Test Drive Volkswagen Golf IV 5 Doors 1997 - 2003 Hatchback

Golfstream

Everyone seemed to have been good to beat all the popularity records Volkswagen Beetle, the model lasted on the conveyor without a small half a century, even the famous Ford T released on the number of instances released. But at the beginning of the 60s, despite all the modernization, the demand for it began to catastrophe. With all the sharpness arose about replacing. With a purely German pedantherap, a hard schedule was developed, according to which everything about everything from decision-making before the start of serial production was given exactly 200 weeks.


Having invested in the development of a new model DM230 million, Volkswagen introduced it to the world in May 1974. The car received the name Golf (by the name of the washing floor of Europe of the warm ocean flow, but not at all not a well-known game for the rich, as many believe).


Responsible for easily memorable appearance Maestro Georgetto Judjaro. It was not without a scandal in a noble family. The management of the concern considered it necessary to make a number of changes to the Italian project, and this was done by the forces of its own designers. Seeing his work edited by the Germans, Judjaro came terrified and presented an ultimatum: or his project was accepted unconditionally, or not accepted at all.


The case took a serious turn, and in the end Volkswagen capitulated. True, still dragged some minor amendments. In particular, the shape of the hood that had originally too strong tilt was changed, and the rectangular headlights gave way to the usual round.


From its predecessor Golf inherited only the number of places in the cabin and the wheelbase (2400 mm). The power unit has changed fully equipped with water-cooled four-cylinder engine designers placed over the front leading bridge, and also transversely. Such a layout was added to the shock of the good half of Wolfsburg. Initially, the car was completed with two versions of the engine with volumes of 1.1 (50 hp) and 1.5 liters (70 hp). Moreover, for the best weighing, a weaker and light motor tilted 15 degrees ahead, and heavier to the same angle ago.


In addition to the standard manual box, the machine was equipped with a machine gun (for a fee). Suspension of all wheels independent, front type Macpherson, rear lever. The brake hydraulic system (front disk, rear drums) consisted of two contours, each of which worked for two wheel diagonally: the right front left rear and left front right rear. The brake amplifier was equipped with only cars with 70-strong engines. In order to facilitate the search for defects, the wiring of the car included a multi-power connector for connecting to diagnostic equipment.


Body of the first Golf carrier, three- or five-door hatchback, passenger salon occupied 87% of the volume. In addition to the standard equipment produced in two versions (basic and suite) Golf had a large set of options, which included a sliding hatch in the roof, wheels with cast discs and low-profile tires, locked by a gas tank tube, janitor and rear window washer, more powerful generator and battery. The car was in moderation.


Compact, reliable and economical Golf instantly won the recognition of buyers, it was raised as hot cakes The first million broke in three years. True, some complaints caused the back seat due to the grindiness. The car was considered a five-seater, nevertheless the third rear passenger was clearly superfluous, and the feet were not enough. But can you often see the car downloaded on the road on the roads of Europe or the USA? (The last country is the main for Volkswagen export market.) By the way, it was specially for North America, the Golf version with enhanced bumpers and dual headlights sold there under the name Rabbit were prepared. And the Golf version, released several years later, the Mexican branch of the company was called CARIBE.


It would seem to live and rejoice, what else to wish? But here it hit the oil crisis with all his characteristic surprises like introducing a speed limit, ban on Sunday trips and crazy prices for gasoline. In this situation, there has nothing to do with any charged version of the model. And the management of the concern did not stutter about it until one irresponsible engineer of the test center did not demonstrate the hot version of Golf, collected by his secret in his own garage. The car caused genuine delight from everyone who had the opportunity to get acquainted with him closer. The unexpectedly appeared, which is called, from below, the development of the maintenance is supported at the very top. The project was given green light and in the fall of 1975. Visitors to the Frankfurt salon saw Golf GTI, in production he went a year later.


Increased to 1.6 l engine volume, new block head and mechanical injection system Bosch k-jetronic raised power up to 110 hp, that with a mass of machines less than 900 kg allowed it to overclock it up to 182 km / h, and a hundred from the place to gain for 9.2 sec. Accordingly, it was necessary to strengthen the suspension. Externally, the Golf GTI was distinguished by a black windows frames extended by plastic lining wheeled arches, sports seats and steering wheel, well, and a number of other little things.


Initially, it was assumed to release the GTI model of only a small series, in 5,000 copies. Who could assume that it was the one of the most popular members of the Numerous Golf family? In 1976, an option Golf Diesel appeared with a 50-strong 1.5 liter turbodiesel. In 1979, the next novelty made his debut in Geneva. It was a Golf-convertible with folding soft riding and integrated in the body of the security arc. In addition to its main purpose, the latter was carried by the guide of lifting glasses, in addition, it was located on it the point of fastening the safety belts of the front seats. The body of the cabriolet was produced by the famous Atelier Karmann from Osnabruck, famous for his convertible on the chassis of an old beetle.


By the beginning of the 80s, the world recovered from the consequences of the oil crisis and the engine grew to 1.8 liters, having obtained 4 valves on the cylinder and transistor ignition system. Now he could develop 112 hp


The first generation Golf was produced until 1983 during this time was made without a small 6.8 million machines of all modifications. Golf-convertible survived the basic model for the purpose of ten years its production continued until 1993.


The second edition of Golf appeared in August 1983. The main features of the predecessor were preserved, while the base increased by 75 mm, the length of 300, and the width to 55. Roses the volume of the trunk, the rear seats passengers felt more comfortable in the cabin. The most notable external differences of the front spoiler and a large area of \u200b\u200bglazing. The result of intensive purges in the aerodynamic tube was a more advanced body shape and, accordingly, a decrease in the coefficient of air resistance to 0.34 against 0.42 at the same model. A large set of gasoline and diesel engines was proposed from 1.1 to 1.8 l with a capacity of 50 to 90 hp, respectively. Gearboxes 4-, 5-speed mechanical and automatic.


The second generation of Golf turned out to be even more generous on modifications. Already a year after the premiere, a charged GTI and a three-disconnect Sedan Jetta appeared. And in 1986, the All-wheel drive model Syncro was on sale with a viscous clutch.
1989 was marked by the release of another all-wheel drive Golf, they became a frame country. In 1985, new 16-valve engines and catalytic exhaust gas neutralizers began to establish the car.


It was the Golf of the second generation that won the dominant position in the market in its class (so-called small average), so that the latter received the semi-official name Golf-class. Is it not the evidence of absolute leadership?


The demand for the car was so large that the power of the plant in Wolfsburg was missing, and from May 1, 1987, Golf II began to produce in Brussels. The popularity of the car indirectly says the fact that the National Championship of the Ring Racing series was established in Germany, to participate only by Golf GTI in the sports version. And in 1986, the Swede Kennene Ericsson won the World Rally World Championship in the group A for specially trained serial cars.


Until 1991, when Golf II was discontinued, more than 6.3 million copies of this model were released, of which more than a million had accounted for the GTI version.


The debut of the third generation Golf took place in August 1991. Special attention deserves the highest degree of production automation and the number of factories on which the model was produced. Moreover, some of them were absolutely new: it was about the production of any 5.5-6 thousand cars per day. From DM2.7 billion investments only DM700 million spent on the development of the car, the rest went to the modernization of enterprises.


Due to a number of reasons (improving the form of a torque curve, reducing harmful emissions, increasing durability, unification of motors of various models) The company went to an increase in engine litters for the new Golf family. Seven gasoline (60-190 hp) entered the gamma, including 16-valve and two narrow V-shaped sixs with an angle of collapse only 15 degrees, as well as 3 diesel two atmospheric (64 and 75 hp) and one Turbated (90 hp). All gasoline engines were completed with neutralizers. The most modest engine had a volume of 1.4 liters, and the most powerful 2.8 l (with such a car developed a speed of 225 km / h, and the hundred took from the place of 7.6 seconds.). The most powerful versions were obtained by a four-stage automatic transmission with an electrohydroprium, equipped with two programs for economical and sports styles of driving, as well as disc brakes on all wheels (front ventilated). All machines were equipped with servus steering and brakes.


Notably changed body with a slightly diagonal, oval shape, the headlights have kept at the same time characteristic of the previous models of the feature and again increased in size. Special attention The developers have paid security. Light-marked when hitting the volume, reinforced frame built into the door amplifiers. All this led to an increase in mass by 60-80 kg, which, however, did not lead to an increase in fuel consumption due to an increase in motor efficiency and a decrease in 10% coefficient of aerodynamic resistance.


Increased passive safety on Golf III, there was a 170 mm deformable steering column, airbags for the driver and front passenger, the steel backs of the rear seats, covered with foam dashboard. The effectiveness of the anti-corrosion coating of the body allowed the company to give a 12-year warranty from end-to-end corrosion. The set of additional equipment included an ABS system, wheels with alloy discs, angle adjustment of the seat tilt angle, electrically heated seats, centralized control of locks, air conditioning, electrically regulating the position of the outer mirrors, a cell phone, the engine preheating system in cold times and much more.


Gamma Bodges included already familiar hatchbacks, a convertible, a sedan with a new name Vento. For the first time, a wagon Golf Variant appeared. Its body was 320 mm longer than sedan. With the back of the rear seats, the volume of its luggage compartment reached 1425 liters. The new convertible appeared too much differently from his predecessor. Folding awning (it was not more difficult to manage it than with an umbrella) had a rear window with heating. For lovers to play with buttons, a carefully disguised mechanism of the electric drive was mounted. This version of the car was and remains incredibly popular in the United States, where he became truly a cult machine.


As an experiment, the company in 1993 proposed the version of the Golf Ecomatic, which had no ... clutch pedals. It was worth removing the leg with the gas pedal engine Gloh, put the engine again started working. The secrets of this system were not revealed, it is only known that its basis was electronic clutch control. Pluses Reduced emissions and noise with short-term stops (for example, a traffic light) and a decrease in fuel consumption. The car was intended for operation as a service.


For its relatively short, but the stormy life of Golf III has developed in the amount of 4.8 million copies. Production ceased in 1997.


Holy spot is not empty no fourth generation Golf did not make himself wait long. The premiere traditionally took place at the Frankfurt Motor Show, in 1997 with a huge set of people. This event was furnished with an incredible pump, before the public, appeared before the public, taking a whole pavilion, as well as 50 newcomers worked in all imaginable modifications and versions. Estimates, as usual, divided. Someone did not hide her admiration, someone, not embarrassed, scolded a new brainchild Volkswagen on what the light stands. Be that as it may, those and others, after a couple of weeks, they rushed together to the nearest dealer and lined up for the car.


It makes no sense to describe the Golf IV a year and a half ago by the joint efforts of Russian automotive publications (including the Motor, see # 12, 1997) he was literally disassembled along the cerebral. We only note that the new Golf is different from its strength of the quarter-century ago as a festive pie from black bread loaf. Moreover, the continuity of the style is definitely takes place. The appearance of the car from the very beginning was so successful that it would be short enough to expose it.


A quarter of a century and without a small 20 million copies are not the limit. The end of the golfomania is not visible on both sides of the Atlantic. Golf was, and, in all likelihood, will still long be a model of the optimal price ratio, quality and reliability. Note here that this car has become the only honorable honor to be perpetuated in granite. The unusual share was timed to the next in Austria to the fans of the GTI model fans. The 40-ton granite pebbles delivered from Sweden and a copy of the Golf GTI was carved from it to a variety. Stone Golf was set for a pedestal, and spoke on this occasion with the speech of the Volkswagen Karl Hann concern proclaimed a 1000-year-old warranty from corrosion.
 
Vladimir Knyazkov
 

A source: Motor Journal [December 1999]