The fourth generation Volkswagen Golf was first introduced to the public in 1997 as part of the Frankfurt Motor Show. In general, this car model is one of the most famous and has been produced at the facilities of the German concern for several decades. Today's article will be devoted specifically to the fourth generation of the Volkswagen Golf 4. Review of the car - further in our article.
Design
The appearance of the compact German hatchback has remained unchanged for years. And once again, Bavarian designers decided to go in a familiar way - without experimentation and unnecessary innovations, they successfully refresh the look of the car.
Interestingly, the Germans even manage to modernize the design with minimal changes and make it relevant for at least the next 5-6 years. Volkswagen Golf 4 was no exception. Owner reviews also note the versatility of the appearance of the car. Today it is a purely female compact car, and tomorrow it will be transformed into a real men's sports car. At the same time, “Golf” is enough to equip with new disks and a couple of aerodynamic dodgers. In support of this, we post photos for comparison.
It would seem such different cars. But they were assembled on one conveyor. So the Germans definitely guessed with the design. Volkswagen Golf 4 is a kind of designer that anyone can transform to their own style and character.
By the way, the 5-door hatchback is not the only body version for the Golf. In the 99th year at Volkswagen developed two new modifications of the car with a wagon body and a 3-door hatchback. Thanks to this, the company has expanded its circle of customers by an order of magnitude. Now “Golf” is a large family car with a roomy trunk, a small female subcompact or a formidable sports “hatch” (by the way, in the domestic market of Germany there were bodies for a “Golf” type “cabriolet”). But for the most part, the Volkswagen Golf 4 was suitable for young people who love speed and compactness. The Volkswagen looked like a kind of small animal, a predator, conquering night streets and wide autobahns.
Finally, we note the fact that the body of the Golf was completely made of galvanized steel. And this meant that even under the most severe climatic conditions, the machine was 100 percent protected from rust. Until that moment, German manufacturers only covered the metal body with a layer of galvanization. With the fourth generation of Foltz, it began to be made entirely of galvanized steel. To make sure that the hatchback is not susceptible to corrosion, just look with your own eyes at the condition of the metal of the car (fortunately, there are more than one generation of such Golfs in Russia). Even since 1997, not a single car has rusted, and this is without post-sales anti-corrosion treatment.
Reviews, dimensions and capacity
Volkswagen Golf 4 has quite standard dimensions for its “golf class”. The length of the car body is 4150 millimeters, the width is 1735 millimeters, the height is 1440 millimeters (for the Volkswagen Golf 4 hatchback). Reviews note that thanks to such a small size, the car is able to easily maneuver even in the narrowest streets. This is a big plus. But there are minor problems with ground clearance - say car owners. The total clearance of the car is 13 centimeters. As for the boot volume, in spite of its small body, the hatchback is able to fit up to 330 liters of luggage (almost like on some full-size sedans). With the rear seats folded down, the volume increased to a record 1,180 liters. For the station wagon, this figure was 460 and 1470 liters, respectively. Judging by the feedback from car enthusiasts, the "station wagon" Golf could perform the function of a real cargo-passenger minivan, as it can accommodate up to 4 passengers and at the same time has one of the most voluminous luggage racks.
Volkswagen Golf 4 - photo and review of the interior
The situation inside the car is very comfortable and ergonomic. The compact 4-spoke steering wheel fits comfortably in the hands, on the center console there is a cassette recorder and buttons for controlling the stove and climate control. The front panel is not overloaded with extra buttons, the dashboard is very simple and clear in perception. By the way, here already in the "base" there is a black-and-white digital computer (like the one that was installed on the "top ten" at one time). For his age, the car has a very bright and interesting interior. True, by today's standards, he would have seemed very old.
In top-end trim levels, the Golf was lined with leather inside and equipped with electric heated mirrors and power windows. True, there was one drawback in the cabin, which concerned a different level of arrangement of gas and brake pedals. True, over time you quickly get used to this feature.
Volkswagen Golf 4 - specifications
The range of engines for the fourth generation of Volkswagen Golf was more than diverse. In total, the buyer was asked to make a choice between five gasoline or three diesel engines. The range of capacities was also different. The weakest engine developed a power of 68 horsepower, the most powerful - up to 130 "horses". A choice among gearboxes was also provided. In total, the Golf market was delivered in 4 versions of the gearbox to the European market. Among them, it is worth noting two automatic (at 4 and five speeds), as well as two mechanical (5 and 6 gears) transmissions. As practice has shown, the service life of each of them is about 200 thousand kilometers. Only after this run does the gearbox undergo its first repair.
By the way, an oil change in the transmission was also often not required. On the "mechanics" the oil went up to 60 thousand, on the "automatic" - up to 40 thousand kilometers. Relatively speaking, the replacement of lubricant was required once every 1.5-2 years. Manual gearboxes were equipped with a very reliable clutch system, which also nursed 150-200 thousand mileage without any problems.
Acceleration dynamics
A wide range of engines made it possible for each buyer to choose exactly the car that would best meet his requirements. So, “Golf” with the weakest engine made a breakthrough to “hundreds” in 18 seconds and accelerated the car to 169 kilometers per hour at maximum speed. A hatchback with a top 130-horsepower engine scored a hundred in just 10 seconds. At the same time, the “maximum speed” of the VW Golf 4 was 190 kilometers per hour.
Fuel consumption
It is worth noting that even the most powerful engine was characterized by low fuel consumption. On average, he spent about 8 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. The most economical and low-power engine consumed no more than 6.5 liters per "hundred".
Cost in the Russian market
Series production of the 4th generation Volkswagen Golf was officially discontinued in 2004. Starting from the new year, he was swept up by a newer hatchback, the Volkswagen Golf 5. Therefore, it is possible to purchase the fourth Golf only in the secondary market.
Its average cost ranges from 6 to 10 thousand dollars. What is noteworthy, even at its considerable age (10-17 years), this car is able to compete in terms of the durability of parts and assemblies, even the new “Prior” or “Grant”. What is most valued in the “German” is the body and engine - they are almost eternal and will last until the arrow shows 1 million kilometers on the odometer. And it is not in vain that the Germans make the highest quality cars in the world.