05-01-2015, 10:29 AM
One Week Impressions
Mileage: 301
Still enthralled with it. I can't believe how well it turns in for a FWD car, I've sensed the electronics doing their thing once or twice, but it's less intrusive than the MKV was. The lack of body roll is absolutely amazing, I was sulking a little that I didn't go full retard and order the PP+DCC (the adjustable shocks are bundled with the perf pack or I probably would've sprung for them) but the standard shocks deal with the worst NOVA roads surprisingly well. However, you always discover a few quirks and pet peeves when you're actually living with the car, that you miss on test drives.
Things I'm not crazy about:
One thing I didn't notice when test driving, and I had the same problem with Jake's FoST, is with the seat adjusted to lanky-mf'er settings, the car is not particularly easy to get in and out of. I have the seat adjusted so far back and so low, with the steering wheel extended all the way towards me, that sliding out between the gap in the steering wheel and b-pillar takes careful positioning.
That said, when I am installed in the car the driver position is excellent, and the convenience of having the 4 doors outweighs the ease of access from the 2 door, especially after having exclusively 2 door cars for the past 6 years. Also, the MKV was much easier to get out of, but only if there was no one parked next to me. In a NOVA sized parking spot i'd have to crack the driver's door open and somehow get myself folded out of it without knocking the door into the car next to me. So it's a wash really.
Uhhhhh what else. The gas tank is too small, seems to be a common problem with all the modern cars in this class. I dunno what stops them from doing a 15-16 gallon tank instead of a freaking 13.5, size restrictions?
The shift program on the DSG isn't aggressive enough, it wants to drop into 2nd and 3rd when it's still practically at idle, and then it lugs the motor when you go to give it some throttle, this is probably something the car will "learn" once I get past the break in period, it already seems like it's improving a little bit. Strangely the gearing is massively different between transmissions, 1-4 is dramatically shorter in the DSG than the manual, then gets significantly longer in 5th and 6th, I wonder what their reasoning was behind that.
The MFD or whatever the hell they call the screen between the gauges is poorly executed compared to the Ford. The Fords have a grid of 4 read outs that I believe you can individually configure. This car will display TONS of different stats for you, but just one at a time in like size 60 font. Why? I'd like to see oil temp, avg MPG, Range, etc all at once without having to scroll through menus.
I love that VW finally trusted us Americans with an oil temp readout, but why are they still holding back on things like boost and oil pressure? There is a menu in the car settings that lets you choose what shows up on that screen, seems like an easy feature to include and default to off so that super nerdy buyers like me can get their kicks, but your average buyer doesn't have to trouble themselves with it.
Finally, this isn't an issue with the car, but the dog fucking hates it. I don't know if it's the new car smell, or if it's harder to get into because she can't step onto the floor and then the seat, or if she senses how tight my butthole gets when she gets near it with all her fur, claws and slobber, but every time I open the door she does a 180* and tries to bail, I have to drag/coax her into it and then she sits right at the edge of the seat when I close the door, looking at me like the goddamn thing is on fire. It's super annoying to drag her into the car I bought expecting to make my dog-hauling life just a little bit simpler. I'm baiting her into it with treats now, hopefully she gets used to it soon. :roll:
Things I am crazy about:
Most owners have a huge stick up their ass about the "soundaktor," and delete them as soon as they get their cars home. I get where they're coming from but.... :dunno: I dunno, if you can get over the fact that it's fake and coming through a speaker, the car has an adorable little growl that kicks in around 2500 or so and it is LOUD in sport mode. The salesman said sport controls a flapper in the exhaust as well as the soundaktor, so it also makes it louder outside the car, but I'm not 100% sure that's true.
The transmission is fantastic. None of the NVH issues of the MKV DSG. Starting and stopping is significantly smoother and quieter, and partial throttle gear changes are buttery smooth. I can't wait to get past break in and really put it through it's paces, from what I've seen on youtube the "DSG farts" are a lot more noticeable in the MK7.
The powerband is amazing, it provides a solid amount of boost way down low for effortless driving in traffic, but VW doesn't want you to forget it's a turbocharged car, right around 3500 rpms there's a huge secondary wave of torque that pushes you into your seat and makes you giggle. Again, dying to get this thing broken in so I can really exercise it.
The Fender stereo is absolutely kick ass. Very clear, great bass, gets as loud as I'm ever going to have it with zero distortion. The bluetooth feature works well and will automatically connect to my phone and start playing without me having to do anything when I get back into the car. It also automatically transfers calls to the car whenever I'm in it.
I also love the "panoramic" sunroof, not sure what makes it so panoramic, but it is a nice big opening. At first I was off put by the perforated fabric sun shade, but then I realized its so you can have the roof open but still close the shade so you can get some fresh air without as much air blowing around the cabin, nice feature.
Overall I'm extremely happy with the car and can see myself running this thing into the ground. I don't know what else you could expect from a DD/commuter. Most of my belly aching about it is just hardcore car nerd crap that doesn't really bother me and normal people would never notice. The only thing really getting under my skin is the stupid dog's apparently strong aversion to getting into it. :dunno:
RJ I'm guessing you'd probably get the stickshift version but you're welcome to "test drive" it sometime, especially once I get her broken in.
Mileage: 301
Still enthralled with it. I can't believe how well it turns in for a FWD car, I've sensed the electronics doing their thing once or twice, but it's less intrusive than the MKV was. The lack of body roll is absolutely amazing, I was sulking a little that I didn't go full retard and order the PP+DCC (the adjustable shocks are bundled with the perf pack or I probably would've sprung for them) but the standard shocks deal with the worst NOVA roads surprisingly well. However, you always discover a few quirks and pet peeves when you're actually living with the car, that you miss on test drives.
Things I'm not crazy about:
One thing I didn't notice when test driving, and I had the same problem with Jake's FoST, is with the seat adjusted to lanky-mf'er settings, the car is not particularly easy to get in and out of. I have the seat adjusted so far back and so low, with the steering wheel extended all the way towards me, that sliding out between the gap in the steering wheel and b-pillar takes careful positioning.
That said, when I am installed in the car the driver position is excellent, and the convenience of having the 4 doors outweighs the ease of access from the 2 door, especially after having exclusively 2 door cars for the past 6 years. Also, the MKV was much easier to get out of, but only if there was no one parked next to me. In a NOVA sized parking spot i'd have to crack the driver's door open and somehow get myself folded out of it without knocking the door into the car next to me. So it's a wash really.
Uhhhhh what else. The gas tank is too small, seems to be a common problem with all the modern cars in this class. I dunno what stops them from doing a 15-16 gallon tank instead of a freaking 13.5, size restrictions?
The shift program on the DSG isn't aggressive enough, it wants to drop into 2nd and 3rd when it's still practically at idle, and then it lugs the motor when you go to give it some throttle, this is probably something the car will "learn" once I get past the break in period, it already seems like it's improving a little bit. Strangely the gearing is massively different between transmissions, 1-4 is dramatically shorter in the DSG than the manual, then gets significantly longer in 5th and 6th, I wonder what their reasoning was behind that.
The MFD or whatever the hell they call the screen between the gauges is poorly executed compared to the Ford. The Fords have a grid of 4 read outs that I believe you can individually configure. This car will display TONS of different stats for you, but just one at a time in like size 60 font. Why? I'd like to see oil temp, avg MPG, Range, etc all at once without having to scroll through menus.
I love that VW finally trusted us Americans with an oil temp readout, but why are they still holding back on things like boost and oil pressure? There is a menu in the car settings that lets you choose what shows up on that screen, seems like an easy feature to include and default to off so that super nerdy buyers like me can get their kicks, but your average buyer doesn't have to trouble themselves with it.
Finally, this isn't an issue with the car, but the dog fucking hates it. I don't know if it's the new car smell, or if it's harder to get into because she can't step onto the floor and then the seat, or if she senses how tight my butthole gets when she gets near it with all her fur, claws and slobber, but every time I open the door she does a 180* and tries to bail, I have to drag/coax her into it and then she sits right at the edge of the seat when I close the door, looking at me like the goddamn thing is on fire. It's super annoying to drag her into the car I bought expecting to make my dog-hauling life just a little bit simpler. I'm baiting her into it with treats now, hopefully she gets used to it soon. :roll:
Things I am crazy about:
Most owners have a huge stick up their ass about the "soundaktor," and delete them as soon as they get their cars home. I get where they're coming from but.... :dunno: I dunno, if you can get over the fact that it's fake and coming through a speaker, the car has an adorable little growl that kicks in around 2500 or so and it is LOUD in sport mode. The salesman said sport controls a flapper in the exhaust as well as the soundaktor, so it also makes it louder outside the car, but I'm not 100% sure that's true.
The transmission is fantastic. None of the NVH issues of the MKV DSG. Starting and stopping is significantly smoother and quieter, and partial throttle gear changes are buttery smooth. I can't wait to get past break in and really put it through it's paces, from what I've seen on youtube the "DSG farts" are a lot more noticeable in the MK7.
The powerband is amazing, it provides a solid amount of boost way down low for effortless driving in traffic, but VW doesn't want you to forget it's a turbocharged car, right around 3500 rpms there's a huge secondary wave of torque that pushes you into your seat and makes you giggle. Again, dying to get this thing broken in so I can really exercise it.
The Fender stereo is absolutely kick ass. Very clear, great bass, gets as loud as I'm ever going to have it with zero distortion. The bluetooth feature works well and will automatically connect to my phone and start playing without me having to do anything when I get back into the car. It also automatically transfers calls to the car whenever I'm in it.
I also love the "panoramic" sunroof, not sure what makes it so panoramic, but it is a nice big opening. At first I was off put by the perforated fabric sun shade, but then I realized its so you can have the roof open but still close the shade so you can get some fresh air without as much air blowing around the cabin, nice feature.
Overall I'm extremely happy with the car and can see myself running this thing into the ground. I don't know what else you could expect from a DD/commuter. Most of my belly aching about it is just hardcore car nerd crap that doesn't really bother me and normal people would never notice. The only thing really getting under my skin is the stupid dog's apparently strong aversion to getting into it. :dunno:
RJ I'm guessing you'd probably get the stickshift version but you're welcome to "test drive" it sometime, especially once I get her broken in.
Now: 07 Porsche Cayman S | 18 VW Tiguan
Then: 18 VW GTI Autobahn | 95 BMW M3 | 15 VW GTI SE | 12 Kia Optima SX | 2009 VW GTI | 00 BMW 540i Sport | 90 Mazda Miata | 94 Yamaha FZR600R | 1993 Suzuki GS500E | 2003 BMW 325i | 95 Saab 900S