Now I'm extra sad they're not made anymore. THIS is what I want!
I'm extra sad too after this past week. Flat out, they're not making Passats like they used to. It's traumatic to me since this is my third Passat (the others were German specs and had to be sold before leaving country) & our 5th VW product.
Long story short, at the last minute because my car wasn't ready on a recall fix due to a massive screwup on the dealership's part, I was offered a 2015 Passat with 148 miles on the odometer for a few hours.
I gratefully took the free loaner, loaded it up with bags to get to dd's afternoon classes and tried to figured out the 'new' system.
Well, first of all, I had to get my head unstuck from the 'ceiling'. Lowered the seat down as far as it went..... but STILL felt perched and too high. I'm 5'8, but my sitting height is extremely short. (height is all from leg length).
It was weird to be this tall and so close to the visor edge. If I straightened, I could almost touch it with my forehead. Felt as if I was sitting in a minivan. It was because they had channeled the rails for the seat. There was about 4" from the base of the seat bottom to the floor. I could have stored my bag in the space, maybe some books. Wasted and weird, imo.
Didn't help that the huge headrest was pushing my head more forward than was natural on my spine. I couldn't tip it back like I do with my own car.
In the hour I spent driving the car, I could not get comfortable in this seat. I couldn't see out well. No matter what I tried, it was awful. I dropped dd off at her class & hung out at the library because the experience was so terrible. I doubt 6'3 long torso dh would even be able to sit in it without getting sore.
The car itself drove okay. But, hmmmm. Okay was all I could feel about it. I couldn't put my figure on what I felt until I was on the return journey. It drove like every other American made car on the market. Adequate. Quiet. Blah. Bland.
Maybe it's because it was a 4 cyl, vs my 6, but even the 4 speed Golfs I had driven in the past had more personality than this spanking brand new car. There was nothing in the interior that I've always loved about Volkswagen. No fahrfegneugen (that wonderfully made up word that described the Fun & pleasure in buzzing around in a VW.) Even the old camper vans had more character and they were basic.
Somehow, the designers & manufacturing in the US have sucked the uniqueness out of the vehicle and now it's just like any sedan on the market. Nice, okay. gets you from place to place. But not worth the expense of paying for the VW brand over anyone else.
Both dd & I were so happy to switch back to my 11 year old car. Just being back down and able to stretch my leg out straighter than the bent downwards positioning because the seat was higher -- felt good.
I had a moment of concern that somehow they had broken my seat. Whoever parked it must like being on top of the steering wheel. I had to adjust the seat from all the way forward, back, before I could get into it. Then I was just as cramped up against the ceiling as in the new car. Remembered that I could lower it too. Ahhhh, so nice to be grounded. And to have tight steering again where I didn't have to constantly adjust to keep the car on track. I'm happy driving again. :thumbsup:
The one plus with the new version was the camera for the rear direction. So sensitive that I could see the exhaust in pitch dark. But it's really necessary since I couldn't see that well out of the side & back window.
I sneaked a peak to the Golf and it doesn't have that odd seat lift.. so I guess you can still be sporty in that. Just not a Passat??? :scratcheshead:
Makes me sad.
I hope they somehow get the spirit back.