All generations of Volkswagen Golf. "Generations". VW Golf from the first to the seventh, driven by the Belarusians Golf 5 years of release

26.07.2016

Today I decided to make a review of a used car, which is considered a classic of the genre and a standard to follow. A car whose name has become a household name for a whole segment of golf class cars. Volkswagen Golf 5, even in a used state, is in rather high demand in the secondary market, what is the secret of the popularity of this car? And what surprises can the Golf 5 with a run have? Let's try to figure it out.

Pros and cons of a used Volkswagen Golf 5

The car is available in two body styles, hatchback and universal. As operating experience has shown, in general, the Golf 5 body resists the onslaught of redhead disease well and does not cause unnecessary trouble for its owners. The owners consider the door hinges to be the only insignificant drawback, which often make unpleasant sounds when the door is opened and closed.

Engines

For Volkswagen Golf 5, a large line of gasoline and diesel power units was intended. Operating experience has shown that the most reliable engine turned out to be a 1.6-liter engine with an MPI fuel injection system. There is another engine with a 1.4-liter MPI system, in which owners often encounter a difficult cold start, this malfunction occurs on cars produced in 2003-2006, later the company changed the manufacturer of the fuel injectors, and the problem went away.

Also in the lineup there are engines with the FSI system, which are considered problematic, according to the owners of this car brand, such engines can present surprises even with a mileage of 120 - 150 thousand km, in particular, the timing chain is stretched in them and the chain tensioner becomes unusable ... In a 2-liter engine, a timing belt is installed instead of a chain. Another disadvantage inherent in FSI engines is the premature failure of individual ignition coils.

Transmission

Volkswagen Golf 5 was equipped with the following types of transmissions, five or six-speed manual, as well as six or seven-speed DSG. Both transmissions can bother even on low mileage. Problems with mechanics can arise after 100 thousand kilometers, the double bearing fails in it, which is manifested by increased noise during the operation of the transmission. In mechanics with a diesel engine, a two-mass flywheel breaks down to a mileage of 150 thousand km (manifested by clicks when switching).

The robotic box is also quite capricious, besides, its repair will cost several times more expensive than mechanics. So the DSG transmission fails the mechatronic (electronic control unit), at best, the breakdown can be eliminated by flashing, but if the wear is too great, then the entire clutch package will have to be replaced.

The reliability of the chassis Volkswagen Golf 5

Compared to the previous version, the rear suspension of the Volkswagen Golf 5 has changed significantly, instead of a semi-independent beam, a multi-link was installed, and a MacPherson strut was installed in front, thanks to this, the car became much better to hold the road and feels more confident when cornering. The suspension, even on our roads, has proven itself on the positive side. The rear salelenblocks of the front levers become unusable most quickly, this happens with a mileage of 80 thousand kilometers, and the front ones after 150 thousand km, up to 100,000, can go out stabilizer struts, ball joints serve up to 200,000 km. In a multi-link, the stabilizer consumables wear out the fastest, this happens when the mileage is about one hundred thousand kilometers, as well as the rear shock absorber bumpers, the rest of the consumables last a very long time.

Steering also contributes to good controllability, on Golf 5 it is equipped with an electric power steering, on cars of the first years of production this unit can cause trouble, the engagement of the electric motor with the rail will wear out in it, which is accompanied by a knock when driving on an uneven road, after 2006 this unit was modernized and eliminated this shortcoming. At the same time, the steering consumables serve for a long time, the tips of the steering rods can withstand more than 130 thousand km,

Salon and electrical equipment

The plastic trim of the passenger compartment does not cause any comments, even over time in the middle it does not loose anything, does not creak or fall off. The only thing you can find fault with is the fabric covering on the armrest of the front doors, it is quickly overwritten.

When compared with the previous generation of cars, it should be noted that this version has much more legroom for the rear passengers, this was achieved thanks to an increase in the wheelbase by 65 mm. Not without its drawbacks, the wide and massive central floor tunnel will not allow three passengers to sit comfortably in the back row of seats. The trunk volume is 350 liters, with the rear seat folded down, the trunk has a volume of 1305 liters.

As the experience of operating the Volkswagen Golf 5 has shown, most of the salon electrical equipment works without any complaints, it may be a hassle if climate control adds or the air conditioner in them fails the compressor. Also, problems with power windows often arise, the problem is that after raising the glass, it goes down by itself, this malfunction is eliminated by flashing the control unit.

Bottom line.

Buying a Volkswagen Golf 5 is a good investment, this model retains residual value well, and when the time comes to sell it, you will not lose much money. But they love Golf for something else, it is practical, moderately reliable, well assembled and has good driving characteristics, which will give a lot of positive emotions from driving.

If you are or were the owner of this car brand, please share your experience, indicating the strengths and weaknesses of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help others to choose a used car.

Volkswagen Golf is one of the best-selling Volkswagen models. The 5th Golf debuted in 2003 and was produced until 2008. It is based on the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform. The Golf 5 has retained its characteristic silhouette. In comparison with its predecessor, it has grown noticeably: 5.5 cm in length, 2.5 cm in width and 4 cm in height. The cabin has become noticeably more spacious.

More interesting changes are hidden under the body. For example, an air conditioner, which, in the case of a windshield washer, automatically turns on the internal air recirculation in the passenger compartment. Thus, it protects passengers from unpleasant liquid odors.

There are also bigger innovations. So, in the back, instead of a torsion beam, a multi-link suspension was installed. Moreover, there is no need to worry about its durability. It turned out to be strong enough. And Golf began to be managed just fine.

Engines

Volkswagen Golf V was equipped with atmospheric gasoline engines with a working volume of 1.4 liters (75 - 90 hp) and 1.6 liters (102 hp). Among them were engines with direct injection FSI with a capacity of 1.4 liters (90 hp), 1.6 liters (115 hp) and 2.0 liters (150 hp). In 2006, the line of gasoline engines was diluted with turbocharged 1.4 TSI engines with a capacity of 122 to 170 hp. Diesel engines were presented in two units - 1.9 TDI (90-105 hp) and 2.0 TDI (140 hp). Sports versions of the Golf GTI were equipped with a 2.0 TFSI engine with 200 hp.

All engines are pretty reliable, but there are a couple of things to look out for when buying a used fifth generation Golf. Let's consider the most common engines.

Let's start with a naturally aspirated 1.6 BSE and BSF with a timing belt drive. Shaking at idle speed for such an engine is the norm. In any case, it is almost impossible to cope with such a phenomenon. Unless, in rare cases, the situation can be corrected with a new ECU firmware. 1.6 liter engines start to eat up oil no earlier than 150 - 200 thousand km. The sound of the exhaust in the area of the exhaust trousers-corrugated-catalyst link, reminiscent of "undercutting", is another feature of the 1.6-liter engine.

For 1.4 TSI SAXA and BMY engines, crackling when starting after a long stay, "diesel" rattling for the first 10 minutes or slight jolting (detonation) at idle speed after 40-60 thousand km are not uncommon. The reason is the failed valve timing regulator (about 30,000 rubles for the original). It must be replaced together with the chain, tensioner and damper. Official dealers for the work done together with spare parts ask for about 100 - 120 thousand rubles. In any ordinary car service, everything will require no more than 30-40 thousand rubles. Attempts to get rid of by replacing only the chain tensioner or flashing the ECU rarely lead to a positive result. But even after replacing the valve timing regulator after 30-50 thousand km, the problem may "appear" again. Volkswagen has already upgraded the ill-fated phase regulator several times. Someone had enough and one replacement, but someone had to resort to the services of official dealers again.

On BMY motors, when the mileage is more than 50 - 90 thousand km, the chain is often stretched. The resulting knock at low revs is caused by engine overdrive. After flashing the ECU with fresh "software", the motor starts to work much more pleasantly.

The # 75 boost control solenoid valve fails frequently. As a result, the engine does not develop power above 3000 rpm, and the system displays turbocharger / compressor and boost pressure errors. After 2009, the valve was finalized. A new valve costs about 1,500 rubles.

With a mileage of more than 120 - 140 thousand km on 1.4 TSI, a timing chain jump is possible. In some instances, the pistons even burned out.

Oxygen sensors run about 90 - 130 thousand km. The new sensor will cost 7 thousand rubles for the original and 4-5 thousand rubles for the analog. An interesting point - the high-voltage wire of the first cylinder begins to break through much earlier than the rest. As a result, "triplet" arises.

While rivals were already using diesel engines with a common rail injection system to the full, Volkswagen still resisted this technology. He offered diesels exclusively with unit injectors. The "visiting card" of these units: noisy work and very expensive injectors.

But the 1.9 TDI also has merit. First of all, it consumes little fuel and is also very reliable. Many cars with such a diesel engine have passed more than half a million kilometers without serious problems.

During the production process, a batch of defective turbodiesels with the designation ВХЕ got under the hood - the liners wore out too quickly. In the 2-liter TDI PD, the cylinder head was often cracked.

There are two weaknesses in the 1.9 TDI. The first is a throttle body with plastic gears that wear out quickly. A new valve assembly will cost 10 thousand rubles. The second is the O-ring between the EGR valve and the intake manifold (after 60 - 90 thousand km). Due to the loss of tightness, traction disappears, the diesel engine stalls.

The turbine runs confidently over 150 - 180 thousand km. The cause of its failure is a jammed actuator, which leads to overblowing. A little later, you may need to replace the flywheel - vibration appears. The glow plugs will most likely have to be replaced after 170 - 190 thousand km. The diesel particulate filter is rented out earlier - even before the mark of 120 - 150 thousand km.

The lower engine mount knocks frequently. Rubber-metal sounds occur when you press the gas and when cornering. The bushing of the lower cushion can crack when the mileage is more than 120 - 150 thousand km. Due to the peculiarity of the location of the pillow (in the stretcher), replacement is far from an easy procedure. The metal engine support can fall apart after 110 - 130 thousand km. A new pillow costs about 3.5 - 4 thousand rubles, the work on its replacement will require another 1 - 1.5 thousand rubles.

The liquid cooling pump (pump), in the best traditions of Volkswagen, starts to whistle when the mileage is more than 30-50 thousand rubles. The original pump will cost 15 thousand rubles. The work on its replacement will require about 3 thousand rubles.

The cooling fan control unit is located under the battery and is constantly exposed to moisture. Over time, the wiring decays, less often corrosion reaches the block itself. The result is tireless threshing fans, even on a cold engine. The reason may also be skewed fan brushes or a failed coolant temperature sensor.

The plastic seals that have jumped out of their place give freedom of movement to the pipes of the fuel system, and they begin to knock on the right side member.

Bendix freezing in cold weather is a known problem with starters installed on Volkswagen cars. In such a case, it is enough to turn on the ignition several times for 5 seconds. In 5-10 attempts, the bendix should freeze.

Transmission

In a pair to the engine on the fifth Golf, 5 and 6-speed "mechanics", a 6-band "automatic" and a 6-speed robotic DSG gearbox were installed.

A 5-speed manual transmission is much more reliable than a 6-mortar. Boxes go more than 200 - 250 thousand km without problems. The clutch also serves the same amount, the replacement of which will require about 8 thousand rubles for a set and 4-5 thousand rubles for work.

One of the weak points of the box is the double bearing, which falls apart, and noise and grinding noise appears in motion. The bearing itself is inexpensive, but the work of replacing it is expensive. The input shaft bearing can hum after 150 - 200 thousand km. To replace it, you will have to pay about 17 thousand rubles. Jerking when starting off and knocking after 70 - 90 thousand km are caused by a surrendered checkpoint support (2-4 thousand rubles).

"Automatic" can "twitch" after warming up at the time of gear shifting with a run of more than 60 - 90 thousand km. This happens especially often among those who like to light up. The reason is the failed valve body (valve block) due to valve wear. After replacing the valve body (about 50-60 thousand rubles and 6 thousand rubles for work), you can forget about the problem for the next 60-90 thousand km.

The robotic DSG-6 turned out to be far from the most reliable. About half of Golf 5 owners with a preselective gearbox faced problems. Jerks during slow start-off or continuous movement on a heated gearbox are caused by wear of the control valves on the clutch support. This leads to increased clutch friction and the inability to maintain its control characteristic. "Kicks" of the box in traffic jams and when moving in tightness are the first signs of the "dying" of the mechatron. Jerking may appear when the vehicle is driven over 70 - 100 thousand km. Those who are lucky have covered 200,000 km without any problems. The new mechatron will cost 80 - 120 thousand rubles, the restored one - 40 - 50 thousand rubles. For work on its replacement, official dealers ask about 17-20 thousand rubles, third-party car services - about 5 thousand rubles. Volkswagen carried out a service campaign to replace the mechatron with a simultaneous change of the firmware of the electronic control unit for the operation of the box.

Undercarriage

Suspension Volkswagen Golf 5, contrary to popular belief, is pretty strong. Until the first hundred thousand, apart from thrust bearings, it is unlikely that something will require replacement. After 100 - 150 thousand km, the silent blocks of the levers are surrendered. A set of levers will cost 8 thousand rubles. Because of the weakened rear lateral rod bushings, the rear wheels become a "house".

The front wheel bearings will most likely have to be replaced after 150 - 180 thousand km. They change assembled with the hub. A new hub costs about 4-5 thousand rubles, the work on its replacement will require about 1.5-2 thousand rubles. By this time, it may be necessary to replace the anti-roll bar assembly with bushings (4-5 thousand rubles). Stabilizer bar or bushings are not sold separately.

In winter, the suspension does not like to overcome speed bumps. At this moment, an unpleasant creak appears, and it does not appear on ordinary irregularities. This is the squeak of the rear bushings of the front levers. After a short trip, the silent blocks warm up, and the extraneous sounds disappear.

The fifth Golf is characterized by damage to the left anther of the inner CV joint with a run of more than 50 - 100 thousand km. More often, this trouble overtakes the owners of cars with an automatic transmission. If a tear is detected, the boot must be replaced immediately (700 - 1500 rubles), if there is no desire to purchase a new "grenade" for 10,000 rubles. The right anther goes much longer - more than 150-200 thousand km.

The syndrome of the knocking steering rack did not pass by and the Golf V. The rack begins to knock after 40-60 thousand km. The new rail will cost 40-50 thousand rubles for the original and 25-30 thousand rubles for the non-original. Do not rush to change the rail, the problem manifests itself more often in cold weather and is caused by the peculiarity of its mechanism.

There are no problems with the brakes. Pads take care of 40-50 thousand km, brake discs - at least 60-80 thousand km. On older cars in winter, the rear wheels can wedge due to acidification of the parking brake. The reason is the accumulation and freezing of moisture in the control cables. It is enough to drive a motor test or WD-40 under the cable jacket, and the ailment will not occur.

Conclusion

Overall, the Golf V performed very well. There will be no difficulties with the repair. Parts availability is fantastic and the mechanics know the Golf very well. Plus, Volkswagen handles well. The main problem is to find a copy with no bodywork adventures in the past.

In 2003, Volkswagen presented a new fifth generation Golf. VW says the 5th Golf is the most significant step forward in terms of progress since the family was launched.

The Golf V is built on the latest “all-Volkswagen” platform, which has already formed the basis of the second generation Audi A3 and VW Touran. Together with it, the AW car received a multi-link rear suspension, and in addition - a new body, the rigidity of which increased by 80%.

The 5th generation Volkswagen Golf has become 57 mm (4204 mm) longer, 24 mm wider (1759 mm) and 39 mm (1483 mm) higher. Rear passengers will be the first to feel the increase in space: legroom has increased by 65 mm, and the ceiling has been raised by 24 mm. Trunk volume increased to 347 liters.

The range of engines for the novelty consisted of 2 gasoline engines (1.4 l, 75 hp; 1.6 l, 115 hp) and a pair of turbodiesels: 1.9 TDI with a capacity of 110 hp. with. and a 140-horsepower 2.0 TDI. Later, the lineup was replenished with more powerful engines, including a V-shaped "six" with a capacity of 250 hp. with. with a working volume of 3.2 liters, equipped with a robotic "mechanics" DSG with two clutches.

The Golf V is offered in 3 basic equipment versions: Trendline, Comfortline and Sportline, differing in some trim details. Each of them already includes 6 airbags, ABS with brake assist and ESP.

Volkswagen Golf V presentation
IT'S HARD TO BE GOD
Yuri Nechetov
Behind the wheel No. 12 2003

CITY "GOLF"
The pillars, flashing outside the window like a picket fence, regained their transverse dimensions. Express, extinguishing speed, pulled under the vaults of the station, in the window casually floated a sign "Golfsburg". This is how the capital of Volkswagen, Wolfsburg, was temporarily "christened" on the occasion of the debut of the fifth generation of the most successful model of the concern.
The increased attention to the event is not accidental: since 1974 more than 22 million cars of four generations have been produced, which is even more than the circulation of the famous "Beetle" in 21,517,415 copies. Over the past nearly thirty years, 2,100 "golfs" have been sold every day in the world! This AW car has become a kind of benchmark, giving the name to the whole class. However, competitors are not asleep - if the first "Golf" competed with only a dozen classmates, then the fifth will be challenged by 130 rivals. Serious arguments are needed here; it is not easy to stay on top of the AW of the automobile Olympus.

FURTHER MORE
In our minds, the prestige of an AW car is directly related to its size. Precisely because "more is better", each subsequent generation of the same model, as a rule, is slightly larger than the previous one. Golf V was no exception, adding 55, 24 and 39 mm in length, width and height, respectively. Most noticeably, the wheelbase has increased by 67 mm. The overall dimensions of the three- and five-door hatchbacks remained the same. New calculation methods, an increased share of high-strength steel, modern technologies - in the fifth "Golf", for example, 70 m laser welded seams against 5 m in the fourth - made it possible to increase the strength of the body by 80%, having achieved the best performance in the segment. Another useful innovation is the modular door design: the outer panel is fixed to the supporting frame with glue and screws and can be easily replaced if damaged. However, it is difficult to grasp all these changes from the outside.

Another thing is inside - in the fifth "Golf", in contrast to the fourth, you can sit in the back completely freely! Moreover, even if you move the front seats back to failure, the backrest will not touch the legs of the rear passenger. And behind a driver of average build, with my own height of 180 cm, I measured 110 mm in front of the knees and 90 mm above the crown.
My colleague, the same driver of average build, turned out to be a fair joker - giving up his seat at the wheel, he lowered the seat to the lowest position. With a habitual movement, I push the fifth point into the salon and ... without meeting a support, I fall somewhere down, it seems, to the very asphalt. Heart and tailbone managed to shrink - splash! Thank God, the chair is still in place. However, in what place - my ears are barely sticking out above the line of glazing, and my palm is up to the ceiling! If I understand something in percentiles, then it will be just right for a giant under "two twenty". After kneading with the handle of the elevator, twisting some more knobs and marveling at the electric four-mode adjustment of the lumbar support (by the way, for the first time in this class), I find a comfortable position. So-a-ak, so what's new?

BROTHER-V
In short, everything is new here - something has changed a lot, the other barely, but most of the elements are still recognizable. The former include a more comfortable, convex and rounded center console, which is supported by two braces, bringing an element of sportiness to the interior. The steering wheel has become not so plump, three-spoke, with the control of the audio system. The rest is "Golf" with all the family traits. The style and design have been preserved, but the elements themselves, of course, are different. While everyone is still intuitive, no pretentiousness or unjustified originality.

And the old "Golf" did not look cheap inside, and even this one even more so: soft embossed plastic, even gaps, leather and velor, wood and chrome. The equipment is also matched - even in the most democratic "trendline" AW, cars are equipped as standard with ESP stability control, Dual Break Assist emergency braking, six airbags, belt pretensioners, active front head restraints, power accessories and a central locking with remote control. The comfortline version already offers light and rain sensors, cruise control, light-alloy wheels, velor seat upholstery. The top "sportline" has a sports suspension, sixteen-inch wheels, an on-board computer, leather on the steering wheel and levers, titanium inserts.

RUDOLF DIESEL TRIUMPH
The giant Procruste was a scoundrel and a sadist - even if he was an ancient Greek. He chopped off his legs how much in vain, without being puzzled even by a plausible excuse. The current engine builders have reasons for which they are both valid - nature, ecology and all that. But the stringent requirements of Euro IV are forcing them to root the characteristics of gasoline engines just to the point of indecency.

In vain I tried to cheer up the new 1.4FSI engine with direct fuel injection into the cylinders. And the figures seem to be impressive - 90 forces, 174 km / h, and it drives as if I were lucky to retire. But I do not like lean, I would have something sharper. For example, another novelty is a 150-horsepower 2.0FSI. This is what you need: excellent dynamics, powerful traction in a wide rpm range. Well, I had enough emotions, now you can have a rest on a diesel engine. By the way, they say that the cramped bed of environmental requirements is almost not tight for him.
It was not so! This crazy two-liter descendant of unhurried slugs is a real cannon! Moreover, it is cleaner than a petrol counterpart, even though it warns with a roar at high revs that all the horses are bridled and Newton meters are at the ready. And this quiet man barely audibly mutters to himself at one and a half thousand - just 60 km / h in IV gear, the most innocuous mode. And suddenly, without any switching "down" in response to just pressing the accelerator pedal, the ka-a-ak will jump forward! To be honest, the first such jump just scared, the thought flashed: someone "drove into the tail"!

However, there is no miracle here. Thanks to the variable geometry turbine and the intercooler, the 2.0TDI turbodiesel develops a torque of 320 Nm already at 1750 rpm, and the 2.0FSI gasoline engine only 200 Nm and only at 3500 rpm. So at a speed of 60 km / h, the thrust of a diesel engine in gear IV is even higher than that of a gasoline engine in gear III. Yes, a six-speed manual transmission was more than appropriate here.

A distinctive feature of the 2.0TDI unit, as well as the less powerful 1.9TDI, is a quick start system that allows you to start instantly at any temperature. With these motors, along with a mechanical one, a six-speed AW automatic transmission DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) with a manual control function is also aggregated, which is characterized by the absence of a torque converter.

WE WAIT UNTIL SPRING
Turbodiesels have already been selected for delivery to Russia. With "direct" gasoline engines it is more difficult, they are very demanding on the quality of the fuel, especially the sulfur content. Nevertheless, a bold decision was made - we will sell all new motors. From the units of the previous generation with distributed fuel injection, a 1.4 liter engine is already installed, and a little later 1.6 liters with a capacity of 75 and 102 liters, respectively. with. The price at which "Golf V" will be sold in the spring of next year has not yet been determined. On October 17 - the day of the start of sales in Germany, the minimum cost of new items was 15 220 euros.

THE EDGE OF THE BALL
Anton Chuikin
Driving # 4 2005

Well, no, I won't get into trouble a second time. A couple of months ago, when we checked the diesel "Golf" in the case, I was already tormented with the trunk, until I remembered that the large emblem itself serves as its handle. Now in front of me is "Golf Plus"; now I'll pull on the letters VW ... Damn, what is this! These "knee-highs", they are either indistinguishable from each other, then for some reason they are original in such a trifle as the lock of the fifth door! The briefcase went to the firm's headquarters in Wolfsburg in a leather seat. Won't you turn on the heating?
PLUS 95

A little later, at the lecture "What is" Volkswagen Golf / "> Golf Plus?" the experts explained that the proportions that changed in comparison with the prototype dictated the transfer of the license plate from the bumper to the fifth door, a place for the usual handle appeared in its niche, etc. It seems logical, but the interesting detail was gone. " Golf ”in general the car is very correct, outwardly calm, and when it was reshaped into“ Volkswagen Golf Plus / "> Golf Plus", it was possible to fool around somewhere, go beyond. Alas, accurate German calculations are everywhere. Even the inclination of the bridge on the bumper is dictated by the laws of graphics, and not just by the will of the artist.

So what is Plus? A new facet of "Golf", which has grown by 95 mm. The result is a tall station wagon, a cross between Volkswagen Golf and Turan. If some performances of simply "Golf" can still be called a car for individuals, then the very name "Plus" hints at unnecessary riders. For them, the interior was increased, the fit was changed, and liters were added to the trunk; and for the driver, on the contrary, we tried to preserve all the driving qualities of the standard of the golf class ... However, this is exactly what we will now check.

MINUS ONE

The length and width of the car remained the same, visibility did not suffer, so when parking the Plus driver is unlikely to feel that he had to pay for the spacious interior. We leave on AW toban ... oh, that's what I missed so much when traveling on a two-liter diesel "Golf" - German roads! My "Plus" with the same power unit: throttle to the floor, and the car accelerates powerfully, allowing you to change from the acceleration lane to the left lane in a matter of seconds. And now you turn on the cruising sixth gear and watch the passing signs: Braunschweig, Magdeburg ...

Frankly, while driving, I did not feel the difference with the usual "Golf". Except that gusts of side wind shake the car a little more; and if you look at the tables, you will see that the "Plus" with a 140-horsepower diesel engine and a six-speed gearbox loses to the same "Golf" only 1 km / h of maximum speed.

By the way, the lineup for today includes two gasoline and two diesel engines with a volume of 1.4 to 2 liters, which in different versions are combined with five- and six-speed gearboxes, "AW tomato" or DSG - in fact, a six-speed "mechanics" with very fast AW tomato switching. The table shows only four options for power units, two of which are diesel. They will certainly be in Russia, which cannot yet be said about the 1.4 liter and 1.6 FSI gasoline engines. Diesel engines run very well, but I dare to suggest that the best combination is a 2-liter diesel plus DSG. If I get to try it, I will certainly share my pleasure.

Now it's my turn to sit in the back. The spacious sofa is entirely at my disposal, I lower the armrest, make the back higher, raise the table. I have nothing to put on it, it's getting boring ... You can't rummage in the trunk on the go. However, here is just free parking.

PLUS-MINUS 160

The rear seat slides longitudinally by 160 mm, allowing for a large cargo compartment. There is still enough room for legs, at least if the crew is of average height. You can also fold the backrest piece by piece, remove the raised floor - see Photo Sketches with an Umbrella. I liked the kinematics of the rear seats - when you fold the backrest, the pillow goes down and forward, so in one move you get a cargo compartment with a flat floor. True, to tilt the back, you need to find and pull an unsightly loop, which, after the convenient golf buttons, disappoints.

Seats "Plus", for nothing that fold and move as you like, always remain in the cabin. It is impossible to dismantle them, that is, the explanation of the designers: where to attach a large sofa? In fact, I, for example, have nowhere to go. But, having remained in the cabin, the seats work for safety - the vertically installed backrests reliably fence off the cargo compartment.

It is difficult to imagine that few interior configurations will seem to someone. For me, there are even a lot of them. Imagine a trunk full of belongings and a cabin full of riders. The passenger, whom you did not manage to warn, moves the back seat forward ... Oops, something has fallen there! And then back ... Oh, now it cracked ...

In Germany, the price of "Plus" differs by about that much from just "Golf" in the same configuration. This is, of course, about the euro. When the car appears in the showrooms of Russian dealers by the summer, we'll see what this plus will be in rubles. It is unlikely that the AW car will become cheap - too good, as, in fact, his older brother. Rather, it will be maximally tailored to the needs of a particular client. If you want a hatchback, please. You need a tall wagon - here it is.

By the way, about versatility. Despite the presentation of the high station wagon "Volkswagen Golf Plus", in Wolfsburg they also talk about the classic station wagon - under the familiar name "Variant" ...

VISITING VW

Wolfsburg, the capital of the Volkswagen Empire, has been transformed into a major local landmark. Only 14 euros - and you find yourself in a real AW car Disneyland, simply called Autostadt. Guests are greeted by a huge globe. The blue scoreboard corresponds to the position of Wolfsburg - when looking at the reflection in the floor. Sometimes the truth can only be seen in the mirror ... Tourists are attracted by the modern pavilions of the brands belonging to the VW group, the famous glass towers with finished products, a circular cinema panorama, a museum with a rich collection of AW tostarines. An excursion to the production facility is also possible: “Up to 3,000 cars are made here per day, the plant area is more than 6 km2, we have about 6,000 bicycles alone! But the traces of shrapnel, during the war the building was destroyed by 2/3 ... ”At the end - lunch with the indispensable sausage with curry sauce (another gift from 1945, but more on that another time). In fact, Volkswagen is the largest producer of sausages, 3 million units annually (four times less cars are assembled in Wolfsburg).

That's it, the client is ready. He will probably want to see how the local population of rabbits go out on the Autostadt lawns in good weather, or show the children how dad is spinning in the chair of an accident demonstrator. The easiest way to return is to order a new Golf for the dealer and receive it in Wolfsburg (saving on delivery - several hundred euros). Having found out, you understand: it is for this that you were entertained here ... and yet it is a pity that such a service is available only when buying a car in Germany. The rest come here as tourists. By the way, there is a guide in Russian at Avtostadt.

Source: WWW.ZR.RU - AW car magazine "Behind the wheel"

Volkswagen Golf Plus. Carriage of enthusiasm
Yuri Nechetov
Driving # 9 2005

The day turned out to be that: in the morning to drop in to work, by lunchtime - to the embassy for a visa, then to the airport, to chat for three hours on the plane, to shake on the train for another half hour, to transfer to the high-speed express train, to whistle three hundred kilometers, to finally get a test car and ... rewind another four hundred on it.
Volkswagen Golf PlusFortunately, it was the correct German AW car Volkswagen Golf, more precisely the Plus, in which everything is where it should be, and where you can find any button blindfolded - creative findings of Columbus from ergonomics, so frequent on others cars, they would have killed me that evening.

Try to count all the circles in the Golf Plus interior. I saw 16 in this photo: here is the dominant element for you And so - sat down and drove off, as if for the hundredth time, and not for the first time you see an AW car. Moderately rigid profiled chairs with many adjustments and two airbags in the back, a short lever of a clear gearbox, intelligible instruments, extremely clear two-zone climate control, soft expensive plastic of the panel - everything suits me here!

Ugh, you jinxed it - your foot hit painfully on the hard casing of the steering column! Rubbing my knee, I twist in my chair, assessing the fit: what a good compromise, for all its "minivan" verticality, you don't feel like you're on a stool. And you can sit in the back with your legs crossed. Although the central tunnel could be smaller.

However, the interest in the car is caused mainly by the two-liter FSI gasoline engine with direct fuel injection into the cylinders. We must pay tribute, the engine is good, one and a half hundred horses playfully carry a rather heavy "Golf Plus". With a slip to jerk away from a traffic light? Easily! Up to a hundred - only 9.2 seconds.

Rain sensor, electrochromic mirror with AW tomato dimmer, navigator lamps, tweeters, eyeglass case - there is never too much comfort The color information display is always ready to tell the shortest way to the desired point ... alas, only in Western Europe third-fifth "? Drive around the city in IV gear, practically without switching? And this is possible thanks to the excellent elasticity of the motor and the torque of 200 Nm. Keep on AW toban 150 km / h? Not a question at all! In the cabin, there is silence, under the pedal - a good margin, which, if necessary, allows even in VI gear to take a long ascent or dynamically accelerate without losing speed. But at high speed you need to be more careful, the Golf-Plus is quite high and sensitive to gusts of crosswind.

Instead of a European repair kit, a full-size spare wheel will fit here.However, the dense suspension and balanced steering, the electric power steering of which increases reactive action with increasing speed, simplify the task - the car always remains obedient and not too harsh in the reviews. But a little corrugation on the steering wheel rim will not hurt. Another drawback manifested itself in the evening - the edge of the direction indicator repeater on small exterior mirrors is in the driver's field of vision and dazzles in the dark. Well, maybe about "blinds", especially in a city where there are a lot of lights, I turned it down, but on a dark highway this illumination is clearly superfluous.

The lively and dynamic character of the two-liter Volkswagen made it easy, in one breath, to rewind four hundred kilometers of the night. And in the future, the arrow of the speedometer looked more and more to the right - this motor starts, oh it starts! Maybe that's why the gas mileage was not so modest - 10.1 l / 100 km. Although the factory specifications promise only 6.6 liters on the highway - but if you do not "pedal", keep in the economy mode. Okay, there will still be time to clarify - after all, from the fall of the AW, the car will begin to be sold in Russia. Not to say that it is cheap - from 22 thousand dollars, but the "Plus" is worth it.

Have you already acquired children, a dog and a summer cottage, but have not yet lost your youthful enthusiasm? The two-liter Golf-Plus is for you. This practical trailer knows how to be fast.
+ Good dynamics, excellent elasticity of the engine, spacious interior, well-thought-out ergonomics, precise operation of the box.
- Sensitivity to crosswinds, massive steering column shroud, dazzling direction indicators.

Source: WWW.ZR.RU - AW car magazine "Behind the wheel"

GOLF CAN BE PLAYED FAST
Yuri Nechetov
Driving # 1 2005

The director of the Paul Ricard AW Todrome stopped in the video control room in front of a huge wall of many monitors: “Our track is one of the most modern in the world. For example, 38 controlled TV cameras are installed on it, which are ready to show close-ups of any grain on the asphalt ... "... so that all your tricks will be before our eyes - I mentally finished his phrase. Okay, I'm not going to dare.
Where are you, good intentions? They disappeared as soon as the starting flag flew up. The motor sings, driving the tachometer needle to seven thousand, the howl of tires is interspersed with the echoing "dr-r-rrr ..." on the curbs, wet palms gripped the steering wheel, the eye targets the point of the next braking.

And-e-ee, raz-zz! The foot hits the pedal, the head nods, shaking the scraps of thoughts: ... why can't I hear the ABS chirp? ... or is it broken? ... then why not skidding, the brake discs are more than 300 mm - even 18-inch "sandals" should be blocked? ... or is it so well tuned that you don't feel it?

At the sound of "z-zz" the muzzle sagged and, following the steering wheel, stared into the turn. High rollers of lateral support stopped the attempt to fall out of the seat - not without reason for the GTI designed new seats with a sporty profile and many settings. An interesting thing: until he took aim, several times he almost blew off the cone at the entrance to the S-shaped bundle - you go straight onto the pole counting on lateral drift, and the Golf GTI literally sticks to the asphalt and does not want to crawl out into any !

However, it should be so: after all, from the usual "Golf" he inherited the rear suspension steering in a turn, and in addition received a 15 mm lower ground clearance, increased spring rigidity, shock absorbers and a rear anti-roll bar, effective large-diameter disc brakes and the most sporty of eight preset electric power steering. Wheels even in the "standard" 225 / 45R17, on request and at all 225 / 40R18!

The current GTI is already the fifth generation of high-speed cars based on the "Golf", but for the first time it is so noticeably different in appearance. A small spoiler on the edge of the roof, a double-barreled 70 mm caliber - the elements, of course, are bright, but feasible even for a small tuning company. The debutant has a new front end made in a corporate style with an anthracite-black insert in the center and enlarged "honeycomb" air intake grilles, as well as a more massive rear bumper skirt.

However, the most serious changes are hidden under the hood: a two-liter FSI gasoline engine with direct fuel injection into the cylinders, a turbocharged mechanism for adjusting the phases of the intake valves - now it develops 200 hp. And the torque shelf of 280 Nm stretched from 1800 to 5000 rpm! Choice of six-speed gearboxes - manual and AW-tomatic DSG (ZR, 2003, No. 2).

… A long, gentle climb turns the motor until it chimes. One touch of the right petal under the steering wheel - followed by an instant transition to a note below. With a conventional gearbox, even the most trained rider spends about 0.2 s: you need to squeeze the clutch, disengage the gear, equalize the speed of rotation of the shafts with the synchronizers, put into operation a new pair of gears, release the clutch. In the DSG, figuratively speaking, two boxes and two clutches are assembled. And they already have two gears included - one is working, the second is ready. To switch, it is enough to turn off one clutch, and turn on the second synchronously - more precisely, even with some anticipation, since multi-disc structures operate in an oil bath and allow some slippage, which achieves a smooth, albeit very fast, change in the gear ratio.

Together with the adjustment of the transmission ratios, this gave a gain of 0.3 seconds in acceleration to hundreds compared to a conventional manual gearbox. But the maximum speed is 2 km / h lower - the DSG shift drive pump is to blame, which eats up some of the power. However, electronics and hydraulics are in charge of all the subtleties of the process, while the driver has only two pedals - gas and brake and a couple of levers with “-” and “+” under the steering wheel.

By the way, this box works clearly and without delays in the usual AW tomato mode, which became clear the very next day on ordinary roads. In general, the Golf GTI is not only a powerful sports equipment, but also an excellent vehicle for every day: excellent noise insulation, spacious interior, rich equipment, high quality finishes. And even the suspension does not seem rigid, although, apart from the "speed bumps", there was nowhere to test it. The three-spoke profiled steering wheel, slightly flattened at the bottom, is very convenient.

Safety has not been forgotten either: in addition to stabilization and tire pressure monitoring systems, there are, for example, active head restraints and six or eight airbags, including full-size side curtains.

... At the end of the straight, ruby arrows rested on "180" and "7000", then a cool right one, which you can go without resetting. As soon as I entered, I feel, dragging out, as if smeared with bacon - here it would be to straighten the trajectory and calmly leave the road, since the safety zone is the size of three football fields. But no, I began to balk ... As a result, this zone flew partly sideways, partly backwards - that was probably the fun in the video control room ...

On the pit-line, the first thing I did was crouch at the wheel - that's how it is, from the tread there are only memories, the shoulder zone is gnawed to the cord, where can I resist!

A friendly engineer from Volkswagen reassured him: “Don't worry, 840 journalists have been here in three weeks, and we have changed 800 wheels ...” Yes, not only Russians like to drive fast. Especially if the car asks.

Source: WWW.ZR.RU - AW car magazine "Behind the wheel"

Practical arguments
Sergey Voskresensky
Driving # 7 2007

Once in the driver's seat, I finally recognize an old and good friend. A very decent stock of space around for this class, impeccable embrace of a chair, a grasping steering wheel, comfortable pedals, toggle switches and an "international" instrument cluster. It is, perhaps, even better adapted for passengers, and certainly more cheerful. Yes, for sure this "popular wagon" will reign in its class for more than one year, setting standards for the rest. Once again evaluating the quality of leather, plastics, and simply the richness of the package, one never ceases to be amazed at the thoughtfulness and harmony of every detail. Soundly, comfortable, although, probably, expensive. But there is no word about prices yet, we decide with a colleague sitting on the right - we will enjoy the zest of the novelty.

The interior of "Golf Variant" is distinguished by careful thoughtfulness and balanced design decisions - a feature that has already become a trademark. The arrows of the analog devices started and confidently jumped upwards, the robotic DSG gearbox without tediousness and delays began to confidently count all six steps, a point slid across the screen of the navigation monitor, marking our location.

A panoramic sunroof, 1.36 m long and 0.87 m wide, is standard on the Sportline. In one breath, having passed the local paths, we taxi to the AW toban. "Variant", obeying the command, as if spurred, rushes forward, leaving potential competitors behind the mighty stern. The speedometer is under two hundred, and the engine is still confidently singing its quiet song, persistently accelerating the car. And those around us are unaware that the sense of pride, even superiority that we experience, is not based on the solid power of the station wagon. She's something for "Volkswagen" - a common thing. But the thing is that 170 forces were removed from an engine with a volume of only 1.4 liters! In this, as well as in a deceptive appearance, at first it is simply impossible to believe - the reactions of the machine are so light, temperamental. And soon the trip computer summed up the result: the average fuel consumption is just over 8 liters. Well, the superiority of the latest technology, denoted by the TSI nameplate, is very clear.

The "international" instrument cluster is typical for most models of the concern. Colleagues-journalists seemed to have gone crazy: cars are sorely lacking, everyone wants to try all the new items at once. Burning interest is aroused by two unusual 1.4-liter petrol engines (140 and 170 hp). With their appearance, thanks to a complex combination of a drive compressor and a turbocharger, the creators promise almost 20 percent fuel economy, and to it - high, without discounts on subcompact, dynamic characteristics. I have already partly convinced of this, therefore, having hesitated, I still remain an adherent of the most powerful TSI engine, only with a 6-speed mechanics. This will help you better understand the nature of the engine. Communication with the robotic transmission in general left a very favorable impression; however, at a sharp start, it seemed that the tandem engine - gearbox slightly "slows down", as if assessing the seriousness of intentions.

With a conventional gearbox, everything is much more transparent. The jerk of the car is accompanied by a barely noticeable, but very characteristic, almost diesel rumble of a mechanical compressor picking up speed. His work can still be felt and tracked. Further, the "Option", like a straightened spring, simply shoots out, striking with an excellent operating range: from 1500 to 7500 rpm. Due to the flexibility of the settings, the engine is ready for any experiments. You can, as we are now, rush headlong, since the German roads allow it, but you can, on the contrary, roll yourself slowly and measuredly, having already "implanted" the top gear at 60 km / h. And in none of the situations will you feel deprived of something, rather the opposite ...

The center armrest, which is standard on the Comfortline trim, hides a sunroof for long vehicles. Further transformation of the rear seat cushion and backrest - according to the worked out scheme, the main thing is not to forget to remove the head restraints. Everything else is a traditional addition to the first impressions of this AW car. Calibrated acoustic comfort, good handling and brakes, good ride. Really, it would be strange if the godfather of the golf class found even a slight slack. Let's take the chassis. If, according to the intention of the creators, the station wagon is supposed to be more comfortable than its fellow hatchback, it will indeed be better adapted for long-distance travel.

Will retain some harshness of behavior on small irregularities and, most likely, will be a little less expressive on winding serpentines. In general, "Variant" pleases with excellent understanding of commands, clarity of feedback and logic of behavior.

Almost everyone told about the new product: how many AW vehicles are planned to be made this year, what are the expanded configurations, intelligent security systems. That in August the station wagon will appear in Russia, including with one of the new TSI engines (140 hp). But the pedantic Germans have not yet decided on the price ...

All versions of the station wagon are equipped with six airbags. Side airbags for rear passengers will be offered as an option. If the Golf Variant is equipped with a hitch (towed trailer weight with brakes 1200-1500 kg), it can be supplemented with a trailer stabilization system linked to ESP. The information is read from the yaw rate sensor, and if the oscillations of the “tail” exceed the permissible ones, the electronics, after braking, will return the trailer to the previously set trajectory. For greater efficiency, braking of the tractor starts when the trailer is in the "neutral" - zero position of the vibration amplitude.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT - practical, solid, constructively interesting. An extraordinary AW car rightfully strives to be an older class.

Source: WWW.ZR.RU - AW car magazine "Behind the wheel

Test drive VW Golf V

Volkswagen is a people's AW car, it follows at least from the name of the brand itself. And its most popular model is the Golf, with 23 million AW vehicles sold since the launch of this model in 1974. However, over the decades, both the brand and the model have evolved a lot. The three-door Golf V Sportline in canary color with a 2-liter FSI engine and a 6-speed "AW tomato" cannot be called a "people's AW car". You can get it for private ownership for only $ 33,776. The situation is slightly improved by all sorts of discounts, for our configuration the price would have decreased by about $ 3,000. Over the past decade, VW has matured and finally became bourgeois.

Three-door hatch, color, AW tomato - the idea of a female AW car is immediately built up, which, however, is somewhat refuted by the engine power (150 hp). Despite significant changes in design, the common features of the latest Golf models in the AW car have been preserved. It is no coincidence that the employees of the VW representative office in Russia are so fond of the phrase about the absolute security of the design from counterfeiting. This is a Golf, and nothing else, although such a continuity of style, as between the III and IV generations, is no longer felt.

The transversely positioned headlamps and taillights have increased in size, significantly reshaped to reflect the company's new corporate identity. Huge company emblems flaunt at the front and back. The rear one, by the way, serves as a trunk handle - it looks very nice and, after pressing, smoothly returns to its original position. True, it gets dirty in bad weather.

The interior of the AW car is even more traditional, "German", without unnecessary emotional clutter, but extremely functional - all controls and switches are exactly where you expect to see them. Sitting in the salon, first of all we look around and get comfortable in the driver's seat - the seat has a decent set of adjustments and reliably keeps it from lateral displacement. Comfort is no longer the privilege of only front passengers, as in the previous generation. Thanks to the increased size of the body, rear passengers do not have to prop their ears with their knees and three fit there without any problems. The luggage compartment has also increased to 347 liters.

Starting the movement, you think about fast driving, given the engine size and 150 "horses" under the hood. However, disappointment comes pretty quickly - the 6-speed AW tomato slightly upsets the engine, including the last gear already at 80 km, and even in the "sport" mode the situation practically does not change. Most likely, this is due to the need to fit into Euro IV standards and save fuel that is becoming more expensive. It is consumed, by the way, about 10 liters per 100 km with the air conditioner on.

Only by switching gears "manually", you can accelerate this hatch to "hundreds" in 8.7 seconds for your passport. The chassis behaves in accordance with the strict canons of a pseudo-sports AW car. This was achieved in Wolfsburg thanks to the optimized suspension of the new design and the high rigidity of the body. Riding in city mode delivers extremely positive emotions. The maximum speed that we managed to develop on the track was approximately 220 km / h. There was no great discomfort, except that the AW car drove a little along the road, which is not surprising at such a speed and quality of Russian roads. Brakes with "Brake Assist" system demonstrated their best qualities in all modes.

The steering is extremely informative: in urban conditions, the steering wheel is quite "light", the gain is continuously optimized according to signals from speed sensors. By the way, the steering wheel became multifunctional for the first time. You can control telephone conversations and / or the multimedia system. We can say that the AW car is moderately comfortable and fast enough. He will surely appeal to the fair sex. But any potential buyer will reasonably have a question about the price.

In our case, a more expensive car was made with multiple decorative panels, functional compartments in the cabin and a powerful engine. Body-colored moldings, side mirrors with integrated turn signals and foglights, as well as other pleasant little things that do not affect the speed. In addition, the package includes 6 airbags, dual-zone climate control and a stereo radio equipped with a 6-disc CD changer. All this can be omitted, and then the price will drop noticeably. But the buyer makes the main investments not even in high-quality plastic or, say, in a multifunction steering wheel, but in the safety and driving performance of the new Golf.

In Russia, the Golf V 2.0 FSI with 6 AT in the Sportline configuration costs a little more than 30,000. Other trim levels with different engines will start at $ 16,999 for the Trendline, $ 18,973 for the Comfortline and $ 18,736 for the Sportline. Various profitable loan programs in cooperation with BSGV bank will undoubtedly help doubters make their choice.

Artem Baranovsky
http://www.autonews.ru

Test drive VW Golf V 1.6 AT

With about twenty thousand conventional units available for buying a new AW car, a lot of tempting offers immediately appear. Due to the specifics of this section, it is not worth mentioning the competitors of the Volkswagen Golf V. We can only say that the level of price / quality ratio established by the concern not so long ago is beginning to find understanding among buyers. On the road, more and more often you can see the "fifth" Golf with a 1.6 liter engine, and it will certainly be equipped with an AW automatic transmission. The popularity of this combination is difficult to dispute. The basic equipment of the AW car includes everything you need for a quiet drift in city traffic.

Add air conditioning to it and you have the perfect option for the novice driver. A kind of bonus to the purchase can be considered the absence of serious concerns for your safety from loved ones. This makes the model popular among the female population, who have saved up money for the first car from a foreign manufacturer.

If a father decides to ride his daughter's future vehicle, then he will certainly be satisfied with the driving performance. The new suspension and improved body rigidity allow for a lot, so the handling is very good. Reasonable management of the dynamic capabilities of the AW car using the pedals and steering wheel will allow you to accelerate to 180 km / h. At the same time, he will change the “hundred” in 12.5 seconds, which is unlikely to give mom a reason to worry about the excessive agility of the AW car. You don't have to worry too much about finances. The 102-horsepower engine only consumes 10-11 liters in mixed mode, and this is not a figure that can cause stress.

The shape of the AW car has become much smoother than its predecessor. To some, they seem too licked, but what can you do. Mom, for example, will surely like them. As well as transversely located direction indicators and taillights, which have changed their shape and grown in size. The huge company emblems on the radiator grille and trunk lid harmoniously fit into the overall design. Now there are also cool little things, imperceptible at first glance - in the headlight block you can see a small VW badge.

But in any case, the overall impression of the AW car is created by its color. Thinking about the relevance of red, the question comes to mind: what are the reasons for choosing this color on an AW car with a 1.6 liter engine and AW tomato gearbox? Is that the hope of additional attention to your person of the surrounding drivers. The brighter the paint, the better you see. A useful option for girls, by the way. Especially from the category "second day at the wheel".

Learning how to drive this AW car is also extremely easy. The layout of the dashboard and the manipulators of the air conditioning system will not cause serious difficulties for the fair sex to get used to. The same applies to the gear lever, as well as the pedals, of which, oddly enough, there are only two. Without even explaining why some keys are needed, you can count on the successful independent mastering of them by any girl. Victorious glances will surely fly through the salon in the direction of the teacher-tormentor from time to time.

It's probably useless to explain popularly what ESP and ASR are. It is easier to demonstrate how these systems work in action. It is time to introduce this approach to training young personnel for employees of AW Toshkols. A little fear, a little reproach, and then joy and endless requests to teach something else from this area. Along with ESP (stabilization system) and ASR (traction control system), of course, there is also ABS (anti-lock braking system) with a two-stage brake booster and Dual Brake Assist. This ingenious combination, guided by a computer mind, is very good at stopping 1 211 kg of metal, glass and plastic.

The interior of the AW car remains traditional, without unnecessary emotional clutter, but it is extremely functional - all controls and switches are exactly where you expect to see them. The seat has a decent set of adjustments and does not cause problems with adjustment, even for a person suffering from a chronic misunderstanding of what is happening.

Let's not forget about the rear passengers. They gained more space compared to the previous generation. Four friends will simply take their places of honor, fasten their seat belts and, relying on a rigid body and 6 airbags, will go on their first trips with a friend in a new AW car. And the luggage compartment will allow you to take with you a bunch of shoes, sneakers and other clothes, because the volume is no less than 347 liters. In addition, with a certain amount of faith in luck, you can remove a full-size spare tire from the trunk and fill the vacated space.

All electronic innovations and just useful functions that appeared in the fifth generation are quite standard set for higher class AW vehicles. In our case, they help the girls to convince their parents to buy them this “car”, appealing to the terms “quality” and “safety”. The word price, perhaps, will not be included in this list, but in any case, the basic configuration will cost about $ 22,300. Taking into account various measures to minimize prices, you can also add an air conditioner, thus dropping several hundred from the final price.

Artem Baranovsky
http://www.autonews.ru

Volkswagen Golf GT - 170 horses from a tiny engine

Volkswagen Golf - the AW car is no longer new and does not seem to be preparing any discoveries. But the creators of the AW car have refreshed their model. They equipped it with an engine that won the Grand Prix for Technical Innovation in the International Engine of the Year Award 2006.

The 1.4-liter engine produces 170 (!) Hp. In this unit, seemingly incompatible was combined. The turbine is responsible for “picking up” at high revs, and in order to avoid the so-called “turbo lag”, the engine is also equipped with a compressor, which provides excellent acceleration at low revs. As a result, the maximum torque - 240 Nm - is already achieved at 1750 rpm. The result is outstanding. At the same time, the creators claim that all innovations did not affect the resource in any way.

Another reason to be proud of the new motor is its economy. According to AW documents, the car does not consume more than 8 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. In fact, although the appetite was higher, the result is still worthy of respect. With the sharpest, uneconomical driving around the city, the on-board computer informs about a consumption of 10.5-11 liters. And with a calm rhythm of driving, you can keep within 6 liters. So a 55-liter tank lasts for a long time.

Such decent dynamic characteristics allowed the creators to name their new product GT. It turned out to be such an intermediate option between the usual Golf and Golf GTI. And at the wheel, the lack of 30 horsepower, which does not allow the AW car to add the letter I to its cockade, is absolutely not felt. This car conquers the “hundred” in 7.9 seconds. A 6-speed mechanic interacts with the newfangled motor. Moreover, unlike many models, all six gears are justified here. On the one hand, each of the steps is quite long: if necessary, you can drive almost like an AW tomato, without “tormenting” the shift lever, on the other hand, for the most efficient acceleration, you have to work with gears quite often.

As for the exterior, we got a red copy for the test, very similar to its brother GTI, only there are five doors on it, not three. Large wheels, a sparkling GT emblem on the radiator grille, a low seating position - all this gives out an animal soul in a regular body.

Inside, everything is like in the GTI: comfortable seats, austere, but at the same time stylish interior. The radio tape recorder reads MP3, there is climate control. That is, all the vital needs of the modern buyer have been taken into account. Sound insulation is also impressive, even at high speed in the cabin you can communicate without straining your vocal cords.

As for the suspension, it is she, in conjunction with excellent handling and an excellent engine, classifies this AW car as a “hot” hatchback. For civilian life AW, the car will seem harsh. But it is a pleasure to enter corners on it or to rebuild from row to row at high speed. The stability of the car on the road can be the envy of many competitors.

It looks like the Golf GT is the first swallow of a new generation of AW vehicles. No wonder the engine has received such comments as: “This type of 'hybrids' will set the tone for the next 10 years. Turbochargers and compressors leave a lot of room for research. I think this is a great start and by far the best new engine ”(Matt Davis, journalist, Italy). And in terms of cost, the GT is inferior to its brother GTI: this in its own way unique AW car costs about $ 30 thousand.

Nikolay Zagvozdkin
http://www.autonews.ru/

New Golf is more suggestive than philosophical treatises. The latest advances and trends in the AW car industry, technical innovations and marketing contradictions - all this came together in the long-awaited Volkswagen product. At its core, the Golf is simple and unsophisticated - an everyday AW car for the "lower middle" class. However, how many passions and conflicts this simplicity hides underneath! This is what I thought about when I was racing on equal terms with "nines" and "tens", and a minute later, with unrealistic speed and unrealistic calmness, I was passing a typical city turn of ninety degrees.

Where to start something? Probably because the Golf has grown again. And it was he who set this fashion thirteen years ago. Now, from generation to generation, everyone grows, grows uncontrollably: "Swedes and Koreans, Japanese and French, Italians and British." Only the "Americans" are not growing - there is nowhere to grow. I wonder what will happen in a couple of decades? Will Golf catch up with the Phaeton? Or will the Phaeton be the size of a KrAZ by that time?

Here is your first contradiction. Golf came close to the Passat, both in terms of interior size and equipment. And for the price. And he pulled himself away from Polo a lot. And, alas, there is nothing to fill the gap that has arisen. And competitors will definitely take advantage of this. In addition, do not forget that "got better" - about Golf - very often means "got bigger". Too straightforward method: we are now presented with quantity for quality with an accompanying requirement to fork out.

Meanwhile, the Golf is indeed more spacious than its predecessor. The rear passengers feel especially clearly freedom, who now do not have acute problems with the placement of their legs. And in general, the interior has become "airier". And this is the second trend. Let's call it "minivanization" - the desire to maximize the passenger compartment by raising the roofline and shortening the bow. A similar method is practiced by the Japanese, and in Europe it was popularized by the Peugeot 307. What does this mean? Golf for the first time in its "career" is forced to follow the lead, and not dictate its own standards!

And not everything is smooth with the design. The crisis that befell the German school is obvious. There is no forward movement, there is scaling and cosmetic correction as the two main ways to get another new model. Chris Bangle, with incredible efforts and sacrifices, pulled BMW out of the vicious circle, Martin Smith pushed Opel off the ground. Walter de Silva is currently fighting over changes in the image of Audi. Murat Gunak, chief designer of the Volkswagen / Skoda / Bentley division, will also have to make radical decisions in the near future. In the meantime, we see a strange symbiosis of technocratic respectability, Far Eastern motifs and rudiments of biodesign in the form of playful headlights and plump taillights.

Inside, the Golf is conservative and austere. If not for the new - and extremely successful - center console, nothing would have changed at all. But in terms of ergonomics, the AW car is just perfect. The mutual arrangement of the controls, the adjustment ranges, the consistency of the disposition and purpose of the buttons are beyond praise. Even with a detailed study, only one "speck" was found: an adjustable lumbar support, which does not support the lower back at all, but the shoulder blades. But the chairs themselves, if anything is missing, is that very lumbar support. The three-spoke steering wheel with touch-sensitive buttons is remarkable, the use of a wide platform for resting the left leg is invaluable. The trunk is also good, capacious, simple and therefore optimal in shape.

However, Golf is convenient not only in terms of global things, but also in small things. More precisely, adaptability for little things. Roomy door pockets, cup holders, air-conditioned "glove compartment" and armrest container, pull-out drawers under the front seats ... You can't remember everything! This is how a leader in his class should be!

The increase in the mass of the car required other, larger wheels. From now on, the standard golf shoe size will be R16. The new tailgate handle design promises clean hands. If only the emblem itself hadn't got dirty ...

In the "C" segment or some special Golf class? It seems that the "C" segment is out of the question: it is simply incorrect to compare the "fifth" Golf with such cars as Seat Leon, Toyota Corolla or Mitsubishi Lancer. Golf has once again moved away from overtaking rivals by raising the stakes. The "soplatform" Audi A3 and the already announced BMW of the first series are able to compete with him on equal terms. The company of "advanced" Alfa Romeo 147, Fiat Stilo, Ford Focus, Peugeot 307 and Renault Megane II, alas, finds itself in the rearguard. The rest of the cars of the "C" segment do not pass "face control" at all in today's Golf class. Let's see what the new Opel Astra and Ford Focus II will offer, which is scheduled to debut in the fall. In the meantime, the Golf is ready to attack the cars of the "D" segment, and among its victims are Alfa Romeo 156, Citroёn C5, Ford Mondeo, Opel Vectra and Renault Laguna.

Golf is equipped convincingly: the "base" includes six airbags, air conditioning, switchable traction control ASR. And here it is not original: you have to follow in the wake of the 147th Alpha, which four years ago set fundamentally new standards for the equipment of cars of this class. As for the options list, it is huge: it has everything that is offered for models of the "D" class, and much from the "E" segment, which includes the prestigious business sedans.

What about quality? The situation is as follows. There are no complaints about materials and assembly: everything is at the highest level. However, there are punctures, especially noticeable both against the background of the general achievements of the AW car, and in comparison with the much more affordable "Japanese". The doors close with force, the window regulator buttons are a little tight. Nagging, you say? Minuses are fixable, but the cost of the car is not so little.

The "sprouting" of Golf into the upper classes of Volkswagen is amusingly trying to compensate with a line of motors that fully meets the requirements of the "C" segment, but does not correspond to the mass of the car. For the 1200-kg AW car, 1.4-liter engines with 75 and 90 horsepower are offered! Nonsense! It's good that they are not officially supplied to Russia. After all, even with a 1.6-liter 102-horsepower engine, as in "our" car, you will not particularly accelerate. The motor pulls boringly smoothly, without enthusiasm, while grumbling loudly and displeased. The expected 115-horsepower FSI engine with direct fuel injection is also unlikely to solve the problem. All hope is for a two-liter power unit with a capacity of 150 "horses", the price of such a car is from 26 thousand dollars. There are also diesels, in which interest is growing in our country. According to the Volkswagen representative, Russians are unexpectedly willing to buy Golfs with a 140-horsepower turbodiesel.

And Golf just needs a good motor! In my opinion, the main advantage of the AW car is its amazing chassis. Smooth ride, energy intensity of the suspension and, as a result, the portability of our roads - everything is with him. The steering wheel is completely isolated from irregularities: shocks and vibrations are not transmitted to it when driving even decent potholes. At high AW speeds, the car is incredibly stable - both on the straight line and in corners. Controllability is a song! Smooth, but super-precise reactions, ideal saturation of the steering wheel with feedback, complete "transparency" of the reactive force allow you to unconditionally trust the car from the first meters of the journey. The car follows exactly the trajectory on which you direct it at the entrance to the turn: no turning and "unfolding" of the steering wheel is required. Goes, barely heeling and tightly clutching the asphalt. If you deliberately recklessly, the Golf will fall, but it will be a side slip with a slight emphasis on the front axle at the beginning and on the rear axle in the final stage. Everything is controlled and always suppressed. The impeccable work of the mechanics cannot be ignored in German: the reference precision of gear shifting, the precision of the drive of the floor gas pedal and the highest efficiency of the brakes.

The driving experience suggests that the new Golf can be matched with the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series in terms of chassis tuning. Only a "dead" motor and mediocre sound insulation do not allow this to be done completely. The rustle of tires easily penetrates into the cabin, it is accompanied by the already mentioned hysterical sound of the engine, but the decoupling from aerodynamic noise is good.

Considering the Golf in isolation from the surrounding market environment, it must be admitted that it has become more comfortable, better quality, and more perfect. This is "in the absolute". And in the existing coordinate system, everything looks like a loss of control over the situation. The expansion of the internal volume, the growth of the list of standard equipment, the evolution of safety systems, the progress of driving characteristics have led to a heavier machine. And there is no adequate power supply on the part of "green" in the ecological sense of the engines. In turn, "pulling up" the engines to the proper level will exaggerate the already obvious fact: having moved to the "fifth class", Golf has irrevocably risen in price. This means the expansion of the Golf class into a new market segment, which is left for potential customers and competitors to either accept or boycott. The first option looks more dramatic, but preferable.

Text: Leonid Klyuev
http://www.kolesa.ru/

The flattened "Golf" squeezed into a narrow niche spontaneously formed by itself between the traditionally passenger "Golf ordinary" and the relatively fresh "Turan compact van-shaped".

"MASTER"
KIRILL BREVDO
Deputy Chief Editor

What courage - an attempt to stake out an empty space! But is it empty? And isn't it all empty - attempts to stake out a place that has never existed in nature?

Golf Plus is more expensive than a simple Golf by more than a thousand conditional. At the same time, he promises more - space, of course. What else? However, this is the very space that is not prestigious in the eyes of our compatriot. Yes, inside it is a little bigger. But from the outside it is almost the same! But it looks worse, because micro-bus utility is not held in high esteem in our country. A Jetta with a trunk extending prestige will appear - then there will be a way to pay a little extra, but already - for the notorious length. And it is not customary for us to overpay for height - unless, of course, we are talking about an SUV. So for the already expensive Golf, centimeters in height and a slight touch of "carriage" is clearly not a plus.

Although, of course, Plus has pluses - this is undoubtedly. Inside, the car has actually grown, and first of all - for the rear seat passengers. This is who will really be able to appreciate the advantages of the grown up Golf. And the legs have a place to move, and the head where to turn. And if the rear passengers are not expected, then let the zealous owner himself evaluate the additional space: the rear row of seats moves on a sled, allowing, if necessary, to increase the useful volume of the trunk. By the way, another plus is lurking in the trunk - a double floor, the essence of a shelf that can be installed in such a way that under it there will be a little free space for a luggage stash.

And if you do not take into account the triangles supporting the windshield frame, which are now found on ordinary ones - up to sedans! - AW cars, the Golf Plus will be very close to really ordinary cars. Much closer to those compact vans, which we designated as competitors to the "plus" Volkswagen.

The "flattened" Golf gives me the same feelings as modern diesel engines: interesting, practical, comfortable. But in our conditions it is meaningless: being a rather expensive pleasure, it does not add prestige to the car and does not justify convenience, since it turns out that no one needs it. After all, we have a foreign car - it's not just a means of transportation, but also a very serious component of the image. A compact van is still not a very honorable thing, although it is more expensive. Golf Plus, despite all its attempts to seem completely light, does not seem so. In a simple Golf with the image, everything is much better - like the rear seats and the boot floor.

"ESTHETE"
NIKOLAY SWISTUN
editor of the heading "drive"

Design problems? Perhaps. Now only the lazy one does not kick the whole Volkswagen AG concern (wholesale and retail) for the appearance of Skoda, Audi and, of course, products from Wolfsburg. There, at the headquarters of Volkswagen AG - a simple-looking parallelepiped crowned with a huge logo - the citadel of the Universal Evil. They betrayed the idea of a "people's AW car" for the sake of luxury and exorbitant price tags.

So? Yes and no. Yes - because the current Volks are as different from the renowned Kafer as the F-16 is from the Wright brothers' airplane. No - because the people have changed no less. Although the "people" may not, but the German das volk - for sure. And if in the post-war (frankly, not very well-fed) years, the burghers needed a cheap vehicle, now they are given separate climate control, airbags and ESP as standard. And so that all this works without breaking and runs along the AW tobans a hundred or two thousand kilometers.

So, the people need "minced meat". And minced meat, as you know, costs money. Moreover, before receiving them from the consumer, the manufacturer must invest considerable funds in order to develop this "minced meat". And here a problem arises, familiar to every German and confirmed by the experience of two world wars - the problem of limited resources. In other words, you have to decide what to develop - "minced meat" or "shell".

The choice is painful. Honda, for example, opted for looks when developing the latest Civic. The price to pay for this is a serious simplification of the chassis, and hence the handling. Whether consumers will forgive this is the question. And this question interests the Germans from VW no less than the Japanese from Honda. However, Volkswagen seems to have chosen its own path. It looks like the Germans prefer minced meat. And they wanted to spit on the packaging. Therefore, when developing the VW Golf Plus, the task of the designers was not universal. No revelations - just disguise the ten-centimeter increase in height, which, in fact, is the very Plus, made in the name.

The designers coped with the task. Additional centimeters went to the front fenders (the nose of the "Plus" is noticeably more massive) and the roof pillars - with the same angle of inclination, they "start" much earlier. To

And you can rub your tongue to the bone, arguing that this is all too conservative and traditional. That the design decisions, on which the fifth Golf is built in the original and "plus" performance, were applied two more "golf courses" ago. Yes, they did. But on the other hand, you can still look at the VW Golf III without disgust, and the Renault Megane, which debuted three years ago, is no longer shocking, but simply causes stomach cramps. Fashion, you see, is fleeting, unlike tradition. This is instinctively felt by the consumer and is perfectly understood inside the unpretentious-looking parallelepiped in Wolfsburg. This, if you like, is democracy in German. The voice of the people. That is, as it was said in another place and in another language - the Voice of God ...

"DRIVER"
LEONID KLYUEV
editor-in-chief

The platform of the "fifth" Golf is an example of technical excellence. And not only. This is a breakthrough, as a result of which the standards of road performance, professed in the business class, came to a more democratic segment and became available to a wide range of buyers. However, so far these are only Golf buyers. And, unfortunately, not Russian - because the version with the 1.6-liter engine of 102 horsepower is in the greatest demand in our country, which is simply not able to unleash the potential of this wonderful chassis. And more powerful modifications in Russia are indecently expensive.

And the "compact" Golf Plus - in the same place: again a low-cold engine 1.6, and even burdened with an AW tomato box. And what can you do - only such a combination allows you to keep the price of this car within reasonable limits. Acceleration is depressing, almost soporific, and unemotional. For adequate operation of the "AW tomato" engine displacement is clearly not enough, and only the sport mode "S" gives the work of the power plant some consistency. There is little benefit from the manual mode: there is more fuss, and the dynamics does not improve.

Plus is a 10-centimeter increase in height, the negative impact of which on the behavior of the car, engineers tried to compensate for the use of stiffer shock absorbers. These metamorphoses could have shattered the delicate balance of ride performance if adaptability and customization weren't at the forefront of a golf chassis. Plus' habits are as academic as that of the "original" hatchback, and can be described with extremely enthusiastic epithets. Absolutely solid nature with exquisite manners - soft, fast and precise - and intuitive algorithms for changing the forces on the controls. Yes, the car turned out to be tougher than "just a Golf", but the suspension works exceptionally well, resiliently, avoiding shaking or - God forbid - breakdowns. Breed!

Another question is to what extent the concessions in terms of comfort in the name of better handling generally correspond to the concept of a family AW car. Apparently, in Germany, with its roads, the problem of smooth running simply does not arise, while handling is regarded as the most important component of the active safety complex. With us, as usual, the opposite is true. Therefore, the regular Golf has more advantages than the Golf Plus.

Text: Leonid Klyuev
http://www.kolesa.ru/

Sales market: Russia.

The premiere of the fifth generation Volkswagen Golf took place at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which took place in the fall of 2003. External changes are of an evolutionary nature, while the recognizable profile of its predecessor has been preserved, but in general the exterior has turned out to be more expressive and dynamic. In the new generation, the model has increased in size: in length by 50 mm, in width and height - by 25 and 30 mm. The wheelbase shows a good increase - by 67 mm compared to the previous version, the rear row has become more spacious, and for the three-door hatchback, which in this case is in question, this is a significant plus. At the same time, the body rigidity of the new car has increased, while the three-door in this quality is always higher than the five-door model. It is worth noting that the new generation Volkswagen Golf is built on the same platform as the Audi A3, with which this model shares most of the engines. In Russia, the official presentation of the Golf V took place in April 2004.

The three-door Golf of the Mk5 generation looks dynamic and aggressive. These qualities are given by a new front bumper with large air intakes, large headlights slightly raised above the bonnet line and a more expressive radiator grille in a new design. One of the innovations is the modular door design - the outer panel is fixed to the frame with glue and screws and can be easily replaced during repairs. The basic version of Trendline is on steel rims, with heated electric mirrors, bumpers with black protective pads. In the new generation, the car received mirrors with built-in repeaters. The steering wheel is adjustable in two planes, there is a remote control key, power windows. For a surcharge, a CD player and CD changer, an LCD monitor with navigation were available. The Comfortline version offered light alloy wheels, body-colored mirror caps, velor upholstery (or leather for a surcharge), front seats with height adjustment and lumbar support. The top version of the Sportline featured a leather steering wheel, an outside temperature sensor, sports seats, Titan Metallic decor, and dual-zone climate control. The Golf GTI is traditionally distinguished by its sporty exterior, interior and chassis.

The line of modifications of the Volkswagen Golf V for the Russian market includes gasoline and diesel engines ranging from 1.6 to 2.0 liters with a capacity of 102-140 hp. The first models were proposed with the already well-known 1.6-liter "eight-valve" with a volume of 1.6 liters and two variants of turbodiesel units with a working volume of 1.9 liters and 2 liters. At the same time, a robotic Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) from Volkswagen was available for both versions on heavy fuel. Later, other modifications appeared, including new versions of gasoline engines with direct injection technology - 1.6 FSI (115 hp) and the more powerful 2.0 FSI (150 hp). These powertrain options have the advantage of more efficient fuel consumption, increased power and improved flexibility, but have proven to be quite whimsical and demanding to maintain. The new Golf GTI was offered to Russian buyers in 2006. Under its hood is a turbocharged 2.0 FSI 2.0 FSI unit with 200 hp.

In front, the Volkswagen Golf has MacPherson struts, in the back there is a multi-link. In general, the chassis of the Golf is moderately tough, it holds the car perfectly in corners and makes this car one of the benchmarks in terms of driving performance and reliability. The braking system is completed with disc mechanisms of all wheels (front ventilated). In the new generation, they continue to produce all-wheel drive cars, with the innovative second-generation 4MOTION all-wheel drive system with Haldex electronic clutch. This technology, pioneered in the 1998 Golf, has been improved upon. In standard mode, the torque is distributed in a 50:50 ratio between the axles, but if necessary, up to 100% of the torque can be transferred to the front or rear axle. The body dimensions of the Golf V three-door hatchback are as follows: length 4204 mm, width 1759 mm, height 1485 mm. The wheelbase is now 2578 mm, but the minimum turning radius remains the same - 5.45 m. The trunk volume has increased from 330 to 350 liters. With the rear seat folded down - 1305 liters.

In the fifth generation, the Volkswagen Golf has become even safer. Standard equipment includes front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as full-length curtain airbags. The car will offer child seat mountings, an anti-lock braking system with brake force distribution and an auxiliary braking system. More expensive trim levels include traction control, electronic stability control, hill assist, parking sensors. The Golf V has been awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating (2004) for its adult safety. A good result for the car and for the safety of children. Pedestrian safety performance has also improved (three stars out of four possible instead of the previous two for its predecessor).

The fifth generation Volkswagen Golf is a very successful model that has earned many positive reviews. The vehicle is characterized by an optimal balance between sporty behavior and a high level of passenger comfort. Golf has traditionally been one of the benchmarks for safety. At the same time, the cost of the car has increased, and modern gasoline and diesel engines are putting forward new requirements for maintenance. Among the shortcomings of the model, the owners usually name the difficulties in finding a qualified service, expensive parts, low ground clearance. The three-door body has both advantages (increased rigidity) and disadvantages (large doors, inconvenience of landing back).

Read completely

In 2003, Volkswagen launched the first car on the latest PQ35 platform. He collected in himself all the most advanced that only the concern had. The Golf V could not fail to be a breakthrough. The body was expanded in size, a multi-link appeared in the rear suspension, the onboard electronics was now organized on a single bus with power hubs and a high degree of system integration. The Golf boasted direct injection engines, DSG preselective gearboxes and optional all-wheel drive.

At the same time, the increase in the complexity and cost of the structure and the continuation of the trend towards a decrease in maintainability remained behind the scenes.

With the introduction of the new Golf, the C-Class is bigger, more complex and friendlier. The PQ35 platform and its sister PQ46 became the basis for dozens of models of the concern over the next ten years. So the model has a lot of "relatives", but he did not wait for restyling. But already in 2008, his successor appeared.

The popularity and commonality of the platform made many models a "constructor", the blocks of which can be mixed, connected in any order and "upgraded". True, this is not always as easy as in the case of an ordinary personal computer, but still.

The design and ergonomics standards set in 2003 are still relevant today. And therefore, it is the fifth Golf that retains its attractiveness even now, despite all its shortcomings, which, to admit, it has enough.

Body

I never tire of repeating that the letters "ZZZ" in Volkswagen's VIN have nothing to do with galvanizing, and galvanizing itself is not a mythical way to prevent rust in principle, but only one of the elements of multi-level anti-corrosion protection. Moreover, in addition to the advantages, galvanizing has at least one major drawback: poor adhesion of the soil to the metal. As a result, machines with "real" zinc plating often suffer from peeling of the paintwork over a large area, even if it is slightly damaged.

Volkswagen Golf (Typ 1K) "2003–08

Yes, the Golf V is perfectly galvanized - almost all body elements are made of galvanized sheet. The car is also painted very well, and all vulnerable spots are covered with plastic as much as possible. But now the first cars of this series are more than fifteen years old, and the youngest are ten. And to hope that the Golf does not have severe corrosion is as naive as looking for a virgin in a brothel. There are simply no chances: the body has many problem areas, each of which needs to be checked for the condition and possibilities of "treatment".

Pay attention first of all to the area between the front wing and the sill. There, dirt builds up behind the locker, and corrosion makes its way along the sill, along the fender and up the pillar. The threshold is prone to sandblasting, and the paint from it begins to fly off in pieces at the slightest mechanical damage. While the cars were new, there were those who did not paint such damage for months, relying on galvanizing and not knowing how it works. And the zinc on the panels tends to run out, after which the thresholds successfully rot, and simply the accumulation of dirt and moisture inside the threshold and behind the molding will destroy it over time. Therefore, the coating must be repaired, and rust spots must be removed.

Volkswagen Golf (Typ 1K) "2003–08

The edges of the arches and the joints of the fenders and bumpers are also usually striking. Ice frozen in the cracks, loose plastic clips of bumper mounts, dirt and vibrations gradually weaken the paintwork on these parts, and rust gradually creeps out.

Corrosion of the tailgate is a traditional problem of all hatchbacks and station wagons, which has not been spared by the Golf V. It is not as pronounced as in its predecessor, but still there are small traces on almost any car.

The edge of the roof and bonnet are equally traditionally prone to corrosion. In the case of Golf, the matter is complicated by the fact that in case of mechanical damage, the paint peels off in large pieces, and for some reason the roof rusts rather quickly.

The hood sometimes rusts not along the edge, but from the inside, at the joints of the amplifier, along the side edges. And not necessarily replaced during the repair, but also the original one.

17 662 rubles

The revolutionary door design with a removable outer metal panel reduces the cost of repairs for minor damage that does not affect the door frame and the cost of assembling the car. door and threshold or wing. And the panels are not resistant to mechanical damage: they easily crumple and scratch. The joint between the outer panel and the frame can be favored by corrosion, which will gradually undermine the door from the inside. But I repeat: repairs are relatively inexpensive.

Volkswagen Golf (Typ 1K) "2003–08

And also look at the door molding, from under which noticeable corrosion often peeps.

The bottom is usually very decent. If the car was not beaten, "bathed" and not put in a snowdrift every winter, then Golf will give odds to much younger "Japanese".

Here one has only to assess the condition of the subframes and suspension elements. There are also cars on which they tried to conquer the off-road: they scratched the side members, ripped off the plastic underbody protection, lockers, and so on. In such cases, often nothing saves.

Golf headlights are delicate, sandblast easily, and lens reflectors burn out. Aluminum brackets can corrode on mirrors and door handles peel off.

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Traditionally, for cars based on this base, door seals have a limited resource, and in the absence of maintenance they often lose their tightness, impairing comfort. Special lubricants and timely replacement help. Without additional maintenance, the seals last for an average of five to eight years.

Headlight

11 054 rubles

Peeling chrome, black door pillars, breakage of bumper mountings and the loss of their elements are also common: age is already making itself felt.

Sometimes you can encounter breakdowns of power windows and door locks. This is not uncommon, but not an intrusive problem.

Salon

In the interior of the Golf V, even in the simplest trim levels, there is both soft plastic and good materials. And expensive salons can also impress those who do not get out of limousines. But ... yes, age is ruthless to everything. Something may already creak, something may break due to inaccurate handling. And here you can also find traces of "upgrades" and alterations.

The risk zone includes handles, a glove box lid, numerous decorative plugs and pads, a rear cup holder and even a floor gas pedal. The pedal is lifted off the base when snow accumulates underneath.

Volkswagen Golf (Typ 1K) "2003–08

The leather of the steering wheel usually keeps a stiff upper lip for runs over 200 thousand, although it begins to shine unnaturally. And at the same time, a driver with rings on his fingers can break it in just a few tens of thousands of mileage.

Fabric seats are not afraid of anything other than heating mats burning out. On the other hand, the "whole-skin" ones suffer greatly from the lateral parts. In addition, they are often torn and simply quickly overwritten.

The climate systems of the car are very different, from completely manual to dual-zone automatic climate control. The wear of the system fan can be expected with runs over 200 thousand. Cleaning and lubrication usually help, since the front panel is collapsible here, and half of the structure is accessible behind the glove compartment. Valeo motors can fail even when the mileage is two times less, but then how lucky. And the soft start system can add hassle to diagnostics: just checking the motor by supplying power directly is not a good idea.

There are quite a few automatic climate control systems. Systems before 2007 and after differ in a number of details, so that a simple "upgrade" of cars of the first releases with a climate panel from the Golf VI is fraught with malfunctions of the recirculation system due to a change in the operation of the dampers. Therefore, such things as expanding the temperature range and automatic recirculation by the sensor will require a little more work than replacing the climate unit itself. At the very least - replacement of mine 1K1 820 303 D. And most often also changes in the wiring. But they have common problems, wear of the motor gearboxes of the damper drives and malfunctions of the control unit. The characteristic crackling sound most likely indicates that the gearbox will have to be replaced. Well, failures of control units are sometimes treated with a scanner, and sometimes you have to repair / change the unit. Until 2007, control units have a delicate coating of buttons and, visually, may look worn out, but in operation they are more reliable than the more intelligent later ones.

Volkswagen Golf GTI "2004

But most of all, the interior is damaged by attempts at various improvements made by handicraft: replacing blocks, new non-standard firmware, all sorts of replacing the RCD 300-310 with RNS, installing Chinese head units, alarms, covers, new armrests, linings, panels, ventilation nozzles and everything else. Usually, the work is not done very professionally, and the reinforcement work ends with the use of abnormal fasteners, the appearance of unnecessary gaps and other troubles. And there are usually a lot of failures in electronics after this "improvement".

Electrical and electronics

Advanced electrical design and comparatively low-cost execution have their consequences. Complex wiring is afraid of vibration, insulation failure and corrosion, and trivial problems with door wiring can have far-reaching consequences due to the high degree of integration of the units. In general, be prepared for the fact that in which case an electrician you need an expensive and knowledgeable machine on this platform "inside and out."

Volkswagen Golf (Typ 1K) "2003–08

There are also breakdowns of actuators. Especially - in the first, the oldest Golf. Fortunately, self-diagnostics are at a good level here, but without VCDS (aka Vasya-Diagnost), it's better not to even approach the car. And to climb indiscriminately to activate everything, to use the services of non-professionals and "recipes" read on the Internet is often fraught with a long search for problems and equipment repairs.

Brakes, suspensions and steering

There are no complaints about the braking system, especially with regard to low-power versions. But due to age, it is already necessary to monitor the condition of the tubes and hoses.

Failures of the ABS unit are rare, the sensors also rarely fail. OE life is more than high, but finding a ten-year-old VW serviced with OE is difficult. But the choice of Chinese and European brands is excellent. And the resource will depend on how much you paid for the parts.

Volkswagen Golf (Typ 1K) "2003–08

Front brake pads

2 849 rubles

Suspensions are quite traditional today: MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear. Usually, a major overhaul of the rear suspension is required for a mileage of one hundred thousand. In the front suspension, stabilizer struts need regular replacement. At the back, it all depends on how heavy passengers you carry.

Hub bearings do not withstand non-standard wheel offset and 18-inch rims on "electrical tape" poorly. If you really want to show off, look for reinforced bearings in the catalogs - they are there.

Volkswagen Golf (Typ 1K) "2003–08

The steering on the fifth Golf is electric power-assisted, and the rack is ZF of the first generation. She does not sin with early failures. After 200-250 thousand, the probability of failure of the torque sensor increases, but they learned to restore it by soldering the loop. The rest of the mechanism turned out to be reliable, little prone to knocking and resistant to traditional mistakes in handling steering. And yet he is afraid of leaks, especially of the right oil seal, breakdowns of the electronics, water getting into the connectors and crazy craftsmen who climb into the control units with their unwashed hands.

Volkswagen Golf (Typ 1K) "2003–08

In short, it cannot yet be said that the Golf V is a whimsical car that should be bypassed as far as possible. But everything can change in the one dedicated to the motors and gearboxes of this car. Yes, yes, there will be about all sorts of TSI and DSG. And although this will be the tenth time, it should still be interesting.

All generations of Volkswagen Golf. "Generations". VW Golf from the first to the seventh, driven by the Belarusians Golf 5 years of release

Pros and cons of a used Volkswagen Golf 5

Engines

Transmission

The reliability of the chassis Volkswagen Golf 5

Salon and electrical equipment

Bottom line.

Engines

Transmission

Undercarriage

Other problems and malfunctions

Conclusion

Body

Salon

Electrical and electronics

Brakes, suspensions and steering

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