Volkswagen Golf 1998 vs BMW 3 series 2000
| Gearbox: | Manual | Manual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | 1.9 Diesel | 2.5 Petrol | |
| Diesel (Volkswagen Golf) engines typically outperform gasoline engines in terms of fuel efficiency and low-end torque. This makes them more economical and better suited for towing or long-distance travel. However, gasoline (BMW 3 series) engines mostly are lighter, quieter, and offer better acceleration and responsiveness, especially in smaller vehicles. For more information, see the article "Diesel or Petrol: Fuel Economy and Key Differences." | |||
| Camshaft drive: | Timing belt | Timing chain | |
| Timing belt usually needs to be replaced more often than the chain, but it is usually significantly cheaper. Timing belt motors are generally quieter and less vibrating than chain motors. | |||
Performance | |||
| Power: | 90 HP | 192 HP | |
| Torque: | 210 NM | 245 NM | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 13.3 seconds | 7.7 seconds | |
|
BMW 3 series is a more dynamic driving. Volkswagen Golf engine produces 102 HP less power than BMW 3 series, whereas torque is 35 NM less than BMW 3 series. Due to the lower power, Volkswagen Golf reaches 100 km/h speed 5.6 seconds later. | |||
Fuel consumption | |||
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 5.2 | 9.6 | |
| Real fuel consumption: | 5.5 l/100km | 9.7 l/100km | |
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The Volkswagen Golf is a better choice when it comes to fuel economy. By specification Volkswagen Golf consumes 4.4 litres less fuel per 100 km than the BMW 3 series, which means that by driving the Volkswagen Golf over 15,000 km in a year you can save 660 litres of fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, Volkswagen Golf consumes 4.2 litres less fuel per 100 km than the BMW 3 series. | |||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 55 litres | 63 litres | |
| Full fuel tank distance: | 1050 km in combined cycle | 650 km in combined cycle | |
| 1300 km on highway | 840 km on highway | ||
| 1000 km with real consumption | 640 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: | Front wheel drive (FWD) | Rear wheel drive (RWD) | |
| 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: | 610'000 km | 440'000 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: | 13 years | 7 years | |
| Engine spread: | Installed on at least 8 other car models, including Skoda Octavia, Audi A3, Volkswagen Bora, Seat Leon | Installed on at least 3 other car models, including BMW 5 sērija, BMW X3, BMW Z4 | |
| 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: | 4.08 m | 4.49 m | |
| Width: | 1.70 m | 1.76 m | |
| Height: | 1.42 m | 1.37 m | |
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Volkswagen Golf is smaller, but higher. Volkswagen Golf is 41 cm shorter than the BMW 3 series, 6 cm narrower, while the height of Volkswagen Golf is 5 cm higher. | |||
| Trunk capacity: | 270 litres | 300 litres | |
| Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down |
448 litres | 300 litres | |
| Volkswagen Golf has 30 litres less trunk space than the BMW 3 series. The maximum boot capacity (with all rear seats folded down) is larger in Volkswagen Golf (by 148 litres). | |||
| Turning diameter: | 10.7 meters | 10 meters | |
| The turning circle of the Volkswagen Golf is 0.7 metres more than that of the BMW 3 series, which means Volkswagen Golf can be harder to manoeuvre in tight streets and parking spaces. | |||
| Gross weight (kg): | 1`640 | 1`960 | |
| Safety: | no data | ||
| Quality: | high | below average | |
| 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 (€): | 2400 | 5200 | |
| Rating in user reviews: | 7.2/10 | 7.8/10 | |
| Pros and Cons: |
Volkswagen Golf has
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BMW 3 sērija has
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