While the bits and pieces sound enticing what makes the special edition truly stand out is the uncanny balance of all the hardware - it's much more than just the sum of its choice OEM and aftermarket parts. The wonderfully light 1.8-L powerplant doesn't overwhelm the chassis, allowing crisp turn-in at almost any speed, while the 6-speed actually feels better mated to the smaller engine. In some ways it feels a lot like the classic GTI of the early 1980s.
On this topic Frank Maguire, Vice President in charge of Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen of America, Inc. stated, "The 337 name comes from the codename for the Golf model back in the early 1970s." He continued, "The GTI is the sport version of the Golf and since we didn't begin selling the GTI here until 1983, the name 337 seemed like a nice way to recognize the history of this vehicle and make it meaningful to our most enthusiastic drivers. This is a very unique car for the Volkswagen lover."
While Volkswagen claims a decisively quick 7-seconds to 60 mph (96.6 km/h) the 337 feels even quicker. The engine's 5-valve heads breathe with the depth of a racehorse while its substantial 174 lb-ft of torque comes on at an extremely low 1,950 rpm and keeps optimum pulling power right up to 5,000 rpm. Still I found it most fun just above its peak torque range in the upper reaches of its ample revs, where peak horsepower kicks in at 5,500.