GTI wins a Car and Driver 10Best Award

[phaeton]

05 December 2006
2007 VOLKSWAGEN GTI NAMED AMONG CAR AND DRIVER’S 10BEST CARS FOR 2007

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced that the GTI has been named one of Car and Driver magazine’s 10Best cars in its 25th annual competition. This is the fourth time the GTI has earned this distinction.

The GTI is fun to drive, with its high-tech, 200-horsepower 2.0T four-cylinder engine that produces 207 ft.-lbs. of torque, fully independent sports-tuned suspension, aggressive exterior styling, and a practical interior that equally mixes functionality, flair and a driver-first focus and layout. For the first time in the U.S., a four-door hatchback body style is available in addition to the traditional GTI coupe.

The 2007 GTI is a solid and aggressive sports model with an available automated manual DSGTM transmission that utilizes direct shifting which essentially automatically depresses clutch-shift points more efficiently and quicker than even a professional driver can. For those driving enthusiasts who want the unique control of a clutch, the GTI comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission. Top speed is electronically governed at 130 miles per hour in the U.S.

Car and Driver selects its 10Best cars after a weeklong, staff-wide assessment of all of the year’s newest and best cars. The GTI was among 58 vehicles considered for the honor.

Article here http://www.caranddriver.com/bestcars/12070/2007-volkswagen-gti.html

 

[Mr. M]

VW has engineered one of the best hot hatches in its history. I hope the Mk6 would be even better, 'cuz that's the car I'm going to get.

Think of the GTI as a premium German sports sedan that’s a little smaller and a lot less dear than the big boys from Munich and Stuttgart.

 

[PanterroR]

If it only had 4WD...

 

[Mr. M]

If it only had 4WD...

You get that in the form of the R32. Personally I wouldn't trade weight for slightly better handling in AWD.

A good-handling hatch should be a RWD but then again, you'll have to compromise on space. This GTI with FWD offers the best balance IMO.

 

[PanterroR]

You get that in the form of the R32. Personally I wouldn't trade weight for slightly better handling in AWD.

A good-handling hatch should be a RWD but then again, you'll have to compromise on space. This GTI with FWD offers the best balance IMO.

Yes, i know the R32 weighs more because of 4WD, but Mirage, IMHO, the car that has 200+hp only on FWD for me is a big NO! And i wouldn't buy it never. It can be fun to drive, but not as fun as 200hp RWD or AWD car...

To each his own, but i'd take the mighty R32 over GTI any day!

Have you tried that car, M? R32 i mean...

 

[Yperion]

VW has engineered one of the best hot hatches in its history.

I second that.

 

[Mr. M]

Yes, i know the R32 weighs more because of 4WD, but Mirage, IMHO, the car that has 200+hp only on FWD for me is a big NO! And i wouldn't buy it never. It can be fun to drive, but not as fun as 200hp RWD or AWD car...

To each his own, but i'd take the mighty R32 over GTI any day!

Have you tried that car, M? R32 i mean...

How much do you want for a FWD, then? 200bhp is just about right, maybe slightly underpowered. Or do you mean to say a FWD car has a limitation to how many horses it can have before it becomes to difficult to drive?

R32? Yes. It sounds great.

 

[PanterroR]

No, no, Mirage... I didn't say anything about hp limits for a FWD car... Slightly underpowered? I definitely disagree! That car has more than enough power for it's FWD... Dare i say too much? Maybe not, but cars like Astra OPC that has like what? 250hp on FWD? That's too much! Because that car handles like c**p! Simply it cannot handle all that power only on FWD... Heck, even my wife's Golf 2.0 TDI sometimes gives you a feeling like it has too much power on his front wheels... And it's only 140hp...

 

[phaeton]

I wonder what the (230hp) GTI Edition 30 is like to drive

 

[PanterroR]

I wonder what the (230hp) GTI Edition 30 is like to drive

I'd like to know that as well...

 

[Mr. M]

No, no, Mirage... I didn't say anything about hp limits for a FWD car... Slightly underpowered? I definitely disagree! That car has more than enough power for it's FWD... Dare i say too much? Maybe not, but cars like Astra OPC that has like what? 250hp on FWD? That's too much! Because that car handles like c**p! Simply it cannot handle all that power only on FWD... Heck, even my wife's Golf 2.0 TDI sometimes gives you a feeling like it has too much power on his front wheels... And it's only 140hp...

Ah. So I guess you just don't like FWDs in general. Point taken.

I guess practicality takes a very high priority for the Golf, for VW in general. It's what they stand for.

 

[PanterroR]

Ah. So I guess you just don't like FWDs in general. Point taken.

Bingo! But i own one though...

Nah, i only say: Not more than 200hp on a FWD car... More than that? Take RWD or AWD...

 

[PanterroR]

I guess practicality takes a very high priority for the Golf, for VW in general. It's what they stand for.

Absolutely!

 

[Centurion]

Very well deserved. The GTI seem to be an awsome car. Lots of fun at a fiar price.