Volkswagen Drive: The TSI and DSG Experience with VW Polo, VW Golf and VW Scirocco

Volkswagen Media Drive - Suanie Thanks to Nuffnang, I tagged along for the 1st Volkswagen Media Drive where over 40+ journos and bloggers test drove the Polo, Golf and Scirocco from The Saujana, PJ to Tanjung Jara Resort, Terengganu.

Oh is that you keeling over in jealousy? *pats*

We were separated to a few groups, 3 drivers to a group where we’d take turns at the wheel. They mixed us up which was slightly terrifying as I only knew Robb, Cindy, Joshua and Vernon. There was also this fear of upsetting any elitist motoring journalists who may be pissy that someone like me who doesn’t know much about the technical aspects of cars is stuck with them. How?

To top things off, I was paired with Tian Chad and Donald Cheah, editor of Top Gear Magazine (MY). The former I knew, acquainted with at events and what-not. The latter was… to be honest, intimidating at first sight. So much so that I huddled over to Kenneth, one of the convoy leaders for this trip and asked if Kenneth knew him and if “he ok one or not?”

Volkswagen Media Drive - Event briefing
Event briefing. In this collage: Me, Robb, YS Khong, Ivan Khong, Kenneth Chiew, Vernon

Volkswagen Media Drive - Group photo
Group photo!

The purpose of this trip was to let us experience the new Volkswagen TSI and DSG features in their Polo, Golf and Scirocco. What what what?

TSI: Turbo Stratified Injection, a VW twincharger engine with a turbocharger and a supercharger.
DSG: Direct-Shift Gearbox. Read: What is a DSG transmission, and which Volkswagen has it?

Gosh, I suck at understanding and explaining technical terms. All I know is, they are great features to enabling such speed and power to the cars that we drove, especially the smaller-powered cars like the VW Polo 1.2l. It felt much more than that.

But I’m far from being an esteemed automative blogger like Paul Tan (ahem) so I’ll focus on my experience and the journey.

Volkswagen Media Drive - Polo, Golf, Scirocco Volkswagen Media Drive - Flag off
So many VW, none of which is mine. Oh well, flag-off!

First we had the Volkswagen Polo 1.21l TSI 105PS. The Polo is a VW icon and I would assume that it is one of the most basic VW cars. On the road price is a little less than RM110,000. Read Danny Tan’s technical review here: Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI – our first impressions.

Oh I was supposed to continue my Donald Cheah story. Yes he was okay; a private, pleasant and no-nonsense kind of guy. Found out that he’s passionate about the magazine industry, and that he is not hooked up to neither Twitter nor Facebook by choice.

Volkswagen Media Drive - Tian Chad and Donald Cheah
Tian Chad and Donald

Somewhere near Bkt Tinggi, we had a car swap. Our turn at the Volkswagen Golf 1.4l TSI 160PS, the line of which is one of the best-selling VW models. If I had RM 150,000 to spare, this would be the car that I’d buy, no questions asked. Speedy and responsive but not annoying. Well you know how some cars are like that – touch the brake a little bit and it’d come to an emergency halt. Bleargh. But not the Golf. It’s perfect.

Also maybe because Donald was at the wheel at the extremely zig-zag 20km stretch after the 1st car swap, and gave Tian Chad and I the ride of our lives. Exhilarating and I want to do it again! Read: Paul’s Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI Test Drive Review.

Volkswagen Media Drive - Cindy and Suanie Volkswagen Media Drive - Coffee bar
With Cindy at the 1st car swap stop, and a VW coffee bar at the 2nd car swap stop

Volkswagen Media Drive - camwhoring
Super camwhoring

Volkswagen Media Drive - Beautiful cars
VW on the road

Then our final car, the sporty Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4l TSI 160PS going for about RM 190,000. Compared to the VW Golf, the VW Scirocco is a bit lower and seemed heavier. It’s a lovely ride and most impressive, and the back seat area is ample and spacious. The favourite question of ‘which car would you get?’ came to the Scirocco for Donald (because it’s the most expensive), the Golf for me (because I just loved it, I can’t explain why) and I forgot which one Tian Chad wanted.

Volkswagen Media Drive - Suanie in the Scirocco
Ohai, park my ride!

Arrived at the Tanjung Jara Resort in Terengganu at about 5+pm. Checked in, took photos of the room etc, went for a walk around the resort and the beach. A lovely BBQ dinner was held by the beach with plenty of cocktails, food, songs and stories.

Volkswagen Media Drive - Tanjung Jara Resort Volkswagen Media Drive - Evening dinner set up

Volkswagen Media Drive - Suanie and Robb at dinner Volkswagen Media Drive - BBQ seafood buffet

Volkswagen Media Drive - Liyana Fizi Volkswagen Media Drive - evening serenade

The next morning, most of the journos took out the cars for a ride around town. Me, I had breakfast then had a chat and camwhored with Ivan Khong, my favourite convoy leader!

Volkswagen Media Drive - Suanie with Ivan Khong

The VW folks took care of us extremely well, much thanks! Got on a chartered flight back to PJ with an uneaten tea box in my hand and the VW Golf on my mind 🙂

*Most photos are from the official photog, Eddie. More photos on my Flickr set.

For more information, visit Volkswagen Malaysia at
http://www.volkswagen.com.my

comments

Comments

  1. Oh how I so jealous of you! 😀 So did you realised that the power in the 1.2l Polo felt like that of a 2.0l car?? Handsome looking machines they are and I’m already seeing lots of Sciroccos on the roads.

  2. sigh… I WANT TO PLAY WIF THE CAR TOOO!!!

  3. andymervingeorge: i guess our group had the best order – the Polo then the Golf then only the Scirocco. They are sparkly indeed; if I buy you a Polo will you buy me a Golf? THANKS 😀

    FA: well you know what to do! 😀

  4. envy envy!

  5. I want the Microbus!! AHAHAHAHHHHA!!

  6. ahsiang: are you turning green yet! hahahaha

    Suertes: DAMN COOL RIGHT!! we were WOWing when we pulled up and saw it 😀

  7. Nice write-up Suanie. Awesome trip. Had loads of fun!

  8. the Scirocco looks damn sexy!

  9. Vernon: Haha I was soooo happy to see you there! Another familiar face! 😀

    KY: Of course, it’s sporty and sleek!

  10. You should hv asked to try the Golf GTI – nothing beats the GTI !

  11. ShaolinTiger says

    Yah the Golf has some ridiculous power for a 1.4 car, the new technologies from VW are amazing at the price they can bring them to market for (TSI & DSG are both pretty expensive tech).

  12. Wow… 🙂

  13. Pureglutton: hehehe when the PR manager of VW reads your comment, maybe she’d be persuaded to let me drive it! hahahaha

    ST: I KNOW! someone else was a bit like, har 1.4only but it felt a LOT MORE than that! damn solid

    Sarimin: 😀

  14. Beautiful and economical, then it is necessary.

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