I Did a Bad Thing...

Accumulator said:
Nizno- Just wanted to give you props for not dark-tinting nor lowering. Sensible, practical and functional are good IRL.
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Not calling you out, but I fail to see how tint isn`t sensible, practical or functional? And the same for lowering to a certain degree, although that more or less depends on if it`s done properly and to what extreme. I have had no ill effects from doing either to my car versus when it was stock.
 
Nautical said:
Not calling you out, but I fail to see how tint isn`t sensible, practical or functional? And the same for lowering to a certain degree, although that more or less depends on if it`s done properly and to what extreme. I have had no ill effects from doing either to my car versus when it was stock.
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Good topic for a discussion I kinda enjoy having, even when the end-result is just agreeing to disagree :D

And FWIW, my Tahoe has (of course) oe dark tint on the rear door/luggage compartment windows.

And FWIW#2 (here`s the kicker considering what I`m gonna post :o ) my Crown Vic has *DARK* tint on everything except the windshield. Even the backlight. It was like that when I got it, done by the Govt. back when it was an in-service vehicle in TX.

So in the spirit of Do As I Say, NOT As I Do....

Dark tint makes it harder to see out. Doesn`t matter until it does, and if there`s a nighttime wreck aftermarket tint can fuel a lawsuit (BS or not). Heh heh, no...I`m not gonna post on the internet that my tint compromises my outward vision ;)

Dark tint makes it harder to see *in* too. People have encountered [malevolent individuals] hiding in their vehicles and it`s harder to scope that with dark tint. OK, people will dismiss that as nonsense (hope that works for ya...) so I`ll move on to my #1 reason for not liking dark tint:

It makes it hard for LEOs to see inside the vehicle. Every LEO interaction with an unknown subject in a vehicle is fraught with peril for the officer. Not being able to see what they`re approaching when they go up to the vehicle puts them at elevated risk and they quite sensibly respond to that by being *especially* on-guard and ready for (violent) trouble. Huge increase in the potential for things to go sideways and *not* the way I want the interaction to start out (if only because there`s less chance of my LEO-friendly demeanor getting me off with a warning), especially if/when I have a (big) dog or two with me.

So every traffic stop in such vehicles means: ignition off (no more climate control)/windows down (hello precip, hope dog(s) doesn`t jump out to meet the new friend)/dome light(s) on/keys clearly visible on dash ("no sir, I will not hand them over")/open, clearly empty hands palms-up on steering wheel. Awful if the weather`s bad, worse with dog(s).

So *for me*, the bottom line is that the cool appearance and lowered interior temps can`t (here in Ohio) come close to balancing out the downsides, both realized and potential.

And if somebody with dark tint does *NOT* put the windows down prior to an interaction with LE, then sorry but I have zero sympathy if things go bad as I`m basically all about the LEO`s perspective.

Now if I lived in an area where it was always hot/sunny, and the LEOs were accustomed to the dark tint (not sure how that`d work, but I gather they do become desensitized and hey my Crown Vic doesn`t look like a "bad person`s car")...then I`d probably have a different opinion. IF I could see out of it easily. IF I weren`t generally paranoid about lawsuits. But here in Ohio, if I get written up for excessively dark tint I`ll redo the front windows with zero regrets and some day I might even see about having it taken off the backlight too (good luck not disturbing the defrost grid though) so the LEOs can see the dog(s) to some extent and not be surprised.
 
600 mile update.

Initial "break-in" stage is complete so I am finally able to take it to the redline. Full throttle pass to the redline will set you back in the seat, even running mid grade fuel. Average fuel economy is 28-29 according to the computer. In a car with 220 whp and 270 ft lb tq to the wheels, that is very respectable. The 5 cylinder Jetta would struggle 28 driving like grandma (not my grandma though, lol....) through the mountains. Already itching to do an APR stage 1 tune, which adds about 100 hp and tq for only $700ish. Will report after about 1500 miles when I change out the factory oil.
 
Nizmo- Glad, but not surprised, that you`re a) liking it, b) finding it pretty potent, and c) already thinking about "more" ;)
 
First thing bought for the car, lol. Since the dealer already mounted the factory mount, there was 5 holes in the bumper. So, only one way to cover it...

ELPZnmZ.jpg



(yes, it`s super salty...)
 
I actually put it into the purchasing contract for my car that my bumper was not to be drilled for a license plate. The dealer made me sign a waiver (front plates are required in California) but did as I asked. If I get stopped and wind up having to install the front plate, I will get a Platypus front license plate mount that screws into the tow hook receptacle.
 
I tried to get a new bumper out of the dealer, but since I had already taken delivery, it was no bueno. Always wanted to put a European tag on my Jetta, so I kind of had an excuse now. The look is growing on me though.
 
The tag looks nice. You are really making me want a GTI! I`ve owned both a Golf and a Jetta and liked both. I had two problems with the Jetta, the headliner started coming loose after 2 years and the dual clutch automatic went out. After yelling at Volkswagen of America they paid 50% to fix both. The dual clutch was out of warranty by one month. Since you have a manual, no problemo. Manual is the only way to go on a GTI.
 
rlmccarty2000 said:
The tag looks nice. You are really making me want a GTI! I`ve owned both a Golf and a Jetta and liked both. I had two problems with the Jetta, the headliner started coming loose after 2 years and the dual clutch automatic went out. After yelling at Volkswagen of America they paid 50% to fix both. The dual clutch was out of warranty by one month. Since you have a manual, no problemo. Manual is the only way to go on a GTI.
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You know you want one, lol. IMO manual is the only way to go in any VW. The DSG is nice, but the maintenance is costly and it is not good in stop and go traffic. My Jetta was a manual; it added a sense of "sport" to it even though it was a sedan. The 6 speed manual in the GTI is pretty good, the clutch is pretty light though, so it takes some getting used to. Still haven`t managed a smooth 1-2 shift yet. The hill assist is great too; it will hold even on the biggest of hills. Especially nice around here.
 
I much prefer the DSG -- you might be able to tell from my user name. :P

The DSG in the MK7 R is smoother and more responsive than the DSG in the MK5 GTI I had before -- anyone who dismisses it and doesn`t test drive it is doing himself a disservice. I can understand preferring 6MT on a emotional level, but on a technical basis the DSG is superior in every way. The DSG is also capable of dealing with more power than the 6MT. Some 6MT owners encounter clutch slip once they get a Stage 1 engine tune, and virtually everyone does with Stage 2. The DSG on the other hand tolerates Stage 1 and Stage 2 tunes without any problems, and often handles Stage 3 (turbo upgrades) as well.

The DSG in my MK5 GTI eventually needed a new clutch pack, but it had put up with years of Stage 3 and Stage 3+ power levels (over 500HP) and many Auto-X and track events.
 
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