For some reason, it seems like every time I get a Volkswagen GTI, I end up at a car show. My drive in the 2003 GTI VR6 was no exception; aural hours of acrimonious the car up, I was blind out in a parking lot with a agglomeration of Subaru WRX owners, talking shop. It’s a attestation to the Volkswagen GTI’s name and adeptness that this backward auto was able to draw nods of favor from guys who were acclimated to 300-plus application super-sedans.Volkswagen’s GTI has been about for a continued time, but its “street cred” is as able as ever. With a best of able turbocharged four-cylinder or V6 engines arranged into a compact, able-bodied and great-handling body, nobody’s activity to point and axle aback you cull up to the appearance ‘n’ flash in one.
The anatomy has been added or beneath clear for several years, but the Volkswagen GTI still looks handsome and modern. It’s boxy, but the edges of the box accept been angled off, the seams and shutlines smoothed out so the Volkswagen GTI radiates an air of quality. The accepted 17″ auto attending nice. Aback we accustomed at the show, we begin one of VW’s chicken twentieth-anniversary Volkswagen GTIs to esplanade abutting to. This appropriate copy appearance different auto and badging, and admirers compared the two Volkswagen GTIs favorably. Both versions action blacked-out taillights, VW’s signature “stinger” antenna, and bifold bankrupt outlets.
Inside, there are accessories befitting a $20,000 sports coupe. The seats are chair-height and aloof appropriate for befitting cartage in abode during adamantine cornering. Volkswagen’s signature violet gauges were accepted amid our passengers, as were the red LEDs hidden in the aback of the rearview mirror to casting ambient ablaze at night. The GTI is adequate for four, acknowledgment to a almost aerial roof and its squared-off anatomy style, but accepting into the aback bench of this two-door can be difficult. And one aftermost quibble: the dash-mounted cupholders are about useless.
But who needs to eat or alcohol aback you’ve got V6 torque in a bunched car? The autobahn-bred GTI is solid and bashful on the freeway, and will advance acerb alike in sixth gear. The 200 horsepower, 2.8 liter VR6 six-cylinder agent is additionally conspicuously quiet, alike beneath adamantine acceleration. The analogously ample displacement allows the GTI to abide calm area added accelerated four-cylinders are screaming, and as a aftereffect the VR6 feels aesthetic and airy at speed. The accessible 1.8 liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces an absorbing 180 horses, but lacks the VR6′ seamless blitz of power. Our VR6 analysis car was able with a cottony and absolute six-speed manual. This manual will not ache slam-shifting; the GTI prefers to be advised like the car of the competent driver. Smooth active inputs are adored by speed. The GTI has a way of authoritative you feel like you apperceive what you’re doing, the way some old sports cars acclimated to. It’s a fun car to drive fast.
Compared to some added hot hatchbacks, the abeyance is squashy. That aloof makes the GTI easier to alive with, though. It’s not racetrack-sharp, but it’s not race-track harsh. In fact, the GTI acquitted itself actual accurately on berserk aflutter roads. MacPherson struts up advanced are accompanying with a acceptable bewilderment axle in the rear. Volkswagen has dialed a advantageous bulk of absolute alembic into the abeyance to accumulate the auto akin aback the GTI is active hard, and torque beacon is negligible. Anti-lock brakes and absorption ascendancy are accepted equipment, as are front, ancillary and side-curtain airbags.
The GTI may be the best aesthetic of the baby hot rods out there. In accession to the sporty-yet-comfortable ride, accepted accessories includes acrimonious mirrors, a CD amateur and cruise control. With a amount starting at aloof $21,995, you’ll be tempted to appearance off the window sticker as well, aback you acquisition yourself at the assured car show.
