Used 2003 Volkswagen GTI Hatchback Consumer Reviews

FUN TO DRIVE

This is by far my favorite car i have ever owned. It has plenty of power all the way across the extremely smooth powerband. interior comfort is unbelievable for a car way under 30 grand. However i have had the car for about 3 months and electrical system is very disrupting. everything resets and car stalls and doesn't start back up agian too many times. It is sometimes hard to believe that it is a brand new car. Gas mileage is decent 20 mpg, it isn't a big concern of mine, plus it probably could be better if you take in account how i drive. Overall i feel better when i sit in my car, and even better when i drive it like a stole it.

A Must Read

Not only does this car look stunning bathed in Reflex Silver, shod with 17 inch wheels and dealer-tinted windows, but it has all the features and amenities of cars costing much more. The only thing I find more moving than all the luxury and refinement that surrounds me, is the 1.8 liter turbo mated with a slick-shifting manual transmission. Press firmly on the go pedal and you hear a slightly-audible whooshing sound issuing from the engine bay as your turbo rapidly spools up. What happens next is nothing less than startling. You are pressed firmly into your leather seatback as you rocket down the open road. EMAIL FOR MORE excitmnt94@hotmail.com

Such A Shame

Owning this car is like a relationship with a hot, sexy, person who has a severe chronic disease with many symptoms which can appear at any time for any reason. The car has had the ENTIRE ENGINE replaced at 34k miles because of a problem with an oil leak. Before that transplant I had replaced the clutch at 18K, all the power windows have broken. I have a little pile of plastic peices that have fallen off the ashtrays, seats, and interior which I can't figure out where they're coming from but they all have the VW logo. Gunther Volkswagon is the best, like nurses in the cancer ward, they are very sypathetic and understanding. This car is Junk..

Great Car

Just got my car on new years eve 2002. man I love this car so much. The GTI 1.8t has lots of power, very agile handling and a very luxurious interior. My car in particular has every available package and the car is still reasonably priced around 22k. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a sporty yet luxurious 2 door.

Awsome

I have had my GTI for one week. I still cant belive I have it. I get nothing but performace from her. I us her in heavy traffic and I have the 6 speed manuel. That does not make a difference. She handles just as well as a automatic. The speed and the power at top end i awsome. I would tell anyone to get this call. Classy, sporty, and a whole bunch of fun rapped up into one awsome car.

So many problems...so little time

I will never buy a Volkswagen again! Let me state that I have ALWAYS had my car serviced at the proper intervals and only at Volkswagen. I have had the window regulators break 3 times, the ignition coils go out twice, and the battery blew up. Also, the car rattles so much that it sounds like it was made in the 70's. I have had my car 13 months and have had to have the car towed 4 times. The sad thing is...VW isn't even apologetic about their quality problems. Potential VW buyers beware, don't buy a VW unless you have all the time in the world and love sitting in a cold, emotionless, flourescent lit VW dealership for hours on end!

Shezy`s thoughts on the gtizle

This car has been my favorite for yeas and when they cane out with the 20th anaversary edition I had to get it and since I`ve had it driving has been alot better.I wanna give V-dub props for making it so all you git lovers this car is a must!!!!

VR6=Vroooooommmm6

Just got the VR-6! Fast off the start! So far so good. Getting a lot of stares, people pointing---hey you! Reliability to be seen...

GTI 1.8t is smooth performer

Last car was 02 GT Mustang... was total loss in accident after only 9K miles... GTI was always interesting to me. (On the short list when I bought the stang) I've had this car for a couple of months and it is truly incredible. Build is great, performance is great. Love the 1.8t though wonder if VR6 would have been better choice for me... I love the tourque more than the speed. Anyway, love my 03 GTI and would reccommend to anyone. Despite the fact that this car has endeared itself to me, I do believe I will be replacing it with a Golf R32 in '04... that car has potential to be incredible!

great car for the money

this car is the best car i ever owned. Runs very strong. Very fast and very good brakes. I will never sell it as long i live!!!

What a car!

This car is so much fun to drive it's unbelievable. If you have never had a car of this caliber (like me) then it will amaze you. It will turn and the drop of a hat and accelerate smoothly, obeying your every command. The 6 speed tranny matted to the turbo works great and keeping the speed down is nearly impossible. Not only that but for the 20th anniversary the interior has brushed aluminum accents everywhere including the gauges (which look incredible) and a limited edition plaque that displays the number of the car XXXX (out of 4000 for the US). A FANTASTIC CAR!!!

2003 IY 20th GTI

I am the original owner and have had the car for 4 years. In 4 yrs, it has only been back to the dealership twice for non-routine service. Once for a freak sunroof malfunction, and once for a brake light switch recall. All I do is drive it hard, service it regularly and enjoy my time in it. I have participated in autoX and track day events with it, with no problems to this point.

God Bless 24Vs!

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.

Great!

I absolutely love this car....wonderful build quality! Very fun to drive and great gas mileage. Can't beat the ride and feel of German made automobiles!

Buy this car!!!!!

One has to really appreciate this car. Unbeatable build quality especially for the money. Perfect amounts of power (any more and you would need VW's 4-motion. Way to go VW!!!

not a hot hatch its better

next week will be a year,have all options,black leather,black paint. 15,500 mi must have one of the first ones. love the car it can do every thing very good. understear is the cars only weakness in performance.I have a 2000 mazda miata a true sports car so the vw fells big and heavy.For every day use you cant beat its low end power and interior comfort and quality.

VR6 power kicks up the fun

Test drove both the 1.8t and the VR6. Could have had leather, roof and monsoon with the 1.8t for the same money, but I preferred the greatly increased low end tourque, 6 speed transmission and more reliable engine of the VR6 vs. the turbo. Handling is fairly good, although tuned more to comfort than true sport car performance. The wife's Focus SVT will run circles around it through the turns. All season tires don't help. Power of the motor is best feature- flexible, lots of grunt, smooth revs. Comfort is high. Sport seats are nice- supportive and comfortable. Highway ride is excellent.

GTI owns !

This car rocks overall! The Turbo is awesome, especially since i put a chip on it. It pulls on alot of cars. I like all the features, yes the cupholder is annoying though. My BIGGEST complaint is that the interior rattled since the first week I got the car. There's like 5 miscellaneous squeaks/rattles. And if you put your stuff in the bins, they will rattle it. Makes no sense since they padded it. My Honda Civic didn't rattle at all even with crap in it. But the 1.8T engine rules and the features for the money rocks. Over all i like it alot! I can spank RSX's, Celica's, Integras, anything in its class.

THE Sport-hatch Standard Bearer

I bought mine from a cousin who has worked for VW/Porsche/Audi for 15 years. He recommended the 1.8T vs. the VR6 due to weight and handling issues. I agree with him. 2nd gear is a blast with the torque screaming through. The suspension is stiff, and body-roll not bad for a "tall" coupe. I have two small children, and it's no problem taking them on trips of 4 hours or under. Kudos also to the instruments and the blue back-lighting (although a boost gauge wouldn't hurt). You can take about 80-85% of the cars out there off the line, and it handles very well at speed. No vibrations, shakes or drifting.

Gti

MY 20th AE

I enjoy the car very much i did do the ko4 upgrade witch did make it faster and more enjoyable.. I think the ko4 should have been stock like the audi 225Q, stock handles ok.. braking power is great with the stock bigger brakes. great seats and body style..

Best Sports Car I Have Owned!

Awesome car! As a car enthusiast but also a college student, my funds are not the highest. I use my GTI every single day. Either for my 60 mile commute to school and back. As well as for work. HAS NOT left me stranded once. MAKE SURE you change the timing belt, tensioner, water pump every 60,000 miles and your GTI will last extremely long. I meticulously take care of her and she has treated me extremely well. Even with my modifications with some spirited runs here and there. I have installed a 3 in downpipe, performance muffler, cold air intake, diverter valve, coilovers, reflashed the ECU with a stage 1 tune making the turbo push 23 psi. Making around 220hp/240tq now. Yet, she is still running good and hard. Extremely cheap to modify, reliable, great on gas, great looks, and luxurious compared to the competition. What else can you ask for! At 116,000 miles so far, everything has held up very well. I bought her at 112,000, just 4 months ago. Only complain I have is slight rattles and squeeks from the plastics by the ash tray, under the climate control. But it was expected from a 13 year old car with 116,000 miles. The best part is these cars are VERY AFFORDABLE! keep on dubbin people :)

just get one

VW did well with the 20th AE GTI by raiding the Audi parts bin. It uses TT brakes, trans, and 1.8t engine. Simply the GTI that should have been produced in the first place. I dig the car tremendously, and has been every bit as entertaining as more expensive German sports cars that I've owned. Its a somewhat simple machine designed to simply be fast. Got mine in Black Magic Pearl, murdered out completely. It scares small children. You will not be disappointed.

Ugliest car VW buids

VR6 engine is this cars best asset. Ugly looking from the outside. Just tell yourself its a Jetta when you're in it driving.

2003 Volkswagen GTI VR6 Update - Don't buy a VW

This car has given me more headaches than it is worth. My problems with it to date are as follows: 1-radio knob broke and fell off, headrests were missing upon delivery. 2-breaklights stopped working (dealer fixed) 3-front right wheel well fell out! 4-driver side seat was defective and replace 5-passenger seat was defective and replaced 6-on board computer display issues...dealer would not fix unless they saw it happening. 7-battery defective and replace at year two, 20,000 miles 8-dealer gave on computer display, replaced cluster with another yet another defective one 9-back for another gauge cluster... If you buy one, live close to the dealer, you'll be there a lot.

girlfriend was not impressed

This car just didn't do it for me. I tried to improve it by removing the passenger seat. Car is too small and too light. My girlfriend is 270 lbs, and with her as a passenger, this car didn't deliver. Even a Neon has more umpff. The car had 180k on it. Ghost of a car, could pass like a maniac under rush hour traffic. Haunted by evil spirits, and endless repairs. Only managed to squeeze 3k out of it, before I gave it away. Bad transmission. Bad suspension. Bad torque steer. Maybe if I had the vr6 with the manual, I might have had a better experience.

Dream Car is a Nightmare

Worst car ever! Owned for 5 years, bought new, baby this car. Replaced 4 batteries, 2 alternators, 3 shocks, and last week had to rebuild the engine. $24,000 cost of car, $8,000 in unusual repairs in 5 years. VW will not honor warranty on same 1.8 liter engine used in the Passat that is known for having oil sludge problem and been recalled. Engine light came on and within 2 minutes the engine locked due to oil sludge,result was a destroyed engine. $3700 to fix, VW wanted $5000. I am filing case in small claims court. I loved this car but it has been the worst car I have ever owned, the second to worst was my 1984 VW GTI. STAY AWAY FROM VW! My car has been towed six times, thank God for AAA.