned automatic box that doesn't have paddle shifters or sports mode, merely the Park, 3, 2, 1 kind of deal which is a bit 1980s.  I missed having a HUD too!

So that's about it for my car, I recommend it highly, and hope to enjoy it for a couple more years.

My 2011 Camaro Follow Up

So I've had my Camaro for four months and six thousand miles now, and I thought I would write a follow up piece after my initial honeymoon period had worn off.

I'm still very much enjoying the car.  That's the bottom line.  I've been on long trips, short trips, and medium trips.  In every way the car has performed incredibly well, especially when you consider that it is just around the average price of a car sold in America today.

I've lost count of how many times people have told me it looks amazing, have asked me how fast it goes, or jokingly implied they would have to steal it.  Just today I was parking it and I saw a teenage girl attempt to surreptitiously take a photo of it, before looking embarrassed that I had spotted her doing it.

Despite it being nearly 14 grand cheaper than the BMW it replaced, I have had zero issues with the car so far.  If I am being really nit picky there is the faintest of rattle that seems to come from behind the radio at a certain speed, and once the compass refused to work for 24 hours.  But mechanically, and in terms of fun factor the car is astonishing.

As far as living with the car is concerned, it's clearly more sports car than family sedan.  If you are taking a passenger in the back they had better be small or they are going to have a hard time in that back seat.  The trunk opening is stupidly small, so anything bigger than a large suitcase isn't going to fit.  The glass in the car is very short from top to bottom so the driver visibility is very much reduced.

But the thing is, I wasn't looking for practical this time around.  I wanted a sports car, at a fair price.  What I got was a delightful compromise of performance and economy, sporty feel with a nice grand touring persona, great styling without a great price tag, and something I would enjoy driving each time I got behind the wheel.

Some say that the 2011 Mustang is a little quicker off the line or around a track.  Some say it is a more nimble drive.  But I wouldn't swap my car for a loaded V8 Mustang to be honest.

GM have hit a home run with this car, and have completely demonstrated that they can build a quality car these days.  Five years ago I would not have touched an American car with a stick, but now they have mended their ways and upped their game, and as a result I am very pleased to be a Camaro owner.

If you want something that's a lot of fun, and don't want to be killed on the price, this is the way to go.  There is a reason this car is now outselling the Mustang for the first time in 25 years.

My 2011 Chevrolet Camero 2LT RS

I recently seriously surprised myself; I bought an American car. Time will tell if this was the right move or not, but so far I am pleasantly surprised, which appears to be the consensus among the auto journalism community.

My issue with America cars since I moved to America in 2000, was that they were unreliable, depreciated like a rock falling off a cliff, and had insultingly bad warranties. All good reasons to not buy.


What Chevrolet have achieved with their new Camaro is give people a taste of the classic, with the modern features that one would expect in 2010. I opted to purchase the 2011 2LT model, which is the top of the line V6. Now many die hard car 'experts' will immediately start shaking their heads at the mention of the V6, but this is 2010 folks, displacement isn't everything. My engine gets me from 0-60 in under six seconds and outputs 312HP, all while returning 29 MPG of regular gas on the interstate. What's more, I paid right under $30K.

For a sub $30K car, the features are remarkable. I have two decent size informational displays one being what they used to call a trip computer, and the other for the sound system and phone system. In addition to that, new for 2011 Chevy have added a very cool Head Up Display, much like a fighter pilot uses to save them from taking their eyes off the horizon.

I get a USB port that can talk to my iPhone, charge it, and play songs off it. I can even shove a bunch of MP3s on a memory card so I don't have to worry about forgetting my iPhone in the car.


There's no navigation system, but OnStar has a feature where you can press a button on the mirror and tell the operator where you wish to go. The directions are then downloaded into your car, and turn by turn instructions are delivered verbally by the computer and also displayed on one of aforementioned display screens. The catch is that after six months you have to pay them $28.90 a month for that service. A big catch, but it is a sweet service.

In addition to the cool technology, the driving experience is particular stellar too. The comfortable seats are leather, as is the wheel and gear stick. The automatic has a standard 'D' mode for every day use. If you want to get frisky there is a sport mode where the computer causes far more aggressive gas drinking shifts. And if you want to pretend to drive a stick without the hassle of learning or using a clutch, there are paddle shifters on the wheel which allow you to change up or down manually.

The optional RS package adds some sweet 20" rims, some styling improvements that include BMW-like 'Angel Eyes' halos around the upgraded HID headlights.

One of the things that sold me on this car, beyond the great looks, is the ride and handling. No doubt it's a pretty big and heavy car. Critics are quick to point out that the 2011 Mustang feels lighter and more sprightly despite the single rear axle. But for me the ride and handling are excellent. The car feels settled and calm, even when you push it. It's not the razor sharp experience of driving a Nissan 370Z, for example, but I got way more technology, two back seats, and an actual trunk. I also don't have the insane unpleasant tire roar of the Nissan either.

Ask me in two years if going American was the right choice. So far I am very pleased. If you look around the available cars for this kind of price, it's hard to think of something that looks so striking and delivers in so many areas as this car.