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Volkswagen GTI

Long ago, Volkswagen produced a version of their Rabbit (called the Golf outside of North America) which won wide acclaim for its handling, acceleration, and price. The cleverly designed hatchback had surprisingly good storage space, and while its suspension was stiff and the interior noisy, there was no denying its performance. Since then, reviewers have been searching for "the new GTI."

The last "new GTI" was probably the 1995 Dodge Neon, which combined great handling, surprisingly good acceleration, and a spacious interior with a nice low price. But over time Chrysler decided to make the Neon larger, not faster, and it stopped standing out as "the new GTI."

Into the breech steps, of all cars, the actual Volkswagen GTI. Like the original, though cheap for the performance it gives, it is expensive for its size. Like the original, the handling is quite good. The front end lets you know it is a Volkswagen. But that is where the resemblance ends.

The current generation uses the Audi A4's 1.8 liter turbo engine or an optional V6 (common to all VW VR6 models). While the V6 can reportedly bring the GTI up to 60 mph in a mere 7 seconds, the turbo is no laggard, and provides good fuel economy as well. (We tested the turbo, but not the V6). Published reports vary on whether the standard Golf-Jetta 115 hp four is available.

The turbo four is remarkably quiet, especially when compared to previous-generation Golfs. It also has little turbo lag - indeed, it feels just like a small V6. It has good low-end torque, and accelerates quickly and smoothly up to redline. The only time you know it's not a V6 is when you fill up the tank. The EPA estimates its gas mileage as being in the low 20s (city) to about 30 mpg (highway), and we got close to 30 mpg in mostly-highway driving. Hill climbing, including acceleration in top gear on fairly steep inclines, did not faze the engine, though part of this may be because of the gearing. A higher top gear could probably improve fuel economy at the cost of highway acceleration.

The best way to get a Volkswagen is with a five-speed manual transmission, and that's especially true now. The clutch was very smooth and easy to operate, unlike past versions, and the stick was precise without giving up a pleasant mechanical feel. As always, the stick provides an added bonus in both acceleration and gas mileage.

Though the handling was very good, the tires tended to be "chirpy" on acceleration and sometimes around corners. We suspect that is the fault of the tires themselves, and that a quick call to Tire Rack would put a solution in place. There was virtually no torque steer. Braking was very good, though it took some practice to stop gently given the grabby pedal.

The GTI is full of thoughtful touches, and some quirks, as well. The ventilation system was well designed and sensible, and the fan was relatively quiet even at higher speeds. Air conditioning was more powerful than we expected, and did not seem to exert any drag on the peppy engine.

In the quirks category comes the passenger door, which has no lock - in a car of this price, saving $10 seems odd - and the rather hard to use cruise control. In addition to being poorly located and hard to operate, the cruise does not have an "on" indicator.

The seats were comfortable and supportive. Both driver and passenger had the same lumbar controls and easy-to-operate up/down hand crank. The front seats folded over neatly and without fuss to admit rear passengers, though the low height of the roof still meant some ducking to get in the rear. This is not a car to buy if you have small children, especially if you don't like bumping the back of your head.

The instruments were clear and easy to read. Though the gas gauge was small, it was also accurate, and the low fuel warning sounded at an appropriate time. Whenever the key was in the ignition, the headlight switch was lit, a sensible precaution. Oddly, there was no "parking lights" setting. Headlights are on or off, and that's all there is to it. Daytime running lights are standard, and European turn signals are mounted on the fenders.

At night, blood-red lights complement the purple gauge backlighting for a fashionable but not especially practical effect. There was no shortage of interior lights.

Another convenience feature is the "power on" system. The radio stays on until the key is taken out of the ignition, and the power windows stay active until the door is opened. This type of system should be standard on every car, given modern computer controls.

The Monsoon stereo, an inexpensive option, is well worth the extra money. Speakers are placed throughout the car for optimal imaging, effortless bass, and generally clear sound reproduction. The stereo is easy to figure out, though the buttons require a fairly firm push. There are 19 settings for bass, treble, midrange, fade, and balance, giving finer control than most car stereos. Both CD and cassette are standard on the Monsoon. Conveniently, CDs do not play on insertion, but wait until they are called for. Inconveniently, as with almost all car stereos, CDs repeat indefinitely and without pause.

The distinctive Volkswagen styling does not end with the exterior, or with the massive VW emblem on the horn. The unique key fob has three buttons, for the usual function. No big deal. Press a silver button, though, and the key itself pops out like a switchblade knife. Cool, though not especially functional. The alarm's panic button is cleverly placed on the size of the key fob, where it is less likely to be accidentally pressed.

The moonroof is cleverly designed with a dial control. Move the dial to the desired position, and the moonroof caters to your whim. We feel this is safer than the "keep your finger on the switch" controls common to most cars. It also makes it much easier to switch from having a fully open moonroof to the tilt position we prefer when parking the car. The moonroof's interior cover includes a vent so that you can block the sun's rays while letting hot air escape.

The cup-holders were similarly extremely clever. They pop out from the dashboard or center console, and have springs to hold cups in place. Good cupholders are worth their weight in cleaning bills!

The GTI is, on the whole, a remarkable car. Its size begs comparison to Neons and Corollas, but in reality it is more of a miniature BMW 323, and comes at a much more reasonable price. If you are looking for a comfortable, sporty car, with reasonable gas mileage and a killer stereo, take a good long look at the Volkswagen GTI.

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