2008 Volkswagen Golf GT review
November 13, 2007 by Anthony Crawford
Volkswagen generally goes for the subtle look with their performance models and the GT Sport is exactly that, the warm hatch approach.
You haven’t been cheated in the styling department, nothing like that. It definitely looks tuned, with twin exhaust tailpipes and a set of 17-inch, nine-spoke alloys, sporting low profile 225/45 rubber, which looks anything but ordinary.
The body has also been lowered by 15mm along with a lower air intake and integrated fog lights. GT Sport badging front and rear along with sports grille.
From the inside the GT looks pretty much like any other Volkswagen, practical, but lacking a little bit of flair.
The centre console does a nice job, although the buttons can get a little bigger. As for the Sat Nav? Unfortunately, our new editor is stopping me from using more colourful words, but let’s just say by the end of the week it was becoming extremely irritating.
It would state that I should “continue driving until further instructions“, and then when I missed my turn, it would get angry. A very German approach to navigation – definitely not worth the near $4000 option. You can pick up a hand-held sat nav for a tenth of the price that will do a much better job.
The car lacks racing pedals, a sporty instrument cluster and could do with a little less plastic. The steering wheel has a sexy chrome GT badge built in, which looks great – for about two seconds.
Rear boot space is more than adequate for the weekend shopping and a short trip away.
Don’t be put off by my hard criticism though, the Volkswagen is finished to perfection, no uneven edges, no signs of poor build quality. Everything fits, but it could do with more excitement.
There is noticeable road noise thanks to the performance rubber but with excellent handling and driving dynamics, it’s a fair compromise.
“For a 1.4-litre five-door hatch, to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds and reach 220km/h is ground breaking stuff. If that doesn’t sell you, then 7.2 litres per 100km might just seal it”
By: Anthony Crawford and Alborz Fallah
“Volkswagen introduced the world’s fastest shifting transmission in 2003, which to date, has not been replicated by any other car company or, F1 team”
That is a horrible lie, where did you get this??
All Cars, its true! No one else can shift in 8ms! Mind you i doubt this gearbox would last that well in a car with over 400hp, hence why its not in the Audi R8.
OK, why don’t you tell us the truth. For what its worth, a DSG shift takes 8ms, the 599 Ferrari shifts cogs in just under 100ms and the latest F1 car in around 30-40ms.
I await your response, if intelligent.
I cant think of a certain 1.3-litre engine which would wipe the floor with this car. :P
Great review as per usual guys!
As tested, $46,000. FORGET IT!!!
Yep, 46g, too much, VW need to start offering some of these features as standard, 4g for a sat nav? Is that suppose to be a joke!
Although if you take out the sat nav and leather, it is reasonably well priced.
Adam J, the Audi R8 does in fact come standard with the R tronic (DSG) automated manual gearbox.
Agree with Adam and Jason. it’s well priced at $34,990 but I’d probably have tick the DSG box and pay a little more.
DSG is not in the R8, it is a version or the E-gear system in the lambo
Reason for the non use of the DSG in R8 is DSG cannot yet handle that sort of torque, it is in development but not here yet. DSG IS the worlds fastest gearbox and the worlds fastest changer, hence why all the manufacturers want it!!
Guys, if you want a supprise go and drive this car, it is astounding, i have never driven a 1.4 like to… and the TDI version is better!!
Tonyn – thanks for the info but why do they call it R tronic (audi’s word for DSG as you know) on the website?
Tonyn – let me apologise – you are dead right. I’m confusing S tronic with R tronic
yeah it can get confusing… and trust me the DSG is miles in fornt of R-Tronic
Yes, we’ve got the R8 booked for review in Feb but would sure like a drive before that if possible. The R Tronic as you say sounds like an Audi actuated E Gear set up, similar to that of Aston Martin’s Sportshift, which they say shifts cogs in 190ms. Lamborghini say that E-Gear shifts in 40ms but I’m not sure that’s quite correct. They are only measuring the actual transfer of power from one cog to another, whereas I think Sportshift measures the entire shift process. We have requested a drive in the Gallardo Superleggera in order to experience E Gear – so we’ll review that car when available to us.
I really, really, really, really wanted sat-nav with mine, and opted for one with a sunroof instead. Seems like it was the smarter choice, after all.
If you want a sat nav unit you must check out the range from Mio. They are truly the best portable sat nav systems around. The C520 tells you the actual street name and warns you as you approach fixed cameras. it will surely limit your sponsorship fund to the state govt coffers.
Tony, agreed.
Some GPS setups are too expensive and aren’t really helpful either.
However there are some good setups which in my case would have to be the Toyota/Lexus touch screen setups.
I personally cannot stand the damn knob of an iDrive + COMAND.
Never the less, integrated GPS in any car is a treat to have (beats reading maps…) whether it’s worth it or not is another question.
Where’s the 3-door? Not everyone has kids you know..
Great review, I agree the Golf is a little Teutonic in the interior (meaning it lacks a little pizazz), but that can all be forgiven because the rest of the car is also very Teutonic – from the most efficient Gearbox on earth to the most efficient small engine, resulting in a very sharp, schmick package.
I agree with the overpriced options making the package a little pricey, but the base model + DSG is pretty realistic.
I’d love one of these, but have to constrain my vehicle ownership to 2 cars, one for me and one for she – I need a ladder frame fourby for my hobbies/weekends, and no way would I buy one of these for she – it would transform her into an enthusiast and I wouldn’t be able to prise the keys away from her …. as it is I hardly ever get to fang the Sirion GTVi, not quite a Golf GT but 75kw and no weight is still a hoot.
Crikey…earlier Tonyn and Tony had many posts one after the other and had to slow it up to see exactly which one responded?
The difference between the kW/L in this Golf and a Porsche GT3 is that one is N/A… Massive difference. And 7.2L/100km is hardly hybrid economy is it?
Wish they would flick the 1.4lt and stuff the supercharger and turbo on the 2.0lt, and for good measure whack in the all wheel drive. Just like the Lancia Delta 034.
VW consistently rate at the bottom of AC Nielsen build quality surveys. The Polo, for instance, came absolute worst in the small car categorie (below the Korean Daewoo/Holden Barina!!!!!). The Best was the Mazda2 (not the new one) followed by the Mitsubishi Colt, one percentage point behind. Anecdotal knowledge I have from friends comfirms that they do fall apart and have quite poor air-cons. But they generally love them none the less. One even had her parking sensors taken out because they drove her mad, going off all the time for no reason.
My 1.9Tdi is doing fine with 40,000 kms Nick. It’s had the cruise control rectified under warranty and a faulty flap in the inlet manifold is about to be dealt with likewise (it causes the engine warning light to show) and I have to stump up the readies soon for the increasingly common brake rotor thingy…so, not perfect, but better than a new Camry I had years ago that had mis-matched interior trim and buggered head gasket and 3rd gear synchro with about this mileage on board, and MILES better than my worst new car ever – a VS Commodore.
JBot – I think comparing a Porsche factory tuned 3.6L engine putting out 305kW (415bhp) at 7600rpm to a wee 1.4 dual boost engine is a reasonable comparison. I’m a Porsche fan too, but you’re taking it too personally.
And with the Hybrid thing! Clearly you haven’t driven one on the highway with both power power sources running full boot, otherwise you would know that 7.2L/100km is on the money.
Cheers
ill reply after tony again….. i have driven both manual and r-tronic r8 and it takes the r-tronic a little while to change, its nowhere as quick as DSG, sill an ok gearbox…. r-tronic is the lambo e-gear box…. id get the manual r8…. drives really well, r-tronic took a while to get used to
1.4 litres and 9okw a litre….hahahahaha
try 136kw per litre from a 1.3 litre…and no forced induction! Keep trying VW…and Porsche for that matter.
but the RX8 is so fuel efficent too…. maybe mazda should keep trying with that?
Yeah, RX8, and your Rotary output is pathetic compared to a Jet engine, so go cry in your boots now.
There’s always a wanker……..when others are comparing golf balls, the wanker will say a cricket ball is bigger.
RX8, you forgot to mention your combined fuel cycle of 12.6l/100km. I’m laughing too, man. Your torque figures went awol, too. That’s 211Nm, for those sharing my mirth.
RX8 is a cool looking machine…. but the vw eats it for efficency and build quality!
Must agree Tonyn, although I can’t imagine a badly built RX8. I think the previous poster doesn’t understand VW’s aim to build an efficient 1.4 litre motor – that they decided to twin-charge it is irrelevant in Mr RX8’s context, but absolutely relevant to the end result.
oh im not saying RX8 is badly built… not at all!!!
Euros do know how to build and finish cars off but!
Yeah twincharging is not all about performance, rather a excersize in making a small engine powerful but efficent!
Tiguan will aparently have a 2.0 TSI engine that will be great!
40+ grand for a interior that would only suit the true fans of the VW world…
Woz – its $34 grand if you take manual with no options. If you want to pay $40K – that’s up to you. You never get the cost of the options back whe you sell the car, so I tend to go for cars which have a reasonable standard kit list. With performance cars – you are paying for the way it drives – not the kit.
Check the interior out in person, woz. It’s absolutely a cut above Astra, Corolla, Focus etc. But not as good as Merc or BMW, so it fairly reflects its price point.
LOL
Its Mazda CX7 Luxo. money [of which this wonderful website will be testing.........soon:-)]
Cheers
F-0
I still think that VW charges a little too much for my liking. If only they’d drop their prices, I’m quite sure they’ll be selling bucket loads. Is this GT made in Germany or the cursed SA?
I dont see the point of the Supercharged/turbo charged 1.4litre that uses 7 odd litres of fuel when you could have a 1.6 turbo in a peugot or mini that puts out the same numbers and returns the same fuel economy with less complexity
To me thats a false economy.
A supercharged/turbo charged small capacity diesel would be another story!
Hi all, read all your comments with interest. I have owned a GT for some months now and wondered if anyone else out there is having the same problems I am with the DSG gearbox? Changes up into 6th too early, car judders/pauses big time when I accelerate hard , lack of power as you come out a tight 90, putting on the throttle. I find that i use the steering wheel mounted paddle shifts to preselect the gear I need to be in to exit corners fast. Oh, and don’t turn on the air con if you need to overtake in a hurry! Kills the available power fast. Anyone one else had any dramas?
I am about to but the Golf GT Sport TD DSG but no-one seems to have reviewed that variant. I wanted to go diesel and I figured that in the long run the bigger 2.ol diesel would be better than the 1.4TSI
Ozscot: me too. Not happy with my Golf GT DSG.
Terrible DSG. Stutters, bunnyhops and jerks in first. Changes at 2100rpm, in 6th gear by 65km/h, very reluctant to change down needing manual override.
After several visits to VW, they finally agreed it was faulty. New mechatronic unit – car undrivable. Eventually a whole new DSG put in (so, now onto the 3rd mechatronic unit and second gearbox) – better but still not as amazing as all the reviews – my girlfriend’s 6 year old Corolla is smoother.
My boot latch then stopped working – couldn’t open the boot. Simple to fix? Try 3 days off the road, and a complete strip out of my car including replacing the electronic control unit (putting a new ECU in, telling me mine was faulty, then for some reason putting my original one back). If this wasn’t under warranty, it would have cost me over $2000 (14h labour @$120/h + $300 parts + gst). Just to open the boot lid.
Lots of rattles and buzzes in the cabin. I can count at least 10. So far it’s had over two weeks off the road with time in service.
Be warned.
i own a 2.0l golf gt
had absolutly no problems in the year i have had it
plus i have to say
omdzz its quick fr a diesel
vry happy with it
the above problems that have been posted seem to be very rare ad as for the serviceing with that boot , i think the mechanics at ur retialer must be on the piss lol
overall vw have a great build quaility as for the mazda post, tbf i dnt see the relivance lmao
(^**%^&*$&*()*^ i want one! and then i’d race my mate. i’d tell him it’s a 1.4 liter but not tell him about the supercharger or the turbo. hehe
Hi there! I have been reading your comments with interest. I have a 2007 Audi TT 3.2 V6 Quattro total cost $100K. I have been complaining about my DSG gear box and transmission for at least a year now….about every month my car goes into Audi for the DSG and other faults (like the key breaking off in the ignition!!)Just recently it got a lot worse, jerking very badly, dropping down gears, stalling and strange noises were coming from the transmission. So it’s at the dealership while I write this…it has been there for 16 days already and i was told yesterday that they will have it for another 14 days…so 30 in total!! Aparently the Mechatronics box is faulty and is being replaced. And why it is taking so long is because the new box has to come from Germany..then the 1st one arrived damaged…sigh…so we are waiting on box number two!
In the meantime they have given me a poverty pack A3 to drive which is driving me nuts! So i said to the general manager of my local dealership, ill just drive my car unitl the part arrives to save me driving this A3, to that he said that my car is not safe to drive!! When i asked has it been safe to drive for the last year while they have been telling me nothing is wrong?? and he said well not really…like WTF??!! So I have reported this all to Audi Australia, and they are investigating the job, as they said the time frame was unacceptable aswell. Anyway i look forward to having my car back, but i think i will take the approach, hope for the best…expect the worse when it comes to my car being fixed properly.
I actually bought the Golf mk5 1.4 tsi (not the GT version) without the DSG transmission system for a little over 20,000 euro with all the extras stated above. It’s the more affordable option and if u want the extra power just visit revo technic and upgrade the ECU for an extra 600 euro brings it up to 200hp tested on a dyno. best car i’ve ever owned