Yeah car drives great... and relative to Elon's Model 3 seats.... the seats are amazing.
But like you guys, I figure the lease expires (in another 18 months) with no updates. Can't even imagine WHY VW of America won't initiate a communication on this, but hey... that would be normal. I guess I misread the EV commitment and "change in attitude towards owners" that I thought the Electrify America - Dieselgate implied. Guess I was wrong. Really? Can't even message some expectations... or even explanation as to WHY the EU gets updates but NOT the USA?
I find it puzzling.... but then again, it's the country that brought you the recent KFC advertisement fail and maybe it's just different there?
So sad to report, I am almost (not quite) "interviewing" every other EV as a possible replacement in 18 months. This thing and this car company will go. Bait and switch is no way to run a company. The software deterioration is real... and the "cure" of a "stop the car, turn it off, get out of the car, and 'reboot'" to cure it's inability to connect to: 1) my iphone, 2) the screen and backup camera, 3) the speaker system, and inability to offer "settings" that can be saved for a LOT of the car's attributes (like how door locks behave) that were traditionally part of
ICE vehicles.... and all those haptic switch annoyances... I won't miss when I move on.
Does that change my opinion of the car? Yes. Does it change my experience in driving it? Somewhat.... I still enjoy the mechanical part of the car and the way it drives. I do dislike the steering wheel's inability to recognize that my hands are actually ON the steering wheel when it tells me otherwise, but that's because it wants hands only at 10 and 2.
Big take away? I no longer recommend the car. I get asked about it... a LOT. But I can't recommend VW period because of their inability and unwillingness to upgrade the software or even communicate with owners. Yes, if it were 1950 this would be an amazing vehicle. But it is 2022 and even in 2021 when I acquired the car and in the process promised their June 2021 software update would "fix" the problems? I have to say.... the best I can offer is give it a whirl. Drive it. But be sure to drive the competition. Tesla may work better for you.... it's more expensive and the seats will put a crick in your back, but the tech is amazing and the visibility absolutely impressive. Tesla is a better driver's car.... their SUV is more expensive, but YMMV. Musk is a whack job and I'd prefer someone else's car.... but you beggers can't be choosers. I'm done begging with VW... and the only thing that keeps it in my driveway is the 18 month lease and the thought that the software upgrade - if it ever comes - will actually turn the car into something worthy.... still lacking many things, but a good contender nevertheless. But my conclusion is: THere's better out there if you're willing to spend more. VW is fine if you're not. THat's where I started, but can't say it was my best decision. I don't regret it per se.... but I do regret VW's attitude towards its drivers.... which is very disappointing.