Northern Virginia Roll Call

The battery is accessible through the trunk. I don't know how difficult it would be. Given some of what Ford does, it mean separating the body to get to it.

 

Here's what I tell people looking to buy a VW. They are reliable. You just have to be religious about the maintenance. It's not like a Toyota, Honda or whatever where you can fudge a little. Also, would recommend surfing the forums to see what know issues there are and getting ahead of them. We have a 2008 Passat with 200k miles on it. Still runs and rides great. And it's because I've always kept up with it mechanically.

Thems my cents.

 

Rite rite. His was a whole back seat removal, And very tight fit. He did say there was a lot of foul language that weekend.

 

I have a friend with the diesel Golf TDI. Timing chain at 100k and water pump because you there, about $800 was his cost. And the sunroof is know to leak. That's what he found to be the major stuff in his research. Headlights will probably be clouded over, etc. Not sure about the gasser. I'd have to look. But I have confidence in the brand as you tend see some old ones still moving down the road pretty well. Subie's and Toyota are the others I'm looking at.

 

I would expect pretty much the same.

 

I had a 2011 GTI, so I'm very familiar with them and their concerns. If you start heading in that direction...

The diesel is pretty bulletproof. I believe those are the years before they got too crazy with the DPF and stuff. And if the car falls apart around the engine you can put it in the Tacoma!

 

I thought most of the tdi's got bought back. If you are in a county that doesnt do emissions and it hasnt had the ecu updated, you will get some amazing mpgs.

 

That one is too old for the buyback. Same hand all the cars bought back were fixed and placed back on the market or shipped overseas where regs are more relaxed.

 

That is the preferred route, so maybe we should talk. Lunch at the Mall? The appeal of the Fusion is the room, and my most recent experience with them has left me with doubts. I grew up on Ford. Other than the future 2nd Gen Bronco, there really isn't anything that appeals to me anymore.

 

I was in the same boat. There's not much that interests me that I can afford.

I'm always at the mall hopping curbs and stuff. The food court is to die for.

 

If it makes you feel any better my time as a tech at Ford I've never done anything other than oil changes and tires to hybrids. Everything else was owner caused or accidents. I've never seen a Ford hybrid have battery issues, not saying they don't though.

My experience with VW is your going to pay to maintain it. Had a 2018 GTI and the thing started falling apart almost immediately, got rid of it and got the Taco. Most of the older ones you see on the road are either maintained by the owner or they could have bought a new one with the maintenance costs.

 

Best day ever

 

How does it drive compared to the diesels? More torque?

 

Yeah it's much faster and pulls up the hills much better. The Regen braking is much worse than the hydraulic retarders on the diesel buses though. Normally the retarder takes care of most of the slowing down and I only really have to get in the brake for the last little bit. I don't know if that could be improved with software tuning or what, but might help them to last longer per day

 

Does it make some kind of space-agey noise when you're going slow so pedestrians can hear you?

 

No funny noise unfortunately, but when turning it does externally announce "caution: bus is turning" in a robot voice and strobe some amber markers up front in addition to the regularly flashing turn signals

 

And braille warnings on the front?

 

Yes. If you feel the bike rack, you're about to be under the bus

 

Took advantage of the incredible weather Friday to Saturday and finally used the new tent I got for Christmas. Between the tent and the new memory foam mattress for the bed it was the best night of sleep camping I've ever had.