Test drive Volkswagen Golf IV 5 doors 1997 - 2003 hatchback

Volkswagen Golf IV

The autopilot evaluates cars according to five main criteria. The amount of advantages is indicated - b, the shortcomings - Ch. The next subject gained 5 B. This is Volkswagen Golf IV.
EXTERIOR. All configuration options include external mirrors and bumpers painted in the color of the body. The color palette is very rich - 15 diverse colors and shades, and in 11 of them, metallic or mother -of -pearl paint is used. The body is solid, the elements are made according to a special technology with a 12-year guarantee from through corrosion. In the front and rear wheel niches, thorough plastic shelves are regularly installed. When choosing a new machine, you should pay attention to the presence of the so -called package for bad roads - suspension adapted to Russian conditions. The clearance in this case is increased to 170 mm. The basic model is equipped with a 175/80 R14 with stamped steel disks (195/65 R15 for a diesel engine). On more expensive versions or orders, you can install alloy 15- or 16-inch discs for tires in size 195/65 or 205/55, respectively. 4 b, 1 h.
 
 
 
INTERIOR. In terms of quality of materials and the level of finishing, the Golf salon is much closer to business class cars than to classmates from small average. Thoughtfully, neatly and tastefully. Golf IV is a very definite style that has already become a household style. The solidity and comfort with a sports bias is offered in four configuration options: basic, Trendline, Comfortline and Highline.
 
We include capacious pockets in the doors, a spacious glove compartment with backlight, the cover of which opens on the microlyphone, the pockets in the backs of the front seats and the armrest between the front seats, which opens in the back of the front seats. The rear seat with the armrest, depending on the configuration, is folded either in whole or in parts, in a ratio of 60:40. The luggage compartment is spacious, about 1 m in the diameter, almost cubic shape. Its volume can be changed from 415 to 1185 liters. The trunk has a backlight, an additional 12 volt outlet and pockets for an autojet dial. Immediately - a full -size reserve. 5 B.
 
Equipment and ergonomics. The cost of living in Golf is very high. Integral -type hydraulic power, a four -channel ABS with an electronic rational system ESP, electric mirrors, four airbags, air conditioning, central lock, front windows, immobilizer, air conditioning, audio tire - all that modern car is almost not concealed. For additional money, you can get automatic climate control, multi-stage heating of the seats, heating of the mirrors and fiber nozzles (the so-called winter package), a trip-computer, and so on, up to the rain sensor. In general, almost any known options are possible - pay money.
The front console turned to the driver, a large range of driver's seat adjustments, adjusted by inclination and, notice, flying off the steering column, thought -out and organically located controls, easily readable devices with original color backlight ultramarin, a convenient plot -plot under the left foot - - All this, of course, needs to be recorded in the asset. The passive, however, gets the right small -sized mirror located at different heights of the brake and gas pedal and the absence of far from the cheapest version of the adjustable lumbar subpoor. There, apparently, there will be a inconvenience of climate control control. And the fair selfishness of the salon - high riders on the front seats leave no chance to accommodate normally at anyone but children. 4 b, 1 h.
ROAD. Of all the GOLF gamma proposed in the Russian market, in our opinion, versions with 1.6 and 2.0 liters and mechanical gearboxes are most attractive. Machines can be equipped with a three-mode adaptive 4-speed automatic, but this increases their price by more than $ 1100. The first thing that attracts attention is the work of the suspension. With the Russian package, she acquired the previously lacking comfortable energy -intensive elasticity, while preserving all her qualities in terms of ensuring controllability, course stability and resistance to rolls. The reactive effect on the steering wheel can hardly be called pronounced, but it does not cause criticism. And with such a clear shift of the gears-a light movement of the hand-one of the classmates can hardly boast. ABS works very delicately, interfering only when the wheels are really blocked. Naturally, a car with a 2-liter engine is more dropped, but a 1.6-liter engine does not really lag behind it. Both motors have excellent traction on the bottoms, the gear ratings of the checkpoint are selected individually. Both are clearly expressed in higher gear. Both almost equally provide, on the one hand, a comfortable ride in the city and, on the other hand, wonderful fighting qualities in high -speed modes. Great sound insulation. 5 B.
Features of national operation. The official factory warranty in Russia for all GOLF cars is one year without a mileage. Some Volkswagen dealers in Russia, subject to all regulatory and repair work at their technical center, extend the warranty for another year. And the special factory service program provides Volkswagen owners in Russia with preferential conditions and at the end of the warranty period. Interior mileage is installed in 15 thousand km. The content of the car during the warranty with an average annual run of 30 thousand km will cost approximately $ 400-450 per year.
Additional steel protection (about $ 100 with installation) is recommended - the split aluminum Carter pallet will facilitate your wallet at least $ 300. These motors can digest gasoline with an octane number of at least 91. However, think about whether the possible savings and risk of running into etched gasoline (lambda zonda) are comparable, swallow water and lose the gas pump ($ 300-400) and other small dirty tricks. The timing belt actually withstands 90 thousand km, but it requires special attention, because in case of a break, the meeting on the Elbe will lead to a loss of $ 500 for the bulk of the block head to $ 1000 for its replacement.
In terms of reliability, Golf adapted to Russia has established itself very worthy, although not without annoying trifles. The suspension safety margin is estimated at 90--1201 thousand km. A weak place is a stabilizer plastic earrings. Fortunately, inexpensively - about $ 30. Wiper drives acidifying from the salt of the axis of the drives require immediate contacting the service, since the motorized motors will deprive you of the opportunity to spend on more pleasant things from $ 120 to $ 250. You should not save on non-freezing: the nozzle nozzle or a broken pump will facilitate you for $ 50-200. The water frozen in the offseason will lead to the replacement of the rear wiper motor (about $ 150) and/or cylinder of the release of the headlight washer ($ 50-60). And so that after 10-15 thousand km, one day you can’t experience a light shock at the sight of a puddle of gasoline under the machine, we advise you to ask the dealer to install an additional gasket for the metal clamp of the unbearable, which usually quickly wipes its case. 4 b, 1h
Our sentence. Golf was not in vain a household name for a whole car class. The car is not cheap, but its qualities are worth it, and a rich model gamut allows you to choose the option, as they say, by means. Golf is a machine for those who are important and the size does not matter, but at the same time has nothing against paying for the name. 5 B.
Text Andrey Timofeev, photo Alexey Ilyin

 

Source: "Autopilot"