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Old 04-17-2002, 12:39 PM   #1
John C
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 4429
Join Date: Feb 2001
Chapter/Region: International
Default Quick review: VW Golf GTi (1.8T)

Guy at work picked one of these up (22.5K fully loaded), and stupidly gave me the keys for a test drive.

Goes well (185bhp, I think), the turbo spools really quickly and smoothly, you can feel it working but there's no kick (then again, the WRX doesn't really have one either, not compared to the earlier turbo Imprezas).

The brakes hadn't bedded in yet, leading to a really scary moment involving an Explorer.

Turn-in seemed initially very slow, but the tires bit hard enough into the turn, which brings me to the -ve's:

It's too heavy - it's built like a tank and German - every time I let go the wheel it headed towards France.

Tiptronic sucks - it's still operating the slushbox and it's soooo slow to operate - if I want to change gear, I want to change gear now!

The interior is superb, nice leather, but actually feels smaller inside than a Focus.

You are meant to redline a car with only 100miles on it, right?
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Old 04-17-2002, 01:06 PM   #2
TypeC
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 9794
Join Date: Aug 2001
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: Texas
Vehicle:
02 2.5LWRX-Retired
335i w/twins

Default Re: Quick review: VW Golf GTi (1.8T)

Quote:
Originally posted by John C
It's too heavy - it's built like a tank and German - every time I let go the wheel it headed towards France.
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Old 04-17-2002, 01:10 PM   #3
ButterGod2k2
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Member#: 13877
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: My house has been converted to a starbucks =(
Vehicle:
2054 Mattel
Hover-Board

Default Re: Quick review: VW Golf GTi (1.8T)

Quote:
Originally posted by John C


It's too heavy - it's built like a tank and German - every time I let go the wheel it headed towards France.

You are meant to redline a car with only 100miles on it, right?
Too Damn Funny.....
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Old 04-17-2002, 01:41 PM   #4
WRXfiend
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Member#: 16383
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Austin, TX
Vehicle:
2002 WRX
Platinum Silver Metallic

Default

A bit more depth to this review. My fiance has a '01 GTI 1.8T slushbox. (Keep in mind I still bought my WRX after driving this car for a couple months, so I am not trying to compare the two just expanding the above review)

First of all, VW sends these cars out seriously detuned. Do some research on the numbers they can get with just a chip and it will blow your mind. (I still wish APR would do a chip for the WRX, the setup they have lets you setup up four profiles which you can select using cruise control. e.g. a valet mode, a stock mode, a 92octane mode, and a race gas mode...thats cool)

I will agree that they are heavy cars. But they are German. A lot of this weight comes from their rigid frames(based on the volvo saftey cage design). The also have a superb ABS system and a traction control system ASR.

The ABS is very nice. During the test drive the saleslady had me pull the car off the road doing 45 onto a gravel section and slam on the brakes. I knew the ABS was working, but it felt like I was stopping on a smooth road.

The ASR system is pretty cool, if you floor it even in wet weather it slips for a split second then the tires grip and your off. Its now AWD but its still pretty nice to have.

As for the power, the 2001 is only 150hp/155ft-lb which is less then the one John C took for a spin. The overall smoothness of the acceleration he described can be attributed to the fact that peak torque(177ft-lb in 2002) hits at 1950RPM and is like a table top after that.

Turn-in is a bit slow at first, but VW seems to valve their suspension to swallow pothole more than cut through slaloms.

Its the details that make it a very nice car. The cup holders that pop out slow like they are hydrualic or something. Even the Oh S**T handle above the passenger door moves slow like this. The fronts seat tilt completely forward to give easy access to the back seat.

All in all it is a damn nice sleeper car with a lot of potential.
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