The Golf GT....

[Necx0]

Just been watching "The Car Show". An Australian automotive programme and they had a very interesting little segment on the Golf GT. The reviewer commented on the smoothness of the engine so they chucked it on the dyno to see if they could pick the point at which the turbo and supercharger overlap.

However, the little test car churned out 120kw at the wheels!!! Not a bad result for a car rated at 125kw at the flywheel The car could've been a "freak" so they called up VW and asked them for another car. New car comes along (had a price on it so obviously pulled it off the showroom, therefore I doubt it was run in) chucked it on and voila, 115kw at the wheels.

Now The Car Show isn't the finest example of automotive journalism going around but looks like they got a nice little discovery there. VW obviously under-rating the little GT so as not the steal big brother GTi's sales. Still rather have a GTi though!!

Discuss, feel free to discuss other examples you have heard of that over/under rate cars from factory. I have a few but will wait to present them as this post is long enough!!!

[Deanodriver]

What about the Japanese 206kW limit? Surely many cars put out more than that, but stuck to 206kW because of the gentleman's agreement? Probably similar with the 47kW Kei cars.

Not a bad effort from the GT, but I'd still buy a GTI anyway, because I reckon it'd hold its value better.

Also, what about the Mustang GT500?

[Dsemaj]

The car show? Is that on 7 or something now?

I really truely hate "Test Drive". They don't even test the cars, just read the press release..

[Hidden_Hunter]

I dunno, I find the power output pretty lame out of the GT considering it has twinchargers (or whatever they call there hybrid supercharger/turbo setup) always seemed like needless complexity to me.

[MadCow809]

read jeremy's review on it, he hates it, rekons the gearchange is too jerky or something like that..

personally i quite like the idea of the twin charger..

[Deanodriver]

I reckon the 1.4L twincharged engine would be just fine and dandy in a Polo (in fact, I can see the engine in the next Polo GTI, and a bigger version in the Mk6 Golf GTI), but it's a bit too small for the Golf.

I just don't see the point of the twincharger stuff if it's not much more powerful or economical than the 2.0L FSI, let alone the diesel (which would have loads more torque and be more economical).

[ryosuke]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

I dunno, I find the power output pretty lame out of the GT considering it has twinchargers (or whatever they call there hybrid supercharger/turbo setup) always seemed like needless complexity to me.

its a golf, not a supra.

[Necx0]

125kw (more like 150kw) not impressive out of 1.4 litres???? Are you mad? Car Show is on Channel 9/WIN now. Also has Sam Stevens, another good reason to watch it!

[Hercules286]

It's hybrid technology. Just like those half-tube, half solid-state guitar amplifiers. And the Prius. You just can't use two technologies which do the same thing at the same time and expect it to work. Hybrid technology has never, ever, worked well in the end.

But people never learn.

[Necx0]

From all reports (except Clarksons) the technology works very well. Very smooth motor and makes good power. Probably not a great deal of benefit over the turbo motor but we have seen how good a turbo/super application can be in the Delta S4!!

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by Necx0

From all reports (except Clarksons) the technology works very well. Very smooth motor and makes good power. Probably not a great deal of benefit over the turbo motor but we have seen how good a turbo/super application can be in the Delta S4!!

That's the issue I have with it, this type of power output could be acheived with a regular turbo or supercharger setup from the same amount of displacement.

[BlitzR]

The power is one thing, I believe the other point of the engine was the torque curve. More low down torque from a 1.4L turbo engine that delivers 125kw.

[static]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

That's the issue I have with it, this type of power output could be acheived with a regular turbo or supercharger setup from the same amount of displacement.

Yes but not with as low consumption and emissions which is why this engine was made.

[Hidden_Hunter]

http://www.volkswagen.com.au/pdf/pri...st_May2007.pdf

Look at the price for Aus, they ain't going to be selling too many at that cost I wouldn't of thought. Nearly the same as a GTI :O

[Deanodriver]

Originally Posted by static

Yes but not with as low consumption and emissions which is why this engine was made.

The thing is, fuel economy isn't significantly better than the 2.0L petrol engine (0.3L/100km less than the 2.0L FSI).

Sure, the TSI engine is clever, but I wouldn't say it's an economical option (after all, if you want economy, the Sportline diesel is similar money). However, I reckon it'll be better suited to the next Polo GTI.

For the extra $5000, i'd rather just spend the extra and buy the Golf GTI. With the GTI name behind it, I'm sure you'd get much of that $5000 back at the other end.

[Kowalski]

Originally Posted by MadCow809

read jeremy's review on it, he hates it, rekons the gearchange is too jerky or something like that..

Jeremy Clarkson is an arrogant, racist, selfish twat.

[ahpadt]

Originally Posted by Kowalski

Jeremy Clarkson is an arrogant, racist, selfish twat.

[MadCow809]

Originally Posted by Kowalski

Jeremy Clarkson is an arrogant, racist, selfish twat.

yes he is.. but he drove the car.

[Kowalski]

-Sometimes Jeremy Clarkson can be a real arsehole.

Like the time he said that talking on the mobile phone while driving is OK. What he would say if someone talking on the mobile phone while driving an Aston Martin V8 Vantage runs over his children? That his children died in a "sub-zero" way???

And then when he reviewed the Golf GT and couldn't fathom what the "W" button stands for.

Jeremy Clarkson:

By the time you get to Bristol you are either dead from old age or you’re on foot because you’ve amassed so many points they've taken your licence away. I therefore opted for the A303, but this quickly became boring so I started to play with all the buttons. There’s one, near the gearlever, which is marked with the letter W. Push it and a small light illuminates, but that’s all.

All the way to Salisbury I prodded it, trying to find out what it did, until I became so desperate I actually pulled over and broke the first rule of manliness. I opened the glove box and — take a deep breath — took out the handbook.

You want to know something weird? There was no mention of the W button in there.

The W button on the Golf GT stands for the Winter Program, Winter starts with a W of winter or in Jeremy Clarkson's case: Wanker.

Press it and the W(Winter) button reduces power and torque in 1st and 2nd gear. Since he did not have a clue what the button did I think we can assume that he drove around in "W" mode all the time, hence the poor performance and jerkiness.

Jeremy Clarkson:

there was the truly woeful engine. It’s all very well having direct petrol injection and a supercharger to fill in the black hole while the turbo girds its loins: this is clever, but my God it’s jerky.

I like the power delivery of an engine to be smooth, like a ball bearing rolling down a child’s playground slide. In the GT it’s delivered with the smoothness of someone in a wheelchair falling down some stairs.

And where’s the power? If you’re going to stick GT badges on a car and claim it delivers 168bhp, then kindly give us some oomph to match. Time and again I had to change down on hills, and once, with my foot welded to the floor, I was overtaken by a Mercedes van.

Ah yes... the "truly Woeful" engine that was awarded twice as Best Engine of the Year. But of course, Jeremy Clarkson is the man who doesn't know the difference between Millimetres and Degrees, a lack of knowledge he displayed when he reviewed the Audi S6 Avant.

[MadCow809]

Originally Posted by Kowalski

Ah yes... the "truly Woeful" engine that was awarded twice as Best Engine of the Year. But of course, Jeremy Clarkson is the man who doesn't know the difference between Millimetres and Degrees, a lack of knowledge he displayed when he reviewed the Audi S6 Avant.

Originally Posted by International Engine of the Year Award

2006 Winners
Best New Engine: Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger

1-litre to 1.4-litre: Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger

2007 Winners

1-litre to 1.4-litre: Volkswagen 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger

no doubt the engine is really good, its the best in its class. But as a whole car, is the Golf GT really worth the price tag??