Today I learned just how tech starved my Mache is

[Ahlarict]

Let me explain

On Saturday, we picked up a 2025 VW Gulf GTI for my wife. Beautiful car! We got the Autobahn edition so it pretty much has everything it can have. Driving it on the weekend, I've come to the realization that the Mach-e is not what it claims to be, a tech advanced, fully featured car.

I have a Mache Premium.

The GTI's infotainment system (though 12.5") is faster, better, with the all the same functionality of my Mache
The GTI's dash is vastly superior. Provides SO much more information and just looks better. Even has a HUD, my Mache does not
The GTI gets ~ 800km on a single tank of gas vs my Mache which is around 460km (costs are still a bit cheaper for electric charging, but only a bit now)
The GTI has full assist driving, just short of hands free, but everything else that my Mache has
the list goes on and on

Most importantly... I'm paying approx. $300 less per month for the new car.

Ford will definitely have some work to do in the next 12-18months to keep me as a customer when my lease is up. Other manufactures are really putting Ford to shame and it's sad. I've been a "Ford guy" for 21 years. It feels like the end of the road. : /

The Golf is VW's #1 product world-wide. It's the most carefully thought out and designed vehicle in their lineup. From value-leader econobox trims to tricked out luxury sportscar trim levels (that are a level above the ones that get imported to North America), they make all of 'em pretty darn good. I've owned four since High School (which is one more than the number of Mustangs I've owned over the years). But to be fair, you are comparing a compact ICE hot hatch to an electric SUV (albeit a slightly less portly crossover SUV as the marketers would remind us). Very different vehicles with very different strengths and weaknesses.

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[Ahlarict]

Just watched this GTI Autobahn review:

Interior design is highly personal. I prefer the MME's dashboard and infotainment design, and to me the GTI just looks like the next minor evolution of VW group's infotainment interface. It's nice but not special IMHO. That said, I wouldn't mind a HUD in the MME (I have it in our Telluride and really appreciate it).

Btw, didn't VW recently sign an agreement to license Rivian's software?

It would seem Rivian hasn’t proven to be the simple "magic bullet" solution for all of VWAG’s software woes either: https://www.electrive.net/2025/09/19/software-joint-venture-von-volkswagen-und-rivian-soll-lahmen/

30yrs in the software business has taught me that technology can be complicated and that software is hard.

 

[devmach-e]

Also my first Ford, my last 4 vehicles were Toyota products (3 Toyota's, 1 Lexus), and overall I was very happy with them (very minimal maintenance...)

Test drove 4 EV's and 2 Hybrids before pulling the trigger on the Mach-e (ID4, Bz4x, Ioniq5, Mach-e, Lexus NX, Toyota Crown Signia)....

Had I gone Hybrid I would have definitely got the Crown Signia...

Unfortunately the Bz4X is a steaming pile of EV crap, and the Lexus Rz isn't much better, compared to most other EV's on the market....

It's unfortunate that Toyota put all their eggs in the hybrid basket, and largely ignored EV's for a long time, maybe they'll someday they'll finally release a decent EV product?
Only time will tell.....

We've had: 1996 RAV4, 2004 Sienna, 2005 Prius, 2012 Plug-in Prius, and currently drive a 2016 Highlander Hybrid (currently has 159K miles on it). Plan is to replace the Highlander with a Grand Highlander Hybrid in the next couple of years.

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