[ evo ]
   LOGIN | REGISTER  Unregistered
SEARCH Web evo  
   
 

Car Reviews: Long Term Tests

 

Volkswagen Golf GTI

There are some boxes that you definitely don't want to tick. For example, those that result in your details going to third-party call centres generally ought to be left blank. But next time you have the good fortune to spec a new car, I implore you to tick the small square next to the words 'gas' and 'discharge'. I'm referring, of course, to headlights.

There are some boxes that you definitely don't want to tick. For example, those that result in your details going to third-party call centres generally ought to be left blank. But next time you have the good fortune to spec a new car, I implore you to tick the small square next to the words 'gas' and 'discharge'. I'm referring, of course, to headlights.

They may give other drivers a touch of the heebie-jeebies when the piercing bluish-white lights appear in their rear-view mirrors, and you do get oncoming traffic occasionally thinking that dipped beam alone can't possibly be that bright and consequently giving you a dose of full beam, but nonetheless, the Golf's xenons are brilliant.

You may have spotted OY55 GOX in our fuel test just before Christmas (087). The test essentially meant completing a lot of miles simply running fuel through the system as fast as possible, so instead of battling with traffic I decided to use the fact that you can now buy petrol pretty much 24-7 to put in some serious night-time mileage.

The 2am countryside around Northampton was treated to the Golf's full-daylight effect. Birds stopped roosting, flowers were momentarily tricked into bloom and rabbits weren't so much caught in the headlights as stunned into believing a full-on heavenly host must be approaching via the power of four cylinders and a turbo.

At £725 the xenons are certainly not cheap, but they can produce up to 200 per cent more light, use 25 per cent less power, and last up to three times as long. Perhaps more importantly, a driver's eyes tire far less quickly than with the standard halogen lamps' more orangey glow, meaning you're less likely to be rubbing your eyeballs raw and longing for a couple of matchsticks to prop open your eyelids. Mind you, when your headlamps are so good that you can drive like you're on a night stage of the Monte, adrenalin tends to do quite a good job of keeping you awake anyway...

More VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI:

Bookmark this post with:

 
  More CAR REVIEWS
 

evo Car Reviews

 

Long Term Tests

 

Car Group Tests

 

 

   
 
EMAIL TO A FRIEND   PRINT THIS
 

ARROW  POLL

Do you think the Lotus Evora is good looking?
 Definitely a cracker
 Looks underwhelming

 

ARROW  OTHER REPORTS

 

ARROW  evo Statistics

 
Date acquired: September 2005
 
Total mileage: 7126
 
Mileage this month: 2047
 
Costs this month: £0
 
MPG this month: 28.4mpg
 
 
 


Company Website | Media Information | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Privacy Statement | Subs Info
Our Other Websites: Auto Express | Computer Buyer | Computer Shopper | Custom PC | Den of Geek | Den of Wii | Fortean Times | IT Pro
Know Your Mobile | London is Free | MacUser | Men's Fitness | Micro Mart | Mobile Computer | Octane | PC Pro | The First Post | iGizmo
Know your DSLR
© 2008 Dennis Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. Licensed by Felden