A Top 5 Favourite Car – VW Golf & GTI

Volkswagen’s Golf and GTI, their signature hatchback.

I’ve loved it for years, almost bought a GTI back in 2011; like, deposit-down-papers-signed almost.

Non-car nerds: a Golf and GTI are very similar, the GTI is the faster sportier version of the Golf, and has a red accent stripe across the grille.

Both handle amazing and literally are the cliche – amazingly fun to drive.

It’s all-new this 2015 model year. This 7th generation Golf is lower, longer and wider.

2015 VW Golf
A 1.8 TSI turbo outputting 170 hp and 184 lb-ft.
Starting at $18,995

2015 VW GTI
A 2.0L turbo outputting 210 hp and 258 lb-ft.
Starting at $27,995

The interior is so me – minimal and ergonomic. And no touch controls, proper buttons and knobs only.

This will probably be the only time I ever recommend choosing a non-plain fabric, because the Clark Plaid is that sharp.

And doubles as camouflague.

All the features you’d expect – Bluetooth, add heated seats or cruise control, a new infotainment system and more, but  VW is ahead of the game with its self-cleaning lens on the backup camera.

It’s not just me who adores this car. The Automotive Jury of Canada named it as their annual ‘Car of the Year’ a few weeks ago.

(it beat the Porsche Macan and Ford Mustang)

And always good seeing these hooligans.

VW Bag Face Animated

 

 

Top 5 Favourite Things – 2014 LA Auto Show

Wrote it for the paper, click here to read.

Top 5 List from the 2014 LA Auto Show

1 – Language used during the reveal presentations
2 – Jaguar F-TYPE now available in manual
3 – Chatting with the head designer of Ford & Lincoln
4 – Choking on that new-car-smell
5 – Chrysler’s all-new 300 Sedan

It’s 850+ words, which is rare, my stuff’s usually 400 words and rarely longer than 600. It was a great show.

Here’s more photos from the show. Click more to see.

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The 2013 LA Auto Show

I love auto shows for the pristine-ness of it all,
crisp white carpet, no dust or smudges,
that new car smell practically choking you ahhh.

That’s the media day version though; wouldn’t want to be here on a normal attendance day, too many humans.

It’s intense, an auto show, very fast paced. It’s kinda… you get on a shuttle in the morning, beautiful cars and click click hundreds of photos, lots of laughs, then all of a sudden you’re back on the shuttle, it’s dark outside and you’re going “woah”.

The media room.  All those people leave their laptops just sitting there unattended, while they’re in the show photographing. Nice that it’s possible, I could never.

Click MORE for the cars (warning: big page) [Read more…]