It wasn't an easy task buying a car here in Germany. Makes and models are too many to make any realistic decision analysis.
Finally, I left my heart decide and it was a Volkswagen Golf VI 1.4 TSI Petrol.
My requirements were mainly good power, interior space, looks, easy maintenance and decent FE. I wanted a hatch as my wife would be driving it too and she is never confident driving a sedan.
It was a long 3 months wait till my name appeared on the screen at Autostadt, the VW factory in Germany where I picked it up.
Buying experience has been amazing. I bought the new car completely online. Of course test drive wasn't online
![Wink](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.png)
I have my buying experience in a separate thread here
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ml#post1879960.
Here are the basic configuration info and initial impressions:
- 1.4 Litres Petrol TSI
- Power: 122 PS/ 5000
- Torque: 200Nm / 1500 - 4000
- Tyre: 205/55 R16
- Music System: RNS 510 with Navigation and DVD player
- 5 Airbags (front) + 4 Airbags (back)
- Rain sensor
- Park Assist
- Seat heating
- Cruise control
Engine
TSI is simply amazing. Downsizing has really worked for VW. The small 1.4L engine produces 122PS of power (the next higher one in the series produces 160PS with the same engine size). The power and torque are available whenever you need it. You don't notice any turbo lag on this petrol engine (due to the active super charger at lower RPMs).
I have been getting a FE of around 14Kmpl (city + highway) which I feel is pretty ok based on whats promised by VW.
Handling
Rock solid. Gets the feel that you are driving a sedan with the way it plants on the road.
Gears ![VW Golf VI: Initial Impressions & Pics-img_1377.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/362671d1692764863t-vw-golf-vi-initial-impressions-pics-img_1377.jpg)
Smooth as butter. Took a while getting used to shifting to the 6th gear.
Comfort and space
The interiors are really really spacious. A big plus for Golf here. The front seats are really comfortable. Both front seats have lumbar support with a lumbar support adjustment. It isn't really warm here yet. Hence couldn't really test the air conditioning. There are store spaces everywhere..in the dash, under the seats, on the doors.
Styling
I bought a special edition model called "Team" which had couple of nice additions in series like Park assistant (which automatically parallel parks the car), 16'' alloys (a plain old design), seat heating, multifunction display, multifunction steering wheel etc.
Music system
RNS 510 with 8 speakers sounds good for the ears and produces decent bass. The integrated navigation is really cool. Finds satellites as soon as you switch it on. The mobile phone integration with bluetooth worked out of the box (without the use of any costly adapters). The car uses it own GSM antenna and uses the SIM on the mobile in my pocket (using rSAP bluetooth protocol). The makes it possible to browse address book and read SMS directly on the screen.
Quality
You see it everywhere. Its miles ahead of Golf V w.r.t quality. The folks at VW have given attention to detail in all areas.
Drawbacks ![VW Golf VI: Initial Impressions & Pics-img_1407.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/362681d1692764916t-vw-golf-vi-initial-impressions-pics-img_1407.jpg)
- I think the headlamps and foglamps of Polo (left) looks more stylish than the one on Golf (right).
![O.T.](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/Off Topic.gif)
There is a little dead spider inside my headlamp. I saw it walking around inside the headlamp a day before and now it is lying dead inside ![EEK!](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.png)
![VW Golf VI: Initial Impressions & Pics-img_1352.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/362682d1692764916t-vw-golf-vi-initial-impressions-pics-img_1352.jpg)
- Engine is a bit noisy at cold start.
- The door has two halting positions. You can keep the door only in these positions. The first position is too small and makes it tough to get in and out of the car. The second position makes the door too wide open and would mostly touch the door of your neighbour in parking spots.
- It is not easy to close the boot lid by holding on the hooks. Mostly you have to place your hand on the boot lid from outside and press it down again.
- Plastic looking alloys on special edition