What a differences a decades makes. Volkswagen's GTl was the scourge of the hot economy-compact crowd just ten years ago and set the tone for young drivers who loved the pep and panache it provided. That was then this is now. Honda has just introduced a new Civic Si, Subaru's WRX has become legendary, the Mitsubishi Eclipse has stolen the youth market, the MINI S continues to dominate handling contests, and even Mazda has entered the fray with a dynamic modified 3 model that is nearly as fast and costs many thousands less. The bottom line is that the GTl has grown fat and old as it pushes nearly 3000 pounds around on a dated chassis that relies heavily on the turbocharged 1.8 engine to overcome any deficiencies.
In this category nearly all of the cars are priced in the same $20,000 to $25,000 US range, and although the Volkswagen has a bit more cargo room than some, they are within inches of each other in all other people oriented dimensions. So where does the soon to be replaced GTl stand? Well it dwells in the hearts of those who love its past glory, visual allure, abundant standard equipment, eager to play engine, and enjoy circling the dealerships awaiting end of the run sales.
Mom's view: The turbo engine is the same 1.8-liter with 20 values that propel a variety of Audi and Volkswagen products. It is peppy, thanks to 173 ft.lbs of torque at a very low 1950 rpms, but this forceful thrust also make daily commuting a chore with the six speed transmission as you had better be in the right gear to keep the turbo on boost when passing or making a lane change in traffic. If you let yourself be lulled to sleep by the quietness of fifth gear, there aren't enough cubic inches to enable you to scoot around obstacles without a downshift. So be warned, this is a driver's car. Also note that these abrupt downshifts can also promote a notable amount of torque steer that is amplified when you are driving on rutted lanes.
You can tell that Volkswagen is not having the banner years they once had as its customer service ratings have plummeted and now this once all conquering marque rests below average in consumer satisfaction surveys. It is also easy to notice the lack of improvements inside. For example the seats are comfortable, but they still have the outmoded combination of knobs and levers to adjust them. The seatbelt cuts into your neck, and if you are wearing a necklace and a scoop-neck blouse, it is a source of constant irritation. The interior buttons and gauges and switches feel less robust than they should.
The fine shifting five-speed overdrive manual transmission is very good, but for someone who does not have long arms getting it into high gear requires you to actually lean forward in the seat. The Internet has many sites dedicated to VWs and complaints about rattles and service are not unusual. On the other hand, the engine and transmission are seldom mentioned with anything but glowing comments and we recorded 25 mpg on premium whenever we decided to blend into the traffic rather than lead the pack.
The ride is quite sturdy, but when cornering on a roughened surface, it becomes stiff legged and hops more than I would like in a turbocharged car with front wheel drive. In other words, it can throw off your line and when the bump transmits it unpleasantness through the sporty chassis and cause you to apply a little too much pressure on the accelerator. The result is sloppy handling at best and encourage torque steer. In other words, this would be a good car for a smooth racetrack, but if you plan on driving it aggressively in town you better have a tender touch and live in a city with a good street maintenance program.
In this category nearly all of the cars are priced in the same $20,000 to $25,000 US range, and although the Volkswagen has a bit more cargo room than some, they are within inches of each other in all other people oriented dimensions. So where does the soon to be replaced GTl stand? Well it dwells in the hearts of those who love its past glory, visual allure, abundant standard equipment, eager to play engine, and enjoy circling the dealerships awaiting end of the run sales.
Mom's view: The turbo engine is the same 1.8-liter with 20 values that propel a variety of Audi and Volkswagen products. It is peppy, thanks to 173 ft.lbs of torque at a very low 1950 rpms, but this forceful thrust also make daily commuting a chore with the six speed transmission as you had better be in the right gear to keep the turbo on boost when passing or making a lane change in traffic. If you let yourself be lulled to sleep by the quietness of fifth gear, there aren't enough cubic inches to enable you to scoot around obstacles without a downshift. So be warned, this is a driver's car. Also note that these abrupt downshifts can also promote a notable amount of torque steer that is amplified when you are driving on rutted lanes.
You can tell that Volkswagen is not having the banner years they once had as its customer service ratings have plummeted and now this once all conquering marque rests below average in consumer satisfaction surveys. It is also easy to notice the lack of improvements inside. For example the seats are comfortable, but they still have the outmoded combination of knobs and levers to adjust them. The seatbelt cuts into your neck, and if you are wearing a necklace and a scoop-neck blouse, it is a source of constant irritation. The interior buttons and gauges and switches feel less robust than they should.
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| 2005 Volkswagen GTI (photo: The Car Family) |
The ride is quite sturdy, but when cornering on a roughened surface, it becomes stiff legged and hops more than I would like in a turbocharged car with front wheel drive. In other words, it can throw off your line and when the bump transmits it unpleasantness through the sporty chassis and cause you to apply a little too much pressure on the accelerator. The result is sloppy handling at best and encourage torque steer. In other words, this would be a good car for a smooth racetrack, but if you plan on driving it aggressively in town you better have a tender touch and live in a city with a good street maintenance program.