Topic: CD Article: 2006 Volkswagen GTI

[bmorton]

I'm worried about the lack of driver involvement with the DSG - that's my main worry... over time it will lose it's lustre. At the same time, seems to be a nice piece.

Ditto - playing with the DSG is fun but when I get out of a DSG car and back into my Subaru with a clutch pedal, I find I still prefer shifting for myself. Generally when I drive a car with tiptronic-style shifting I start out using the tiptronic feature but after a while it gets old and I just leave it in D. Would hate to end up doing that in a car I actually owned.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I'm worried about the lack of driver involvement with the DSG - that's my main worry... over time it will lose it's lustre. At the same time, seems to be a nice piece.

Ditto - playing with the DSG is fun but when I get out of a DSG car and back into my Subaru with a clutch pedal, I find I still prefer shifting for myself. Generally when I drive a car with tiptronic-style shifting I start out using the tiptronic feature but after a while it gets old and I just leave it in D. Would hate to end up doing that in a car I actually owned.

  I wish I could just choose already!!!

If the manual is fine and feels right for me I'll probably get it, but at the same time I do want to test drive the DSG just to be sure. It's very nifty, and would suit city driving well (although I've yet to complain driving my manual in any driving situation except when eating in the car or talking on the phone )

An advantage with DSG is that it gets better city fuel economy, would probably be easier to resell, could be driven easier by those unfamiliar with stick, and odds are you wouldn't burn thru your clutch since it's computer controlled, and you're using each clutch half as many times.

AudiTom, is your GF's sister's manual or DSG?

[Shnak]

I'm worried about the lack of driver involvement with the DSG - that's my main worry... over time it will lose it's lustre. At the same time, seems to be a nice piece.

Ditto - playing with the DSG is fun but when I get out of a DSG car and back into my Subaru with a clutch pedal, I find I still prefer shifting for myself. Generally when I drive a car with tiptronic-style shifting I start out using the tiptronic feature but after a while it gets old and I just leave it in D. Would hate to end up doing that in a car I actually owned.

yeah but there's a difference between tiptronic-style shifting, and paddle shifters... I'm sure I would constantly use these shifters if I them in my car... as it is, I very rarely use my tiptronic feature as it just doesn't feel right... I just leave the auto box do its job and that's all...

[Bullet Blue]

I'm worried about the lack of driver involvement with the DSG - that's my main worry... over time it will lose it's lustre. At the same time, seems to be a nice piece.

Ditto - playing with the DSG is fun but when I get out of a DSG car and back into my Subaru with a clutch pedal, I find I still prefer shifting for myself. Generally when I drive a car with tiptronic-style shifting I start out using the tiptronic feature but after a while it gets old and I just leave it in D. Would hate to end up doing that in a car I actually owned.

yeah but there's a difference between tiptronic-style shifting, and paddle shifters... I'm sure I would constantly use these shifters if I them in my car... as it is, I very rarely use my tiptronic feature as it just doesn't feel right... I just leave the auto box do its job and that's all...

I think that's what most people do with their tiptronic tranny's. I only know two people who actually use the tiptronic almost everysingle time they drive.

[ghost]

It reads promisingly. But to me, I just won't buy FWD cars. So that's the end of the story. A new gen mx-5 for me. at that price, I think I can get the GT one with the rear-LSD and stuff. 

[Jack]

The new GTI looks fabulous.

The three reasons I ended up getting rid of my GTI VR6 were:

1. Insurance costs (cheaper, at least in my case, to insure a 3-series, C-class, A4, TSX, etc. presumably because they are 4-door sedans)
2. Dealer indifference
3. Two doors (I'm getting old, car seats were getting to be a pain)

Much to my surprise, the only thing that failed on the car was the water pump.  Also, the VR6 drinks gas like crazy... but I expected that.

Cheers.

[Shnak]

^^^^^^ Sounds like the upcoming 4-door GTI would be perfect for you!! 

Well, except maybe the dealer indifference... but just find another dealer... 

[bmorton]

yeah but there's a difference between tiptronic-style shifting, and paddle shifters... I'm sure I would constantly use these shifters if I them in my car... as it is, I very rarely use my tiptronic feature as it just doesn't feel right... I just leave the auto box do its job and that's all...

There's a difference in terms of technology and how well they work, but there's no difference in terms of how much driver involvement there is.

The DSG does have its advantages, but it ain't the same. Can't wait to see what SAM chooses.

[Scaerio]

Not to nit pick, but didn't we have the original-style round-headlight version MKI Rabbit GTi in Canada before we got the square headlight 1983 USA version?

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Not to nit pick, but didn't we have the original-style round-headlight version MKI Rabbit GTi in Canada before we got the square headlight 1983 USA version?

I think Canada was ahead of the US, yes. Not sure of the details tho.

[bmorton]

Actually, I'm fairly certain that the 1983 GTI was our first GTI as well, replacing the  1981-82 Rabbit S, for those who remember back that far.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Actually, I'm fairly certain that the 1983 GTI was our first GTI as well, replacing the  1981-82 Rabbit S, for those who remember back that far.

I could be confusing it with our "GTI 20th Anniversary", which misrepresented by a few years how long the GTI has been offered in Europe, but I also think we did get round headlights on our cars.

[84im]

I like this car a lot.  Whether or not it's worth $4,000 more than the Civic SI is another story.  Also, VW's repair record worries me. 
Having said that, I'll take the VW's torque over the Honda's high strung, top end power... any day.
Car&Driver compared both and rated the VW ahead of the Honda.
One thing I know for sure, is that I do not like those five spoke wheels.

[bmorton]

Could be some people modded their 1980 or earlier Rabbits to look like a GTI, since 1981 was the first year for square headlights on Canadian Rabbits. My parents had a 1979 Rabbit diesel - with 48 hp it was no GTI

[golfrttc]

After test driving the new GTi in USA, I ordered mine on Feb. 17 and expected delivery is May 15+/-, white, sunroof, automatic (B.C.).

This car is a HUGE improvement over my 2000 GTi 1.8T. Tighter, quieter, roomier. If they could of only kept the weight down to 3000lbs. it would of been even better.

The DSG is amazing. You have 6 shifting options, fully auto in regular or Sport mode, tiptronic with the shift leaver in regular or sport, and tiptronic with the paddle shifters in regular or sport. Acceleration times are faster with the auto than the standard and makes city driving a lot easier. I drove a Jetta 2.0T with the 6 speed standard and this transmission and the shift action are nothing like my 2000 GTi 1.8T 5 speed. Short, tight throws and real nice spacing.

I must say I was not sure of the white color but after seeing all the "Fast" and "Unpimp" commercials I think I made the right choice.

VW has a nasty habit of upping the price of their popular models in the second and third year of avaiability, so if you want this car, now is the time.

[slalom]

Mr. Bleakney, you mention an auxiliary input jack for MP3 players
"A six CD/MP3 in-dash changer is standard equipment, as is an auxiliary input for all you iPod junkies."

where is it? I've not seen mention of this in any VW published info so far

thx

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Mr. Bleakney, you mention an auxiliary input jack for MP3 players
"A six CD/MP3 in-dash changer is standard equipment, as is an auxiliary input for all you iPod junkies."

where is it? I've not seen mention of this in any VW published info so far

thx

No AUX input as far as I know, just this...
http://drivergear.vw.com/store/accessory.asp?product_id=3248

[lostcomma]

I was kinda of wondering about how they would deal with the pricing in canada.
So they decontent it for our market which really isnt all that bad.
It is nice to be able to buy a sunroof alone. Other manufactures often would
pkg it eight other accessories and add another $800 to the cost.
One thing I have always liked about golf is the room for the driver it
one comfortable enviro better than most.
Strange about the lack of mp3 aux. I guess when driving a GTI
vee dont vant da music to get in zee vay of da music from Zee engine.
Drive it and bee cool.
I wonder how it compares insurance costwise with the Si?

[Shnak]

Not sure if they still offer the PhatBox with the new VWs, but if so, who needs a Aux/MP3 input then... just buy a PhatBox, load 20/40gb of songs on it and forget about it!!

[Craig]

For the record, no one has agreed to buy one for me yet.

Act now.  There's still time.