G: Great powertrain. The smooth and eager turbo four also sounds great when you lean into it. And the tranny has a light, progressive clutch and a fairly slick shifter.
T: Timeless styling. This is what a hot hatch -- a vehicle that combines a spirited driving personality with the practicality of roomy passenger/cargo areas -- should look like. A cleanly chiseled form that's functional yet somehow still Euro chic.
I: Intuitive controls. For example, the proven, old-school three knob layout for the climate control and likewise user-friendly radio with volume and tuning knobs on either end. The steering wheel controls also become second nature in short order.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 24, 262 miles
90in55 says:
08:20 PM, 06/19/11
If it had standard xenons like the Mk5, I'd like it even better. Still the king of hot hatches though.
powell_jr says:
08:44 PM, 06/19/11
Good post. I agree on all three points.
saturn95 says:
09:50 PM, 06/19/11
Great post, if it weren't for the reliability or rather lack thereof, this would be my top choice for a new car.
uncanny_man says:
10:27 PM, 06/19/11
I've lived in Europe too long to see it as anything other than a tarted up family car. Personally, these have all the appeal of a camry se.
mx5er says:
12:24 AM, 06/20/11
I noticed the headlights are the standard halogens and not xenons. But I see it has headlight washers. Does it work or VW got lazy and just put fixed covers.
mx5er says:
12:25 AM, 06/20/11
I noticed the headlights are the standard halogens and not xenons. But I see it has headlight washers. Does it work or VW got lazy and just put fixed covers.
tempesting says:
03:55 AM, 06/20/11
I'm not a shopper in this segment but I like everything about this car, except that interior...
tercel95 says:
06:07 AM, 06/20/11
@mx5er They are just covers, you can't get the headlight washers at all in the US.
g0tcuddly says:
08:09 AM, 06/20/11
saturn95 says:
Great post, if it weren't for the reliability or rather lack thereof, this would be my top choice for a new car.
Guy named Saturn commenting on reliability. He'd know for sure. Why would he have to provide any sort of factual evidence?
stovt001 says:
08:14 AM, 06/20/11
I disagree about the interior, tempesting. That is one of the reasons I would pick the GTI over the hotter Mazdaspeed3. The fabric pattern is love-or-hate (I happen to love it) but the rest is definitely a step above for the rest of this class. VW hasn't fully dumbed-down this interior for Americans yet. They just decontended the features and option list.
lucien4 says:
09:01 AM, 06/20/11
"I've lived in Europe too long to see it as anything other than a tarted up family car. Personally, these have all the appeal of a camry se."
+1.
Why is this timeless styling? I guess so are about all of VW's cars including new Jetta. But I can say same thing about Corolla. Not that much different in styling anymore anyway to VW.
"old-school three knob layout" sounds to me also they didn't try harder and cut costs on this one again. Jetta deletion of some extra gauges I guess is also intentionally old-school.
fordson1 says:
09:15 AM, 06/20/11
Most of the concerns about features and options, and the plaid interior you just address with the right box on the option sheet. Costs money, but you can do something about it.
The love-it-or-hate-it fabric in the MS3 is just...there. If you hate it buy another car. Want a sunroof? Heated seats? Buy another car.
shadrach2 says:
09:33 AM, 06/20/11
Completely agree. The engine not only sounds great, it sounds BETTER than my prior Z4 3.0is. I could never understand why BMW threw all that silencing onto it. And the interior is a big plus for me. The fabric still looks absolutely new, unlike the case for any leather I've owned. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Major win. I happen to like the plaid - to each his own.
My only nit is that the audio button on the left of the steering wheel is too close to my hand and I've accidentally engaged it numerous times while cornering.
rascal99 says:
10:03 AM, 06/20/11
"Why is this timeless styling? I guess so are about all of VW's cars including new Jetta. But I can say same thing about Corolla. Not that much different in styling anymore anyway to VW."
Because many years from now this design will probably still look good to most people, regardless of your own personal bias. Understated styling goes a long way.
"Great post, if it weren't for the reliability or rather lack thereof, this would be my top choice for a new car.
Not that its my personal mission to defend VW; I could really care less, but reliability of this model is just fine, even good. Try reading some factual sources instead of relying on internet musings (e.g. "I knew someone that knew someone..."). Even your personal experience is statistically irrelevant.
cr_driver says:
12:14 PM, 06/20/11
"Still the king of hot hatches though."
-Still the king of warm hatches though-
FIXED ;)
90in55 says:
12:19 PM, 06/20/11
@cr_driver,
Warm is more than adequate on most days :)
fundango says:
03:33 PM, 06/20/11
"Warm is more than adequate on most days :)"
Have to agree with that statement.
We just picked up a 2011 GTI for my gf. It's certainly not as much of a hot hatch as a Speed3/WRX (let alone a STI/Evo), but for that majority of people out there, I'd wager that's a good thing.
What's surprising is how fun the GTI is up to 7/10ths driving. I had a few hours to take it on some backroads over the weekend, and although I'm used to my STI, the GTI is still a lot of fun to drive in its own way. It's somewhat reminiscent of a 3-series, but in a FWD hatch layout -- just a very solid blend of refinement, sportiness, and practicality for a DD. I think most people would be satisfied with the amount of sportiness the GTI offers, and would welcome its additional refinement over that of a comparable Speed3/WRX.
tercel95 says:
03:47 AM, 06/21/11
Well put Fundango, thats exactly how I felt about my 2011 GTI until my GF and I switched cars for a day and now she won't give mine back. I'm driving her 99 integra LS now. Its solid though, reminds me of how great Honda used to be.
fundango says:
05:36 AM, 06/21/11
@tercel95
Haha my gf is like that too, won't give my stuff back. BTW, I used to own a 94 integra and I agree that was another classic drivers' car. Light on its feet, lots of feedback, and great visibility all around. They just don't make cars like that anymore unfortunately.
lucasg says:
06:12 AM, 06/22/11
Ok People,
The time has come... I am looking for a fun to drive ride that will double as a family car within the next few years. The GTI is at the top of my list as of today. Not a fan of the Mazdaspeed3, the WRX has the speed I love, but the GTI seemed to be the all around favorite after test driving all 3. Most of my friends have been trying to talk me out of it because they are still in the "VW's have always been pieces of sh*t cars" mindset. I had felt that way too except when reading up on the GTI's. By a show of comments, and please be honest, should I get it?
Thank you all...