WhiteD3
28th September 2009, 04:54 PM
After much searching around, test drives and haggling we settled on a Golf 90TSI DSG to replace the Forester.
The dealer offered a 6k trade-in but I got 14.5k within 24 hours of advertising our MY03 Forester X manual with 70k on it.
The Golf is a different car (to me anyway) to drive, given the 1.4L turbo and 7 speed DSG. The DSG box is a manual with dual auto clutches (one for the currently selected gear and one lined up for the next gear), so it's in essence an auto. Changes gears in 8 milliseconds:eek:
With no syncro and not being a true auto, its a funny car to get used to. Goes like the clappers when pushed but very economical (6L/100k combined cycle) when driven normally. When stopped and in Drive, it'll roll backwards (if facing uphill) as it's effectively in neutral (although it's hillhold facility with hold the brake on for 2 seconds). It'll sit happily in 7th gear at 40-50kph:eek: then drop down a few gears when asked.
It's the bottom of the line trendline with the comfort pack so it has lots of bells and whistles, air bags everywhere, impressive electronics, etc.
The jack is a weird thing and I had to read the book to figure it out. Think of an inverted letter V or a ">" sign; the bottom bit on the ground via a small foot plate, the upper part locks into the chassis with the winder in the apex (?) of the >. Sort of like half a scissor jack if that makes sense. Space saver tyre limited to 80 kph.
All good so far and time will tell but the build quality and finish is fantastic and leaves all comers for dead, although the 309 is a close second.
The dealer offered a 6k trade-in but I got 14.5k within 24 hours of advertising our MY03 Forester X manual with 70k on it.
The Golf is a different car (to me anyway) to drive, given the 1.4L turbo and 7 speed DSG. The DSG box is a manual with dual auto clutches (one for the currently selected gear and one lined up for the next gear), so it's in essence an auto. Changes gears in 8 milliseconds:eek:
With no syncro and not being a true auto, its a funny car to get used to. Goes like the clappers when pushed but very economical (6L/100k combined cycle) when driven normally. When stopped and in Drive, it'll roll backwards (if facing uphill) as it's effectively in neutral (although it's hillhold facility with hold the brake on for 2 seconds). It'll sit happily in 7th gear at 40-50kph:eek: then drop down a few gears when asked.
It's the bottom of the line trendline with the comfort pack so it has lots of bells and whistles, air bags everywhere, impressive electronics, etc.
The jack is a weird thing and I had to read the book to figure it out. Think of an inverted letter V or a ">" sign; the bottom bit on the ground via a small foot plate, the upper part locks into the chassis with the winder in the apex (?) of the >. Sort of like half a scissor jack if that makes sense. Space saver tyre limited to 80 kph.
All good so far and time will tell but the build quality and finish is fantastic and leaves all comers for dead, although the 309 is a close second.