In a Fifth Generation Golf 1.9 Turbo Diesel (TDI), Gerhard Plattner drove over 1,160 kilometres through a total of 10 countries gaining a much sought-after record in the Guinness Book of Records. Despite a relatively high average speed throughout the trip, the fuel consumption for the 15-hour journey was 4.4 litres per 100 kilometres and well under the recorded average consumption figure.

The Golf 1.9 TDI started its record journey at Lake Constance and was completed after 15-hours on the road at a Czech Volkswagen dealership. The tour took the Golf and its driver, from Germany through Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, through Italy, Slovenia, West Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

At the end of the journey the security sealed fuel tank and bonnet were opened and the Golf was refueled. The average fuel consumption figure was found to be 4.4 litres over 100 kilometres. The results also showed that the Golf 1.9 TDI could have been driven a further 70 kilometres, making a total of 1,230 kilometres, before finally coming to a halt.

Since the Golf 1.9 TDI was forced to drive at over 120 km/h during the majority of the motorway drive sections, the level of performance was especially surprising as it was planned that the vehicle would be maintaining an average speed of 80km/h. Unfavorable weather conditions and many 30 km/h speed restrictions also hindered the record setting drive.