VW EOS Fails to Shine In Foul Weather Review

Here at WINDING ROAD, we rarely frown upon the arrival of a Volkswagen into our fleet. Hence, when our Eos 3.2 graced our offices last week, we were all hoping (in vain) for warmer weather so that we could put the tin-top VeeDub through its paces. However, while we love these German autos, we continue to experience trouble with niggling electrical issues that Volkswagens seem to be afflicted with on an all-too regular basis.

Last Tuesday, we took our Eos to the car wash to clean it up before heading out for a night of driving. Upon exiting our local car wash, we rolled down the drivers’ side window. However, due to the car’s leaky roof, some water from the car wash had worked its way inside of the car, forming a small puddle near the driver’s side rear quarter window (had there been a rear-seat passenger, it’s quite likely they’d have gotten an unintended hair-washing).

And that’s where the fun began…


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d1sinfo - 2/13/2007 1:32:23 PM

+1 Boost

They try so hard ;)

I am of the belief that a basic car wash from a gas station is basically part of owning any non exotic car. No excuses here.

Matthew1 - 2/13/2007 3:07:17 PM

+2 Boost

That is unacceptable for such a new car.

However, it may not be a design fault, and may be a faulty rubber seal or at least a poorly-fitted one.

After all, VW has a huge pool of testing resources at their disposal, and during any models development, is subjected to simulated weather tests where prototypes are exposed to sub zero temperatures, blizzards, driving rain etc.

If there was a design fault, VW's engineers would have picked up on it during the development process.

chewy - 2/13/2007 5:54:14 PM

+1 Boost

Depends on the wash, I am sure that the manual says you can't use a pressure or mechanical wash on the top because it screws it up. Way to read the manual.

kart1 - 2/13/2007 11:02:15 PM

+1 Boost

Oh come on, who actually reads the manual.

egog - 2/14/2007 5:11:32 PM

+1 Boost

I do.
Hope you dont have a problem with it.

BMW4me4ever - 2/13/2007 8:09:45 PM

0 Boost

it is completely unexcusable for the top to leak during a car wash. If the manual says that then VW has an issue. What are people going to do if they get caught in a downpour, immediately pull to the side of the road and put up an umbrella to cover the roof of their car so it doesnt leak.... how pathetic

SixxFive - 2/13/2007 8:24:04 PM

0 Boost

There is no excuse for the water leaks, rattles and interior trim coming loose. Edmund's did a recent Eos review and the battery /electronics failed on their car.

mstangpny07 - 2/13/2007 10:19:01 PM

0 Boost

Didn't it die with USATODAY at the pump, too?

S4cabriofoxone - 2/13/2007 10:26:07 PM

+2 Boost

Interesting. I'd be the first to say that VW needs to keep up. They are constantly lagging behind in everything reliability. And in real-world, mainstream cars, if they want to succeed, they must make their cars more reliable. Sure, they're attractive (mostly). Yes, they have great interiors. And you can't forget those German engineers. But, all that can only get you so far if you're not a luxury brand. I think that, if they focus less on making a power driver's seat standard on every Rabbit, and focus more on reliable vehicles, the big VeeDub would storm out of dormancy here in the US.

kart1 - 2/13/2007 11:03:21 PM

+1 Boost

It is weird now that most Audi's are recommended by CR, yet VW's aren't.

egog - 2/14/2007 5:06:22 PM

+1 Boost

YOu know that was probably a pre prodution model. So A bunch of Magazines have taken it and beat the crap out of every part of it anyway just for the sake of testing it, so the rubber probably is worn out from overuse of the top and windows.