Volkswagen Tiguan - a good choice for an entrepreneur?
Polish entrepreneurs love to drive good cars - if the company we visit has an expensive, luxurious or sports car in front of us, we immediately think that the company is doing well.
Car is a trademark
Probably many of us know the presidents and directors of large and successful enterprises who do not pay too much attention to what they ride every day. However, the vast majority of business owners, thanks to the possibility of leasing or long-term rental, have a chance to make their car dreams come true.
I work with pleasure
The car in the company should perform many functions at the same time: it should look good, be fun to drive, provide the right level of comfort, be as practical as possible and not too expensive. Sounds like a utopian description of an ideal machine that doesn't exist? It is difficult to please everyone at the same time, but there is a segment whose popularity is growing every year. Of course, we are talking about SUVs. Interestingly, it seems that SUVs and crossovers are the best combination of the above features of the ideal vehicle for an entrepreneur, although there will certainly be those who will say that "an SUV is not a real car." However, let's focus on what cars in this segment can convince those who are looking for a car for their company, and we will analyze these issues in detail using the example of the Volkswagen Tiguan. In order not to theorize, we decided to ask entrepreneurs how the Tiguan will perform its daily duties - in a photo / video production studio and in a transport company.
Focus on practicality
Do you need a car in the photo studio? If so, what other than commuting could it be useful for? We decided to spend two days with the studio team to see what work looks like during outdoor projects. Customer orders can cover almost any topic and industry, so versatility is the most important thing in a car. First of all, the trunk and the possibility of arranging cargo space, compartments, recesses or hooks - they allow you to conveniently position and secure equipment that often costs tens of thousands of zlotys. A wide loading opening and a low trunk sill allow you to conveniently extend heavy and long tripods - long enough for a sofa divided into 3 segments to be, in principle, a must-have equipment. In the trunk of the Tiguan, a 230V socket turned out to be very handy, where it was possible to regularly charge the batteries of cameras and cameras.
During the implementation, we had to go to Szczyrk to shoot a promotional film with enduro bikes in the mountains. Bicycles climbed onto the roof. They had to be transported to a rather inaccessible area where you are not looking for asphalt, and four-wheel drive and off-road assistants were used very often. Riding very steep and rocky climbs proved child's play, and the automatic transmission and powerful diesel in our tester made it a pleasure to move from place to place ten times for subsequent shots on gravel and rocky roads.
Is the glass skylight just a fad? Not in this industry - it's the perfect solution when you need to film your car or motorcycle while you're riding with your camera leaning over an open roof. Although this solution does not seem to be the safest, for cameramen and photographers it is everyday life.
When it comes to multimedia, online services have proven to be a great help, thanks to which you can check the weather for the next hours of the session, find parking nearby, or check fuel prices at gas stations closest to your current location. workplace. After more than twelve days of filming, it was necessary to return home, and the best trip is in comfort - our passengers especially liked the DYNAUDIO sound system and efficient three-zone air conditioning. Active cruise control and matrix LED lights helped return safely despite considerable fatigue.
What was missing for complete happiness? The R Line package makes the Tiguan a lot more visually appealing, but the huge XNUMX-inch wheels can quickly get damaged in off-road driving, as can the beefy but angle-reducing front bumper package. Opening the rear window in the trunk lid is welcome - you know, this would be useful during shots while driving. In the car we tested, there was no seat memory, and on the set the car is represented by the closest person - it would be easier if the seats were retrofitted with this element along with electric control. Nevertheless, the whole team liked the Tiguan, and by unanimous opinion, he was considered the ideal companion in their work.
Mobile office on a long journey
Transport companies are not just C+E kits or other vans. You also need a car that can take you to a driver who is struggling with an unexpected breakdown, settle formalities, or go to a meeting with a contractor to negotiate a new contract. When I asked one of the owners of a large transport company what he expects from a car, he immediately answered - comfort. Frequent long trips, more than once to the other side of Europe, can be a torment. Therefore, we decided to go to a meeting with a new client of a transport company, whose location was four hundred kilometers from the base.
After starting the engine and fastening the seat belts, the phone of the head of the company rang for the first time. He called twenty or thirty times that day—the Blueooth hands-free kit and the inductive charger in the compartment under the dash did the trick. The surprise was excellent call quality compared to a used car with a similar system. When driving on the highway, of course, with the permitted speeds, the Tiguan - for an SUV - turned out to be quite quiet. Only the noise of wide tires penetrating the cabin could eventually tire. Here, however, a really good DYNAUDIO system comes in handy.
After leaving the freeway, we still had about a hundred kilometers to drive on provincial and national roads, where we often had to sell buses or trucks. Here the concert was given by the DSG automatic transmission with seven gears, which in the “S” position made it impossible to doubt that there were as many as two hundred and forty horsepower under the hood of the Tiguan. The route, both in one direction and in the other direction, was very smooth and, despite more than eight hundred kilometers, we did not feel any fatigue caused by the road.
What, according to the head of the transport company, Mr. Mark, could be changed in Tiguan? Of course, the wheels - even in Comfort mode, large wheels and low-profile tires indicate almost all road irregularities. All-wheel drive is definitely not needed for long trips on the highway, and with front-wheel drive the car will consume less fuel. We must also honestly admit that for such a powerful engine and all-wheel drive, the average fuel consumption of about nine liters per hundred kilometers is quite acceptable. Unfortunately, the more powerful diesels in the Tiguan are only available with 4MOTION drivetrain, and the most powerful single-axle version with horsepower seems like a reasonable proposition. Full leather upholstery with ventilation options would also be a desirable option - unfortunately, this is not available even at an extra cost. The Tiguan was rated favorably, but a mid-range sedan or station wagon would certainly be better suited as a car that frequently covers long distances on the highway.
Ideal segment for companies?
SUVs have conquered the market forever, and it is in this segment that most manufacturers see an opportunity to increase sales. Although it would have sounded incredible a few years ago, today fewer people are surprised by the appearance of SUVs even under the sign of such luxury and orthodox brands as Bentley, Lamborghini, Ferrari or Rolls Royce. It is versatility, good performance and trendy design that convince new customers.
Is Tiguan a Good Choice for an Entrepreneur? The vehicle we tested has proven its worth, but the condition for satisfaction from using this model is the actual desire to own an SUV. On the one hand, these are advantages: greater ground clearance, four-wheel drive and a higher driving position, on the other hand, you have to put up with some differences from “ordinary” cars: more curb weight, increased fuel consumption or a higher center of gravity, which affects on the impression of dynamic driving. One thing is for sure - there are more and more fans of SUVs every year, Tiguan is not a sales leader in its segment, but over the years it has developed a strong position. When looking for a car for Volkswagen Tiguan can be an interesting offer.
