GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: andykram on 18 August 2010, 23:11
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I've just come home from a 2 week holiday in California where I had the gross misfortune to have a Dodge Avenger on hire. My God, this car was bad. It supposedly had 180 bhp but I've never driven anything so slow, unresponsive and with such bad handling in my life. But then again I've not seen anything other than arrow straight roads for 2 weeks so why bother with a tuned chassis?
Anyway, we hired a Jetta for a day before I got that Dodge thing and this came with a 170 bhp in line 5 cylinder engine. Automatic obviously. Now where does that engine come from? The only 5 cylinder engines I can remember are the old Audi ones. Incidentally, this Jetta starts at $17735 which seems pretty cheap.
As for our beloved GTis I saw 4 or 5 Mk 5s but only 1 Mk6 GTi, a carbon grey one like my own. It prompted me to have a look at the US VW website to see if there were any differences. Prices start around the $23.5k point, you get a 5 year powertrain warranty as well as the usual 3 year one that we get and you get 3 year's servicing included. Spec seems pretty similar. They get cruise control as standard (naturally) and some dodgy sounding stereo but that's about it. What really annoys me though is that you can buy one on 3 years interest free credit at the moment. Or lease one for $279 a month with only a $2300 down payment. Seems like we're getting robbed as usual since we're never likely to get low interest offers in a million years!!
Having said all that though, it's completely wasted in a country with no bends and where all you seem to do is drive from one set of lights a block or two to the next set of lights. God, did I enjoy going for a blast this evening in a proper car on proper roads!!!
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Cars are dirt cheap in the US, but as you have to pay through the nose for a decent education and/or healthcare, it all evens out in the end.
They also give credit to anyone, often with teaser rates for the first few months/years, no questions asked. That's what sparked off the credit crunch :embarassed:
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Cars are dirt cheap in the US, but as you have to pay through the nose for a decent education and/or healthcare, it all evens out in the end.
They also give credit to anyone, often with teaser rates for the first few months/years, no questions asked. That's what sparked off the credit crunch :embarassed:
Europeans are from Venus!
Americans are from Mars!
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A lot of American stuff has taxes to be added on top too, where as in the UK they have to advertise it as full on the road price. I'm sure one of our US friends will correct us on the true costs of the cars. Still a lot cheaper than over here though.
Looking at some of the Yank forums it seems to me their specs are a bit different and more limited in what options you can order, which makes sense really as the factory waiting times are already a joke never mind with a several week trip on a container ship added in.
At the end of the day VW have to compete with the much cheaper US offerings if they want to sell anything over there so the costs have to be in line with local market prices.
When I was in Orlando last month I only saw a few mk5s and one mk6 too. Mind you 80% of the cars in that area are hire cars.........
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They have crap quality fuel over there also.. so probably one of the reasons everything felt soooo sloooow
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They have crap quality fuel over there also.. so probably one of the reasons everything felt soooo sloooow
A country full of slothful obese people who cannot even walk or think independently. :sick:
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A country full of slothful obese people who cannot even walk or think independently. :sick:
Not that we like to generalise on this forum :grin:
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A lot of American stuff has taxes to be added on top too, where as in the UK they have to advertise it as full on the road price. I'm sure one of our US friends will correct us on the true costs of the cars. Still a lot cheaper than over here though.
You pay state tax 0-7% and plate fees $100-$1000 plus whatever the dealer tries to scam them on.
Because they have different state taxes they dont advertise OTR prices.
Your high car prices even out the losses VW has with the exchange ratio. For that we thank you.
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A country full of slothful obese people who cannot even walk or think independently. :sick:
Seriously? I thought I already proved the US/UK obesity ratio wasnt that far off. We cant walk or think independently? Cmon now we have alot more freedoms that the UK. We dont need 50 bazillion signs all over the place telling us what to do where to run and what doors to keep closed.
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The VAG 5 pot is used in the Audi TT RS in Europe.
Nick
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I know you did. Just wanted your attention!
I am in a bad mood.
I am getting into my GTi and will bump into one of these UK hippos!
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The VAG 5 pot is used in the Audi TT RS in Europe.
Nick
will it not be the vr5 if 170bhp?
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The one he had could have been but the US market does get an inline 5 pot in the Golf and Jetta.
Nick
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The one he had could have been but the US market does get an inline 5 pot in the Golf and Jetta.
Nick
tres interessant
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From wikipedia
2.5 2,480 cc (151 cu in) I5 (BGQ) 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) @5700 240 N·m (177 lb·ft) @4250 7.8s 201 km/h (125 mph)
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Woops! Just nudged a hippo! Sorry ex-friend!
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The Jetta we had might have had 170 bhp but it sure didn't feel like it. It is an inline 5 cylinder so it can't be the V5 engine that they used to stick in the Mk4s?
As for that crappy Dodge ( I know this is off topic but nevertheless) I thought it was downright dangerous. Driving round the jam packed freeways of LA you'd spot a gap that you might want to nip into but there was such a long gap between flooring the throttle and the car doing anything that the gap would be gone or you'd end up cutting someone up. Thank God our GTis offer instantaneous performance.
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The VAG 5 pot is used in the Audi TT RS in Europe.
Nick
Its based off that american engine but very loosly.
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The VAG 5 pot is used in the Audi TT RS in Europe.
Nick
Its based off that american engine but very loosly.
Indeed, there was some discussion a while back that if that 5 pot fits in the golf/jetta then the TTRS 5 pot should drop straight in aswell which is an interesting prospect for modders in a couple of years time.
Nick
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A country full of slothful obese people who cannot even walk or think independently. :sick:
Not that we like to generalise on this forum :grin:
C'on now lol
To our defend:
1. We have more twisty roads in US than Europe let alone UK.
2. Our gas is not crappy, do not be fooled by lower number octane. And it is way cheaper.
3. We buy VWs, cheaper, and furthermore, we buy luxury cars way cheaper.
4. Some States have no sales tax on vehicles, and the highest sales is a tad higher 10%
5. Our obese people, as much as they eat, have much better looking and healthier teeth than an average Brit lol.
To your defend:
1. American cars suck.
2. We pay $400.00-$500.00 a month on health insurance.
3. Our education system till COLLEGE, is less complex, therefore more incompetent compared to Europeans.
4. Only chicks play football (soccer), which is so wrong in so many ways.
5. We tend to invade countries we don't like, which is stupid sometimes.
but still, it is the land of free.....
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TT-RS motor has nothing to do with the inline 5 we have except the number of cylinders.
God, so negative I am today, sorry lol
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but still, it is the land of free.....
... or land of the deluded as i like to think of it* :lipsrsealed:
*not saying we are any less so over here :wink:
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dpc:
I agree with everthing you say so please accept my apologies. VW have really narked me so who else to vent my frustration on? Big brother USA.
One thing you forgot: customer service is the best in the States. Oh, they do have nice teeth like mine!
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TT-RS motor has nothing to do with the inline 5 we have except the number of cylinders.
God, so negative I am today, sorry lol
Ok, Its not what audis press sites info in the uk said when it was due for release, but i take what they say with a pinch of salt as its marketing men that write that stuff and really they know nothing.
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Im in East Anglia and we have some cool ass twisties. Only problem is there is usually a bike or horse around the turn which you cant see because of the wall of bushes that extend to the roadway making a small road even smaller.
Oh and our weather in the USA is alot better except for the seattle area which is like Englands.
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Im in East Anglia and we have some cool ass twisties. Only problem is there is usually a bike or horse around the turn which you cant see because of the wall of bushes that extend to the roadway making a small road even smaller.
Oh and our weather in the USA is alot better except for the seattle area which is like Englands.
Oh no it is not as this is a self-perpetuated myth. Horrible in Chicago and NY. Brilliant in California. Love Seattle and Vancouver in Canada. I could go on ...... :smiley:
Love the States very much. My best and closest friend is American. I have a great preference for Americans over most other people.
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Im in East Anglia and we have some cool ass twisties. Only problem is there is usually a bike or horse around the turn which you cant see because of the wall of bushes that extend to the roadway making a small road even smaller.
Oh and our weather in the USA is alot better except for the seattle area which is like Englands.
Oh no it is not as this is a self-perpetuated myth. Horrible in Chicago and NY. Brilliant in California. Love Seattle and Vancouver in Canada. I could go on ...... :smiley:
Love the States very much. My best and closest friend is American. I have a great preference for Americans over most other people.
I have been to Seattle and Vancouver many times, I love both places and the weather has always been perfect.
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The 2 weeks of summer are great here dont get me wrong
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dpc:
I agree with everthing you say so please accept my apologies. VW have really narked me so who else to vent my frustration on? Big brother USA.
One thing you forgot: customer service is the best in the States. Oh, they do have nice teeth like mine!
oh no apologies needed, we are just having fun here. Look at it this way, yes, we pay way less for cars, but we are way limited to what we get too. No MK5 R32 with manual transmission, no R36, no MK6 Golf R, no 1.4 TSI.... There is always a trade off, so the grass is not always greener on the other side.
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The US has tons of FREE PARKING
Check Mate
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The US has tons of FREE PARKING
Check Mate
The UK has tons of FREE LOADERS.
Check Mate. :grin:
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The US has tons of FREE PARKING
Check Mate
http://failblog.org/2009/05/01/audi-billboard-fail/ ???? :undecided:
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Side repeaters :sick:
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I never thought this would turn into a USA semi-bashing thread.
Me and the missus love the place. Great customer service (well, mostly - certainly better than here), friendly people and generally great weather (although San Francisco was bloody cold!!!). Everything seems cheaper too (apart from wine in restaurants which is outrageously expensive from what I've seen).
Last Monday I went running on Venice Beach in the heat past numerous games of women's beach volleyball. Quality!!! This Monday I went playing 5 a side in the cold in Leeds. Now, I know where I'd rather be!!!!
However, I've yet to drive a decent American car. Unfortunately, they never give me a Corvette or a meaty V8 Charger or Mustang at Alamo!!!!
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Funny you should mention customer service in the US, my general opinion of UK customer service is varying degrees of ''can't be arsed'' topped of with ''even if I could be arsed my company is too stingy to do anything about it''.
In the US I've found that there are only two types of customer service, either ''I can't do enough to help you sir (please keep this in mind when it comes to the tip)'' or just downright rude. Not that I've spent much time in the US and most places I've been have been touristy type places anyway so my judgements may be a little clouded.
I'd love to know more about how the US medical system works though as despite in the past being the National Health's biggest supporter I'm now beginning to wonder if it isn't due a massive overhaul. Starting at local GP level where I've increasingly found piss poor diagnosises unless you go in and really make a fuss which often isn't an option when you're really unwell, or just general lack of interest. I won't bore you with the details on a car forum but everyone I've come accross recently with fairly life changing medical conditions has been through the wringer to get a diagnosis and a couple have died including my Mother.
Hospitals are generally suffering chronic ward closures (do you get this in the US?) due to bugs and there's the usual UK epidemic of poor investment because nobody will put money into anything and directors of any biggish company don't seem to look much further ahead than the following years shareholder reports.
I think the only thing that should be safe is the Ambulance Service, I couldn't stand the thought of an ambulance not stopping at an accident or other emergency because of commercial interests.
Anyway, back on topic with US VWs, I read recently that the new Jetta has been in for some radical cost cutting to make it competitive in the US. Gone is the multi link rear axle for a start, the interior trim sounds like it's becoming SEAT quality and the entry level engine is the good old 2.0 8v from the 1990s.
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Exonian: A post I fully endorse and agree with. :smiley:
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We've been to the USA 5 times Exonian and never experienced bad service yet. I know it's all to wangle more out of you as a tip but I'm not fussed if it means they care. Servers in restaurants are particularly ken compared to over here.
The Jetta we had on hire was the one based on the Mk5 Golf so the interior's a bit plasticky (compared to the Mk6). It was also a lollopy standard automatic (not a DSG) but was still a million times better than the Dodge we also had. Even so, VW (certainly from the advertising I saw while I was there) seems to be a budget brand with none of the so called "premium pretensions" it has here.
Another friend had a Chrysler Sebring V6 on hire. I like the look of these cars but he was said it was woefully short on power. It went quickly eventually but getting it there was like starting a supertanker - and that's my overriding impression of all the cars I've ever had on hire there.
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Sorry if this is an old thread but
What are the differences between American and European GTI? (http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8411)