Skoda: a coupe based on shock VW Scirocco!
Presentation
The car has given me totaled 16000 km, sported a very stylish metallic gray, and had a mixed interior leather / cloth very good.
Finally, Volkswagen has decided to name “Golf” all generations of their small, but more as it is compact.
Golf 5 really has nothing to do with “The” Golf, whose measurements were a bit tighter than the current Polo.
The car has put on weight, 400 pounds at a minimum, and the small 1500 or 1600 cm3 which turned into bombinette are no longer appropriate.
First Contact
Even if it is in fact fundamentally different cars, which always struck me with the “” Golf is that it feels good right now and that was the impression able to “kick it” when we had hands in the last few kilometers. This impression had already scored with the II Golf Gti 1.8 of 112 hp, it was confirmed with the TDi 140 Ch
This is undoubtedly a seductive car that gives the impression of great road holding, braking, accelerating, and in which the first few kilometers even leave some feeling of comfort.
Production Quality
Golf, first name, had created around her a reputation for solidity and construction seriously. It must be said, in hindsight, that technological solutions selected then were relatively experienced, if not rustic.
less there, it has less chance of falling down, in summary this is an adage which perfectly suited to this first generation.
Series 2 had retained what he had to stay strong hardiness, while making genetic changes making the car more “frequent”.
Series 3 had mostly grown, 4 has made many technological developments which side of the coin, have made their share of electronic failures, flow meters, among others, leading VW to rectify the situation on the 5th series that interests us .
Build quality remains a model of its kind, the furniture does not transmit any unwanted vibration, but the choice of materials is a bit short of what was known some years ago from the same manufacturer.
The front seats, for example pose few problems beating on a car yet low mileage, the trunk proved fickle ….
Note also a rear wheel bearing and a damper grumbler fugitive ……
Engine
It would be ungracious not to appreciate this engine, relatively “full”, even if its mapping favors the “brutal” for accreditation.
The engine develops nicely in the city and provides excellent acceleration even 110/120 km / h. Beyond the mean aerodynamic, wide tires and gear ratios questionable smother a mechanical inclinations into obedience.
Finally, we get tired side “demonstrative” of the mechanics in town whose consumption amounted to nearly 9l/100 during my test.
Comfort
If we speak of space and layout is fine, nothing wrong.
In terms of seats, I’m more reserved. The side “Bacquet” seduced at first, but in practice, it took me only a few tens of miles to experience a backache bad omen.
The suspension is very characteristic nodding. The geometries are sketchy, the front has been downloading the acceleration and braking crash. The suspension travel is short and amortization is singularly lacking in firmness, resulting in the car pumping sessions highly prejudicial to the maintenance of the track, not to mention the discomfort that this entails.
In short, as the road is good, everything is fine, suspension isolation, the “grain” of the road. If the road is deteriorating, we soon learn to slow down!
Handling
In the dry it’s going, the car corners flat which is reassuring at first glance. By stressing a bit, we discover a nosewheel lack of candor during registration on a curve, and a rear inner wheel which has been downloading too easily. In case of degraded pavement, then the trajectories singularly lacking rigor.
Probably a tired right rear shock (it’s still oozing oil …) Was it the result of imperfect behavior when turning right.
In the wet, the tires are too broad can no longer move the engine power to the ground, and power steering is seriously undermined.
Should be praised, however the side “healthy” from the car, if it slips out easily, not tricky.
Direction
Direction is fairly straightforward, although I was expecting something more direct from a chassis that’s sportiness. The turning radius is correct and assistance to town easy, perhaps too assisted on the road.
However, we feel the effects of torque on the steering wheel, which betray a perfectible geometry of the front axle.
Note that on my car Continental tires were worn to 75% at the front for 16,000 km.
Braking
Golf slows Well, when driven fast, but in the city, stopping distances are not satisfactory.
Stability is not the strong point either with a front that stings the nose and rear wheels to lose traction, probably also is this a consequence of a rear shock that was not the best of its shape.
In common usage it all remains in the middle, except that the wet floor and a degraded ABS comes easily.
Driving at night
No complaints about the lighting which is very satisfying combination. We would like to say the same lighting of lighthouses! Not that the range where the beam shape called critical but stable platform is so flawed that the headlights illuminate either too far or too short …… what is quickly tiring!
Balance Sheet
The first impression is flattering. one is immediately captivated by an engine available, not too noisy when you do not request too, it is surprising that a chassis “Sport” also seems to prevent.
In practice, it would be a firmer damping to better contain the body movements or travel of more important to maintain comfort too started.
The overall result is mixed, after one week, I stewed in the back, I consumed 2 liters of the 100 “too”, I preferred an engine less demonstrative and less clumsy handling.
