2010 Volkswagen GTI: Edmunds Rating

disagree, i for one care far less about fuel economy than performance... 4/5 is probably due to rattles and squeaks...

True, but we're talking about a VW GTI, not a Z06 Vette. Most people looking at the GTI are looking for a blend of performance, economy, and overall utility. Also, Edmunds.com is primarily aimed at the average consumer/car buyer, not the performance minded Insideline group, hence why I think fuel efficiency should be included as a measure of overall performance.

Regarding rattles/squeaks - then it should be mentioned, or at least given an explanation of what's lacking or what is left to be desired.

well i'm biased since i have one, but i think its fair to give it high marks.

that said - i think it's fairly stupid to buy a car based on the subjective opinions of others. reviews and comments are a nice way to narrow down your list of possible purchases; but in the end, its a very personal decision. i knew immediately after test driving a GTI that i'd buy one, but i have no doubt many other people would find it awful.

Of all the cars I've had the privilege (or misfortune) of owning/test driving (depends on the car), the GTI has been the best all around car, hands down.

It has enough power for brisk acceleration runs on public roads without getting you in too much trouble relative to other sporty cars, it gets good gas mileage, it can hold a lot of stuff, it's comfortable, the interior is fantastic, it can be driven all year, etc.

I know people seem to beat it up for its perceived reliability, but you're more likely to find horror stories online as opposed to stories of how well someone's car is running (especially if you go to car forums).

I've had no problems with the GTI except for a speaker rattle which was remedied during a regular maintenance visit. I don't listen to my music quietly either, so not all owners will be as sensitive to something like that.

It's a shame people still perceive these cars to be so unreliable. Many would be surprised that mine is holding up considering how I drive it. The only thing that's proving to be an issue is the wear on the tires, haha, but that is of course directly related to how I drive it, so that is not the car's fault at all.

Granted, the GTI is not enough to satisfy my need for speed, it's certainly a car that would wind up on my short list of cars to choose from if I could only have one for the rest of my life because it's just that good at everything.

When I was helping my parents shop for a new car, both mom and dad test drove the GTI and loved it. Mom is a higher speeds highway commuter and dad is a slow/safe/steady kind of driver. It is really an all around winner except for those looking for 30 mpgs and above. Dad uses it as his primary car driving to stores, work, etc, and I end up driving it on longer family trips. Very happy with the buy. If they could get it to 30mpg, there would be little reason to buy anything else under 25k.

I certainly hope they're right. I've finally decided a GTI will be my next car and, circumstances willing, it'll be mine by December. I appreciate the comments but someone nailed it...when something bad happens people complain far and wide. when things are going smoothly, they rarely mention it or go out of their way to praise it. I prefer to find an owners/fan forum because those people tend to know their cars much more in-depth than the general public, and I can get better info than just "I don't like the color of the headlights at night", which caused someone to rate the car at 2 stars. I hate that.

I love the car. It is a grown up hot hatch, and whats not to love about that?

"It is a grown up hot hatch, and whats not to love about that?"

Really the only thing I can think of is price.

The GTI starts at $28,875 is Canada which is almost twice the price of Mazda2, Fiat 500 and Fiesta.

I'd prefer to see hot hatch versions of those cars coming in around $20K. I'd be happy to trade the grown up feel for more light and lively.

"i knew immediately after test driving a GTI that i'd buy one, but i have no doubt many other people would find it awfu"

I really wanted to drive a Golf but the dealer was such a foul piece of excrement, that I walked out. It seems like a nice machine. As for reliability, I am not sure but the LT car seems to have done just fine. JD power has Volkswagen almost at the bottom but who knows?

"The GTI starts at $28,875 is Canada which is almost twice the price of Mazda2, Fiat 500 and Fiesta.

I'd prefer to see hot hatch versions of those cars coming in around $20K. I'd be happy to trade the grown up feel for more light and lively."

The car may not be for you, then - that's fine, but really the only thing the GTI and those cars you've named have in common is that they're all FWD hatchbacks. Yeah, the GTI is larger, but it has over 200 hp (it's underrated), and the cars you've named have anywhere from 100 to 115 - plus the feature set, etc.

I have driven all but the 500, and there is no comparison - just completely different categories.

Firstwagon "The GTI starts at $28,875 is Canada"

It's also amazing how fast that price can go up with options. That said, some of the main competitors are more, Mazdaspeed3 ($29,700), Subaru WRX hatch ($33,400), Mitsubishi Ralliart ($32,800).

Did Edmunds get it right or wrong? Right, basically - although Inside Line started out panning the LT car but ended up liking it, because it's such a good day-to-day car.

The thing that sold me on a loaded GTI vs the MS3, WRX and Evo was the ability to address the car's generally-agreed-upon shortcomings - with around $1,500 and a half-day, the power deficit and perceived suspension softness go away with a reflash and bolt-on parts. Done.

The polarizing styling of the MS3 did not appeal, and the interior was just not as good. Adding the features it lacked (sunroof, heated seats, OEM xenons, etc.) aftermarket sounded like a PIA or just not feasible, and adding flexibility to the on-or-off powertrain looked like a tough lift.

WRX/STI/Evo - they felt to me like $20k cars with higher-performance drivetrains (much higher, for sure) added on later. I can't throw money at the hard plastics and NVH levels and make them go away.

A $30k GTI feels like at has all the goodness built in, not attached later. My sister-in-law has a base-model $17k 2-door Golf, and the power windows work and sound just like mine - almost silent. The windows in the Evo I drove sounded like someone using a cordless drill next to the car.

There were a couple of GTI TSBs for bad door seals and poorly-secured fuel lines that slapped the unit body with each pump pulse (did not affect my car), but I think some of the reliability issues were overblown, although some dealers are definitely clueless.

Edmunds/Inside Line got the big things right on their assessment, but they fell down on how easy it is to address the car's weak points, relative to those of the competition.