You are here: Forums Hatchbacks Volkswagen GTI VW GTI (All styles)

VW GTI (All styles)

1593 messages,  Last post on Sep 12, 2009 at 3:21 PM

You are in the Volkswagen GTI Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Volkswagen GTI, Coupe, Hatchback

Messages Page 2 of 160 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 160 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#5 of 1593 car and driver by dflor Nov 17, 1999 (2:54 am)
ive also read the article on car and driver it the gti a 7.7 sec 0-60 . i can also testify having a 99 gti vr6 that this time seems slow. and while the shifter seems trickier it only takes a few hours to get use to it.                              df
#6 of 1593 0-60 instructions? by davebayer Nov 17, 1999 (1:27 pm)
I'll bite. Hottest drivers out there, if you were giving detailed instructions to C&D on getting a recent VR6 0-60 in under 7 seconds, what would they say? What's the start like? Where do you shift?
#7 of 1593 Breaking-in a gti by swong4 Nov 17, 1999 (2:48 pm)
I have a 2-week old '00 gti vr6, and have close to 400 miles on it. Just love the car and the engine. The manual says so go easy on the engine for the first 1K miles. I have heard others say that it doesn't really matter, and even one that said to rev it up during shifting for the first 1K miles. Can anyone tell me what their experience was, and does the engine rev more freely and feel more powerful after the initial break-in? I have not really revved the tach beyond 4000 rpm. Does most of the gti vr6's power kick in after 4000 rpm?
#8 of 1593 Breaking in a GTI by pipo Nov 17, 1999 (7:41 pm)
This should resolve your quandry. Randy Hubbard of Raceware says the following: Read the owner's manual. The engineers at VW know what they're talking about. Until 600 miles, don't rev over 5000 rpms, and vary the engine speed and throttle position regularly. After 600, occasional WOT (wide open throttle) is ok, just don't exceed the red line. After 1000, let her rip, including full bore WOT for limited runs (but of course, nver exceed the red line). Hope this helps.
#9 of 1593 Car and Driver by pipo Nov 17, 1999 (8:11 pm)
No one should ever base their car buying decision primarily on anybody's opinion but their own. Read and gather all the information you can, then form your own judgment. And remember, the C&D writers are just another bunch of schmos expressing their own subjective opinions. They may have a lot of experience, but they also have their own biases and preferences. That said, there are many different views expressed regarding the GTI's poor showing in the recent Car and Driver article. Some attribute it to pressure from certain advertisers, others talk about a Honda bias, and others (including some VW lovers) basically agree with the written analysis of the GTI (if not the actual points standing). If you read the article carefully, much of what C&D has to say about the GTI is both positive and true. The negatives, numb shifter and excessive body roll, have been complained about by Vdubbers at length in this and other forums. But let's put the negatives into perspective. Most car drivers in this country would find the GTI to be an extremely nimble handler, compared to most of the products that are available out there. And, as many others have noted, there are relatively inexpensive suspension mods available to turn the GTI into an amazing handler. I also don't think there is to much to complain about with respect to the shifter. I don't find it numb at all -- perhaps not as crisp as it could be -- but overall quite precise. Bottom line, this is a great and practical little car that is beautifully put together, is comfortable and subtly luxurious, and, best of all, that engine! It pulls very nicely starting at about 2000 rpms, and never quits after that. This cannot be said about any of the Japanese 4 bangers, which only put out at vry high rpms (annoying, if you ask me, unless you're always on a race track revving the bejeebers out of it). Most importantly, GTI owners are PASSIONATE about their cars. I love mine, even with its minor flaws, which I intend to remedy with suspension mods in the Spring. These cars get under your skin and stay there. Kinda like falling in love...
#10 of 1593 Re: Breaking-in a gti by davebayer Nov 17, 1999 (9:45 pm)
I cleared my first 1,000 miles in the first week, all highway miles at under 3,000 rpm. In case you don't have a GTI VR6 yet, this means using 5th gear sometimes, and keeping it under 80 mph. Not an impossible discipline to follow. In other words, breaking in a GTI simply means not playing with it too hard. Even after 1,000 miles, taking care of it means giving it a chance to warm up, before playing with it too hard. The oil has to distribute, especially in cold weather, where synthetic oil is apparently a plus. (I'm waiting till 15,000 miles to switch to synthetic, unless I hear better advice...)
#11 of 1593 GTI VR6 stock tires by swong4 Nov 18, 1999 (4:45 pm)
Has anyone's gti vr6 come in stock Continentals? Most of the posts that I've read here talk (or complain) about having Michelins and Goodyears. Mine came with Continentals (made in Germany) and I'm wondering if handling will improve with tires like Pirelli P7000's. Any advice?
#12 of 1593 contis by nedzel Nov 18, 1999 (6:04 pm)
Mine are Continentals as well. I'm not familiar with the Pirelli P7000s. My recommendation would be to use real snow tires in the winter and performance tires in the summer. That will make a big difference. All-season tires are definately a poor compromise. Jared '00 GTI GLX
#13 of 1593 Continentals by pipo Nov 18, 1999 (9:52 pm)
I too have the Continentals on my new GTI, and have had them in the past on other cars. They're very good tires for all season tires. The Pirelli P7000s are a new tire, but based on what I've read about them, and my experience with P6000s, I would predict that the handling improvement would be DRAMATIC. Lots of GTI owners seem to like the Dunlop SP9000s. I'm partial to Pirellis, and may look into the P7000s in the Spring (sticking with stock until then). I'm also going to consider the Bridgestone Potenza SO-2 Pole Positions.
#14 of 1593 Falling In Love? by wjung Nov 19, 1999 (12:26 am)
Pipo: I agree with most of what you said in your post. I took delivery of my GTI in August because I felt this was the car for me at this time in my life. My wife thinks I'm going through a mid-life crises, but I just seem to think I can always drive a luxury car when I'm "older". I just hope I never get too old. I have owned other performance sports car in the past, but none of them has come close in terms of build quality, practicality, and the fun factor. I love driving this car, and yes I do find the suspension a little soft compared to other sports cars. But these are personal preferences and can be remedied through better shocks and tires. The one thing I can't seem to get over is how solid the car feels! When I'm on the freeway, I always have the urge to go faster than 100 km or 60 miles per hour. And you are absolutely right on with the rpm's. During my first week, I had to check my gauges for my shifts. It's that quiet as compared to my previous manual cars. The shifter can be made better but I just learn to adapt to it. All in all, it's a very fun car to be driving around. And that's what I found when I talked to other VW owners, whether it be GTI's, Jetta, etc.

Messages Page 2 of 160 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 160 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Hatchbacks Volkswagen GTI VW GTI (All styles)