Last weekend, the Volkswagen Jetta Club Philippines and the Volkswagen Golf GTS Sportwagen Pilipinas—both local Volkswagen-enthusiast car clubs—through the support of Volkswagen PH, held an enjoyable fun drive that took over 30 members of the car clubs to Pico de Loro Cove in the coastal town of Nasugbu, Batangas. The activity aimed to strengthen camaraderie among club members and to highlight the pleasure in driving their Jettas and Golf GTIs, the brand’s bestselling sedan and wagon in the Philippines.
The group assembled early Sunday morning at the Volkswagen BGC dealership, and took to the SLEX en route to Cavite, and ultimately to Batangas. Dubbed ‘A Fun Drive in the South’, the event incorporated picturesque stops and a specially selected route that would take the vehicles through smooth straightaways, narrow country roads and some tricky rolling hills (in the Cavite and Batangas area).
Conceivably, the participants had a ball while feeling out – in real-world conditions – the capabilities of their Jettas and Golf GTIs – powered by a 2.0L turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel engine mated to a 6-speed DSG transmission. The said engine can generate 150Ps of power at 3,500-4,200rpm; and boasts a class-leading torque output of 1,750-3,000 rpm.
And as an added treat for this particular activity, Volkswagen BGC tied up with Pilipinas Shell to deliver the participants some fuel subsidy for the trip.
Asserting that this weekend congregation was more than just for car appreciation and their personal enjoyment of driving, the members of the Jetta Club Philippines and Golf GTS Sportwagen Pilipinas also attended a road-safety talk at the site, delivered by Engr. Alberto Suansing of the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership. As you might remember, Suansing has also played an active role in Volkswagen Philippines’ Child Safety Initiative.
During his road-safety talk, Suansing cautioned his audience that though the Jetta and the Golf GTI both have outstanding passive safety systems built into them, the fate of pedestrians and other motorists around them still ultimately falls into their hands. It fundamentally boils down to responsible driving and the driver being in the right state of mind.
Through the day’s event, various activities were held and special tokens given away to the participants. They also had the opportunity for a delightful photo-op which included the iconic ‘Parrot’s Beak’ summit of Mt. Pico de Loro, in the background.
What may have been a typical, laid-back Sunday was transformed into a memorable day out with friends and new friends. And the common denominator? Why, their love for Volkswagen vehicles, of course. And that is to prove that owning a VW goes beyond just having a fun and modern vehicle built by a company with a heritage that has spanned generations – it transcends to actually being part of this cool, little community of people that live the Volkswagen lifestyle. Because with Volkswagen, it’s more than just a car… it’s a culture!