The Sixth Generation Volkswagen Golf GTI

The Golf has been manufactured since 1974. Since then, Volkswagen has built over 25 million copies, and is ranked the world's third best selling car in history. What an achievement! Of the 25 million sold, over 1.7 million were Golf GTIs. So, what makes the Golf such a winner?

The Golf's success lies in several areas. It is a compact, fuel efficient, affordable car. It also uses a hatchback design, which increases the interior volume. This makes a compact car feel less compact. Finally, Volkswagen has improved the Golf in all of its' six generations. Instead of starting fresh on each generation, Volkswagen improved on what already existed. This is something that other auto manufactures should learn to do.

This also holds true for the sixth generation Golf GTI.

The 2010 Golf GTI is similar to the last generation GTI, just more refined. Most of the changes are found in the appearances. The front and rear lights differ, giving it a wider looking stance. The front fascias is new, and the rear hatch offers a bigger opening. Also new on the GTI is the dual exhaust which adds to the wide stance look.

It uses the same motor as its' predecessor, which produces 200 hp and 207 lb-ft. Now, 200 hp and 207 lb-ft. might not sound like a lot, but it's a very smooth motor. Its' torque is available from 1800-5000 rpm, and the horsepower peaks from 5100-6000 rpm. When you step on the gas, you go, no matter what the rpm. To top it off, this might be the nicest sounding four cylinder I've ever heard.

The suspension, brakes, transmission and some body panels, like the roof, are carryovers.

The big news is an electronic differential called "XDS". This applies the inside brake lightly during cornering to limit understeer. It also minimizes torque steer when accelerating quickly. This makes the new GTI really dance on twisty roads. You can really mash the throttle before the apex of a corner, and let the "XDS" take care of the understeer.

Initially, I thought the handling dynamics were the best asset on the GTI, then I spent time driving it. These dynamics were trumped by the interior. It is by far the nicest in its' class. You would swear the interior came from the $140 000 Audi R8. Seriously! The seats are supportive and comfortable, the instruments are easy to use and read, and the flat bottomed steering wheel fit your hands perfectly.

While other manufactures worry about having the most horsepower, and quickest 0-60 times, Volkswagen focuses on the car-driver connection. All in all, the exterior is chiseled, and looks good from every angle. The interior is a great place to spend time, and the driving dynamics are at the head of its' class.

The whole package offered with the GTI makes it an easy choice if you want a car that does everything well. No wonder it won the AJAC best new sport/performance car under $50 000!

Darryl


Photos courtesy of Waterloo VW

Dual Clutch Transmission or Manual Transmission, That is the Question?

As an owner of a 2008 Civic Si, I appreciate rowing through the gears of a manual transmission. The joy of snapping off perfect shifts on a winding road puts a smile on my face every time. The man-machine connection is so satisfying. And besides, automatic transmissions suck the fun out of driving, right?

This was true until recently. Automatics shifted slower, were less fuel efficient, cost more, and basically numbed the whole driving experience. If you were a true car enthusiast, you laughed at the thought of having an automatic transmission in your car. Why would you do that? Manual it was.

Now, enter the new generation of automatic transmissions; dual clutch transmissions.

Also, commonly called DCT, DSG, or twin clutch transmissions. It is a semi-automatic transmission described as two separate manual transmissions contained within one housing unit. There are two separate clutches, one on odd gears and the other on even gears, which accelerates shift time. Dual clutch transmissions usually operate in a fully automatic mode, but many allow the driver to manually shift gears.

Put into layman terms, it can shift seamlessly on its' own in stop and go traffic, and changes gears faster than Micheal Schumacher without a hiccup, every time. I'm not finished. It also achieves better fuel economy than manual transmissions, and many DCT's offer launch control.

Basically, launch control is a program within the transmission that allows you to launch the car from a stop perfectly. Never again, will you smoke the tires off or miss a shift. Once the program is enabled, the computer takes care of the rest. Press the brake pedal and floor the gas. The tach will rise to the optimum rpm range for the best launch, and once you release the brake, hang on! No spinning tires, no missed shifts, just perfect launches every time!

It's no wonder many auto manufacturers, like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, BMW, Audi, VW, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, now offer this type of transmission.

I thought I'd never say it, but automatic it is.

Darryl