The Volkswagen Golf: Dead (For The U.S. Anyway)

We've lost a host of small hatchback choices over the last few years from the U.S. market. Most of these departures weren't terribly surprising. Then I read today that the Volkswagen Golf—a mainstay of the U.S. compact car landscape for over 46 years—is being axed. Wow.

The Last New Beetle Visits Roswell for R2R 2019

No, this wasn't an group of rogue VW enthusiasts headed to Area 51, this is just a tiny sample of the VW Beetles that went to R2R (Return to Roswell) 2019. The author, William Jinkins, took the 2019 VW Final Edition Beetle to the event. You can read all about it on Crankshaft Culture.

Review: 2016 Volkswagen Golf R ... In The Snow

Why is there a Golf R in the snow in August? Because this piece was originally written in spring ... in Canada. - Andy

By Spencer Whitney - SCC Editorial Staff

There are very few compact cars that tick every box on this writer's wish list. When shopping for a new ride you might start out with several must-haves, but ultimately there's a lot of compromises that happen between walking on to the lot and actually signing the papers. Fast cars aren't always well made (Lancer Evo, we're looking at you) and sporty cars aren't always fast.

But every once in a while a vehicle comes along that seems to offer something special and unexpected, almost as if it was a side project that rogue engineers somehow slipped past the bean counters. Germany has consistently created incredibly powerful cars, unfortunately at a price point far beyond the average consumer. What if there was something out there for the rest of us, with enough power and flair to blow away everything else in its class?

Volkswagen's BUDD-e Is Great, But Is It Time To Just Bring Over the Camper Van?

Volkswagen unveiled its BUDD-e electric concept at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) this week. It's fantastic. The looks are ideal for a redo of the iconic VW microbus. It's got a ton of tech. It's got an outstanding interior. In fact, it's enough to make you almost forget about the whole diesel debacle. I understand the BUDD-e concept isn't going to be the next Westfalia adventure vehicle, but what if VW offered a version that is?

When the New Beetle came out in the late 1990s, it was a smash hit. And if VW needs something right now, it's a runaway success—but it isn't going to be an EV. It might be a Westfalia.

Is Diesel Doomed?

By Andy Lilienthal

News broke yesterday that Volkswagen's diesel-powered vehicles, such as the Golf SportWagen we recently reviewed, have software that turns on the emissions control system only during emissions testing, allowing the car to produce as much as 40 times the amount of allowed pollutants under normal driving conditions. Because of this, the German auto maker, which has admitted selling 482,000 of these vehicles since 2009, faces potential fines of up to $18 billion ($37,500 fine per vehicle) for its alleged attempt at cheating the clean air system in the U.S. And while it's unlikely VW will have to pay the full $18 billion in fines, it will have to fork over a chunk of change, and its reputation for offering "clean diesel" will likely be damaged and its customers' trust may have been violated. In 2014, 23% of all VWs sold in the U.S. were diesel (Time.com, Oct. 3, 2014). This could have have an effect on VW of America's bottom line, especially since the automaker has been struggling to find sales in the U.S. But on a grander scale, it could affect buyers' opinion of diesel in general.

Volkswagen/Audi is single-handedly responsible for keeping diesel alive in passenger cars here in the U.S. Yes, Chevrolet has offered its diesel-powered Cruze for a couple of years, and BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche offers some diesel vehicles, too. But VW/Audi has been the people's diesel car in a market that still generally thinks diesel cars are slow, gutless, and produce lots of pollution. But now, diesel's stereotype for being a big polluter may only become bolstered, and I wouldn't imagine many other automakers will be wanting to jump on the oil-burning bandwagon anytime soon.

I'd think public opinion of diesel may take a turn for the worse in North America. After all, VW billed its diesels as clean, and they were a tour de force with the environmental crowd who didn't want a gas/electric hybrid. Unfortunately, VW was doing the exact opposite of keeping the air clean, despite putting up impressive fuel economy numbers. It'll be interesting to see if Volkswagens flub will affect diesel sales of the other automakers' diesel vehicles.

In reading through several car forums and automotive websites, it appears some enthusiasts actually applaud VW for trying to beat the EPA's extremely difficult clean air standards for diesel. They look at VW as a rebel; a company not willing to play the EPA's game for emissions standards. But in the grand scheme of things, VW got caught and will have to pay.

Does this mean diesel is doomed in the U.S.? We'll have to wait and see. For now, I'd be willing to bet hybrids will continue to dominate as the choice for those who don't want traditional gasoline engines in their cars. 

Review: 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen TDI SE

By Mercedes Lilienthal

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for VWs. Maybe it was because my parents decided to move to another country for job opportunity and arrived off the boat (well, plane) in the 1960s from Germany to start a new life in the USA. Maybe it was because my Papa always loved VWs, and when they moved to the US and settled in Chicago, he got a job at a VW shop that was owned by another German. Well, quite possibly it may have been because I learned to drive in one: a manual 1979 VW Rabbit diesel my father completely restored from ground up. It smelled like McDonald’s french fries when you took off because he retrofitted it to run on a combo of diesel and veggie oil to get better MPG. It was regularly getting in the 60s for MPG, not too shabby, eh—specially for the 1980s. He was ahead of his time, and our family’s love for VWs runs deep.

Needless to say, when we were offered the 2015 Golf SportWagen TDI SE for review, I got excited. And when I found out it was one with a manual transmission, I said, “Yes please!” A rare bird indeed: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-charged diesel with a six-speed that had many bells and whistles on it. One “bell” which is a must for me: a power sun-roof. This has a BIG, expansive panoramic power sun-roof. OK, gimme the keys and let’s try this formerly-named Jetta wagon out! (Remember, this is now the Golf SportWagen!)

Review: 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI S

By Andy Lilienthal

The Golf GTI has always been synonymous with great driving dynamics, a reasonably low cost of entry, and loads of fun. Volkswagen Golfs with those three letters have always been rewarding to drive; it's been a winning formula for VW since 1976. It's also not a formula that gets messed with much. And frankly, VW knows how to execute the FWD performance hatchback.

Review: 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium

By Andy Lilienthal, photos by Mercedes Lilienthal


If there’s one thing the 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf does better than any other EV currently on the market, it’s that it acts like a normal car. It doesn’t go out of its way to be super futuristic. It doesn’t do a whole lot of shouting, “Hey, I’m electric!” It’s based on Volkswagen’s already solid Golf, which is a good thing, and VW didn’t seem to mess too much with its world-class driving dynamics. Perhaps the lack eco chic could deter some buyers looking for that “I’m saving the planet—ask me how” cache. In fact, there are only a few subtle clues that differentiate this Golf from one that burns gasoline.

Bakers Dozen Racing Built a Diesel-Powered VW Golf Rally Car.

By Andy Lilienthal

I met David Baker of Bakers Dozen Racing in a very peculiar way, and it shows how small this world really is. Stay with me here ...

I have been an active member on YarisWorld.com since 2006, and David's father, Steve, was also a member. Steve and I had the usual forum back-and-forth, and when I started the Subcompact Culture Facebook Page, I noticed Steve as a follower. Then one day I get a message via Facebook from a David Baker. He explains that he's Steve's son, that he follows Subcompact Culture, and that he's moving to Portland, Oregon to take a job at the same place that I work. I could hardly believe it. How small of a world is this place? The answer? Small—especially if you're into cars.

I got to know David and quickly realized he was my kind of "car guy."  He likes the more interesting vehicles (as does his father) and appreciates small cars. After a while as an engineer in the Pacific Northwest, he ended up moving back to the East Coast, which is where he's originally from, to take another engineering job. By the way, to make the world even smaller, he moved back towards the Boston, Massachusetts area, which is where my dad's side of the family resides. So when I was back in Boston last April, I had a chance to meet up with David at his shop in Rhode Island, and see his VW rally project. And this isn't just a VW rally car—it's a diesel-powered rally car.

How the E-Brake Changed My Life

There are certain defining moments when you are a teenager: getting your driver's license, going to prom, making a varsity sports team. For me it was the first time yanking up on the e-brake in a front-wheel drive car and have the ass-end come around—drift king-style. As a 16 year old in Minnesota, I'll never forget this moment.

It was just after school on a snowy winter afternoon. I had driven my 1992 Mitsubishi Expo LRV down to my friend Paul's house to meet several friends. Paul lived at the base of a sweeping downhill corner on a street in Woodbury, Minnesota; a suburb of St. Paul. There was a good 2–4 inches of unplowed snow on the roads and it was still snowing. I pulled up to the curb to park my tall wagon, when a friend came running over to the car and said, "Don't park on the street. Park in the driveway." I asked why, but he said, "Just do it."

I pulled into the driveway and got out. As I shut the door to the car, I heard the sound of an engine at higher RPM. I look up the hill to my right to witness my friend Jake in his "custom painted" diesel-powered late 1970s Volkswagen Rabbit at full-on boogie sliding sideways down the sweeping corner holding a perfect line. The car, aka the "Phat Rabbit," was belching black soot and making a noise that I remember to be something akin to a diesel-powered food processor. He slid to a stop, pulled a U-turn, and stopped in front of the driveway. We were all wearing shit-eating grins. I'm sure the neighbors were enthralled with our antics. However, what I had witnessed was awesome. I also now knew why they didn't want me parking on the street.

The car that changed it all: The "Phat Rabbit" circa spring 1996 in Minnesota.

But how'd he slide that sucker like that? Knowing the Rabbit was front-wheel drive, I had no idea how he got the ass-end to kick out so far, so easily, and with such control. I had to know how to do this. I ran over to the car and said, "Holy shit, Jake. How the hell do you do that?" He simply replied, "You pull up the e-brake."

That's it? That's all? Simply grab the e-brake? So simple, yet with such awesome results.

Much to the neighbors' dismay, Jake took the Rabbit back to the top of the hill for another slide. I watched with pure joy.

After a couple more times down the hill, Jake pulled up to the curb, got out, and said, "I'm done; the e-brake cable broke." It wasn't too surprising. After spending decades in road-salt-strewn Minnesota, it's incredible the brake cable lasted this long (let alone other parts of the car).

Needless to say, seeing that Rabbit sliding sideways that day changed my life forever. Hooning a front-drive car was now orders of magnitude more fun. I had the benefit of front-wheel drive for snowy traction when I needed it, and now, the ability to be a rally car driver when I wanted to.

Suffice to say, the Expo LRV, with its short wheelbase, was great for sliding around. I managed to never hit anything (or anyone, thank God), and empty unplowed parking lots became an endless source of vehicular entertainment. No longer was my winter hooning limited to doing donuts in reverse. The all-mighty e-brake slide was here and I've never been the same since.

Review: 2014 Volkswagen Beetle R-Line

The VW Beetle’s familiar shape has been around for decades. It is an iconic car that is instantly recognized, no matter if it’s the old-school Herbie the Love Bug runabout or the aggressively-styled larger version of today. I drove VW’s latest Bug, the 2014 Beetle R-Line Turbo. And what exactly is an R-Line? It's VW's Beetle Turbo with a new name.

This isn't the Beetle with the smallish, low-powered, engine, or a not-so-loaded bug. This is the Reflex Metallic Beetle equipped with a 2.0-liter TSI engine making a healthy 207 ft/lbs of torque and 210 horsepower. Those are fully grown stallion horses, not just your everyday youngin’ ponies we are talking about. Along with this sporty turbocharged direct-injection engine, this bug has a host of performance and safety features such as a sport suspension, dual-clutch transmission, all those necessary three-letter safety acronyms (ABS, EBD, ASR, ESC, and so on), as well as eye-catching 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in performance all-season tires.

Red Bull Global Rallycross Seattle

Words by Andy Lilienthal. Photos by Mercedes and Andy Lilienthal

The Red Bull Global Rallycross came back to Dirtfish Rally School outside of Seattle last weekend for the first time since 2011 and it did not disappoint. All the big names in the GRC Supercar class were there including Tanner Foust (in the VW Beetle above), Ken Block, Scott Speed, Bucky Lasek, David Higgins, and more.

This was our first time at a GRC event and it was great. Unlike stage rally racing, you get to see more of the action. In fact, think of rallycross as the motocross of rally racing. It's on a tight track with jumps, hair pins, and straightaways. There are also multiple laps and heats and then a main race. The course layout features a shortcut referred to as "the joker." Drivers can take the joker once during the race—a move that must be strategically planned. In fact, all drivers have a spotter that communicates via radio with the driver to tell them to take the shortcut, as well as when to overtake, when to slow down, and any other helpful bits of advice during the race.

At this race, Ford, Hyundai, Subaru, and Volkswagen were represented in Fiesta ST, Veloster Turbo, Impreza WRX, and VW Polo and VW Beetle race cars, respectively. The cars are all-wheel drive, make around 600 horsepower, and are incredibly fast and wonderfully noisy. They feature a sequential gearbox, use Yokohama tires mounted on Method race wheels, and feature all the go-fast and safety equipment you'd expect on a race car. Plus they look awesome.

The venue, the acclaimed DirtFish Rally School, is located just outside of Seattle in Snoqualmie, Washington. The site used to be a huge Weyerhaeuser lumber mill and still features a host of huge buildings. In fact, part of the track actually went through one of these long structures. The pines and hills around the area are very scenic which only added to the race's overall feel.

The racing was fantastic: Lots of sliding, passing, bumping, and dirt slinging took place—all part of rallycross's charm. If you get the chance to attend, we highly recommend it. Rally racing has a certain flair to it, and it was extremely evident at this event.

Here are the top results along with some more pictures. Enjoy.

Review: 2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI

Every time I drive a VW Beetle, Jetta, or in this case, Golf with the company’s turbocharged-direct-injected TDI diesel engine I’m impressed. It’s a smooth, strong, quiet powerplant that’s got gobs and gobs or torque, lots of refinement, and is rewarding to drive. Needless to say, I was looking forward to spending a week with Volkswagen’s newest oil burner, the 2015 Golf TDI.

The new-for-2015 seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf features everything you would’ve liked in the previous MKVI golf, but with more refinement, more power, more room, less weight, and slightly edgier looks.

Mule Expedition Outfitter's Micro Overland and 4x4 Meet

We maintain the fact that you don't have to have a giant 4WD vehicle to get out and explore, and we're not the only ones that have that theory. So does the team at Mule Expedition Outfitters in Issaquah, Washington. If the name sounds familiar, it could be because we wrote about their awesome 1979 Suzuki LJ81 not too long ago.

Review: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Premium

Many cars these days are available in only a couple of flavors at best, with a few trim levels. One neat thing about Volkswagen is that you can get many of their vehicles in multiple configurations. Take for instance VW’s bread-and-butter Jetta sedan. You want a Hybrid? They’ve got it. Sporty, turbocharged GLI with dual-clutch trans? Yep; that’s available. Want a bare-bones entry-level version with a manual transmission? Sure thing. You can option them up, take them with standard equipment, whatever. And we appreciate it. Variety is the veritable spice of life, and VW understands that different people want different cars.
We’ve driven many Jetta combinations over the last few years, and now we can check another one off the list: The Jetta TDI Premium.

Small Car Highlights From the 2014 Portland International Auto Show

2015 BMW i3

The 2014 Portland International Auto Show will be held February 6–10 at the Oregon Convention Center. Subcompact Culture attended the press day on February 5 to get a preview of some of the latest rides. And while there were exotics, sports cars, SUVs, pickups, and just about everything else there, we attended for the small cars ... of course.

2015 BMW i3 

One of the most notable and exciting small cars at the show is the 2015 BMW i3, which is an EV with an optional inline two-cylinder 650cc range-extending gas engine. The vehicle makes 170 hp and 184 lbs./ft. of torque and will weigh in at about 2,700 lbs. It's estimated the small front-drive BMW (a first for the brand) will get 125 eMPG. By the way, yes, it's got 20" wheels wearing 165/65/20 tires. That's a new one. The interior is simply stunning, to be frank. There's futuristic yet simple design throughout, including a gorgeous wood dash area in front of the passenger, and suicide doors. Made with scads of carbon fiber, the i3 will start out at $42,275.

2015 Subaru  WRX STI

Another highly anticipated vehicle at the Auto Show is the 2015 Subaru WRX STI. The standard '15 WRX isn't slated to go on sale until April, but Oregon is Subaru country, and Subaru was able to bring the hot- rodded WRX STI, which won't go on sale until June, to the Portland show for all to see. Making 305 horsepower out of its 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder mill and delivering power too all four wheels, the new STI will likely be a beast despite the somewhat toned-down sheet metal. However, the big wing and gold wheels are back, and are likely to appeal to the rally car crowd. Can't wait to drive this one.

2015 Volkswagen Golf

Another popular car here in the Pacific Northwest is the Volkswagen Golf, and this is the new MkVII model. Complete with revised sheet metal, the new Golf also gets a new 1.8-liter turbocharged engine standard (vs. the past 2.5-liter five cylinder), as well as a revised TDI turbochraged diesel. The gas engine will make 170 hp and 184 lbs./ft. of torque. The new TDI makes 150 hp and a whopping 236 lbs./ft. of torque. Expect TDI mileage to be in the low 40s when it's released. By the way, 52% of all VWs sold in Portland, OR are TDIs—far more than any other market in the U.S.

2015 Ford Fiesta ST

Ford's sporty Fiesta ST has been out a few months now, but this was the first I'd seen one in the flesh. wearing stunning Molten Orange Metallic paint, the ST is truly a hot hatch. A turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine making 197 hp and 202 lbs./ft. of torque, a six-speed manual gearbox, unique alloy wheels, and different front and rear fascias make this the Fiesta to get if you're looking for a pocket rocket. This one had the optional and awesome Recaro seats, too. Love this thing, and can't wait to drive one. 

In addition to the above vehicles, there are a host of other new small car—and other cool bits—to check out at the auto show:

Fiat 500 Gucci

Kia Soul

Fiat 500L Trekking

Buick Encore

Folding paper Scion xB

Nissan Versa Note

Will Orders' twin-turbo Toyota GT86 rally car

Classic Volkswagen Bug

Custom Honda CRX

Brazuka Smart ForTwo

New Smart EV Bike

Review: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn

Volkswagen has been synonymous with creating drivers’ cars for decades; cars that communicate the road; cars that offer excellent steering feel; cars that make driving fun. The company got its reputation for this when it came out with the GTI hatchback—a hopped-up version of the Rabbit—in the early 1980s. The GTI is, of course, still one of the foremost hot hatchbacks on the market today. However, what if you want the fun of a GTI but in a sedan variant? You look to the VW Jetta GLI.

Subcompact Showcase: VW Sand Rabbit at Dunefest

I've been at Dunefest in Winchester Bay, Oregon for the week, and have seen all kinds of awesome rigs. However, for obvious reasons, this one caught my eye. This little sand car is a Volkswagen Rabbit body on a VW Bug chassis. However, this isn't just some clapped together jalopy. The owner said the builder, a baja racer from decades ago (he says he'd be in his 90s now) built sand toy. The car is powered not by a little Beetle engine, but by a larger displacement, more powerful Porsche 914 engine. The work is done right, but features many period items, such as twin shocks in the rear, aluminum fenders, and even the rabbit graphic on the back. Riding on Cooper winter tires up front and Discoverers in the rear, this little Rabbit really hops to it.

Top Five Summer Subcompacts

Summer is here, and it’s a great time for drop-top motoring. So what are our top subcompacts for summer? We thought you’d never ask.

Mazda MX-5 Miata
Whether you opt for a new Miata or and early version, these are the quintessential small modern convertibles. With peppy drivetrains, classic good looks, and superb driving dynamics, these drop-tops are sure to please anyone who enjoys driving. Those opting for newer versions can buy the power retractable hardtop, too. We loved the ones we’ve reviewed. Here’s a video of the top operation.

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MINI Cooper Convertible/Roadster 
The MINI Convertible has been out for years, and recently MINI added the Roadster model above. The Convertible can seat four; the Roadster, two. Both are cool looking subcompacts that drive as nicely as they look. Available with our without forced induction, the Cooper S and John Cooper Works models are downright quick.

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Fiat 500c
Fiat’s subcompact 500c takes everything you like about the 500 hardtop and allows users to open up the center section. Like the MINI, they’re available normally aspirated or with a turbocharger in the 500c Abarth. The Abarth not only looks sportier it certainly sounds sportier. Either one will have the super-trick sliding ragtop shown in the video we shot below.

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Geo/Chevrolet Tracker and Suzuki Sidekick

First offered in 1989, these two-door convertibles were available with a very capable 4WD driveline with a two-speed transfer case. These weren’t just “cute utes,” they had trail trail cred. Initially powered by an 80 hp 1.6-liter eight-valve engine, later convertible models came with a 2.0-liter making 127 hp. These are still inexpensive, capable vehicles that can be had for not much money. Plus there's a good-sized aftermarket.

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Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible/Cabriolet 
The Rabbit Convertible was introduced in the early 1980s and ran all the way through 1994 with essentially the same classic body style. Powered by a 1.8-liter mill, this was the 1980s compact convertible. Nimble and choked full of Euro character, there are a megaton of hop-up parts for these, and no that’s not a Rabbit joke.

VW Polo and Subcompact VW Crossover Finally Ready to Appear in the U.S.?

Volkswagen Cross Polo 

For years we've been hearing rumors of the Volkswagen Polo coming to U.S. shores. Well, the rumor mill is churning again. Motor Trend is reporting that, due to CAFE standards, the Polo will be hitting U.S. shores. For real. Apparently. Hopefully.

In addition, a subcompact SUV/crossover will be here, too. (Remember the VW Rocktan and CrossPolo?) MT is saying the Polo could be here as as 2015; the subcompact CUV/SUV no earlier than 2016. So it might be a bit early to get excited, but we'll see if it actually happens this time.

I'd welcome a smaller VW model, and always dug the Polo. While I'm not holding my breath, I'm cautiously optimistic.