my god this car flys. at stock, the torque is amazing, high end hp not too great, but hey torque is a lot funner:) nice suspension too for a stock car, good on corners. just tune the engine, get some headers, exhaust, plugs, wires and im gone...

hmm...gets dirty.

i say no one get this car becuase i love it and i dont want it to get played out like hondas...but if u do decide to get one, your gonna have a lot of fun even at stock...o and when u hear the turbo running...ahhhhhh:)

Similar Products Used:

civic si, new beetle 2.0, intergra gsr, intergra gls

The car FLYs for a little 4 banger. 1.8T rockets, and places like AweTuning and Garett can make it climb from 150hp to 197hp for a $500 chip, and minimal stress on the engine (then it REALLY flys). Small, light weight, easy to thrash around in corners and shock "sports car" drivers with at stoplights. I think VW made a HUGE mistake with this car, because they "chiped" the preformance down to 150hp so it wouldn't hurt thier VR6 sales, but a nearly identical engine in the Audi TT get's 180hp stock, w/ a 210hp version avaliable. There are reports of $2000 worth of modifications takeing this car to almost 250hp! Had VW not worried about hurting VR6 sales and putting a "limiting" chip in the car, this engine would have made them go down in history for bringing a high preformance (AND GOOD GAS MILEAGE) engine to the masses at a reasonable pirce.

Stock tires SUCK. The only way I can discribe them is "spongy" in corners. Test drive one and see. But with good tires, the car is great. Put decent 16" wheels/tires on it, and blindfold a passanger, they would never believe they were in an "economy hatchback."

Awsome car, limited by VW's marketing fears (chipping it back to only 150hp). Take away the junk tires and limiting chip (both of which can be done after purchase) and this car is the "Sleeper" of all time. Looks like a normal "economy car," get's good mileage, and is a sports car in economy clothing.

Similar Products Used:

Audi TT, BMW 323i, Acura Integra

Torque! Hatch utility, available mods, tough euro looks, and....Torque!

Coilpack is defective and VW needs to admit it.

Great car! I agree that stock, these cars need a little help to compete with other sport compacts. With aftermarket suspension, tires, and a few engine mods (let's say, chip, camshaft, exhaust), this car is a blast to drive! The engine note is intoxicating, the handling precise, and the acceleration doesn't stop. Combined with the hatch and good rear seats, there isn't a better all-round performer on the market.
Sure, it was built in Mexico, but the car is German. The harder it's driven, the better it performs. Only reliability issue is the coilpack, but that's not major; mine's cracked right now and my VR6 still pulls like a pitbull on crack!

Similar Products Used:

None

The engine is great. The level and quality of interior trim can't be beat by anything else on the road for the money.

Long shift throws, clunky gear changes, suspension a bit too soft

I was the 4th person in my province to own one and I have been rarely disappointed. The engine is great, there is no effort in passing cars on the highway. The same as another reviewer don't let your friends have the key as they keep playing with it and it gets annoying.

However, I have had a few problems but I think this can only be attributed to being one of the first ones made. The heated seat switch has failed twice, the wiring harness for the part of the dash runs under the drivers seat (to connect the heated seats), this got pinch when I moved the seat and part of the dash stopped working, the gear shift leather boot has come off (in mid change one afternoon) and last week the cruise control stopped working (switch was replaced)

If VW tweaked the suspension, engine and gearbox just a bit and fix a bit of fit and finish items, this would one of the only cars I would recommend to the budget minded performance driver, well maybe any price range performance driver.

(I have beaten or tied a few 5.0 Mustangs and they were not very happy at being beaten by a stock VW ;-)

Similar Products Used:

Honda Civic SiR, Integra Type R

Great engine, value for the money, came loaded w/everything sans a CD player.

The interior build quality is lacking. The dash and doors make constant noises while driving. This being my 5th VW (last) I have become very dissapointed with the car. I have not heard anyone mention the tapping sensor valve that comes on at regular intervals. Told by several dealers this is normal on '99/00 VR6's. Doesn't sound normal to me and I don't hear it in an Accord Coupe, shouldn't be hearing it hear.

Paid a fair price for the car but the level of refinement is just not there. VW is attempting to make a viable alternative to Honda, Nissan, Toyota, let alone Audi and BMW. If that's the case they need to demonstrate better build quality and instruct dealer's/service depts to slow down and service the car.

Similar Products Used:

'85 GTi, '86 16v GTi, '90 Corrado G60, '92 Corrado SLC

A driver's car. For the money, I firmly believe this is the best practical sports car on the road. Feels like a BMW or Mercedes for $20K less. It feels very solidly put together and is very quiet, yet you feel connected to the road. Very powerful and smooth VR6 engine.

Nothing. However, I would like to see the GLX someday offered with a sportier suspension, and I dream of the day when VW redesigns the VR6 engine w/DOHC and 24 valves!

Paid $23,200 all told, w/free CD changer. I would highly recommend this car to anyone who wants an elegant, BMW-quality, practical sports car at 3/4 the price.

Similar Products Used:

Nothing similar. Makes my old 92 Saturn seem like a Yugo in retrospect.

VR6 Engine has fantastic low end torque. Quiet
Great hatchback design.
Good looks.
Reasonaable quality.
Good ergonimics.

Shifter feels like a spoon in Jello.
Hugely expensive oil filter.
Poor quality seat material - Snags and rubs.
That FAMOUS VW dealer service - The cusomer is NEVER right.

It's been a good car. Love that VR6 engine a lot! I am a grat lover of the compact hatchback. No other type of vehicle lets you carry so much in a compact form. I love the "pocket rocket" notion. For my next car I'm going to have to also have a close look at the Subaru WRX Wagon, Honda's new Civic Si, Acura's new hatch.

Similar Products Used:

An older VW Golf - Great car (1990)

loaded with good features on the interior; some of the paint colors are available for the GTI only (I have Green Rave; great handling; a lot of torque; sweet racing style seats

creaks and rattles on the interior moldings

I have a lot of fun driving my GTI. I really like the original look of the GTI, not your typical sports car. Some disregard it as a regular hatch until you smoke them on the road. I have had the car for 3 months and I haven't seen any car color that is similar to my Green Rave. I like driving a car that is somewhat rare in this area. The green is very vibrant and sporty, but it's just a deep enough color to shine to a really wet look after a good wash and wax. Possibly the best part is that it only takes about 500 bucks to swap a chip in the turbo and boost to 190 - 200 hp and leave the VR6 behind. Don't misunderstand me, I like the VR6 but I would just rather spend 500 aftermarket for the chip than 3,000 extra at the dealer for the 6 cylinders.

Similar Products Used:

2000 Toyota Celica GT-S
1997 Honda Prelude V-Tec
The GTI is more fun to dry on city streets because of the torque. Can't keep up with the Celica GT-S or Honda Prelude V-Tec on open road unless you modify it.

Ton's of power, best fit and finish short of a Bentley, smooth and racy V6, lots of room in front seat... even a little in back. more features and creatures comforts then most will know what to do with.

rev limiter comes on at 6,600rpm in first gear, clutch can be grabby in LONG traffic, "not sure" style, no low speed rear wiper.

I took delivery of my new car on monday, and by friday i had put over 1,000 miles on it. I love the car. It drives and handles like a BMW, the quality of the materials is first rate, and the power as stated before is tons of fun. Nail the gas from a light and you hit the rev limiter before you know what happened, and by the end of second gear your on the brake attemping to keep from rear ending people already on the highway. 2nd gear works from ever speed, and third will take u to 90. The trunk is downright huge for a car this size, and with the back seat down, you could easily fit ANYTHING you would want to move short of a fridge. plenty of little coin and gizmo holders in the cockpit, and the dash is very easily readable, even at night for someone like me who wears glases. I've had this car up to 105 MPH (it tops out at 133) and it tracks straight as can be.
I must say however, this car is not for the faint of heart. DO NOT waste the short supply of these cars if you do not intend to drive it hard and fast, because although possible, it would be a crime. Also, the shocks are stiff, and as such, you get great road manners at the expense of some ride comfort. The ride isnt punishing like some GT cars, but its no buick (thank god). Lastly, I don't know about the styling. Its understated in some ways (boxy, simple, no chrome) and really loud on others (whip antenna, nice wheels, racy exaust note).

So while its no BMW, its as close as your going to get short of 35 grand, and it is DAMN CLOSE!

Similar Products Used:

BMW 525i 5 speed, BMW 733i 4 speed, saab 9-3, BMW 325i

low end power, quality interior, all the extras, two-tone 17" factory rims with gunmetal colored inserts, ability to light up a whole city block, smooth engine, 2nd gear, German engineering

uhhh the stereo controls on the steering wheel control tuning instead of the radio presets, front wheel drive

I love this car!! I looked at a ton of others and they all fell short in one way or the other but the GTI had it all. The Prelude was cheap like a Civic on the inside, Eclipse looks like a space vehicle and the Celica is too small. I also wanted the smoothness of a v-6. The Accord coupe is really nice but no 5 speed with 6 cyl. and it seemed more luxorious than fun. So I looked for the GTI vr6. I had to go out of state to even find one to test drive and before the car even moved i loved it. The nice leather and wood on the interior really do make it BMW-like and the engine note is sweet. Everything is so well thought out on this car. I went home after the test drive and knew I was going to buy one. I could not find one however. I wanted silver and the one dealer told me that there was at 6 months to wait for a silver vr6. I went to another dealer and heard the same until he look at the cars that were coming into the dealer in the next month. Silver GTI GLX with 17' rims. I argued price, walked out, got it a little lower the next day and left a deposit. I then waited 3 long weeks until it came in. I did not know what the 14' rims looked like cause the dealer didnt even have a picture. When i first saw the car my mouth dropped. It was well worth the wait. The car is so nice, but at the same time it flies. Turn off the traction control and mash the gas pedal and the car will light up the whole block . People in BMW's, Porsche, and others that cost ions more nod their heads and smile. It handles great! Other reviews talk about body roll but i think it is minimal even at the limits. It might be the fatter rubber on bigger rims or the redesigned sport suspension for 01. I love the way the rims are the same color as the paint on the car. Its all that I wanted and expected and then a whole lot more. If you like to drive and dont mind being different then buy it. This truly is one hell of a car.

Similar Products Used:

93 300zx, 96 galant, 94 civic