The drivetrain parts of the VW Golf spanned the front wheels, drawing the center of gravity toward the front end of the car. This shift in the position of the cars load improved the traction and road stability of the front wheels. This downside, however, is hardly a problem for the VW Golf went on to become a Volkswagen bestseller. This parts streamlining made the VW Golf the lightest car in its class, and also the most spacious.
The front-wheel drive setup allowed for a reduction of VW Golf parts in the car assembly, turning low production cost into a low-priced car. Volkswagen gambled on its seminal idea, and it paid off when the front-wheel drive of the hatchback VW Golf showed the realization of the peoples car concept. The driveshaft and rear differential, traditional car parts installed on rear-wheel and four-wheel cars, were removed from the engine bay.
For most parts of Volkswagens history the Beetle had been its most produced and popular car, until the time came when its novelty had worn thin. As the car industry became more competitive Volkswagen had nothing that could make a decent showing in the market but the Beetle. When the wheels are steered, the CV joints are flexed through a much wider angle, and additionally take the brunt of steering stress.
Celebrated for its peoples car concept, Volkswagen innovation focused more on economical, comfort-tuned vehicles rather than on performance-class cars.The front-wheel design of the VW Golf comes not with a downside. Because it is the front wheels that have to be steered, they are fitted with VW Hardware Accessories Golf parts called constant velocity joints, and not the more performance-tuned universal joints. Only the powertrain was installed in the engine bay.