RideLust

In the annals of modern hot-rod design there is no question that Chip Foose is amongst the best in the business. His cars have been featured on television, in magazines, online and at some of the greatest car shows around the world. However, before Foose got into hot-rods he was, get this, a Volkswagen guy. That’s right, he drove a 1985 MkII Golf GTI, a car which he says, was one of his favorites and the car that provided him with much of his early inspiration. I suppose it should come as no surprise as the VW Golf, like the Porsche 911, is one of those rare automobiles that has simply evolved over time. Through the years it’s gotten better and better, and like Chip Foose himself, it’s never lost any of the emotion that the original one set forth all those years ago.

Source: RalfBecker.com

Read More…

Plunking down a bunch of cash for a car is one thing, but digging one out of the dirt and rebuilding it… well, that’s another story entirely. You see there’s an inherent value in resurrecting something that was left for dead. It takes time, effort, ingenuity and know-how; things that most people today simply don’t have enough of. First off you need to look past the rust, dirt and failed mechanics and envision what could be, not what was. You’ve got to be willing to sacrifice on both a personal and financial level and in the end, see your vision through. What you are about to see is step 1 in the process of rebirth for an old Volkswagen single cab pickup that was left to Mother Nature some 45 years ago. Sure it’s going to take time, but in the end I have a feeling that this is one old VW that will get a second lease on life.

Source: Youtube.com

Read More…

The Mark VI Volkswagen GTI was released in 2010, and the car upped the ante for Volkswagen’s entry into the hot hatchback class. Sure, cars like the Subaru WRX and the Mazdaspeed 3 were “faster,” but the GTI brought a level of sophistication with it that the others lacked. If going fast is your only concern, then either the Subie or the Mazda are better choices; if you live in the real world, where occasional track days are punctuated with daily commuting, then the GTI really starts to shine. Read More…

I’ll warn you in advance that the video below may be the strangest car commercial I’ve ever seen. Exactly what a middle-aged exhibitionist has to do with selling the new VW Passat, I have no idea, but VW seems to think it’s a good idea. While I’ll cop to being naked (or partially naked, at least) in a car, I can’t say that I’ve ever been inclined to run errands with nowhere practical to keep my wallet. Read More…

VW's 2010 TDI Cup Street Edition Jetta. Image: Volkswagen

Volkswagen and Audi are recalling certain models equipped with the 2.0-liter TDI turbodiesel engine to repair a potentially leaking high pressure fuel line. Affected by the recall are some 168,275 models, including: Read More…

APR's 34,000 square foot headquarters in Opelika, AL. Image: APR

When it comes to cities with ties to world-class tuners, what comes to mind? If Mercedes is your thing, you’d probably say Affalterbach, Germany, home to AMG. Perhaps you’d say Asaka, Saitama, Japan, home to Mugen, if fast Honda’s are your passion. Closer to home, Livonia, Michigan, home of Roush Performance, may come to mind if you’ve got a penchant for fast Mustangs.

If you’re a Volkswagen or Audi fan, your performance mecca is Opelika, Alabama, home to APR, LLC and one town over from Auburn University. Founder (and Auburn grad) Steven Hooks simply wanted to create a shop where VW and Audi owners could go for repair and tuning services, without fear of getting ripped off. What started as a hobby has grown into a worldwide business that includes both street and track performance for Volkswagen, Skoda, Seat, Audi and Porsche vehicles. Read More…

VW's Bulli concept. Image: Volkswagen

When Volkswagen showed their Bulli microbus concept at last spring’s Geneva Motor Show, the public loved it. It was the perfect blend of modern functionality and retro styling, sized right for the times. The old VW Microbus was significantly larger than the Beetle of the day, but the Bulli concept isn’t. In fact, the Bulli will compete more against VW’s own Golf than against it’s Routan minivan for buyers, but that assumes VW will actually build it. Read More…

Back in 1950 Volkswagen built a stripped down utilitarian vehicle that, unbeknownst to them, would turn into an icon. These vehicles maximized the use of interior space and utilized a 25 hp rear mounted flat-four engine for power that motivated them to a top speed of, get this… 65 mph. The vehicle I speak of is of course the fabled Volkswagen Bus and over the years these family haulers have turned into some of the greatest collectibles around. When released their styling was neither controversial nor ground breaking, in fact it was actually sort of mundane. However during the late 1960′s the VW Bus not only gained a following, but a resurgence in popularity. Since then they’ve become one of the most sought after vehicles with collectors snapping them up every chance they get. The following video is part of the Depth of Speed collection and showcases one owners passion for a his cherry little red wagon.
Read More…

Image: Volkswagen

If you’re shopping for an affordable but entertaining hot hatch, it’s easy to overlook the current VW GTI. On paper, the car only puts out 200 horsepower and 207 foot-pounds of torque. That’s quite a bit less than the rival Mazdaspeed3, which puts down 263 horsepower and 280 ft-lb of torque, or even the Subaru Impreza WRX, which is good for 265 horsepower and 244 ft-lb of torque. Once behind the wheel, it’s easy to see that the GTI is greater than the sum of its parts, but many shoppers don’t even test drive a GTI before moving on to higher-output rivals. Read More…

Now here’s a switch: the latest study from Strategic Vision, which queries owners about the overall ownership experience instead of just problems reported, shows that VW owners are the happiest, followed by Ford. That doesn’t exactly correspond with the latest J.D. Power and Associates rankings, which lists VW in 29th position, out of 32 automakers (only Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Dodge scored lower). Ford didn’t fare all that much better, landing in the 23rd spot, a victim of consumer confusion with their SYNC and MyFord Touch systems. Read More…