The Volkswagen Beetle is a famous car that looks very unique with its round shape. It was designed a long time ago and is known as the 'people's car' because it was made for everyone to drive.
The drag coefficient tells us how easily a car can move through the air. A lower number means the car is more streamlined and uses less fuel when driving fast.
The Volkswagen Golf is a small car that many people like because it's easy to drive and has a lot of space inside. It's known for being fun to drive and reliable.
The Karmann Ghia is a vintage car made by Volkswagen that looks sporty and elegant. It was first introduced in 1955 and is loved for its unique design.
The Hudson Hornet is an old car from the 1950s that people love for its unique look and strong engine. It's often mentioned because it's a classic and has a lot of history.
The Volkswagen Eos is a small car that can turn into a convertible, meaning you can take the roof off. It's talked about because it's stylish and fun to drive.
The Volkswagen Rabbit is a small car that came out in 1974. It was popular for being practical and could even be bought as a convertible, which means the top could be opened like a convertible car.
The Volkswagen Bus is a classic van that people loved in the 1960s for its fun design and roomy interior. It's often mentioned because it has a lot of history and is still popular today.
The Volkswagen Golf R is a sportier version of the regular Golf. It has more power and better handling, making it fun to drive while still being practical for everyday use.
The Pontiac GTO is a powerful car that was popular in the 2000s. It has a big engine that makes it fast, and it's part of the muscle car category, which means it's designed for performance.
The LS2 is a type of engine made by General Motors. It's a V8 engine, which means it has eight cylinders, and it's known for being powerful and reliable, making cars faster.
The Volkswagen Golf R32 is a sportier version of the regular Golf. It's known for being fast and fun to drive, making it popular among car enthusiasts.
The Nissan Skyline is a cool sports car that became famous for its speed and technology. It's often mentioned because it's loved by car enthusiasts and has a strong racing history.
The Volkswagen R32 is a special version of the Golf that is designed for better performance. It has a powerful engine and can handle different driving conditions well, making it fun to drive.
The VR6 engine is a special kind of six-cylinder engine made by Volkswagen. It's designed to be smaller and lighter while still providing a lot of power, making it great for sporty cars.
Four-motion all-wheel drive means that power goes to all four wheels of the car, not just the front or back. This helps the car grip the road better, especially in bad weather or on rough surfaces.
A manual transmission is a type of car gearbox that you have to shift yourself using a stick and a pedal. It gives you more control over how the car drives compared to an automatic transmission, which shifts gears for you.
The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is a performance version of the Jetta, which is a compact car. It has a more powerful engine and better handling, making it more fun to drive than the regular Jetta.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a sportier version of the regular Golf, designed for better performance and handling. It's a favorite among car enthusiasts because it's fun to drive and still practical for everyday use.
Car
Volkswagen GLI
The Volkswagen GLI is a sportier version of the Jetta, designed for people who want a more fun driving experience. It often has better performance features and can come with a manual transmission for more control.
The Volkswagen GTI is a sportier version of the Golf, designed for people who want a fun and fast car. It has a powerful engine and handles well, making it a favorite among car lovers.
The Jeep Wrangler is a tough vehicle made for off-roading. It's known for its ability to handle rough terrain and is a favorite for people who like outdoor adventures.
Diesel is a kind of fuel that some cars use. Cars that run on diesel often get better mileage, meaning they can go further on a gallon of fuel compared to regular gasoline cars.
The Volkswagen Passat is a medium-sized car that's roomy and comfortable, making it a good choice for families. It's often talked about because it's reliable and affordable.
'Cheat codes' in cars means using tricks or software changes to make a car seem cleaner than it actually is, especially during tests. This became a big issue for some car companies.
Emissions are the gases and pollutants that cars release into the air when they run. There are rules to keep these emissions low so that the air stays clean and healthy.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a very fancy car that's known for being super comfortable and full of the latest technology. People often talk about it because it's one of the best luxury cars you can buy.
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a small SUV that's great for families because it has a lot of space inside. It's popular for being comfortable and easy to drive.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a new electric van that looks like the old VW buses from the past. It's exciting because it's environmentally friendly and has a fun design.
The BMW 7 Series is a high-end car that offers a smooth ride and lots of fancy features. It's often mentioned because it's one of the top choices for luxury sedans.
The Audi S8 is a fancy car that goes really fast while still being super comfortable. It's talked about because it offers the best of both worlds: luxury and performance.
The Cadillac V16 is a very rare and fancy car from the 1930s that had a huge 16-cylinder engine. It's talked about because it was one of the most luxurious cars of its time.
The Tesla Semi is a big electric truck that Tesla made for transporting goods. It's important because it could change how we think about trucking and the environment.
The Ford Model T is an old car from the early 1900s that changed how cars were made and sold. It's important because it made cars affordable for many people and changed transportation forever.
LIVE
And yes, I know what the listener is thinking like we just have an affiliation to our the pirate thing
Lifeless cars
Yes
Well shall we
Yes, let's let's jump right into it. Let's get some diving in the Volkswagen
That's right, Brendan. Yes. Well, if you didn't already catch that there's welcome back to the life plus cars community out there
We are talking about
Volkswagen today. This is a follow-up to our deep dive that we took on
Volvo not too long ago
So check that episode out if you haven't and we're going to do something similar here today where we
Jump in and look at VW. It's history favorite cars notable cars where they are now. Where are they going?
I'm excited to take a dive here, Brendan. Yes, that's good. We're going to talk about
The people's car. That's right name Volkswagen. I'm happy that we're gonna talk about Volkswagen
I've owned a couple of them over the years
I think the most notable one would be as I've talked about before on different episodes is jitters are
Jetta GL5. Oh, I was hoping you'd bring up jitters. Yeah. Oh, yeah
I mean, that was a great car like that
Served us kids great through high school and into college and we've got to love the Volkswagen's
You know to start things off, right? I mean, they've been around for a long time, right? So, I mean, yes
You're founded in
1937 and
German and
They they did they literally came up with the name
Volkswagen as the people's car if I recall correctly you you have man with this
He was a Ferdinand Porsche designed the original beetle the original beetle. Yes. Yes, or Ferdinand Porsche
Yeah, we ended up with the beetle which that is a fantastic place to start with talking about Volkswagen
Because we've talked before about some of the most recognizable cars in the world
Right. Oh my gosh. Yeah, I can't iconic. Well, like you can say like the 6566 Mustang is an icon
Because almost anyone in the world if you showed them a picture of that would know that's a Ford Mustang
It's the exact same thing with the beetle if not more so that if you show anyone a Volkswagen Beetle
Whether it's from the 60s or it's a new one. Yeah, they know that's a beetle like they know that
I mean, that's amazing that speaks volumes about marketing and branding all in and of itself
And I mean, it's it's the beetle really took off
Because Volkswagen designed this car and granted it was an air-cooled
You know motorcycle engine basically in the back of car. They were super reliable
They were inexpensive
Right and yeah, they just they went forever. They went forever. They're so simple. Yeah cute simple little car
And others like read how the American
Car makers just could not figure out the popularity of this beetle because it was so weird compared to anything else that was being made of
Like wait a minute the engines in the back like like people were just baffled
And so much of the marketing was around like it just was about embracing the quirkiness of like yeah
We're aware of like this is not really a handsome car. Like it's it's like it's it's a little bit. It's kind of like an insect
It has the design that it has
Is they actually used a wind tunnel to design it back in the what late 20s and like early 30s
That's why it has all the slopes and everything is because they tried to make it with this super efficient car
And that's what it came out to be which because no one was doing that at the time
No one cared about drag coefficients or being efficient. No one cared about that. But obviously the Germans
Right. Well, yes, they they're known for their just that the ability to over engineer
Their vehicles and everything in it. Yeah
And the fact that putting the engine in the back to help maintain the yeah that
There was such a like a balanced little car. It is such an icon. I mean globally like just you see it
As you said, I mean you show somebody the silhouette of a beetle
they know right away what it is
And that was very much a curated effort on and particularly like the marketing of the beetle and how it's like the lovable bug
and yeah, we
Could talk at length just of the beetle itself
Yes, absolutely. And it is. I mean, I still see them today and I go it's just yep
Like there goes a beetle and you know, what's amazing is I just I have to tip my hat towards
I have the listener knows I'm six six. I'm a big man and I fit in beetles very well
I think that rear engine at least on the older ones makes a big difference for leg room
There's so spacious. Yeah, like I'll never forget like, you know, we talk about the the bradigans beetle you learn to drive on
That's right that car
Like I have to move the seat forward just a little bit from like the full back position
To actually like be able to push the clutch in all the way and everything. It's like that to me. That's amazing
There's no other car. I've been in that. I have to do that with like that's crazy
It is when you think about the scale of it and it's a small car yet you get in and
I keep thinking about like I'm picturing the
Marketing it looks like a schematic and it has four like grown like grown adults
Positioned in the car and they're like look how comfortable we are. I'm like, oh, yeah, you can actually fit four
Full grown adults in the car. Oh, yeah
I think that was another huge selling point that yeah that you could like you could take the whole family with this car
Oh, yeah clowns all over the world rejoiced
Yeah
It was the new era of clown cars
Yep
Yep, they're still used today's clown cars. Good old beetles. Good old beetle
I don't think I've driven one of the new ones. But it's what's the last one you drove. Was it the bradigans? No
I have so I've driven a couple of the new beetles
this was
When I was in college and I was a part of like campus activities board and we helped to organize the homecoming parade
And our little our little logo was what looked like a little beetle. So cab like car
Um, and anyway, so it was a red logo. So we went to the local ports with the or and they lent us a beetle
Turbo and this was my like bright red hard top beetle turbo car that I got to drive in the parade
And that thing was fun. Oh my gosh. So I mean granted going parade speed
And then but got to drive back to the dealership after the fact and got to enjoy it
So properly quick little car, um, especially with that two liter turbo. That was my last beetle experience
Interesting. Nice. Yeah, I for me. It was I drove a 2016 beetle R line friend of mine
Eric was looking at buying a Volkswagen and he was looking at a golf and they had one of those and so we test drove it
I was that wasn't super wowed, but it was a nice car. That one was an automatic
Yeah, I remember the year prior was which we actually had a turbo beetle convertible
Which was a six speed and remember we had to find
Somebody in the in the group that could drive a stick because at that point I was not confident enough to
Take on a brand new transmission there. So
Yeah, but I remember oh man, I wish that looked so much fun if I only known
Yeah, but yeah the beetle. I mean that is it's just one of the most iconic cars in the world
And uh, yeah, it's Volkswagen and um, it wasn't until
I was there was 1955 when Volkswagen of america was founded or officially formed
And they gave us one of my like I I want to do like we did when we talked about volvos
Is our favorite like old Volkswagen and then our favorite new so for me favorite old
Hands down karmic gear. Oh my gosh. I same that was yes. Oh, I love the run
That was gonna be my car. Yeah, it's a beautiful beautiful car. I mean, it's just so elegant looking
And it's just it's just perfect. It's perfect. It's just the little roadster
And it came out in America as they founded it in 1955 and it's just uh, I love the looks of those cars
Yep, I see one of those going down the road and I'm like, yes
It's got like a little bit of like a Hudson Hornet look to it
It's got nice chrome the swooping back like uh very low slung just sporty right there with you
Yeah, beautiful cars. I mean look at the karmic gear. It's just like it's one of these folks wagons. That's just it's sculpted
It's it has such great lines. Absolutely. Um, whether the hard top or the convertible
Um, you just you take notice that there was one in newport that I stopped and and stared at for a little while
Just because you don't see that many of them. No, it's been that was the first one I'd seen in a long time
So the the well preserved ones are very special
Yes, I and I love when I see one that's a convertible, you know the top down
Uh, just love it. Absolutely love it. It's just that car came out of nowhere and it's just like wait, that's what?
It's a folks wagon
Oh, yeah, whoa
I know it's crazy and you know, they had it around until I think it was like around the mid 70s
They kept doing the karmic gear
But yeah, it's just it is wonderful car. Absolutely hands down my favorite older volkswagen
And I mean, you know, I mean, I like the buses like in the west folly is and all that but
No, nope the the karmic gear. Just awesome. Yep hand-built bodywork by german coach building house karmic
That's right. Well, that's funny. What was the uh, what was the successor of the karmic gear? Was it the uh,
It wasn't it wasn't the eos that well, that's way too new to be the successor
Yeah, because they had beetle convertibles and they had that but like a two-seat roadster
Like oh the was it the cabrio, but then that was a four-seater though
Yeah, because well actually so once in the mid 70s and then
The the rabbit comes out in 1974
Yes, the rabbit you could get that in a convertible
Yes, you could which that came to be known as the the cabrio later on
Yes, the cabrio lay up in the cabrio. Oh, yeah. So the rabbit convertible was offered. Yeah
So in some ways the successor, I mean the the rabbit convertible did not have the beautiful
Flowing lines like the karmic gear because it was not coach built like the yes
Yes were
Well, not not many cars do still have that beautiful work from the 50s and 60s today. That's for sure
Right. Yeah, and that rabbit craze that was a long for that was around for a long time. Oh my gosh
I mean talking well
Yeah, that's just that seems to be Volkswagen style of sorts of like they build long running vehicles that
And I mean I mean it's a testament to them as a brand that they create a vehicle that
Stands the test of time. I mean we talked about the beetle and then the bus and then the karmic gear
I mean we're talking. I think the beetle went in what continued to be produced in places like mexico right through
The late 90s. I want to say like in that same design
Yeah, that's same bill that everybody knows that you could go and buy like a 1995
Bw beetle that looks like a 1955
Which is
It's just wild to me. It is. It's crazy. It is
It's one of the longest running if not the longest running
So I'm glad you said karmic gear that that's that's top of the list for me as far as old Volkswagen's go
Oh, yeah, I mean yeah the beetle like we've talked about just amazing car. Yeah, there's two right off the bat just
Absolutely a door
Yeah, and I would say like this is a good segue into like a my favorite like newer ones
Is jumping to the present. Yeah. Yeah, I mean we'll it will jump to the present
But then we'll go we'll go back and talk more about their history with other stuff they had sure the uh for me
It's the it's the newer generation golf bar
So when I say newer generation, I think my favorite I think was 2016 the last year they did a two door golf bar
I'd have to look it up. I know they definitely had it the two door are
in 2012 2013 14
And then 15 16 would have been mark 7 the mark 7 golf a two door
Golf r and yes, I know what the listener is thinking like we just have an affiliation to r the pirate thing
Right. We're yeah, we're back to our
Yes
Are
Lifeless cars. Yeah. Oh, yes. Yeah
Gar
The golf art to me is it's like
Like I remember in that like 2012
2015 16 18 range right looking at golf ours. I have my 2006 gto and that's got a 400 horsepower
LS2
And the golf are back in like 2012 2016 had the same zero to 60 time, which is like
Okay, you know all wheel drive this little performance hatched. It's like
Oh, and they're comfortable like I just like oh my gosh. Yeah, it's just for me
That's always a soft spot and it's a good-looking car like
I mean, I really like the newer ones, but like even a golf r r 32
I mean
Oh my god, it's about like the the godfather of the r brand in
Oh, it is that's like to me that it's such a good-looking car
Which is it's funny because
I feel that the I mean that's the mark for generation of that golf and the rest of the golf line
It's like meh nothing really going on here and yet
Then they came out of nowhere with the r32 and just blew everybody away and it's still is just such a standout to this day
Yep. Yeah, 2002 to 2004 the mark for and it had that vr6 the six cylinder engine
Yeah, in the four-motion all-wheel drive in six speed manual and
It's just such a good-looking car that in that dark blue. Oh, yeah, I think it's interlagos blue
I believe is the core name. Yeah, it'd be funny. I mean it's more of an aside just to where
The idea of the r model comes from I mean as an r for racing or what?
I mean this could be a question for both Volvo invokes wagon the idea that okay r that signifies
The performance model. I just find it funny that
Back to back here. We're we're just gushing over the r models of these cars
And for good reason, I mean
They're amazing cars and the fact that yeah, there's this little hatch and like we're gonna throw all-wheel drive at it
We're gonna throw the big vr6 which that alone is that's such a weird engine and yet it somehow works
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah nightmare to work on right. That's not run right fantastic. Oh my gosh. Yeah
Oh, absolutely. And then like the for the current golf are like I do yes to uh, I do have to say that I'm very
Disappointed Volkswagen that you can no longer get a manual. I think that's asinine
So anyone who is listening to this with the love of god like just put a manual back in it and like what are you guys doing?
Yeah, I yeah, I want to continue to be on teams team Volkswagen. I have to admit
They lost me a bit when that announcement came out. I just
I I'm a little I'm a little perplexed. Yeah, that's like, you know, maybe like maybe they weren't selling
A lot of the manuals, but it's like how much does it cost to keep it an option like come on
Well, and I hate when they do like you have like the engineers or the people come in and they're like
Yeah, but but you know from from a practical standpoint, right? Like the automatic shifts faster and better than any person could
And it's like you're missing the point entirely
Of what it is to drive a car. You're missing the point the human
connection with the car
That's yeah, let's let's not forget that that piece of the puzzle. It's too bad
however
You can still I I just looked at this the other day that you can get a brand new
2026 gli with the six speed
For some reason the six speed is still available in the gli jetta
But not the golf gti or the r really that
That's where I'm just I'm just so confused because if if folks why I didn't was to say, okay
We're just gonna get rid of the manuals all together. I'm like fine. I I wish that wasn't the case
But it is what it is
Now you you can still go get the gli with the six speed. So what
Why is it not offered with the gti and the r?
When I would think it'd be the reverse I feel like more people would be opting for the manual in the gti and the r
than the gli
That's just me though. I mean that that's so I was I'm still a bit perplexed
Yeah, I completely agree with you. It's to me. It's mind-boggling. What?
Yeah, and for all the world I feel that that's probably the same transmission that they would put in the golf
Yep
I'm not an engineer, but it seems like that that could happen
Yes, I I agree with you. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, I just I don't understand when companies do that crap, but right
We don't want to get uh to uh down down trodden here on uh Volkswagen, but
Yes, yes
We're very much about
Manual cars very passionate enjoying the drive and you know curating car stories
And you need to do that with a manual
Yes, life plus cars that the human is is that the life
Life portion of that
life plus manuals
Save the manuals folks wagon. Are you listening? Please?
Please bring back the manual and the gti. I will buy one
Oh, yeah, exactly. Even if it's 48,000 dollars
No, you're gonna get a Jeep Wrangler. I'm sorry. He's back on the wrangler
You want folks? I do want I want an older one. I want get me a yj. I know it's weird
It's got square headlights, but you're all right. You'll be just I know I do want a wrangler
Well, there we'll have to do a life plus Jeep episode. Oh, yeah, we'll definitely talk about we'll we'll come back around to that
Exactly. Yeah
Yes, but no, that's good. So I'm glad I'm glad we talked about you know our our
uh favorite
Older ones our favorite, uh, you know newer or more recent ones
You know, I know I'm so happy that we're both on board with the karmagia. Oh, yes
The golf are obviously I mean the golf are it's a driver's car. It's a true driver's car. It's a dream
Well, yes, what people want, you know, or at least it was before they get rid of the manual
Well, yeah, and it yeah, totally. I mean taps into
Um, if you remember their ad campaign drivers wanted do you remember that one for my yes?
Like great ad campaign. That's also okay. That's I did
I didn't have that down, but we need to talk about that
We need to take a quick moment and talk about volkswagens
marketing and advertising department because throughout the years
Volkswagen has had quite possibly some of the best
Advertising ever of a car brand. So right off the bat. I got to talk about one of my favorite
Volkswagen commercials
there's
a
beetle
parked
Like at a house and then it's got like this giant boat on the back of it
And you see like the beetle like tip way up because the boat is too heavy for it
And then the next shot is it's the same family and they go and get a um, it wasn't tig one. What was the what was the
big
Volkswagen suv the twarig. That's it twarig. That's it
And then you see the next shot as they have a twarig hooked up to it and it's just like, you know, ah, that's better
You know, and it's just like that commercial that that's not the only one that volkswagens done it
But I very much
Admire that they will make fun of their own cars
Yes, I love that. They're one of the only brands that would just be like well
That's ridiculous to use a beetle for that or a golf like, you know
Well, let's show it be in the twarig or something bigger
Exactly
They are yeah, probably one of the most self deprecating auto brands out there that they just do like
Of themselves like I've seen old advertisements in the
Showroom where I've gotten my all-track service and it's just I think it just reads like yes
We know it's ugly
Talking about the beetle
And they're just so proud of it too that they're yeah
And I mean, I think that it goes with the kind of that that ethos of volkswagen of old that they just didn't take things
They didn't take things too seriously like they could just you know make fun of themselves and just
Roll with it. Yeah
No, and then the the other one that's also about the twarig
That I just I remember so vividly where they're self deprecating is it's like
It's the one where they're trying to pronounce the name
Oh
Oh, yeah, I got I got a twarig. It's like, yeah, I got a two hour
A two hour egg
It's just tarig
Perfect. It's just so funny
It is I I mean, I think this day I still don't know how to pronounce it correctly
I I've always said twarig, but I maybe that's wrong as well. I who knows I don't think anybody really knows how to pronounce it
Yep, and then there's I'm I'm I'm I'm cheating a little bit. I'm on
YouTube right now and I just found the other one. I was thinking it's also a twarig commercial that is absolutely hilarious is it's
people in a golf
And it's winter time and they're behind a plow truck
And they like come to their driveway and there's a giant berm snowbank
And they try to go over and like their jetta or facade or golf or whatever and they just get
Stuck instantly in it and then the next scene is them
Doing the exact same thing, but a twarig and it just goes right over and through the the driveway
It's just like I just love that because they do they just they make fun of their own cars. It's just so
Wonderful. Yes, there's so much fun and whimsy in vokes wagon of
Yeah, for for much of their history, right? Like I mean
Especially there was some great advertising there. I mean, yeah, the I feel like the twarig really defined some
some of the best
marketing out there for Volkswagen
I'll have to watch those
Oh, yeah, no, I mean they've always had good commercials. I mean they have 60s. They had good ones 70s and some good ones
Yeah, I mean, I think they didn't they have one in like the 80s that was like a
For the GTI
The ones that they're like flying over the crest like to GTI is back to back queen
Yes, I think so and it's like it's golden hour with the sunset and you just see it's a red one and a black one
I think there's a lot like at airborne over these like crested roads
And the things are just flying and ripping around and yeah, yeah
Definitely into that
Yep, it is. I just I like when when auto manufacturers get creative with stuff like that
You just have fun with it. And I mean, that's really what vokeshawing was known for the longest time was just having
Yeah, silly fun making fun of themselves
And yeah, the whole creative spirit in in the brand that was the case for a long time
I'm glad you dredged many of those up. I'd forgotten about the twarig ones
Oh, yeah, a lot of them just just fantastic
Yes
Yep, and they did like you're right like they have like they've had different tag lines throughout the years
Like you remember that one like it's ugly, but it gets you there like I forgot about that one
And then they had like for the love of the car
They've had um, you know, every new one comes slightly used
Um, that's right. Why do we put such big wheels on our little car?
Yeah, it makes your house look bigger. It was like a 60s advert
They have there's one that's just absolutely hilarious that it's a beetle
That's like floating in a lake and it says volkswagen unique construction keeps dampness out
I mean just creative stuff like that
It's so funny and it's like there's another one. It's like ugly is only skin deep and that's the one I know. Yes
Like they yeah, they were just allowed to just run wild with like, you know, how about this idea like yes, let's do it
Yeah, oh my gosh, you're like, let's put a whole like catamaran in the back of a bus and let's turn that into an advertisement. Yes
Yes, exactly
Yeah, yeah, oh my god, you take the whole boat with you
Yeah, so we so we talked so like they're like we
Yeah, I love their advertising love that they're willing to make fun of themselves
That more car brand should do that. Yes. I just very much appreciate that
I do want to go back and talk a little bit about uh performance again like we touched on it with the golf bar, right, but uh,
you know
Volkswagen besides the golf bar like I mean, I always looked at it like they've focused on
Having vehicles that are like fun to drive
Like I mean, I've said it forever. I mean, you've known me a long time. You like I've always said it
It's like if I needed a car like tomorrow
And it just I needed something like I'd go buy like a Jetta like the basic Jetta with a six speed
Like in a heartbeat like I think that they make decent cars and they they're fun to drive
Like they have a decent level of performance
at a baseline level
But they're diesels like I have always liked
the diesels
Um, I mean, I remember growing up
There was a guy in town that had a I think it was a rabbit
diesel I think
But I know for a fact that after that car went away, he got a Passat diesel
Yes with the tdi and it was like a 2001 or like a 99 or something
And I'm pretty sure he put like 400 000 miles on that. He was like a doctor. Oh, yeah at the hospital and
You know, he just was like yep like I just went a little five speed like diesel gets like 50 miles per gallon
And he loved that car. Absolutely love that car
It was I was always blown away with just
how
Well, it ran and like he drove it all the time and yeah, it's amazing
Yes, I before I bought the mark 6 gti the 2011. I test drove a
2014
uh tdi sport wagon tornado red
and
That was some of the most fun. I've ever had in a car that thing was so
Zippy like would just take off like a shot just
Handled a lot of yes very very torque. I mean it was I mean it had something only 170 horsepower
Yet it had close to 250
pound feet torque
Nice, so
It was so so torquey and a small little wagon. I remember getting in that loop
Like this is had absolute laugh riot of a car
And so I can definitely
understand the the
connection and love that people have for the tdi
And just yeah putting 400 000 miles on it. I'd certainly get that. Oh, it's crazy. Yeah
At least people had the love for it until 2015
Yeah, but then got in trouble
When uh, unfortunately, yes, they were
What was it? It was the uh, basically the cheat codes
Yeah, it was like they they like they had like a quote-unquote like uh, you know defeat
Thing like built into the computer
So when it did it's a mission test it would like lie basically, but I mean
I I I don't know enough about it to really comment, but right
I mean, I'm sure it's something like the parts per million of exhaust gas that
They put in versus what they said it was doing is like
But I could see people are just upset more on the fact that they just they lied about it. So and I think yeah
That was it was just on principle that
Yeah, this was something that they
Did yeah, I mean people's backs. Yeah, well to be fair to like the us
Is so much more strict on diesel emissions in any other country
So what's fine in the uk or elsewhere?
Is totally different than here. So that's why you just don't see very many diesel cars in the us because it's so much more strict
So there are almost
None, I mean now which is 20 25 crazy to me because yeah, you go outside of our country. They're everywhere
I mean you go over to the uk you go to you know anywhere in europe diesels everywhere
Everywhere, yeah, they are yeah, I mean you're driving Mercedes wagon diesels. Howdy diesels BMW diesels
Everything's got a diesel option everything right and that's often the more popular
Option, yeah, because they get like 40 miles per gallon right like the 25 on a gas job
Yes, that was what was yeah remember with that tdi wagon. I drove that yeah the mileage numbers
I was floored by what like okay. Yeah, I could I could see the appeal. Yeah
Oh, yeah
I mean even in something like you know, it's not it's not a Volkswagen
But like I remember my step sister had a Chevy cruise diesel a 2016
And that yeah, that's right like 48 miles per gallon a little six-speed manual like it was crazy crazy
Yeah, that was a bulletproof car
Well, and yeah, they were very well built so robust and could just take that kind of power and then also make it super efficient
I mean it was this perfect recipe. Unfortunately
That they had the issues with the yeah
The emissions yes, it is it's a shame
The line about it, but it's like right to me the the sad part is
Because that happened that made it so Volkswagen put way less effort into having diesel cars in the U.S.
Which I think we desperately need so
Right, they have completely walked away from it and most automakers in general. Yeah
I mean, I think that Chevy cruise diesel was
I think the last
car in the U.S. That you could get with the diesel if I'm
I'm not mistaken. I mean I can't think of another one
Yeah, you mean like a small like four doors today. Yes
I mean car. I mean, yes, you can go buy a
turbo diesel
Super duty or yeah truck over. Yes
You know, it's smaller diesels and like SUVs and stuff, but yeah, right, but a proper
But yeah, like the car or like yeah going to your Mercedes dealership and saying I want an s-class diesel
They'd be like, nope. You got to move to
Paris
Yeah, go away
Yeah, that really it seems like that that was a
definite shift in Volkswagen in general
I mean post 2015 to where they are now
As far as I feel like they definitely have shifted to much more of the
idea of like
building cars for
mass production
efficiency
Building cars that fit maybe a niche that
Is there maybe it's not like the most standout car
I mean, that's just like my personal take on something like the Volkswagen Taos, which is
More or less a five seat SUV
Yeah, it's it's a dime a dozen car. It's there. Everyone has that car. It's the exact same as anything else. Yes
And I suppose, I mean, I know we were talking a little bit about
Volkswagen where they are now where I hope they go
I mean now I just I I would love to see some more of that
Quirkiness the fun the just playfulness that Volkswagen was known for so long
And so many years starting with the original Beetle
And then everything we've talked about through the decades and now I feel like they've lost that playfulness
Oh, so much in almost everything they make like they just there's a lot of sameness
They're still well built. I mean
Yet they just I don't know. Yeah, you just they're the cars they make right now
They they just don't stand out to me like the fun stuff
Yeah, they don't have well, they don't have anything that sets them apart from the competition
Right, and they just they look like a dime a dozen car
Yes, they just there's nothing like you said you hit the nail in the head like it's not creative
I mean like I just pulled up their site and they've got I'm looking at all the models
They have the id for the atlas the atlas cross sport the tiguan the taos
The jeta jeta gli golf our golf gti and then the id buzz which is their new bus
Right, and it's like looking at all of them the only ones that I think actually really look good are the golfs
Yeah, but I mean even like the new jettas and it's like then the suv is like they're just blah
It's like come on guys a lot of
Blah
Yeah, it's like and I miss the passat like I know
Been dying in the u.s. But it's like come on
It's like that's what volkswagen should do. It's like release. You know gm will never do it in forward
Well, it's like release a passat put a v8 and you guys still have your v8 technology and give it a six-speed manual
You probably sell a million of them. Yeah, I mean actually you could get a
w8 passat back in like the early 2000s with a six speed if you remember that one now
That's a special car right there. That is a special car. That's another one that I'd like to have someday
And that is great. I'm glad you brought that up because along with the w8
One of my absolute favorite of all time volkswagens like is that w12
Oh my gosh. Yes talk to us
About the w12 fade. Yes
I just like the fact that it's a 12 cylinder volkswagen. That's the thing I like most about it
But I also love I I mean, you know, we grew up in that era
and
And uh, I just like the idea that they had that they created that motor
And they did that nardo concept that like race car that thing was crazy looking is so cool like 2002 or 2004
Whenever they came out with that right and then at the same time they did this this faton w12
And it was like there, you know, it was their s-class competition there
Their, uh, you know BMW 7 series competitor and it was that w12 engine
And they made it and what the us went like 2004 2005 somewhere in that range. That's right
I mean, they're they only brought in like I mean, I want to say it was like 500 or
A thousand of them or something into the us w12. Yeah, like there was not many not many no us at all
They're very hard to find. Oh, yeah, I mean, I'd love to have one, but yeah, it's just
They're just such a cool car
I'll always remember seeing it on top gear with jeremy clarkson. He's like
He's like this car was designed to keep the interior cab at 72 degrees no matter what
It's like no matter what awesome
awesome
Yeah, and I mean, what an engineering marvel that engine
I mean, we talked about the vr6 already and then how they took that technology
and
doubled it
In it is it is an engineering marvel. Yeah
Yep, they did so they took yeah, they took the the two
vr6's and it they turned it into a w
configuration
Right, so that's just so funny
I know. I mean, do you know the logic behind that as far as
I mean, what inspired that?
um, I mean, I guess the reason you would do that is if you took two
vr6's which are two like it's a motor that you're already producing and you already have all right
You know schematics and all the engineering behind it and you put two together
It would make it so it'd be easier to create other parts for it like
crank shafts
camshafts
Pistons right things like that. So let me see
What does volkswagen say about it the reasoning behind this design of the w12 was it was
smaller and more compact than a conventional v12
Allowing it to fit into a much wider variety of vehicles
So that was the whole idea
Why volkswagen did the w instead of the v is because it was just more compact which makes sense because if it's a
72 degree angle for the the pistons then the combustion chambers, right? It's like okay
Yeah, it would be smaller. So when you think about typical v12 car and the long hoods
That I mean that the proportions that that requires as compared to this more compact w12
Arrangement makes sense
Yeah, I actually I didn't I didn't know I can't believe they're pretty stout motors like they did the
That they're six liter
W12 was like 440 horsepower and 410 pound feet of torque
And then wow use that motor
Uh a turbocharged version of that motor in like the bentley continental gt
Yes, they also put that they also put it. I think it in the
Did they put in the s8 of that era too?
The a8 got the w12. Yeah
Yep, the a8 and then yeah, they did the uh the the nardo concept had the w12
And then they also did a golf gti w12 concept car concept car
Which that's which to me is like that would be crazy think about that
Can do you imagine if you could buy a car the size of a golf today with a 12 cylinder in it? It'd be like
Oh
What yeah, I forgot about this car
You have very cool concept car
Oh my gosh. Yeah, how wide they got the wide body kit with the detroit alloys
Yes
Yes, oh the best wheels ever to come on a gti
Hands down. I will I will say that right now. Wow. Yeah, I had forgotten about this one
It's insane
A w12 and a gti
Who does that? I know isn't that awesome?
I mean again like Volkswagen what happened you were doing like these ludicrous projects like this
Oh, yeah
Oh, man, but I mean really think about that a car that size with like 450 horsepower
Holy crap because think about how much performance those cars have with 300 horsepower
Right
Oh, the thing is insane. Oh, I'm glad you mentioned it. Totally forgot about that car
Because I remember when that like concept came out. I think I actually had a model car of that concept. Yes
Yeah
Oh, that is awesome. Wow. It's stuff like that like that's yeah
Like you said, I I love it when auto manufacturers do stuff like that and like that's that's one of my favorite things
Volkswagen's ever done is that w12
Yes, I mean and like automakers have done that for years. I mean like gms done it before forged on it
We're like they have a v8 and they're like, well, let's make a v16
And they'll just like meld the two engines together and it's like yep like great. We've got it now
It's like, oh, yeah, let's do that. Let's yeah, let's make that happen
Now we just need dodge to take their their v10s and just you know, do two of those together. Let's get a v20
I don't has anybody ever done a v20
That's actually that's a really good. I was kind of being now, right
But now I'm gonna look it up v20
cylinder
I mean there might be in like maybe big trucks are like huge
Right huge stuff, right?
Yeah, there we go. Look at that in the 1930s Mercedes Benz made a v20 diesel engine for marine applications
Okay, yeah, I can see that so like I could definitely exist if you say like a 20 cylinder motor
I could see that for big stuff like we just said like marine or huge equipment
Yes for like car or like
Even like a semi truck like that would be insane
Right since most of these big rigs are turbo inline six cylinders
Yeah, think about how long massive
That would absolutely have hot wheels proportions
Yeah, yep, it'd be awesome. That would be something a hot wheels would look like the v20 concept. Oh, yeah
Oh
Oh
Yep, so yeah, so that's with Volkswagen. Yeah, that's uh
Yeah, they're
Gotta give a nod to their creativeness from their engineers and the w12 and like I just I love that faton
I always
Keep an eye out for that faton w12 for sale because I would like to have one someday
And they're not super expensive like I actually know started this episode
I did a quick google search to see if anywhere for sale
And there's a couple for sale with under a hundred thousand miles in the u.s. For right around that like
12 to 18 thousand dollar mark, which
Honestly doesn't seem that bad because the car was like a hundred grand brand new so right that's a lot of car
I mean you got to be prepped for the maintenance it may need that said
For the experience alone seems like a worthy buy. Oh, yeah
But most of the faintings you see are the eight cylinders. So
Right
Yeah, those w12s are a rare
find
Fainting was only four model years right o3 to o6 for the us. Yeah, yes
Yeah, so, yeah, so I mean Volkswagen. Uh, I mean we covered quite a bit in
We did I had one more car. I wanted to mention which
Speaks to Volkswagen's just creativity and off the wall kind of
Let me guess let me guess
Is it
the thing
Oh
Great guess, or is it the shirako?
Neither actually
Those are both we we could actually take a moment to
Talk about those two which I mean, yeah, that's it just well. We've talked a little bit about it
It's like it's Volkswagen's like their ability to try new things different cars, right? Yeah. Well, it was this little like troop convoy
convertible
Jeep thing and literally they just said well
Nobody knows what else to call it. So let's call it the thing and it actually just became
The Volkswagen thing the thing. Yes. It actually is the name is
Cars and coffee and again, I stopped like oh my gosh
Two things in one place
amazing
And they're so basic. I mean that this little like beach buggy type thing with like the hard
Riveted doors and it does look like it looks like a little like military jeep almost and but they were painted in these bright colors
yellow orange greens
Um, I think they were all convertibles if I'm not mistaken
and
Yeah, I that that I don't I didn't do any research on the thing
um
But I knew I know it was just sort of a happenstance kind of like well
We have this car and we can make it
and
Oh, and behold it became
A thing
The Volkswagen thing if the Volkswagen thing. Yep. Oh, absolutely man
I'm glad you brought it up because it is like they've just Volkswagen has done crazy cars over
Decades and yep the thing gotta love the thing
It's just like again
It's another one of these Volkswagen's where you just smile and I feel that so many of their cars
Have that quality that you look at them like oh, that's just fun like that's just fun
Absolutely, absolutely
Mm-hmm. I mean and why not right? I mean think about how much time you spend in a car at least most americans do
Well, I don't have it be fun exciting and you know having a bit of fun with it with the naming and
Yeah, oh truly. Yeah
So the other car I was going to mention
which was just
a small little run of cars
One that just makes me smile to think about it is the
VW golf
Harlequin from 1996
And they only made 264 of these cars
Okay, hold on. I gotta get an image of that. Well, is that the the calico colored one?
Nope, it is the
Multicolored
Oh, yeah, yeah, okay. I've got a picture here. Yes, the multi every panel is different. Yep. Mm-hmm
So yeah, I'll tell you I think I've seen one of those in real life. I had just I just thought I was like
Oh, I guess that someone had an accident. They just needed to piece that car together
But it's like for the listener like this is you should you know the listener should obviously google it
but the harlequin golf is it's a
Golf that is specifically
Multicolored like the hood's different color each fenders a different color the bumpers a different color everything's a different color
They yes, so it was a runoff. It was a one-off for like I'm reading here on the VW website here that
It was for the 1995 auto show circuit and there were 264 cars made where they actually started off with
The origin like the golfs and they took them apart and switched all the body panels
So it's tornado red chagall blue
Ginster yellow and pistachio green those are the four colors and I've read that like the rear
The rear quarter panel there
That's the original. That's the color of like the original car before they swapped the rocker panel that leads up to the quarter panel
That yes the original car color and everything else has been swapped. Yes
I assume the roof is also the same color as the
Quarter panel in the rocker, but yeah the doors so all four doors
Both fenders the front grille the hood and the bumpers are all changed
Oh my gosh
And I've I've only seen one of these in person and I just was beside myself like oh my gosh
It's a harlequin
I mean again
This one is just peak vokes wagon silliness the fact that these were made
From the factory then you could go and buy one of these
I know it's crazy. Oh my gosh. Yes. So yes had to had to just mention the harlequin
Briefway here as part of the the whimsy of vokes wagon and just off the wall
As they did there in the mid 90s
Oh, yes. Yeah, and I mean that like I mentioned it, you know, we talked about the thing we talked about
I mentioned shirako and all that and uh, I will say that the the mark two
shirako
Like it's just it screams 80s
Very and I actually I just I really like the design of that car
Like I just you know, I mean it is it's pure 80s. It's the wedge, right that wedge. Yes. Yes. It is. It is a wedge
But I just I love it. I absolutely love it
But I do there's something about the look of that car. Yeah, I just I forgot about that one
Yeah, it's just I think it's just gorgeous. Like it's very
It's very oudie-esque, right and like that's one thing we didn't talk about but like oudie or vokes wagon owned oudie
And uh, at least at one point you can see there was a lot of back and forth between
R&D being shared between both companies. So you see a lot of oudie in that shirako
Yeah, I mean you can see a lot of the oudie fox that was
I think one of the first oudies to come to the us and I can definitely see
The influence there
Oh, absolutely great choice
Yes, so that's I mean just you know, it's a unique Volkswagen that that's up there for me. I just think they're so cool
Oh, actually, I uh, I wrote about one of these
shirakos in my brief time at bring a trailer actually. It was a tornado red
Um mark 2 shirako
Very cool. I didn't know that. Mm-hmm. It just brought to mind. Yeah
See if I can look it up here. Yeah, it was a uh bright red
Volkswagen mark 2 shirako
Awesome. Yeah, so that was a fun listing to put together and it was a pretty cool little car
Gotta love it. Gotta love the oil. Yeah
Speaking of shirako. Yeah, I had a little experience of that with my with one of those listings
Very nice. Very nice. So yeah, so that is quite the dive into Volkswagen
I think so we covered a lot here brendon going from the
earliest days of Volkswagen to
Volkswagen arriving in america and how much that that changed things and what they brought here with their cars and
our favorites
The quirky the the fast the performance models. Oh, yeah, all of the above
Yeah, what we'd like to see from Volkswagen in the future. Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah, all of it. Yeah
Yeah, exactly
And uh, if we missed anything which i'm sure we did we can only do so much in our of course 45 minutes here
So, uh, if you have a life plus Volkswagen story out there listener
We always love to hear them and send them along to
Are they sending them brendon? You're gonna want to send that to life plus cars at gmail.com or
You can check us out on instagram. That's right. We're all over the place. All you have to do is look
It's that magical search bar on the web browser of your choosing exactly those cars
That's the one you heard it there folks. Yep, you just hey siri
Hey, siri
Hey, siri play life plus cars
Yes, try it see what happens
Yep
So yes, uh, all kidding aside. Yes, you can find us. It's life plus cars all one word life plus cars dot com
keeping it simple for you all out there
And we appreciate you tuning in
We have a lot of fun with these deep dies. We have more to come. Uh, so
Uh, I don't know which one do you think brendon? What's what's next anything in the works?
Oh, I mean you mentioned it. I'm I'm I'm I'm thinking jeep
Oh, that's true. That did come up today. Yep, because you need to buy a jeep. Yeah, so I can drive it
That's right. Yes. Come on. We're being so cheap holidays are coming up. Be a great christmas present
Yeah, great christmas present to myself. You buy a brand new wrangler. I'll buy a yj. There you go
You get the yj. How do this seems bad? Oh, come on
I want one that's painted up like Jurassic Park
Okay, that now that makes sense. I can get behind that. Yeah, see if I can get sam neil to make an appearance
Dr. Grant
Must go faster. Yeah, you must go faster. Yeah, Jeff goldblum. Yeah
Oh
Yeah, well, we'll save that for the life was jeep episodes. So yes listener tune in
Soon for that episode brendon and I are having a lot of fun with these deep dive
Episodes here. There'll be another one here very soon. And in the meantime, we thank you for joining us
And as always and we look forward to seeing you on the next drive
You
About this episode
A deep dive into Volkswagen's rich history, this episode explores the brand's iconic models, including the Beetle and Karmann Ghia, while reflecting on their quirky marketing strategies. The hosts share personal stories about their favorite Volkswagens and discuss the evolution of the brand from the classic models to the modern Golf R and the impact of the diesel emissions scandal. With a mix of nostalgia and critique, they ponder the future of Volkswagen and its need to regain its playful spirit in a sea of sameness.
