Originally Posted by MikeTangas

The VW has glow plugs, but they glow plug light in the dash only glows for a couple seconds (longest was less than ten the other morning at 38*F). Basically, turn the key and go but i always wait a few seconds before turning the key. From what I've read the system heats the plugs fast, then cycles them on/off until the engine comes up to temp.

This one is equipped with the DSG (direct shift gearbox) tranny. Most call it an automatic. It has the manual shift option like the slushbox in the CLK320 plus a sport mode, which holds the shift off for 1K rpm, shifting at 3K rather than 2K. When slowing for a stop light you can feel it gear down like a manny tranny but the upshifts are almost imperceptable.

I do have one beef though. While VW has finally opted to put in cup holders (very un Benzlike) but, they aren't big enough to hold my coffee cup - a 16oz ceramic mug. They will hold a 24oz paper/styrofoam cup but not a real cup. I wonder if they only put them in for the North American market?

Skippy, this commute isn't that bad...my last commute was 3,000 miles home to work. Did that once a month for 3 years.