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2007 VW Golf TDI 2.0

Driving a German car in Germany is a rare treat, and one that I always look forward to during my travels.

This time it was a black Volkswagen Golf TDI (turbo diesel) 2.0 four door, manual.  The 2.0 TDI is available in Germany along with several other diesel engines that we do not get in the U.S.   The motor puts out 140HP and it moves very nicely indeed. Torque is plentiful even at low RPM and there is almost no turbo lag.  On the road from Munich to Frankfurt with two people and a fair amount of luggage, the Golf was quick, nimble and amazingly sure footed at speeds up to 100MPH. It actually felt more composed at higher speed, all the while delivering outstanding economy. The factory 15” Continental Touring Contact tires handled rain and twisty back roads in the Alps very well.

Acceleration as measured by the EU is 0-80km/h 6.2 sec. 0-100km/h 9.0 sec – not bad for a car that is almost as good on gas as a hybrid. We averaged 47MPG in mixed, but mostly spirited driving. Very nice indeed!  You can choose between 6-speed automatic or a very slick manual box.

I was impressed with the quality of materials inside the roomy cabin, and while it was not as nice as my 2001 Golf 1.8T, it was definitely way ahead of most cars in its class. Let me just say that after 5 hours behind the wheel I felt great with no signs of fatigue.  Maybe that had something to do with overall excellent German and Austrian roads, intelligent road signs and drivers who are actually aware of their surroundings. Or maybe it was the Golf.  Probably it was a combination of both.

The only drawback to the car is some noise from the motor at idle, but it is not intrusive.

Hatchbacks are not very popular in the US, but Europeans like them a lot and the Golf is certainly one of the best out there. Utility, good looks, performance and fantastic economy in a nimble and roomy car.  What more could you want?  Oh, yeah it is not available in the States yet.  

Rating: 4.5 out of 6