Your Hip VW Electric Cargo Van Is Here Bro, Chevrolet Cruze SS And Used Scion tC vs GTI [Ask Nathan]

Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it’s relevant in the automotive universe, there’s a chance we may know something about it. The author’s email address and name will be omitted – leaving your initials or nickname, your preference.
  • VW Electric Cargo Van (I.D. Buzz Cargo Van)?
  • Chevrolet Cruze SS?
  • Used GTI vs used Scion tC?

The first question comes from Twitter (@Nathanadlen) with a note about the upcoming VW Electric Cargo Van.

Q: (Via Twitter@NathanAdlen) I know the regular I.D. Buzz will sell like hotcakes, but this idea of the Volkswagen worker’s van (VW Electric Cargo Van) is brilliant! 

I bet every bakery, catering and hemp shop from here to Kalamazoo will have one of these in their fleet! What’s the range and price?

Barkley

Greetings Barkley,

It should have a 200 to 340 mile range and make 201 horsepower. It’s based on the passenger version of the Volkswagen I.D. Buzz concept; however, Volkswagen opted for only one sliding door to allow for shelves to be mounted on the wall opposite the sliding door. According to sources, the passenger seat will be a mini bench that can hold two. It may fold to become a work surface and it should tumble and/or fold flat.

Pricing? No clue on that one.

We may learn a lot more about the VW Electric Cargo Van at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show when it debuts. Our TFL team will be covering the show and I promise to get more information on that van!

N


 

The next question comes from a hot hatch fan that hear about a Chevrolet Cruze SS concept.

Hi TFLteam! Written in before about getting a Dodge Dart SRT which never happened. I usually don’t like American hot hatches. But this looks cool. 

I just heard that the Chevrolet Cruze SS debuted. I don’t know where and maybe its going to debut at the LA auto show. Do you have any information on it?

Duane

A: Hi Duane!

Good news, bad news on this one.

You are correct, there is a Chevrolet Cruze SS out there! Sadly, it’s a concept and GM already announced that the Cruze hatchback is going away. That means, even if it did see production, it would be in sedan form.

This concept (which debuted at the 2018 São Paulo Motor Show) has a significantly beefed up 1.4-liter turbocharged engine which is supposed to produce 295 hp. That’s impressive. It’s also supposed to have a sports suspension, brakes, tires and steering.

Looks pretty cool to my eye. It would be awesome if GM built it, especially since the Ford Focus ST is leaving the USA. I will scout around Los Angeles when we cover the auto show in a few weeks.

N

 

The last question comes from a fan who is about to buy his first car. It’s between the 2006 Volkswagen GTI and the 2013 Scion tC.

Hi Nathan, it’s Carl from Memphis. I’m a big fan of all of your channels and so is my sister!

I am weeks away from getting my driver’s license and I have looked everywhere to find the right car. I only wanted stick but my mom’s hand me down Volvo is a boring automatic. It’s also boring and slow and boring. So I have been saving up money and will have about 5 thousand dollars to spend on a car just for me. It’s my first car and I want to get it right the first time.

My choices are my cousin’s 2006 Volkswagen GTI which is slightly modded or my sister’s 2013 Scion tC which is stock except for her stereo. I like them both and the Volkswagen is much faster. Both of them are worth more, but I can make a few payments to my cousin or sister to get full ownership in less than a year. I’m no mechanic and having a car that I don’t have to work on is a plus.

Which one would you get if I were your son?

Thank you Nathan! Please let Roman know that you guys should produce a TFLclassics show once a month for us classic car fans.

Is a tuned 2009 Volkswagen GTI faster than our stock Ford Fiesta ST? [Photo: TFLcar]
A:  Hi Carl!

I have a simple answer – get the Scion tC. Without a doubt it’s the right vehicle – if I were choosing for my teen. Nothing against your cousin’s GTI, but when people tell me they are getting a “modded” car, I usually tell them to be cautious.

I like the fact that your sister pretty much left the Scion alone and, more importantly, the Scion tC is one of the best cars in its class you can get. It’s roomy, frugal, fast and utilitarian. That 180 horsepower I-4 provides great power and the Scion tC handles beautifully. There’s good rear seat space and there are lots of aftermarket Scion parts out there you can mess with.

Thanks for the email and let us know what you decided on.

Hope that helps!

N

Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it’s relevant in the automotive universe, there’s a chance we may know something about it. The author’s email address and name will be omitted – leaving your initials or nickname, your preference.From day one, The Fast Lane Car has made it our policy to answer as many questions and comments as we can. We get thousands of emails and comments and feel that, as part of a tight-knit automotive community, having an open dialogue with you keeps things fresh and exciting.Got a question for Nathan? Drop him a line at: asknathan@tflcar.com.