![]() 09/16/2015 at 00:11 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
I was on Goo-net looking at W8 Passats because, well, why not. It was during this time that I realized that something was different with the interior from the USDM version (other than it being right hand drive).
It looks like the
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version got a wood-rimmed three spoke steering wheel with a blue VW badge and pleated leather seats. Compare this to the
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version, which got the leather wrapped four spoke steering wheel and non-pleated leather seats found in the GLX trim level:
It appears that the JDM version isn’t just a
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model that was imported, since the UK models appear to have a non-wooden three spoke wheel with a silver VW badge, and non-pleated seats.
Lastly, I found an image of a W8 sedan which is
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to be from the 2001 Geneva Auto Show. This one has the leather wrapped four spoke steering wheel like the USDM version, but has the pleated seats. I have no idea if this was the production version for Europe. I also have no idea if this interior color (which I actually like) made it to production, either. I’m kind of wondering if the JDM version was unique to Japan.
At any rate, I definitely like the interior of the ones
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in Japan.
![]() 09/16/2015 at 00:20 |
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I am 87% sure that is an Alfa steering wheel.
![]() 09/16/2015 at 00:32 |
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It looks kinda cheap and out of place imo.
![]() 09/16/2015 at 00:33 |
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Some markets got VW’s weird heated wooden steering wheel. No lie.
![]() 09/16/2015 at 00:46 |
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I wouldn’t doubt it at this point. There seems to be no information on this wheel. I cant’ even find a part number.
![]() 09/16/2015 at 00:46 |
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That sounds awesome!
![]() 09/16/2015 at 00:49 |
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There was an optional steering wheel (if I remeber correctly) for the USDM GLX that looked a bit better. I also seem to remember that it was a bit pricey (~$1,800).
The pleated seats are what sold me on the interior.
![]() 09/16/2015 at 09:20 |
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I don’t think you can generalize about what markets got based on the steering wheel. There could be a million reasons, far beyond “Japan got this wheel, America didn’t”. They might have changed them every year, or with each model refresh. Maybe if you chose a black interior you got a certain wheel, maybe they didn’t like to combine a wooden wheel with aluminum trim or something. It could be anything.
![]() 09/16/2015 at 11:23 |
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You’re right that it is probably more complicated than I’m making it. I was mainly curious as to what different markets got, not necessarily why. I had never seen the steering wheel found in the Japanese version. Curiously, more searching on Goo-net suggests that only the W8 got that wheel.