My brother owns a MKIV R32 with the DSG transmission. He also owns two MK!s and a Corrado G60 and SLC. the R32 is his daily driver but he is one who likes old skool and never really grew to like the convenience of the DSG transmission or the creature comforts of the R32. There is nothing in the MKI & II platforms which compares in regards to creature comforts--most of which are demanded by customers today. Imagine a car with manual crank windows and manual locks!---that is unheard of today.
My daily driver is now an Audi A4 which has insulated me from my MK2 16V and my Corrado G60 which are crude by comparison. But I still enjoy the raw nature and the simplicity of the MK2 platform. I still find it awkward having to hook up my laptop when I work on the Audi. There was no such thing on the mechanically fuel injected 16V motronic motor. The CANN bus is light years ahead of the wiring harness I'm constantly grappling with in the 16V I also noted that the VW Corrado was also one of those models which languished on the dealership lots. 1990-1994 years VW sold only 17000 of the Corrados in North America during its five years as a flagship 3 door hatch. Both my G60 and my brother's G60 sat on the showroom floor for over two years before they were actually purchased. My car was manufactured in August of 1989 but was first sold in 1992. I eventually bought it from the original owner in 1994. Remember when VW/Audi would insist that 175hp was the maximum output one could practically deploy on a FWD automobile? Now with electronic traction control and other intelligent drive systems, show room cars are reaching 300hp and still getting 30mpg with Air conditioning, GPS, bluetooth and a host of other amenities. -Les On Sep 3, 2014, at 3:13 PM, Charlie Russo wrote: > I take a couple a couple of TShirts but mine need to say "123hp and proud of > it". ;) > > Yes, the Scirocco is nice. One of these days I have to visit my friend and > see his in person. > Turns out I was supposed to see it a few weeks ago but a mechanical problem > forced him to cancel his trip to a local VW Event. > > I agree that enthusiasts talk a big game but seldom put their money where > their mouth is. > That is true for other brands not just VW although it seems VW enthusiasts > may have larger numbers of enthusiasts with diarrhea of the mouth and > constipation of the wallet. > > -----Original Message----- From: Larry Velez > Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2014 3:54 PM > To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list > Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting > > Charlie, > > We on this list are in denial that any new car is as good as our older cars. > :) > > We'll have to make up TShirts: > > "134hp and proud of it!" > > But seriously that Scirroco looks cool. But I think VW gave up on giving in > to enthusiast pressure in the USA when they they sold the R32 and they sat on > the lot for a while. Enthusiasts talk a big game but don't vote with their > wallets. > > Larry > > -----Original Message----- > From: a2-16v-list [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > Charlie Russo > Sent: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 2:30 PM > To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list > Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting > > About a year ago a friend of mine in Maryland purchased a RHD VW Scirocco > Storm. It had been imported from England to here in Pennsylvania. > He says driving and shifting this VDub is a blast. > > > -----Original Message----- From: Matthew Yip > Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2014 3:32 PM > To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list > Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting > > I remember reading that auto-tragic transmissions in Europe were a rarity > although I think that's changing since the concept of a Global Market is > such that what sells the most is what is foisted on the rest of the world. > > I had a Mini (not a MINI) that was RHD - shifting was easy compared to less > complicated tasks such as finding the turn signal indicator stalk which was > on the right side of the column. > > > On Tuesday, September 2, 2014 3:25 PM, Les Noriel <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > Amusing. Five years ago while vacationing in Ireland, we rented a car. We > had to pay extra to get an automatic. It was highly recommended to get the > auto because I spent more attention on driving the opposite side of the > road. Shifting through the gears with the left hand also felt awkward. So > the extra money was well spent. > > Don't know if it's still that way today. > > Les > > On Tuesday, September 2, 2014, Charlie Russo <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Sadly manual transmissions in vehicles are going the way of the dinosaur. >> Current VW offerings are no exception. IIRC less than 5% of VWs have >> manual >> transmissions. That is a far cry from where VW was when our 16Vs were new. >> >> I enjoy manual shifting when I drive my '85 Golf on my days off or when I >> am >> exercising my other old VWs so I consider myself very lucky. >> >> I plan on taking my '87 GTI 16V to the Antique Car Show at Hershey, PA >> this >> October. So, I will be enjoying manual shifting and talking about 16Vs >> and >> VWs. Last time I took my 16V to Hershey I could not believe how many >> former >> VW salespeople and Techs I talked with. I spoke with a few former 16V >> owners >> as well. If anyone here on the list is going to Hershey this year look for >> me and my '87 GTI 16V in the HPOF Class in the show on Saturday. >> >> Charlie >> >> -----Original Message----- From: Larry Velez >> Sent: Friday, August 29, 2014 9:37 AM >> To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list >> Subject: [a2-16v-list] The End of Shifting >> >> I am sure you all are reading in the various car rags how Porsche seems to >> be abandoning the manual gear box with the latest GT3. Ferrari only sold >> 1% >> of their cars as manuals last year. Apparently well budgeted people no >> longer want to shift their transmissions themselves. The robots have won >> another battle. >> >> So enjoy your manual shifting in your 16Vs this weekend, you'll be >> telling >> stories to future generations of how things were in the old days. >> >> Speaking of shifting, Chad came by my place this past weekend and he was >> able to check out the patient in the garage (I am determined to get her >> running this year) and I got a chance to get a ride in his Jetta GLI 16V >> Turbo. Chad made me self-conscious about shifting too fast/aggressively. >> How did you all learn to shift the "right" way and are some habits better >> on >> the transmission for longevity? >> >> Larry >> 91 GTI 16V (New Fuel Filter installed, New Transfer Pump installed, >> Transfer >> Pump Assembly rebuilt, fuel delivery troubleshooting continues to main >> pump >> next) >> _______________________________________________ >> a2-16v-list mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >> For list archives, see listinfo link above. >> _______________________________________________ >> a2-16v-list mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >> For list archives, see listinfo link above. >> > > > -- > Sent from Gmail Mobile > > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above. _______________________________________________ a2-16v-list mailing list [email protected] http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list For list archives, see listinfo link above.
