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Happy Nanoq
DancesWithSheep
Member Posts: 12,938 ✭✭✭
Drove a 2008 Golf R32 at a local dealership today and was mightily impressed. Was wondering what your learned opinion of the car is. Thanks.
Comments
"Gunner sabot tank! Identify! UP! Fire! ON THE WAY!!" <<boom>>
"The two loudest sounds in the world are a click when it should've gone bang, and a bang when it should've gone click."
This serious ice fishing
Hope to hear how it went.
Big Ugly Guy
I saw one used around here for $6900.
Only got stuck once, because I backed into the usual parkingspace in a storm. Didn't realice there was a foot and a half of snow, so with the much rounded rear end, it managed to push itself so far up on the snow, that it lost traction forward and rearward. [:I]
Previously that day, with fairly new studded tires, it had pushed itself through 1-2 foot of snow when I arrived at work.
There was a Mitsubishi 4x4 and a Toyota RAV4 stuck, but the Golf pushed through - snow was making waves up onto the hood.
It wasn't TOO dence snow - you couldn't walk on it offcourse.
But it wasn't the light stuff either.
Also been blocked at a 15+ % road (steep road, glazed with snow/ice) in the winter, came to a complete halt and when the cars in front of me couldn't get traction - it was still easy to pass them.
If the road is fairly level, with not too many potholes/bumps - I think it will do nicely for you.
The Syncro 4x4 works great. But the Syncro system is fairly expencive if something happens to it, so just keep the services on that too and you'd be fine.
But I must say, if it's too uneven ground - it's still "just" a regular allround car with less clearance underdeeth than a Toyota RAV4 for instance.
I've also driven in 55mph wind with 75mph gusts, on ice-glazed roads, sure it * the car a little but the tires still gripped the road and never lost grip.
If it's the Golf Variant Syncro 4x4 1.9TDI you're looking at, you might want to testdrive it first - some say the level of the noise is high in the car.
And yes, it does seem to be a little loud compared to other cars.
I don't think it's bad, but it is a little bit louder than many other cars I've driven.
If the dirt roads are the primary form of road, I would probably look for a more dedicated 4x4.
The Golf will handle the road and do nicely, but a regular 4x4 will do better comfort-wise.
The Golf is great for city, and handles easily even when it becomes narrow and will haul a lot of stuff too.
Being a "Variant" (big/long/spaceous) it does have a big interior (indoor space), but I feel it heats up real fast.
I have installed a diesel heater-unit from Ebersp?cher, giving off 5.000Watt to partly heat the engine, but mainly the inside of the car to defrost the windows.
Seems it takes 15 minutes to 20 minutes to heat up the car and defrost the windows in even the coldest winters hwre in greenland.
I think it's a great car for the winter, and I'm confident it'll take you where you need to go. Even if it's slippery or full of snow.
But I'd give the road-clearance a thought when you mention dirt-roads.
I love my Golf Variant Syncro and it has got me there every time.
Only got stuck once, because I backed into the usual parkingspace in a storm. Didn't realice there was a foot and a half of snow, so with the much rounded rear end, it managed to push itself so far up on the snow, that it lost traction forward and rearward. [:I]
Previously that day, with fairly new studded tires, it had pushed itself through 1-2 foot of snow when I arrived at work.
There was a Mitsubishi 4x4 and a Toyota RAV4 stuck, but the Golf pushed through - snow was making waves up onto the hood.
It wasn't TOO dence snow - you couldn't walk on it offcourse.
But it wasn't the light stuff either.
Also been blocked at a 15+ % road (steep road, glazed with snow/ice) in the winter, came to a complete halt and when the cars in front of me couldn't get traction - it was still easy to pass them.
If the road is fairly level, with not too many potholes/bumps - I think it will do nicely for you.
The Syncro 4x4 works great. But the Syncro system is fairly expencive if something happens to it, so just keep the services on that too and you'd be fine.
But I must say, if it's too uneven ground - it's still "just" a regular allround car with less clearance underdeeth than a Toyota RAV4 for instance.
I've also driven in 55mph wind with 75mph gusts, on ice-glazed roads, sure it * the car a little but the tires still gripped the road and never lost grip.
If it's the Golf Variant Syncro 4x4 1.9TDI you're looking at, you might want to testdrive it first - some say the level of the noise is high in the car.
And yes, it does seem to be a little loud compared to other cars.
I don't think it's bad, but it is a little bit louder than many other cars I've driven.
If the dirt roads are the primary form of road, I would probably look for a more dedicated 4x4.
The Golf will handle the road and do nicely, but a regular 4x4 will do better comfort-wise.
The Golf is great for city, and handles easily even when it becomes narrow and will haul a lot of stuff too.
Being a "Variant" (big/long/spaceous) it does have a big interior (indoor space), but I feel it heats up real fast.
I have installed a diesel heater-unit from Ebersp?cher, giving off 5.000Watt to partly heat the engine, but mainly the inside of the car to defrost the windows.
Seems it takes 15 minutes to 20 minutes to heat up the car and defrost the windows in even the coldest winters hwre in greenland.
I think it's a great car for the winter, and I'm confident it'll take you where you need to go. Even if it's slippery or full of snow.
But I'd give the road-clearance a thought when you mention dirt-roads.
Thanks for great reply. I already have a 4x4 truck, but was looking for something less ponderous and more economical for running errands this winter (I live 18+ miles from town). I had a great vehicle for such purpose, an '89 Civic 4x4 Wagon that died with 300K on it earlier this year, and was looking to replace it. Unfortunately, the County and private roads from my place to the highway are anything but level and are often full of potholes. From what you describe, I may be better off with a different vehicle than the Golf. Thanks again for your helpful reply.
Get a Subaru WRX STi.
I know Subarus are good cars and likely would fit the bill, but I just won't own one. Thanks for your reply.
Cars like the Golf Variant (long cabine) have a tendency of being a little bit "unruly" when it comes to long gravel/dirt-roads.
It can be hard on them, because that's not what they are built for.
The way it turns out, is that it will begin to "float".
I don't know how to explain it, but the suspension system will suffer a bit from it - and will tend to get "soft".
Offcourse, depending on how fast you drive.
1st-2nd gear pace, no problem. Faster than that, I'd look for something else.
On asphalt roads, my Golf have performed better than Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4 - and even some Dodge and Ford like the F150.
But on dirt-roads, it's still better to go for a more dedicated 4x4.
Golf Variant Syncro IS permanently a 4x4 - but it is more a 4x4 for the sake of pure road-grip and safety at low traction conditions - rather than being a 4x4 for actual offroad driving.
[:)]
Don't know just what sort of mileage you're wanting but I got 18mpg pretty consistently out of our Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.7L. Ours had the Select Track II, which I felt out performed the Quadradrive that came standard.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Thanks, Peter. I talked with the Golf owner; he's willing to wait until I can drive it in winter before selling it in earnest. Would like to email you then before making any decision, if that's okay.
They're good cars, I just won't own one. Not a rational consideration at all.
The A4 Quattro should be affordable, but the VW will give better reliability.
Thanks, Peter. I talked with the Golf owner; he's willing to wait until I can drive it in winter before selling it in earnest. Would like to email you then before making any decision, if that's okay.
That sounds like a good idea and great service if he'll hold on to the car anyway. I hope you'll be positively surprised. I love mine, that's for sure.
Its just hard to imagine how bad it is, when you say "mountain dirt road" =o)
Both Audi and VW are great cars.
Except the new VW Beetle.
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
You will get about 24MPG highway with it.