2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI Pirelli Review
January 29, 2009 by Alborz Fallah
2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI Pirelli Review & Road Test
Model Tested:
- 2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI Pirelli, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, six-speed DSG, three-door – $47,490 (RRP)
Most powerful Golf GTI to date, great overall package; excellent value; sporty look & feel, great interior
Body-roll; Torque-steer
CarAdvice Rating: 
- Photography by Tristan Schoonens
There are some icons in the automotive world that have earned their reputation. The Ferrari Enzo is one such car, with its unbelievably good looks and limited production run, the Bugatti Veyron is another for, well, the obvious.
Moving a lot further down the price spectrum we come to the humble Golf GTI, a model that has been around since 1976. Stop and think about that for a moment, how many other performance cars do you know that have survived for 33 years?
There are a lot of reasons for the Golf’s success story. It’s more than a pretty face for starters. Like all true affordable sports sedans, the project began with a few keen engineers interested in making their company’s ‘every-day’ car into something special.
The Golf GTI was first seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1975 and quickly gained approval from Volkswagen with an initial build order of 5000 units to qualify for motorsport competition.
The engineers had decided to take a tiny 1.4-litre engine out of an Audi 80 GT and bore it out to 1.5-litre, add a few more bells and whistles and drop it into a small Golf. The first generation Golf GTI managed a mighty 80kW of raw, ground shaking, neck-twisting power, and 0-100km/h came up in 9.2 seconds.
Admittedly none of these figures are even remotely interesting today – 80kW out of a 1.5-litre for a sports car? There is a reason I wasn’t born in the ’70s!
We are now about to say goodbye to the fifth generation Golf, better known as the Golf MK5. But before the sixth generation joins us in a few months, Volkswagen has decided to bring back a classic from 1983.
The first Golf GTI Pirelli was based on the first generation, second series Golf GTI. In all 10,500 were sold and until now, the Pirelli name had not been revived.
Fast forward a quarter of a century and the Germans are giving Golf lovers a chance to own another special edition GTI.
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I bought a standard Golf GTI and spent $1800 to reflash the ECU from 147kw to 188kw and 280Nm to 411Nm. Works just fine, uses about 1L more/100km, phenomenal acceleration. Did my research on various forums, doesn’t seem to be too many long term issues apart from having to replace the diverter valve after 1 yr or so due to higher boost pressures.
Could you explain to me the reflash operation?
Regards
AG
VW group is obviously not ashamed of its product and are willing to give CA plenty of cars to road test.
Seems that they think they have a good product and also think that Car Advice are worthy reveiwers… i would have to agree.
Mk1 1.5 litre turbo… You sure about that?
VW turbo engines appear to flashtune very easily.
I love that Golf, but it really is getting expensive isn’t it.
I would park a FG XR6t in my garage well before that. It’s acceleration would make the golf feel anemic.
I also find Albortz tests cars like racecars “ah there is just too much understeer for this mountain pass”. My SS would fall head over heels on a mountain pass for dynamics, but is perfectly fine on most ‘normal’ roads.
Please check about the mk 1 Gti. Think it was naturally aspirated.
It was.
OK review but not much mention of the dsg box, how it worked, was it any good??.. I personally would save the cash and buy a std 5 door manual GTI..
Correct, It was N/A. They took the 1.4 and made it a 1.5, but still N/A. Thanks for pointing it out. I\’ve fixed that bit.
As for the DSG, OSUB11, the DSG has been discussed to death, do a search for DSG in our search box up the top and you’ll get plenty of results.
The DSG is flawless apart from the not so exciting off-the-line acceleration.
And grabby reverse, I guess that qualifies as off-the-line acceleration? Well said never-the less.
thanks, I have driven the new ralliart lancer and found it had the same problem off the line.. But once up and moving its impressive, but after driving the my09 wrx back to back, I still prefer the feel and control of a manual even if it is a slower change, it is definately quicker and smoother off the line, and you feel a little more like your part of the car, so to speak.. ( i must be getting old) but I cant get used to no clutch lol..
Yep, that’s right, the Ralliart Lancer is the same but not if you use launch control :)
I think it’s pointless racing these cars off-the-line, they are not made for it, much more fun to take the GTI for a spirited drive somewhere. It’s an excellent everyday practical sportscar.
The MY09 WRX will be quick off the line if you’re willing todo the usual 5,000 RPM clutch dump launch, but it’s not exactly something you can do more than once a day (if that) without long term consequences.
Alborz,
Perhaps this is not your best prose becasue the review id not read fluently to me. However, I am highly encouraged by your method of asking a few real world opwners to participate in a drive day for comparison of the Pirelli Golf GTI. I hope to see more of these reviews, as the views of real world owners minced in to your words can only add credibility to your personal opinions.
KWICKS
“The Ferrari Enzo is one such car, with its unbelievably good looks”
errrrr, good looking, i think [know] NOT
The F40, yes, the Enzo by and large is voted as ugly, more spaceship then supercar.
Agree of the performance, but does not have the Italian Ferrari sexy look.
*They* claim it will be the last to look like that, back to basic and sexy
Cheers
F-0
Alborz, the ralliart lancer has no launch control function, hence the slight lag/delay off the line..
Ummm, the GTI has launch control guys. I don’t know about you, but when I was in my friend’s GTI with DSG the launch control made it unbelievably fast off the line.
In normal daily driving, the DSG is a bit slow to launch. That can easily be cured, by prodding a bit harder off the line, but then the damn car/owner is risking being “hooned” by a cop. It’s unbelievably quick and effortless getting to license losing speeds in the GTI, and the Pirelli is of course a bit quicker.
Interesting that no reviewer criticizes the GTI for torque steer, but as soon as you go above the 147kw/280nm it starts to be a bit noticeable.
Not bad, but for 48k I would definately be veering out of the chic car department.
just another way vw can charge extra by adding a pirelli badge…hehe..
and frugal one, ma che cazzo, enzo ugly? your smoking fn drugs buddy….I bet if you were given one you wouldnt pass on it,for SURE….f40 to enzo…no competition…thier both hot but f40 better looking than enzo…jesus christ…no way….
The Mk1 GTI was first released with a fuel injected 1.6 litre, never a 1.5 litre.
Later Mk1s had a 1.8 litre fitted, this engine was then used as the starting point for the Mk2 GTI, which was first released with an 8V, before getting a 16v later in the Mk2 model cycle.
In regards to Mk5 GTIs, I find that you get more reward on mountain roads by just bringing it back a notch. They are great all round cars, but where they are found wanting is right at the limit. So, in our GTI I bring it back a peg or two and drive it at around 8/10ths. Much more fun then, and in many ways, probably just as quick.
I’ve had a quick blat in a Pirelli, definitely faster off the line that a stock GTI, but there’s not a hell of a lot in it after that I don’t reckon. Although, I only had a brief squirt, so maybe the extra power is more noticeable in a longer drive.
Some people are suggesting the Mk6 GTI will be here in Australia in October. I’m not so sure about that myself, but we’ll have to wait and see.
can’t believe it took a special edition GTI for them to get the body coloured bumper
The reason why VM gets a more then fair run in CA is they are still suffering for the poor decisions in the past like the delivery dates on the Mark 4 R32 and Mark 5 GTi. VWA promises alot and delivered very little. Dont get me started on window regulators
Alos quality issues on South African built cars is dubious as well.
I love Volkswagens, especially the Golf but I have to say that I think this is a bit pathetic. Why not just wait for the next GTI? It’ll be out at some point in the next year, it will have the same amount of power but I imagine they will sort the torque steer and body roll. Not to mention that the wheels are not nearly as cool as the original Pirelli wheels on the Golf.
So let me get this straight, the author goes on about how great the car is, yet all of you are saying he is being negative? I like the GTI, maybe it’s because I own one! I completely agree with this review, it’s an all around car but does have its downsides are pointed out here.
Didn’t know you can get so much power with just a reflash, Riceboy where did you get yours flashed?
GolfFan … you can get your ECU flashed from a number of places, with a number of options. What city are you in?
google the following: GIAC, APR, REVO, Oettinger, BlueFin (Superchips) then ignore the hype and keyboard warriors and choose the option you think is best. I’d be choosing between GIAC and APR myself.
go for the APR flash tune…ive got it on my GTI, turned it into a weapon and has actually improved fuel consumption slightly (at least when driving normally imo) and has less lag!
Armin Van Buuren……excellent music Alborz.
Great review too.
I agree with you on your FWD comments.
Go the Golf GTI! Best car ever!
I have APR reflash on my Jetta turbo and it’s awesome with any-gear acceleration. They do a reflash for the Pirelli with 229kW and 410+ Nm – I’d like to test that! check out http://www.goapr.com.au
Muzzy, there is a new solution on the market from ABT Sportsline. (Use German made for German cars mate, not yank junk) Place in Seven Hills, Sydney does it. http://www.bobwhyms.com.au/
A nice car, but I’d rather a Mini John Cooper Works.
155KW & 280NM from a 1.6L with a 0-100 of 6.5!
Both cars look great but the golf has been done bigtime.
I have just bought a GTI Pirelli and had it flashed to 230kW.
This car is really something.
It takes a car 3-4 times the GTI price to compete
Dash,
I’ve never ‘flashed’ a car before, so forgive me for what are probably a fewdumb questions – what is involved, how much does it cost, and does it affect the warranty and/or insurance?
Cheers,
HAL.
I test drove one yesterday. The turbo spools up a little bit later (max. torque starts at 2200rpm and flat to 5200rpm) than the standard gti but driving it in sports mode, the dsg always maintains you in the correct power band and it is absolutely fantastic. I traded in my 95 holden nova and paid $45000 on top drive away. What a bargain! 5 door silver pirelli gti with dsg.
Great review of the Golf. Just noticed “A State of Trance” on the radio, Just made my day :P
Dash Says:
I have just bought a GTI Pirelli and had it flashed to 230kW.
This car is really something.
It takes a car 3-4 times the GTI price to compete
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i would think a bmw 135i would give you a go in a straight line, on the twisties and in everyday practicality
And it cost less then twice the price =P