VW Golf Cabrio 2.0 TSI: Open GTI Feelings

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 05:39

VW heralds the summer. With the top motorization of the Golf Cabrio, the beach will be quickly boarded - but only in the coming year.

By Thomas Flehmer

The almost ten-year waiting period is over. For the first time since 2002, a convertible offshoot of the VW Golf is coming onto the market. The open compact car will be ready to go into summer from June 17th. It takes a whole nine seconds for the soft top to let the sun's rays into the interior of the Golf - even at speeds of up to 30 km / h.

Stretched instead of square

When it is open, it becomes clear that something is missing that distinguished the first three generations: the roll bar has given way to a rollover protection system that shoots up in milliseconds. At the same time, the nickname "Strawberry Basket", which was given to its predecessors, has also disappeared.

But the predecessors were also shorter and looked more square, so that the roll bar as a handle forced these views. The current model is spread over 4.25 meters and looks more elongated than square.

Goodbye strawberry baskets

In the top model, the 2.0 TSI with 155 kW / 210 PS, the associations with the spring fruit are very quickly blown away by the gentle roar of the exhaust. Faster than the roof can be opened, the convertible, which differs from the closed GTI only by a different sound, has 100 within 7.3 seconds thanks to a maximum torque of 280 Newton meters in a wide speed range between 1700 and 5200 revolutions per minute km / h mark happens, which is acknowledged with a brief bubbling when shifting the six-speed DSG.

Those who want it to be particularly sporty can choose the sporty "S-Mode" for the sprint, in which the double clutch shifts to second gear at around 60 km / h and then to third gear 30 km / h later. Goodbye strawberry baskets.

Excellent chassis

The interplay between second and third gear continues on the serpentine drive, where the excellent chassis shows its advantages. The curves can be taken in a very sporty manner without great rolling movements, the driving pleasure in the 1.5-ton convertible increases from curve to curve. For the passengers in the back seats, the cornering is not quite as good.

On the one hand, you might have to pick up the bag at some point, and on the other hand, the wind turbulence that pulls over the front occupants thanks to the windshield, just like on the motorway, is very large. Especially when the top speed of 235 km / h is targeted on the expressway. If only two people sit in the open compact, the wind deflector ensures unadulterated convertible enjoyment without turbulence in the interior, which was adopted 1: 1 from the Golf VI.

Nine seconds until summer

More than two people should therefore not undertake at least a longer journey. Because due to the convertible situation, the folding roof takes up a lot of space in the rear area and takes away the trunk. Anyone who calls the trunk lid cute is not completely wrong, the opening is also quite narrow. There is always room for two trolleys and bags. But that's just the price for open enjoyment.

This goes into the money. The 30,695 euros for the acquisition of the 2.0 TSI with 210 PS are followed by some extras that are subject to a surcharge, depending on your taste. In everyday use, the consumption is added, which VW specifies as 7.5 liters. Forget this information, due to the joy of driving, the gas station attendant won't be able to get away from the grin later on. A stop-start system, which reduces fuel consumption a little in traffic jams or in city traffic, is not on board. But after nine seconds at the latest after getting in, these thoughts are gone and summer has arrived - with the top model, however, not until next year. But the anticipation is already there - and not just on a small scale.

Picture show from the VW Golf Cabrio