2008 Volkswagen Golf GT manual and automatic review
December 21, 2007 by Paul Maric
2008 Volkswagen Golf GT manual and automatic road test
“Despite its 1.4-litre capacity, the new Volkswagen Golf GT punches well above its height, making it one of the best value-for-money buys this year.”
CarAdvice rating: 
Recommended Retail Price: $34,990 – $37,290.
Options Fitted: None fitted.
- by Paul Maric
When I received the press release about the Volkswagen Golf GT Sport a little while back, I had to stop and re-read it, I simply couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The secret behind Volkswagen’s latest creation is a “twincharger” system.
Volkswagen’s Golf GT Sport features a 1.4-litre engine which uses both a supercharger and turbocharger. The end result is a package that can only be described as potent. You see, the supercharger operates throughout the lower end of the rev range, providing instant response before the turbocharger kicks in. The supercharger system is operated directly off the engine, meaning that there is no lag – as the supercharger responds with the engine.
When the revs enter a certain range, the turbocharger begins operating, forcing more air through the engine. These two systems – when operating in unison – provide a unique driving experience that is truly hard to describe. The 1.4-litre engine feels much larger than it actually is due to the twincharger system.
At the helm, it looks and feels just like a normal Golf. The GT Sport receives sports seats and a unique ‘boost’ gauge that varies with throttle input, along with the induction system that is in use. Two gearboxes can be picked, there’s the option of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) unit. The DSG gearbox achieves shift times of just 8milliseconds – truly amazing when coupled with the application of a twincharger system.
The GT Sport isn’t all that bad when paced through bends either. Steering response is on par with the Golf GTI, as is steering feel. The car holds true through corners, only hinting at understeer when accelerating too early or too hard out of a bend. Chassis balance is very impressive throughout the Golf range, you never feel like you’re driving a small car, but on the same token, it doesn’t feel large or lethargic, hinting at a very well balanced chassis.
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Are the brakes the same spec as Gti?
Any chance u could do a follow up story and compare this model with the GT sport diesel? – would be very interested in Car Advice’s opinion.
The Diesel is currently being tested Lcat!
^:)
what that smiley is meant to represent concerns me, though thats just poor twisted me.
gee Anthony you are revealing your darkside!
(:) second attemp – but i might need help before I embarrass myself any further
Where’s the 2-door? Not everyone has kids you know…
Rather have this then a Holden Astra 2.0 SRi Turbo 3dr!
Philip,
I know what your talking about, but a 5 door is still easier to acces to the rear seating even though you might not get passengers but it is better to have the 5 door, incase you do get extra, unexpected people and it is more practical!
P.S. By the way a two door hatch is called a three door!
A twincharged euro for under 40k?? That’s a bargain!
Near $49k, forget it.
CX7 all the way.
C/A will be testing it soon :-)
Cheers
F-0
Pointless really.
We’ve got a 1.4 that uses 7 odd litres of fuel with a supercharger and a turbo. That allot of complexity & weight as compared too.
The 1.6 turbo in the Mini & Peugot that puts the same numbers without the same complexity.
VW even offer a better alternative in the 2.0TD Golf GT with 125kw & 340nm using about 6litres per hundred
why not just get the GTI. buys you a legendary badge. or wait for a twin charged GTI.
Frugal, where did you get the 49k figure from mate?
Trackdaze,
You might also like to try the Mazda3 diesel. A truly STONKING 360nm in a small, light package.
You’ll love it..
j.
WOOPS…I meant $39k
Japs offer better product, better price
Cheers
F-0
Geez FrugalOne, do you ever shut up about the CX-7 ?
It isn’t that great…
Turbo lag, terrible fuel economy and I couldn’t read the dials or the climate LED’s with sunglasses on…
I was unimpressed…
Agreed, Stig. There’s not going to be a lot of cross-shopping between a Golf and a CX-7.
What F-O doesn’t get is that the Golf is one of the great small cars of our time. The CX-7 is damned good, and if it’s damned good for the next 33 years, it may well deserve the same accolades accorded the Golf.
But here’s a giggle; with my Polaroids on, I can’t see my Golf’s centre display without cocking my head 45 degrees. For Mk6, please VW, give us a LED display, not a LCD one.
AFTER READING SOME COMMENTS AROUND THE TRAPS, IN UNDERSTAND WHY KEVIN RUDD GOT IN
Yeah, he can speak Mandarin. Bet you can’t?
Oh Naughtyius I am in such awe of your supreme intellect and auto knowledge.
By the way nice car and needless to say good article as usual.
….yeah and he chased the Japs with a P&O Cruiser armed with two machine guns and saved the whales. I didn’t vote for him this time but will next time!
REALCARS…good to see what you lack. Your second last comment must of been a brainstrain!
REALCARS…bugger mandarin; when can hook into oranges
SINCE WHEN DID WE REALLY HAVE TO SPEAK MANDARIN???
hahaha.trust you NM…
What else have I missed tonight.my computer is down cause our net work in the house decided to reconfigure its self!
Im a junkie with no source !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!grrrrrr
Sweet does that mean you cant delete my posts?hehehe Remember the boss wont go away like a bad taste in your mouth.Oh well you will be busy tomorow just look for the boss hehehe.
Your not alone… I became a junkie.
Thats why you were talkin trash late last night.
Hey Stig….i heard you once punched a horse to the ground.
Looks like a great car! Anyone else find this review too brief?
What’s so amazing about the “twin charger” system. Toyota did it in the 90’s with the 4AGE in one of the Levins. I’m sure it was done before then too. Smart idea though.
In a way it reminds me of a GTi-R I read about years ago in Zoom magazine. It had a stonking, massive turbo that would lag massively by itself, but they’d installed a NOS system that was activated only at low revs + high load to avoid the lag.
the twincharger has a much better power/torque band than a conventional turbo setup… plenty of power down low and up high.
DANIEL…Iam certain Toyota did not do this TWIN setup in the 1990’s.
AUBZ…review was probably tad short on info only when compared to other reviews. Still good info!
Sorry, I was wrong.
It was an aftermarket kit in the late 80s, early 90s.
HKS was one of the manufacturers.
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A.....larArticle
Supercharged and Turbo Charged? I WANNA PLAY
dont want to get off track but in regards to the 4AGE the levin had a stock 4AGE option and a super charged option only 4AGZE
Anywho for under 40k it is great
Is there anyway we can keep this purely car related? Instead of getting political and the same old Holden vs. Ford debate.
Car Advice, are you able to delete such entries?
Practical smactical Duck. I prefer the wider doors of the 2 (sorry, 3) door as it means I can open the drivers door and put my laptop behind the front seat as I get in.
Sure the 5-door might be more convenient for when I am carrying more than one passenger (which is rare), but I also find the 3-door much more appealing. I still like the 5-door but most of the ones I see have baby seats in the back (which kind of kills the sexyness).
All I am saying is give us the choice. All Golf models are built in RHD 3-door format for the UK/Ireland market, so send us some!
Mitch: I understand in regards to ford vs holden im one of the guilty parties but i am reigning it in.
as for politics, aren’t the auto industry and politics on the same plan? the reason why cars have/have not got certain things on them is due to governent pressure or requirements ie: big three super car controversy of the 70’s, Badge engineering of the 80s etc?
Agreed, Stig. There’s not going to be a lot of cross-shopping between a Golf and a CX-7.
What Frugal One doesn’t get is that the Golf is one of the great small cars of our time. The CX-7 is damned good, and if it’s damned good for the next 33 years, it may well deserve the same accolades accorded the Golf.
But here’s a giggle; with my Polaroids on, I can’t see my Golf’s centre display without cocking my head 45 degrees. For Mk6, please VW, give us a LED display, not a LCD one.
I’m not overly fussed on the dsg lever knob for the GT Sport. But I do like the GTI knob. Are they interchangable ? None of the four, I’ve contacted, Australian distributers can give me the same answer.
o to 100 in 7.7 and the same for fuel… god damn! the only thing they need is a lower price tag.
I WANT ONE!!!
hey…i just bought a 08 golf GTI and I am VERY happy with my new car…just wanted to say thanks for the information in this blog…there was actually a lot i didnt know about my car even though i had already bought it.