Dumbed down for the dumb Americans who lack the panache and appreciation for quality design and assembly to see the 2006-2010 models as being a huge cut above the competition and priced accordingly. The new Passat is not cut from the same cloth and will never be what the previous generation was. The fact that they took out the amazing 2.0T engine says it all.
I have owned several Passats and have always found them to be just as good as Audi. My most recent 2007 Passat Wolfsburg proved to garner praise from passer's by, the build quality was exceptional as was the reliability. I still think time will prove this to be one of the best designs VW did in this decade, the same will NOT hold true for this most recent Passat made for the wide asses and pedestrian taste of most Americans. The sales of the horrid looking Accord and Camry prove me right
People who buy Volkswagens don't want a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry type vehicle, people buy them because they are German engineering, German made (not in Mexico, please), and because we want a bit more out of a car than just more leg room or a comfortable ride. People who buy Volkswagens buy them when they want a driver's car, a people's car, one that will make them happy. Not one that is like any other car, EX. this new Passat.
soooo disappointed vw, i own a 09 model, it looks great, like an authentic german sports sedan, this looks like just another asian sedan, accord or camry, not sexy anymore, where are the curves, now its just like a square, btw, xenon headlamps would be nice, this budget downgrade didnt worked at all.
The new honda civics look like priuses, the new volvo S60's look like new civics, the new passat looks like a hyundai... why is every car company trying to make the ugliest shit possible?
It's Ok, a bit less boring than the new Jetta. You have to admit, the new Jetta's styling is boring as hell, compared to the last one. I'm so happy the Passat looks better, although not much (They look very similar).
this passat is the jetta bicentenario here in mexico.... and the real passat in mexico will be much better than the american model... and the jetta 2011 US is the Bora here, and we have the jetta classic and this jetta exclusive in mexico, VW Rules!!
@SkateEmoxXx there are rumors that this Passat NMS Will be on sale in our country by 2012,this could be an upper scale than the Jetta Model,unfortunately the Passat CC Will be replaced with this NMS
Passat design is OK for the targeted social class: young families.
Don't judge it from "JUST" your point of view.
In all other aspects (engines or others) the car industry has its targets.
Don't spend all your money on one (and only) expensive sport car if you have to bring your familie from the supermarket. Don't buy big american cars if you pay euro gas. Don't buy euro cars if you leave in some remote US zone.
Congrats VW- you manged to copy a 15 year old Ford Taurus and even make it look more boring! VW even managed to kill the coolest thing about th eold Passats- the blue lighted dash. Das Auto? More like Der Muellwagen...
When I was young my father was driving a Passat B3. He was always complaining that he has such an old car, so he bought a brand new Opel Zafira. Now he says that the Volkswagen was the best car ever.
I´m from Germany, and I´m really happy with my 1.4L 122HP Golf (Rabbit). It´s fast and accelerates good as well. And with an av. consume of 6,5L on 100km (36mpg) its perfect for a student like me, I just couldnt pay a greater engine. BUT: My next car will have a V6. I love big engines, they run more calmly than these small four cylinders, they have better sound, can go faster, accelerate better and so on. It´s "the art of driving". Americans and who ever drove a V6 understand what I mean...
@bjoernjan Americans consider a V6 entry-level. For them the norm is a V8. My point is this: Why do Americans still cling to outdated big chunky engines, instead of smaller, more advanced turbo- or supercharged version? Why do they prefer a 5-cylinder 2.5MPI to a 4-cylinder 1.8TSI in their VW Passat? The first has a bit more power but is actually SLOWER, has a much weaker "pull" and consumes a lot more fuel. The overwhelming majority of Americans still live in the 20th century.
@JD12ish I know that V6 is entry level. I only said that I want to have a V6 next. But you are right, the 1.8TSI is way better than the old V5 of the Jetta. But there is one thing: reliability. the V5 is fit for 300,000 miles or more, how long will the TSI do? I´m also in worry with my 120Hp out of 1.4 litres! And dont call americans dumb if they drive cars with big engines. we are driving cars with small engines that fast that the consume is as high as a V8 at 70mph...
@bjoernjan I never said Americans are dumb. I've asked US people here why they prefer big engines despite the newer TSIs being better. If you look at the comments I got many different answers some very interesting and sensible. Reliability was mentioned but also things that aren't reasonable any more like smaller engines not having enough pulling power. And I never compared a 1.0L to a V8 merely a 2.5MPI to 1.8TSI (US and EU Passat engine choices respectively), the later is ALWAYS more efficient
Beautiful car! I like the quietly stated lines and softly chiseled looks. Screw all the gawdy bulbous crap that you usually see in "future car" concept designs. This is design perfection that's in line with what consumers in the US are attracted to.
@UGAundergrad Well yes I knew that- I own an Audi A4 and can't help but notice that every time Audi comes up with something new, VW copies it right over to their car equivalents. I don't see it as much with Toyota and Lexus though, and even less than that with Honda and Infinity
@KernowBandit it actually looks more similar to an audi a6, since volkswagen owns audi... and i think they are trying to incorporate that cool, "transporter" look into their cars.
Honostly who wants an american made Volkswagen? Thats not the same. One can recognize changes and differences in the german and the american made version.
LOL I can't believe I actually managed to divert the topic of discussion away from Danielle Gumro and her legs. Thanks for the interesting answers everyone, they all make good sense.
Also regarding turbo engines: Granted, engines with more cylinders still enjoy an advantage in slightly smother running but I doubt most people could tell the difference, especially at low speeds. Also, the abundance of low down torque makes cruising at low revs a breeze and acceleration from low speeds a piece of cake. Crucially for Americans, an engine with lots of low-down torque couples well with an automatic gearbox like the DSG since it doesn't have to change gears as often.
Regarding daily-driven street vehicles, large displacement engines are a carryover from the era (1930s-early 80s) when the majority of North American cars exceeded 3000 lb (1360 kg) in weight--and some were as heavy as 5500 lb (2500kg) in weight.
Large engines produce the torque necessary to move such mass at lower rpms than a smaller engine. American automotive engineering still follows this approach.
A common American complaint--European cars dont "pull" well at low speeds.
@351460 That's it. It's a nothing more than a remnant from the past. Perhaps the average US driver needs to make a shift in his/her way of thinking about cars. In Europe in last couple of years diesels almost overtook petrols in sales because they had gotten so good: extremely frugal, bundles of low-down grunt and substantially improved refinement (impressive common-rail technology). Now advanced turbo-Ps are regaining back some territory, though Ds are still best when it comes to pulling-power.
@JD12ish I have an issue with electronic fuel injection diesels.
Injectors on these vehicles generally require replacement around 120,000 miles (195km) at a cost exceeding $500 usd per injector, not to mention the 40,000 psi ( sorry-do not have the kpa equivalent) injection pump necessary for "smokeless" operation at over $2,500 usd. The fuel savings are not necessarily offset by the increased fuel economy
@351460 That is a valid point. Injectors have been an issue, tough I believe the quality of fuel might also contribute to this. And speaking of saving the planet. Although a diesel produces less harmless CO2, it produces substantially more toxic NOx. Modern Ds have managed dramatic strides towards cleaner emissions but the difference remains.Diesels are also notorious for their low running-temperature which takes the engine forever to heat up, a problem in winter when cold-start or cabin-heating
@JD12ish So true. Cold starting of diesels can be a problem. I do not know where you live--but the temp here occasionally drops to -20 F (approx-28 C) and, unless a block heater is used--many diesels will not start without ether, and heater performance is not on a par with gasoline powered vehicles.
I've been wondering about this for years and I've never gotten an answer: Why do Americans simply have to have HUGE engines? I mean it's not because you want to drive quickly, cuz of the speed limits. And most Americans don't care about fast driving around corners. So why? Do you people really just want to burn stuff just for the sake of burning stuff? Could someone please explain this to me?
@chadt4 See, that's just it. Passat is a good example. The 2nd-weakest engine choice in the EU is a turbo-charged 4-cyl with 160bhp, 8.5s 0-60 and 33mpg. The smallest in US is a naturally aspirated 5-cyl with 170bhp, 8.7s 0-60 and 31mpg. Torque says it all: 250Nm@1500-4200rpm for the turbo vs 240Nm@4250rpm for the 5-cyl, clearly an inferior engine (much less power @ low revs). Yet in the US this will the choice for most people. Again I ask why? And what is with the obsession with cup-holders?
@JD12ish The reason why we have big engines, is due to our highway and road system. Highways are too fast, we have high speed limits. If we used 1.0L and 1.2 L engines, we would never get anywhere. Out System is not like of Brazil, where rarely there is a v8 car, v6 are too expensive. In europe small engines are common. It's just different.
@rkasnake Thanks for the answer, but I'm still not convinced. What do you mean high speed limit? I'm not that familiar with the limits, but Wikipedia tells me the highest in some states is 75mph (80 in some counties of Texas). That's 121kph (129kph respectively) which is almost exactly what we have everywhere in Europe. In fact, in Germany 130kph is merely a recommended speed and, providing your car can handle it, you can punch 180mph if you want. Here the average car has a 2.0 or 1.8L engine.
@JD12ish Perhaps, you're right we do use cars too big, but that's just us. Our Highways can hit up to 75, and our roads can hit up to 65..which for a normal road that's fast.
I guess it's culture, and due to our nation being capitalist, money runs everything. So as long there is demand, they will make it. they dont really care about economy, until we start bitching for better economy. We also want power, so they are stillm aking v6 and v8, except better economy. IDK it's tough to fully explain
@erselbst one gallon of Gasoline is about 7.7 US Dollar in Germany! and the German Passat is 3 times expensive than in the states. That's why I prefer a one liter car!
@JD12ish Apparently--you are unaware of the maxim:
Torque takes cubic inches.
As everyone who has ever built a performance engine knows, torque equates to acceleration.
The quickest cars in the world are American Top Fuel (nitromethane) dragsters, which produce over 6,000 horsepower (You calculate the metric equivalent) and exceed 500 cubic inches (8.2 liters) in displacement.
@351460 I wasn't familiar with the particular maxim, tough I am well aware of the relationship between torque and power. But more importantly I thank you for having proven my point (or honest rant but with no ill-intentions): Americans have to have ginormous engines for no apparent reason. US cars trully are the fastest in the world, but only in a straight line.
@JD12ish Dont get me wrong--I am American--and I love the fuel economy derived from a smaller lightweight vehicle with a 4 cyl engine. But--I also enjoy the feeling of being pushed back in the seat under hard acceleration from the power produced by a 7 liter (427 cubic inch) + V8 engine.
We do not build the fastest cars--but--we build the quickest.
@JD12ish The problem is reliability. Your statement concerning performance capability of the cars you mention cannot be doubted. But--as an example--I recently drove a BMW 7 series that came into my shop for substantial repairs. Upon completion--I test drove it on a measured distance at full throttle. The test was dupicated with a 1978 Buick Electra Limited (2000kg) with a 6.6 liter V8 that I had built and installed 12 years prior. Speed was within 2mph at the end--but the Buick required nothing
@351460 Yes, BMW, VW or todays Buicks probably won't stand the test of time as well as older and simpler cars have. I am curious whether we will see in 40+ years a Ferrari 599 GTO in such a good shape as a 250 GTO today.
@JD12ish Ferraris are highly coveted and very expensive here and as such rarely driven. I would not be surprised to see 40 year old, as well as newer models in pristine condition well into the future
@351460 Corrected. You are not alone in enjoying the thrill of rapid acceleration. My point is just that this is the 21st century and you don't need a beefy V8 to go places quickly. Look at BMW/VW/Fiat/AUDI/Mercedes. All their new cars have smaller engines, with less cylinders and therefore lower consumption but with the same or even more power. Example: VW Golf GTI and conventional Golf that are available in the US. Take minute, compare the figures of two petrol engines and be amazed.
@JD12ish : Especially for highway driving, it has more to do with acceleration than top speed. In MA, there are some ramps that merge onto highways that are very short, so you have very little distance (and very little time) to get up to highway speed. If there's highway traffic, your slow car may either get rear ended or you're going to cause people behind you to slam on their brakes. Cars are getting heavier/larger, i.e. more weight to haul. Also, small engine = higher RPM = engine noise.
@bcuz909 SMALLER DISPLACEMENT DOESN'T EQUAL LESS POWER, that's my whole point. In EU you can buy a VW Passat with a turbo-charged 1.8TSI (not available in US). In US the comparable engine is a conventional 2.5MPI (considered entry-level, expected to be most popular, no longer sold in EU). The 2.5MPI is bigger, slower and thirstier (look at the specs I wrote below!).Due to the substantial torque advantage the TSI pulls much better from low revs = less noise, easier acceleration, lower consumption
i dont think that the short ramps are the reason. in some construction ares on german highways (sorry for my bad english!!) the ramps are very very short (some about 20 to 30 meters), and the traffics speed is about 90km/h(nearly 60miles, highest allowed speed for trucks in germany). in this cases 500hp were senseless, cause there is no room to accelerate, look, and eventually break.
but i like american cars, they are simply built and reliable (mostly).
@JD12ish: Nobody (on the streets) talks about envirnoment or natural llimitations of the sources. Also nobody cares about COx and NOx emissions, before taxes force people to rethink.
I'm sure: If a gallon ROZ95 would cost 6,70€ (currently 9,1$ ) , like here in Germany, The US-people would rethink quite fast ;)
@JD12ish I always found that one intriguing - the European and Asian makers generally tend to go for smaller 2 litre or below cars, however traditionally that was often due to engine size taxations.
The US market cars in the mid-1970s had anti-smog equipment fitted, which often hampered performance.
@JD12ish because theres a such long distant between the states and it's a big country so the engines needs to be big to handle the pressure, they got a big galant and stuff like that ..
@IINawarII It is not the big Country - it is because the drivers of big engines are like big stupid boys!
Yes it is fun to drive cars with big engines, but they consume to much gasoline - that is not good for the enviroment of the earth and gasoline will end soon. The bigger your engine, the smaler is the range of your childs car.
@JD12ish yank cars like australian cars tend to have larger engines as opposed to the smaller more highly tuned europeans.It does make sense when covering long distances with very little in between as the blocks tend to be more reliable,also in europe anything with over 100K miles on the odometer is considered high mileage but cars with the bigger engines can have 400K kms plus in Aus, although i think the trend is changing to smaller engines now due to the fuel price.
@JD12ish I think as an american; it is a matter tradition for some. for others its the excitement of having 3 or 4 hundred horsepower at their disposal. I grew up in a small town in tennessee, and growing up everybody had hot rods. On the weekends we would all get together , and drag race, work on each others cars, or dream about the ultimate street car. I think the best way to answer your question would be to call it a passion. I do agree with you though. there are waaaay too many big cars
@JD12ish ...it's an American thing, you wouldn't understand ;) FYI, VW is seen as a girls car in America so VW knows they need to give it more power to attract men towards it
@t0fast See my latest rant about gearboxes on the matter of "masculinity" and my previous post about engines regarding the "engine power" issue. Here in Europe, at least where I live, VW is considered the pinnacle of consumer automotive technology, the yardstick in practically all car classes, and the envy of all neighbours. VWs are currently the best mid-range cars in terms of engines, drivability and quality for the price. You can tell by now I am the proud owner of a VW :-)
@JD12ish which is what kills me with how its seen as a girlie car - i mean, VW's are a NICE car to own, but they targeted women so much here in the states that it's to the point that it's hard for a guy to own one with out getting busted by all of his friends ... the beetle having a flower vase holder didn't help the image either ;) they just recently tried bumping this image where every tv commercial they have now has only guys in it. i think in time they can bring the image that it deserves.
@NorthsideBill Actually yes: What's with the obsession with cup holders? And I can understand the dislike of the labour that a manual gearbox requires but then, as far as I know, ordinary automatics are less comfortable, more noisy and much slower (not to mention consumption).So on the one hand Americans talk butch about how feminine VW is and on the other hand (most) can't even operate a manual, which even my mom can do. Some mentioned US pepl want reliability, but auto grbxs are LESS reliable.
You have to realize that cars are a huge status symbol in the US, even more than in Europe. Obviously that leads to excess, the same way most Europeans spend ridiculous amounts of money on clothing and acessories. Americans also buy lots of clothes, but nothing close to Europeans.
that's because in Europe you are judged by how "trendy" you look, specially in the Latin countries like Italy or Spain. Americans care much less about how you look and more about what you own.
@goma3 You'd be surprised. A car is extremely important here, the CARNATION flower is a cultural symbol of my country for a reason :-). The difference is that we don't care as much about sheer size (for me anything bigger then what I need in actual life is a waste of hard-earned money) and more on substance; the looks, the presence and the luxury. The majority of ppl buy sensible cars, but buy new ones quite frequently, partly because they can't stand the neighbour having a newer car.
Larger engines that produce only around 130 hp are unstressed. If you have a "large block" V8 that could produce 380hp but only needs to take your wife shopping....then you really don't need to be to worried about precision and efficiency. If the parts have a large tolerance, then fewer will be rejected by quality control. This means cheaper production costs...therefore higher profits. On the downside, it also means poor fuel economy.
@Bra23we12 A very interesting reply, thanks. Does that mean that US car manufacturers promoted big "unstressed" engines to the US consumer as a way to improve their quality ratings and with that their profits? Could it be that this mentality has simply stuck with the US car driver ever since? May I ask, what is roughly the average mileage of a US car before its considered old and in need of a replacement, if you know? Here it's around 250000km (155000miles), my estimate.
American cars are considered old when a newer model from the manufacturer replaces them. How old they are in terms of life-cycle depends on how, and where, they're used. For example, a well maintained car used seldomly in an arid environment by a careful driver is likely to last longer than it's owner.
Conversely, a car worked hard at full RPM in a sea climate and covering high mileage in rapid stop-start sequences with no maintenance may not make it out it's warranty period
therefore in east EU we use to return our cars BEFORE the warranty expiry date (if not in leasing) and buy new ones with discount price and, in some situations where local government "old car exchange program" is implemented (and you can provide over 10 years old cars - up to 3), you may earn some extra discounts. Therefore, in my opinion, I consider old car when half warranty time (2 years aprox.).
Call it eco-socialism :) but it's just the way it is.
Engines, and cars for that matter, are built down to a price....with exceptions. Tightly designed and manufactured engines have a life expectancy unlikely to exceed that of the host vehicle. They are designed to match the minimum requirement; though that requirement may be high in terms of performance and reliability.
A high stress, high performance formula1 engine must be rebuilt after 60 miles and scrapped after 600. A truck engine may go 600,000 hard miles
@JD12ish Americans might like big engines (in spite of our speed limits) because American culture is about big things and the idea of power. Americans 'can' have these engines because the costs of our gasoline is substantially cheaper. Put the two together... and voila.
The idea of saving money or polluting less isn't really an American hallmark... just as the idea of lung cancer or respiratory problems or second hand smoke w/a child doesn't stop many Europeans from sucking on cigarettes.
@proteanview So I was right then, it's not just a stereotype. Americans like to burn stuff just for the sake of it (whatever happened to gluttony being a deadly sin?). Europeans don't care as much (though there has been a strong SUV trend in recent years) about size as we do about substance, the looks and the presence of a car.
The smoking bit is a silly stereotype. In recent years virtually all EU countries have enforced strict smoking prohibition and people stick to them, to my great surprise
@JD12ish I don't know if I'd call the 'look' of a car the substance. Some would say that the substance *is* the engine. ...but, yeah, Americans like power in spite of the affect.
I've been to Europe a number of times & have lived in Amsterdam. You can't sit in a cafe w/o smelling like an ash tray... even the poor children. ...so, yeah, Europeans love their nicotine in spite of the respiratory problems and children.
Travel a bit & you'll find everyone has their thing.
@proteanview Don't be wise based on one experience. In virtually all EU countries smoking is banned from public places including cafes/restaurants.You are welcome to come to my country and smell for yourself.There is no national ban in the US.
The engine is the substance of a car, even though you can't see it, but also the suspension, brakes, chassis, gearbox and whether it's FWD/AWD/RWD.Then nice white LED or powerful bi-xenon lights and quality materials in the cabin...I could go AN and AN...
@JD12ish smoking may be banned from public places, but the public and the police dont give a damn, everyone still smokes in public places, except restaurants.
@JD12ish We have great distances to cover in the US, continental distances that is, and that's why (among other reasons) Americans want big torquey engines in their land vehicles. Big V8's make for more comfortable, less stressful long trips. In the summer of 09 I drove Coast-to-Coast in a big German SUV with a 350HP V8 engine. Is not that Europeans don't like them, they simply can't afford that kind of luxury in their socialist economies. Tough luck!
@zionsimas Yes, it must be embarrassing to see SOCIALISTS coming to the US with their LUXURY cars (BMW, AUDI, Mercedes, not to mention Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Pagani, Maybach) and now even VW. I can tell you US cars like Chevy,GM,Ford,Chrysler are fairing VERY poorly here and are considered among the cheapest, least impressive cars, except maybe Ford and GM due to their European divisions. Talking about V8s and luxury, I can see you obviously don't know much about cars, sorry.
Although those cars are made in Europe, you simply cannot compare the number of luxury cars in EU with the #'s in the US. Why do you think Mercedes, BMW, etc consider the US their most important market?
And the main reason for that is the ridiculously low auto sale tax. Do you know how much a 2009 Mercedes C63 costs in the US? Less than $65000. In the EU you simply cannot find a C63 going for less than 90000 euros. That's more than $110000 dls, almost 2x the price.
Audi and VW, the only FWDs I'd ever DREAM of owning.
keyofdavid888 1 month ago
Looks like an a6 to me..
Time2QS 1 month ago
pointless car when theres the A4...
foeunit 1 month ago
Dumbed down for the dumb Americans who lack the panache and appreciation for quality design and assembly to see the 2006-2010 models as being a huge cut above the competition and priced accordingly. The new Passat is not cut from the same cloth and will never be what the previous generation was. The fact that they took out the amazing 2.0T engine says it all.
slcraft 1 month ago
I have owned several Passats and have always found them to be just as good as Audi. My most recent 2007 Passat Wolfsburg proved to garner praise from passer's by, the build quality was exceptional as was the reliability. I still think time will prove this to be one of the best designs VW did in this decade, the same will NOT hold true for this most recent Passat made for the wide asses and pedestrian taste of most Americans. The sales of the horrid looking Accord and Camry prove me right
slcraft 1 month ago
@slcraft 100% true, totally spot-on. VW needs to just ship the European Passats/Passat Wagons straight from Emden
thetwopointslow 1 month ago
Did anyone else notice the drummers? lol...
ViperXYZ98 1 month ago
looks average
1cougnole 2 months ago
Looks midsize to me. I don't see what rules changed.
DustinTROM 3 months ago
CC is Better !!!!! 100%
Mixa8222 3 months ago
Ha ha ha! The steering wheel is off center. Sort of like they widened the Jetta but didn't bother to move the column!
nldekker 5 months ago
People who buy Volkswagens don't want a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry type vehicle, people buy them because they are German engineering, German made (not in Mexico, please), and because we want a bit more out of a car than just more leg room or a comfortable ride. People who buy Volkswagens buy them when they want a driver's car, a people's car, one that will make them happy. Not one that is like any other car, EX. this new Passat.
CarGuy1368 5 months ago
@Bogota89 I wish I could thumbs-up your comment one million times.
CarGuy1368 5 months ago
I don't get it... all that fuss for a typical looking sedan? Did I miss something?
GeneralHoohah 5 months ago
soooo disappointed vw, i own a 09 model, it looks great, like an authentic german sports sedan, this looks like just another asian sedan, accord or camry, not sexy anymore, where are the curves, now its just like a square, btw, xenon headlamps would be nice, this budget downgrade didnt worked at all.
rriveros101 5 months ago
it looks like a car from the eighties.....
bobduvar 6 months ago
Jelly Doughnut
2manyburgers 6 months ago
It looks so american. I hate it, how VW or Mercedes change thmselve only for selling more cars in the US or Asia. Dont forget from where you are...
doktorandrula 6 months ago 2
@Bogota89 You are not alone, But on the Flip side i much rather have a American built VW then one made in mexico.
Laceration242 6 months ago
@Volkswagen very very cool!
Mothercityguy 7 months ago
The new honda civics look like priuses, the new volvo S60's look like new civics, the new passat looks like a hyundai... why is every car company trying to make the ugliest shit possible?
BlackMasterRoshi 7 months ago
@Bogota89 Buy a Phaeton lol
VhUgGz 8 months ago
I pimped my German engineering Volkswagen gti with some xenon headlights.
nitro300 8 months ago
looks old
queque73 8 months ago
I like the Nissan Z7.
785tt9gh 9 months ago
It's Ok, a bit less boring than the new Jetta. You have to admit, the new Jetta's styling is boring as hell, compared to the last one. I'm so happy the Passat looks better, although not much (They look very similar).
SampsonPug 9 months ago
After seeing the ad, seeing the actual car was bit of an anticlimax :-/
yagiza 9 months ago
looks like SKODA SUPERB HAD SEX WHIT A PASSAT AND THIS IS THE RESULT !!
poertocalla 10 months ago
All Passats - from B5 till now are good, I just wondering why European model is still looking like B6, but american one is completely new car
MultiKurkulis 10 months ago
VW is loosing its appeal :( cheap plastic and square design
gaae2000 10 months ago
this is the same car like vw golf 6 and polo just big
zdraveex 10 months ago
doesnt it look like a Volvo s80?
lonzhao 10 months ago
this passat is the jetta bicentenario here in mexico.... and the real passat in mexico will be much better than the american model... and the jetta 2011 US is the Bora here, and we have the jetta classic and this jetta exclusive in mexico, VW Rules!!
SkateEmoxXx 11 months ago
@SkateEmoxXx there are rumors that this Passat NMS Will be on sale in our country by 2012,this could be an upper scale than the Jetta Model,unfortunately the Passat CC Will be replaced with this NMS
kakashi12bob 10 months ago
@kakashi12bob thats true... anyway every vw are awesome :D
SkateEmoxXx 10 months ago
the biggest advantage of this car is room space. this is full size car, not mid size.
pjer26 1 year ago
@SmdVideoProductions @ ME looooool
SmdVideoProductions 1 year ago
I bought a VW a couple of months ago.
It was expensive. I had to sell 2 of my children and put the wife on the street to afford it.
All I can say is; if you understand them....you buy them.
If you don't........then you just don't.
Bra23we12 1 year ago
it's more like an AUDI
xrays131 1 year ago
@xrays131 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
SmdVideoProductions 1 year ago
Oh Dude. This car is something to buy!..Amazing Creation. Bravo Volkswagen. <3 I love Germany and Volkswagen. :)
fatemabidi 1 year ago
@Bogota89 We build great cars in Tennessee. We believe in quality and hard work. Just watch!!
Horse1888 1 year ago
@Horse1888
also great wiskey! I love it!
shularet 1 year ago
@shularet
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
SmdVideoProductions 1 year ago
Passat design is OK for the targeted social class: young families.
Don't judge it from "JUST" your point of view.
In all other aspects (engines or others) the car industry has its targets.
Don't spend all your money on one (and only) expensive sport car if you have to bring your familie from the supermarket. Don't buy big american cars if you pay euro gas. Don't buy euro cars if you leave in some remote US zone.
Buy and preciate everything it suits you!
------
From EU,Romania, whit love ;)
shularet 1 year ago
@Bogota89
a vw made in germany is more expensive.
in germany we have to pay over 30000 dollar for the basic version
gsero41 1 year ago
Porsche, VW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Opel. No question who has the best cars world-wide!
Mojoe42152 1 year ago 9
@Mojoe42152 agreed
alxusmc 1 year ago
@Mojoe42152 ermh....Mitsubishi? lol
ajkooper 1 year ago
@ajkooper Hmm Mitsubishi or Porsche?? I'll take the Porsche;)
Mojoe42152 1 year ago
@Mojoe42152 Variety is fun. You take the Porsche and i'll take the Mitsu.
ajkooper 1 year ago
@ajkooper
ok now im gana say no but this time in slow motion NO0O0o0o0o0o0o
SmdVideoProductions 1 year ago
@Mojoe42152 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
SmdVideoProductions 1 year ago
another boring car
prostoswer 1 year ago
@prostoswer you are boring
alonestar7 1 year ago
bit smokey! do you think they would take £50 for it?
simon3314 1 year ago
why did i click on this? haha
Risingcash 1 year ago
Congrats VW- you manged to copy a 15 year old Ford Taurus and even make it look more boring! VW even managed to kill the coolest thing about th eold Passats- the blue lighted dash. Das Auto? More like Der Muellwagen...
nldekker 1 year ago
Das Auto:)
d3lap 1 year ago
The passat was, and will be the best car in the world. FULLSTOP
lardauk 1 year ago
When I was young my father was driving a Passat B3. He was always complaining that he has such an old car, so he bought a brand new Opel Zafira. Now he says that the Volkswagen was the best car ever.
Phil0Jan 1 year ago 17
@gd34n u.u this is not an ad
gd34n 1 year ago
I´m from Germany, and I´m really happy with my 1.4L 122HP Golf (Rabbit). It´s fast and accelerates good as well. And with an av. consume of 6,5L on 100km (36mpg) its perfect for a student like me, I just couldnt pay a greater engine. BUT: My next car will have a V6. I love big engines, they run more calmly than these small four cylinders, they have better sound, can go faster, accelerate better and so on. It´s "the art of driving". Americans and who ever drove a V6 understand what I mean...
bjoernjan 1 year ago
@bjoernjan Americans consider a V6 entry-level. For them the norm is a V8. My point is this: Why do Americans still cling to outdated big chunky engines, instead of smaller, more advanced turbo- or supercharged version? Why do they prefer a 5-cylinder 2.5MPI to a 4-cylinder 1.8TSI in their VW Passat? The first has a bit more power but is actually SLOWER, has a much weaker "pull" and consumes a lot more fuel. The overwhelming majority of Americans still live in the 20th century.
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish I know that V6 is entry level. I only said that I want to have a V6 next. But you are right, the 1.8TSI is way better than the old V5 of the Jetta. But there is one thing: reliability. the V5 is fit for 300,000 miles or more, how long will the TSI do? I´m also in worry with my 120Hp out of 1.4 litres! And dont call americans dumb if they drive cars with big engines. we are driving cars with small engines that fast that the consume is as high as a V8 at 70mph...
bjoernjan 1 year ago
@bjoernjan I never said Americans are dumb. I've asked US people here why they prefer big engines despite the newer TSIs being better. If you look at the comments I got many different answers some very interesting and sensible. Reliability was mentioned but also things that aren't reasonable any more like smaller engines not having enough pulling power. And I never compared a 1.0L to a V8 merely a 2.5MPI to 1.8TSI (US and EU Passat engine choices respectively), the later is ALWAYS more efficient
JD12ish 1 year ago
1 : 28 It looks just like audi
manvyd 1 year ago
why American made ??!!
p0rsch997 1 year ago
@p0rsch997
beacuse this passat (-version) is made in the usa?
D2jspOFFICIAL 1 year ago
@D2jspOFFICIAL yes at volkswagen chattanooga he is bigger than the european passat version
TheFlugzeugFan 1 year ago
Beautiful car! I like the quietly stated lines and softly chiseled looks. Screw all the gawdy bulbous crap that you usually see in "future car" concept designs. This is design perfection that's in line with what consumers in the US are attracted to.
Gamezalot 1 year ago
2012 PissAnt
xxMrMatt16xx 1 year ago
made in usa? My next car wont be a vw. Because it will fall apart, since its made in the usa.
KvizY 1 year ago
What a BORING new mid size car. How does this change the mid-size market?????
It looks like something from 2003, not 2012.
Yankees092 1 year ago
i agree, that car is just exactly the same shape of the jetta...
DerMeizter0KrilBoy 1 year ago
That's it? That's the new Passat? It's so incredibly boring... I'd take a new Kia Optima or a Hyundai Sonata over that one, based on looks alone.
ElMatadore88 1 year ago
This is obviously aimed squarely at the Accord & the Camry more than ever because it looks very milquetoast .
proteanview 1 year ago
LED running lights, swooped design and LED tail lights? Seems like they "borrowed" a few ideas from Audi
HoBoMoBob 1 year ago
@HoBoMoBob
Maybe....
It's because VW owns Audi.
It is the exact same thing as Toyota and Lexus. Same car essentially.
UGAundergrad 1 year ago
@UGAundergrad Well yes I knew that- I own an Audi A4 and can't help but notice that every time Audi comes up with something new, VW copies it right over to their car equivalents. I don't see it as much with Toyota and Lexus though, and even less than that with Honda and Infinity
HoBoMoBob 1 year ago
@HoBoMoBob Honda and ACURA... not Honda and Infiniti. come on man.
ElMatadore88 1 year ago
@ElMatadore88 Oh dang- didn't even notice that. Thanks for telling me haha
HoBoMoBob 1 year ago
What's with that funky jig the band did there??
jeffsandychelsea 1 year ago
American's want HUGE engines because when no one is looking we like to drive fast, real fast!!!
Everything is a race and the bigger and faster the better!!
quelS2baby 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@quelS2baby guys there is not too much happiness in this world anymore
corporation mass media and the rich white republican party control the world
please fight back by helping the poor and defenseless
please we are all human so act a bit like you have empathy for others of your species
do you know what happens when a chimpanzee gets hurt? the brethren in his
community all lift him up and parade him around for food and water
why can't even help our own families?
indiansarecheap3 1 year ago
@quelS2baby American cars can't cross 120 mp/h(220 km/h), all American cars have is just they are quite when riding them. DON'T MENTION FAST AT ALL.
x3ndr1x 1 year ago
shit
discocreator76 1 year ago
audi is better, a lot better. but its the same family anyway...
menges70 1 year ago
Looks dated and bulky.
KernowBandit 1 year ago
@KernowBandit it actually looks more similar to an audi a6, since volkswagen owns audi... and i think they are trying to incorporate that cool, "transporter" look into their cars.
acemasterke 1 year ago
i guess the gay drummers were pretty cool
FaizanFezAhmed97 1 year ago
@FaizanFezAhmed97 That actually makes you a bit gay.
sab3rm4st3r99 1 year ago
German made one is still going to be so So much better
DragonRory17 1 year ago
Das Heck ist aber schon etwas geklaut vom Audi A4....dieses auslaufende, die form der scheinwerfer.......
oleson85 1 year ago
Honostly who wants an american made Volkswagen? Thats not the same. One can recognize changes and differences in the german and the american made version.
SpecialEffectsProc 1 year ago
nothing special.
elyunque88 1 year ago
I was about to buy the last year volkswagen :), but I decided to wait for the new model this year and my surprise was to find the "ugliest ever" :(
Buying a car is an big investment!!!!
Sorry Volkswagen, now there are more atractive options out theeeeeere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ozner760 1 year ago
HOT DAMNNNN sick ride main
AndreasFalk8 1 year ago
My word that is ugly
Leziii 1 year ago
we feel the need for speed!!!!
1957gatorfan 1 year ago
El hombre, como hombre al fin, siempre quiere presumir que lo que tiene es el más grande y poderoso.
goofy943 1 year ago
LOL I can't believe I actually managed to divert the topic of discussion away from Danielle Gumro and her legs. Thanks for the interesting answers everyone, they all make good sense.
JD12ish 1 year ago
Also regarding turbo engines: Granted, engines with more cylinders still enjoy an advantage in slightly smother running but I doubt most people could tell the difference, especially at low speeds. Also, the abundance of low down torque makes cruising at low revs a breeze and acceleration from low speeds a piece of cake. Crucially for Americans, an engine with lots of low-down torque couples well with an automatic gearbox like the DSG since it doesn't have to change gears as often.
JD12ish 1 year ago
Regarding daily-driven street vehicles, large displacement engines are a carryover from the era (1930s-early 80s) when the majority of North American cars exceeded 3000 lb (1360 kg) in weight--and some were as heavy as 5500 lb (2500kg) in weight.
Large engines produce the torque necessary to move such mass at lower rpms than a smaller engine. American automotive engineering still follows this approach.
A common American complaint--European cars dont "pull" well at low speeds.
351460 1 year ago
@351460 That's it. It's a nothing more than a remnant from the past. Perhaps the average US driver needs to make a shift in his/her way of thinking about cars. In Europe in last couple of years diesels almost overtook petrols in sales because they had gotten so good: extremely frugal, bundles of low-down grunt and substantially improved refinement (impressive common-rail technology). Now advanced turbo-Ps are regaining back some territory, though Ds are still best when it comes to pulling-power.
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish I have an issue with electronic fuel injection diesels.
Injectors on these vehicles generally require replacement around 120,000 miles (195km) at a cost exceeding $500 usd per injector, not to mention the 40,000 psi ( sorry-do not have the kpa equivalent) injection pump necessary for "smokeless" operation at over $2,500 usd. The fuel savings are not necessarily offset by the increased fuel economy
351460 1 year ago
@351460 That is a valid point. Injectors have been an issue, tough I believe the quality of fuel might also contribute to this. And speaking of saving the planet. Although a diesel produces less harmless CO2, it produces substantially more toxic NOx. Modern Ds have managed dramatic strides towards cleaner emissions but the difference remains.Diesels are also notorious for their low running-temperature which takes the engine forever to heat up, a problem in winter when cold-start or cabin-heating
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish So true. Cold starting of diesels can be a problem. I do not know where you live--but the temp here occasionally drops to -20 F (approx-28 C) and, unless a block heater is used--many diesels will not start without ether, and heater performance is not on a par with gasoline powered vehicles.
351460 1 year ago
the old is much better
to0tenkopf 1 year ago
I am sorry but i didnt type All-New 2012 DODGE in the youtube search bar !!!!!!!!!!
steviejks 1 year ago
looks too american.......yep
ChetsChannel 1 year ago
it looks like an Accord
fataloptimist 1 year ago
i have noticed that this passat is among entry level cars in the US, here in eastern Europe only the really rich people can afford it :D
Damn thats sad
scheilinkin1 1 year ago
@scheilinkin1 Thats because the NMS is a cheaper built car, with lower-tech features than the Euro-Passats.
joh2 1 year ago
ugly
mtaran 1 year ago
Thumb up if you have a passat :D
2gd4u615 1 year ago
I've been wondering about this for years and I've never gotten an answer: Why do Americans simply have to have HUGE engines? I mean it's not because you want to drive quickly, cuz of the speed limits. And most Americans don't care about fast driving around corners. So why? Do you people really just want to burn stuff just for the sake of burning stuff? Could someone please explain this to me?
JD12ish 1 year ago 42
@JD12ish Because some people like myself don't care about the speed limits, and you still want to be able to accelerate quickly.
chadt4 1 year ago
@chadt4 See, that's just it. Passat is a good example. The 2nd-weakest engine choice in the EU is a turbo-charged 4-cyl with 160bhp, 8.5s 0-60 and 33mpg. The smallest in US is a naturally aspirated 5-cyl with 170bhp, 8.7s 0-60 and 31mpg. Torque says it all: 250Nm@1500-4200rpm for the turbo vs 240Nm@4250rpm for the 5-cyl, clearly an inferior engine (much less power @ low revs). Yet in the US this will the choice for most people. Again I ask why? And what is with the obsession with cup-holders?
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish The reason why we have big engines, is due to our highway and road system. Highways are too fast, we have high speed limits. If we used 1.0L and 1.2 L engines, we would never get anywhere. Out System is not like of Brazil, where rarely there is a v8 car, v6 are too expensive. In europe small engines are common. It's just different.
rkasnake 1 year ago
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JD12ish 1 year ago
Comment removed
JD12ish 1 year ago
@rkasnake Thanks for the answer, but I'm still not convinced. What do you mean high speed limit? I'm not that familiar with the limits, but Wikipedia tells me the highest in some states is 75mph (80 in some counties of Texas). That's 121kph (129kph respectively) which is almost exactly what we have everywhere in Europe. In fact, in Germany 130kph is merely a recommended speed and, providing your car can handle it, you can punch 180mph if you want. Here the average car has a 2.0 or 1.8L engine.
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish Perhaps, you're right we do use cars too big, but that's just us. Our Highways can hit up to 75, and our roads can hit up to 65..which for a normal road that's fast.
I guess it's culture, and due to our nation being capitalist, money runs everything. So as long there is demand, they will make it. they dont really care about economy, until we start bitching for better economy. We also want power, so they are stillm aking v6 and v8, except better economy. IDK it's tough to fully explain
rkasnake 1 year ago
@rkasnake high speed limits?! 55 mph is a high speed?
Normally the americans "need" the 1.0L engines and the germans "need" the V8, V10, V12 ....
erselbst 1 year ago
@erselbst one gallon of Gasoline is about 7.7 US Dollar in Germany! and the German Passat is 3 times expensive than in the states. That's why I prefer a one liter car!
SMadre54 1 year ago
@JD12ish They're compensating for... something(;
TheALTGaming 1 year ago
@JD12ish Apparently--you are unaware of the maxim:
Torque takes cubic inches.
As everyone who has ever built a performance engine knows, torque equates to acceleration.
The quickest cars in the world are American Top Fuel (nitromethane) dragsters, which produce over 6,000 horsepower (You calculate the metric equivalent) and exceed 500 cubic inches (8.2 liters) in displacement.
351460 1 year ago
@351460 I wasn't familiar with the particular maxim, tough I am well aware of the relationship between torque and power. But more importantly I thank you for having proven my point (or honest rant but with no ill-intentions): Americans have to have ginormous engines for no apparent reason. US cars trully are the fastest in the world, but only in a straight line.
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish Dont get me wrong--I am American--and I love the fuel economy derived from a smaller lightweight vehicle with a 4 cyl engine. But--I also enjoy the feeling of being pushed back in the seat under hard acceleration from the power produced by a 7 liter (427 cubic inch) + V8 engine.
We do not build the fastest cars--but--we build the quickest.
351460 1 year ago
Comment removed
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish The problem is reliability. Your statement concerning performance capability of the cars you mention cannot be doubted. But--as an example--I recently drove a BMW 7 series that came into my shop for substantial repairs. Upon completion--I test drove it on a measured distance at full throttle. The test was dupicated with a 1978 Buick Electra Limited (2000kg) with a 6.6 liter V8 that I had built and installed 12 years prior. Speed was within 2mph at the end--but the Buick required nothing
351460 1 year ago
@351460 Yes, BMW, VW or todays Buicks probably won't stand the test of time as well as older and simpler cars have. I am curious whether we will see in 40+ years a Ferrari 599 GTO in such a good shape as a 250 GTO today.
May I ask, was the BMW 7er a diesel?
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish No--it was 4 liter gasoline
351460 1 year ago
@JD12ish Ferraris are highly coveted and very expensive here and as such rarely driven. I would not be surprised to see 40 year old, as well as newer models in pristine condition well into the future
351460 1 year ago
@JD12ish other than basic maintenance since engine installation in 1998.
351460 1 year ago
@351460 Corrected. You are not alone in enjoying the thrill of rapid acceleration. My point is just that this is the 21st century and you don't need a beefy V8 to go places quickly. Look at BMW/VW/Fiat/AUDI/Mercedes. All their new cars have smaller engines, with less cylinders and therefore lower consumption but with the same or even more power. Example: VW Golf GTI and conventional Golf that are available in the US. Take minute, compare the figures of two petrol engines and be amazed.
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish : Especially for highway driving, it has more to do with acceleration than top speed. In MA, there are some ramps that merge onto highways that are very short, so you have very little distance (and very little time) to get up to highway speed. If there's highway traffic, your slow car may either get rear ended or you're going to cause people behind you to slam on their brakes. Cars are getting heavier/larger, i.e. more weight to haul. Also, small engine = higher RPM = engine noise.
bcuz909 1 year ago
@bcuz909 SMALLER DISPLACEMENT DOESN'T EQUAL LESS POWER, that's my whole point. In EU you can buy a VW Passat with a turbo-charged 1.8TSI (not available in US). In US the comparable engine is a conventional 2.5MPI (considered entry-level, expected to be most popular, no longer sold in EU). The 2.5MPI is bigger, slower and thirstier (look at the specs I wrote below!).Due to the substantial torque advantage the TSI pulls much better from low revs = less noise, easier acceleration, lower consumption
JD12ish 1 year ago
@bcuz909
i dont think that the short ramps are the reason. in some construction ares on german highways (sorry for my bad english!!) the ramps are very very short (some about 20 to 30 meters), and the traffics speed is about 90km/h(nearly 60miles, highest allowed speed for trucks in germany). in this cases 500hp were senseless, cause there is no room to accelerate, look, and eventually break.
but i like american cars, they are simply built and reliable (mostly).
griesgramdergrobe 1 year ago
@JD12ish: Nobody (on the streets) talks about envirnoment or natural llimitations of the sources. Also nobody cares about COx and NOx emissions, before taxes force people to rethink.
I'm sure: If a gallon ROZ95 would cost 6,70€ (currently 9,1$ ) , like here in Germany, The US-people would rethink quite fast ;)
darealfab 1 year ago
@JD12ish I always found that one intriguing - the European and Asian makers generally tend to go for smaller 2 litre or below cars, however traditionally that was often due to engine size taxations.
The US market cars in the mid-1970s had anti-smog equipment fitted, which often hampered performance.
joh2 1 year ago
@JD12ish because theres a such long distant between the states and it's a big country so the engines needs to be big to handle the pressure, they got a big galant and stuff like that ..
IINawarII 1 year ago
@IINawarII It is not the big Country - it is because the drivers of big engines are like big stupid boys!
Yes it is fun to drive cars with big engines, but they consume to much gasoline - that is not good for the enviroment of the earth and gasoline will end soon. The bigger your engine, the smaler is the range of your childs car.
SMadre54 1 year ago
@JD12ish yank cars like australian cars tend to have larger engines as opposed to the smaller more highly tuned europeans.It does make sense when covering long distances with very little in between as the blocks tend to be more reliable,also in europe anything with over 100K miles on the odometer is considered high mileage but cars with the bigger engines can have 400K kms plus in Aus, although i think the trend is changing to smaller engines now due to the fuel price.
salephil 1 year ago
@JD12ish I think as an american; it is a matter tradition for some. for others its the excitement of having 3 or 4 hundred horsepower at their disposal. I grew up in a small town in tennessee, and growing up everybody had hot rods. On the weekends we would all get together , and drag race, work on each others cars, or dream about the ultimate street car. I think the best way to answer your question would be to call it a passion. I do agree with you though. there are waaaay too many big cars
krmiles123 1 year ago
@JD12ish you would have to be american to under stand
speeedskater 1 year ago
@JD12ish ...it's an American thing, you wouldn't understand ;) FYI, VW is seen as a girls car in America so VW knows they need to give it more power to attract men towards it
t0fast 1 year ago
@t0fast See my latest rant about gearboxes on the matter of "masculinity" and my previous post about engines regarding the "engine power" issue. Here in Europe, at least where I live, VW is considered the pinnacle of consumer automotive technology, the yardstick in practically all car classes, and the envy of all neighbours. VWs are currently the best mid-range cars in terms of engines, drivability and quality for the price. You can tell by now I am the proud owner of a VW :-)
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish which is what kills me with how its seen as a girlie car - i mean, VW's are a NICE car to own, but they targeted women so much here in the states that it's to the point that it's hard for a guy to own one with out getting busted by all of his friends ... the beetle having a flower vase holder didn't help the image either ;) they just recently tried bumping this image where every tv commercial they have now has only guys in it. i think in time they can bring the image that it deserves.
t0fast 1 year ago
@JD12ish To haul our fat, over-privileged lazy asses around of course. Any other questions?
NorthsideBill 1 year ago
@NorthsideBill Actually yes: What's with the obsession with cup holders? And I can understand the dislike of the labour that a manual gearbox requires but then, as far as I know, ordinary automatics are less comfortable, more noisy and much slower (not to mention consumption).So on the one hand Americans talk butch about how feminine VW is and on the other hand (most) can't even operate a manual, which even my mom can do. Some mentioned US pepl want reliability, but auto grbxs are LESS reliable.
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish
You have to realize that cars are a huge status symbol in the US, even more than in Europe. Obviously that leads to excess, the same way most Europeans spend ridiculous amounts of money on clothing and acessories. Americans also buy lots of clothes, but nothing close to Europeans.
that's because in Europe you are judged by how "trendy" you look, specially in the Latin countries like Italy or Spain. Americans care much less about how you look and more about what you own.
goma3 1 year ago 2
@goma3 You'd be surprised. A car is extremely important here, the CARNATION flower is a cultural symbol of my country for a reason :-). The difference is that we don't care as much about sheer size (for me anything bigger then what I need in actual life is a waste of hard-earned money) and more on substance; the looks, the presence and the luxury. The majority of ppl buy sensible cars, but buy new ones quite frequently, partly because they can't stand the neighbour having a newer car.
JD12ish 1 year ago
Comment removed
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish
Sure, I can explain it.
Larger engines that produce only around 130 hp are unstressed. If you have a "large block" V8 that could produce 380hp but only needs to take your wife shopping....then you really don't need to be to worried about precision and efficiency. If the parts have a large tolerance, then fewer will be rejected by quality control. This means cheaper production costs...therefore higher profits. On the downside, it also means poor fuel economy.
Bra23we12 1 year ago 9
@Bra23we12 A very interesting reply, thanks. Does that mean that US car manufacturers promoted big "unstressed" engines to the US consumer as a way to improve their quality ratings and with that their profits? Could it be that this mentality has simply stuck with the US car driver ever since? May I ask, what is roughly the average mileage of a US car before its considered old and in need of a replacement, if you know? Here it's around 250000km (155000miles), my estimate.
I'm just being curious.
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish
Hi.
American cars are considered old when a newer model from the manufacturer replaces them. How old they are in terms of life-cycle depends on how, and where, they're used. For example, a well maintained car used seldomly in an arid environment by a careful driver is likely to last longer than it's owner.
Conversely, a car worked hard at full RPM in a sea climate and covering high mileage in rapid stop-start sequences with no maintenance may not make it out it's warranty period
Bra23we12 1 year ago
Hi @Bra23we12, this is correct!
therefore in east EU we use to return our cars BEFORE the warranty expiry date (if not in leasing) and buy new ones with discount price and, in some situations where local government "old car exchange program" is implemented (and you can provide over 10 years old cars - up to 3), you may earn some extra discounts. Therefore, in my opinion, I consider old car when half warranty time (2 years aprox.).
Call it eco-socialism :) but it's just the way it is.
shularet 1 year ago
@JD12ish
Hi..(again).
Engines, and cars for that matter, are built down to a price....with exceptions. Tightly designed and manufactured engines have a life expectancy unlikely to exceed that of the host vehicle. They are designed to match the minimum requirement; though that requirement may be high in terms of performance and reliability.
A high stress, high performance formula1 engine must be rebuilt after 60 miles and scrapped after 600. A truck engine may go 600,000 hard miles
Bra23we12 1 year ago
@JD12ish Americans might like big engines (in spite of our speed limits) because American culture is about big things and the idea of power. Americans 'can' have these engines because the costs of our gasoline is substantially cheaper. Put the two together... and voila.
The idea of saving money or polluting less isn't really an American hallmark... just as the idea of lung cancer or respiratory problems or second hand smoke w/a child doesn't stop many Europeans from sucking on cigarettes.
proteanview 1 year ago 2
@proteanview So I was right then, it's not just a stereotype. Americans like to burn stuff just for the sake of it (whatever happened to gluttony being a deadly sin?). Europeans don't care as much (though there has been a strong SUV trend in recent years) about size as we do about substance, the looks and the presence of a car.
The smoking bit is a silly stereotype. In recent years virtually all EU countries have enforced strict smoking prohibition and people stick to them, to my great surprise
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish I don't know if I'd call the 'look' of a car the substance. Some would say that the substance *is* the engine. ...but, yeah, Americans like power in spite of the affect.
I've been to Europe a number of times & have lived in Amsterdam. You can't sit in a cafe w/o smelling like an ash tray... even the poor children. ...so, yeah, Europeans love their nicotine in spite of the respiratory problems and children.
Travel a bit & you'll find everyone has their thing.
proteanview 1 year ago
@proteanview Don't be wise based on one experience. In virtually all EU countries smoking is banned from public places including cafes/restaurants.You are welcome to come to my country and smell for yourself.There is no national ban in the US.
The engine is the substance of a car, even though you can't see it, but also the suspension, brakes, chassis, gearbox and whether it's FWD/AWD/RWD.Then nice white LED or powerful bi-xenon lights and quality materials in the cabin...I could go AN and AN...
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish smoking may be banned from public places, but the public and the police dont give a damn, everyone still smokes in public places, except restaurants.
KvizY 1 year ago
@JD12ish We have great distances to cover in the US, continental distances that is, and that's why (among other reasons) Americans want big torquey engines in their land vehicles. Big V8's make for more comfortable, less stressful long trips. In the summer of 09 I drove Coast-to-Coast in a big German SUV with a 350HP V8 engine. Is not that Europeans don't like them, they simply can't afford that kind of luxury in their socialist economies. Tough luck!
zionsimas 1 year ago
@zionsimas Yes, it must be embarrassing to see SOCIALISTS coming to the US with their LUXURY cars (BMW, AUDI, Mercedes, not to mention Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Pagani, Maybach) and now even VW. I can tell you US cars like Chevy,GM,Ford,Chrysler are fairing VERY poorly here and are considered among the cheapest, least impressive cars, except maybe Ford and GM due to their European divisions. Talking about V8s and luxury, I can see you obviously don't know much about cars, sorry.
JD12ish 1 year ago
@JD12ish
Although those cars are made in Europe, you simply cannot compare the number of luxury cars in EU with the #'s in the US. Why do you think Mercedes, BMW, etc consider the US their most important market?
And the main reason for that is the ridiculously low auto sale tax. Do you know how much a 2009 Mercedes C63 costs in the US? Less than $65000. In the EU you simply cannot find a C63 going for less than 90000 euros. That's more than $110000 dls, almost 2x the price.
goma3 1 year ago