Post by racingteatray on Aug 9, 2018 11:01:57 GMT
Brother-in-law turned up last weekend in his new company car - Passat GTE estate. Apparently a humble VW estate projects a much better image to clients than a fancy SUV, and hybrid because he runs a green energy business...
Anyway, sizeable and smart looking thing in GTE trim, painted a dark metallic grey with black leather “Ferrari” seats inside. He didn’t pick the spec - apparently VW was having supply issues with GTEs so he had to take the only one available in stock. But it has plenty of niceties such as a pano roof, full digital dashboard, heated memory seats, a very swish infotainment display and all manner of kiddy-friendly retracting window-blinds and whatnot.
It’s a petrol-hybrid and apparently so far, ignoring the electric-only mileage it’s delivering 35mpg which he’s not totally thrilled with (having had a diseasel previously). But hopes it will improve - he does Martin mileage...
Anyway he chucked me the keys for my view. It’s all much as you’d expect. Comfy, very spacious, decent visibility and largely unremarkable to drive. The way it glides off silently if you don’t boot it is quite creepy, and it’s true that you have to be extra-careful not to mow down hordes of daytrippers (the joys of Aldeburgh on an August w/end) who haven’t heard you and certainly aren’t paying any attention. If you put it in GTE mode, you get maximum powah and it will kick down smartly enough without ever threatening to scare anyone. Performance seems on par with my mother’s Countryman Cooper S if that’s any guide. And whilst it never threatens to make an interesting noise, at least it doesn’t sound as agricultural as his old TDi Passat.
Anyway, sizeable and smart looking thing in GTE trim, painted a dark metallic grey with black leather “Ferrari” seats inside. He didn’t pick the spec - apparently VW was having supply issues with GTEs so he had to take the only one available in stock. But it has plenty of niceties such as a pano roof, full digital dashboard, heated memory seats, a very swish infotainment display and all manner of kiddy-friendly retracting window-blinds and whatnot.
It’s a petrol-hybrid and apparently so far, ignoring the electric-only mileage it’s delivering 35mpg which he’s not totally thrilled with (having had a diseasel previously). But hopes it will improve - he does Martin mileage...
Anyway he chucked me the keys for my view. It’s all much as you’d expect. Comfy, very spacious, decent visibility and largely unremarkable to drive. The way it glides off silently if you don’t boot it is quite creepy, and it’s true that you have to be extra-careful not to mow down hordes of daytrippers (the joys of Aldeburgh on an August w/end) who haven’t heard you and certainly aren’t paying any attention. If you put it in GTE mode, you get maximum powah and it will kick down smartly enough without ever threatening to scare anyone. Performance seems on par with my mother’s Countryman Cooper S if that’s any guide. And whilst it never threatens to make an interesting noise, at least it doesn’t sound as agricultural as his old TDi Passat.
