FKL

on a little side note..every CC I have seen has white gauge lighting in the cluster?








btw, that "battery cover" is designed and engineered to prevent moisture corrosion on the battery terminals. There's a reason it's on there! I see you noticed the hydraulic hood assist and underhood lining. But did you notice the way the engine bay is designed, so one's hand can sit down on the front without touching anything hot or hitting the fan? It's designed that way on even the most basic golfs. There is something to be said for attention to detail.

I8ABMR

This car is loaded with style. Its a refreshing new model on the scene. If they could only make them reliable

FKL

passat won the award as the most improved car in JD Power's 2008 ratings.

The newer generation jettas and passats have much, much, much (did I say much) less costly issues than the prior generation cars. Electrical issues are virtually non-existant, no suspension control arm/bushing failures, no window regulator failures, no leaking gaskets/bad coils, etc.

my favorite:

superchan7

I'll believe it in a few years, and when their dealer service and overall accountability improve.

mmarshall

Yes they have....on European-spec model CCs. (see Jeremy Clarkson's review, posted here in CAR CHAT...although he is not as enamored with the DSG as I am). They just won't offer it here any more for marketing and cost reasons. I plan to disuss this with VW/Audi reps at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show later this week.

Yes, they do offer it on the VW R32....I reviewed an R32 with it. But the R32 is not a typical sedan...it is a semi-performance car. VW and Audi used to offer it on most of their American-spec models. Now they don't.


Both, granted, are smooth and seamless, but the DSG is more efficient, and seems to give slightly better throttle response.

If you sit down on it, that's just what you will get.......a pinch.

mmarshall

Perhaps. But only time will tell, as it did with Hyundai....one or two years is not necessarily the whole story. U.S.-market VWs have a well-deserved reputation for below-average reliability, especially electronics and hardware. That's why I said in the review that, especially with the CC being a new design, there is some measure of rolling the dice with it.

mmarshall

Maybe. You might have a point. I didn't drive the CC at night, but I usually shade the gauges as much as possible and try the dash lights. It could be a running spec-change on the cars you saw, or it could just be the way my eyes reacted to the reflections.

mmarshall

Yes, I always take a detailed look underhood how the engine fits in, the amount of space available around the block for reaching components, and whether or not access is hampered by covers and general design....that is a standard part of my reviews, and I comment on it. And I always note the use of struts, a prop-rod, and whether or not I think that it is appropriate for a vehicle in that price class.

I disagree somewhat, on the idea of use of the battery covers just to ward off corrosion. First, the chemical and electrical reactions at the terminals that occur with battery use and recharging are going to occur regardless of whether the battery is covered or not. Second, moisture is probably not going to get in if the hood is sealed properly (as most are these days). Third, it usually fits in with the "image" factor of trying to make a "clean" look under the hood simply for cosmetic purposes....especially on upmarket cars. Fourth, a cover just makes battery access that much more inconvenient if/when you need to get in and remove any corrosion that DOES occur. Many owners don't do that themselves any more, but techincians in the service bay do.....and their work and charges is usually based by the hour.

tex2670

So--I took a look on the VW website. It looks like, if you opt for the back up camera, that the camera lens pops out of the VW emblem on the trunk. I realize that VW is going for sleek styling, but does this really make sense? With a recent history of reliability issues, why would you want to add complexity and more mechanical parts to a system like that. I predict that the VW reliability improvements will be short lived.

mmarshall

I agree with you to some extent, but back-up cameras, no matter where you actually place the camera lens itself, have come to be expected by much of the auto-buying as a "necessity", and they do, in fact, help guard against back-up accidents with children, pets, and other objects.

This shows just how addicted we have become today to automotive gadgets. When I was growing up with cars, air-conditioning, power windows, doors, mirrors, keyless entry/exit, etc...were considered luxuries. Now they are standard equipment on all but the absolute bargain-basement entry-level cars.

But complexity alone does not necessarily equal unreliability. Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura all make relatively complex but reliable vehicles. The Europeans, however, have not followed suit, though there is some evidence that they are finally catching up in reliability.

99GS300

great review as usual

Dallas Auto Show is later this month, and the CC will be a car I definitely spend some time looking at. I really like the styling, but the rear seat head and leg room issues may be a deal breaker for my family. I'm 6'3, and my wife is 6 foot, so the chances that our 2 boys (5 and 7 right now) are going to be shorter than me are pretty slim. My 7 year old is already close to 5 feet tall

Thanks again!

Lil4X

Coming, as I do from the automotive generation that offered two options, radio (AM band only) and heater in most new cars, I am also amazed at the length of today's option lists. The idea is to allow a buyer to customize his new car very specifically to his tastes, but it wreaks havoc with the inventory. Most dealers order common options for most of their vehicles, plus a few "loaded" examples for their showrooms.

If you doubt the wisdom of such a catholic array options, look at almost any Porsche options list - where you can tick off not only which interior components you want swathed in leather, but also the color, type of finish, and stitching on it. All of this is available at considerable extra cost, elevating a mid-line 911 to Bentley prices by injudicious use of your pen.

A friend recently purchased a gently used V-8 Phaeton, and that is one amazing ride. I think he paid something like $23K, and so far it looks like an outstanding deal. I'm hoping for his sake that it hangs together, because with a new home and two daughters about to enter college in a couple of years, he doesn't need any nasty surprises. Thanks for another fine review, Mike.

DASHOCKER

iTrader: (2)

Farfegnugen!

What a beautiful interior this car has. Best in class imo.. Good review Marshall

pbm317

What American-spec models outside of the GTI/GLI and now TDI, R32, EOS, and Audi TT and A3 offered the DSG?

IS-SV

Even a company with the cache of Mercedes has a similar situation where it needs to prove a reliability trend over a period of years.

In today's marketplace it is not acceptable to have 1st year production runs equating to trouble for the buyer. Robust reliability and quality comes as the result of proper testing before release to production. Honda/Toyota/Acura/Lexus have done an excellent job at this for the most part and even Mercedes touts the pre-release testing of its new C-class which had good results for early buyers.