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VW GTI (All styles)

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#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.
#15 of 1593 seeking advice by jeffpup Nov 21, 1999 (5:04 am)
Hello All, my name is Jeff and i just bought a Flash Red 2000 GTI GLX and have a couple of questions for fellow owners. First of all, have any of you disconnected the Seat Belt Reminder Chime? or the Headlight Warning Tone? I find both extrememly annoying and on my Scirocco's and Audi it was a matter of pulling a relay, but with this cars extensive electronics i am reluctant to just start pulling relays. BTW, does anyone know when we can expect a Bently Manual for this Model/Year? My other question is how do you keep the water from continually dripping/draining from the front bottom corner of the rear side windows after washing the car? I have tried to dry it out all the way around the window, and have also tried blowing it out with an air compressor, and sitll i get these little streams down my car which drive me absolutely mad, as i am a fanatic about keeping my cars "spotless". Thanks in advance. Jeff 2000 VW GTI GLX VR6 - Flash Red 1986 Audi 4000CS Quattro - Tornado Red 1985 VW Scirocco Wolfsburg Edition - Tornado Red
#16 of 1593 alert by mhurst1 Nov 22, 1999 (12:47 am)
I've owned my vw y2k GLS TDI now for about two months and I would just like to let people know some problems I'm having. First I had installed an aftermarket sound system which sounds great and I didn't puchace an aftermarket alarm because of the std. factory one. Well my car got broken into very easily and I'll tell you how they did it. All they simply had to do was pop the cover off of where a key lock should have been on the front passenger door latch and open seseame. They're in and my stereo is gone. Bummer. Second My drivers side seat heater only worked for a couple of days when I first got it. I brought it into the dealer and they started replacing components of the seat heating system ruling out one component after another (elapsed time 2 days on the bus) then only to have the dealer tell me it was the element in the seat that was faulty. So they order the part while I continued driving the car. Finally their parts dept. calls me and tells me It's in so I made arangements with the service dept. to drop the car off for the day. They said it would be ready that day, Ya Right! A week and a half later after sending the seat away to be rebuilt by an upholstry shop I pick up my car again.(very Bitter by this point). I'm Driving away (this being a cool evening here in Canada) I try my Seat heater only to find out it still doesn't work. Rage Sets In!!!! Any body else out there have problems? Let me Know!
#17 of 1593 GTI GLS engine noise by hcj13 Nov 22, 1999 (10:41 am)
Hi guys, I own a '00 GTI gls, and I when I drive it on the highway around 80mph, or say 4000 rpm, the engine starts to hum quite loudly. Should I be alarm by the engine noise, that I shouldn't rev it so high cruising down the highway on a 2.0 engine, or that it is just the way it is with small car? help appreciated thanks hcj13

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