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Old 07-20-2007, 01:00 PM
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Arrow Volkswagen Golf: 1999-'06

Volkswagen has made Rabbit- and Golf-badged hatchbacks for more than 30 years. With each successive update in 1985, '93 and '99, the company added content and a wider range of power options. The last Golf was available in two- and four-door body styles and engine choices included a variety of four-cylinder gasoline powerplants ranging from a 115-horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder to a 2.8-litre V6, exclusive to the sporty GTI. Also available was a 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel producing up to 100 horsepower, depending on the year, and a turbocharged 2.0-litre gas motor. Drop-top Cabrio versions used the base 2.0 I4. An all-new model once more wearing the Rabbit name arrived for 2007, however a special run of the low-priced previous-generation model, dubbed the City Golf, remain on sale.

If a small, practical car was what you wanted, you would have been hard pressed to find a more solidly built package than the Golf. With a shape that seemed to have been designed using an Etch-A-Sketch, this Vee-Dub could carry a wide variety of cargo. A tall greenhouse aided visibility and helped in the cut and thrust of urban driving. Also praised was the Golf's road manners that greatly enhanced driving pleasure. The GTI's V6 provided the most fun, while the turbo-diesel earned top marks as one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles around.

For maximum utility, you should stick to a four-door Golf. Although all engines make excellent choices, the base 2.0-litre tends to feel a bit sluggish, particularly when mated to the automatic transmission. The turbo-diesel does a great job avoiding gas stations and is fairly peppy, but this engine type is traditionally more expensive to fix. The car's cosy interior means everyone will have to keep their elbows in, especially with three passengers in back. Note that 2002 was the Cabrio's final year as the New Beetle convertible took over.

The Golf was designed more for practicality than eye appeal. With the variety of engine choices, finding one with the right combination of power and practicality shouldn't prove difficult, so don't be surprised if your search for a straightforward and practical hatchback turns into a full-blown crush for a cute-as-a-button Cabrio.

Engines: 2.0-litre SOHC I4 (115 h.p.); 1.9-litre SOHC I4 turbo-diesel (90-100 h.p.); 1.8-litre turbocharged gasoline I4 (150-180 h.p.); 2.8-litre DOHC V6 (174-200 h.p.). Transmissions: Five-six speed manual (base); five-speed automatic. Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel drive. Body: Two-door hatchback; four-door hatchback; two-door convertible.

Used Golfs hold their value, so don't expect any deals. The V6 GTI will command a hefty premium and plan to spend an extra $3,000-$4,000 (depending on year and condition) for 1999-'02 Cabrio models.

The low end of a given price range represents higher-mileage, low-option vehicles.

Source: [url=http://autos.canada.com/news/story.html?id=e7d42411-8db0-4932-9f61-f00f07e904ac]Driving.ca[/url]
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