The car honestly feels as though it is powered by a straight six. Torque is key and probrobly the strongest trait of the car is the torque. You can dig yourself out of any situation. Simply put, this car BLASTS down the road ripping through the gears, and that my friend is always smile-inducing. Other than that the suspension, shifter (once you get used to it,) steering, sterio (Monsoon,) interior and exterior are fantastic.

Sunvisors are too narrow, rendering them useless for short drivers and drivers who like to sit low in the cockpit. Sterio (Monsoon) could use more "deep" bass, but VERY crisp sounding otherwise. Folding down the rear seats can be a hassle. The rearview mirror is not big enough to fit all of the competition in. ha ha ha.

AHHH. The GTI. Where do I start? Engine, excellent, transmission, excellent, suspension setup, just right, steering, razor sharp, chassis rigidity, supurb, interior, gorgious, exterior, beutiful. The 1.8L turbo-charged engine pulls like a turbine once the turbo spools up, which I found to start in at around the 1800rpm mark. The drive-by-wire throttle is slow in response compared to a traditional cable operated throttle body, but once you get it, you get it. The same goes for the transmission which is hard to get the hang of at first until you get the hang of it. Although the suspension feels soft at first dued to moderate body roll, you are quick to find that somehow the car never feels like it will run out of grip. The steering is light but extremely accurate and turn-in is instant. You can feel every bit of the roads surface through the wheel. Despite the usual gossip this IS a tossible car in the right hands. The chassis feels very strong and forces the suspension to do all of the work itself. Chassis flexing is just barely noticable to an experienced driver. Interior is very usable and the seats have to be some of the best ever put into a car, period. (go look at the seats in person and you'll know what I mean.) The sterio (Monsoon) is excellent although it could use a small sub for some "deep" bass. The exterior is just beutiful. Very remeniscent of the BMW M Coupe with it's flared fenders and wide stance noticable from the rear. The 17in (optional) wheels are a work of art. And the paint job is impecable.

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Acura RSX Type S (garbage,) Civic Si (worthless,) Cavalier Z24 (dinosaur,) Tiburon GT V6 (junk,) Eclipse GT (horrible, slow and well over priced,) Focus SVT (drove it once and will never drive one aga

fun to drive when it's drivable.

no good coffee at the service center and the chairs suck. The should take better care of their weekly customers.

bought it new. loved it and even wrote a glowing review here about two years ago. Well I still really enjoy driving the car but I've had so many problems with it.....sensors, check engine lights, brakes, window drops etc etc.....and its a german built car. Vw has taken care of some of the recalled issues (but not the related rentals etc which at times were expencive) I'm selling the car. I am so anxiety ridden having to deal with mechanics all the time. Valley Motors in Baltimore seem only to hire the most incompetent mechanics.....the car goes in for one problem and comes out with another constantly.

Powerful engine for a car it's size. German (cool factor) Quiet comfortable ride (if you like that sort of thing). Fun to drive.

Reliability. Ride too quiet and comfortable ride for a so-called sports car. Too much power-steering.

I only test drove this car (alongside a WRX wagon). I ended up buying the WRX. First a little bit about what kind of driver I am. I was looking for a car that drives like a Porsche 911, with room for my bike in the back and reliability for under $25K. I'm not big on big HP or torque (175 HP and 170 ft# of torque is plenty for me for a car this size). My interests lie in hanhdling and feel (stiff suspension, steering you can feel, an engine you can hear and a clutch and gearbox that feels tight). I looked into but didn't test drive the Acura RSX, the Mini Cooper S, the Ford SVT Focus and a BMW 323. The GTI is a good fun can but it is not a sports car in my books. The suspension is too soft, the steering is too light, you can't hear the engine and you can hardly feel the clutch. Doesn't feel German (whatever that means). Just when I'd decided that this wasn't the car for me, the travel in the clutch started getting smaller and smaller. Pretty soon the shifting was getting rougher and rougher. Shortly thereafter, I couldn't shift at all and had to pull of to the side of the road and call the dealership to come and get me. I'd read about the waranty issues with VW on this (great) website but that test drive really brought them home. Maybe it was just my bad luck. I'm sure that all VWs don't break down during the test drive, but I saw it as a bad sign.

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Subaru WRX.

Everything

no grille badge gti/vr6

This is the most fun car I have ever driven. At first the 1.8 seems awesome but when you get them both out on the open road the VR6 blows the 1.8 away. The powerthat this machine has is outrageous compared to its weight. A blast!

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bmw m3

styling torque-->1.8 turbo comfort 17's ABS roomy for a hatch-back

window regulators-as reported by everyone minor torque steer minor turbo lag crappy speakers on 200w system needs HID headlamps

I wouldn't describe this car as fast, but quick. Once the turbo spins up to speed, the car will put you back in your seat. The car handles well with the 17's and sport suspension. Get the luxury package that includes leather. You won't be disapointed. This pocket rocket will turn heads, especially with the import crowd, but you'll have one up on them. Not everyone can own one of these. You can't go wrong with german engineering. I love it.

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Audi 3.0, 98 Jetta VR6, Honda Civic

Power, looks, drivability, ability to make Hondas seem like they are standing still, Driving PLeasure

Darn the power windows

Any words that I could come up with would be diservice to the car, but try my best I will. The car is simply amazing. It is not the fastest or the best handling sports car in the world, but it has an uncanny ability to put the smile on a drivers face. Maybe it's the turbo's spool up followed by the almost orgasm inducing blow-off valve sound. Maybe it's the car's composure in ordinary driving, while knowing full well that this car can fetch a speeding ticket like the best of them. This is the 007 of compact cars, sofisticated and elegant (especially with the leather pacakge), yet when it comes down to business, it has an amazing ability to make your surroundings turn into a big blur. Maybe it's all of the above, but what has to be the most special quality about this car, is its ability to put a smile on my face everytime I drive it. Pure driving pleasure.

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BMW 525i, BMW 325i, Nissan 240 SX, VW Cabrio, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Honda Prelude, Acura Integra

power and torque looks features safety its a german engineered car solid

the window regulator failed( defective part) dealer service( Bob lewis VW in san jose is crap) VW of America is too slow to respond. but the car its self has no weakness for obvious reasons.

this car came fully loaded with everything. black and black with 17's damn it was a beauty. but i never appreciated it till i lost it. i crashed head on into a tree @ 90mph and bounced off of it and hit 2 other trees head on, fliped and the engine flew 244ft, the car spun and it another tree, which stoped it. but i opened the door and walked out with no injuries. 6 airbags opened, the pillars were not bent but the car was totaled. this car saved my life. and i know better now not to go fast. if i was in a japanese car i would be gone now. if you buy this car, be nice to it and treat it right, cause its the best.

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1999 VW Passat 1.8- smooth reliable and good looking all german cars( Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Porsche) they are all great

True sports car poise and performance; very classy and expensive looks in and out; air bags everywhere; high crash ratings; fit and finish seem very tight; driveability/enjoyment factor high

No GTI badge in front (had to order one); car essentially looks like a stock Golf, and has no GTI sport adornments, such as the front grille badge, slight rear wing, or sport front, rear, and side valances like the limited edition 337 GTI that was sold out recently; dealer lease methods an exercise in confusion

This is my 3rd VW. My first car out of school was an '86 GTI, then a '95 Golf III GL, and now this 'pocket rocket'. This current incarnation of the GTI is phenomenal. This 'wundercar' has it all: looks, acceleration/power, handling, safety features, etc. The difference between my old GTI and Golf, and the 2003 VR6 is 'night and day' amazing! The latest 200 horse VR6 strapped into this light vehicle makes for an obscene power-to-weight ratio, thus propelling the GTI like a rocket off the starting line! I don't know what 0-60 times are with the 200HP engine, but they must be around the six to seven second range with proper shifting technique! Fit and finish is like a Mercedes or BMW, and the ride, even with the 17" rims/tires, is exceptional. The car is truly 'a wolf in sheep's clothing', and a great balance between classy sedan and a true handling sports car. The GTI's lines, features, and appointments will please both young and old drivers alike. Considering how much true Euro sports cars cost, especially fully loaded with leather interiors, the 2003 GTI with the 200 horsepower latest generation VR6 for under $25K is a great deal!

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Acura RSX, Nissan Altima/Maxima 6, Nissan 350Z (nice but too much money for loaded version), Mitsubishi Eclipse, Toyota Matrix.

Great handling , turbo WOOOOOSH!!!, Rims, Seats, options, Just go to a VW dealer and look for your self

My car , right off the lot has a Steering rack noise ( loud bang ) but every car company has a few cars with glitches, and no matter how hard they try, this is the real world , and nothing is purfect.

Germans do a lot of things diffrent than amercian cars , so don't ever have the same expectations as most people do when going car shoping .Expect more.... I have the 1.8t motor , and i really love it. i drove the vr6 ,and the four is a better buy. Since it uses high grade gas which can get expensive ( i only Use Sunoco 94). With 180 hp on tap , the car can really hurry from point A, to point B. But I do warn you, if thats all you want out a a car is to get to point A from point B , dont get this car, leave these cars for people who just really love driving. The turbo produces a sound only car nuts would love. Driven once,then perhaps you can understand why turbo's really are mans best friend.Plus , audi, porsche and VW's are all the same company so , Porsche tech. is being appiled to every corner , and they really have mastered the turbo. With only a K&N air filter ,( and being very kind to my car) i get about 42 MPG Which is great since gas is 1.89 a gallon. Though it is a mini wagon , and reseambles nothing like the race cars we are used to, Should the time come that you hafta push this car, it will show its teeth and leave others in a look of aww. be forwarned , this car is a Hardcore sleeper, that when driven right-( using the turbo's boost at the right shift points ) this car is Really fast. Perhaps its because i have experienced so many cars ( worked in many dealerships )that i can say this, but for your dollar, the gti is Real good bargin, doubt me, test drive one, even if you arent looking for a new car,or just find the mini wagon looks really akward ( the aztek is just awful looking )I can say with a warm heart, that you will be smiling afterwards .

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wrx, 300zx, 911 turbo, boxster s, amg, S4,and so fourth .....I haven driven lots of cars,( worked in many dealerships ) and the gti is as close as i can get to a porsche, while still going to school a

Throaty sound, coupled with a nice amount of torgue through the whole gear range. Fit and Finish of a BMW or a car in the 30,000+ range. Great wheel and color combination. Been reliable up to 37,000 miles so far. Heated leather seats Auto dim rearview mirror Side mirror defoggers Multi fuctional trip computer Comfortable front seats with plenty of support and adjustments.

Window clip problem causing window to fall in door if you don't catch the signs first. clear coat on 17" wheels near bolts is flaking off. Dealer is having VW rep look at to warranty soon. Comes with all season radial tires instead of a Z rated perfomance tires. Gas Mileage of the VR6 engine Needs softer leather Monsoon sound system needs a sub or aftermarket replacement like I did.

Grrrreat !! The engine growls with a lot of torque behind it to back it up. It really snaps your neck if you tap the gas too hard.I had a 1996 GOLF GL before this and what a difference with handling and speed.I truly love this car.Only upgrades would be a K&N air filter along with minor exterior additions.A little bit quicker than the 2001 VR6 Jetta maybe due to the 200+ pound weight difference, with a tad less leg room in the back seats.Better Interior trim color in the 2001 Jetta though.Fit and finish of controls and gauges are right in line with a BMW 323i.I have the 17" polished wheel with pewter colored inserts and the color is Reflex Silver. It is a beautiful combination.I waited 8 months to take delivery on this as I ordered it in September 2000 and drove off the lot in late April 2001.The dealer could not find this car anywhere and had to order it from the factory because I wasn't making any acceptions at the time.I was extremely frustrated until I drove off the lot and started to accept I finally got it.Now a year and a half later I unfortunately have to sell it to get something bigger to cart around more sh-- for work. I'm not thrilled about this but have to do it. I will own another VW or Audi down the road another day in a hearbeat.I have put 37,000 miles on it so far and will be going to another car soon.

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1996 GOLF GL 1998 BMW 318ti 2000 BMW 323i 2001 VW Jetta GLX VR6 2003 Toyota Matrix XRS