2009 Volkswagen Passat CC

There are very few truly “unique” automobiles brought to market today.  The ones that are often fail, because they fill a niche no one asked for.  See VW Phaeton for an example.  Or Malibu Maxx.  Perhaps that’s why VW went with the tried and true “make a nearly exact copy of a successful car” method [...]

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Volkswagen Recalls 410k Passats

If you were foolish enough to buy a 99-05 VW Passat, then be prepared to keep an eye on your mailbox.  Every non-diesel Passat sold during those model years is affected by the latest recall, involving the heat shield by the catalytic converter.  On some cars, the shield could be damaged, so VW wants to [...]

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Golf TDI Hybrid

I’m almost starting to wonder if I need a whole section of Houston Cars dedicated to diesel hybrids.  The VW Golf TDI Hybrid is the latest diesel hybrid to be announced.  VW’s hybrid design is a full hybrid system, capable of powering the Golf solely on electric, solely on diesel, or with a combination of [...]

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Canceling VW Phaeton was a mistake – VW CEO Says

VW of America’s CEO, Stefan Jacoby, made an astounding statement just last week.  He said that canceling the VW Phaeton here in the US back in 2005 was a mistake.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Canceling the Phaeton was a mistake.  Not thinking of it, building it, or selling it.  But canceling. For anyone who’s [...]

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2009 Volkswagen Rabbit

These spy shots are very covered-up, but show the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit ( still called the Golf elsewhere in the world. )  Engine options are pretty widespread, with these engines available ( not all will make it to the States ): 1.4 TSI, 1.8 TSI, 2.0 TFSI, 1.9 TDI, and 2.0 TDI.  Five engine choices [...]

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VW Executive Hates Hybrids

In a recent interview with Inside Line, VW powertrain chief Wolfgang Hatz mentioned his disdain for hybrids: Hybrid technology is a very expensive way to save a small amount of fuel. The cost/benefit analysis is quite on the expensive side, but we’re politically pressed to develop hybrids by the U.S. market. If someone said that [...]

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VW Scirocco

The Scirocco is the latest in a long line of poor VW names for vehicles.  Aside from the fact that no one can spell it, there’s the whole issue with no one being able to pronounce it without help.  And, of course, what do you think of when you hear “Scirocco”?  Well nothing, of course, [...]

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2008 Volkswagen R32 Review

VW says that not everyone will “get” the R32.  I believe you can count me in that group.  With a base price of $33,630, I don’t believe the “Super Golf” offers a reasonable level of performance for the price.  Since when do I have to spend nearly $34 large to get 250 HP?  250 HP [...]

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