Volkswagen Dealers Are All Smiles
Blimey. Was I embarrassed or was I embarrassed. Nipped into my friendly neighbourhood Volkswagen dealer last week, put two and two together and came up with far more than four. The salesmen were all smiles, jovial and ever-so-friendly. Well, with the world in the state that it is, I figured there was only one explanation for this frivolity ? drugs. I debated how many real salesmen were trapped in the back office and just how to escape these impostors and inform the police. Suddenly one of them pounced and asked if he could help me and after looking gormlessly at him, I decided that in fact these guys were happy because they were just, well happy.
Me being the idiot that I am, it turns out Volkswagen dealers only deal one form of drug, the very real, the very legal adrenaline. And small wonder Volkswagen dealers? are smiling ear to ear, with their current line-up of vehicles, Volkswagen are strongly positioned to become the market leader across their range ? most notably the dopamine deliverer, the Golf GTi.
Ever since the MK I burst onto the scene in 1976, engulfed in a cloud of tyre smoke and snarling engine, the GTi name has always been synonymous with Volkswagen?s ?hot hatch?, in the same way that ?Stuck in the middle with you? by Steelers Wheel is no longer heard as a catchy pop song, but as the soundtrack to a policeman having un-consenting surgery in Reservoir Dogs ? so mighty was its impact things would never be the same again. However as was the case with Elvis, as the king of the road began to gain more and more accolades and success, the waste-line began to expand and its performance became slower and more laboured.
Heritage however counts for a lot and whenever a Golf was bestowed the fabled ?GTi? badge, buyers clamoured to have one on their driveways. Besides, an overweight Golf GTi was still streets ahead of its rivals, as was the case with the Mk III and sales continued apace. However when the Mk IV was launched to lukewarm reviews in 1999, it seemed the Golf had eaten its last burger. In fact the Mk IV was only badged ?GTi? in Britain and was called the ?Trendline? (oh dear) elsewhere. Elvis Impersonator anyone?
To make things far worse, there was a new cat in town which simply blew the Golf away ? the Honda Civic Type R. The Civic was cheaper than the Golf, faster than the Golf, had bullet-proof reliability and styling that screamed ?speed!? The Type R devoured every performance car award going and continued onwards to head-butting the horizon.
However Volkswagen regrouped, put the Golf on a strict diet and training regime, gave it a new wardrobe and launched the Mk V GTi in 2005. To put the Elvis analogies to bed, the Mk V is the comeback special. Developing 200bhp from its 2.0 litre turbocharged engine, the GTi develops twice the torque of its great, great granddad the MK I, despite using no more fuel. A six speed gearbox is offered as is a sequential one to get your gear change time down to milliseconds. Plump for the sequential one however and not only can you achieve 0-60 in 6.9 seconds, but you?ll feel like a Formula One driver with the flappy paddles behind the steering wheel. Pull up on the right to change up, up on the left to change down, lo and behold you?re Lewis Hamilton. Even the steering wheel itself gets in on the act, with its flat bottom as useable as it is looking good.
Better still is the exterior styling. Whereas the Mk III and IV were a Golf with a different badge and no other discernable features, the latest offering again harks back to the golden years. A gaping black grill greets you at the front, whilst huge exhausts hang proudly out at the rear. Five spoke alloy wheels that converge into five half circles finish the aggressive look. Hot hatches are back in vogue and Volkswagen want to shout about it.
Bit of trivia for you, the word ?Golf? doesn?t appear anywhere on the car. It?s a GTi and nothing else. "Yes, we had a little bit decaffeinated the GTI," were the words of J?rn Hinrichs, Volkswagen's marketing head upon the launch of this masterpiece. Having seen the enthusiasm of Volkswagen dealers now they have such a special car on their forecourts, it appears they?ve been re-caffeinated too.
Tim Bristol is an experienced motor journalist currently working to promote Heritage Volkswagen a VW dealer located between Bristol and Southampton.
Volkswagen Articles:
Vw Bug Parts ? Their Only Little Industry
Maybe it was Herbie that did it. Maybe it was the flower power movement. It seems like everyone wanted to have a VW Bug ? and they still do. Why else would Volkswagen begin manufacturing the Bug again? There are still millions on the road today and this has lead to an entire industry dedicated to VW Bug parts. This is true in the US and the rest of the world. With the demand for VW Bugs, parts companies have created their own little niche.
'Enter to Win a 2009 Volkswagen Routan' at Bernardsville Volkswagen
Bernardsville Volkswagen is giving away a two-year lease on a 2009 Volkswagen Routan.
Auto Parts - What's in a Car?
Several components go into making an automobile There are as many as 3000 different parts of autos in a small vehicle alone
Volkswagen Passat with Nokia Blue Tooth Technology: VW Aftermarket and Replacement Parts
Volkswagen is the first automaker to offer its customers a factory-fitted automotive communication solution that supports the Bluetooth SIM Access Profile. The handset integration product provides compatibility with a wide range of mobile phones from various manufacturers.
Hybrid Diesel Cars From Volkswagen and Peugeot
Living green, save the planet and Earth Day. These are all phrases that we have become familiar with over the past couple of years. A few more words that you may have heard that just started to evolve might include hybrid diesel, Peugeot, electric cars, and Volkswagen. Why are these words so prominent in today's society? It is because gas prices are on the rise and so is air pollution. We are striving to find vehicles that offer the best gas mileage as well as the healthiest choice for our earth. So, what exactly is a hybrid diesel? Hybrid diesel is a vehicle that is eco-friendly and will soon be in the top spot of the green-car market. A hybrid diesel is a mix between diesel fuel and electric to power the vehicle.
Used Auto Car Parts
Every year many people sell off their car and buy a new one, and that too just for fun. We know that nowadays, it is easier to buy a car through an Internet than from a local used car dealer. At present, you will find many car models moving around. However, buying any of them might blow up your budget. Meanwhile you work hard to earn enough money to fund you car, you have a valuable option of used car. In addition, you can buy used modern car accessories so that you can use that for your car. Isnt this a good deal to use well maintained car part with your car to enjoy a super ride?
VW Polo - A Small Car With Big Plans
There was quite a commotion going on today outside our house As it is normally so quiet you can hear an Ant?s footsteps I thought perhaps it would be a good idea to see what all the fuss was about, just in case there was some kind of apocalyptic alien invasion or such like
Volkswagen R32: Most Powerful and Drivers Most Wanted Car Will Stand Out More with VW Aftermarket
The sporty Volkswagen R32, which earned the "Drivers wanted" car ever, features a powerfully 3.2-liter version of the famous VR6 engine.
Guaranteed Lifetime Auto Parts Offered At i Auto Body Parts
There are a lot of mechanic shops or performance stores which offer various auto parts. Some may tell you that they are offering products which are guaranteed to be of finest quality. However, when you install a certain auto part on your vehicle, it does not last long. In this case, you need an auto parts store which is reliable and provides products which last for a long time.
VW Polo- Still the Small Car to Beat
A recent TV commercial for the Volkswagen Polo featured a singing dog that was strutting around full of self-confidence whilst it was a passenger in the Polo but as soon as it left the car for different surroundings it became a nervous wreck The closing caption of the commercial read ?Polo Confidence
VW ?A Car For All Seasons
I believe the popular saying goes something like ?two things that are guaranteed in life are death and taxes? I suppose you can?t really argue with that statement and I must admit that when I am feeling a little despondent about the world such a phrase inevitably comes to mind
Volkswagen Touran Hymotion: Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Plus Top Rate VW Replacement Parts
Automakers know that rising oil prices and tougher environmental rules will increase the public's interest in vehicles that use less fuel with reduced tail pipe emissions.Hybrids increase fuel efficiency by capturing the energy normally lost to friction braking and storing it in a battery for later use when driving power is again required.
High Performing Auto Parts for the Worlds Best Selling Sports Car – the Mazda Miata 2006
A risky venture in 1989 yet the shrewdest move for Mazda, this little Japanese roadster eventually chalked up 700,000 sales worldwide as it capped the Guinness Book of World Records world's best-selling sports car. Mazda is now looking toward the 1 million mark with the third-generation, 2006 MX-5.