Used 2002 Volkswagen GTI Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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The 337 - best GTI ever.
I have had my GTI 337 for over 2 months now - it's everything I had hoped for. It beats my ex-323i hands down in the FUN catagory. Great Gas Mileage + Fun to drive + Style = One great VW! Get one if you can! (only 1500 made.) Can't say enough about this GTI :-)
sleeper
Car runs like a dream this is my 4th GTI and best so far. Ample power, great fun factor
- 1.8T 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $9,495477 mi away
- 1.8T 2dr HatchbackMSRP: $3,2002,020 mi away
For young, for old and all others
Ihave had my fire red 1.8T GTI for about 4 months. I have my 17 inch rims, black interior with all possible options. Great handling, reliable and comfort. And on the top: people really tell me it looks great. For some reason this is an eye opener - I often relize people are checking my car out on the street. Ecellent value considering I paid 20,175 - the dealer shaved off for me almost 1800 - basically free sports package with 6-cd player.
I love this car!!!
I love fast hatchbacks and the 1.8t GTI is by far the best. One of the biggest factors in purchasing it is all the aftermarket support it has. The stock GTI is a fantastic car in every respect, increadable build quality, top notch material content -first class all the way. It is so easy to take it to a whole other realm performance-wise - one that will terrorize Biff and Buffy in their 330i BMW. After only spending $2,200 in aftermarket modifications I've got something that outhandles many sports cars, and it has gone from a stock 180 HP to 240 with a few engine modifications - this car is an absolute blast to drive and extremely dependable.
Fun to Drive
This is the 2nd VR6 I have owned and have had many other high performance cars (BMW's etc) but VW seem to build a fun pocket rocket. This car is first class - a real pleasure to drive, well built and excellent value for the price. The only things that would make this even more fun would be 4 motion (like the european version have). The six speed is well suited for short smooth changes and the car handles the power well.
Excellent so far
I've had my 2002 GTI just over 5 months now and must say I'm impressed. The only "problem" I have is the left tie rod popping as descibed by Russell. This car feels like a much more expensive car. I owned an Infiniti G20 before the GTI and must say the VW seems to be built just as well. We'll see how the GTI holds up over time. My G20 was still solid (no squeaks) after 125K miles. The power of the 1.8T engine is unbelievable. It's nice not to have to downshift to get in the power range - just step on it and it goes...FAST!
The first 5K in a '02 GTI
GTI has proven a competent commuter. The 1.8T provides decent acceleration. At highway speeds the 1.8T easily moves thru traffic, providing a very smooth, comfortable ride(for a 2-door). Handling is capable, but not inspiring. Push the limits and the body roll is obvious. The 5-spd started life buttery smooth. It has since become notchy and 3rd requires your full attention. The interior is a mix of quality plastics and rubber. Unfortunately the build quality is sub par. I have begun to notice a large number of annoying rattles/creaks. Excellent passenger/cargo room.
Great Car with some minor problems
I bought this car after considering the Vibe, Matrix, and protege-5. They all cost about the same if you add the options needed to bring them up to the GTI standard equipment. This car replaced a 95 Subaru Impreza 2.2 wagon. The interior of the GTI is great, I wanted leather but the local dealers didn't have it with the luxury package so I went with the moon roof and monsoon instead. I've had one big problem that seems like a common one for the GTI/Golf/Jetta/Beetle family...The passenger window supports broke and the window fell into the door frame. It took the dealer 3 days to fix this since they didn't have the parts.
yee-freakin'-ha!
I just took delivery of my GTI, and man, this thing is fun to drive. On top of it being very quick, it also stays glued to the road, and all of the controls are easy to figure out and easy to reach. On top of that, I'm a professional drummer, and even with as little as the car seems to be, I can fit my entire drumset in the car with ease. How many cars are that fun to drive AND are practical too? Not too many. Man I love this car...
Great car, fun, and stylish
Bought it after comparing with Mini Cooper, Ford Focus SVT, and Toyota Matrix. Wife wanted 4 door stylish car, (if there is such a thing) I wanted 2 door toy that she would drive when I wasn't. Very impressed with interior design, VW is great with that. Leather is definately a requirement, cloth felt like sitting on wool, very harsh. Sunroof quiet all the time, and definately need 17" - everyone says they never have seen the brakes on a car before they saw my 17"s 1.8T engine is a big sluggish off start, should get better with more miles. 5sp is a blast to drive, turbo engine puts you back in seat at about 1800rpm when accelerating, gotta get used to that..
Best VW so far
Have had since new, fun to drive, handles great around corners good power at high rpms and good gas mileage. Sixth VW owned this is the best car so far. The GTi has had some things break but nothing major. Will be on my third set of tires. Still has the new car appeal after 7 yrs and has an excellent resale value. Some of things that need improvement are the cup holders location and peeling from the audio unit. Seats are still firm but fading. Over all the car is great and would recommend this vehicle. Will pass this vehicle to my son and purchase a new model.
Great Car
Even compared to modern Toyotas and Hondas they just don't compare to the driving experience of my 2002 Volkswagen Golf 1.8T. I bought it used back in 2005 with 30k miles on it 11 years later and the car still holds it own. Sure I've had to do some maintenance on it but it was the usual stuff: Timing belt/Water pump at 60k, brakes at 90k, clutch at 100k. Parts of the interior has somewhat fallen apart due to my negligence but it still very practical. Cargo space is plentiful with the folding rear seats I can haul stuff in this little hatch: groceries, trees, furniture, you name it. All in all a great fun car that still holds its own despite it's age. I will be driving this car to the ground.
GTI GLS
For drivin' fast, you can't beat it, but sluggish in the corners and too many squeeks and rattles. Lots' of goodies, very comfortable ride. Easy to customize and bump up the power - large aftermarket following for bolt on performance.
GTI GLS
Originally satisfied, but had many electrical problems and now it needs a new clutch...Been in the shop several times, and I don't think that VW wants to take ownership of their problems. I've owned 15 cars and this has been by far the worst in terms of reliability, but one of the best in terms of fit and finish...
Poor man's BMW
I teetered back and forth between the BMW Z3, the AUDI TT, and others. I was going to put my money on the BMW, that is, until I drove this little number. I went to the dealership for a test drive, and went home with it that day. This car is so fun to drive. Handles very tight. It's definitely a German car. It performs almost everything you ask of it. Yeah, it's small, but I feel safe. It's got 6 airbags for gosh sake. The monsoon (upgraded) stereo blows. If you like listening to music, and consider yourself an audiophile, you're gonna have to get an aftermarket system. This car can also be electronically tuned to gain around 40 more horses and 70 more lb-ft of torque. That's a TON!
Turbo Love
If you want to drive a stealthy car that blows the doors off of all civics, focuses, and celicas... this is the car for you! It has awesome utility + performance for a very reasonable price. I love this car!
New GTI
Significantly more powerful than Honda/Acura VTech products dont't have to redline(5500 in Integra) to get max hp. But will not corner like one either. Generally great fun to drive. Interior with leather is sweet and the monsoon is good for a stock system. The seatbelt often gets stuck on the seat release which is seriously irritating. I had problems with the power windows at under 5000 miles. Apparently they used plastic clips in there causing world wide problems. They will only fix when broken as not enough replacement parts yet for recall.
wow, I cant believe I got one
Lady luck gave me a big fat kiss when I landed this puppy... Every dealer except Advantage VW were jacking up the price of the 337 by as much as 3000. I got it for the MSRP. They are selling just the contract to buy one on ebay for 6100! Anyways, it runs great as expected and it looks cool as heck, my only complaint is the turbo lag at low RPMS. I guess I could fix that with aftermarket stuff but I dont think I will mess with anything..Its great the way it is.
DO NOT BUY THIS CAR
This car is the worse investment I have ever made. Bought it used in '05 with 18,000 miles on it for $18,500 and have put over $9,000 in it on maintenance. Currently it does not run because the car leaks water very badly through the ceiling. I had to replace both axels, the clutch after about 2,000 miles in my ownership, i had suspension problems, turbo/exhaust problems, leaking all over the ceiling. About 20 different hoses and gauges replaced, no exaggeration. It was on 2010's Consumer Reports worse car list. Timing belt was replaced a lot sooner than is should be replaced because of issues, the Catalytic Converter was replaced, all of this because of the cars build quality.
GTI IS A SICK CAR.
This is a beautiful car. After driving around in an 84 caprice classic for a while, you really appreciate the nuances put into the GTI; great handling, quick acceleration, amazing fuel effeciency... it's a complete chic magnet. Glad I didn't get the 337 edition, 18" rims would get eaten up in 6 months w/ all the potholes in Jersey. And I'm glad I wasn't a sucker to spend an extra $2000 on special badging and an inch lower suspension. I gladly took that money and put on a new exhaust & ECU so my car has 240 HP, and flies by any stock 337 on the road. Do yourself a favor and take one for a testdrive. It's worth it.
So far so good
I bought this car (my 5th VW, 2nd GTI) for a month. So far, only door panels have rattle noise sometimes. This car is almost perfect despite the noise.
Reliability
Reliability 3 brake repairs now engine malfunctioning (possibly coil pack) trim rattles WJ ABS recall windows regulation intermediate problem avoid VW if need car everyday
vw turbo gti
every car manufacturer has its problems, the ones you will get with your volkswagen are not big enough to worry about, its a great car.
2002 GTI 1.8T
Excellent car, with great interior space, at least in front, and high assembly and materials quality. Handles well; complaints about soft ride come from those who don't make long trips on American roads , which are not maintained to European standards and tolerances. Standard stereo with CD is more than adequate.
MY LITTLE GTI
GREAT CAR I HAVE OWENED 6 NEW VW AND THIS ONE IS THE BEST OF ALL GREAT POWER AND GREAT GAS MILEAGE 32MPG.@85MPH TO WORK I YOU WANT A SMALL POCKET ROCKET THIS IS THE ONE TO GET.
Finally a fun GTI again............
Never thought I'd own a 4 cylinder, but the stock 1.8T has every bit as much grunt as my VR6. This is my daily driver now. And with an upgraded performance chip - even more power on tap! Great brakes, gearing, seats, awesome wheels/tires, and suspension is just right. Bottom line, big bang for the buck. If you're looking for more bells and whistles, buy another model. This is akin to a drivers car.
337 is worth the wait
I purchased my 337 and immediately had to drive it from Florida to California. The car to say the least was a blast to drive. The gas mileage was awesome and the performance was well suited to 130mph+ excursions in the desert. The funny thing about this car was the amount of people that ask me about it. I would often come out of the gas station to see people looking at my car....Its kind of flattering.
Fun car to own
The GTI is fast it handles like a go cart. It holds the road but will smoke the tires. When I first got the car I had just bought a Harley- Davidson sportster sport. At the time I could not decide which one was more fun to drive.One year later I still can't decide. So if your looking for a car that you will have fun driving the GTI is for you. I have the tritronic automatic 5 speed I love it.
VW GTI 1.8T
It is a great car. It is very fun to drive and right now is the most fun car to drive under 20,000. The cup holders are in a wierd place (in the way of the radio), but that is about the only negative thing I can mention about this car. The turbo kicks in at 30 RPM and realy kicks you back in your seat. A must buy in 5 speed.
I'm a believer....
Only considered the GTI 1.8T and RSX Type-S for my work car, LOVE both, but it came down to the VW having more equipment for $2K+ less. More airbags, bigger tires/rims, longer warranty, better sounding stereo (so sorry Bose), arm rest, cheaper to insure, more hatch/trunk space, etc. Wanted silver 5-speed with leather, but all have been sold in this region, had to settle for cloth and AT, but not disappointed, Tiptronic is a great compromise. I think the RSX is quicker off the line, but the 1.8T really pins you to your seat once it fires up. I think the GTI feels quicker than any of the Type-S's I drove. Both sweet cars, but VW is better for the $$$.
coil packs and windows regulators???????
great car
The best Pocket Rocket.
I have the late year 200-bhp 6-speed version. Well worth the wait. The ride is smooth, while the handling is very responsive; the acceleration is very good for the size of the engine. I've put 11,400 miles on in the past 7 months, and no faults yet. The interior is very comfortable for a sporty car (I'm 6'2", 225 lb). The cupholder could be in a mildly better position (right in front of the radio controls), but it's the best cupholder I've ever seen. Aside from that, the interior is designed for people who take driving very seriously. Complaints: 1. The car occasionally stalls when attempting a warm start. 2. The Monsoon Stereo sucks.
Silver Bullet
I finally received my VW 337 last week. It's a powerful piece of German ingineering. A lot of torque and good acceleration. Nevertheless, there is a small turbo lag. Overall it's a fun car to drive...too bad there are only 1500 of them!
Nice ride!
Previously I owned a 98 Jetta GLX VR6: the new A4 platform has signifigant improvements in quality, comfort, performance (handling/power), & such. It's been a blast to drive. I've had minor problems with the driver side window making too much noise while rolling up & down, but otherwise, I've been satisfied.
Incredible! 337 is the GTI done right.
Loads of torque. Not like the RSX. I am not fond of spending the majority of time at 6000 rpm just to have 75% of the torque availible in the GTI at 1900 rpm. The 337 behaves as if it is an extension of your thoughts when driving it quickly through twisty uneven pavement. It tracks with the accuracy of a roller coaster. Road noise is limited even with the 225 40 18's and lowered suspension. Two words sum up how the 337 feels, Billet Aluminum. I am now a believer in German engineering.
Nice GTI
I have now 21000 miles on the car and I have had no major problems with the car. For 2002 there is a recall for wiring in the ABS system. What was scary is the window regulators. I had one glass fall into the door. I took it to the dealership and it was fixed with an updated kit free of charge and they went ahead and did it on the passenger's side. All that happened within the first 6 months of owning the car. I havent done anything to it since. The car is working great. Tires are stock michelin and are at half of their thread life. The only hard part about driving the car is keeping it under 60mph.
Pure FUN
Just an amazing car to drive!!!
GTI 337 owns ALL
Best VW ever made to date. Nuff said.
I hate it that I love it!
From the day I drove this car off the lot, I have been in love with it. Every time I walk up to it, I get a sense of excitement that I am about to drive it. When I get in and flip out my laser-cut switchblade key and turn on the engine the adrenaline really starts to pump...then the engine light comes on for the third time in six months. Okay...no big deal. I hit the road and feel like lowering the windows to feel the wind blow through my hair. The auto down/up feature is really cool. I push the button and the window drops off the lowering arm with a crash. That IS a big deal. These are just two examples of the nitpicky things that torment VW Golfs, Jettas and GTIs. It is now for sale.
Quirky but a blast to drive
This car is VERY fun to drive. There are a couple spots in the power curve in which it accelerates like it has a nitrous tank. Floor it while doing 20 mph or 60 mph and you'll feel the giddyup. I have had to take the car back to the dealership twice, once to replace the window lifts, which left the window open on a cold November night miles from home. Not fun! There was also a recall on the ignition coil. On cold wet mornings I occasionally experience a reluctance from the motor to get going. This may be more ignition coil problems or something else, I don't know. But when you can drive twisty roads like you're in a go-kart, it's easy to forget the periodic trips to the shop.
A wolf(sburg) in sheeps clothing.
VW is very conservative in their HP rating on this vehicle. Take it to any diagnostic garage and let them do a dyno on it. You will surprised by the "real" HP rating. Then add on the VW dual exhaust system and give yourself another 5% HP boost just for kicks. The 17" wheel option is a must for this car. One thing though, why doesn't this car have GTI badging on the front grille? Hint, you can order it from Europe and put it on yourself. I did, and now everyone knows whats in ther rearview mirror just before I scoot around them.
So Disappointing - No Joke
Bought June 2002. Yes, it's refined inside, build quality above average & overall car is fun to drive. But reliability is worst I've experienced. My 4th car. 1. 3 separate power window probs that left me with window sunk in door. Fun in winter. NOT 2. 2 separate seat probs. 1st was when the seat actually moved beneath me with each turn. 2nd occurred when lever to raise/lower broke 3. Ignition Coils *UGH* 4. 4 separate coolant probs. 1 prob left me stranded on road (2 year old car at the time) 5. 1 dashboard lighting prob, many MIL engine light probs 6. Car *almost* failed start in 50 deg. weather. VW found no prob. Inexplicable. Just waiting for more... I'll never buy VW again...
Outstanding!
I have always liked VWs and this is my first. I am not sure what I was waiting for! Its quick, great on gas, has lots of room and looks great! To anybody in teh market for a "Hot Hatch", look no further! The Celica, RSX and Focus SVT don't have a chance!
Best in its class
I have never seen a car in this class to have such stylish interior. It feel like you are in those expensive german cars. The performance is great and driving the car is so much fun and you will never get enough with this car. Once you experience its luxury its hard to go to other types of cars in its class.
2002 gti vw
it's a vw!! what else can i say...i love it.
Love It!!!
This is my second GTI in 2 years. I bought an '01 VR6 GTI and loved it, but I found a great deal on an '02 GTI 1.8T. This car gives up nothing in the way of performance to the VR6. I noticed the VR^ had more low-end grunt, but all it ever did for me was spin the tires. The 1.8T just goes. On the Highway at about 75-80 MPH, just hit the gas in 5th and off you go, no need to downshift. This thing just pulls all the way to nearly 140 MPH. I plan to do some mods int he future, but for now, I'm happy with the power I've got and so should everyone else who buys one.
Mixed Feelings
This is the first car I ever purchased. I am a first year college student, so the 19 grand I dropped on my new GTI was a lot. I loved it until everything started to go wrong. I have had water in my brake lines (which froze so I could not stop or shift), a broken fuel pump, broken ABS module, broken window mechanism, broken clutch cable, broken dome light switch, and a problem with the door locks. I will never buy another VW unless the company restores my faith in a serious way.
I love my rollerskate!!!
Yes, I know at first glance some may not be attracted to the styling of this vehicle. It has put up with some tough nicknames as such as "golf putter" and "rollerskate"... However, this car is an awesome car to own in all aspects. The power, performance, reliability, and even safety are excellent. I would recommend this car to anyone... especially in stick!!! NO DRIVERS NEEDED!!!!!!!!
Perfect Car
The balance of performance, quality, and practicality is unlike any other car out there. Go see one for yourself and you'll quickly see what I mean. Truly god's chariot!
Who could ask for anything more?
German engineering. Luxurious interior, especially with leather trim. Controlled ride and comfortable seats make long-distance driving a pleasure. Ample power for even the most performance-oriented driver. Incredible gains possible with relatively inexpensive mods. Distinctive styling. Beautiful indigo instrument illumination. Availability of Tiptronic automatic for those who don't like stick. Many safety features.