Volkswagen Golf GTD - laughing sportsman
The first Golf GTD was released shortly after the legendary GTI, but never received much recognition. Maybe it's different in the latest version?
Most of us know the history of golf. The first generation showed the whole world what a car should look like for the masses. However, the real success was achieved by the sports version of the GTI, which at that time offered a lot of excitement a little more. This is how the first hot hatchback in automotive history was created, or at least the first to become a huge success. The turbo diesel but still sporty GTD came after the GTI. It didn't achieve much success at the time, but the world probably wasn't ready for it yet. Gas was cheap and there was no need to look for savings in this sector - the GTI sounded better and was faster, so the choice was obvious. A roaring diesel might seem redundant. The Golf GTD has returned to life in its sixth generation and continues to fight for customer acceptance in its seventh generation. This time the world is ready for it.
Let's start with what stands out the most, that is, the engine. Traditionalists may complain that the only proper sporty Golf is the GTI, and they're probably right, but let's give it a chance to prove its weaker sibling. At the heart of the GTD is a turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0 TDI-CR engine with 184 hp. at 3500 rpm. Pretty low, but it's still a diesel. Diesel engines usually boast a lot of torque, and this is the case here, because this 380 Nm is revealed at 1750 rpm. Comparisons are indispensable, so I will immediately turn to the results of the GTI. The maximum power is 220 hp. or 230 hp if we choose this version. The maximum power reaches a little later, at 4500 rpm, but the torque is not much lower - 350 Nm. An important feature of the gasoline engine is that the maximum torque appears already at 1500 rpm and weakens only at 4500 rpm; The GTD revs up at 3250 rpm. To complete the list, the GTI has twice the maximum torque range. Not to be intimidating anymore - GTD is slower, period.
This does not mean at all that it is free. However, I was skeptical about the performance of the Golf GTD. The entire site dedicated to this model was talking about the need to protect objects inside from shifting, that acceleration presses into the seat, and I looked at the technical data and saw 7,5 seconds to “hundreds”. It's supposed to be fast, but I've just driven faster cars and it probably won't impress me much. And still! Acceleration is really felt and delivers a lot of pleasure. One way or another, in our measurements, we even got 7,1 seconds to “hundreds” with the traction control system turned off. There are not many cars on the track to compare with us, so overtaking is just a formality. The maximum speed that we are able to reach is 228 km/h according to the catalogue. We can choose between manual and automatic transmissions - the test car was equipped with a DSG automatic transmission. In addition to convenience, it is very suitable for the diesel version. It does not spoil the fun either, because we are driving with oars, and subsequent gears change very quickly - because the gear above and below is always ready for action. If there was one thing I had to pay attention to, it would be lowering when we brake the engine with paddle shifters. Even below 2,5-2 thousand revolutions, the box likes to twitch about this, over which we have no power. I’ll add right away that the gearbox can operate not in one of two, but in three modes. By default, it will be the usual D, sporty S and, finally, the curiosity - E, economical. All savings are based on the fact that in this mode we always drive in the highest possible gear, and after releasing the gas, we switch to sailing mode, i.e. rolling relaxed.
Let's get back to the sporty performance of the Golf GTD for a moment. Most of all we enjoy the sports suspension, which in the DCC version can change its characteristics. There are several settings - Normal, Comfort and Sport. Comfort is the softest, but this does not make the car worse in driving. On our roads, the Normal is pretty tough already, and in those terms, it's best not to mention how tough the Sport is at all. Something for something, because in this production we will take turns sliding along turns like on rails. We go into winding sections, accelerate and nothing - Golf does not heel a bit and incredibly confidently goes through every turn. Of course, we have front-wheel drive and not so little power - full throttle in the corner should lead to a little understeer. In addition to the characteristics of the suspension, we can customize the operation of the engine, steering and transmission. Of course, we will do this in the "Individual" mode, because there are four preset settings - "Normal", "Comfort", "Sport" and "Eco". Differences are usually seen in suspension performance, but not only. Of course, I mean the Sport mode, which changes the sound of the engine beyond recognition - if we buy the Sport & Sound package.
The artificial creation of sounds has recently been the subject of heated discussions - to improve what is still good, or not? In my opinion, it depends on what kind of car we are talking about. Boosting the sound like in the BMW M5 is a misunderstanding, but the Nissan GT-R sound choice in the Renault Clio RS should be a lot of fun, and that's what this car is all about. In Golf GTE, it seems to me, the limit of good taste is also not exceeded - especially if you listen to the engine at idle. It rumbles like a thoroughbred diesel, and whether we are in sport mode or not, we still have to get used to such a sound in a sports car. However, it only takes a touch of the gas for the magic of Volkswagen engineers to work, and the racial sound of an athlete reaches our ears. It's not just a matter of managing the sound from the speakers - it's also louder and more bassy on the outside. Of course, the GTI will win here too, but it is important that it be good, namely diesel.
Now the best about the Golf GTD. A feature that hits both the GTI and the Golf R in the head is fuel consumption. This is probably why the vision of the diesel-powered GTI has been relaunched into production. Gasoline prices in Europe are rising, drivers do not want to overpay and increasingly opt for more economical diesel engines. However, let's not forget about those who have a sports flair - do drivers of very fast cars have to spend a fortune on gasoline? You can't always see. The Golf GTD burns up to 4 l/100 km at 90 km/h. I usually check my fuel consumption in a more practical way - just driving the route without worrying too much about driving economy. There were hard accelerations and decelerations, and yet I completed the 180 km section with an average fuel consumption of 6.5 l/100 km. This trip cost me less than 70 PLN. The city is worse - 11-12 l / 100km with a slightly faster start from a traffic light. Riding more calmly, we probably would have gone lower, but it was quite difficult for me to deny myself a portion of pleasure.
We've covered the "who needs a GTD when there's a GTI" section, so let's take a closer look at what the Golf actually looks like. I must admit that the test copy convinced me completely. The metallic gray "Limestone" paired perfectly with the 18-inch Nogaro wheels and red brake calipers. The main difference between the regular VII-generation Golf and the Golf GTD, and certainly the GTI, is the aerodynamic package, with new bumpers and flared sills that lower the car visually. Ground clearance is still 15mm lower than the standard version. On the front we see the GTD emblem and a chrome strip - the one that the GTI has in red. On the side, there is again a chrome emblem, and at the back, a double exhaust pipe, a spoiler and dark red LED lights. It seems to have everything that guys in old Golfs have, but here it looks more elegant.
The interior refers to the upholstery of the first golfs. It's a grill called "Clark" that women can complain about even before they sit inside, and any explanation of the model's history is of little use. This grille is not really the most beautiful, but it creates a slightly nostalgic atmosphere that reminds us every day of the rich traditions of this model. The bucket seats are really deep and provide ample lateral support needed for that kind of suspension capability. On longer routes, we will want to take a break from time to time, because "sporty" means "tough", also in terms of seats. The seat is manually adjustable, as are the height and distance to the steering wheel. The dashboard cannot be denied practicality, because everything is exactly where it should be, and it looks quite nice at the same time. However, it is not made of too high-quality materials and, in fact, hard plastic is found in some places throughout the car. By themselves, they do not creak, but if we play with them ourselves, we will definitely hear some unpleasant sounds. The multimedia screen is large, touch-sensitive and, importantly, with an interface that matches the overall design of the cabin. A few words about the audio kit - "Dynaudio Excite" for 2 PLN in the catalog. I try to avoid it, but if I wanted to point out the element that most reminds me of the Golf's stereotypical driver, it's the audio system. Powerful with a whopping 230 watts and can sound really good and clean, it's one of the best car audio systems I've ever listened to and one of the cheapest experiences in my collection. There is only one "but". Bass. With the subwoofer's default setting, i.e. with the slider set to 400, the bass was too clean for me, while the setting I liked best was -0 on the same scale. However, the gradation is increased to "2". Just imagine how much this tube can beat.
It's time to take stock. The Volkswagen Golf GTD is a very versatile, flexible and, above all, fast car. Certainly not as fast as its gas twin brother, but its performance, combined with the sporty suspension, is more than enough to smoothly tackle trails, cruise at high speeds, or even participate in Track Days, KJS and similar events. But most importantly, the GTD is incredibly economical. If you've been thinking about buying a GTI, you might still be put off by the diesel, but when it comes to cost, it's much more profitable to own a Golf GTD daily.
What are the prices in the salon? In the cheapest 3-door version, the Golf GTD is PLN 6 more expensive than the GTI, so it costs PLN 600. The shorter version is not much different from the 114-door version, and in my opinion, the latter version looks even better - and is simply more practical, and only costs 090 zł more. A test copy with DSG transmission, Front Assist, Discover Pro navigation and Sport & Sound package cost less than PLN 5. And here a problem arises, because for this money we can buy a Golf R, and there will be much more emotions in it.
The Golf GTD certainly makes sense if we expect a car of sportsmanship, but also humane treatment of our wallet. However, if the economy of driving is a secondary matter, and we want a real hot hatch, the GTI fits this role perfectly. For almost 30 years now.
