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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Thursday, April 16 Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Jackson County led way in building historic Highway 99 in Oregon Police Reports Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Ashland Fire & Rescue Alarm Box: There are good fires and there are bad fires Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Business Chamber celebrates innovation in the food, wine and beer industries Cars We Remember: 1964 Olds F-85 owner seeks information Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Odyssey Silvio Calabi: Passat 1.8T Sport is satisfyingly rational Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable State News Oregon lawmakers begin minimum wage debate Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Death Notices Death Notices Anna Mae Hassell Death Notices Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Sports & Bacon: So I didn’t fill out any brackets... 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Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Memories of Oklahoma City bombing still fresh 20 years later Our View: Jackson County should say yes to Circle of Teran rehab request Film fest is the best Our View: New cat on the block in Ashland Editorial Our View: Jackson County should say yes to Circle of Teran rehab request Our View: New cat on the block in Ashland Our View: Ashland High benefits as cycle racing club gets rolling Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Letters Letters to the Editor, April 14 Letters to the Editor, April 13 Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Columns Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Memories of Oklahoma City bombing still fresh 20 years later Film fest is the best Mochas, midrash and mysteries: Meeting G-d in the middle Council Corner: Ashland deserves respect, not a just a rest stop Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Poems for parenting A tale of two plays at OSF Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Five picks for entertainment this week Community blog: Rabbi David Zaslow teaches poetry Theater A tale of two plays at OSF Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director Backstage: 'Poof: Something that wasn’t there is there' Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music On TV: Your guide to the Academy of Country Music Awards The Farr Side: Intriguing time on the Hot 100 Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies 'Cinderella' revisited is stunning, magical Ben Steelman: Big-screen showings to mark anniversary of ‘Sound of Music’ 'Western,' 'Imperial Dreams' win top film jury awards A scoop from the ocean: Reviews of four festival films What was your favorite film? 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Silvio Calabi: Passat 1.8T Sport is satisfyingly rational By Silvio Calabi More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Apr. 13, 2015 @ 6:32 am By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Apr. 13, 2015 @ 6:32 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> No matter what we’re told about books and their covers, first impressions are important. It’s true whether we’re speed-dating, scanning a menu or getting behind the wheel of a new car. When I started up this 2015 VW Passat for the first time and saw “Range 630 miles” come up on the screen, I figured it for one of VW’s long-haul clean diesels, the cars we can drive till our bladders scream for mercy. The first few miles didn’t change that impression; there was enough torque and engine grumble to be diesely. To be sure, though, I hopped out and looked at the rear panel — where, instead of “TDI” for diesel, the badge said “TSI.” Under the hood, therefore, was a regular-gas-burning turbocharged Four of just 1.8 liters displacement — 110 cubic inches, the same as a big motorbike — rated for 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The impressive range figure derived from the Passat’s 18.5-gallon fuel tank multiplied by the 34 mpg the car had averaged on its way to me. If this were in fact a TDI diesel, the range could have been more than 800 miles — that is, 18.5 gallons at somewhere in the mid-40s MPG. Furthermore, VW’s fuel efficiency estimates lean toward cautious; we’ve always been able to beat them, at least in decent weather. (We’re enjoying our traditional Easter Sunday snowstorm just now.) You may not care much about this since gas prices are low — for the moment — but less fuel burned also means less carbon pumped into the atmosphere. If, however, you have to have more power, VW will stuff a 280HP V-6 into your Passat, along with a dual-clutch automated gearbox and all-wheel drive, but then you’ll net five to seven fewer miles per gallon of (premium) fuel. And, naturally, pay a few grand extra. Why use more when less will do? This VW motor is one of the reasons Europeans sometimes get snotty about our “big, lazy, inefficient” engines. Yes, Detroit is rapidly moving from V-8 to six and four and even (in one case) three cylinders, but American cars with engines this small tend to be econo-scooters. The Passat is anything but; it’s a comfortable, nearly luxurious four-door, American-family sedan the size of a Chevrolet Malibu or Toyota Camry. Our car’s two-tone gray/black interior with carbon-fiber trim looked and felt upscale, the back seats were especially comfortable—and easy to get into, thanks to large door openings — and the trunk was capacious. Passats come in 13 trim levels—four diesels and nine gas-powered — at prices from $22,000 to $36,000 plus options. Our 1.8T was a $28,655 Sport with a six-speed, dual-mode automatic transmission with paddle shifters and an electronically locking front differential, as well as unique wheels and trim. (With a five-speed manual gearbox, the Sport costs $1,200 less.) Although it had no sunroof or push-button ignition, no satnav, auto-unlock or steering-wheel heater, and the seats were merely leatherette, it felt anything but lower-class. The over-the-road experience was even better: The Passat Sport’s controls are weighted just right for comfortable yet dynamic driving, and the refined suspension soaks up potholes and frost heaves with no banging, crashing or throwing the car off-line. The “little” 1.8T motor feels strong for its size, capable of enough torque steer and turbo lag to entertain the driver without being bothersome, and the transmission responds crisply. The Passat is built in Tennessee — and the engine in Mexico, while the transmission hails from Japan — but it’s a German sedan, with all the benefits that come with a car engineered and designed in a country where there are still highways with no speed limits. We’ve been conditioned by the other Germans — you know, M-B, BMW, Audi, Porsche — to accept daunting complexity and awful prices in exchange for speed and luxury, but the Passat scoops them all with real-world performance at real-world prices. You may lust after another German, but think of this one as a satisfyingly rational alternative. Likes - Quality feel and look - Confident FWD handling - Space and comfort - Efficiency Dislikes - I got nothing ... Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. By Silvio Calabi More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Apr. 13, 2015 @ 6:32 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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