Our long-term 2010 VW GTI has but a single 12V accessory powerpoint in the front seating area (below). Brent has pointed this out several times. When I took my road trip to San Francisco in July, I had to power my mobile phone, my radar detector (for safety reasons), and my portable navigation unit (as we didn't order Navi on our GTI).
Needless to say it was a pain to juggle these three devices in the single powerpoint. But I remembered that Brent mentioned that the GTI has a second powerpoint. And I found it in the cargo area.
Why in the cargo area? If this were a Sienna or some other mommymobile I would understand.
Moms need to inflate the kiddie pool floaties, soccer balls, etc.
What's a GTI driver going to do with that powerpoint? Maybe you GTI fanbois can help me understand.
Albert Austria, Senior Engineer @ 12, 250 miles
lowmilelude says:
12:58 PM, 08/31/10
I would guess it's there to inflate the rear tire with one of those small compressors? Sometimes they have pretty short cords on them.
spune says:
01:04 PM, 08/31/10
Well it would nice to have a third one preferably in the 2nd row. But you'll be pretty happy to have that one in the hatch when you want to plug in your cooler/fridge.
bintintin says:
01:06 PM, 08/31/10
When I had my Passat, it was used to power a portable refrigerator. It kept all our drinks/food perfect with no wires to intrude into the passenger compartment.
clarkma5 says:
01:09 PM, 08/31/10
My 2004 has one here as well, I have to admit I have never used it.
Then again I've only ever used my front powerpoint on a few occasions too. I don't use a navi or a radar detector and I just charge my phone at home...I don't even own a car charger. The lack of clutter is wonderful, I highly recommend it.
mcgs999 says:
01:27 PM, 08/31/10
as an owner the only thing i can figure it is for is to hook up a hand vac...
huyracing says:
01:30 PM, 08/31/10
navigation? don't need it much, but i wish i had gotten it as an option. those plug in units work, but cause clutter and make it look tacky...
i charge my phone at home or at the hotel... and i only need to charge my phone like once every few days anyways.
and i tend to keep my speeds at the legal limit.
perhaps you need a mobile workstation, not a car.
ptcdawg says:
01:38 PM, 08/31/10
Could be used to run an inverter to power a small LCD at a tailgate party....plug in coolers are nice sometimes....vacuum....
It's a 12 volt plug, WTF are you thinking/expecting? You plug in 12 volt appliances to it.
coxwill says:
02:11 PM, 08/31/10
Same thing in my Cooper S, not sure what I'm going to use the one in the hatch for. I do like the idea of a small fridge....
Murtman says:
02:19 PM, 08/31/10
Why don't you just get one of these? http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Triple-Cigarette-Charger-Adapter/dp/B000SPGFUG
Powers my phone charger, satellite radio and GPS at the same time.
leftnose says:
02:49 PM, 08/31/10
For the rear power point: http://www.engel-usa.com/mt27.htm DC powered fridge (not cooler).
x2 on the power point splitter above. My cell phone is new but I use one all the time to power a GPS and FM transmitter for my iPod from the single power point in the front of my car.
zcalvert says:
09:00 PM, 08/31/10
1. maybe focus a little more on driving than on your 3 gadgets.
2. ever been to a college football tailgate?
3. that's an excellent picture of the one of the channels the cargo cover should have been resting in when someone on staff broke the string clip.
cello_one says:
06:49 AM, 09/ 1/10
I vote a 110 Inverter and a Blender - and who needs a fridge - stop at the gas station for a $1.79 bag of ice and a bottle of margaritta mix! No salt please.