Lots of room with the seats down. Solid handling. Big sunroof. Blue dash lights. Interior styling.

Transmission is clunky. Bad gas mileage (18mpg highway)Finish quality is poor. Creaks and noises abound. Bad engine vibration at 1,500 rpm (dealer says it's normal with the VR6)Radio goes into scan mode on it's own.

$24,000.00 Seemed like a good value on paper. I wouldn't recommend this car to my worst enemy. After one week, I discovered the car had been repainted. The dealer gave me a new one. Two days later (130 miles) the transmission disintegrated. After two weeks with a loaner car, I got mine back with a new transmission. The dealer gave me a CD changer for all my troubles. It didn't work. The wiring harness between the radio and the trunk is bad. They need to rip out the interior to replace the harness. The handle that folds the front seat forward broke off. I'm looking into the Lemon Law.

Similar Products Used:

94 Honda Prelude VTEC. No comparison. The Honda spent less time in the shop in five years than this car did in five weeks. I would take my Prelude back in a second. (too bad it was in a flood)

Power... tight suspension... utility.

Radio volume control doesnt work properly... volume sometimes goes up when you turn it down.
Rear window visibility is significantly limited near top by rear tail light.
Parts are expensive (German).
Engine light has turned on (and stayed on till dealer turned off) on 2 occassions... Dealer explained I need to run engine harder? What exactly is the recommended shift rpm for my Golf GTI VR6?
Spark plug wires shorted and required replacement... exactly 2000 miles after warranty expired!
Dealer did not provide me with the car radio security code. Its not in my car manual like it should be. What will I do when my battery dies a few more years down the road?

My 89 mazda 323 is an awesome car and its taken 12 years before I had to spend any non-maintenance money on it. Therefore, my Golf VR6 has an up-hill battle to prove itself.

Even so, I still recommend the Golf to anyone looking for a utilitarian sports car!

Similar Products Used:

89 Mazda 323

Great engine, pretty good 5-speed (throws could be shorter), good looks, nice interior. Sounds great too. Quality is high - no problems at all in 2 years (but very low milage).

Weak handling - too much lateral roll, stock tires are pathetic - but still a harsh ride. I'll live with a harsh ride for phenomenal handling, but not for mediocre handling.

A pretty good car for the money. The engine is fantastic, and the car will out-accelerate many much more expensive cars. However, it really isn't an all around great performer. While the engine and transmission are great, the handling could be alot better. It's not the bare-bones balanced performace car that my old '89 GTI was. It would be a good car for someone who wants a relatively inexpensive, quick accelerating car that is nicely equiped, roomy, and pretty comfortable. Someone looking for all around performance will be disappointed. Finally, the car lacks some intangible feeling. I fell in love with my first GTI immediately. I like the Vr6, but in 2 years never came to love it.

Similar Products Used:

1989 GTI 16V - the '89 was a much better car.

When its good its very good

when its bad its awfull

When my VR6 runs good its the best car to drive, smooth powerful, nice
But I keep getting a missfire with it over 4krpm, no-one knows what it is even VW can't find it.
Damn that pee's me off.
Anyone know what can cause miss-fire.?

Similar Products Used:

None

147mph (in Montana) with Schrick 268 cams ,chip, and exhaust,200HP. Ground Control
suspension and larger swaybars turned it into a really fun car. I could live with a nearly stock GTI ,after all ,tires and talent is all it takes.

The A3 uses an archaic rear suspension design same as on the original, it
works. ABS,Water pump both warranteed by dealer. Very front end heavy.

19K. I think for the money ,now, I would try to find a last generation twin turbo RX-7

Similar Products Used:

Honda CRX Si-I thought my SI was fast. and I would still build a CRX for amateur road racing than a GTI-but my GTI would smoke my CRX. 90 Mustang 5.0 -I've never actually had one but they cant hang.

Fun to drive, great feeling through corners. I keep stepping back fromt he car and saying, damn, I just bought a great looking car. Interior is wonderfull. Three words, 100,000 Mile warranty.

0-60 is not that great and once over 4,500 RPM, you might as well shift, it does not really do too much more.

24,000 after all said and done, I think I got a car that will be fun to drive, and keep me interested in driving for years to come. I priced this car out with 3 series BMW's and the Audi A-4, and still have not found why they are 10,000+ for their cars. I am in love.

Similar Products Used:

98 Honda accord V6

New body styling. colour (tropical orange). quality of materials. the user manual binder is realy nice, 10000000 times better than the usual flimsy plastic folder that you get. The key will impress all your friends, but it get annoying if they keep playing with it.

pedals (have no feel compared to the older GTI's), long shifter throws ('98 had the same thing). It would be nice if the seats were a bit lower.

The '00 is a bit more expensive than the old body style (if you can't swing it go for a 1.8T), but it does come with a lot more luxury features... suspension needs work like the old one, there's a bit to much body roll when cornering fast (which is really fun!) and the shifter throw is really long. The quality is 100% German built.. everything is rock solid (except the cup holders, there a bit flimsy). Just like the '98 i owned I would recomend this car to anyone and everyone, it's a blast to drive, has a lot of usable space and it's tropical orange!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Had a 98 GTI VR6, the '00 has changed A LOT, i'm not 100% sure which one i like more, the new one is more like a beamer on the inside, a lot more refined... 98 was more of a race car. Although the shifter throw is still long, there is a lot less play when in gear.

The power and the handeling og the car.

The driver seat has been serviced twice because it gets lose.

It is a great car for an average income individual who wants a car that keeps its value and is fun to drive and it looks great.

Similar Products Used:

I have had Grand AM GT (94) Mazda RX7 (91) and Mustang GT (88)

I love everything about this car... it's quick (the VR6 is amazing!!!), handles amazing and has lots of space for moving cargo/people.

Stock tires on the 98 model are junk, my Michellin Pilot Alpine winter tires are a lot better.. they use better rubber on the 00+ models...

This is a MUST HAVE car for anyone that loves driving... it puts a smile :) on my face everytime I drive it.

DONT buy this car if you just drive from point A->B, go buy a civic. This car was built to drive, not to commute!

... I get excited just thinking about driving my car ...

Similar Products Used:

Talon, Porsche 993 & 996, '96 Impala SS, Jeep YJ, BMW 328is

Fun as all heck to drive; solid German feel; nice acceleration. Tight fit and finish.

This car is peppy, but not enough (VR6); VW should come out with a higher performance, sports tuned version of this car with wider tires, lower rims, and a throaty exhaust note; VW needs to come out with an all out, killer sports car, and whereas the GTI is considered a 'sports' car, it is not really one as equipped from the factory. This car was 'yuppie-ized' a bit, but I suppose that is O.K.

This is one great car (VR6). It is well-balanced, and the ergonomics are phenomenal if you are just looking for a well made, peppy hatchback type vehicle. The GTI is an institution in Europe that has been shaped by years of consumer input and experience. It is just one of those cars that feels like an extension of your body, and it fits like a glove! You don't want to stop driving it around. This also applies to the other Golf models as well.