Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2007 Volkswagen Eos (Greek goddess of dawn) 3.2 liter 2-door retractable hard top convertible. That is a leap forward and a leap of faith for VW much like the Phaeton which, of course, will haunt VW through each new launch.
Well they need not worry too much about this Eos because it is likely to be a winner. The Phaeton was a “Fish out of water” for VW and this Eos is swimmingly perfect for the car buying public. With gas prices promising never to go back down and with nearly 30 mpg for a top performer this is bound to succeed and as well it should. It is terribly fun to drive and as capable as cars in class and even those that sport a more expensive badge.
General Info:
Parts – Germany 75%, U.S/ Canadian 1%.
Assembly – Wolfsburg, Germany
Class: – Compact Cars
Cars: – Eos, GTI, Jetta, New Beetle, Passat, Passat Wagon, Rabbit and Touareg.
I enjoyed how well this front wheel drive Eos handled and quickly forgot that it’s a VW.
I tested the V6 but I would strongly suggest looking at the optional 2 liter 4-cylinder 200 hp turbocharged engine that is less money and delivers a few more mpg up to 32 highway with not a lot less horsepower.
Styling:
Well, it was Hitler who championed the Beetle from Volkswagen. If there is any reason to hate the little bastard that would be it. Oddly enough it was widely embraced by war weary Americans and for the life of me I can only wonder why. Is it because it was considered cute and economical? Curious because gas was about 15 cents a gallon. In any case it won the hearts and minds and pocket books of American car buyers long before Germany’s Mercedes Benz was accepted as the Icon of the Rich and famous and a symbol of success. A Jewish friend always suggested it was the Germans legacy to the Jews.
The retractable hard top/ convertible is new for VW but what’s not new is the fact it must be stored when down which makes cargo storage a bit of a problem. They have provided a small covered cargo area and a pass through to the rear seat and that’s the best that can be done. In the up position the trunk is actually good size for a sporty convertible. If you’ll need more a family sedan will be more appropriate solution for you. For the same reasons the rear seat is small but not impossible like many other two door convertibles.
What is also amazing is that the retractable Hard Top incorporates a large sliding Sun Roof. Unbelievable. Nice touch VW … even though I’m not a fan of sun roofs.
Fit and Finish:
Excellent attention to detail.
Cost:
More than I envisioned, but it handles extremely well and it should be a contender in class even as priced, especially for V-dub enthusiasts. Secondly it becomes more affordable when you consider this is not just a four seat coupe. When you throw in the retractable HARD top suddenly it is less money than others with the same feature.
Conveniences and comfort:
Hello VW… you listening? The sun visors don’t extend. Don’t you guys have sun in Germany? This is one of my pet peeves and I doubt I’m the only one who wants to block the sun from beating on your face from the side? And on a hot bright sunny day it is really distracting.
Second bitch: Electronics on German cars generally are less intuitive than all other makes. Thus the (optional) Nav system for example is more difficult to use. What’s that about? If they only sold their cars in Poland I would understand and we could term it “RPN”. That’s how Hewlett Packard (HP) explains one of the settings on its hand held calculators. The acronym stands for “Reverse Polish Notation”.
Third bitch: Cruise control is poorly placed under and close to the turn signal. And to add insult to injury they designed the shape exactly like the turn signal. No wonder they lost the war.
Fourth bitch: the accelerator has an annoying hesitation starting out and this isn’t the turbocharged model.
Now, that being said, these are not killer annoyances. Eventually I would get used to the oddities and of course the rest of the automotive world “Could” be wrong after all and then I’d apologize to the Germans. Until then I’d ask them to consider changing some of these things. British and Italian cars don’t strike me the same so I don’t think it’s a European thing.
Consumer Recommendation:
VW is a reliable car. I’ve been happy with the product generally and understand you can’t be all things to all people. A very old VW Beetle got me through college, I embarked on marriage in a (VW) Carmen Ghia and with a young family we bought a new Bug just because.
Recognized Competition:
VW Eos $28-37,000, Ford Mustang $19-32,000, Pontiac G6 $17-29,000, Volvo C70 $39,090, Mini Cooper $18-25,000, Mitsubishi Eclipse $20-29,000.
Good News:
Not too much to look at in class so it’s an easy search. It is powerfully responsive and handles like a sports car with softer suspension. Nice hard top / convertible design.
Bad News:
Price could be an obstacle.
Standard Equipment:
3.2 liter 250 hp V6 engine, 6-speed front wheel drive automatic transmission, speed variable assist power steering, stability program, anti slip, electronic differential lock, 4-wheel power assist Anti lock disc brakes, front, curtain and side airbags, child anchors, fog lights, auto headlights, LED tail lights, rear head restraints and roll over protection, tire pressure monitoring system, antitheft with immobilizer system, dual zone climate control, cruise control, trip computer with compass and outside temp display, power windows, power heated mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering column, center armrest with storage, intermittent wipers with heated washer nozzles, 12 way power heated front seats, leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel, shift knob and hand brake, leather interior, remote release for trunk and fuel door, remote keyless entry, fully automatic power retractable hard top, large power glass sunroof, 17 inch alloy wheels and in dash CD player MP3 format readable. Options include Navigation system and upgraded sound system.
Gas Stats:
$2.89/ Gal avg. July 31 ‘07
for more information.
22 City and 29 Highway MPG
Pricing:
MSRP $36,850 – With options $40,930.
