Test drive Volkswagen Golf IV 5 doors 1997 - 2003 hatchback

Demanding "golf"

Name - obliges
Golf conquers his versatility. On the one hand - an elegant women's toy, with a comfortable landing, light steering wheel and pedals. On the other hand, charged versions of GTI: powerful motors in a light typewriter turn it into a shell on wheels. Small, turntable golf is good for cramped urban streets, he confidently holds on the highway. Thanks to the short base and small overhangs, not a very broken country will overcome. And a large back door, coupled with folding rear seats, will allow it to use it as a furniture van. The only, but significant minus is the price. A new car costs from 15 to 22 thousand dollars. For that kind of money, the buyer has the right to count on quality significantly higher than average. He will not be mistaken in this. Certificate of this is four years of experience in the operation of machines, which is below.
 
Engines
They are a whole gamut, both gasoline and diesel, with turbocharged and without. The most common are in -line hopeless gasoline four with a working volume of 1.6 and 1.8l, a little less - 1.4- and 2 -liter. Powerful V6 (2.8l), V5 (2.3l) and 1.8-turbo (on the GTI version) are even less common. All diesel engines of 1.9l working volume, the vast majority with turbocharged and direct fuel injection (TDI index). The variable slope of the turbine blades adds 90l.s. Another 20 - 25. The engines, even diesel, work surprisingly quietly - they are almost inaudible in the cabin.
There are few failures. The engine has 1.6l, 101l.s. There were problems with the launch in cold weather. They were resolved in 1999 with the advent of a new control unit. When replacing nozzles, experts recommend ordering special, designed for gasoline with impurities - the engine works more reliable with them. The opening of the timing belt or cutting its teeth is very rare. Nevertheless, it is better to be safe - replace the belt after 80 thousand km of run, without waiting for 120 instructions prescribed by instructions. At the same time, be sure to pay attention to the stretch video: if there is a backlash or noise in the bearing, change it with the belt.
 
The turbodiesel is almost not delivered, easily even starting in frosty days. In terms of acceleration dynamics, they are only slightly inferior to gasoline, but fuels are consumed one and a half to two times less, and diesel fuel is much cheaper than gasoline. So with intensive operation, it makes sense to overpay for a diesel engine - it will quickly pay off. However, the refueling should be verified: the left, especially with water, the diesel fuel, will quickly ruin the fuel equipment.
 
Motors 90 and 110l.s. The first issues suffered from increased oil appetite. Now everything is normal, but if the moderate oil consumption begins to grow before our eyes, this is an occasion to listen to the turbine bearing, to diagnose it on the service. To extend the life of the turbine, after grasping with the breeze, do not turn off the engine right away, let it work for at least a minute at idle - the details of the turbocharger must cool. This unit is also demanding on the quality of the oil - it happened that after the topping only a liter of oil bought on the road, the motor jammed without passing hundreds of kilometers. It happens that the oil line is closed, and if the engine parts are covered with a dark plaque, clean it. These recommendations are also fair for gasoline engines with turbocharges.
The engine pallet is aluminum, so if it happened to run on a stone - will be split. Factory plastic protection saves only from dirt and small stones. Steel is sold in stores, but not everyone is suitable for fasteners. In addition, when trying to unscrew the rusted bolts, they often break, and it is not always possible to cut a new thread. Remembering this, make sure that when installing the thread is smeared with anticorus.
 
Transmission, steering, brakes, suspension
The gearboxes - both mechanical and machine guns - do not present surprises. Croesus and wheel bearings are reliable. But the steering sometimes delivers chores: starts to flow the rail, the efficiency of the hydraulic power steering is reduced. The defect does not depend on the run: on most rack cars, 100 thousand or more kilometers nurses without any problems, but it can let a tear even after 20. The cause of backlash and knocks in the steering can be rolled up internal hinges of steering rods. Treatment of diseases is one - replacing details.
After winter operation, inspect the joints of the brake line. Aluminum gaskets salt water sometimes rises through and through. You can replace them with copper diameter suitable in diameter. The rest of the brake system is reliable.
The suspension of cars with a Russian package is significantly strengthened and, in general, without complications, is nursing 100 thousand km. A weak place - racks of the reptile stability stabilizer: their resource is one and a half to two times lower - 40-50 thousand km.
 
Electrical equipment, body
Often the reason for the failure of expensive electricians is inept operation or untimely maintenance. Thus, the acidic axes of the wiper levers are able to disable an electric motor or drive parts (Skoda Octavia suffers the same disease). Therefore, once a year, it is worth lubricating the axis by dismantling the drive.
 
If, when closing the glass, the door is overwhelmed in the opening and does not fall into place, most likely its plastic guides are broken or split. As a rule, this happens when trying to lower the frozen glass, turning on the electric winding. And you have to replace the entire assembly assembly ... or each time to straighten the glass with your hand. Sometimes it does not close at all - protection from pinching the hand is triggered. If there is no distortion to restore the normal operation of the node, it is often enough to lubricate the guides with silicone. On the models of the first issues, the windows electric motors themselves and the windows themselves.
 
Sometimes it is presented by surprises and the incorrect installation of alarm. Outwardly, it can work normally, but error codes will appear in the engine control unit.
To the body - no complaints, although the wear resistance of the enamel could be better. There are no rotten golfs of the IV yet, and no wonder - only four years have passed since the start of the release, and the manufacturer, without stirring up for full galvanizing, gives a 12 -year guarantee from through corrosion.
 
Result
This Volkswagen, at first thoroughly harassing the owner, in the future, is much more careful about his wallet, unless he decides to save on maintenance and spare parts. But how much to evaluate the pleasure of driving, comfort, a well -thought -out security system? However, there are used cars. Today, a golf IV with a mileage of 60-80 thousand km is in Moscow 10-12 thousand dollars. It can become a profitable purchase-the price has already fallen significantly, and the resource barely began to be produced. As a rule, you can drive in such a car for two or three years without investing in a lot of money in maintenance and repair, and then sell it without losing it.
But the impressions of the owners themselves:
I bought golf IV (engine 1.6 l) a few months ago. Small dimensions and light steering wheel help a lot in parking. Inside is spacious and a lot of space for trifles. I drive fast, but fuel consumption is surprisingly small - 7-8 liters per hundred. On the speed of speed is not felt at all, and it is easy and pleasant to overtake, it is not necessary to even switch the transmission - just press the gas. A hard suspension is perhaps the only drawback of this machine.
Zhanna, Moscow
A few months after the purchase on my golf, half of the plastic parts in the cabin broke: the rear cup holder, the backshot, the arms folding pens, the carpet mounts, as well as the glove box. At a golf II for a hundred and more thousand kilometers of mileage with such problems did not have to face. I was refused warranty repairs, although they admitted that my case is not a single one. It seems that this time the Germans decided to save on plastics.
Alexander, Moscow
My former car is golf III. Four is a completely different car. The decoration of the salon is simply magnificent, and the blue backlighting of the speedometer drives passengers crazy. From the diesel engine (even in 115 hp), to be honest, this did not expect this: acceleration literally presses into the back of the seat, and 180 km/h can go 3000 rpm. I think that my next car will be golf.
Michael, St. Petersburg
 
Text / Anatoly Sukhov
 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"