BMW 3 series 2000 vs Volkswagen Golf 1998
| Gearbox: | Manual | Manual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | 2.5 Petrol | 1.9 Diesel | |
| Petrol engines (BMW 3 series) are generally quieter, smoother, and better suited for short trips due to quicker warm-up times. Diesel (Volkswagen Golf) engines, on the other hand, offer superior fuel efficiency and torque, making them ideal for long-distance driving and heavy loads. Read more: Petrol vs. Diesel: Fuel Economy and Key Differences. | |||
| Camshaft drive: | Timing chain | Timing belt | |
| Engine chain usually needs to be replaced less often than the timing belt, but the cost of replacing the chain is usually higher. Chain motors are considered to be more reliable, but noisier and more vibration generating. | |||
Performance | |||
| Power: | 192 HP | 90 HP | |
| Torque: | 245 NM | 210 NM | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 7.7 seconds | 13.3 seconds | |
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BMW 3 series is more dynamic to drive. BMW 3 series engine produces 102 HP more power than Volkswagen Golf, whereas torque is 35 NM more than Volkswagen Golf. Thanks to more power BMW 3 series reaches 100 km/h speed 5.6 seconds faster. | |||
Fuel consumption | |||
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 9.6 | 5.2 | |
| Real fuel consumption: | 9.7 l/100km | 5.5 l/100km | |
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The Volkswagen Golf is a better choice when it comes to fuel economy. By specification BMW 3 series consumes 4.4 litres more fuel per 100 km than the Volkswagen Golf, which means that if you drive 15,000 km in a year, the BMW 3 series could require 660 litres more fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, BMW 3 series consumes 4.2 litres more fuel per 100 km than the Volkswagen Golf. | |||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 63 litres | 55 litres | |
| Full fuel tank distance: | 650 km in combined cycle | 1050 km in combined cycle | |
| 840 km on highway | 1300 km on highway | ||
| 640 km with real consumption | 1000 km with real consumption | ||
| Volkswagen Golf gets more mileage on one fuel tank. | |||
| Read the article "Fuel Efficiency: How to Reduce Fuel Consumption" to learn more about fuel economy. | |||
Drive type | |||
| Wheel drive type: | Rear wheel drive (RWD) | Front wheel drive (FWD) | |
| Front-wheel drive cars (Volkswagen Golf) have better traction on slippery roads and when climbing hills, better fuel economy, and are less expensive to purchase. On the disadvantage side, FWD cars usually have less towing capacity, poorer acceleration and harder handling. Rear-wheel drive cars (BMW 3 series) have better handling on dry roads, better acceleration, more even weight distribution and more fun to drive. RWD is also better for towing large loads. The cons of rear-wheel drive are less interior and trunk space and more difficulty maneuvering in wet and snowy conditions. | |||
Engines | |||
| Average engine lifespan: | 440'000 km | 610'000 km | |
| Engine resource depends largely on regular maintenance and the quality of the oils and fuels used, but under equal conditions the average life of a Volkswagen Golf engine could be longer. | |||
| Engine production duration: | 7 years | 13 years | |
| Engine spread: | Installed on at least 3 other car models, including BMW 5 sērija, BMW X3, BMW Z4 | Installed on at least 8 other car models, including Skoda Octavia, Audi A3, Volkswagen Bora, Seat Leon | |
| In general, the longer and for more car models an engine is produced, the better its serviceability and availability of spare parts. Volkswagen Golf might be a better choice in this respect. | |||
Dimensions | |||
| Length: | 4.49 m | 4.08 m | |
| Width: | 1.76 m | 1.70 m | |
| Height: | 1.37 m | 1.42 m | |
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BMW 3 series is larger, but lower. BMW 3 series is 41 cm longer than the Volkswagen Golf, 6 cm wider, while the height of BMW 3 series is 5 cm lower. | |||
| Trunk capacity: | 300 litres | 270 litres | |
| Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down |
300 litres | 448 litres | |
| BMW 3 series has 30 litres more trunk space than the Volkswagen Golf. The maximum boot capacity (with all rear seats folded down) is larger in Volkswagen Golf (by 148 litres). | |||
| Turning diameter: | 10 meters | 10.7 meters | |
| The turning circle of the BMW 3 series is 0.7 metres less than that of the Volkswagen Golf, which means BMW 3 series can be easier to manoeuvre in tight streets and parking spaces. | |||
| Gross weight (kg): | 1`960 | 1`640 | |
| Safety: | no data | ||
| Quality: | below average | high | |
| Volkswagen Golf has fewer problems. According to annual technical inspection data BMW 3 series has serious deffects in 45 percent more cases than Volkswagen Golf, so Volkswagen Golf quality is probably significantly better | |||
| Average price (€): | 5200 | 2400 | |
| Rating in user reviews: | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
| Pros and Cons: |
BMW 3 sērija has
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Volkswagen Golf has
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