Test Drive

Test Drive: 2008 Volkswagen R32

Published by G

I have liked the new GTI ever since it was introduced. I even tried to lease it last year instead of the TSX my wife currently drives. When I heard that the R32 would be coming for the 08 model year, I was looking forward to it. In terms of looks, it’s pretty much like a hatchback Jetta. Pretty decent assortment of standard features such as AWD, 18″ alloys, ipod jack, leather seating, etc… (The seats are not powered though.) The chrome finish on the grill/bumper is certainly more attractive than the honeycomb grill found on the GTI. You don’t get a lot of color choices though; red, blue, white, gray, orange(?) are the only colors available (can’t believe it has no black! This car would look so pimp in black because it make the chrome grill jump out!). The GPS unit costs another $2000, bumping the MSRP to around $35300s. Yes folks, a tiny 6cyl hatchback for 35k, what is VW thinking?!?!?

How does it drive? It is actually not bad. It does feel rather hefty for a small car, but the V6 engine does roar like the Batmobile. DSG is impressive to say the least. I theorize that within the next decade day, manuals will be phased out in most cars as the technology becomes more widely accepted. F1 racecars have been using this technology for quite some time now. It’s about time it started trickling down to “everyday cars”.

I had a lot of fun burning rubber gunning it out of right turns and revving the engine (the exhaust note is very sweet). This car does have good amount of power for its size, coupled with AWD, the R32 should zip around extreme weather conditions without any issues. My biggest complaints? About $5000 to $7000 too much and no black.

Test Drive: 2007 Mercedes Benz SLK55 AMG

Published by G

While doing a trade-in appraisal of my car this past weekend, I took a spin around the block in a 2007 SLK55 AMG. This is probably the second time that I have ever driven a two-seat convertible, so I was rather excited. I had absolutely no intention of every purchasing the car, but I felt it would be fun to take it out on a spin and kill some time since my car’s appraisal was going to take about 30 minutes to complete.

It certainly was fun to cruise around in a convertible as eye-catching as the SLK55, the problem is, for a AMG, it wasn’t THAT fast. It felt somewhat sluggish and heavy at times, which was odd considering this is an AMG tuned TWO-SEAT convertible. Another thing that annoyed me was not having a “one-touch” switch to retract roof. I had to hold the stupid thing for at least 15-20 seconds for it to close. At times, it almost seemed like it got stuck.

The one thing I do like about this car is the exhaust note. It has a very deep throttling roar which makes it sound fast. Other than that, I really don’t see any reason to get one of these unless you truly love it’s SLR-wannabe looks and got lot of money to spend.

Test Drive: Infiniti G35 and G37

Published by G

Over the weekend, I test drove the G35 Journey + Premium and the G37 Base. I’m still very torn as to which I’d like to take home. Based on the quotes I’ve been getting, the G37 Base seems seems to lease a little bit better due to a higher residual value. It’s been such a dilemma for me lately that I decided to write a comparison which you can read below.

Performance: In everyday driving, the extra 30hp that the G37 provides is not very noticeable. They both provide a lot of low-end torque and potent acceleration. The steering on both vehicles is very light and nimble, making them both a pleasure to drive. Edge: Tie

Exterior Styling – In terms of exterior styling, the G37 has a lower profile, smooth lines and aggressive stance. The G35, compared to the G37, look a bit pudgy. Edge: G37

Interior Styling – They look very similar inside. The fit and finish is great and the materials are massively upgraded from the previous generation of the G-series. A 7″ info screen doubles as a video screen if you decide to hook up a dvd player or a gaming console to it using AV jacks. Video will not work while the vehicle is in motion, however, I’m sure the after-market community has found a way to by pass that. Edge: Tie.

Driver Comfort – I prefer the driving position of the G37. There is a difference since the G37 sits a bit lower and it makes me feel like I fit into the cockpit vs being on top of it. Edge: G37

Passenger Comfort – The G35 excels here obviously since it’s a 4-door sedan. There is more head room in the back and it’s easy to get in and out. This is not to say that the G37 is extremely uncomfortable for passengers, the main issue I have noticed is that rear windshield extends further up into the roof, exposing rear passengers’ head in direct sunlight. This makes for a very hot ride during the summer season. Edge: G35

Creature Comforts – Having a premium package on the G35 Journey certainly adds a load of fancy features such as moonroof, bluetooth, ipod control integration, dual climate controls, auto steering tilt, etc. Not to say the G37 base is poorly equipped, but having the premium package does add quite a few “bells and whistles”. Edge: G35

Trunk Space – Surprisingly enough, the G35’s trunk isn’t THAT big, but certainly at least 33% bigger than the G37. They are very similar in width and length dimensions, however, the G35’s trunk is a bit deeper than the G37s. Edge: 35

Price – The G37 has a MSRP of $35,215 and a sale price of $32,916. The G35, on the other hand, has a MSRP of $35,665 and sale price of $32,993. Unfortunately, due to lower residual value, the G35 will cost anywhere from $10-$22 dollars more per month, depending on the term and mileage you choose. Apparently the insurance increase is insignificant (about $3 per month), making the G37 base cheaper to lease. However, this won’t be the case if you opt for the G37 Journey + Premium or any other trim for that matter. Edge: G37

Overall, some of these categories tend to favor sedans over coupes (such as trunk space and passenger comfort), making the G35 the obvious choice. If you are usually the only one in the car, don’t carry passengers or pick up people at the airport on a regular basis, the coupe is certainly the more “driver oriented” of the two. As for me, my heart tells me the G37 is what I want, but the G35’s premium package is enticing me to reconsider. I could opt for the G37 Journey with Premium, but that will set me back another $40+ a month, which is about $2000 more over the life of the lease.