The Wagon Dilemma

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland)
04/11/2014 at 10:52 • Filed to: Jaloproblems, wagon

I can haz a manual, AWD, diesel, wagon! Yay! But...current gen TDI Sportwagen starts at 26,565 with a loaded model topping out at 29,165. I have to imagine there is going to be a premium for AWD (IMO, VW would be smart to just make it standard equipment). So let's say for the sake of internet speculation that the 4motion adds 2 grand to the sticker price, bringing the base Sportwagen to about 28,500 and a top-line to 31,000. Still not bad...but here is the problem, as much as I like the TDI Sporwagen, in terms of it being a "sport" - "wagon" it kinda falls short. 0-60 takes about 8.5 seconds (depending on the road test) and despite the independent rear-suspension the it is not exactly a GTI in the handling department. I know the MQB platform should reduce weight by about 200lbs, and that weight will all be brought back and then some with the addition of 4motion. So in terms of the acceleration issue, we are most likely looking at status quo.

Before this news broke, I had a 3-4 year plan to pick up a CPO V60 R-design or maybe 328 Touring for low 30's. While either these would not be a "new" car they do deliver a bit more in the "sport" territory than the VW. And they also look a lot better, but that is purely subjective. Of course the biggest downside with both is the lack of a 3rd pedal.

Now a possible solution is to look to the after-market to bring the TDI up in the performance department. APR has a tune for the current 2.0TDI that will bring the horsepower to about 180 and the tq to about 297. But I am hesitant to roll the dice with the warranty and a tune. Not to mention the chip won't solve the lack of handling.

So what car is more Jalop? A TDI 4motion 6MT, that doesn't exactly thrill in the performance department or say a 325hp Swedish sport wagon with an autobox? If you had 30-35k to spend on a Euro sport wagon, what you get?

# jaloproblems indeed :D

DISCUSSION (30)

Chris Clarke > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 10:57

Sport and diesel go together like oil and water. That being said, I'd still go with the VW, but I'm personally on the VAG bandwagon. Plus manual.

Brian Silvestro > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 10:59

I'd get the Volvo. Sure you don't get the third pedal, but you do get pretty much everything else. And it looks better.

Dsscats > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:02

to be honest, I'd probably end up with the Volvo or BMW. Definitely the BMW if it was an M pack

Alex B > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:02

Hard choice. I think Volvo though. After seeing both in person (current gen Jetta sport wagon) the Volvo looks so much better! And the Volvo is more sporty.

505 - morphine not found > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:02

From the three you listed, i'd probably go with the Volvo, but it's pretty hard to argue against the BMW either.

Not the slow, bland and beige VW, not in a million years.

HammerheadFistpunch > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:06

I got my loaded 2012 tdi sportwagenfor $23000 in 2011. The only options I didn't get was the DSG, the Sunroof and Nav. I think those are the only options anyway. figure another $1500 for AWD.

bob and john > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:07

well, the new motor is about 10hp then the old one, so the tunes right now aren't going to apply

for warrenty: APR doesn't do any piggy backing or anything. its a reflash with (I think) up to 4 settings, ONE of them being stock. so dealer shouldn't find out about it.
my dad has one of the a3 TDIs, and for what the car is, it just fine the way it is. slow car fast it better then fastcar slow. u constantly looking to keep the momentum, and that's the fun in it. so you really shouldn't need a tune anyways. save for when ur warrenty expires.

oh, not to mention fuel saving. I don't give 2 shits what the EPA rating for tht thing is (45? npg) we consistently get over 50 with highway cruising.

Tom McParland > HammerheadFistpunch
04/11/2014 at 11:07

The price and the cargo capacity is definitely a factor.

Tom McParland > bob and john
04/11/2014 at 11:08

And you know what, I only drive about 20 miles a day so MPGs aren't that big of a concern.

bob and john > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:12

oh, this was automatch's post, how did I miss that?

to which I must change my reply:

NO. DOWN! BAD AUTOMATCH!!! YOU SHOULD BE SAVING FOR OVER-POWERED AUDI WAGON

HammerheadFistpunch > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:13

I can tell you from my experience that cargo capacity has been solid for me.

Kinja'd!!!

Tom McParland > bob and john
04/11/2014 at 11:13

Can't buy overpowered Audi wagon in the US. :(

Tom McParland > HammerheadFistpunch
04/11/2014 at 11:14

Yeah these things can swallow a ton of stuff

bob and john > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:15

RS7

OK, its not a wagon, but close enough.

crown victor victoria > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:17

You could juice the JSW suspension easily enough. I suspect there will be plenty of people upgrading to coilovers and different swaybars on their GTIs that lightly-used OEM bits will be available for reasonable prices on various forums.

Of course, I don't know what will and will not swap on the MKVII platform as I have done zero research, but I'm guessing it should be essentially as it has been from Golf —> JSW.

This is just additional cost, of course, but building what you want is sometimes half the fun.

'Wägen, EPA LOL > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 11:22

3rd Pedal is a must for me. You can always bump up the suspension on the VW either through aftermarket or Audi offerings. Swaybars and coilovers will do a world of difference.

Tom McParland > bob and john
04/11/2014 at 12:16

I'm probably never going to have the monies for an RS7

bob and john > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 12:19

not with that attitude you wont!

don't worry man, at worst, get the wagon you want, and then find an older OP audi wagon and rebuild it and take out the neglect. a project car, if you would.

but chin up man, you never know what could happen.

PardonMyFlemish16 > Tom McParland
04/11/2014 at 14:30

I don't know when or why diesel became associated with performance here. On the Internet, the manual diesel wagon is some mythological driving purity beast. In real life, they are slow, less responsive, nose heavy, and dirtier than gasoline engines. Their main advantage, frugality, is offset by higher initial costs, and depending on where you are appreciably higher fuel costs too.

I would definitely pass on the Jetta diesel and look at Jettas with the 2.0Ts (if they have them?) or go with the used BMW/Volvos. Another thing to look at if you are willing to go that old... 9-3 SportCombis. Pretty bad gas mileage but then you could probably get one for half the price of a comparable 328i etc.

brfl87 > Tom McParland
04/15/2014 at 20:29

My gut reaction is to say the Volvo, but you can get the 328 diesel in brown. I also find the 335 gran turismo surprisingly tempting considering I thought the original 5 series GT was bloated and awful.

icedt > crown victor victoria
04/16/2014 at 10:35

I've got a 2011 JSW, and one of the key things I appreciated was the aftermarket availability due to compatibility with the Golf platform. The first thing I did was pick up a 24mm rear sway bar off Vortex, and that changed the suspension feel by quite a bit. After the OEM tires wore down, I got some super sticky Falken FK-453s and that has really transformed the handling. It's not a fast car by any means, but it's quite enjoyable on the turns.

Extremely useful, comfortable, decently fun to drive.

crown victor victoria > icedt
04/16/2014 at 10:43

I almost bought one about 2 months ago but the dealer sold it before I could get in to see it. Ended up with a 5-door Golf instead so I'm happy. It's basically a 7/8ths JSW anyway.

Good call on the tires. If the JSW's factory rubber is the same as the Golf's, they came with ContiProContact LRRs, which are not made to do anything except look like regular tires and increase MPG. They suck in the rain and can't corner.

icedt > crown victor victoria
04/16/2014 at 11:05

Yup, the Contis were terrible in 1" of snow too. The Falkens definitely have more grip, decreasing my mpgs by 3 or 4 though. Rough life I guess.

crown victor victoria > icedt
04/16/2014 at 11:10

Wow that much? I was wondering how bad the decrease would be. I was thinking of getting some lighter wheels to offset the MPG loss when I need to replace my tires, but I don't know how light I want to go. The roads are shit where I live so I need durability, but I also don't want some 25 lb. OEM wheel killing my economy even more.

icedt > crown victor victoria
04/16/2014 at 11:36

Yup, the increase in friction is even noticeable coasting down hills or even on the flats. I still have 225/45s, but the Falkens definitely are wider than the Contis were; the LRRs definitely make a difference in rolling resistance. It doesn't help that my commute dropped from 27 miles each way to 1.5, so my mileage has suffered.

crown victor victoria > icedt
04/16/2014 at 11:48

I'm on the 15" steelies right now, so I have 195/65s which look enormous. I'm doing 75 miles/day, almost exclusively highway. The MFD says I'm getting 33.6 MPG but I'm averaging 30.8 right now based on the actual math. The 2.5 is fun to drive but it's no gas saver.

Still, I'd much rather have the extra HP and torque than drive something like an Elantra.

icedt > crown victor victoria
04/16/2014 at 14:09

With the TDI on the long commutes, it used to be 38-40mpg for the entire tank, but now that I've got the short commute/stickier tires, it's dropped to the ~36 range. Winter also doesn't help.

Janson Rodger > Tom McParland
04/17/2014 at 14:12

I thought the dirty secret of the JSW was that you could get them with the gasoline powered 2.0 turbo and then just swap some suspension bits to get the handling right and have one hell of a sleeper. Hell, my grey GTI has enough dings and few enough tickets to qualify it as a bit of a sleeper too.

Tom McParland > Janson Rodger
04/17/2014 at 16:38

Nope 2.0T was dropped for the MKVI platform and won't return for MKVII

ragingpandabear > Tom McParland
04/24/2014 at 15:40

Late to the party. Volvo R stuff always tickles my fancy, and while I hate most of what BMW is doing lately, that 328 touring doesn't make me dry heave in disgust so take that for what it's worth.

Definitely not big on the VW, probably still some of the most boring designs in the known universe, even out-boring-ing Toyota at this point. With that said, I have an A3 and when they loaned me a A3 TDI during some service, those engines do have a good bit of pep in addition to really really good mileage if that's something you care about.