2000 Volkswagen Golf GLS
Keep on Groovin'
by Jon Ratty
photos by Steve Egan

"Did I just rip off the dealer," you say to yourself as you drive off the lot smirking, "I can’t believe I got all this car for just over 18 grand! It must be a bad month for the dealer because I can’t believe the price. Oh yeah, to the beach we go!"

Once again the boys and girls at Volkswagen have managed to bring metal, plastic, and other inanimate objects to life. The Golf they created is refined, yet deep in its heart, still lies the scrappy hatchback that captivated the automotive world when it was released in the early eighties.

If I was taking the Rorschach personality test and the psychologist showed a picture of the VW Golf and asked me for the very first thought that came to mind, then it would have to be charisma. A Volkswagen is like the quiet person in your group. You know the person who does not say much, but instinctively people like and trust them. Volkswagen has always had this effect on people. Maybe it is the positive vibe that all Volkswagen’s exude. Or maybe it is their smooth, predictable lines. Whatever it is, it adds up to good natured, soulful cars.

Soul is what differientates VW’s from all other cars. VW has become synonymous with peace and fun. The name Volkswagen triggers images of quirkiness and eccentricity. One thing is for sure, VW has always kept up with the times in both style and technology.

Some things never change. The Golf still has its trademarked wide stance and boxy frame. It still has its antenna in center rear. Some critics have given Volkswagen light scrutiny for making the Golf too poised. When the Golf first entered the market in the early eighties it offered sprightly performance and great fuel economy all at a cheap entry price.

Over the years Volkswagen kept refining the Golf and unfortunately driving up the price. It was becoming more a cruiser and losing some of its tight handling liveliness. Second and third generation Golfs did not crash over potholes as much but they also did not zip around corners as well as the first generation either. VW decided to return to the roots that made the original Golf so popular, but they also kept in mind what people want in a car.

These days’ people want it all; great looks, first-rate power, flawless handling, and impeccable fuel economy. Unfortunately, one must pay for quality, or do you? Our test Golf was the four door GLS model and price as tested was $18,000 and change. Standard equipment includes keyless entry, power one touch up and down windows, locks, mirrors, air conditioning, rear window and side mirror defrosters, anti-theft system, cruise control, am/fm stereo cassette, driver and passenger front and side airbags, full size spare, and 4 wheel ABS. Options included heated front and passenger seats, CD player, 5-spoke alloy wheels, and power glass moon roof with sunshade. Volkswagen has given all this and kept the price under $20,000.

Powering the Golf is a 2.0L four cylinder that churns out a respectable 115 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm and offers 122 lb-ft of torque @ 2600 rpm. Sounds measly, but this torquey little engine feels a lot of faster than the specs suggest. It was quick off the line and we could even get a little tire chirp when we threw it into second. Kudos to VW for tweaking the most out of this aged four banger. EPA says the Golf will achieve 24 mpg around town and 31 mpg on the highway.

The Golf has superb chassis composure. It swallows up potholes and other bumps with ease. We felt ride quality would suffer, especially on highways, because the suspension felt stiffly sprung, but it didn’t.

Driving the Golf was a joy. Visibility was terrific forward, to the sides, and to the rear. The silver knobbed shifter felt natural and rested in the hands like a baseball. Running through the gears required medium length throws. It succeeds in bonding with the driver, feeling more like an extension of the body than of a car.

Volkswagen has done an excellent job in making the Golf feel truly European. The steering is linear and precise. Although there was noticeable body lean, the Golf always felt planted, balanced, and predictable. Most importantly, it instilled confidence on both twisty back roads and on the highway.

The safety features available instill even more confidence. Volkswagen’s Anti-slip Regulation and Electronic Lock systems, both standard, along with upgraded Michelin Energy 195/65HR15 all-season tires, help to maintain traction on slippery surfaces. As well as driver and passenger frontal and side airbags there are anti-intrusive side door beams as well as protective padding inside the doors.

Legroom was generous for my six-three, all legs, frame. Driver and passenger seat comfort are average, but there were complaints about the lumbar support jabbing into our backs. The fabric was soft but durable. Due, in part, to its tall height, headroom was outstanding. The pedals were well spaced out even for my wide, size 13 shoes, but I would have liked the foot rest pedal to have been extended farther in, equal with the rest of the pedals. Rear legroom was typical for a hatchback. It can accommodate three medium sized people, but sticking three burley sized adults would be like stuffing six pounds into a five-pound bag.

Fit and finish was infallible with exceptional build quality. The dashboard was a single entity. Lacking was extraneous plastic components strewn up like pieces on a puzzle. The slick dial controls for the power sunroof were located on the overhead center console. With a flick of the wrist you can adjust it to quarter, half, or full open. You can also turn it so that it just tilts upward. A word to the wise make sure you study the controls because initially they can seem annoying trying to guess which setting does what.

Overall placements of all controls were logically placed and easy to use and read. The instrument cluster was probably one of the sharpest parts of the car. Those who don’t see so well at night or up close will benefit tremendously from the peaceful glow of the violet-blue with red backlit illumination of the instrument gauges. It sounds strange describing an instrument cluster as relaxing, usually that is reserved for the actual driving impressions, but take my word for it.

However a few gripes did come up concerning ergonomics and transmission function. The Monsoon® 8-speaker sound systems’ numerous tiny buttons were overwhelming. The labels for the temperatures controls were small, hard to read, and positioned much too low. There is a dual cup holder that slides out from the middle of the dash, and much like Homer Simpson blocking out at an all you can eat buffet, it impeded the loading and ejection of CD’s. In order to load or take out a CD you are forced to remove any and all drinks from the cup holders.

The gripe with the transmission had to deal with the lack of felt torque release once you take your foot off the gas. Even in third gear with the rpm at 4000 there was very little deceleration. This would be a factor when going down steep mountain grades because you would have to rely on using your brakes more, potentially risking overheating them.

Overall the Golf is an affordable, reliable, and more importantly cost effective means of transportation, all contained in a body with a European flair. It’s a kick to drive. VW sweetens the deal by giving an impressive 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranty and dealer-paid two-year scheduled maintenance plan. The Golf’s competitors include Dodge Neon, Honda Civic EX and the Toyota Corolla LE 4-door sedan.

It is true that the Golf is safe and practical, but it also offers clean-edged good looks which is hard to pull these days with cars under $20,000. With its hatchback and 60/40 split folding seats offering 18 cubic feet it could nearly double as a station wagon. So grab you some soul on four wheels and flash the peace sign.