2004 Volkswagen Golf Review

Specifications

It Pays to Be Unconventional

What a great little diesel! There should be more like it. Well there are a few. The unconventional engine-type, which makes up forty percent of European sales, finds its way into the American market under the hood of the top-tier Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI, but unfortunately, the demand for diesels is not overwhelming.

I can sometimes see why though. The preconceived notion of the diesel engine being smelly, noisy and environmentally unfriendly still lingers in the minds of car buyers. Although diesel technology has greatly improved, making them not only cleaner burning but more fuel efficient and often more powerful than their gasoline powered counterparts, diesels still bear a negative reputation.

Before becoming an automotive journalist I thought the same way about the internal combustion engine alternative; they were smelly, noisy and environmentally unfriendly. My girlfriend Gen has a 1990 VW Jetta TDI that exhausts the infamous cloud of black smoke as the ignition is turned over. It also emits the all-too-familiar diesel smell that presents itself while the car is just getting started; both points which backed up my accusations of diesels. But as the newer VW diesels hit the market, and others, the cloud of smoke and noise lessen. Yet, there will always be the notorious grumble of the engine.

Now that I do what I do, and have tested the latest VW common-rail turbodiesel technology, my previous notions have altered. Yes there is still that occasional puff of smoke and noxious smell, but its not half as bad as what each used to be. The engine sounds quieter and runs much smoother than any diesel I can remember.

When I speak of the latest VW technology for the TDI, I speak of the new Pumpe Düse injection system that provides the Golf with a more efficient and better performing engine in comparison to the predecessing TDI. For the 2004 model year the TDI now produces 100 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and an impressive 177 lb-ft of torque at 1,800 rpm. Last years TDI produced 90 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 155 lb-ft of torque at 1,900 rpm; an increase of 10 horsepower and 22 lb-ft of torque. While minimal in power compared to the majority of gasoline-powered engines, 1.9L, SOHC, 8-valve, intercooled, turbocharged I-4 with direct diesel injection unit is strong in mighty might torque, which is what really matters when getting off the line.

Harnessing its power is a standard 5-speed manual gearbox. I found shifting it to be as smooth as the cars ride, which is based on an independent strut suspension with anti-roll bars and gas pressurized shocks up front and a semi-independent torsion beam suspension with anti-roll bars and gas pressurized shocks in the rear. Its a smooth and very comfortable setup. Surprisingly, despite its compliance over rough road surfaces, the car shows minimal body roll when pushed through tight turns, and is quite stable at high speed. Normally a comfortable ride and athletic handling dont go hand in hand, which makes the Golf just that more exclusive in the small car segment.

Aiding in its stability was a set of standard P195/65R15 all-season tires with the optional 15-inch alloy wheels. Also standard are 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-wheel ABS. The ground-hugging rubber and disc brakes with ABS definitely allowed for effective braking in both dry and wet weather.

I found the TDI to deliver a lot of get-up-and-go. Due much to its turbocharger the engines strong torque makes acceleration quite good at 11.2 seconds to 60 mph. It feels faster off the line than a lot of its rivals, such as the Honda Civic, Dodge Neon, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda3. In addition, the power is harnessed lower in the rev range than its competitors, so it feels quicker at takeoff but unfortunately redlines much sooner.

I also found that the TDIs fuel consumption was a great asset to an already great car: 37.9 mpg in the city and 51.1 on the highway. I drove over 375 miles and still had a little over a quarter of a tank of diesel left. And for the amount of driving I do on a weekly basis, the TDI became my best and most cost efficient friend. Although diesel fuel prices were about the same as gas the week I filled up, I received more miles for my currency.

As mentioned in my recent Passat review, I enjoy the simplicity of VW interiors. The Golfs cabin is almost identical to the Passats, but a little cozier due to its smaller size. In addition, the front standard bucket heated seats upholstered in premium cloth were sporty enough to hold me in place while pushing the-little-diesel-that-could, but flexible enough not to compromise my comfort. The rear seats also proved to be backseat driver friendly, but legroom, not so much. Its a compact car, however, so rear seat legroom is not necessarily a big issue with most buyers. Standard features, just the same, are in abundance.

It was nice to have the sunroof open with the windows partially rolled down while listening to my eclectic mix of hip hop and soft rock on the standard 8-speaker AM/FM/CD player. The sun was shining for the better part of my test week, but when the temperature sank the multi-temperature bun warmers were appreciated. Along with the CD player and heated seats, air conditioning, power windows, power remote door locks, dual front impact airbags and much more are among the standard features the VW Gold TDI GLS trim offers. Other optional equipment besides the luxury package on my test TDI GLS included electronic stabilization program (ESP) and side curtain airbags.

With all the commendable attributes that the Golf TDI GLS has, why then wouldnt there be a stronger demand for diesels? Well, other than the fact that I had trouble finding a refueling station that offered diesel close by my home, I found the price of the TDI was quite high; $17,200 base and $19,404 with all the options my tester featured.

While the initial price of the TDI is more than most, its superb fuel economy could really add up in the end. Diesels also tend to last longer, and need less regular maintenance than gasoline engines. And then theres the power. Yeah, I think I could be converted Volkswagen.