VW's steering wheels are easily among the best in the field, with proper hand placement coming naturally and comfortably. The GTI's 5-speed shifter has a precision feel, with no slop and no need to hunt for a gear. One Volkswagen feature that should find its way to all premium cars is one-touch up and down switches for all four windows. This is especially handy when entering into a parking garage with a line up of cars behind you. No more maneuvering through tight parking garage lanes using only your right hand while the other is clasped onto the window switch until it closes.
Visibility is superb. You can sit as high as you wish in the multi-adjustable seats and the greenhouse is large, with few pillars to block your view. The rear quarters are particularly roomy, defying its stubby outward appearance. Under the rear hatch you'll find an auxiliary plug adapter and plenty of hooks to hang grocery bags.
All in all, VW's latest iteration of their long running GTI is their best effort yet. It performs wonderfully in every respect making you feel like you're in a much more expensive vehicle. But wait a minute? The GTI isn't exactly cheap when compared to the majority of its competition from Asia and America. Are some of these other econo-sportsters a better value?
Truly, it all comes down to your personal priorities. The GTI, and most other Volkswagen products for that matter, raise the bar so dramatically in their respective classes that a minor price premium seems a small concern. After all, unless you are purely needs-driven, and that extra $20 to $30 per month on the payment plan is going to bankrupt you, VW's over-the-top refinement, quality of materials and construction, as well as its superb performance, are well worth the added cost. When you consider it as a bargain basement Audi, it's a tremendous value.
What more can be said? The 2000 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T might just win over your heart - and few car manufacturers have the ability to do that. And what's that worth anyway?
