VW Golf test drive 12 years ago
We drive the VW Golf VI, model “TEAM” as TDI “Blue Motion Technology” with 105 hp
Driving through scenic routes: Altmühltal - Munich - Berlin - Usedom
I'm often asked where my enthusiasm for cars and vintage cars comes from. Yes, that has a story too! And it started on a Monday when the weather was bad and the TV channels didn't have anything appealing to offer. Everyone, no, there was a station “D-Max/Munich 2” that came with the motto “Motor Monday” and brought a varied, funny and fast-paced show from England: TOP GEAR! My husband smiled at my growing enthusiasm for cars and said, “Write about cars!” My answer was spontaneous: “O.k.! I’ll do it!” That was in 2012 and it led me to write an article about our “VW-Golf VI Blue Motion Technology” at the time. ... we went, among other things, to Berlin, where the palace building attracts journalists.
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| Berlin palace building seen from Museum Island! Photo: Helga Waess |
Here is my first car article from 2012:
“Environmental awareness, driving fun and lots of kilometers on one tank of fuel!”
What I observe about myself when it comes to cars is that television shows like “TOP GEAR” from England inspire me. The motto “Cars are fun!” is infectious. And at this time when we have to save energy and protect the environment; but if we take urgently necessary and work-related trips with fuel-saving models, can that also mean driving fun?! ... and calm your conscience at the same time!?
Back to TOP GEAR:
Whether searching, testing, screwing or driving, with a touch of humor and adventurous rides, races or tasks that are difficult to complete, the three presenters on the show from England become test drivers, fun fitters and unexpected adventurers. Their moderation is casual, they don't take anything really seriously and sometimes saw up one or two cars during a race or to create their own or even faster models. A chipboard front spoiler becomes a burning car destroyer, you cross Japan with various vehicles that seem to give up at any time, or you drive through the African savannah with cars that any German TÜV would shut down; The punishment for those who remain stranded is just as strange: they have to continue their journey in a first-model VW Beetle that follows menacingly behind, handles all the tortures with ease and threatens the supposed loser with a roaring engine.
In one of these TOP GEAR programs, the range of a tank full was tested in a contemporary way - “Polo” versus “Jaguar”
The cars: the most economical car on the car market at the moment, the Blue Motion as the VW Polo and the comfortable, spacious Jaguar sedan with a large tank. Economy and careful driving versus comfort and the usual fun driving style. – The third vehicle didn’t cover the required kilometers and that’s probably why I missed it. – The route, which had to be completed with one tank of gas (the tank was sealed), ranged from Switzerland (Basel) to Great Britain (festival location). The fuel needles of both vehicles were already in the red zone when they drove under the canal. Both made it with the last drops of fuel.
In between, the drivers stayed in touch via the hands-free system, enjoyed each other's misfortunes and teased each other; e.g. when the Jaguar driver realized that he might be able to do it after all and suddenly drove more economically in England. He even accepted the overhaul by the VW POLO. Not without accepting the polo driver's scorn. Delicious!
Yes, I too laugh at this motorized entertainment that many Brits have known for a long time
It corresponds to the legendary humor that has been well known here in this country since Monty Pyton's “Flying Circus”. And it can even turn people like me, whose understanding of the enthusiasm for engines and sheet metal was previously non-existent, into car fans.
As is so often the case in life, when enthusiasm for a topic is contagious, it is your own enjoyment of the matter, the lightness and love for fast, unusual or adventurous rides that comes across and “takes you away”, yes, that is probably the right thing Word.
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| Berlin City Palace under construction, photo - press archive: Helga Waess |
So here is my car driving fun and fuel saving statement:
Driving through scenic routes, especially in the passenger position, has always called the 'Muse of Creativity' onto my shoulders. – There is always a pen and a pad in our glove compartment for spontaneous ideas, which later flow into my children's books, cartoon scripts or articles on art and history. – While forests and meadows pass by and the weather can change every 200 km, I have the best ideas for new projects or solutions to ongoing tasks.
So why not write a AUTO article about a vehicle that I know myself?
We drive the VW Golf VI, model “TEAM” as TDI “Blue Motion Technology” with 105 hp
The vehicle is now 2 years and 3 months old and we have driven it since then. Its engine has a capacity of 55 liters. Its consumption values ex works are given as 4.1 liters. This makes it one of the most economical cars on the market at the moment.
If we exclude the “Polo Blue Motion” tested at TOP GEAR, the Golf model has an additional plus: a larger tank for a longer range.
The “Golf Generation” likes it!
In terms of design, the Golf VI is a successful, one might say sophisticated, model. It has a flowing shape and, despite all the further developments, it still has the golf character. The one that the much talked about “Generation Golf” likes about him. In the color black, it maintains its harmonious appearance and experience has shown that it is always good for resale.
Although with the Model VI you sometimes get the feeling that you are no longer driving a small car, but - and this is particularly true for traffic in big cities or narrow motorway construction sites and narrow underground parking spaces - that the width and length of the vehicle is expected Golf dimensions easily exceeded.
Here are our driving results with the VW Golf VI “TEAM”
The interior is comfortably arranged and combines many extras that would be more expensive if you put it together yourself. – By the way, the MATCH model is currently still available and then this series will end in autumn. –
Let’s stick with driving fun as a TEAM:
We get in, the backrests are slightly leaned back and the lumbar supports are adjusted and we get started. Radio on! What I particularly like as a jazz fan is this new generation of car radios that are equipped with “media in”. You can easily connect the PC stick with your own music and play it for hours. Because for me:
Jazz is an attitude to life that fits this car and our driving style perfectly.
Eichstätt and the Altmühltal
So we first drive to the gas station in Munich (the tank holds 55 liters) and feed the carriage to the limit. Then we take the Mittlerer Ring onto the motorway towards Ingolstadt.
We're going to Eichstätt. The wellness hotel “Schönblick”, built and equipped by Liqui Molly owner… lives up to its name. Originals of contemporary art hang throughout the house, giving it additional authenticity.
In 2 days we complete numerous smaller, professionally necessary trips through the Altmühltal: Beilngries, Mühlhausen, Plankstetten Monastery, Weißenburg, ... all in all around 230 km there and back. The towns in the Altmühltal are not far apart as a fictitious straight line, but can only be reached via winding country roads with valleys and hills.
A leisurely driving style allows you to dream away in an idyllic landscape. The on-board computer shows a consumption of 4.5 l/km when driving comfortably at 60-80 km/h.
Munich
But that's not enough. After 2 nights we go back to Munich, where we briefly exchange the contents of our suitcase and get a good night's sleep. After a hearty breakfast and a short city trip, the next day we travel from Munich via Leipzig to Berlin. Today's professional world and order situation requires the greatest mobility and flexibility.
On the motorway, at 120 km/h, according to the on-board computer, we consume 5.3 l/km. At 180 km/h, consumption briefly increases to 7.5 l/km. It becomes more economical if the speed that the cruise control regulates remains the same.
Berlin-Mitte district
An artists' hotel on Sophienstrasse in the Berlin-Mitte district is the destination of this first stage, before heading from there to Usedom (Ahlbeck) a few days later. The rooms were decorated by contemporary artists. We sleep in the room of the banana sprayer Thomas Baumgärtel - I have his own "steel banana" on my desk at home! The hotel is centrally located. Here almost all the courses are within walking distance.
Usedom
In the city of Usedom, the fuel needle is now slowly showing the reddish area and we calculate the kilometers driven so far in Maps:
- Munich-Eichstätt-Munich 300 km,
- Munich-Berlin = 585 km,
- Berlin-Ahlbeck 165 km
- TOTAL = 1050 km.
We drove around 1100 km in 2 weeks to the fuel stop. We leisurely strolled or rather curved through the Altmühltal, drove at speeds of 160 to 200 km/h on the free motorway, with the cruise control doing a good job, and still experienced a low average consumption.
Depending on how we drive, we can travel 900 to 1200 km on one full tank.
Next we want to drive the VW Golf Blue Motion from the same model series before the new one arrives. The next vehicle promises even lower fuel consumption, lower maintenance costs and therefore much greater environmental friendliness.
Impressions from Berlin back then
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| Brandenburg Gate, press photo archive: Helga Waess |
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| Berlin Cathedral and Alex TV Tower, press photo archive: Helga Waess |
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| Left: German Museum - castle building with cranes at the back, press photo archive: Helga Waess |
