---

EOS is VW’s winsome “convertriple”

By Cliff Leppke

The VW Eos is a triple treat. It has an appealing all-weather “convertriple” top, a winsome body and lusty driving qualities. Nonetheless, those are, say topped off, by something else: A masterfully choreographed ballet of moving body parts that wows from top-to-bottom. For instance, the car’s five roof sections convert from hardtop to sunroof coupe and then to convertible. In less than 30 seconds; windows open and close; the roof panels slide, lift and fold; and then the entire top with glass rear window tucks inside the trunk.

It’s an impressive feat, a reason to pick this ride, named for a goddess of dawn. Then there’s the bottom line — price, about $29,000 for starters. Not cheap, but at least $10,000 less than the folding hardtop Volvo C70 and, well, a lot less dear than a chic Mercedes. Pontiac’s new G6 retractable hardtop is similarly priced. It neither has a sunroof nor a manual transmission. And whereas the Eos has a tiny but usable top-down trunk, the G6 doesn’t. I found the Eos’ interior top rate, the Pontiac needs improvement.

There’s more to the Eos than the fancy top. It’s a delightful quasi sports car. For instance, due to a large tinted-glass sunroof, the Eos provides a pleasant airy, bright top-up interior. The glass panel tilts for ventilation or slides back for the Porsche Targa effect. I’d skip that latter feature; there’s too much turbulence. In contrast, the cockpit is surprisingly calm and quiet at highway speeds with the top down, windows up and rear wind deflector in place. On a mild winter day, turn on the electric seat heaters, crank up the automatic heating, lower the top and alfresco motoring is yours. A second wind deflector mounted above the windshield added more noise, but it might prevent a bad hair day. I didn’t use it.

I did use the Candy White Eos’ direct-shift gearbox — a six-speed manual transmission that’s automatically shifted. This tranny coupled to a smooth, potent, turbo-charged, four-cylinder, 200-horsepower engine is a gift for those who prefer sporty mastery of VW’s unabashedly cute car but would rather not fiddle with a clutch pedal. Take it easy on the go pedal; this car’s front wheels frantically grab for traction, when you push too far. Hint: Skip the optional 250-horsepower six-cylinder engine; it isn’t necessary. Ignore: VW’s promotional DVD claims that the car has a six-speed engine. That’s OK for a lawnmower but not a car. Obviously, a copywriter and a host of other overly creative people weren’t thinking.

The unique body of the Portuguese-built Eos shares chassis and power train bits with other VWs. I heard folks yell “cute car,” which probably sums up Eos styling. By itself, it’s a charmer, but when you park it alongside a typical sports coupe, you’ll discover the Eos is tall and wide. Think of it as a large mouth bass rather than a musky.

Unfortunately, the Eos is like other four-seat convertibles; the cowl, steering column and other bits wiggle when you encounter bumps. Other journalists I’ve consulted claim the Eos wobbles less than the Pontiac G6. Erect the Eos top and those queasy sensations vanish. VW’s Sean Maynard assured me that top-up motoring impresses — he’s right. Plus, the top pieces seal so well that hardtop motoring is luxuriously hushed. Another bonus is the car’s solid feeling interior — no rattles or squeaks. One fly in the ointment: A recalcitrant rear quarter window.

Winding along my favorite curvy roads, the Eos remains poised, its handling competent. It’s not a four-seat Mazda Miata. Nonetheless, the steering is communicative, grip is adequate and the car feels well balanced. Guys might whine that it’s a chick’s chic car — more show than go — however, the Eos’ chassis and drive line prove the bottom complements the top.

Overall, the interior is nicely appointed. Artfully, sculpted panels abound — even the vinyl seats feel rich. Some parts are very sturdy, such as the double-wall plastic lower door bins. Front seat and leg room are fine; the rear is tight. Do check whether your right leg rubs against the car’s center console. I found the console bulge an annoyance. Another Eos plus is the trunk; there is one! It has room for more than two suitcases. Although the rear seats do not fold — due to body stiffening and roll-over protection — there’s a center rear seat armrest pass through for long objects such as ski boards. Therefore, the Eos plays more than the top card; it scores as a two-adult highway getaway car. Fuel economy during my December test: 23 mpg overall; the EPA estimates are 23 mpg city and 31 highway. Premium fuel is recommended.

Time will tell, whether the Eos is a contemporary collectable — possibly today’s Karmann Ghia. One thing’s for sure, VW has a hardtop convertible that outshines Ford’s old Skyliner; it’s far more useful. Car collectors open your wallets.