Used 2003 Volkswagen GTI Consumer Reviews
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2003 vw gti 1.8t manual
gti4, 10/05/2011
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
i have this car since 05 and now has 175k never had any issues if u take good care will take good care of you. this is very good quality vehicle best one so far i owned and i had few BMW's Mercedes but nothing compares to this baby.parts are same price as for any other vehicle if not cheaper now if u do some basic stuff your self will save you money.
2002.5 GTI VR6 6 speed
Damonspeedster, 03/19/2008
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Fun car. Bought it from VW in 2002 and have love every mile in it. I installed a set of Eibach sport srings shortly after purchase and that improved the handling and stance. Great gas mileage (if you're driving like Miss Daisy) about 29 mpg, however if you haven fun it drops quick. Lots of power and broad range of torque. Stereo sounds good for a stock setup. Interior in good, but the plastic or rubber on some of the panels are rubbing off. With some suspension mods and really good tires this car will handle better than anything out there. As far as the engine- Is good for front wheel drive. Rated at 201 hp stock. anything over 300 hp is too much for this car. TIRES SPIN
My favorite car i've driven
xbamx, 08/16/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 20th Anniversary Edition 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Looked at several cars in this class and finally settled on this instead of a Dodge SRT-4 because i felt that the interior of the SRT-4 was sooooooooo junk and the overall its still a riced out neon. This car is quick, fun, cheap on insurance (for me) and gets great gas mileage.
The best car I have ever owned, hands down!
George, 02/24/2019
updated 02/26/2021
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I've owned my 6-speed manual 2003 GTI VR6 for more than 18 years now, and have loved every minute spent behind the wheel! I bought it in October 2002, and it has been the most reliable car my family has owned (even moreso than our Japanese cars), hands down! I keep it garaged, and change the synthetic oil every year, and changed the spark plugs at around 60K miles. The car still has the original clutch and 'chains' as well, and i've never had to change the manual transmission oil (can you believe VW told me it never needs changing for the life of the car!). As a sidenote, I only use Shell V-Power premium gas. Mechanically, the only issue I had was the coolant fan dying, so I had to have another one installed. I love the smoothness and power delivery of the 24v VR6. It is an absolute joy to drive (as in fun), and feels like a cross between a classic 'tossable' GTI and a sports sedan. Acceleration comes on fast, and the ample torque pretty much allow you to tool around town in higher gears most of the time. The car looks very German, given it's shape, and actually a bit plain compared to the more aggressive looking GTI 337, GTI 20th AE, or the R32. That is my only minor gripe. Too bad VW didn't style the exterior of the GTI VR6 to look like the aforementioned cars with the lower, color matched spoilers. Don't get me wrong - the car still looks beautiful, with great classic Golf platform lines and sexy 2 doors. The Monte Carlo 17" rims look stunning as well. I get compliments on the car all the time. On to the interior, which is simply gorgeous, and on par with an Audi. Very tight tolerances with quality materials, and the leather seats are sublime. Just the right amount of bolstering and support, and they are heated if needed. The dash is stunning, with red (needles) on blue (backround color) guages, and a Monsoon radio system (CD and cassette too) that sounds great! Although it doesn't have an input jack for an MP3 digital player, I use a cassette adaptor that plugs into my digital player, which sounds amazing. I cannot say enough great things about this car! October 2021 will mark 19 years owning this awesome vehicle, and I would not be surprised if it lasts another 19 or more! It drives and shifts like it did new! What a car!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Just bought a '03 VW GTI VR6...
VWLuv, 10/22/2009
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Well I just purchased a 2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 and I must say so far this is the best car I've ever owned. I just bought it Tuesday of this week and have only driven it for two days but before this car I was driving a 2000 VW Golf and other than the engine and the 6th gear it's pretty much the same car as I had before(with a bunch more power!!!). I honestly plan on keeping this car for a very long time like my Golf (which met it's untimely demise when a Harley ran a red light a totaled it). Excellent car all around.
You Will Love It
PC2003, 01/08/2009
2003 Volkswagen GTI 20th Anniversary Edition 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Great car stock or with some mods. Have owned my 20th in Imola Yellow for well over a year now and am happy to say that it is my favorite car to drive. The steering is great the brakes are amazing. I have modded a little, full exhaust, konig wheels, Apr Cold air intake and ECU along with a greddy blowoff valve and stage 3 Clutch and flywheel. My favorite part is that in other cars that I have owned I have had to replace the block to run high boost not so here. Also, the 20th has the recaro seats, which I love and just feels lighter than my camaro and Audi S4, so if it comes to a great driving car with out any abnormal issues and can be used daily, this is the car for you... You will love it
Not bad, but not great
Sean, 06/01/2005
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I owned my '03 VR6 GTI for just over 2 years, putting around 32K miles on it. Overall it's a fun car to drive, but I had quite a few quality issues, especially with the paint (pearl indigo blue). The VR6 has great low-end torque, but it is very heavy which is really noticeable when cornering at high speeds. The car handles fantastic at high speed on the highway, with very little cabin noise even at 85+ MPH. The Monsoon stereo system is fantastic, the heated seats are great because you can adjust the heating level, and the cruise control is much more user friendly than on other cars I have driven. Overall, it's a fun, versatile car that is a good deal for the price.
My 20th anniversary
Formulaz8, 07/12/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 20th Anniversary Edition 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This car is my baby! I love the six speed tranny with the turbo, what other car under $24,000 does 80 mph at 3 grand in sixth gear. The Recaro seats keep you down and the 18" Pilots keep the car huggin the ground. Every where i go people always turn to look. I have yet to see another one in town. Highway on ramps are heaven!
Reliable and fun to drive
Scooter, 08/10/2005
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2003 VW GTI on New Years Eve of 2003 and have no regrets about my decision. The car is solid inside and out. It gets great gas mileage. Tons of standard features that just aren't found in other vehicles. And it is a pleasure to drive every time. Even the dealerships have great customer skills and are eager to help. I am just about to break 20,000 miles and have had just one problem. The check engine light came on. Because temperatures went below 20 degrees, my purge valve was stuck. It was replaced and I have not had a problem since.
sad volkswagen
Drodgers, 01/20/2010
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
4 of 8 people found this review helpful
The car is fun to drive. It gets good gas mileage, handles very well and has good power when its not in the shop. I've had the car about two years and now with about 118k miles on it I have replaced the clutch, transmission, alternator, AC compressor, brakes, all 4 ignition coils, catalytic converter and now it looks like the cars computer has gone bad. The engine will only idle. The gas pedal is useless and frankly so is the car. No more junkwagens for me.
2003 VW Golf GTI 1.8T
HDM, 09/13/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I had the Jetta 2.0L in 2000, then the 2001 4dr Golf 1.8T, and now thw 2003 Golf GTI 1.8T. The quality of these cars in excellent. There are no other cars in this class or price range that have this kind of durability and safety.
Love this car!!!
abadgti, 09/08/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 20th Anniversary Edition 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Have always wanted a GTI and when I saw the 20th I knew I had to have it. I have had a alot of car in my life and this is the only one I have thought about keeping forever. This car has everything I want in a car from the interior to the engine. Two thumbs up.
the car that could
colton , 04/27/2009
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
this car is amazing. i love it! its so much fun to drive. the only complaint i have is the interior panels paint rubs off. but other than that there's nothing 2 complain about. i installed a cold air intake, awe turbo back exhaust, neuspeed suspension, and its GIAC chipped. this car is fast, sexy, verrrrryy fun to drive and most importantly comfortable to drive in. taking a long trip in this is more than bearable but enjoyable with a 7" dvd display head unit in. in the end i guarantee you will fall in love with this car and it will surpass all of your expectations.
My Last vw
murfsurf, 09/02/2009
2003 Volkswagen GTI 20th Anniversary Edition 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Far too many trips to the shop -- always something! Bought it because of a really good deal, I thought. Thought it would be economic to drive in town. Big mistake. Plus I get better mileage on the road in my Sedan Deville
Pocket Rocket w/ 200 ponies
Drew, 09/30/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
just got last week,absolutely love it. driven many nice cars in my day, mother's 2001 M5 and dad's 2002 carerra 4 porsche, have to say this car is equally as fun if not more fun to drive. this car handles like it's on rails also. also, before this i had a 2000 jetta glx. i can notice a huge difference in build quality between the gti and my old jetta. my jetta's center console rattled like a piece of shit. a great purchase as well as a great deal. the dealer let it go to me for $24,000 which was about $650 below the sticker.
What a blast
albatem, 08/01/2010
2003 Volkswagen GTI 20th Anniversary Edition 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
2 of 8 people found this review helpful
Very fun car to own! Great interior and exterior design with all the 20th ae bits. Seats are comfy, but can get hard on long trips, the turbo is fun, but does lag at times. Has some aftermarket goodies (chip, turbo-back exhaust, bov) which help it a bit. The jazzy blue is great and real head Turner. Got many compliments. Reliable car, but had an issue with 2nd gear, but may have been related to driving style. Mpg was okay 20 in city and 26 or so on hwy. Overall fun car less the transmission issue.
just the best, nothing comes close!!!
christopher dubois, 01/30/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
eat my dust! It's just a great car to drive on the summer only.(it only 1500 of them around you know)
LOVE this car
BlueyedBoi69, 10/29/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is amazing! Every day I look forward to getting into it and speeding off to work, or out to play in the mountains.
Much bettern than Turbo
mike kawasaki, 02/10/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The 2.8L engine revs up excellent in every gear. Had a test drive both Turbo and VR6, and I liked VR6 better because 6 manual shift was excacly cutting the butter feels.
'03 GTI 1.8T vs. ex'00 Jetta 1.8T
exJetta1.8Towner, 02/18/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Having sold my '00 Jetta 1.8T, I couldn't imagine what car would ever give me that same "whooosh" feeling for the same money. So with that in mind, I started the process looking for a new '03 Jetta 1.8T, having not yet driven a 1.8T GTI. Once round the block in the GTI and I was sold. With the 17" wheels/sport package, it handled so much better than my old Jetta. Slight roll, but way better. Huge improvement in the seat dept. The extra 30 HP doesn't hurt either. One of the main reasons I sold my Jetta was because the warranty was coming to an end...something I won't have to worry about for a while.
Great Car...Good Price
zippdawg, 02/18/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had my GTI VR6 for about 6 months. I have had no problems EXCEPT for: The car was delivered with low coolant level. One morning my computer told me to stop engine and check coolant level. I added some water, problem solved. Once a pebble got lodged between my rear brake rotor and the heat shield and made a high pitched screeching noise. Once I went in reverse, it ejected the pebble, problem solved. Also, the dealership drilled holes in front bumper for lisence plate frame when I asked them not to.
God Bless 24Vs!
grant, 10/13/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
What an improvement from the 12V platform. Car is still VERY early in it's mileage as I am still breaking it in, but it is VERY fast- watch out 1.8 turbos. Engine is buttery smooth, and the new 6-speed is a million years ahead of the old rubbery, sloppy 5- speed. Torque is plentyful down low, and the car just pulls and pulls all the way to redline. An incredibly fun car to drive, and a very comfortable cruiser.
VW GTI 1.9 Turbo - 2002
tynbeal, 02/19/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love my car but have been disappointed that within the first year, the Coolant sensor and a part for the turbo had to be replaced. Some folks don't like the styling, but I agree with what someone said, "It's nerdy chic".
BEST CAR EVER
swede3333, 02/23/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Germans at it again. Nothing beats german performance, quality, and reliability like a german car. If a tin box with a motor is what you are looking for, head to the japanese makets, if your looking for unreliability you can find those right here in America. Wouldn't buy any other car.
VW Reliability
mwestbrook, 11/24/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Since my last review...the ignition coil has gone bad (while I was driving it)...and Today, after driving to a couple of places (running errands) my terrific and reliable (sarcasm) GTI decides it doesn't want to start...my car is stranded, blocking traffic! I have VW roadside assistance come out...they give me a jump and also state that the battery is just fine...turn off the car and guess what? It doesn't want to start again!!!! The clock defaults back to 1200/the trip mileage counter sets back to zero...I am guessing it's an electrical problem...have to wait until Monday...because VW service and customer service are closed on Weekends!
Best Car Period Under $25000
Japanese Car Killer, 07/28/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is a beast. Everyone knows what you are driving when you are driving it. You get a lot of respect from the RSX and Civc people. They know you are no joke. Amazing amounts of power especially when chipped(GIAC). I have had window and ignition coil problems, but that is about it. It is worth it. Buy this car for everyday driving or customize it to the extreme for a fraction of the amount of money of other cars.
GTI
KEE, 01/23/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Everything is great, fully loaded and features are excellent, only problem I've had so far ia a defective hood release
Best Sports Hatchback Out There
bjreich, 10/10/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had my GTI for about 3 months now and have enjoyed every second. I got mine with every option. Taking into consideration the power, smooth refinement, luxurious feel, and the price it is by far the best sports hatchback on the market. I must also say that had another very good buying experience with Dave Walter VW in Akron. This the second car I bought from them and both times it was the best car buying experience I have had. So if you are in the Northeast Ohio area be sure to check them out.
excellent
bnelz, 02/08/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
great car, nice handling,superior appearance, nice wheels, good stereo system. I love this car and I will always stick with VW.
Too many problems
Gunnar1, 08/06/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great performance for the buck yet terrible reliability. My GTI has been in the shop more times than I can count. I have about 17,000 miles on it now and I have had the tranny replaced at 2k the rotors and pads replaced at 200 miles, the check engine light has come on three times. At about 4500 miles the passenger side window fell into the door sill. A piece of trim has come off of the roof twice. The coil-packs have been replaced recently. My brake lights stopped working 1 week ago at the same time my center console broke. My heated seats do not work from numbers 1-4 they only work on number 5. Need I say more?
Fun to drive, a pain to maintain
GTI703, 02/10/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It is fun and easy to drive in heavy DC traffic or on roadtrips. The car is very stable on the highway and it plows through winter weather. The biggest problem is the reliability and build quality which is horrible. The car squeaks and rattles like a '72 AMC Gremlin. The fuel system is a nightmare. My car has had constant prolems with fuel delivery. It was in the shop for nearly 3 weeks right after I bought it. When starting up, The gas revs and then the car stalls out. You have to pump the gas to keep it running The window regulator failed . It is under warranty but the dealer hasn't had one in for a month. .
Gti- Engineering.
kho, 10/11/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The VW Gti is a very under-rated car, it is fully featured for the same price as a RSX premium. It is fast and corners better than any japanese car out there. (evident in a 1/4 mile ring against a Gt-s) It gets up to speed fast and has passing power to boot. Superb stock car.
Fun to drive
Todd, 09/28/2008
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the car with 116500 three months ago, put 2000 on it. The car is very peppy with plenty of power, even in 5th going 60 mph, its got pickup without downshifting. When buying a VW with this many miles on it, check the records. See if the timing belt was done, if the clutch was done, and any other major repair work. VW Timing belts should be done by 105, silly German engineering needs to use timing chains... more reliable. The car is rated at 7.5 s 0-60, mine is stock and its around 5.5-6 s. Stock turbo is good quality, but can easily be bigger. The back of the engine compartment(where turbo is) has plenty of room for upgrade.
5 years and going
joel, 06/02/2008
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My gti is 5 years old and generally runs well and is reliable. I would buy another gti. However here is a list of my negatives or complaints, radio knobs have loosened or fallen off, radio has poor am reception antenna was replaced once already, two different sensors [computer chips] had to be replaced in one year, original tire were low quality [had an abnormal number of flats] changed tires 1 flat in four years. Cup holder bad place. Almost impossible to do your own oil change. These are the problems I have had. Most of which occurred in the last 2 and a half years. It is a great car and I love it but everyone should know what its weaknesses are.
GTIs are great
reeo, 10/07/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is extremely fast, extremely cool, and extremely fast.. what else can i say besides that it is also extremely fast.
Sweetest Pocket Rocket Around!
Brooksy, 11/27/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is the Sweetest Pocket Rocket Around!
my rabbit
speed demon, 08/22/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 20th Anniversary Edition 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i love this car, it handles like if it was in rail road rield.
Poor Man's Porsche? Absolutely
GTI Fan, 11/13/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I couldn't be happier. For the same price, no car gets even close to the driving quality of a GTI. Will definitely go for it again...
German Quality
rzrbck1, 07/12/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I owned a '97 Jetta GLX-VR6 and was very skeptical about the 1.8t GTI. While it does not have the torque and power of the 97 Jetta GLX-VR6, I am please with the overall quality of this vehicle. VW has made great improvements in the fit and finish, primarily in the interior. I test drove, and was considering the Nissan Sentra Spec-V, but the fit and finish of the GTI brought me back to Volkswagen.
Awesome
PJ Klunk, 08/03/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
A fun vehicle to drive
very refined pocket-rocket
PKT RKT, 11/26/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The GTI is more expensive than the typical hot hatchback, but what you get is refinement that you usually only see on near-luxury vehicles in the mid $30,000 range. This is a very fun car to drive on long trips as well as everyday commutes. It's also very roomy and easy to live with on a day-to-day basis.
I Love this car
Bull1212, 09/06/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
There is nothing i dont like about this car. With the exception of poor stock suspension, the 1.8 is the best car i have ever owned. the engine has so much pep and with a few bolt ons, can become a really high powered tuner car.
2 hot, 2 fun, 2 fast
Hayabusa, 09/01/2003
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I juss got my 2003 GTI VR6 at last tuesday, which was August, 8th. This little machine is extremely fast and with composure. I'm having break-in period up to 1,000 miles, so I mostly shift up at 2000~3000 rpm. On my research, I considered ACURA RSX TYPE- S, HYUNDAI TIBURON GT V6, MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT, and of course VOLKSWAGEN GTI VR6. I'm very picky about cars. After all I chose GTI VR6, and I'm 99.9% satisfying with my decision. I had pretty great deal on my GTI, because of season(end of 2003) and EDMUNDS.COM's TMV pricing. It helped a lot. My buddy also bought 2003 GTI VR6 before I was. I'm very proud of my GTI VR6.
GTI 1.8T
CHUCK BITTMAN, 12/12/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
THIS CAR PICKS UP AND MOVES JUST AS QUICK AS THE BMW 318 AND 325 FOR MUCH LESS. I GET MAD LOOKS DRIVING IT. MY ONLY ISSUE IS WITH THE MOONSOON STERIO SYSTEM I GOT THE UP GRADE WITH 200WATT AMP AND THE SPECKERS CAN'T HANDLE THE OUT PUT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ONE SPECKER WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF BUYING MY CAR AND NEED TO REPLACE MORE.
Happy So Far
New GTI Owner, 10/30/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2dr Hatchback (2.8L 6cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
A blast to drive. I'm getting pretty bad gas mileage (20-21 mpg) since the car feels comfortable in the 4000+ RPM range. The 200 hp VR6 is definitely smoother, quieter, and not as jerky as the 1.8T. However, I probably would have gotten the 1.8T if I could have gotten the 6-speed and climate control. I was disappointed to see that the final assembly was in Brazil as eveything I had read before that (including Edmunds) indicated that the final assembly would be in Germany. That being said, the build quality feels very good. I do think the car is a great value and would do it again.
First and last time.
Marbles, 12/16/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I was very very pleased with the car up to about week 3, and now I can honestly say that I will NEVER buy another VW. Reason? The South-American Assembled interior rattles more than a jar of marbles in the paint shaker at home depot. Going straight, going slow, on the highway, in the neighboorhood, doesnt matter. constant rattles from everywhere in the car, more than even my 91 chevy blazer with broken interior pieces. My question for VW is this: Why are we still paying German prices and premiums for South american construction and quality?
You get what you paid for!!!!
1.8T driver, 12/22/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I felt good until the coilpack failed and interior trims started to rattle. VW dropped the price and they did not forget to lower the quality!!!!!!! It is unacceptable for A BRAND NEW CAR!!
VW Quality
mwestbrook, 11/02/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my brand new GTI in March of 2002. I have already had both window regulators break, rendering my driver/passenger side windows useless and trapped inside both doors. Not good since I park my car on the street. It took over 3 weeks to get the windows fixed...because window regulators are on national back order. Now my right tail brake light is out and I only have 10,000mi on my car. It makes me wonder...what's next?
happy with car
der meister, 12/24/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
went from a 2000 vr6 to the 03 1.8t, the car is great bang for the buck, wish it had the 6spd like the 337 though. missed out on that one.
WHOOOOOSHHHHH
Raman Gain, 12/20/2002
2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8T 2dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The original Hot Hatchback and still the best. I drove a SVT Focus for a full day, then a single test drive of the GTI 1.8T was the answer. By far the most 'mature' in this scrappy class - am I getting too old? Is enjoying full torque at 2k RPM too mature for this class? You can't beat the 4 year warranty or fuel mileage if you drive it maturely. Performance is very good, some say best in class. Turbo boost comes on strongly at 2k RPM and is smooth until PAST redline. Brakes are initially very grabby but responsive. Gearbox hates being rushed. RECOMMENDED upgrade is new diverter valve (~$140) to reduce boost-lag during shifts.
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