An ordinary driver tries to find a new car, part 3; VW Golf

[tones]

After today's jaunt, I have one question about the Audi A3, which I posed to the dealer - Warum? (Why?). He shrugged and said, "Different marque, perceived higher status, bit nicer inside, that's all". Because the Golf drove much the same as last week's A3, with one exception - it was better. It was pokier in the acceleration department (both were automatic petrol 1.4s - 1.4 is popular in Swizzieland, because it's the upper limit of the lowest taxable cubic capacity range, and it is exempt from a particular bit of tax). It was (subjectively) quieter than the A3 on the autobahn. Couldn't really try it out on the wiggly waggly road, because there was a wide agricultural vehicle (typical for this time of year) trying to outdrag the local snails and failing dismally, and it took a while to get past, but I think it would have been every bit as good as the A3.

Best of all, as the thing had been parked tail first, I thought I'd be really daring and do likewise (this is daring because I am quite possibly the world's worst parker). However, as soon as I hit the R selector, the screen (no rising monoliths this time, part of the dash) with the radio stations vanished and was replaced with a view of the parking spot with two green lines, which clearly one had to align with the parking spot lines and Robert is your avuncular relative. It made me look good (OK, less bad). Definitely a possibility this one.

I broached the subject of the Skoda Yeti, but I was told that the new model doesn't arrive here until January. This gives me time to try something else. I had a look at the Seat Leon - interesting, might try that next weekend.

 

[Injector]

Just buy a Bugatti Veyron Tones and save yourself the hassle of testing cars. Apparently the Bugatti is the best.

 

[silencio]

Seems you found your car The Yeti might be too big for the garage.

 

[tones]

Just buy a Bugatti Veyron Tones and save yourself the hassle of testing cars. Apparently the Bugatti is the best.

The die is (almost) cast:

http://www.mintmodels.com/bugattiveyronsupersportincarbonfiberblackandorangediecastmodelc.aspx

Might be just about able to afford this one.

 

[tones]

Seems you found your car The Yeti might be too big for the garage.

The present one at 1795 would be manageable - the question is, how wide will the new one be?

 

[Hornucopia]

My neighbours are always amazed that I got a BMW 850 coupe (JUST>>>&gt into my garage

Bump strip at end, had to climb out thru' window......

But my new van is 1905+ cms tall....1835 wide! So staying outside!

Just looking for a Barn (to live in....?)

 

[Samantha]

You have same view I had there in the Golf being better than the A3 ..... as I say, when I drove the 3 (in order.... A3/Golf/Leon), the order of preference was the reverse order of which I drove first.

So the A3 wasn't a contender at all. I liked the Leon best of the 3, but if it was my money rather than the company, the Golf is (in the UK) a little cheaper over the first 3 years due to slightly lower service costs and better residuals.

 

[tones]

You have same view I had there in the Golf being better than the A3 ..... as I say, when I drove the 3 (in order.... A3/Golf/Leon), the order of preference was the reverse order of which I drove first. So the A3 wasn't a contender at all. I liked the Leon best of the 3, but if it was my money rather than the company, the Golf is (in the UK) a little cheaper over the first 3 years due to slightly lower service costs and better residuals.

In which case I'll be very interested to test to Leon...

 

[Pete the Feet]

When on holiday I often like to hire a car that I'm thinking of maybe purchasing at a later date. Nothing like an extended test drive to see if you like a vehicle or not. I booked a Focus for a weeks rental and was given a Leon as a substitute. After the initial disappointment of not getting a Focus, I found the Leon quite a joy to drive on the twisty turny roads of Gran Canaria and good on the motorway too. The legroom and reach to the steering wheel was also good.

 

[tones]

AMAG, the VW Group's Swiss importer, has its Swiss training centre right next door to where I work two days a week. It has four showrooms (Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda), so I passed by on the way home last night and had a good look at a Leon. Looks rather nice. The only real beef I have is the high lip of the boot, meaning that stuff has to be lifted over it. This might seem trivial, and it is to me now, but bearing in mind that my seventies are not that far away, and that Mrs. Tones likes to get great stacks of 40L bags of cheap Pflanzenerde (potting mix) from Germany for the garden, I wonder whether it might prove not to be sufficiently practical. However, I shall certainly drive it, probably weekend after next.