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VW GTI (All styles)
kevinc
Member Posts: 51
in Volkswagen
Comments
1) soft suspension and 2) shifter. They loved the engine and the interior fit and finish. It is also much roomier than the competition -- the GTI can actually fit two adults in the back.
The handling of the car can be easily improved by replacing the springs and struts, and by adding performance tires. Total cost of that will be less than $1000. In contrast, how much would it cost to improve the interior of the Celica?
The GTI's shifter isn't great, unfortunately. It is notchy and doesn't like to be hurried. I don't know of any cheap fix for that.
Jared
'00 GTI GLX
Also - does anyone know what the best leather treatment lotion is for the 2000 GTI?
Also also - I'm going to write to Car and Driver about the 0-60 times.
the gti a 7.7 sec 0-60 . i can also testify having
a 99 gti vr6 that this time seems slow. and while
the shifter seems trickier it only takes a few hours to get use to it.
df
Hope this helps.
And remember, the C&D writers are just another bunch of schmos expressing their own subjective opinions. They may have a lot of experience, but they also have their own biases and preferences.
That said, there are many different views expressed regarding the GTI's poor showing in the recent Car and Driver article. Some attribute it to pressure from certain advertisers, others talk about a Honda bias, and others (including some VW lovers) basically agree with the written analysis of the GTI (if not the actual points standing).
If you read the article carefully, much of what C&D has to say about the GTI is both positive and true. The negatives, numb shifter and excessive body roll, have been complained about by Vdubbers at length in this and other forums.
But let's put the negatives into perspective. Most car drivers in this country would find the GTI to be an extremely nimble handler, compared to most of the products that are available out there. And, as many others have noted, there are relatively inexpensive suspension mods available to turn the GTI into an amazing handler.
I also don't think there is to much to complain about with respect to the shifter. I don't find it numb at all -- perhaps not as crisp as it could be -- but overall quite precise.
Bottom line, this is a great and practical little car that is beautifully put together, is comfortable and subtly luxurious, and, best of all, that engine! It pulls very nicely starting at about 2000 rpms, and never quits after that. This cannot be said about any of the Japanese 4 bangers, which only put out at vry high rpms (annoying, if you ask me, unless you're always on a race track revving the bejeebers out of it).
Most importantly, GTI owners are PASSIONATE about their cars. I love mine, even with its minor flaws, which I intend to remedy with suspension mods in the Spring. These cars get under your skin and stay there. Kinda like falling in love...
In case you don't have a GTI VR6 yet, this means using 5th gear sometimes, and keeping it under 80 mph. Not an impossible discipline to follow.
In other words, breaking in a GTI simply means not playing with it too hard. Even after 1,000 miles, taking care of it means giving it a chance to warm up, before playing with it too hard. The oil has to distribute, especially in cold weather, where synthetic oil is apparently a plus. (I'm waiting till 15,000 miles to switch to synthetic, unless I hear better advice...)
Jared
'00 GTI GLX
Lots of GTI owners seem to like the Dunlop SP9000s. I'm partial to Pirellis, and may look into the P7000s in the Spring (sticking with stock until then). I'm also going to consider the Bridgestone Potenza SO-2 Pole Positions.
All in all, it's a very fun car to be driving around. And that's what I found when I talked to other VW owners, whether it be GTI's, Jetta, etc.
Jeff
2000 VW GTI GLX VR6 - Flash Red
1986 Audi 4000CS Quattro - Tornado Red
1985 VW Scirocco Wolfsburg Edition - Tornado Red
months and I would just like to let people know
some problems I'm having. First I had installed an
aftermarket sound system which sounds great and I
didn't puchace an aftermarket alarm because of the
std. factory one. Well my car got broken into very
easily and I'll tell you how they did it. All they
simply had to do was pop the cover off of where a
key lock should have been on the front passenger
door latch and open seseame. They're in and my
stereo is gone. Bummer.
Second My drivers side seat heater only worked for
a couple of days when I first got it. I brought it
into the dealer and they started replacing
components of the seat heating system ruling out
one component after another (elapsed time 2 days on
the bus) then only to have the dealer tell me it
was the element in the seat that was faulty. So
they order the part while I continued driving the
car. Finally their parts dept. calls me and tells
me It's in so I made arangements with the service
dept. to drop the car off for the day. They said it
would be ready that day, Ya Right! A week and a
half later after sending the seat away to be
rebuilt by an upholstry shop I pick up my car
again.(very Bitter by this point). I'm Driving away
(this being a cool evening here in Canada) I try
my Seat heater only to find out it still doesn't
work. Rage Sets In!!!!
Any body else out there have problems?
Let me Know!
I own a '00 GTI gls, and I when I drive it on the highway around 80mph, or say 4000 rpm, the engine starts to hum quite loudly.
Should I be alarm by the engine noise, that I shouldn't rev it so high cruising down the highway on a 2.0 engine, or that it is just the way it is with small car?
help appreciated
thanks
hcj13
Question regarding revs on gear changes...what's the maximum rpm that you can go to on 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear respectively? I have 600 miles so far on my 2 week old gti vr6, and so far I have not gone past 4000 rpms at any speed or gear. Any advice would be appreciated.
swong
The other cars in the comparison betray what the C&D writers were really looking for-- an inexpensive race car. I wanted a high quality, well-rounded car with a good amount of power. I don't mind at all that VW has sacrificed some racing fitness for overall comfort and sophistication; I'm not taking mine to the autocross.
One thing that did bug me was the style rankings. The GTI got a 7, tying for lowest with the beady-eyed Integra and the horrifying Impreza. After C&D mocked the Impreza for its multiple, non-functional hood scoops and pizza-sized driving lights, they give the same score to the clean lines of the GTI? Just because it isn't a steeply-raked fastback with a spoiler? And then they give a 9 to the goggle-eyed, gaping-mouthed, Grand-Prix-side-strake-havin' Eclipse? Oh, please.
It's clear to me that even though the GTI invented the "hot hatch" niche these other cars strive to occupy, it's still in a niche of its own. It's "the world's most functional sports car (TM)"-- none of the other cars even attempt to be functional. (The GTI was singled out as having the roomiest back seat-- imagine what the competition must have been like!)
If I was looking for a car along the lines of a Prelude, Celica or Cougar, I may not have considered the GTI. But I never even considered any of the other cars in that comparison. I don't disagree with what the article said, except for the 0-60 time and the style rating. It just didn't apply to my needs and desires.
Sorry if this is asking the obvious, but I assume it's $181 for all 4 tires, right? I guess I would also need to change my stock 16" "Montreal" rims to a 17" rim to accomodate the Dunlops. What kind of rims do you have?
So I got the silver, which is more understated.
But this is really just personal taste. Buy what you want.
Jared
One consideration when picking a color is resale value and ability to resell. "Classic" colors like black or silver will hold their value better and be easier to sell to a private buyer. The more "exotic" colors will be somewhat handicapped.
As for an in-dash CD player, the VW unit is $240 list, Timmons in Long Beach sells 'em for $216, and there's a coupon in the current "Driver" magazine (sent to all new VW owners) for a 20% discount off accessories from the dealer you bought the car from - or a whopping $48 bucks off on the CD planer, or $192 - quite a bargain. And of course it integrates perfectly, lighting matches, etc. I have it and it's great. Oh yeah, integrates with the changer too...
-kc-
I've had nothing but compliments and positive comments on the car since receiving it, and would fully understand if someone didn't like it.
It's what I wanted and that's all that matters to me personally, and that's the way it should be with everyone who purchases this car in any color.
-kc-
for several reasons:
[1] This was the only car I could both test drive
and buy within 20 miles of Manhattan. I bought it
on impulse, after I decided I'd had it with my '86
Mazda 626 Turbo.
[2] My family always drove green VW's. But my mom
wanted a red '62 beetle, they just shipped green
by mistake.
[3] Nothing else about this car (which kicks [non-permissible content removed]
on the highway; it takes real discipline to drive
safely, ironic given my excuse was my Mazda was no
longer "safe") makes sense to anyone expecting a
sports car "look", so why should the color? I
wanted a nonobvious but HIGHLY practical sports
car. People who don't know it just think it's a
Golf. Why should the color make sense? A funny
time to be cutting people slack, after you've
gotten this far?
There's nothing on the road quite this color,
which I've very happy with.
====
Got to trade keys the other day with a 323i BMW
convertible, the day after its owner was the
subject of a great deal of Thanksgiving BMW
teasing. BMW owners apologize so easily! This BMW
has nearly the same engine, nearly the same
gearing, and the same stick pattern, so it's very
familiar to drive. It's 500 lbs heavier, center of
mass closer to the ground so less roll. Otherwise
the GTI clearly fits into this quality league, but
handily out-accellerates the BMW as the weight
difference would predict. The BMW owner looked
truly stunned after seeing the GTI trunk space.
which brings me to
[4] The GTI has in-BMW's-face anti-status, which
Cosmic Green just reinforces. Smile the smile of
having saved at least 10 large (green).
Two of my four woofers cause buzzing in door panels nearby, e.g. Natalie Merchant "Tigerlily" at ordinary volumes has too much bass. Bring it along to a test drive! The speakers are definitely not blown. I would never have put this much bass in the walls, going rather for a separate subwoofer. But there appear to be NO options for modifying the Monsoon stereo except pulling the system out head to tail. A glance at any of its wiring is seriously discouraging.
Since VW didn't give me a choice here, I hope they recognize they're in the audio business now, and that they will back up the weakness in their design by sending a mechanic (who'd probably rather be working on the engine) on a wild goose chase to find the buzz sources. We'll see...
Jared
'00 GTI GLX
My big concern: the sound system. My favorite thing about owning a car is driving and listening to music. I'm concerned after reading the various posts here and elsewhere about the poor quality of the GTI soundsystem and I'd be curious to hear owners' opinions. How hard is it to upgrade/correct? And how costly? Ideally, I'd like a minidisc system in the car as opposed to/or in addition to, a CD player. Any thoughts? Also, is a CD player standard, or is it extra and then the changer more still? Is there a better fit than the GTI given the sound issue? Thanks for any input -- what a great site!
My comment on the sound system - I have a '99, which didn't yet get the Monsoon system. I have the previous "Premium" 8-driver setup. You know what? I like it - a LOT - and it's a far lesser setup than the Monsoon. I had a '97 GTI VR6 previously, and its sound system was SO bad (mostly underpowered) that I ditched the head unit within 2 weeks of getting the car, despite wanting to keep it stock. No such desire this time around, the new head is a big improvement, definitely more power, which makes all the difference. Try the Monsoon system, unless you're an ultra-audiophile, I think you'll be more than satisfied.
As for MD, I had a Kenwood MD changer in my '97 (actually it's in my closet now - wanna buy it?).
MD is GREAT. I'd love to have it in my GTI, but I'm keeping everything stock. Neither the changer nor the in-dash is standard, though I think they're now putting the changer in all cars for $200 or $250 at the factory or dock and just adding it to the sticker. The in-dash is $240 at full list and works great, I have both, which I find is quite handy.
Good luck, let us know which way you end up going.
-kc-
'99 GTI GLX
'86.5 Scirocco 16V 2.0
http://www.geocities.com/klcoll
Go take a test drive and listen to the system. Then decide for yourself whether you want to replace it.
Jared
You do have to be willing to walk away. When the salesman gave me the line "these are real popular, I don't think they'll discount much", I said fine, I don't need a car now. I want to buy one now, but if you won't deal, I'll wait three months when the supply is better. At three dealers I had to walk away. But the fourth was willing to deal.
Be polite, but firm. When I walked at the previous three, I told them to give me a call if they wanted to sell a car. Two of them called back -- one with a minor improvement in his price, and the second after I had already bought a car.
Jared
'00 GTI GLX
Cheers!
If you don't already have the "VW" changer, then your choice of head units is limited only by the requirement mentioned above: that it have built in amps for proper wiring into the Monsoon system.
First, the bad news: I was disappointed by the result. If you are a picky listener (as you said you are), particularly if you are sensitive to abrasive treble, be forewarned, this one's an ear bleeder. I actually keep the tone controls turned all the way down in the midrange and treble, while I adjust the bass in the minus 8 to minus 6 range (for most source material) to make the system listenable for more than a few seconds.
But before you despair, here's the good news (based on hearsay, but nonetheless good news)! The headunit is apparently the weakest link in the system, and a good aftermarket headunit (with built in amps; see prior post) can transform the system. That's the fix I'm going to try.
If you haven't yet purchased your car, my advice would be not to get the "VW" changer (which would limit you to getting a Panasonic headunit). Then you will have a multitude of headunits to choose from, and you can add a changer if you'd like.
The Blaupunkt Alaska is made to match the VWs' dash lighting, but it's not reputed to be the best of the available headunits.
It will be interesting to see just how "sporting" they go with the upgrade. Also they sorely need to upgrade the tires, which are your garden variety, all-season grocery-getters. More suspension without more tire will be a big letdown for those who don't go ahead and upgrade the rubber after buying.
-kc-
'99 GTI GLX (upgraded suspension & tires)
'86.5 Scirocco 16V 2.0 (ditto and then some)
Regarding the newer GTIs with the sport suspension . . . would it be worth waiting till spring to buy? Any word on the effect on cost, either of the improvements or the switch to Brazilian production?
One dealer I spoke with this weekend said he would be able to cut me a deal the last week of the year, but gave me the expected "GTI's are rare, they come from Germany and take a while, I can get you a better deal on a Jetta" etc. It was still nice to see one "in the flesh" -- Cosmic Green, which I actually liked (tho I'm smitten with the Tropical Orange).
This is the first car with ABS brakes that I own and I am not sure if mine are OK. When I slam on them in snow or on a slippery surface, It feels very weird. Not only do they pulsate, but it feels like I just ran over a huge rock and it is scraping on the underneath of my car. I don't know if this is normal with the 2000 GLX Abs or what. Please let me know about your experiences.
Thanks
At that price point, I'd say it's worth waiting for. Don't know if GTI GLX pricing will be affected.
My biggest objection to my Monsoon system is putting all that bass in the doors causing spurious buzzing, a serious design flaw. I've been choosing my music to compensate (Natalie Merchant "Tigerlily" or any live Dead is a no-go) and the stereo is actually breaking in sweet over time. Friends who don't remember the old system are actually blown away, want to really crank it e.g. plowing through Vermont snow in my Gislaved Nordfrost 2's for a night out up at the ski cabin.
If I could, I'd add a separate subwoofer and switch the bass away from the walls, and live with the system till I had $2,000 to rip it out and start over. If you have less than half this to spend, you'll probably be as happy leaving well enough alone.
Speakers, in my experience, require the longest break in period before they start opening up. The Monsoon speakers started life as lean and harsh, particularly in the treble and midrange, to the point where I had to turn the treble and midrange tone controls all the way down to make the system bearable. The treble is still a bit harsh, but I am able to turn all the tone controls to the zero (flat) setting and get some pretty decent sound.
Advice to new owners: wait until your system breaks in for a while before modifying it -- unless, of course, you're planning to do a complete system upgrade. For those who want to get the most bang for their upgrade dollars, I suspect that a new headunit, followed by a subwoofer, would be the best bets.
Or is this a stupid question?