Driven! Volkswagen GTI W12-650

bankhead submitted on 09/07/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 12:11 PM
from: www.automobilemag.com

Tags: Volkswagen GTI W12-650

Volkswagen GTI W12-650

Driven! Volkswagen GTI W12-650

The hand-written notes compiled by the pit crew are littered with bad news.

Lap one, DNF. Car spins out in turn two.

Lap two, DNF. Car spins out in turn two. Needs to be towed back or jump-started.

Are they letting any idiot with a valid driver's license behind the wheel of this hand-built prototype valued at several million dollars?

What's wrong with you today, George? Hung over? Legs trapped in the footwell again? Or are you simply getting old?

Well, yeah. But the only real mistake I made was not asking enough questions before strapping myself behind the fancy three-spoke sport steering wheel.

I expected the VW crew to provide all the relevant information. Wishful thinking. Being the last out of maybe twenty journalists to be shuttled through this program, it was routine for them - but not for me.

They knew that the surface of the race track at Gross-Dölln near Berlin is covered with a low-grip asphalt film so that a set of tires last about five times longer. But didn't tell me.

They knew that the shift paddles behind the steering wheel spokes of the prototype are still functionless. But didn't tell me.

They knew that the ESP switch is only there for decoration. ESP and ASR are both conspicuous by their absence. Yeah, they didn't tell me this either.

I set off as clueless and enthusiastic as a Labrador Retriever. First, second, third -- not flat-out but perhaps an optimistic 80 percent throttle. You don't want to look too slow, do you?

But whatever the entry speed into turn two was, it was about 40 percent more than what the pale grey surface would tolerate. Whoops. Spin.

Never make the same mistake twice, or you really look like a bozo. Read Article

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Airliner - 9/7/2007 1:20:19 PM

+2 Boost

Make it and bring it to the US... Wishful thinking? Who cares I'm a dreamer!!

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EnnNorak - 9/7/2007 7:18:30 PM

+1 Boost

The test driver is lucky to live and tell about his experience -- I think that car is downright dangerous. Reminds me of the old days when I was selling an Ariel Square 4 motorcycle ( a mean machine for its day but not nearly as mean as the Vincent Black Shadow) and the prospect (an inexperienced motorcyclist) took it for a spin at full throttle and went down inside half a block.

indoctrin8ed - 9/7/2007 7:57:18 PM

+1 Boost

Well, even though this is a "pipe dream" car that has no marketability, Tiff Needell woudldn't have made these mistakes. Jeremy Clakson, however would have.

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