Test drive Volkswagen Golf V 5 doors 2003 - 2008 hatchback

Classmates of different schools

Looking at them, you understand how many consumer
Cars of the so -called golf class are one of the most popular in the European market. It is clear that, on the one hand, they should be folk, that is, accessible to different layers of society, on the other, to meet the most stringent norms. Individual features that allow us to stand out from the crowd are also needed, which largely determines the choice of consumer.
Pragmatical Germans have long been the lawmakers of fashion in this class of cars, hence the root name. As a rule, each folk car has many advanced solutions and technologies, which later become the standard for competing-competitors. And yet, introducing new items, any manufacturer seeks to look into the future, anticipating promising development of rivals. So unusual stylistic finds appear, sizes grow, the characters change. Let's take a look at these innovations more closely, following the family features of each of the participants in our test.
So, golf class ...

Peugeot 307
Volkswagen Golf
Alfa Romeo 147

VW-Golf in German
I remember that several years ago they argued about the folk-generation folkswagen-golf. Say, the new one has become too respectable, having gnawed at the nationality. Five years have passed - and a bright yellow car standing in front of us no longer looks like a sort of dandy. No - he, of course, attracts attention, but involuntarily catch yourself thinking that in this form, by no means the cheapest car is much more modesty than competitors. Rational-convertible shapes, steel wheels with high-profile, adapted to our reality tires of dimension 175/80R14, modest nameplate 1.6 on the back door ... What could be more popular? A strict and functional interior can also not be called original: it is monotonously dark shades cause a feeling of emptiness, incompleteness of the surrounding space, which also seems to squeeze, it is worth being inside the machine.
But if you do not give free rein to emotions, there is nothing to complain about here. Everything is thought out and convenient, whether it is adjusting the German harsh seats, controls, trifles in the form of toothblastic and switches. As soon as you sit behind the wheel, you quickly master and, as it were, merge with this pragmatism.
The convenience of passengers is also an important factor. But if everything is still without complaints in front, then behind you can be complained from behind on a roof that hanging over your head and some constraint in the legs, especially at the entrance and exit. Two adults here will be relaxed normally - provided that the front sadders are not basketball proportions. Apparently, the designers proceeded from the fact that for the rational use of the internal space, the main emphasis in golf should be made on the driver and the front passenger. For frequent family trips, a car is desirable to be desirable.
When driving, you feel: the Volkswagen is convenient and thought out. Of course, the noise of the engine is annoyed, the vibrations from which are transmitted to the steering wheel and lever of the box, a lack of torque at low speeds, early slipping of frail tires. But if you distract from emotions again and not demand to the maximum of the car in a modest configuration, everything will fall into place. You will penetrate the confidence in the smooth nature of the engine, the clear work of the gearbox, which easily cope with all the potholes of the pendants. You will surely like the liveliness of the automatic response to the steering wheel, and reliable and informative feedback will allow you to quickly gain a sense of car. And the golf will become simple and understandable, and its shortcomings will seem not so significant.

Peugeot 307 in French
The birthday man - a car of the year PEUGEOT 307 looks down onto the counterparts. It surpasses them in size and therefore looks much more thorough, more significant. As befits a real successor of traditions, he incorporated the best features of the founder of the current golf class, developing forms and proportions in accordance with the requirements of the day. There is no doubt, the car was a success. A dynamic appearance is a collective image that is not devoid of, however, powerful - sixteen -inch (!) - wheels with tires 205/55R16. Find a similar car with a 1.6-liter engine in a golf class. The French clearly looked into the near future.
A kind of kinship with the German is felt when comparing the interiors: the textures of fabrics and plastics are similar, the location of some toothparts. And yet the 307th is some special. More cheerful color solutions, some excess of free space gave the car of the machine airiness and soft perception. Unlike a fellow, he does not force himself to contract in an elastic lump to merge with a car into a single whole. Rather, on the contrary: when you find yourself here, you renounce the world around you, peacefully listening to free existence. It would seem: only a few extra centimeters from above, a different location of the front rack - but how much more spacious around it became. The catchy central console, edges of the devices and the gearbox lever, high, as in mini -wen, landing on the front seats - no, inside Pejo is blocked from a completely different dough. At the same time, it is extremely functional, like golf: similar in texture dense seats, comfortable steering wheel, pedals.
But at the back of the space is smaller. Apparently, the French came to the same conclusions as the practical Germans, and did not bother themselves to accommodate passengers too much. In the legs, this is almost golf with all the disadvantages of the entrance and exit. There is even some reserve overhead, there is even some stock than Volkswagen cannot boast. True, judging by external data, you expect more space from the back from Peugeot - alas ...
On the go, the French car is more convenient - without any stretch. The engine vibrates less, it is easier to move, more fun to accelerate. Of course, small management problems are available, but they are associated with the electronic accelerator pedal. Sometimes when moving at low speed, the car as if hangs out with a sharp pressing to the accelerator, as if weighing all the pros and cons. On the one hand, the driver wants to accelerate sharply, and on the other hand, you need to observe the cleanliness of the air. Otherwise, the motor copes with responsibilities perfectly, providing an enviable dynamics for such a modest working volume.
You can’t find it to controllability in Peugeot. The long -standing horse of the company is excellently embodied in this car. Good feedback, quick and correct reactions are complemented by excellent capitals of powerful tires.
True, pendants work peculiarly. By tradition, they are adapted to our conditions, which did not slow down to affect the smoothness of the course. All minor irregularities began to be transferred in detail to the body, even reporting their size. PEUGEOT 307 works out deep waves and pits well, but it shakes pretty on the seams and joints. The Volkswagen with its adaptive package seemed much more comfortable.

Alfa-Romeo 147 in Italian
Looking at Alfa Romeo-147, it is impossible to remain indifferent. Once upon a time, the Italian designer school may be liked by one, they are annoying others, but with the fact that we have a stylish and outstanding car, everyone will agree. Alpha is not just a suit for every day, this is something else - for professing a spectacular lifestyle and lifestyle.
Bright, slightly predatory appearance, swift lines - I want to not just ride, but always be the first. As if feeling our mood, the dealer provided a car with a two -liter engine and a five -door body in a rich configuration. There was no other. The doubts about the correctness of the comparison immediately crashed about the inviolability of ideas - this should be the alpha -romeo - bright red, swift and powerful.
Interior decoration match external data. Beautiful anatomical seats, a saturated central console, oval scales inscribed in individual windows. Here, from any detail, gambling blows: I immediately want to press, regulate, switch something - the car is pushing for specific actions. However, they found to find fault with what. The embossed back of the seat turned out to be too supple, and the pillow was an amorphous, very poorly fixing body. The gearbox lever is stuck in fuzzy movements, and the bright scale scales seem to be overloaded with additional information. You will remember the German -French rationalism - and the alpha begins to lose points. It would seem that the ideal steering wheel - but the steering wheel switches are so abstract and so tightly composed that the inclusion of wipers and sprayers turns into an entire event. Yes, get used to this car and get used to it!
His salon is the closest. The roof hangs closely, and the shoulder nearby does not seem distant at all. You do not take a walk in the back seat (especially not enough height), and highly narrowed glass of the side doors cause claustrophobia. But legs here are even easier to stick than in golf - a flatter floor of the body helps.
On the move, emotions are again trying to prevail over a sober calculation. The low motor of the motor here is not perceived as something interfering, rather this is the necessary component of the management process. The potential of the engine, of course, surpasses the rest, although up to 2000 rpm of the motor is sluggish. As a result, Peugeot easily competes with the alpha until its engine is spinning to her favorite 3500-4000 rpm.
In the management, the Italian is peculiar. At low speeds, it does not seem fast and sharp - rather, on the contrary, his reactions are slow. But it is worth reaching 90-100 km/h, and the 147th becomes an integral and rapid continuation of your desires. Now you will not hold on to the character of the car, gambling taking a turn over a bend.
The work of pendants is also specific. Suddenly comfortable on smooth wave -like irregularities, they react tightly to a all kinds of trifle. Their energy potential is also weak: deprived of any adaptations, these pendants do not like deep holes and puffin.
As you can see, enthusiasm was diminished. The catchy appearance, interesting internal content were not so weighty.

Class alone - different characters
Each of the three wards was interesting in its own way.
We complain that cars become similar to each other, differing only in nameplate and some nuances. Perhaps very soon you will have to choose not so much a brand as ... the nationality of the car. After all, it is most likely that it will determine certain features of a particular model. I think it will not become the best and worst, but everyone will be good, but each in its own way. In this vein, I would like to summarize the impressions of the chosen Trinity.
Volkswagen Golf IV. With regard to inexpensive configuration - practicality itself. Nothing more, extravagant, but everything is comfortable, thought out to the smallest detail. He, of course, is no longer new, but still pleases the eye and the body with the verification of characteristics. Price - 17 400. e. After paying the indicated amount, you will receive, in addition to a 1.6 liter climate control, ABS, airbags for a driver and passenger, a central lock, heating seats, an immobilizer and a full electric package for glasses and external mirrors.

PEUGEOT 307. Young and confident. In addition to German practicality, he provides a more spacious interior, color variety of interior and a certain charm inherent in the French. In most life situations, it is not much, but more convenient for Volkswagen, except only in the smoothness of the course. The price is also preferable. For a similar package, supplemented by an on -board computer, alloy wheels and an audio system, you will pay 17 930.
Alfa-Romeo-147. Style at the forefront. Possessing such a car, you will not go unnoticed. However, one who prefers a bright design will have to come to terms with the originality of the Italian approach. Alpha is primarily an emotional mood, the rest is secondary. A version with a 1.6 liter engine, two airbags, ABS, a central lock, an electric packet of glasses and external mirrors will cost 19,900. e.

Salon and trunk dimensions
Peugeot 307 Volkswagen- Alpha-
Golf Romeo-147
L1 1155/970 1135/920 1135/930
L2 600/800 610/840 610/850
H1 1145 1010 990
H2 965 930 910
B1 1370 1360 1350
B2 1330 1345 1340
T1 490 480 550
T2 460 450 500
h1 340-320 330-300 340-310
h2 375 390 330
a, city. 25 27 25
L3 825 830 650
H4 845 845 765
h4 710 660 755
D 40 45 30

 
 
 
 
 

 


 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

Text / Sergey Voskresensky
Photo / George Sadkov

Source: The magazine "Driving"