Car Gazing
GTI offers autobahn-inspired performance at a reasonable price
By Derek Price
When you think of a high-performance car from Germany, what comes to mind?
If you're like most people, it's probably something with a big price tag and
high-falutin' badge, like Porsche, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz. All those
companies make mechanical masterpieces designed with autobahn cruising in
mind, perfect for folks who drive just for the sake of driving.
But there's one zippy speedster with German engineering, breathtaking
performance, and excellent build quality that matches Europe's best cars.
Better yet, its price won't make you barf.
It's the Volkswagen GTI, and while it doesn't look like anything special, a
few minutes behind the wheel will leave you scratching your head about why
people pay 2-3 times as much for its snootier counterparts.
The GTI is a souped-up, two-door Golf that's as unpretentious as cars come,
with bland, slab-sided styling and a front end that reeks of economy-car
boredom. While it's convenient and practical, the hatchback rear end doesn't
do anything to make it less dull.
No two-foot-high spoilers or boy-racer side skirting here. It doesn't need
that crap.
That's because from behind the wheel, looks don't matter, and that's where
the GTI really shines. No matter what you throw at it – curves, hard
braking, or highway on-ramps – this fun little Volkswagen begs for more.
If you're trying to turn a car into an adrenaline factory, the place you
start is under the hood. Volkswagen offers two mouth-watering choices here:
a turbocharged 1.8-liter engine, or a wild, six-cylinder, tire-eating
monster. Both will make your heart pump like Lance Armstrong's, though the
bigger, 200-horsepower version has a slight edge at the dragstrip.
On the highway, the GTI begs for aggressive driving. With so much horsepower
on tap, just a mild touch on the throttle will send it lunging toward the
cars in front, but strong brakes and grippy tires keep the massive power
safely in check.
It also shines on twisty roads with a bold, sporty suspension that keeps the
GTI nearly flat through corners. With a front-engine, front-wheel-drive
layout, however, it has a strong tendency to understeer when pushed hard.
Now for the downsides: Any way you look at it, the GTI is a small car and
only comes with two doors. If you regularly carry adults in the back seat,
any drive longer than an hour would be torture, but it's not too bad for
kids.
Noise can also be bad on the highway, as the wind, tires, and engine combine
for an annoying howl. The ride isn't as bad as expected, though, considering
its aggressive, sport-tuned suspension.
Probably the biggest surprise in the GTI is how nice its interior is. While
its body looks like nothing more than a simple economy car, high-quality
materials, classy gauges, and tight, rattle-free construction are welcome,
if not a tad startling, in such a low-priced car.
When you drive those high-priced, fancy German screamers, it's easy to see
why people buy them – for fun, quality, and mechanical precision.
But Volkswagen offers the same feel and performance for less money in the
GTI, which only lacks a pretty body and better name.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.
Contact him at dprice@cargazingonline.com)
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