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Posts Tagged ‘volkswagen golf’

It is almost impossible to imagine the world without certain things in it. Try to imagine a world when the Rolling Stones aren’t embarking on another world tour despite having the combined age of the Methuselah Tree, or a year without a Simon Cowell produced talent show on television. It’s impossible isn’t it? Certain objects/people/events are ingrained on our national conscience and if you were to take them away, everything would just seem…well…unusual I guess. This is exactly how I feel about the Volkswagen Golf.

I have a long history with the VW Golf, as my Grandfather owner one in my formative years and ferried me and my brother around in it quite a lot. I have very fond memories of this car which have remained with me right into my adulthood. On the surface though, the VW Golf isn’t exactly breathtaking, it’s boxy, cumbersome and not to mention quite a bit more expensive than most of its competition. So exactly where the does this abiding love affair with the VW Golf stem from and how has it endured for so long?  
It was over 35 years ago when the Volkswagen Golf first made its appearance and it has been a consistently popular seller ever since. The evolution of the VW Golf has been a joy to witness over the decades, as the car has gone from looking like it was designed by an artistically-challenged child, to the sleek, rounded and aesthetically pleasing models we see today. Its popularity stems from its honesty and it reserve; two traits the British public traditionally seem to lap up in their people and consumer products. The VW Golf doesn’t try to be flashy, or gimmick-ridden, but it does everything it’s supposed to with elegance and panache. Considering it is a German car, it is very British.
The Brand New Volkswagen Golf Mark VI comes with a choice of four petrol engines and three diesel engines. My personal pick of the bunch is the twin-charged 1.4Litre Petrol which produces 160Bhp which is phenomenal for a car of this relatively small size. Driving this car is unlike the experience of the previous model Golf (the Mark V), as it adds an element that its predecessor was lacking slightly; joy. Other than the GTi models, the Golf has never been considered anything more than a comfortable drive. It has been described as safe, comfortable, economic and ecological but never fun or joyous. The supercharged and turbocharged 1.4 litre engine feels raw, edgy and above all, powerful.  All of a sudden the VW Golf seems al lot less British after all.
Essentially, the Volkswagen Golf Mk VI has retained everything that the consuming public loved about the car since its initial inception, but they have been treated to a few added extras now. The Golf is still safe, comfortable, economical and ecological, but now it has the capability to force your head back into the headrest and leave you with a silly schoolboy grin on your face. Although the Golf has evolved into the consummate city car, if you take the new Golf out onto country lanes, you will see why I can say with confidence that this is the most impressive the Golf has ever been.

It is a common held belief that the Volkswagen Golf is the epitome of a cool car; style, performance and an impressive history all firmly place it in a very favourable light with the general public. Since its introduction in 1974 the Golf has walked that precarious tightrope of great motoring, but at a reasonable price. When I put some thought into it though, I can’t help but question the Golf’s credibility. Let me take you through my thinking and see if I can convince you.

I have nothing but fond memories of the Volkswagen Golf. My Grandfather owned a dark blue 1984 Golf MkII which was a huge part of my childhood; providing the transport for thousands of excursions over many years. I remember the grunt of the engine, the sporty shape of the bodywork and the slightly musty smell of the interior…but that may have been my Grandfather’s fault rather than an intentional Volkswagen specification. My point is that the VW Golf has a marvellous heritage and undoubtedly holds a place in the heart of anyone who has spent time in one. The question is, how can a car I associate with an elderly relative ever be considered cool?

In most circles, the VW Golf is recognised as ecologically sound as the automotive industry is going to get without resorting the poorly-performing hybrids, electric powered cars that will only get you to the end of your drive before conking out, or bio-fuel which will probably involve you shovelling tonnes of bovine excrement into your car. But since when has environmentally considerate motoring been considered cool? It may be important for the future of the planet, but it is without a doubt entirely uncool. When have tree-huggers looked like anything more than tussled-hair layabouts, with personal hygiene issues.

In recent years every other car manufacturer has began to produce hot hatchbacks and stylish superminis that have reduced Volkswagen’s uniqueness to practically zero. The Vauxhall Corsa, Seat Ibiza, Toyota Aygo and the Fiat 500 have all jumped on the bandwagon and have started pulling some of the market share away from VW. It is perhaps through reputation alone that the Golf has remained one of the brand leaders in this increasingly saturated marketplace. So as well as committing some anti-cool mistakes, it appears the Volkswagen Golf has lost almost all of its individuality.

To top it all off, Volkswagen’s Bavarian lineage hardly reeks of the Fonze does it? German engineering may be efficient and reliable but it rarely makes your body shake with joy, or reduce you to tears with its sheer great performance. If anything, German motors keep you on the straight and narrow, get you there on time and make no attempts to entertain or intrigue you on the way. So why is the Golf thought to be a cool car?

The answer is a mystery essentially; like Aurora Borealis or the Bermuda Triangle…it just is a car that exudes cool. There’s no reason or logic behind the VW Golf’s continued appreciation, it is just a naturally occurring phenomenon that even the hardiest of boffins would struggle to explain. The Golf is the equation for aero-elasticity of the automotive world; an enigma that continues to baffle and mystify.

The Golf is not the best looking car in its field, nor is it the cheapest or best performing, but for some inexplicable reason it remains one of the most popular, desirable and coolest cars available. I know that I would personally choose it over any of its price bracket competition…I will just never be able to explain why.

It is a common held belief that the Volkswagen Golf is the epitome of a cool car; style, performance and an impressive history all firmly place it in a very favourable light with the general public. Since its introduction in 1974 the Golf has walked that precarious tightrope of great motoring, but at a reasonable price. When I put my brain into gear, I can’t help but question the Golf’s credibility. Let me take you through my thinking and see if I can get you on board.

I have very little but fond memories of the VWGolf. My Grandfather drove a dark green 1984 Golf MkII which was a huge part of my childhood; providing the transport for thousands of excursions over many years. I remember the grunt of the engine, the sporty shape of the bodywork and the slightly musty smell of the interior…but that may have been my Grandfather’s fault rather than an ideliberate VW specification. My point is that the VW Golf has a marvellous heritage and undoubtedly holds a place in the heart of anyone who has spent time in one. The question is, how can a car I associate with an elderly relative ever be considered cool?

In most circles, the VW Golf is recognised as ecologically sound as the automotive industry is going to get without resorting the poorly-performing hybrids, electric powered cars that will only get you to the end of your drive before conking out, or bio-fuel which will probably involve you shovelling tonnes of bovine excrement into your car. But since when has environmentally considerate motoring ever been considered cool? It may be important for the future of the planet, but it is without a doubt entirely uncool. When have tree-huggers looked like anything more than tussled-hair layabouts, with personal hygiene issues.

In recent years every other car manufacturer has began to produce hot hatchbacks and stylish superminis that have reduced Volkswagen’s uniqueness to practically zero. The Vauxhall Corsa, Seat Ibiza, Toyota Aygo and the Fiat 500 have all jumped on the bandwagon and have started pulling high percentages of the market share away from VW. It is perhaps through reputation alone that the Golf has remained one of the brand leaders in this increasingly saturated marketplace. So as well as committing some anti-cool clangers, it would appear the Volkswagen Golf has lost virtually all of its individuality.

To top it all off, Volkswagen’s German lineage hardly reeks of the Fonze does it? German engineering may be efficient and reliable but it rarely makes your knees tremble with joy, or reduce you to tears with its sheer flamboyance. If anything, German motors keep you on the straight and narrow, get you there on time and make no attempts to entertain or intrigue you on the way. So why is the Golf considered a cool car?

The answer is a mystery essentially; like Aurora Borealis or the Bermuda Triangle…it just is a cool vehicle. There’s no reason or logic behind the VW Golf’s continued appreciation, it is just a naturally occurring phenomenon that even the hardiest of boffins would struggle to explain. The Golf is the equation for aero-elasticity of the automotive world; an enigma that continues to baffle and mystify.

The Golf is not the best looking car in its field, nor is it the cheapest or best performing, but for some inexplicable reason it remains one of the most popular, desirable and coolest cars available. I know that I would personally choose it over any of its main competitors…I just don't think I'll ever be able to explain why.