Test drive Volkswagen Bora 1998 - 2005 sedan

Tornado in the country GTI

The unpopularity of charged machines in our motorists is laid at the genetic level. Almost any ordinary driver, without hesitation, will call the heels of the reasons that make the purchase of such a car an unreasonable act. Yes, indeed, squeezed suspensions get along well with our roads, forced motors are complex and gluttonous, and buy a small machine for an amount equivalent to the cost of a more solid sedan is an absolute nonsense from the point of view of a normal motorist. You have to be a very persistent adherent of the GTI class in order to disagree with reasonable, in general, arguments. It seems that car manufacturers are imbued with social fans who want to have a car capable of a lot and at the same time quite convenient under any movement conditions. The compromise is now popular. And for adherents of classic GTI canons, special equipment packages are offered to change some characteristics of the machine. Buyers are already accounting for the Volks-Wagen Bora V6 4Motion. Do you think these are madmen who are ready for anything for the speed? Let's try to dissuade you.
 
Test for observation
 
If you can distinguish Golf Variant and Bora Variant on the move, then you will probably have enough observation to notice how the Bora V6 differs from its less sophisticated brothers. Ahead of the differences come down to the presence of a v6 nameplate on a false radiator-gun and a head optics with modified lighting equipment inside the headlights of a standard size. A profile picture will demonstrate LE MANS alloy wheels with wide low -profile Michelin tires. It seems that the brake mechanisms are cramped inside the sixteenth discs - the diameter of the front 312 mm, the rear, as usual, is more modest - only 256. Personally it seemed to me that the machine was sitting below the standard, but the matter is more of intuition than in a developed eye: Bora V6 I sat down only 10 mm. Finally, the feed of the car flaunts the chrome slingshot of the tip of the exhaust system and all the same nameplate V6. By the way, in front and behind, the figure on this stigma is made in red so that it does not get confused with a similar inscription V5 on other Bora. There are no spoilers, pontal anti -winged and other tinsel - everything is strict and concise. Just the case when modesty decorates. Inside, the speedometer and tachometer with a light strip and the screen of the board comprehensive are distinguished. A little later, you notice a gearbox lever with a number 6 indicating an appropriate number of gears. But the salon itself ...
 
Perception test
 
If your permanent transport is a business class sedan in a top configuration, then the interior of the Bora V6 will seem to you more ordinary than the defiant. But when I met the car from the inside, it was difficult to resist enthusiastic exclamations. Clot of cream skin salon, picked up floor mats and seat belts, decorative finishes of walnut root, complete automation in terms of windows, mirrors and climate - then there is no sense in listing. Someone may surprise manual adjustment of the front seats, but this is the specifics of the configuration of this particular machine. Incidentally, the front and rear seats have an inconspicuous, but very eloquent embossing of the manufacturer - Recaro. They would be good, even if they had one single adjustment: everything can be forgiven for magnificent side support. But the pens and levers that change the position of any supporting surface of the driver allow you to get a job so that you no longer want to get out of the car. And the steering column tuned along the length and angle of inclination helps to quickly take the perfect pose. Incidentally, the only possible HighLine equipment for Golf V6 and Bora V6 provides for the Rakarovsky salon to choose: velor or leather. So for Golf, in my opinion, the first option is more suitable, and for Bora - the second. In any case, the car provided to us could easily go to the respectable competition. The black color of the body and the light leather upholstery of the salon are a luxurious combination. The advocates of the purity of the breed will probably consider such a decoration somewhat peaking, but the owner will not have a reason to reproach the manufacturers in an effort to break the price tag, it is not clear why. And who will undertake to say that in a class GT, you cannot combine sports with luxury? For Ferrari, a leather salon is a norm, not an exception.
 
Test for erudition
 
The all -wheel drive modifications of the six -cylinder Golf/Jetta appeared in the third generation of these models. From that time it took not so much time to wait for the radical alteration of the chassis or engine. Nevertheless, there are enough technical innovations. Let's start, as usual, from the motor. Having lost the letter R in the name, the engine acquired other qualities. Firstly, with the same working volume, it develops by 30 hp. More predecessor. It is not surprising - after all, in addition to increasing the degree of compression, each cylinder has acquired an additional pair of valves. However, naked power is now not in fashion. The vast majority of consumers want the car to become dynamic until the time of the tachometer arrow will get to the red zone. Therefore, manufacturers who claim to be technological leadership are now in the course of gentle curves of torque, indicating the high elasticity of the engine in a wide range of revolutions. There are quite a lot of ways to achieve this result, and Volkswagen chose not the cheapest, but quite effective systems. Without going into technical details, we note that in addition to the adjustable phases of valve opening, the designers used the intake path of variable lengths. This combination helps to optimize the value of torque at various speeds. In addition, the design of the valve and distribution shaft drive was finalized, which, in particular, reduced friction loss by 55%. As a result, the new motor exceeds the peak of the torque of its predecessor (235 Nm) in the range from 2000 to 6200 rpm.
 
The next element is a 6 -speed mechanical gearbox. Until recently, such a scheme was used only on sportsmen, mainly due to complexity and large weight. The Bora gearbox uses the most advanced solutions: a magnesium alloy case, hollow shafts and a clearly working cable drive. And an increase in the number of gears simplifies the search for a compromise between dynamics, elasticity and efficiency.
 
Finally, the most interesting part of the transmission is a 4Motion all -wheel drive system. Unlike Golf/Jetta predecessors, this car is constantly transmitted to the wheels, and its value varies depending on the road conditions in such a way as to ensure the maximum possible adhesion with the road of each wheel (under certain conditions to the rear bridge, 100 is transmitted to the rear axle % torque). The main advantage of such a scheme is the lack of annoying delay in the previous Syncro system and, as a result, an increase in traffic safety. In addition, the new Golf and Bora with six -cylinder engines are seriously equipped with an contrasting ESP system that helps the driver cope with control in difficult situations. Assessing the value of longitudinal and lateral acceleration using special sensors, ESP slows the external front or rear inner wheel, and, if necessary, reduces the supply of fuel to the engine, preventing the development of drift or demolition. The four -channel ABS is equipped with an electronic brake force regulator, which contributes to the maximum possible stability of controllability when slowing down on heterogeneous coatings.
 
Of course, when designing such a dynamic car, it was impossible to ignore the characteristics of the pendants. When creating a Bora V6, Volkswagen designers moved away from the traditional laws of designing classic GTI, which perfectly behave on a perfectly flat road, but respond painfully to any bumps of coating. Of course, the suspension elements were finalized, in particular, the characteristics of springs and shock absorbers changed, but the main task was a compromise between controllability and comfort. And a decrease in clearance by only 10 mm can be considered a reasonable concession to increase stability in corners.
 
Compatibility test
 
For people who value their own calm and want to have an extraordinary car, Bora V6 is a very tempting option for buying. But one must be prepared for the fact that an extraordinary car makes special requirements for the owner. Yes, numerous security systems are ready to help the driver to keep control of the situation to the last, but does it make sense to spend money on such a car and not experience its ability? A good parting words before the Volkswagen representative of the representative came to the message about the cost of the car, after which I wanted to be especially attentive on the roads. Fortunately (or unfortunately?), The mind does not yet have absolute control over feelings, so I have not been robe in front of Bora V6 for long. In the end, to feel what acceleration is 7.4 s to a hundred is a sufficient occasion to abstract from gloomy assumptions. Of course, in order to throw the speedometer to throw the speedometer to this figure at the specified time, you need to practice, but on the all -wheel drive machine it is much easier to enter the passport characteristics than on a monotive.
 
The painful six is \u200b\u200bspinning perfectly in the entire range of revolutions, but, the right word, this motor is worthy of a special attitude. Spin the engine of thousand to 4000 and drop the clutch? It is possible so, but why force a transmission and try to cause a pseudo -efficient but stupid slip? Throw the revolutions of the thousands to one and a half, carefully release the clutch, and - gas to the floor! Acceleration can only compete with sound accompaniment. If my will, I would replenish the transfer of the basic configuration of the Bora V6 with a special sound of the engine. Do not laugh. Get the motor and play the accelerator pedal. On the bottoms of the three-liter six, solidly mutters, recalling a solid volume, and at the top it switches to the aggressive tones of the sports engine. Maybe aesthetes, spoiled by the songs of Italian monsters like Ferrari or Maserati, will consider my enthusiasm too naive, but how many owners of such cars have? Needless to say, how a similar melody starts? But do not rush. Remember the special requirements. We dashingly accelerated on the first, abruptly threw the clutch when switching to the second - and now Bora V6 twitches unpleasantly, recalling that a serious car requires a polite attitude.
 
Just do not think that this machine can be driven only after graduating from a driver’s skill. It is not for nothing that we mentioned the departure from the classic canons of the creation of charged machines, which are best driven in the ring, and to the end they reveal their potential only under the control of good pilots. With a banal, everyday ride, Bora V6 is not at all like a sports car with a dentistry suspension. Moreover, I suspect that many owners of ordinary all -wheel drive Bora might not have noticed a trick (the salon - not counting) with a uniform movement in a straight line on the car we tested. Maybe the engine almost inaudible at low speeds would be alert. Our car reacted indifferently to most road irregularities: silently dissolved hesitation in complex bowels of a completely independent front and rear pendants - and rolled further. And only frank provocations of road services forced to modify the ardor due to fear of wrap the chic alloy wheels.
 
But it is worth driving the accelerator pedal and the cars driving nearby in a couple of seconds are already visible in the rearview mirrors. You can even take care of choosing a program. The potential of the engine is such that you can get the first gear in the ringing, and then immediately switch to the sixth. Moreover, the regulated phases of gas distribution and a solid supply of traction provide meek acceleration in the highest gear with 60 km/h. But the clarity of gear shifts provokes the gearbox lever again and again to feel how the correct cable drive works. The presence of different-made inlet channels provides excellent pickup in the region of 3800-4200 rpm, and the presence of the sixth gear allows you to bring the remaining and provide unnatural (by normal standards) elasticity: you can, without straining, overtake 99% of the neighbors, moving exclusively on the third and on She is leisurely crossing the tram tracks. True, aggressive riding through our streets exhausts. Firstly, a possible meeting with the traffic police is worried (according to my calculations, if it were not for luck, during free exercises in the city, I would have owed the state salary for the whole next year); Secondly, a decrease in prices for used foreign cars led to the appearance of excessively self-confident drivers in the city. Yes, Saab 9000 is a dynamic car, but why is its driver so sure that the rest of the movement participants should adapt to him? Finally, constantly thinking about whether or not the next car will have time to slowly slow down after Bora, which slows down no worse than accelerates, nullifies a feeling of excellent control over the machine. And here you begin to penetrate with gratitude to the designers for an unconventional approach to the removal of the car. With a measured ride, Bora V6 looks like a representative car reduced in size, the driver of which does not like to strain at the wheel, but understands perfectly that his car is capable of a lot.
 
Test for addiction
 
The highway in Borovaya seemed to be specially prepared for our visit: the part of the site dried on the sunny half made it possible to simulate summer driving, and the remaining piece of asphalt covered with wet snow resembled typical winter roads with snow-bryaz coating. Remembering the amount of safety electronics in the car, we even worried that the role of the driver would decrease to the banal rotation of the steering wheel and track the trajectory. It wasn't there. In the dry section, Bora V6 confidently passed the snake that we launched, demonstrating the habits of the front -wheel drive car, with the predicted demolition of the front line upon reaching the adverse properties of the tires. By the way, did you try to disrupt the two -year -old Michelin in sliding? Take care of your leisure, if you can, get a lot of sensations, especially with the subsequent restoration of stability. The tires are simply gorgeous, but we suspected that the pressure in them was not enough, and the prospect of analysis in the movement did not inspire us, so we had to restrain ourselves. Yes, with a speed passage of the Bora snake, it caused some complaints. I would like the suspension harder and the steering wheel is not bad. But we stayed on the highway for a couple of hours, and we have to ride in the city every day, so we will agree to the Volkswagen compromise proposed. But where a real buzz is a slippery coating. Four -wheel drive manifests itself perfectly, the sensitivity of the steering wheel in the snow does not matter much, because it is more convenient to rely on the vestibular apparatus, but I want to ride, drive and drive, opening all new capabilities of the car. Speaking the language of athletes, you can roll into Bora (and it is necessary!) For a long time, but you will not have to regret the time spent. Nonsense, which ESP is insured by a dangerous, in her opinion, side sliding. If you calculate the trajectory and try to deceive the electronics, for example, by pressing the gas and the brake at the same time (the sensors are probably swearing), Bora spectacularly passes along the intended corridor, and the rear -wheel drive helps to confidently fill the car on the next turn. Even more interesting, if at the same time the outer rear wheel falls on the asphalt, and the inner moves in the snow - then just have time to steer. True, with such maneuvers, I want to de -energize, in principle, disconnected by ESP and an unlotted ABS, which get their too safe logic. But it is not customary to ride in the city crowd, and it is inconvenient. Therefore, we recognize both systems with the necessary and very useful, especially for those who are in full circumstances to run into the full program. Bora V6 is a car, if I may put it like that, a generous, so even an inexperienced driver will not have to worry about his own security.
 
Test for understanding
 
After traveling to Bora V6 4Motion, you begin to understand the plan of the Volkswagenovites. Indeed, the classic GTI is a specific car, and the bad roads nullify the good half of its advantages. Moreover, such models are not cheap, and very few can afford to have a delay on a good highway. Another nuance is the body. A powerful and high -speed car for most of our buyers is associated with a sedan, in extreme cases - with a compartment, but not a hatchback. So the advantages of Bora are largely predetermined by its anatomy. Add to this unification in many details with standard machines, which means that quite acceptable prices for service and spare parts, and perhaps you will want to feel like the owner of a discreet car, which is able to give pleasure under various conditions of movement. But just do not forget that discreet and cheap are not synonyms, but the concept of the owner and the master of the machine’s control is divided by many hours of practice.
 
Alexey Belousov
 

A source: Auto -Gazeta / N 11 (270) dated 29.03.00