Introduction
Sleek. Dark. Restless. She prowls along the road, growling in defiance at every twist and turn. She was meant to be unleashed; to attack every path with an insatiable ferocity.
Wolfie. The affectionate name given her by her master was both an indicator of her heritage and homage to her graceful movements.
Sunlight glimmers over her dark coat, casting a multitude of starlike reflections along the worn path chosen for today's excursion. She growls as she speeds forward, pushing headlong into another treacherous turn at a blistering pace.
The Details
I purchased a (new to me) Wolfsburg edition Jetta recently. I forgot just how eager a car that is designed for a driver can feel on the road, after having driven a Dodge Dakota over the past few years (I still have the truck, why give up a vehicle that is paid for and gives impressive power when needed?). I have to admit, the Germans know how to design a car that simply feels great to drive. I can see why so much of Volkswagen's business is from repeat customers.
I opted for a certified preowned model for a couple of reasons, obviously cost being one. Since I wanted the 2.0T engine, and since my plan was to do whatever I could to keep my truck, going with a CPO model gave me the ideal blend of manufacturer backing (Volkswagen places a two year/24,000 mile warranty on certified preowned vehicles) and newness. It helps a lot that the car had less than 24,000 miles on it too!
Volkswagen's 2.0T engine, an in-line four cylinder with a turbocharger, is a beast. Paired with the DSG transmission (which you can read more about on Volkswagen's website at this link), the car simply goes. I definitely could not shift as quickly as the computer can, and the shifts are so smooth and fluid it is tough to think of anything that could be better.
Needless to say, I'm in love with the car. I'll probably add a few follow up posts as I really get to play with what the car can do, as well as my adventures in doing different things to/with the car (such as modifying the ECU at some point, via the good folks over at APR).