|
|
Post by racingteatray on Apr 13, 2017 18:22:42 GMT
In fact I think it actually is one... It was meant to have been a Fiat 500X but Avis gave us this instead:  upload pictures online privatelyThe fob tells me it is a 1.4 TGi ComfortLine 110CV. It's a Bi-fuel jobby apparently. So far seems decent enough, other than that the boot is very shallow and consequently rather small due to the second tank. Last Golf I drove was a Mk5 1.6TDi about seven years ago, so it's actually interesting to see if we can get a flavour of why everyone from Clarkson downwards thinks they are "all the car Joe Average needs". |
|
|
|
Post by Roadsterstu on Apr 13, 2017 19:46:53 GMT
Where are you? Visiting Mrs Racing's family?
|
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Apr 13, 2017 20:22:02 GMT
Where are you? Visiting Mrs Racing's family? Fano in Le Marche. Yup - flew down this morning with my mother in tow for Easter with the in-laws hence needing a slightly bigger car than usual. |
|
|
|
Post by bryan on Apr 14, 2017 7:29:40 GMT
If the boot was like the gte golf i borrowed with the whole lower floor gone it was tiny, and a deal breaker over practicality.
A couple of good bags and it was full
|
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Apr 15, 2017 13:02:23 GMT
If the boot was like the gte golf i borrowed with the whole lower floor gone it was tiny, and a deal breaker over practicality. A couple of good bags and it was full Even with the spare wheel well intact the boot was too small for my needs (I think my mk3 had a bigger boot) hence I went for an estate! Difficult to criticise though because the Focus and Astra are no better in this respect. |
|
|
|
Post by humphreythepug on Apr 18, 2017 11:15:10 GMT
I remember an advertising campaign, I can't remember the manfacturer but it definately wasn't VW, they made a play on the boot being able to accommodate a set of golf clubs unlike a rather ironically named rival.
I've always found the boot size on Golf's to be rather poor when compared to rivals, it is always something that is mentioned on new car launches too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ben on Apr 18, 2017 15:28:17 GMT
But who plays golf any more nowadays?!  |
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Apr 19, 2017 13:54:46 GMT
But who plays golf any more nowadays?! ME! And a car needs to have a boot big enough for my bag and trolley (just a push trolley) |
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Apr 19, 2017 14:25:44 GMT
So what did I think of the Golf.
Likes:
It was smart-looking (if a bit dated and conservative) - an observation that holds true inside and out;
The engine pulled well enough for its 110bhp and you could make passably swift progress if you rowed through the gears;
The six-speed manual was slick and well-geared;
Generally spacious with plenty of space in the back seat (save for comments below);
Generally felt chunky and well-made (save for comments below);
It was decently economical (we did the whole holiday (about 700kms) on a single tankful);
It rode beautifully; and
It was generally a hushed and smooth motorway companion.
Dislikes:
This bi-fuel version had a very shallow boot that meant it would not swallow a week's luggage for three adults – we had to put one half of the rear seat down, which limits practicality;
It rattled – this one was 3 months old and had less than 4,000 kms on the clock when we handed it back, but half way through our tenure, it developed a loud and irritatingly rattle from somewhere behind the centre console on anything other than the smoothest surface (of which there were not many in that part of Italy);
The engine pulls well but can sound unpleasantly reedy, even for a 1.4;
I am not especially tall but sit quite far back when driving but nevertheless I found my right knee (LHD car) pressed up against the centre console, which was a bit uncomfortable.
The heating controls were harder to fathom than they should have been – my wife had a devil of a job to try and get it to produce any warm air; and
Handling was a tad roly-poly and it didn't like cross-winds very much – it was a bit buffeting on the way back to the airport and I had to keep a tighter grip on the wheel that you'd expect.
Overall, I can quite see why, for someone for whom a car is mere transport, the Golf is (depending on the spec) a no-brainer. It's smart but classless and generally does everything with quiet competence. A comfy pair of shoes car for those who value decency of reliability, quality and solidity. The Car by John Lewis. But it is not, in this guise at least, even remotely interesting.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 19, 2017 14:45:27 GMT
But who plays golf any more nowadays?! Nob! One advantage of the Qashqai is I can get two sets of golf clubs in and two electric trollies. In the BMW I can play golf but have no friends with me. |
|
