Goodbye Young Tutor, I Have Now Outgrown You

"CB" (jrcb)
03/30/2020 at 20:02 • Filed to: Mixing a car reveal with a Say Anything reference? nice!, Jolly Rancher, Gretel

The Jolly Rancher is gone. Some words:

A first car, no matter the age, is a milestone. I was 23 when I bought this little nugget. It was loud, obnoxious, had dubious build quality, but it was mine. 40,000 kilometres and nearly a year later, I can’t say that I wasn’t lucky to own it.

But the boy racer appeal lost its lustre. The roads aren’t getting any better for the stiff suspension, it was loud, and it was a pain in the arse transporting anything. It was fun while it lasted, but it was time to move on.

So meet Gretel. A 2019 Alltrack Execline. So far: fuel economy is good, it’s very comfortable, and the sound system is kickin’. Expect a one month review in... Well, figure it out.

DISCUSSION (44)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:14

Gorgeous!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:16

The big question. Will I/we be let down by the transmission ?

sony1492 > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:16

!!!

CB > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
03/30/2020 at 20:18

You act like I didn't track down a six speed manual.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:19

Gotta have a SR20 on that.

Longtime Lurker > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:19

Very nice!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
03/30/2020 at 20:19

In my experience, yes. The shifter feels nice, but the clutch pedal is artificially heavy for the l evel of feel and the gear ratios are way too skewed to economy... But that’s just my take.

Scary__goongala! > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:20

Scary loves his FiST but keep the wagon alive brotha man.

Captain of the Enterprise > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:21

Nice! I particularly love those wheels!

dogisbadob > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:21

too bad they don’t make that Golf in cool colors :p

Boxer_4 > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:22

Awesome! Enjoy!

CB > dogisbadob
03/30/2020 at 20:24

They couldn't find one for me!

CB > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
03/30/2020 at 20:25

Kinja'd!!!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2020 at 20:26

I know the gearing is not quite right, & clutch is not greatest. It’s probably me but I take a meh manual over good automatic anytime.

CB > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/30/2020 at 20:27

I don't mind it so far.

CB > Scary__goongala!
03/30/2020 at 20:27

We all have sacrifices to make.

CB > Captain of the Enterprise
03/30/2020 at 20:27

They're good wheels.

CB > Boxer_4
03/30/2020 at 20:27

Will do!

Scary__goongala! > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:39

Kinja'd!!!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:41

Good, good, good.

DasWauto > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:46

Noice. Good choice with the execline. Those seats are waaay better than the ones in the trendline and comfortline. Also I miss the sound system from my ‘15 Golf, yours is upgraded from that (Fender?) so I can only imagine it’s excellent.

I assume the deals are good on these right now? Doubly so because not much is being moved at dealers I guess.

How is the gearing on the 6-speed? I found that in my 5-speed Golf too long - 2nd topped out at 110 km/h. I enjoyed that engine though, very minimal lag, excellent economy and great midrange torque. The cruise control was also amusingly good, never straying more that 1 km/h from the setting (unlike the WRX which will go under by 3 or 4 km/h sometimes and then has to make up for the lag). Pro-tip: the -/+ flanking the cruise control buttons will do 10km/h increments, the set/reset button to the left will do -/+ 1km/h increments when set. I took me too long to learn that on mine.

Also, enjoy the stash drawer under the driver’s seat and the sunglasses cubby under the knob for the lights. Great features.

Scary__goongala! > CB
03/30/2020 at 20:49

It even has a proper handbrake and not a button.

CB > DasWauto
03/30/2020 at 20:51

The sound system is the Fender and excellent.

0% financing was rad.

Gearing is a little long, 2nd maxes out at 85-ish, but sixth at 110 km/h is around 2000 rpm which is much nicer than the 2700 in the Fiesta. I learned about the cruise control tidbits while driving. And thank you for the secrets on stash drawers and sunglasses!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > DasWauto
03/30/2020 at 20:55

At least on US cars they ditched the stash drawer on the Mk7.5.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
03/30/2020 at 20:57

I thought t hat too, until Mrs. BoostAddict was unable to find a seating position in the Golf Alltrack that allowed her to depress the clutch fully and not smash her knee into the dashboard... Also we then drove a Kona Limited... The 7speed DCT is highly livable as far as automatics go. It was just the wrong car for us in many ways.

DasWauto > CB
03/30/2020 at 21:02

Sounds like the gearing spread is definitely better with the 6 speed, while the top gear is the same, that’s good. I averaged 6.4l/100km on mine over its 50k km, and that includes at least a dozen autocross events, though that was probably offset by the road trips I did in that car. I hope the you can manage similarly, Enjoy.

On a related note, I’m glad I haven’t tracked fuel mileage/cost for the WRX like I did with the VW, because it’s depressing to realize my fuel expenditure has likely doubled. :P

DasWauto > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/30/2020 at 21:06

Really? That’s a bummer. It’s a great use of space. I found it accidentally when I went to slide the seat back in mine when I picked it up, having only driven one with power seats before.