Lets just cut to the chase: The fifth generation GTI model you see pictured is the most complete GTI that Volkswagen has produced in some 13 years. It goes, it handles, it brakes, it sticks and it looks the part. Some of you will probably cry foul, but for long-time GTI enthusiasts, we all know that something was definitely lost after the second generation GTI model stopped production in 1992 - the cars got heavier, more luxurious, and while they also became powerful, they also lost sight of what a true Volkswagen GTI should be. Even Volkswagen brass in Germany admit the GTI "lost its way". Outside of a few limited edition models like the 20th Anniversary GTI (North American version), since 1992 the GTI, by its very definition, has been floundering. Well, we're here to tell you that the GTI is back... Full Story...

i can't for this car to get to US shores... now for the choice between the GTI and A3.

...waiting for haters to step in...

probably not, considering nothing has been confirmed in Europe. also consider the fact that bringing the MkIV R32 to the US was an afterthought...

Will it be available in Canada in late 2005 as well ???

Wow....and to think I swore off of buying another VW ever again. Amazing. Guess they deserve a thumbs up. Now....let's see how they hold up in the reliability department. Other than my tranny, my MKIII hasn't been all that bad....just routine stuff here and there.

As for the car...SEX! I am IN LOVE with the GTI V and I want it to have my children. The interiorl...OMG, perfection. The exterior will never top the Golf IV perfection, but it's certainly growing on me more and more, and it certainly isn't offensive. The GTI treatment is a big improvement over the standard Golf V.

And the performance...wow. I mean, geez, if this thing sticks to the road as good as people say, then we're looking at lateral gs nearing 0.9g! Amazing! Hell, the GTI IV could already outgrip a mountain goat (0.86 gs, thank you kindly, on par with a SRT-4 and well above a WRX)

No word on a lightweight version, but I'll ask. I presume launch dates are the same for Canada. Until we publish otherwise they should be the same.

-jamie

Willkommen in USA

When to use your rear fog light.

My new Office Neighbor has NT A QTRO parked outside.

Achtung Ingolstadt, (München, Stuttgart, Trollhättan, Detroit, Göteborg, somebody!?!?!?) I like station wagons with a manual transmission.

I'll just wait for the GTI - and hopefully a lightweight version.

There are only so many ways to describe how a car drives or behaves, particularly when it is limited to street driving with no track time or instrument testing. The cars we drove didn't do anything out of step and handled everything we could throw at it within reasonable limits of what can be done on the street.

We could have also said it was a bag of crap, but it isn't.

-jamie

And by haters, whom are you referring to exactly??? Hopefully not people that want VW to come out with not just a competent product, but a benchmark like they did with the first three generations, right??? I still think whomever penned this car should be shot, or go work for Honda... I just can't get over how much the exterior resembles the current Civic!!!

Great job on the interior though, as usual... And great job on making it feel like a GTI again, although I'll wait for my personal test drive to come to any conclussions...

Jamie, quick question... What's the curb weight of the vehicle???

A pair of balls and a pair of Golfs...

Any word on HIDs here in N. America?

Modified by theskippur at 12:39 PM 10-1-2004

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Hopefully not people that want VW to come out with not just a competent product, but a benchmark like they did with the first three generations, right???

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I still think whomever penned this car should be shot, or go work for Honda... I just can't get over how much the exterior resembles the current Civic!!!

show us a current hatch that is truly unique and doesn't share any lines with any other hatchback.

There is really not much more I can say that hasn't been said here or in other similar threads with regard to the new platform on the horizon. I'm eager to see this car hit the dealers.... ....thanks for the insightful review.

VW / AUDI KIDS stuff & Die Cast GIFT IDEAS..!!.. CLICK HERE

My big question is, how much does it weigh?

VW did a great job of masking the weight of the R32, but there is just no replacing a lack of weigh.

I am so getting this.

Great review. Thousands of watering mouths today.

Probably not on the GTI...VW has always said GTIs don't get 4motion because 4motion adds weight, and is therefore in direct conflict with the mission of the GTI.

We can probably expect a 2.0T 4motion Golf, though...or, at the very least, there's the A3 2.0T Quattro.

buy a Highline Golf or an A3 if you want 4motion or a VR6.

those things are too heavy and don't belong in a true GTI.

Agreed!

Modified by VWPassat1 at 9:24 PM 10-1-2004

also, how does the handling compare to the r32?

Reread my post bro... I said mere competence is not enough... The first two generations, and the third arguably, were BENCHMARKS... The current Mk4 doesn't look like a Civic, does it???

A pair of balls and a pair of Golfs...