Performance figures achieved by Volkswagon Driver magazine

[Heathwood]

As a VW fan, I often find myself thumbing through the odd copy of VW Driver and have become aware that they seem to quote frankly astonishing performance figures.

As an example, in the latest issue they have printed performance figures for the new Scirocco, together with times previously achieved for the Golf GTI and ED30.

Using 0-60 times as an example, if my memory serves me correctly, they claim to have achieved the following:

Scirocco - 5.6 secs
Golf GTI - 6.0 secs
Golf ED30 - 5.6 secs

These times are the best part of a second faster than other mags have achieved and tumps quicker than the, albeit conservative, manufacturers times.

So, anyone know how the hell they achieve such times, which no other mag seems capable of matching? Are 'special' press cars provided to VW Driver? Or is manipulation of figures by a single margue publication?

[J400uk]

I'm not sure really. Theres one school that says 0-60 (or 0-62 as we are part of the EU )times quoted by the manufacturer and impossible to match or beat, and another saying that they can beat them.

Thing with the VWs though, a lot of them put out more power than the sticker says. Pretty much all the TDIs for example have at least 10bhp more than the quoted figure which is why the feel quicker than the faster on paper Ford or whatever.

Edited by J400uk on Wednesday 22 October 19:38

[Tea Pot One]

I think most of the 'major' magazines do their testing with a full tank of fuel and two people .... maybe they do it with driver only and less fuel ? That would make the difference I would have thought.

[Heathwood]

Hmm, despite the responses, a 1300kg FWD car with less than 200bhp getting to 60mph in just over five and a half secs doesn't seem to add up. To add context, I'm pretty sure that in ten years Evo mag have only ever figured one car to 60mph in less than 6 secs.

[Puff Puff]

Why not write and ask them?