Add Yours: VW ID. Buzz Owner's Registry

Any Former e-Golf owners who now drive an ID.4?

7115 Views 29 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Phill76, Jul 28, 2021

David Cat

Discussion Starter · Apr 15, 2021

I have been driving e-Golfs for the last 6 years (2015 SEL, 87-mile range, and currently a 2018 SEL, all-digital cockpit, 125-mile range), and loving every minute of it - best cars I have ever driven/owned! I was excited when the ID.4 was announced, and pre-ordered 2 back in September; an FE and a Pro-S AWD.

My FE came in a month ago, I took it for a test drive, and then cancelled my order (BTW, received the $100 + $400 credits the next day after calling VW Care to cancel!). After driving the e-Golf for years, this car just felt very "big" and without the agility and pickup I'm used to; really comfortable ride though. The early VW hype seemed to indicate the road performance would be similar to a Golf, but I didn't find that to be the case. And other than the sunroof, power lift-gate, and 250-mile range, there don't appear to be significant improvements over the e-Golf (for my needs), and in fact the interior quality/feel seems like a downgrade.

That said, I was only able to drive the car for about 30 minutes, and so I'm seeking overall impressions from those that have driven both cars for a fair amount of time to see what they think. It's possible that I didn't put the ID.4 through the paces long enough to make a fair comparison, and I'm looking forward to a test drive in the AWD later this year to see if that is a better fit for me.

I welcome all comments!

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xzong1

· #2 · Apr 15, 2021

Hi, 2019 e-Golf owner here. I feel what you said about agility, I don't think any EV out there can beat the e-Golf on that aspect.
I have had my FE for 2 weeks and I still don't have the same confidence during parking and zip zaping in SF local street.
However, comparing to Model Y and Mach-E, I think ID4 took an easy win in terms of drivability.

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David Cat

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 15, 2021

Thanks, that's why I asked - Maybe my expectations have been shaped from all the favorable reviews and European driving videos. I've always had relatively small cars, mostly Subarus for the AWD here in the Northeast, and they also had nimble handling.

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FinleyFinn

· #4 · Apr 15, 2021

I drove a 2017 e-Golf SEL for three and a half years before replacing it with the ID.4. While I liked the compact size of the e-Golf, the ID.4 rides more comfortably and is much quieter, let alone its range that's double that of the e-Golf. For a car its size and weight, I think the ID.4 handles rather well. Also the steering feel with the RWD is a huge improvement over the e-Golf.

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ExCivilian

· #5 · Apr 15, 2021

I drove an eGolf from 2015-2018. I was waiting for this 200+ range vehicle for a few years and completely forgot about development during the pandemic (with both myself and wife working from home). We went to the dealership for service and saw a First Edition and impulse bought one that a pre-order customer had decided not to buy.

I can understand the feeling of lack fo nimble-ness. The car, for its size, is very nimble compared to other SUVs but won't be able to match the eGolf. Next to our Touareg, that thing lumbers along and is much larger even though it's not immediately obvious until they're next to one another. The ID4 reminds me more of an EV wagon than it does an SUV...and that's not a bad thing. Before we had our eGolf we were in a JSW before dieselgate took them off the road and a GSW after the eGolf until a bonehead took that off the road.

My wife has been hit by more than one careless driver and, while she loved the eGolf, she feels much more comfortable in a car that doesn't fit under most of these large cars' bumpers. I'm selling my GTI right now but if she decides she loves the ID4 (so far she's liking it more every day) I'll also sell the Touareg and get an eGolf again. They're two different cars, though. We have a 2 and 4 year old. Bottom line is that the car seems really easy to park, very nimble, and smooth acceleration compared to an SUV (like the Touareg) but isn't even trying to be compete with a sub-compact feel like the eGolf. If you want that throw-around feel you'll probably need to wait for the AWD with its extra torque and 100hp--but it comes with a significant cost if you're getting an ID4 for the range. I concluded that if I was going to drive a sub-200 mile range vehicle (20-80%) I might as well get a 2019 eGolf for short city hops.

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David Cat

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 15, 2021

Thanks for your perspective ExCivilian - very helpful! As I mentioned, I didn't have much time with the car due to my schedule that day, and I didn't "love" the car enough to pay what I also considered to be an expensive lease ($600/mo for 10k mi/year). It DOES have a very comfortable ride and is very smooth and quiet, and it did well in the crash-tests which, as you alluded to, is important. I'm in no rush for a new car, but do feel strongly about becoming all-electric (my wife drives a plug-in Prius, so we're 3/4 of the way there), and I think she wants the e-Golf if/when I get the ID.4 or another BEV.

ExCivilian

· #7 · Apr 15, 2021

You might want to check out the ID4 GTX. I don't know anything about it but if you're looking for longer range, don't mind the extra space, but still yearning for performance that might be the one.

David Cat

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 15, 2021

From what I've heard I think the GTX will have a similar power train and battery to the ID.4 AWD, but maybe with some nice upgrades. I would like a premium sound system, sequential turn signals, adjustable suspension and maybe a few other bells & whistles.

ixlr08

· #9 · Apr 15, 2021

David Cat said:
From what I've heard I think the GTX will have a similar power train and battery to the ID.4 AWD, but maybe with some nice upgrades. I would like a premium sound system, sequential turn signals, adjustable suspension and maybe a few other bells & whistles.

Keep in mind that sequential turn signals won't come to the US until US laws change. Antiquated lighting laws is what is keeping the sequential turn signals out of the US. Audi does seem to get around this by having a 'solid' turn signal in addition to the sequential signal.

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David Cat

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 15, 2021

I know some of the ID.4 Euro-spec features may not be available in the US, such as the Matrix LED headlights, but I do see cars here with the sequential turns signals, Audis and Mustangs mostly (and T-Birds, back in the day...), so I assume they are legal.

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salant76

· #11 · Apr 15, 2021

@David Cat,

I am a current e-Golf owner and have test driven the ID.4 as well. The ID.4 is 12 inches longer and 1000+ pounds heavier so it isn't going to drive like the smaller e-Golf. With regards to the GTX my understanding is we are not getting it here in the US maybe later but not initially. VW is revealing it on April 28th so we will know more soon enough.

I am wondering if the ID.4 AWD will be a little sportier than the RWD version not only because of the additional 100 hp but there seems to be a 4Motion (AWD) only setting for the ESC called ESC Sport. VW describes the setting as: The function assists with sporty driving. The ESC intervenes later to stabilize the vehicle, e.g. during fast cornering

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ExCivilian

· #12 · Apr 16, 2021

By the time all that is turned on you won’t much more range than an e-Golf

TT97

· #13 · Apr 16, 2021

David Cat said:
I know some of the ID.4 Euro-spec features may not be available in the US, such as the Matrix LED headlights, but I do see cars here with the sequential turns signals, Audis and Mustangs mostly (and T-Birds, back in the day...), so I assume they are legal.

Mustangs (and presumably Audi) can use sequential turn signals as only the first one lighting up is considered the turn signal (regulations ignore the subsequent lights). The issue with the ID.4 is that the first signal lighting up is smaller than the minimum size allowed for turn signals so not legal in the U.S. (Yes, very stupid antiquated regulation).

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ixlr08

· #14 · Apr 16, 2021

TT97 said:
Mustangs (and presumably Audi) can use sequential turn signals as only the first one lighting up is considered the turn signal (regulations ignore the subsequent lights). The issue with the ID.4 is that the first signal lighting up is smaller than the minimum size allowed for turn signals so not legal in the U.S. (Yes, very stupid antiquated regulation).

Audi has one large light that comes on with the signal, the sequential lights are in addition to the one large light. This is how they get around the rules.

David Cat

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 16, 2021

Thanks for the explanation - good to know. And they probably won't bring that to the ID.4 - they'll save it for Audi I guess, along with other niceties to differentiate the brands.

raadsel

· #16 · Apr 16, 2021

We really just need the government to change the archaic lighting regulations, both for the turn signals and the ones that prohibit the matrix lights.

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fshepinc

· #17 · Apr 18, 2021

Currently driving my 2015 eGolf, but expecting my FE in the next week or two (at long last!). Like the OP, I'm not really thrilled about getting larger car -the eGolf has been the best car I've ever owned. But the range on the 2015 is so limited, it's time to move on, and the means going bigger. I've driven the ID.4 several times, and love the comfort and handling. It will take a bit go getting used to, but in the end the range, heated steering wheel, and massaging seats will ease the (figurative and literal) pain.

xzong1

· #18 · Apr 18, 2021

did anyone notice that the id4's turn radius is extremely small, I didn't realize that until last night when I did a u turn in a culdecac. I was so amazed.

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ExCivilian

· #19 · Apr 18, 2021

Yes, it's very tight. The ID4 is more reminiscent of a Golf Wagon (think AllTrack) than an SUV. It's much smaller than the Touareg sitting next to it. I haven't seen it next to a Tiguan but those always looked like toys to me and I never paid much attention to them.

My wife loved the eGolf but she was hit more than once by people driving these monster trucks with bumpers that were sitting at about eye level. I've even had a woman accidentally pushing me into the intersection because she couldn't figure out why she couldn't get a foot away from me...it was because of the 4x8 utility trailer in between us! I had to put the ebrake on and jump out and run to her window and tell her, lady please stop pushing my trailer, you're wrecking your front grill

She was apologetic but blissfully unaware.

It's dangerous to drive a sub-compact in some places in the US. She is loving the ID4 more and more. She already liked it but now she's openly talking about me selling the Touareg and getting a second ID4.

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xzong1

· #20 · Apr 19, 2021

Now my biggest regret is I should have bought it instead of lease.

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