TopGear and the VeeDub Golf V

[levensnevel]

Quite enjoyed Clarkie´s column in TimesonLine last sunday
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,588-1027204,00.html
and I feel his remarks were spot on.
And now I just read the following

qte...
9 March 2004

GOLF SPEEDS INTO TOP GEAR WITH COVETED ‘BEST HATCH’ AWARD

Volkswagen’s new Golf has collected another major UK accolade, this time in BBC Top Gear magazine’s Awards 2004. The fifth generation of Europe’s best-seller took the ‘Best Hatch’ award, hot on the heels of winning outright What Car? magazine’s prestigious Car of the Year Award 2004 earlier this year.

The magazine’s expert road test team was bowled over by the Golf’s broad range of talents after clocking up over 10,000 miles during a gruelling two-week long pan-European trip. ‘For the long haul the Golf is a clear-cut winner,’ said Top Gear, whose testers drove the new Vauxhall Astra over the same distance. ‘The seats are better, the cabin is roomier, the ride more comfortable and the whole thing feels more refined.’

At the end of the journey – a distance greater than many motorists’ annual mileage – the magazine was impressed by the Golf’s more robust feel: ‘Mechanically, after 10,000 miles the Golf still feels fresh as the day it left Dover.’

In conclusion, it said: ‘The Golf’s sense of desirability and sheer quality is, we reckon, something you will cherish. And continue to cherish.’

Since its launch on 30 January, the Golf has won not only overwhelming praise from industry experts, but from customers too – orders at UK Retailers are currently running at 20 per cent above expectations. As with the previous generation, a high-powered diesel is the top selling model. The potent 2.0 GT TDI, with 140 PS, has accounted for over a quarter of all sales for the year to date.

The award will be presented to Paul Willis, Director of Volkswagen Cars, by host Jeremy Clarkson and editor Michael Harvey, at a lunch held today in London.
...unqte

msge found by ´carfanatic´ from the dutch autoweek forum
www.autoweek.nl/forum/read.php?f=4&i=95375&t=95375

Now I´m very curious how Clarkie has wiggled himself out of this predicament :roll:

[TT]

Nice to see some nice words about the Golf V.. to many reviews are pretty negative... BTW, I will use a rental Golf V to go and come back from Paris in 2 weeks :D not 10'000 miles, but still some 1200 km :D

[PATo355]

mmmmm , read the entire article ... i think it was pretty negative

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,588-1027204,00.html

"However, it's nowhere near as much fun to drive as the Ford Focus and the styling is just catastrophically bland. They started with a blank piece of paper and ended up with a blank piece of paper. Where are the natty details, the pleasing little touches that make you proud to be an owner? Honestly, even the new Vauxhall Astra looks better.
But the worst thing is the quality of the interior trim. Get inside in a showroom, twiddle the heater knobs, and I guarantee you'll get straight out again. There are discarded toys in our playroom that feel more robust. And what's with the dashboard? It feels like it's been made out of a melted Sanilav."

"So the next time someone says they want a car for around £15,000, they will be in for a shock. Because I'll suggest the 250-1 outsider bee. I'll suggest they buy a Renault Megane"

[Anonymous]

Yeah I think clarkson much prefers the older golfs and feels they have gone away from their 'roots' slightly still nice cars though. actually i think Jeremy had a Mk1 golf Gti so he's a bit biased on this one!

[espen]

Shame about the lack of a design, but it looks pretty good (as any car does) with some 19s and lowering. Interior was'nt particularly bad imho, I think the "anycar" front is the weakest area. Notably, the weird GTI paintjob on the front actually makes it less bland - but is substituting bland with weird progress..?

Also, perhaps not so good for the image that the 2.0 TDI 140hp is by far the best engine available at the moment. Being a TDI driver myself, I feel the new engine keeps the best part and adresses the weaker areas brilliantly. It just flies; speed builds quickly even when youre just tipping into power in fourth or fifth yet theres not much diesel rattle and swift boost buildup.