SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8
This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.
*To read one of our road tests, just select from the menu on the left.
*Please remember too, that prices quoted were those ruling on the days I wrote the stories.
We reckon the new Golf GTI DSG feels “all grown up”
Published The Witness Motoring on Wednesday November 25, 2009
Pics by VW@Motorpics
Years ago, when my young work colleague David was given a new 1800 cc Golf GTI after destroying his original 1600, I wondered: “what the hell do those things want even more power for?”
As humans, we lust after ever more power and even more excruciating thrills, with each passing blip in time. Just as David’s 1800 cc GTI with its 82 kW of power might be considered dull today (some modern 1600s produce more), so the engine has grown in size and output until the current version, a 2,0 litre turbocharged unit, delivers 155 kW at 5 100 rpm.
The magic of turbocharging couples that power with an impressive 280 Nm of torque in an almost flat line from 1 700 rpm to 5 200 rpm, so it not only goes like a rocket, it gathers momentum like one too.
Something is different though. The old GTI wore its “pocket rocket” moniker with pride even though it was a little basic and rough around the edges. You grabbed a handful of steering, booted in just the right quantity of power and hurled it at the next corner with a demonic grin on your face. Today’s GTI on the other hand, has become a compact version of something your father would like.
It is solid, quiet, airconditioned and totally disciplined. Modern engineering and electronic wizardry see to that. It also has eight-speaker sound with auxiliary input for your portable music box, seats that adjust every which way, electric windows and lipstick mirrors with little lights.
The list goes on, but you get the idea. There is even an “automatic transmission” option, except it isn’t. VW calls it DSG for direkt-schalt-getriebe or direct shift gearbox in English. It is an electronically controlled dual clutch multiple-shaft manual gearbox, without a clutch pedal and with fully automatic or semi-manual control.
In simple terms, it is two separate manual gearboxes (and clutches), contained within one housing and working as one unit. It was designed by BorgWarner and licensed to VW. If you absolutely have to hang up your youth and buckle down to old age, accepting autoshifting as you do so, then this is possibly the best way to do it.
It is, quite simply, brilliant. Almost intuitively, the electronics do all the thinking for you, changing effortlessly up and down, in a fraction of the time it would take you to do it manually. It also makes a smoother job of it, and for those times you would like to get a hustle on, “sport” mode is selected with an extra tug on the shift lever. You can even choose manual shifting, with stick or paddles, if you feel the urge.
It’s probably on par with a decent CVT, but that’s a whole different thesis, for a different time and place.
The interior décor is a little conservative, as VWs usually are, leather clad seats are comfortable and supportive, head- and legroom in the rear is good for a compact and luggage space is generous for a car this size. It’s an excellent little car and it goes like a student on pig night, but it’s still your dad’s Mercedes/BMW/Lexus in a smaller package and with a different badge.
I might even buy one for myself if I were your dad and you had left home, so no longer needed shuttling around. On the other hand, if parental generosity extends to R317 300 (manual) or R331 800 (DSG) on wheels for favourite offspring (you), then grab it. Parents do know best, after all.
The numbers
Prices: See text
Engine: 1984 cc DOHC 16-valve, 4-cylinder, turbocharged
Power: 155 kW at 5 100 rpm
Torque: 280 Nm at 1 800 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 6,9 seconds (claimed)
Maximum speed: 240 km/h (claimed)
Average Fuel consumption: about 8,8 l/100 km
Tank: 55 litres
Warranty: 3 years/120 000 km
Service plan: 5 years/90 000 km
This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.
What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.
I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the central hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and go to kick back and relax.
So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!
Comments?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you thoroughly disagree with what I say? That's your privilege, because if everybody agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place. All I ask is that you remain calm, so please blow off a little steam before venting too vigorously. Contact me here
Back to Home page
This site is operated by Scarlet Pumpkin Communications in Pietermaritzburg.
Unless otherwise stated, all photographs are courtesy of www.quickpic.co.za
Copyright this business. All rights reserved.
SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8