Back To School Shopping? Put the Golf On Your List

It's that time of the year again. The kids are back in school and Fall semester has officially begun. Unless you live on campus or attend boarding school, driving is probably inevitable. Whether you're one of the thousands that commuters at George Mason University, a new high school driver, or you venture to Target and Ikea on the weekends from University of Maryland, new wheels could be on your back to school supply list this year. Here are a few selections from our line up that I believe are straight A's.

A Golf For Your After School Activities

(Pure White 2015 Golf TSI SE at Stohlman)

The redesigned 2015 Golf is everything we've been hyping it up to be. Bigger, sleeker, faster, and more efficient. Perfect for any star student. With the new 1.8L TSI as the standard base engine, fuel efficiency has increased almost 15% from last year, with an estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg city/ 36 mpg highway. Not to mention, premium is not required for the new 1.8L T. That's right, Volkswagen actually recommends 87 octane rating for this new turbo charged engine, so don't feel shy about filling her up! And for those long commuters who'd prefer to go the clean diesel route with our 2.0L TDI engine, you can accelerate faster past fuel stations with the 236 lb ft/tq it's equipped with and the estimated fuel economy of 31 mpg city/ 42 mpg highway. 

(Photo courtesy of VWoA)

The redesigned Golf has definitely grown as well. It's gotten a little bit longer, a tad wider, giving the Golf a bit more room for you and your passengers to get comfortable. But the cargo room is where it's at. Increasing from 15.2 to 22.8 cu/ft, and up to 52.7 cu/ft with the seats down, you shouldn't have too many issues hauling your cello, hockey equipment, or that volcano science project after class.

(IIHS Results for 2015 Golf courtesy of iihs.org)

The 2015 Golf is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. The IIHS is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an independent nonprofit scientific and educational organization. Based in Arlington, VA, the IIHS can only test 50-70 vehicles a year, selections being based on various factors including model year redesigns/refreshing. Manufacturers have the right to request crash tests (at the manufacturer's expense) as well. Since the Golf was redesigned this year, it was selected to be tested for 2014, and passed with flying colors. The 2015 Golf and GTI were both selected as a Top Safety Pick+ for 2014. With its good looks, smart features, and a base price of $17,995 (Price excludes transportation, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges), I'd say the Golf is a safe bet for Class President.

For When Your Children Can't Drive Themselves

(Photo courtesy of VWoA)

If the kids haven't left the nest yet, pick up and drop offs are probably a big part of your weekly schedule. From packing lunches to making costumes for the drama club's production of Grease, you do a lot for your children. Why not do something for yourself, and get a car you'll enjoy for when you pick them up from their Model UN meeting. Enter the Volkswagen Passat. It has timeless lines, curb appeal, and a comfortable interior. Options like a Fender Premium Audio System, a wood inlay, and dual leather/suede combination seats, the Passat can offer those little luxuries you long for. The Passat has several engine options including the 2.0L TDI clean diesel engine, 1.8L TSI gas engine, or the naturally aspirated V6. The Passat also offers one of the biggest rear leg rooms in its class, and an astonishing trunk size of 15.9 sq/ft for all their soccer balls, trumpets, and textbooks. The Passat is also a IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2014, and has won countless accolades since its redesign debut for 2012. If the critics love it, why shouldn't we? 

(So much room for activities - Photo courtesy of VWoA)

Honorable Mentions

The Jetta and Tiguan receive an honorable mention since they are both very great options for back to school. Several factors preventing me from selecting them as the #1 & 2 pick include the inevitable 2015 Jetta refresh that's due to hit the market any day now. The Jetta has been a top seller for the Volkswagen brand in the US market since its debut, and we don't imagine that it'll slow down any time soon. A popular choice amongst folks in all age groups, the Jetta is always a reliable choice for a great commuter car, and has been a Top Safety Pick since 2009. The Jetta's 2.5L naturally aspirated engine has already been replaced with the new 1.8L TSI. This improvement makes the Jetta feel zippier while it sips on the gas tank. Once the refresh hits dealerships, I have a strong feeling that the Jetta will rise to become a top pick.

The Tiguan has been a Top Safety Pick since its debut in 2009. This compact crossover SUV brings a little bit of everything to the table. Size, style, luxury, performance, safety, and comfort. The only one on my list with its final assembly point being in Germany, the starting price of the Tiguan is a tad higher than the rest of group, with a MSRP starting price at $23,305 (Price excludes transportation, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges). That being said, the Tiguan is a genuinely fun, yet safe vehicle. The IIHS conducts a roof strength test for instances of rollovers, and the Tiguan was one of the top performers in this test from the beginning. The following video showcases the roof strength test, and solidifies why I drive Volkswagens now, and will for life.

Let us know what what vehicle you think deserves to be on our honor roll this semester by tweeting us @stohlmanauto. Until next time!

Esther Cho

VW Product Specialist

@esther_ch5

Germany FTW! and MLS Legend Loves VW

Before the holiday, we discussed Volkswagen's connection to the world's sport, soccer. Although the United States was knocked out of the FIFA World Cup tournament in the round 16, their defeat wasn't an easy feat for the Belgium National Team. Tim Howard showed us an amazing performance, even getting himself briefly named as Secretary of Defense of the United States on Wikipedia. I would have loved to see the Howard edit up until the end of the tournament, no offense of course to the actual Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, but unfortunately Wikipedia didn't deem it as an acceptable statement. The big story however comes from the motherland of Volkswagen Group. Germany had a stunning game against Brazil yesterday, practically massacring the host nation with a 7-1 win. The German National Team broke all sorts of records, including scoring 5 goals in the first 29 minutes. Jaw-dropping. Germany will be playing in the World Cup final game on Sunday versus either the Netherlands or Argentina, who will be facing off this afternoon at 4pm EST. I'd say it's safe to assume that most of us at Stohlman VW will be rooting for "zee Germans". Plus there's internet rumors swirling that everyone affiliated with Volkswagen Group will get a raise if Germany wins the World Cup. Fingers crossed, folks.

In related news, Volkswagen sponsored the Philadelphia Regional Junior Masters tournament in Lehigh Valley a few weeks ago. The kids showed an amazing amount of talent and teamwork in the beating hot sun, which wasn't unnoticed by special guest, MLS legend, John Harkes. A resident of Northern Virginia, Harkes was a former player for the New England Revolution, Columbus Crew, and our very own home team, winning two MLS Cups with DC United. He was also a member of the #USMNT (U.S. Men's National Team), appearing in the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups. Harkes recently was given a TDI Touareg by VWoA, and with it he drove up to the Philadelphia area to meet fans and the young players at the tournament, providing great insight to the kids about fine tuning their game. 

(John and I with his 2014 Touareg TDI)

Harkes took some time with me at the tournament to discuss his thoughts on his new whip. As a current Audi A6 owner, he felt that the Touareg was "comparable in quality and feel" to our cousin company's fit and finish. But that's not what really impressed John. "It's just like the commercials, I can just keep driving past gas stations without having to refuel.. The mileage is remarkable." Harkes also discussed how he remembered driving diesels when he played in England. He praised our diesels for how far along they've have come, from how quiet the Touareg's engine is, to the great performance thanks to the 406 lb-ft of torque. Harkes had been driving the Touareg TDI for about a month when we spoke, and he was in love and sold on the brand. We even discussed the possibility of him getting a Jetta for his son in the future. 

Mr. Harkes also took the time to throw a shout out to Stohlman VW, showing his appreciation for the great men and women that set Stohlman apart from the rest. We're fans of you too, John. Thanks for truly being an amazing individual on and off the field. 

Tweet us with your predictions for the final game this weekend @stohlmanauto. Until next time!

Esther Cho

VW Product Specialist

@esther_ch5

Every Day Is A Top Down Day - VW Eos and Beetle Convertible

The weather has finally broke in Northern Virginia. This means busting out the kayaks, firing up those grilles, and dropping the top on those convertibles! If you're looking for an affordable but fun German drop top to be the perfect daily driver this Spring, there’s two great options available right now on the Stohlman VW lot.

An All Season Round Convertible?

I grew up in a very magical land, where our professional sports teams haven’t won a championship since 1964 and it snows more than it shines. While growing up in beautiful Cleveland, Ohio, convertible tops opened on average a couple months out of the year, so sacrificing my sunroof to get a few good convertible days here and there was just not an option for me. Cue the VW Eos. The Eos was debuted in North America at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in 2006, and went on sale shortly afterward. The name comes from Greek mythology - Eos, the goddess of the dawn. Besides its beautiful and unique exterior, what makes the Eos special is its roof. The hardtop roof incorporates a five piece folding system, and get this…… a sliding glass sunroof. Boom. It’s the only convertible in it’s class with this fantastic feature, which in my opinion makes it the only hardtop convertible looking at. Besides this amazing roof, the Eos sports a 2.0L Turbo charged engine, same engine you’d find in a 2014 GTI. It is a little slower than a GTI since it’s around 300 lbs heavier, but that extra weight when the top is down gives the vehicle great overall balance, making the Eos extremely fun on windy roads like Skyline Drive. MSRP starts around $36k, and it is not equipped like a normal base model either. The Komfort (base trim) model is equipped with things like 17” Michigan alloy wheels, the RNS 315 touchscreen navigation system, Car-Net, Bluetooth with audio streaming, Climatronic dual-zone electronic climate control with pollen filter, and Halogen reflector lens fog lights with low-speed corner-illuminating feature. Pretty loaded for a base model, wouldn’t you say?

An Icon With a Twist

In love with the Beetle? Want a convertible? Who said you can’t have it all? The Beetle Convertible was released in the winter of 2012. Releasing a convertible in the winter? Isn’t that a little weird? Not when you have a commercial to tie in with the release like this.

The Beetle Convertible maintains the curvature of a Beetle coupe, but sports a gorgeous Black or Beige soft top. Just like its coupe counterpart, the Beetle Convertible has 3 engine options, including the new 1.8L Turbo charged engine and our 2.0L Turbo charged Clean Diesel engine. (Yes, the Beetle Convertible TDI is part of the great TDI Event incentives being offered till April 30th.) As if the Beetle Convertible wasn’t unique already, when you get an R-Line with Sound & Nav, you get extra interior options with specific exterior colors like Blue/Black or Red/Black dual colored leather seating surfaces. Do you like your beats down low and your top let back (Rapper T.I. reference)? Then with the Sound and Nav trim, you can achieve this with our Fender Premium Audio System. This system creates a concert like experience for you, and is equipped with a Fender subwoofer to give you that bass. The Beetle Convertible offers fun, uniqueness, and practicality into one cool Bug, and with a starting MSRP just above $25k, what's not to love? 

Don’t spend another season just settling with a sunroof. Head into Stohlman this weekend and test drive that Eos or Beetle Convertible you’ve always wanted, and start chasing the sun. Tweet us @stohlmanauto. Until next time!

Esther Cho

VW Product Specialist

@esther_ch5