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Volkswagen Golf R-Line: Fun and practical but is it worth your money?

There was a time when the Volkswagen Golf was the de facto go to car if you wanted something cheap and reliable as your daily runner.

Today though, the Golf is far from cheap (in Malaysia at least), but for some, it is still the ideal day to day companion.

Price & Competition:

At RM178,110, this Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line with Sound & Style package is punching above its weight; it is up against some of the finest from Europe and Japan.

Take the new Mazda CX-5 Turbo for example, it offers more living room, more power and comes with the decades old seal of Japanese reliability. A seal trusted by many.

Then there is the BMW 1-Series, the entry-level pawn to the world of Bavarian motoring. The Golf may better in some aspects, but let’s face it, in Malaysia, a BMW holds a lot more bling-factor than VW when arriving at a family dinner party. That’s just how we roll.

What is it like?

There are many other great options in the market too that would happily thumb their nose at the VW. So, what’s the case for the Golf then?

A lot actually. As I found out after a couple of days with one.

I like its size for one. It makes it easier to “kung-fu” your way around traffic jams and snug into parking lots.

I also like the interior and its fine quality, decent leg and shoulder space. Maybe not for the rear passengers though as it can get quite cramped back there.

It is also surprisingly quiet at all speeds, something that I think is extremely important in modern cars. Find a car with great insulation and you will be one step closer to finding the perfect car.

What we like about it:

Features like cruise control are nifty to have, but it is features like a Speed Limiter that make my list of must haves in a car. Why? Well, I spend a significant amount of time on highways, and I sometimes involuntarily creep into speeds that will amuse the “pak ciks” sitting beneath the overhead passes. They have sent me a couple of letters telling me how they are such big fans of my speeding habits.

These days I prefer to set the limit and just let my mind wander. Speed guns have nothing on a car with a speed limiter.

Friends say I’m getting dull, but I have come to appreciate regular, negligible features such as an auto dimming rear view mirror, rear air-conditioning vents, dual-zone temperature control. In fact I appreciate these features so much that anything lesser just doesn’t cut it anymore.

And there’s also features like the app-connect smartphone connectivity that launches either the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto applications, depending on which part of the never ending apple vs android war you are aligned to.

You access these apps via a 12.3-inch high-definition touch screen display that seems more like an on-board computer screen than an entertainment unit. Which is a good thing, simply because you spend so much time in a car that entertainment and the way you access it is important. You could have 500hp under your right foot, but when you’re stuck in traffic all that power is useless. A good entertainment system though goes a long way, traffic or not.

And this particular model with its sound and style package has quite a bit of entertainment to offer since it comes with a 300W Helix sound bar placed in the booth (seen below). This gives you rich bass that wouldn’t be out of place in a Dr Dre rap video, and makes you want to take the long way home since you would probably want to spend more time with your 90s hip-hop playlist.

The package also gives you aluminium sports pedal and side scuff plates, but the sound bar is easily the coolest part about this package. If you don’t mind the RM4,000 premium over the standard golf and don’t mind sacrificing some space in the booth, spend on the Sound & Style package.

Engine, Power and Performance:

When it comes to driving it, the Golf offers a plush ride, dull but precise handling and an aura that matches its expensive price tag. Of course not as indulging as its elder siblings, the GTI or the R, but there’s always a little hint that it wants to play behind all that vanilla character. Perhaps it is the R-line specific design with the rear spoiler, sill extension and 17-inch wheels, or perhaps it is the way it holds on to its gears in Sport mode, and lets you ride the wall of torque just the way a classic hot hatch would. Either way, there is a fun side to the Golf, but it runs out of breath pretty quickly.

That’s not to say that it is a sports car on a budget since the 1.4-litre TSI engine only makes 150PS (147hp) and 250Nm of torque. But to make it feel sportier than it really is, it offers three driving modes – Sports, Normal and Eco – and another called Individual that lets you customize how the steering feels, how quickly the throttle responds to your foot and how quickly the seven gears shift. It doesn’t do anything to the suspension though, so you could ask the car to be at its sportiest, but you can’t do anything about its softish suspension, which kinda takes the fun away.

Sportiness may not be part of this Golf though, but fuel economy definitely is. It’s 50-litre tank capable of taking you past the 600km mark depending on whether you tickled the pedal or consistently stomp the hell out it.

Should you buy it?

So why isn’t such a well-sorted car enjoying brisk-er sales in Malaysia?

When it comes to the asking price, the Golf sits in a rather awkward position. It sits in a spot where buyers who have the money are willing to pay the RM50,000 or so for a Mercedes-Benz or a BMW. Because that amount translates to just a few hundred Ringgit in monthly installments and just a few thousand more in downpayment. So why the hell not?

But that’s probably the only case against the Golf considering there really isn’t much not to like.

You could argue that its rather expensive for a hatchback, but that would be missing the point of a modern Golf. It may have been go-to car for cheap and cheerful cars once upon a time ago, but the Golf has grown up to be one that pampers and indulges your senses in a way only a continental car can. And that means forking out more money.

But then again, if you don’t give a damn about the brand like some of us and would get a Golf because you like well-engineered cars, I’d say hold back a little longer and go for the complete package instead – the GTI. That’s where things get serious very quickly.

Volkswagen shows sketches of 2020 Golf Mk.8 to be unveiled on October 24

On October 24, Volkswagen will have the attention of the motoring world when it unveils the 8^th generation of the Golf. The event will take place at its home city in Germany, Wolfsburg. Prior to the event in 12 days, the carmaker has released these sketches as teasers.

One of the bestselling cars for decades, the Golf has evolved continuously from one generation to the next, meeting the changes in society and demands of consumers. For the new generation, Volkswagen says there will be more digitalisation and connectivity than ever before, packed with innovations and sporting a highly expressive design.

The all-new Golf Mk 8 — *Evolution of the ‘face’ of the Golf through eight generations.*

New range of efficient engines
In the new model, the strengths that have made the Golf a worldwide bestseller will be complemented by a new range of efficient engines (which will undoubtedly include hybrids). Enhanced suspension technology will provide a boost in terms of agility.

From the sketch, it can be seen that the exterior design is more dynamic – and yet instantly recognisable as a Golf from all sides. On the inside, fresh colours and fabrics define the look of the new model as well as a new digital cockpit.

Will it be assembled in Malaysia?
Following its debut, the first deliveries of the new Golf Mk.8 will commence in December. Now that the assembly facility in Pekan, Pahang, has the MQB platform for the Tiguan, it would be easier to put the Golf Mk.8 on the line as well, allowing a more competitive price. This could then allow the Malaysian facility to become a regional production hub for the model to be distributed using AFTA privileges. However, we have heard that although Volkswagen has been keen to export cars, certain duty issues have yet to be sorted out.

(more…)

8th generation of Volkswagen Golf nearing launch

The next generation of Volkswagen’s Golf – among the top ten bestselling cars of all time – is nearing launch. This will be the 8^th generation of the model which appeared in 1974 to take over from the Beetle as the modern ‘people’s car’. To date, over 35 million units have been sold worldwide.

7 generations of VW Golf — *7 generations of the Golf have been launched to date, with the current one having had its debut in 2013.*

Designed for the 21^st century
The new Golf will be a product for the 21^st century, with design and digital innovations for the new era of electrified drives, a digitalised and connected interior world, assisted driving and online-based functions and services.

The camouflage lets onlookers identify that the black and white lines are disguising a 5-door hatchback. The DNA of the Golf, evolved over 45 years, is still evident but the camouflage still masks the finer details of the new design.

First VW Golf — *The design of the original Golf has evolved over the years but its DNA continues in the new generation.*

Commenting on the all-new model, Klaus Bischoff, Head of Volkswagen Design, says: “At this time, we will not disclose all details of the new Golf, but you can already perceive its elegant proportions.” The next generation will be a genuine eye-catcher!”

The countdown to the global debut of ‘No. 8’ has already begun and Volkswagen says its world premiere will be in autumn 2019. That would almost certainly be at the Frankfurt Motorshow.

Click here for other news and articles about Volkswagen in PISTON.MY

VW owner proud of being a loyalist for 50 years

Brand loyalty isn’t something we hear much about these days. Modern car buyers aren’t brand conscious anymore, instead, flock to manufacturers that provide them with the best bang for their buck. That said, a Volkswagen car owner in the UK, has the exact opposite understanding.

Karen Wilson has owned in total, 16 VW cars and plans to keep it that way. She currently drives a 4-year-old Polo R-Line with a 1.2L TSI engine. Prior to this, she has owned a pretty colourful list of Volkswagen vehicles dating back to 1967.

In the past 50 years, Wilson has owned several cars including a Campervan, 2 Beetles, 3 Golfs and 10 Polos. Her first love was a cream-coloured Volkswagen Beetle that she purchased new, in 1967. She loved it from the very beginning, taking it on several road trips including one, from Austria to Germany.

The Beetle may not have been a technological marvel or a powerhouse, but its peppy flat-four engine was extremely reliable and easy to maintain. Running costs were low and since it made use of rudimentary mechanicals, mending a problem was fairly simple.

Wilson’s love for the brand stems from this very reputation. VW is known for building safe and reliable cars. In her ownership experience, her vehicles have been extremely dependable, getting her from point A to B with little to no fuss at all.

Her local retailer, JCT600 Volkswagen York, invited Wilson over for coffee and cake as an appreciation gesture for her loyalty and love of the brand. Besides the food and beverages, the celebrations also included gifts and a letter of thanks from the Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars in the UK, Alison Jones.

Speaking of the sales and after-sales aspects of the brand, Wilson, said, “I’ve always had really good service from all the Volkswagen dealerships. They’re nice and friendly and when you walk in they remember your name, and the salespeople don’t put pressure on you to make a sale. They don’t need to because of their confidence in the cars.”

According to Volkswagen UK, Wilson’s love affair with the brand is quite common in the country. Her experience isn’t unique because there are many other owners who have similar stories to share. In fact, VW’s customer service in the UK is aware of a number of high mileage cars that are still out and about.

However, Wilson’s commitment to the brand is nothing short of remarkable. These days, consumers are spoiled for choice due to the market being flooded with good vehicles. So, for someone to pledge an allegiance to a certain brand, said automaker has to offer something extraordinary in return.

VW’s new e-Golf is best EV to convince consumers to switch over

Electric cars have been around for quite awhile, its just that before Tesla burst unto the scene, such vehicles were seen as drab and unpractical alternatives to a hybrid. Though that may have been true before, automakers like Nissan and Volkswagen have been steadily improving their EV designs to allow for better usability.

The Volkswagen e-Golf is one such example and unlike the Tesla Model 3, it does very little to convince you that it is in fact a purely electric vehicle. Instead, lest for a few trim pieces, it vastly resembles the regular petrol or diesel powered Mk7 Golf.

VW introduced the e-Golf to the world in 2013 but only put it into production a year later. It featured an unimpressive range of between 130km to 140km on a single charge, though the actual figure varies depending on traffic conditions.

Now however, the German automaker has released the 2017 version of the car, which is based on the facelifted Golf Mk7 platform and features the same bells and whistles that made the Golf the desired choice of family hatchbacks.

Compared to its predecessor, it has a significantly higher range and can travel up to 290km on a single charge. Though slightly heavier than its predecessor, it is able to sprint from 0-100km/h in 9.6 seconds, which is a marked improvement over its predecessor’s 10.4 seconds.

Unlike other electric vehicles, the e-Golf doesn’t fool you into thinking that it’s anything other than ordinary. At a single glance, one might mistake it for a regular petrol powered Golf that is available for purchase at any VW authorized dealership.

And that is its main selling point, the car is meant to win over the hearts and minds of the fervent followers of the fossil fuel movement. The people who unequivocally believe that personal mobility should involve using fuel that goes ‘bang!’in the engine.

The uncanny similarities between the regular petrol or diesel Golf to the e-Golf, will take the edge of that ‘scary new’ experience that some might feel when faced with an EV. Inside, the switchgear, dashboard and arrangement of its instruments are fairly similar too, which many have become accustomed to seeing in a regular VW.

Though many will see this as a lazy attempt by Volkswagen to enter the foray against Tesla’s dominance in the EV market, from a consumer’s perspective, its pure genius as described by former Fifth Gear co-host Johnny Smith in a video below.

Check out the amazing video that was published by Youtube Channel, Fully Charged where its presenter, Johnny Smith explains the car’s specifications and quirks that make it the practical electric car for the masses. Take the time to look through the channels’s plethora of videos on electric vehicles and renewable energy in general to learn more about this this.

Own a VW this festive season for just RM25 per day

If you are looking to buy a new vehicle to surprise the folks this festive season, Volkswagen Malaysia has you covered. For a limited period, the automaker is offering a number of its models with incredibly low repayment schemes. As such, you are now able to own a VW for just RM25 per day, but you will require to tabulate daily payments to know what the exact figure for monthly payments.

During this festive campaign period, customers can enjoy cash rebates and savings mentioned earlier for the Polo, Vento, Jetta, Golf, Passat Comfortline, Passat Trendline and Tiguan Comfortline. The Polo and Vento are available for RM25 per day which equates to roughly RM700 a month. At these prices, you are saving RM7,000 on the Polo and RM11,000 on the Vento models.

The Jetta is priced at RM35 per day with a savings of RM10,000, Golf is RM45 per day with RM21,000 savings, Passat Comfortline and Trednline are at RM51 per day with a savings of RM15,000 and finally the Tiguan Comfortline is priced at RM51 per day with a savings of RM5,000.

All repayment schemes mentioned earlier are calculated based on a 9-year loan/installment plan. So, for the full details, it would be prudent to speak with a VW sales consultant before making a decision.

For customers to be eligible of this deal, vehicle bookings need to be made within the promotion period and is subjected to VW’s terms and conditions as well as stock availability. If you are interested to learn more about these deals, visit the automaker’s Malaysia website at www.volkswagen.com.my.

Volkswagen to use augmented reality for future designs

Volkswagen has embraced the future and is looking at augmented reality to pursue the designs of its future models.The company is currently testing this methodology with the use of the Microsoft “HoloLens” augmented reality googles. Unlike Virtual reality ones, HoloLens blends virtual reality with the real world enabling better understanding of shapes and figures in real time. The technology is said to be beneficial to a number of fields and automakers like VW believe, that it will help them shorten the timeframe of their design work.

Hooked up to a mobile computer, Microsoft’s HoloLens can project virtual content onto a physical object through gesture control and voice commands. Ostermann, who heads one of VW’s Engineering Labs uses this technology to help create, mix and match colour schemes and remove any part of a vehicle in real time. he only needs to point his finger and HoloLens makes the changes. Demonstrating this tech with a R-Line Golf, Ostermann was able to change different aspects of the vehicle such as, use different wheels and modify the fenders, turning the vehicle into a very different variant of the original one.

Ostermann’s lab is one of six being operated by Volkswagen Group IT in Wolsburg, Berlin, Munich and San Fransciso. The latest has recently begun operating in Barcelona and together with the other locations, teams will collaborate on the digital future with research institutions and technology partners.

“At Volkswagen, we have been using augmented reality and virtual reality for some time, mainly to obtain a three-dimensional view,” says Ostermann. “We are now taking a major step forward at the Virtual Engineering Lab. We are transforming this technology into a tool for Technical Development. This will allow Volkswagen engineers to work on a virtual vehicle, to change its equipment as they wish and even to design new components virtually. They will be able to see the results of their work immediately.”

HoloLens doesn’t just project objects onto real ones, it also enables teams from different parts of the world to collaborate on the same project, making for a more efficient working environment as changes can be made in instant and be viewed by all members of the team.

The tech is said to still be in the testing phase but in the future, VW hope to be able to call up the entire brand portfolio and make changes no matter how extensive in order to build their best vehicles for the mass market.