Volkswagen Problems

But the really important question is: what do women want in a car?Finding the answer keeps carmakers tossing and turning at night, because they are well aware that women choose more than half the vehicles sold in Australia. There are all the ones they buy for themselves, as well as the deciding vote on most of the ones bought by households.Sorry, fellas. It’s true. No matter how much you want that souped-up sports car, unless the head of household finances agrees you may as well back away from the vehicle now.One of the earliest attempts to deliver a car for women was the mid-1950s Dodge La Femme. It was actually a 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer under the skin, but the Detroit designers camouflaged that skin as thoroughly as a make-up artist doing Vogue covers.The car was decked out in pink paint, with an interior covered in pink vinyl, set off by pink rosebud tapestry. And to show that this was not merely a cynical marketing exercise, Dodge kitted the car with accessories they thought reflected the growing independence of post-World War II women moving into meaningful career paths - a pink handbag complete with office essentials like a matching powder compact, lipstick case and comb.Sales estimates run as low as less than 1000 cars. And the pink panderer was quickly dropped from the Dodge range at the end of the following year.Australia’s own Carla Zampatti tweaked a Ford specifically for women in the 1980s, but whether it won women - with accessories including a hanging hook for handbags - is still open to question.However, Dodge and Ford weren’t completely on the wrong track. Women want a car to be stylish, but also practical. Luckily, these days there are quite a few vehicles that fit the bill – without playing the pink paint card. These are the best style picks for women today, from a woman's perspective, with the figures for the basic car.Don’t agree with these? Let us know what YOU think women want in a car in our poll at left.LIGHTMazda2Price: from $16,030Engine: 76kW/137Nm 1.5-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 6.4L/kmEmissions: 152g/kmThe baby 2 has cute and slightly edgy looks, is compact with usable space, and the long doors make it easy to get in the back seat. The auto will be preferred by most, but it adds to the weight of the little car.Close calls: Ford Fiesta from $16,990; Peugeot 207 from $22,490.SMALLBMW 1-SeriesPrice: from $38,900Engine: 160kW/270Nm 2.0-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 8.2L/kmEmissions: 190g/kmA pocket-sized entry in German prestige – without breaking the pocket. Looks stunning, an amazing amount of room, and great to drive.Close calls: Mazda3 from $21,330; Hyundai i30 from $20,390.MEDIUMFord MondeoPrice: from $31,990Engine: 118kW/208Nm 2.3-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 9.5L/kmEmissions: 227g/kmThe best thing Ford has brought to Australia in … ever, possibly. Enough space to make you wonder if you’ll ever need a larger car, elegant design and well built.Close calls: Mazda6 from $31,834; Audi A5 Sportback from $78,400.LARGEAudi A6Price: from $74,500Engine: 125kW/350Nm 2.0-litre petrolTransmission: automaticEconomy: 5.8L/kmEmissions: 153g/kmThere’s not a high chic quotient in this class - where the homegrown Falcon and Commodore lean more to aggressive styling - so the Audi’s restrained elegance makes it a clear winner.Close calls: Honda Accord from $36,381Mercedes-Benz E-Class from $80,900.PEOPLE MOVERHonda OdysseyPrice: from $46,166Engine: 132kW/218Nm 2.5-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 8.9L/kmEmissions: 212g/kmIn a class that’s dominated by lumpy boxes, the Odyssey is a sleek stand-out. It's low-slung, car-like and leading with a fashionable face.Close calls: Citroen C4 Grand Picasso from $39,990; Chrysler Voyager $60,990.SPORTYBMW Mini Cooper ClubmanPrice: from $36,600Engine: 88kW/160Nm 1.6-litre petrolTransmission: automaticEconomy: 6.8L/kmEmissions: 163g/kmA bonsai wagon with go-kart street cred and revamped retro lines, this one will get admiring glances from everybody.Close calls: Kia Cerato Koup from $23,690; Audi S3 from $69,100.CONVERTIBLEVolkswagen EosPrice: from $47,990Engine: 103kW/320Nm dieselTransmission: automaticEconomy: 6.0L/kmEmissions: 158g/kmThe EOS is streamlined and sophisticated, looks equally good with the roof open or closed – and has enough room in the back to get a couple of extra friends in for short trips.Close calls: BMW Z4 from $86,200; Lexus IS250C from $80,150. SUVHyundai ix35Price: from $26,990Engine: 122kW/197Nm petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 8.5L/kmEmissions: 201g/kmThere’s heaps of practicality but precious little style in the SUV paddocks. But Hyundai’s new compact ix35 proves you can have both. Ultra-modern lines, trim shape and space to spare.Close calls: Jeep Wrangler (medium) from $31,590; Land Rover Range Rover Sport (large) from $99,900.

VW claims responsibility for the hot hatch, which is a fair-enough boast when you remember that the Golf GTi kick started the movement back in the 1970s. Given its history it's not surprising then that VW pushed the hot hatch boundaries as other carmakers joined in the party with their own GTi clones. The R32 was VW's attempt to build the ultimate luxury hatch, one that would offer a very different, but still exhilarating driving experience to the GTi.MODEL WATCHThe Golf GTi has always been the hot hatch benchmark; it was the first and remains the one that comes to mind first when the chat turns to hot hatches. But in the wake of the GTi's success other carmakers have jumped into the fray with their own versions of the VW formula and the class has become rather saturated with choices.While the sizzling hot turbocharged front-wheel drive GTi retains pole position in the class, and delivers the sort of performance petrolheads lust after, the R32 offered a more refined driving experience. It actually irked VW that the R32 was described as a hot hatch; it saw it as a ‘luxury class saloon’, one that offered a unique blend of performance and refinement. Unfortunately for the company to most eyes it looked like a hot hatch, so that's what it was. Badges aside there were few visual clues to identify an R32 from a distance; it looked pretty much like any other Golf.VW, however, was of the view that the unique aluminium-look grille, extra air intakes in the front bumper, and twin polished stainless steel exhaust outlets were enough to make it stand out. If the skin appeared little different from the rest of the range what lay under the skin was quite a different story.For starters the engine was a 3.2-litre double overhead camshaft V6 that put out 184kW at 6300 revs along with 310Nm between 2500 and 3000 revs. To put that into some sort of context a turbocharged GTi at the time boasted 147kW and 280Nm. The R32 also differed from the GTi in the drive it employed. Whereas a GTi was conventional front-wheel drive, the R32 used VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive system. 4Motion used a Haldex mechanical coupling that was controlled electronically to give the best possible grip in all conditions. VW also reset the suspension to cope with the extra zip of the R32, which sat lower than a GTi, had uprated springs and shocks, and rolled on larger, 18-in, alloy wheels.In line with VW's pitch that the R32 was a luxury sedan it came with automatic air-conditioning, leather seats, rain-sensing wipers and bi- xenon headlamps.IN THE SHOPVW build quality is generally of a high standard with good fit and finish inside and out. Few issues concern R32 owners, the car's mechanical package is sound and well proven, including the 4Motion drive system. The main issue that eventually surfaces on this, and most other Euro cars, is brake wear. European cars are renowned for the rate of wear on both discs and pads and owners get quite a shock when presented with a bill that is usually quite substantial, and often at quite kays. Servicing is important so check for a credible service record that confirms regular oil and filter changes.ON THE ROAD The R32 faced an uphill battle to convince buyers to spend the extra dollars needed over a GTi when the GTi was such a great car. That wasn't to suggest that the R32 couldn't hold its own on the road; it could do the 0-100km/h sprint in a creditable 6.5 seconds. Given its head it would cover ground very quickly, with a finely balanced chassis and great grip on the road. But being more luxury focussed the R32 did the job with little fuss; it was smooth, refined and comfortable.IN A CRASHThe R32 packed plenty of safety gear with front, side and curtain airbags for the ultimate protection in the event of a crash. Before the crunch came there were electronic stability control, anti- skid brakes, traction control and electronic diff lock to stave off trouble at the wheel.AT THE PUMPLike all performance cars the fuel consumption of the R32 is highly dependent on the way it's driven. Road testers tend to be rather heavy on the throttle, using up whatever performance is available under the right foot. With that in mind road testers at the time of the R32's launch reported average fuel consumption of 11.5-12.5 L/100km.LOOK FORSizzling performanceAll-wheel drive gripCompact dimensionsLuxury refinementThirsty V6Innocuous looks.THE BOTTOM LINE: Great driving hatch, but why bother when the GTi delivers more thrill for less money.RATING: 70/100