http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 10:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 10:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 11:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 11:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 11:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 12:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Death trap! if you can't make your heater controls, or power windows reliably work forget about guidance!]]>Jul 2nd 2006 1:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
That is what the ebrake is for!!! :D]]>Jul 2nd 2006 1:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
My 1971 beetle rocked, still does. Damned reliable, and yes, both heaters still work, and have saved my toes and fingers on cold nights when the snow was too deep.

My 1996 Jetta had zero problems, but I only had it 2 years, sold it when I changed countries.

My 1999 new-Jetta's only problem was the dude hit-and-running in a parking lot. It saved my fingers, toes, and much more of me when the water was too deep on dark interstates. Photo in the link. Sold it when I changed countries.

I have had a charmed life with VWs, I feel really awful that I have taken the good mana from your experiences.]]>Jul 2nd 2006 1:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
As for the tech I suppose it could serve a purpose for commuters but I don't even like using cruse control forget auto-pilot.]]>Jul 2nd 2006 3:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 5:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
http://www.gorobotics.net/The-News/Latest-News/Volkswagen%27s-Prototype-Robotic-Car/]]>Jul 2nd 2006 5:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://keiconcept.net/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=30&func=download&filecatid=23

^ 660cc FWD Keicar Drift Comp.

pretty funny actually]]>Jul 2nd 2006 9:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
Now will Veedub come out with a new 2007 or 2008 van...they stopped making them in 2003. I am so sad...the only van that comes close to its size is the ugly sprinter and full size grandma vans. I heard BMW or Mercedes were coming out with a Eurovan sized vehicle...I forget which...but it doesn't look very hopeful at this point. Vans don't carry the soccer mom image in Europe as they do in the states...so maybe that is why they keep making vans so mini.]]>Jul 2nd 2006 10:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 2nd 2006 11:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 3rd 2006 1:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
Unless, of course, all those people who send in surveys to Consumer Reports diss their very own VWs are lying to make VW purchasers like themselves seem clueless...which makes no sense at all.

If you're hoping that your $15-50k is going to get you a vehicle that's gonna work as advertised, you gotta be nuts to ignored all the stats and not buy Toyota/Honda. Think about the Prius, and how INSANELY complex it is--yet it works--reliably! VW could NEVER pull that off!

My own experience is that I've never known a VW owner who didn't either want to or actually go through with suing the dealer. Their slogan should be changed to "VW: Mechanics Wanted."]]>Jul 3rd 2006 3:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 3rd 2006 3:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
So, you've never heard of lift-off oversteer? True, "drifting" (if you define it as power-sliding, using the throttle for steering) is impossible in a FWD car, but AWD cars can do it (see for example, umm, every WRC car since the Quattro?), and by no means do you need the handbrake to get the back end out.

While you make out it's all very complicated and people can email you for a full explanation, you're really just pulling 'facts' out of your arse.]]>Jul 3rd 2006 6:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
You need to be able to break the rear wheels traction (and keep it broken) while maintaining the front wheels traction. With AWD it's all or nothing. You either loose traction at all 4 wheels or you have traction at all 4 wheels.

Before you accuse me of pulling facts from my "arse" I suggest doing a bit of research. AWD isn't all the hype machine makes it out to be. Oh and just to burst your bubble some more. It is physically impossible for an AWD car to handle better than an otherwise equal RWD car.]]>Jul 3rd 2006 9:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8543751698465914780&q=4wd+drift]]>Jul 3rd 2006 10:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
I personally think this is a nice new step VW has taken. Yay for robocars!]]>Jul 3rd 2006 12:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
VW's can be a little squirrely... but they're pretty easy to work on. I know a lot of people are little wary of working on their own cars, but the risk/reward factor is more than enough motivation for me. My 01' Jetta runs just like new, and I get a lot of satisfaction out of that. I've done quite a bit of preventive maintenance and nearly all the regular maintenance. I've only had one "problem" with my car, since I've had it, which was a 30 minute fix after I got the $8 part from the dealership the day of the problem. However, it would have cost me a couple grand to have a mechanic perform all the maintenance I've done on my car opposed to the couple hundred I've spend on parts... and if that maintenance wouldn't have been done it's hard to say where I'd be...]]>Jul 3rd 2006 12:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
The laser sensors and radar are new. Have you considered the possibility that a company's research technology can advance in eight months?

Also, VW will get a minivan shortly. It is based on the Dodge Caravan / Chrysler Town & Country.]]>Jul 4th 2006 3:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/
200sx is RWD??? Your vid doesn't really help in this debate.]]>Jul 8th 2006 11:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 10th 2006 3:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/Jul 21st 2006 12:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/vws-golf-gti-53-plus-1-is-fully-autonomous/The Nissans there are all RWD, the EVO is also RWD though the front driveshafts were prob disconnected to get it to drift ala D1 GP style.]]>Aug 16th 2006 6:35AM