Hi guys,
Just thought I'd share my pics of my new Eos - although I don't post very much here, I've learned lots just from lurking and reading discussions. This is a copy of a post I made to VWVortex; hopefully it'll help any future convertible buyers!
A (Hopefully) Helpful Guide to Canadian Spec 2.0T Base (options: DSG and 18” wheels)
BackgroundHello forum members! I thought I would do a little blurb / review on my base 2.0T since I find information for the base model difficult to find. Most reviews I read focus on the uplevel models. It’s even tougher to find Canadian specific information. And because supply in Canada is limited, generally the versions you see in showrooms are the uplevel models.
If the moderators would like this posted under the Canadian thread instead, please feel free to move it. Be forewarned - this review is long...
IntroThe Canadian spec 2.0T base appears to be essentially a US Base model with some US 2.0T features added. Canadians do not get the following features standard on their 2.0T compared to the US:
- CLIMATRONIC (Climatic instead)
- Full MFD (Half-height MFD instead – grrr, no compass!)
- 12-way power seat (manual seats instead)
- Rear windblocker (not std, must be ordered separately)
However, base 2.0T Canadian models get the following standard:
- Homelink (US gets this on 3.2 model as std)
- 17” Lemans wheels (US has 16” wheels std)
Note that Canadian models do not have PODS or TPMS. :sly:
I can’t be totally clear on the next step up for the Eos, as I do not have a loaded Canadian model (according to my salesman, base models are far and few between – most Cdn orders are with the Lux/Sports package option). However, a quick view of the spec sheet off VW.ca shows that going with the $4000 Lux/Sport Package gets you:
- Diversity Antennae
- Automatic headlights
- Rain sensing wipers
- CLIMATRONIC
- Full MFD (w/ compass, fuel econ reading, etc.)
- 6 CD Changer w/ steering wheel controls
- Power driver seat w/ easy entry
- Leather seats
- Sport Suspension
- Paddles if you get DSG
Separate options include:
- PDC
- Rear Windblocker
- DSG
- 18” Samarkand Wheels
- Ski-bag
My salesman indicated that no changes were made for 2008 Cdn Eos models. I’m not sure his information is 100% confirmed or accurate though.
As you might have understood by now, I ordered a base 2.0T, with the only options being the 18” wheels and DSG.
Exterior / WalkaroundI find generally, pictures do not do the Eos justice. Although it could be sleeker looking from a side profile, the overall look of the Eos is slick and quite appealing in person. However, it is not extroverted and the styling is subtle, which I prefer. Louder designs tend to have bigger immediate impact, but tend to look old after a few years, being regarded merely as a trendy design of the time.
I was worried that the Silver I ordered would be look almost identical to my silver Jeep, however, once my Eos arrived, my worries were alleviated. The Silver Essence color has a lint blue tint to it and looks unique…for a silver color.
The exterior fit and finish of my Eos is pretty good. Hood was aligned, seals properly lubricated, and no phantom window operation. The only slight issue is that the trunk is misaligned, resulting in a larger gap on the driver side versus the passenger. But that’s really nitpicking. :rolleyes:
Road TestDrivetrain Performance:The 2.0T is quite peppy with DSG. Although the Eos outweighs the GTI by a few hundred pounds, the engine does not feel underpowered at all. It is quite easy to spin the wheels when accelerating from a stop (too bad there’s no 4Motion for the Eos). Although turbo lag with the 2.0T is minimal, stop and go traffic can become a bit annoying as the power delivery is not perfectly linear at lower revs. However, overall, this engine is both civilized and sporty at the same time. It definitely feels much quicker than it’s 200 hp rating and is not underpowered for this vehicle (almost makes the 3.2, which is not available here, seem frivolous at times…). Passing power is available at almost any range. Fuel economy has not been great; however, I have not passed the break in period yet and will wait until then to pass judgment.
Handling:The Eos definitely feels solid. This is the first German vehicle I’ve actually owned and I now finally understand why people still prefer the feel of German vehicles. I’d driven other German cars and VW’s before; however, after living with this vehicle for a few days and then hopping back into my other cars, the difference is significant. Although the base Eos is geared more toward comfort, it can handle the twisties just fine, top up or down. Top down, I have not noticed cowl shake. However, the vehicle does exhibit understeer at limits and does show its weight in low speed maneuvers. For those wondering, the 18” wheels are great! I was worried that the ride would be super rough, especially on those crappy Edmonton roads, but I was wrong. Within reason, the suspension and wheels absorb bumps easily without any jarring. This might be different, had I got the sport suspension.
Top up versus Top down:Top up the car does not feel like a convertible – in most other convertibles, I feel claustrophobic, since the top tends to be quite confining the rear window tiny. In the Eos, the sunroof really opens things up. Generally, I am used to driving much larger vehicles and with the sunroof, this vehicle feels quite spacious. In addition, with the top up, it doesn’t feel like a convertible, but more like a normal coupe. Wind and road noise is well isolated. Engine noise is not objectionable, but noticeable. The only issue I have had so far is that there is weird clinking sound rear of the driver side. Not sure what it is, but I am trying to isolate it.
Top down, this car is amazing fun. The windshield is not an angle where you bump your face when you’re getting in (like the Pontiac G6). Wind noise / buffeting in the driver area is manageable, even without a rear windblocker. Holding down the button to open / close the top can be annoying. I also had the metal screeching sound that chris2.0tdsg had – thankfully, his fix also worked for me. Thanks Chris!
InteriorFit and finish of the interior is excellent. However, there is no silver trim across the dashboard, as I expected, since most pictures of Eos’ interiors have it. Instead, there is a graphite colored strip across the dash and along the doors. Subtle German touches, such as ambient lighting over the gearshift, backlit switches (all of them), and exterior side-mirror lighting are all appreciated. Oddly though, footwell lighting is listed as standard, but does not exist on my Eos. :confused: In addition, the only really cheap feeling piece is the driver side cubby under the headlight switch. The opening motion of the cubby is not damped, it isn't lined, and has a bit of a rough edge.
In the Driver’s Seat:Driving position is excellent, with all controls within reach. Steering wheel controls are not missed. Visibility is great from all directions, except looking at the rear. The rear decklid is high and C-pillar is quite large. As a result, shoulder checking and backing up can be a bit unnerving – you do get used to it though, but it requires you to be extra careful. If I could have PDC with the base model, I would have. I often find myself wondering if I have enough space to open the top.
Only the speedo and tach are silver trimmed; oil temp and fuel are not in the base model. The full MFD is one feature I wish I had, since it gives you error messages indicating what’s wrong, instead of just error lights. The dash dimmer doesn’t seem to dim my half MFD enough, since it still seems too bright to me at night.
The leather wrapped steering wheel has a great feel to it and the centre armrest is one of the most comfortable I’ve ever used. Gearshift is close at hand and switching to manual mode is simple. Paddle shifters are not missed; normally I use Drive mode and switch to Sport when the extra performance is needed. Manual mode is for when I get bored.
Misc Equipment:The standard Leatherette seats are supportive and comfortable. No one yet has been able to tell that they aren’t real leather. Entry to the rear is still easy with the manual latch, which still remembers the seat position after you’ve shifted to seat to allow rear passengers. Seat heaters work well and the heated area extends quite high up the back seat (almost to my shoulder blades).
Climatronic is not missed. I’m the type that fiddles with the heat settings, regardless if it’s automatic or not. Automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers aren’t missed either. However, the wipers themselves work exceptionally well, even at highway speeds.
Stereo Evaluation:Ah, a review of the standard AM/FM/CD/MP3 radio. So many wonder if it’s good “enough.” Well, I consider myself a bit of an audiophile, since I love home theatre and have a higher level system in my other vehicles.
The performance of this system sounds better than expected. At lower volumes, it offers a pleasant listening experience. Bass is slightly muddy, but mid-range and highs are clear. At higher volumes, there is distortion. However, if you had the top down, this wouldn’t be very noticeable, due to the wind noise.
The head unit is ugly. European models come with the RCD300, which looks like the RCD500 (the uplevel model available here that has the 6CD changer) except with a single CD, which is average looking. However, the base model head that we get here has a tiny display and huge buttons. On the plus side, they are easy to use with gloves on. On the down side, the buttons are just too large and the display too small to be attractive. However, all buttons, including the tuning / volume control knobs are backlit, which is good.
FM reception is not great. Not sure if this is because I don’t have the diversity antenna. Reception is generally weak unless in a wide open area in the city. Otherwise, static intrudes on the FM signal. I would attribute this mainly to the base model’s antenna design, since there is no external antenna or “shark fin” common on other brands – it is possible the diversity antenna would improve things (I wish I remembered more from my RF communications course in school…). AM reception is average.
CD player works as advertised. No big surprises here. However, the MP3 feature did contain a few surprises. On the plus side, it plays almost any brand of CD. On the down side, the “mix” button doesn’t actually randomize the tracks. It has a preprogrammed “random” track list. It’s really annoying, as it will play tracks 140, then a few in the 130 range, then a few in the 40 range, then the 60 range, etc. ALL THE TIME. Basically, it skips out on a huge number of songs. This preprogrammed list then cycles again, after about 15 songs. It is super annoying.
Had the DynAudio system been available here in Canada as a separate option, I would have considered it. However, I would like to reemphasize that the radio is quite good for a base system in terms of audio quality. Feature wise, it's not so great, especially it's MP3 capabilities.
Space and Comfort:Headroom is great in the front, especially with the sunshade open. Center armrest is super comfortable, but I find the door armrest to be a bit low. Rear headroom is tight with the top up, but generally anyone under 5’6” will fit comfortably. Most that sit in the rear comment that they feel like the seat is “cupping” them and were quite happy back there. Those bigger than 5’6” normally find the seat okay, but the lack of shoulder room annoying. However, when you’re the one driving, all that stuff doesn’t matter…
SummaryHad I been able to spec my Eos to exactly what I wanted, at minimum, I would have ordered the base w/ DSG, 18" Samarkands, silver dash trim, Full MFD, and PDC. But as is, I can live with this. :cool:
But life is short – drive what you like! As a value prospect, the Eos comes in cheaper than a Volvo C70, but with better handling dynamics and a better engine (how can 5 cylinders in the Volvo only make 215 hp?). The Eos is more expensive than the Pontiac G6, but the Eos is in a different league when comparing drivetrain and interior fit and finish. In addition, the G6 has no trunk space with the top down. And compared to the BMW 335i hardtop, the Eos is cheaper and has a sunroof. However, the 335i handles better and is faster in a straight line. The Toyota Solara is more comfortable when seating 4 adults, but the soft top is not appealing to me. All in all, I’m super happy with this purchase – hopefully it will be reliable and provide years of enjoyment. =)
Thanks for reading,
Mike
