CTC Review: 2008 Volkswagene Eos

[airbalancer]

Nah, I was kidding. You're right, -15C is definitely too cold.  The Eos locks out roof operation at temperatures -15C and below to prevent damage to the hydraulic components. 

Coldest I've gone out comfortably is -10C, full sunshine, heater and bun warmers on max, windows up. 

Never done the minus temp, single digits is cold enough for me
It looks I will have the hardtop on the wifes car until mid April

[safristi]

..hardtop till Mid April.................quit braggin'................ya mean April 1st eh!!!!

[cricri1234]

Another thing that I noticed when comparing the eos to a miata is that when driving these cars with the top down there was a lot less wind buffeting for front seat occupants in the eos that there was in the miata. The eos is much more comfortable in this regard. This is compared to my old 1996 miata I don't know if they're any better nowadays but probably not.

[JT816]

I hate how everyone or anyone who writes about any VW product says that interior is "well-made, top-notch, one of the best in the business, looks good, etc." How is this possible? The dashes on all VWs are as simple looking as any cars on the market and they all look super outdated and somewhat cheap in my opinion. The silver or aluminum look in the interior panel looks and feels very plastic and it really does look like something you would expect in a car from about 8-10 years ago and you really have cars under $20,000 which have nicer interiors than this or any other VW.

[The Mighty Duck]

How is this possible... in my opinion.

You answered your own question there.  It's a free country, everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I, for one, love VW's interiors.  Doesn't mean you have to. 

[quadzilla]

I hate how everyone or anyone who writes about any VW product says that interior is "well-made, top-notch, one of the best in the business, looks good, etc." How is this possible? The dashes on all VWs are as simple looking as any cars on the market and they all look super outdated and somewhat cheap in my opinion. The silver or aluminum look in the interior panel looks and feels very plastic and it really does look like something you would expect in a car from about 8-10 years ago and you really have cars under $20,000 which have nicer interiors than this or any other VW.

Considering a lot of people think VW interiors are very good, myself included why don't you give us some examples of cars that you think are better.

[wing]

I don't like all VW interiors but the Eos is gorgeous, very upscale well put together and great feeling.

[ngm]

LOL...depends on what you look for in interiors!  The way you describe it makes it sound like an entry level Dodge product, with hard plastic everywhere.  Not sure which VW you're comparing too, but there are very few hard plastic points in the Eos - it's generally softtouch.  As for the silver look - how many cars do you know have metal interior door handles?  This one does.  On top of that, the silver doesn't have that "coated" feeling like some GM models, where it begins to peel after a year or two.  The only disappointing parts of the interior, for the base model, is the ugly stereo w/ tiny display, plastic visors, and non damped driver side cubby.  However, I'm also curious what interiors JT816 considers superior.

I have the opposite view.  Although I generally like VW interiors (except the ones on the City Golf and the plastic steering wheel you get in base model Jetta's and Rabbit's), what I don't like is that an uplevel Jetta/Rabbit/GTI/Passat/Eos all have almost the identical interior.  Except for the new Tiguan and the Tourreg, looking at purely the dash, it's hard to tell which car you're in.   

[cricri1234]

The fugly stereo with the tiny display is hilarious and really out of place can't agree more with that. You have to wonder who at vw gave it the green light thinking it looked 'good'...

[ngm]

Yeah, I know!  I never got to see my car before it arrived, so I was pretty surprised.  According to my dealership, the fugly stereo is no longer available.  Now you get the one that looks like the uplevel stereo, but without the 6CD changer.

[JT816]

I hate how everyone or anyone who writes about any VW product says that interior is "well-made, top-notch, one of the best in the business, looks good, etc." How is this possible? The dashes on all VWs are as simple looking as any cars on the market and they all look super outdated and somewhat cheap in my opinion. The silver or aluminum look in the interior panel looks and feels very plastic and it really does look like something you would expect in a car from about 8-10 years ago and you really have cars under $20,000 which have nicer interiors than this or any other VW.

Considering a lot of people think VW interiors are very good, myself included why don't you give us some examples of cars that you think are better.

Some examples in line or close to the price range of most VW (GTI/Rabbit, Jetta, Golf, Passat, Touaregs, Eos) which I think are nicer looking, more modern, similar or higher quality, etc. are Acura (TSX, TL, RSX, RDX) Honda (everything except CRV), Infiniti (G35, EX 35), Mercedes (B and C class), Lexus (IS 250/350, ES 350, RX 350), Toyota (everything except RAV4), Volvo (S40/V50), Caddy and the list goes on. Cars/brands which I think are "on par" in terms of both looks and quality are Saab, Audi A3/A4 (same company), BMW (1 and 3 series, so plain and outdated as well)...

[davidm]

I hate how everyone or anyone who writes about any VW product says that interior is "well-made, top-notch, one of the best in the business, looks good, etc." How is this possible? The dashes on all VWs are as simple looking as any cars on the market and they all look super outdated and somewhat cheap in my opinion. The silver or aluminum look in the interior panel looks and feels very plastic and it really does look like something you would expect in a car from about 8-10 years ago and you really have cars under $20,000 which have nicer interiors than this or any other VW.

Considering a lot of people think VW interiors are very good, myself included why don't you give us some examples of cars that you think are better.

Some examples in line or close to the price range of most VW (GTI/Rabbit, Jetta, Golf, Passat, Touaregs, Eos) which I think are nicer looking, more modern, similar or higher quality, etc. are Acura (TSX, TL, RSX, RDX) Honda (everything except CRV), Infiniti (G35, EX 35), Mercedes (B and C class), Lexus (IS 250/350, ES 350, RX 350), Toyota (everything except RAV4), Volvo (S40/V50), Caddy and the list goes on. Cars/brands which I think are "on par" in terms of both looks and quality are Saab, Audi A3/A4 (same company), BMW (1 and 3 series, so plain and outdated as well)...

This is all of course just taste, but you like what I call "goo-gahs".  Generally speaking, Japanese interiors vs the more austere Euro interiors (which I happen to prefer).  I love BMW interiors and am a fan of Audi and the good VW intereriors.  The S40/40 is interesting that you like it - it's a classic Euro interior with that gimicky center console that I found hopeless to use (had a V50 for awhile when the XC70 was in the shop).

This is all just taste.  For me, I loathe Honda and Toyota interiors (so desperately trying to look futuristic), to each his or her own.

[The Mighty Duck]

It's interesting you don't like Audi's interior much, since they're often the standard against which other interiors are measured.  I guess it does just come down to taste.

I'm a fan of the more European-flavoured interiors...  adore the new CTS inside. 

[wing]

But he just listed car for the most part that are WAY over the price of the VW's.... The EOS starts at $35, the Golf starts at 16, his list all start in the 35k range....

[lucid0703]

I hate how everyone or anyone who writes about any VW product says that interior is "well-made, top-notch, one of the best in the business, looks good, etc." How is this possible? The dashes on all VWs are as simple looking as any cars on the market and they all look super outdated and somewhat cheap in my opinion. The silver or aluminum look in the interior panel looks and feels very plastic and it really does look like something you would expect in a car from about 8-10 years ago and you really have cars under $20,000 which have nicer interiors than this or any other VW.

Considering a lot of people think VW interiors are very good, myself included why don't you give us some examples of cars that you think are better.

Some examples in line or close to the price range of most VW (GTI/Rabbit, Jetta, Golf, Passat, Touaregs, Eos) which I think are nicer looking, more modern, similar or higher quality, etc. are Acura (TSX, TL, RSX, RDX) Honda (everything except CRV), Infiniti (G35, EX 35), Mercedes (B and C class), Lexus (IS 250/350, ES 350, RX 350), Toyota (everything except RAV4), Volvo (S40/V50), Caddy and the list goes on. Cars/brands which I think are "on par" in terms of both looks and quality are Saab, Audi A3/A4 (same company), BMW (1 and 3 series, so plain and outdated as well)...

Hmm, very different from my opinion.
I guess this is really a matter of personal taste.
But then, you mentioned that "EVERYONE/ANYONE who writes about ANY VW product says that interior is well-made, top-notch, one of the best in the business"..
Also, the only real competitors to VW in your list are actually only Honda and Toyota.
What Lexus model competes with VW in the same price range? IS250? Come on..Jetta starts at $22K.

[mmret]

It's interesting you don't like Audi's interior much, since they're often the standard against which other interiors are measured.  I guess it does just come down to taste.

I'm a fan of the more European-flavoured interiors...  adore the new CTS inside. 

I think one needs to be a left-brain type to really like the Audi interiors. At first glance they can look somewhat stoic.

[ngm]

Well, that's why there's a market for everyone - people like different things.  I personally disagree with JT816's list.  Wing does make a good point as well - most of his prefs are entry-level lux to luxury brands, all starting where the Eos is, whereas VW's range tops out with the Eos and Tourreg.  Let's be realistic here - the premium you're paying IS for the top when you get an Eos, not the interior - that's why it's not an Audi.

As for the Honda's/Toyota's you mention, I have the opposite opinion.  I've driven the latest Camry and found the interior had too much hard plastic with 80s style illumination and the new Accord too button-y.  Both have plastic interior door handles, which is pet peeve of mine.  In fact, even the more expensive Lexus and Acura models have that - RX, TSX, etc.  Guess it depends on the styling you like.

I dislike BMW interiors as well though - too stark for me.   

[sirAQUAMAN64]

  What a great well-rounded vehicle, and one hellava bargain.

Sometimes I think about compromising my logical-yet-boring vehicle-must-be-versatile-mind and buying one of these. Think if I had purchased the Eos instead of the GTI I wouldn't have sold it... not that anything was wrong with the GTI but there were a few things I would have liked slightly different.

[safristi]

I think "Audi/VW interiors are ACES".....has become a staple of Review WRITERS
 kind of like "The VETTE motor pushed all my buttons"....."The Bentley's CONNELLY leather ....."....."Falls readily to hand!!!"........."CVT trannies give me the willies"....."As I wrung it out on the twisties ".............."the Manufacturers goody bags and free "everything" hic.....didn't affect my objective (Oy where's my Lobster Garcon) opinion"...................Euro dashes are OK..but nothing to write home about...the Passat i test drove a few years ago was OKAY..but the glove compartment door kept crashing open on the test drive.....Euros NEED TO FIX THE "LITTLE" to them stuff........windows that work,electrics that don't leave ya "GROUNDED" and AYE DRIVE gizmos left to LEXUS who do them RIGHT the FIRST TIME....

[articsteve]

Being a VW product ASSUME numerous part failures. 

some warranty problems and with 470 parts in the roof alone,

Out of full VW bumper to bumper warranty .......