2010 Volkswagen GTI: Good on the Highway, Except for the Wind

Known issue on early build two doors - dealers have a fix for it.

I've noticed a whistle when driving my MS3 at highway speeds too :(

your passengers should never be falling a sleep in a sporty car, they should be grabbing the oh-sh** handle and praying they don't die. Well the way I drive anyway.

I've heard it too, Erin. I kept trying to close the window, thinking it was cracked open a millimeter. Then I tried re-slamming the door. No dice.

It's a wonky seal of some flavor to be sure.

-Jason K, Engineering Editor

So Erin has 3 posts in a single day. Did you fall behind and get to have a meeting with your boss about deadlines, and responsibility. Do you guys have a monthly minimum for this blog, or what?

On a related note, I test drove a GTI (4-door) this weekend, I liked it, probably will replace my current Impreza in a few years (I sold the Volvo a year ago).

I did not notice the whistling, but maybe it is not present in the 4-door version.

@ old_volvo: Check the dates more carefully. This is the only post I've put up today, Monday the 21st. Feel free, though, to offer more specific commentary on the quality of my writing so that my boss may incorporate your feedback into my performance improvement plan.

Hold on, the whistle of the GTI is annoying but the constant Orange County burble coming from the MS3's exhaust isn't? Or the constant drone coming from the rear tires of the MS3 doesn't get old?

@ old_volvo...

BURN!

@blueguydotcom

this article isn't about the ms3, thats probably why you don't see any comments about it.

bring it to the dealer, they'll realign the doors. my gti is whisper quiet

I want one of these so much! ARG! My wife will kill me if I buy another car though...

@blueguydotcom:

Notice...this is a blog about the GTI not the MS3. If you want to make it about the MS3 (seems that the car insulted your mother as you insult it all the time) then lets talk about it. HMMMM noise from the rear tires. ...Don't get me wrong...as I am sure you own one and drive it on a regular basis. But I do and I can tell you as well as anyone who reads this that you are full of S&%t. As for the drone of the exhaust...If you don't like the sound of a performance car, might I suggest a Corolla or a Sentra? Stop talking about a class of car you have no right talking on. I own both these cars...the GTI is the Audi wanna be and is slow but a decent ride (why I only let my wife drive it...less peppy) the MS3 is the driver's car...it says hold on it's time for a ride lets go have some fun. Blueguydotcom...stop posting when you dont know shit about either cars...though you may have aqn opinion...no one cares because your opinions have no basis in the real world.

@jkav and eriches - as mentioned before, it's a door alignment issue on the 2-door GTIs, some early-build models have reported this issue.

Bring it to the dealer, there's a fix for it that involves realigning the door latches for a tighter/better fit. Eliminates the noise.

Also, surprised that you think the Dunlops are quiet. I find them to be quite noisy, and will be replacing them soon.

@dan,

Wow, sorry but it's well known Erin really adores the MS3. The GTI and MS3 are always pitted against each other here. I found it interesting the whistle bothers her but the OC-sounding coffee can exhaust on the MS3 doesn't fray her nerves.

Have a pop tart and lighten up. It's a blog about toys. It's not the last chopper out of Saigon.

Other than the bad seals, does the GTI mind the wind? Do you feel the wind pushing the car around? That's an aspect of the MS3 that I love, I may encounter strong crosswinds from time to time and I may hear them, but I don't feel any of it on the steering.

Hm, I started noticing that sometimes when I read a review about IL's GTI experience - it is a complete opposite of what I've been experiencing when I drive my GTI. I can't say that this car is a freeway friendly sleeping bag, unless your passengers are on a seeping pill. I drive freeways everyday and unless it's an asphalt surface the ride is somewhat hard. Your passengers will have a hard time to read a book because it is more like riding a rocking horse. And I compare the ride to BMW 335xi, which in terms of ride smoothness feels like Buick after driving a GTI:)
As far as wind noise, if it really bothers you, you can take it to a dealer and see what they have to say about it. I can hear some wind noise when I'm driving around 70-80 but it doesn't bother me, it isn't Lexus you know;)

Were those Dunlops the ones that replaced the all-seasons the GTI came with? I too find my Dunlops a bit noisy but that's the tradeoff for some razorsharp turn-in and stellar grip. Also, they seem very sensitive to whatever air-pressure you have them at- I'm not even at 6k miles yet and I can almost tell what my air-pressure is after getting on the freeway. If it's too quiet and comfortable, it's probably fallen to 30-32PSI (door jam label suggests 34 front, 35 back).

I'll switch to Hankook V12 Ventus Evo's the next go around. I'm willing to give up a smidge of performance for less roadnoise and potentially more comfort. Also they cost nearly half as much. Considering summer tires of a spiritedly driven hot hatch last around 20k miles at most (the stock MS3 Dunlops might get me to 15k), there'll definitely be opportunities to try them out.

Honestly, I don't notice the exhaust for the MS3 much from the driver seat. But from the backseats? Oh yeah, definitely more pronounced. I hear a lot more engine grunt at 3250rpm (cruising at 80mph in 6th) and I haven't touched the midpipe/resonator.

No whistling either- with or without door visors, windows up, cracked or down all the way. If it's there, it's being drowned out by other noises.

@f1ndler: It's a different experience when you have the opportunity to drive the GTI back-to-back with a Mazdaspeed 3 day in, day out. Compared to the Mazda, the VW is more compliant. I've spent considerable time in other alternatives in this price range (Cooper S, Clubman S, Civic Si) and the GTI rides softer than those cars, too.

Comparing the GTI to a 335xi is all well and good, but that car costs twice as much and weighs significantly more to boot.

mcgs999 and diondi, do you folks have a TSB number the editorial department can use for the dealership to refer to?

Erin, FWIW, I like your commentary almost as much as I did Sadlier's. Your car enthusiasm definetely shows, and even if I disagree with what you say, you always say it well. How's that for your performance review?

Kinda weird mentioning the ride on a 335i compared to a GTI. If the 335i still has the RFTs it rides like a mack truck and every road imperfection blasts through the cabin as if the car had been hit by a giant sledge hammer. Switch to real tires and yeah it smooths out considerably but it also weighs several hundred pounds more and those lbs are present in every corner and transition. So while the GTI may roll more in corners and the 335i stays flat, the GTI still ends up giving the sensation of tossability; the Bimmer always feels kinda leaden and never willing to dance.

The only reason I compared 335xi to GTI is only because I get to drive them both often. I realize that BMW is heavier and has longer wheel base then GTI but I just can't agree with people who think that GTI has a soft suspension, because "soft suspension" has relative meaning. I had honda SI not so long ago and I think that SI is somewhat softer then GTI too. I can't comment on other cars ride quality because I didn't drive them, so from my experience I don't think that GTI's ride is soft.

@subytrojan
I do not as I have a four door and this is a two door specific issue- i will see if I can find one...

I really like this photo of the GTI. Makes me wish I had one waiting for me out in the parking lot......