Test Drive: Volkswagen Golf GTI Seems Practically Perfect
Whipping it around Chattanooga for a week was enough to make this 60-year-old feel 25 again. Anything that breaks the tyranny of the SUV format is OK by us. After testing a string of plain vanilla SUVs, driving our Deep Black Pearl Metallic Golf GTI tester this week was as tasty as a hot fudge sundae. Hot hatches like the Golf GTI are right in VW's go zone, with zippy power-trains and sporty interiors that encourage spirited driving. The Golf's dash wraps around the driver, with gauges and controls positioned perfectly at arm's-length and eye level. Fortunately, our tester came with the standard, six-speed manual transmission, which made rowing gears up the W Road a blast. 2018 Golf GTIs in digital inventory, all at significant discounts. The VW Golf GTI is the performance version of Volkswagen's compact Golf hatchback. It seats five and has 22.8 feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
35,070. SE models feature such upgrades at LED headlights, an 8-inch touchscreen and blind-spot monitors. The Autobahn adds such premium features such as adaptive cruise control, Fender audio and factory navigation. Looking for a used or new car? DRIVING EXPERIENCE: The 2018 Golf GTI is powered by a high-revving 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with direct fuel injection. It boasts 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. For sheer driving pleasure 鈥?in a vehicle that won't break the bank 鈥?the GTI is hard to beat. WHAT WE LIKED: The black-on-black color scheme, modernistic 18-inch alloy wheels, well-bolstered (and heated) front seats, and the car's built-for-fun attitude. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: The rear-view camera clouded up in the rain, and the exterior styling could use a few more flourishes (although I'm sure hot-hatch purists like the minimalist look). BOTTOM LINE: My 12-year-old son has already told me that he wants a Golf GTI as his first vehicle. I may not agree that this is the right car for a hormonal 16-year-old, but I genuinely admire his good taste.
If the tailpipe extension is hot during inadvertent contact, a burn could occur. Dealers will inspect and replace the stainless steel exhaust tips as necessary free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2011. . YAHOO NEWS -- March 11, 2011 - Volkswagen AG's U.S. 71,000 Jetta sedans due to a defect in the wiring system controlling the car horn that can cause the car to stall, a company spokeswoman said on Monday. The wiring layout that controls the horn also controls the converter box, which governs the engine management system, lighting system and wipers. VW said in a statement that 71,043 Jettas for the model year 2011 are affected by the recall. VW said there have been no reported injuries and accidents related to this defect. YAHOO NEWS -- December 15, 2010 - Volkswagen has recalled more than 228,000 vehicles in the United States amid fears that faults could cause the vehicles' engines to catch fire.
VW further recalled the New Beetle and New Beetle convertible vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter engines made between 2006 and 2010, which have a clamp in the power steering system that could also pierce the fuel supply line. Some 228,236 cars could be affected by the recall, it said. August 20, 2009 -- Yahoo News -- WASHINGTON - Volkswagen of America is recalling 13,500 vehicles to fix problems with a dual-clutch transmission that could lead to a warning on the dashboard. MAY 2009 -- Volkswagen is recalling 25,594 MY 2006-2009 Jetta 5th generation equipped with 2.01 engine. The fastening screw contact surfaces on the driveshaft cover plate may not have been manufactured to factory specifications. Some screws may not have been torqued properly during assembly and could loosen over time, causing a knocking sound when the vehicle is in motion. The driveshaft screws could loosen to the point where the driveshaft detaches from the gearbox.
If the vehicle is moving when this happens, the detached driveshaft could cause damage the gearbox housing. A damage gearbox housing could leak gearbox oil onto the street and create a risk of a vehicle crash for both the driver and other motorists. Dealers will inspect the driveshaft screws and replace the screws free of charge. The recall will affect about 58,900 cars and will begin in August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its Web site. Dealers will remove the plastic tab on the fluid reservoir and, if necessary, replace the fuel line, Volkswagen told the agency, Bloomberg reported. Defective brake lights on Golf, GTI, Jetta, New Beetle and R32 are a potential safety hazard and should be replaced. The malfunctioning brake lights and brake light switches could fail to come on or remain stuck on. This recall expands on one announced by Europe's No. 1 carmaker last year, when 362,000 Jettas and New Beetles were recalled due to the same defective part.
