Ok….as you may have known, I traded in my '02 MINI Cooper for a brand-spankin' new VW GTI Turbo.
….so lets start off with the pics (click for larger):
Before going into all the details, I want to point out some of the features I find to be the coolest. First and foremost is their revolutionary transmission…dubbed DSG.
Due to my hands getting progressively worse over time, I wanted to get an automatic transmission for my next car. The GTI offers a new transmission that is actually a “manual” gearbox controlled via computer. In a nutshell, it's a 6-speed manual that I don't have to worry about shifting. However, there are a 3 different ways I can utilize the transmission. While being in “Drive”, I can switch to manual by pressing one of two “paddles” behind the steering wheel. The one on the left shifts the gears down, the one on the right shifts up.
I could also move the actual “stick” from D over to the right. This puts it into another area where if you press forward, the gears shift up…and down, well….shifts down.
The third way is to move the stick down from D to S….which is “sport” mode. It basically turns itself from a 6-speed into a 5-speed and uses a shorter gear ratio….or something like that. Even from just driving the car in regular mode, I'd say that it is much, much quicker that my MINI was…..and a helluva lot smoother ride. To see the DSG taking on manual transmissions w/ a pro driver, here's a link to the YouTube video: LINK
Aside from the transmission, I'd say that the onboard “Trip Computer” is pretty cool as well. Besides just computing how far you've gone, it can tell you how much gas you have left, how far you could drive on that gas, your average speed, your average MPG, the real-time MPG based on how you're currently driving, and even a Speed Alarm. With the Speed Alarm, you can set a speed that you don't want to go over or the car will let you know if/when you go over that mark.
….and this is just the basic car! The ONLY extras were the automatic transmission and satellite radio (which I didn't really want, but I didn't care).
The details on the car such as specs, price, and other babble are behind this link:
The important numbers first….price. The MSRP for this car was $ 22,100 , but after the added options and automatic transmission, it bumped the price up to $ 24,365. My total downpayment (including trade-in minus payoff) was $ 7,700 ….with ZERO cash down.
After getting extra insurance on the car (like GAP and crap), the grand total I'm paying for the car comes out to be $ 20,542! Funny thing is… my monthly payments are $70 less per month than my $19K MINI was! LOL
Alright, now for the second most important numbers….MPG. I would wager to say that it is practically the same as my MINI was… 25 city / 32 Hwy.
…now for some of the main specs/details:
Powertrain
- 2.0L, 200 hp, in-line 4 cyl. turbo engine with direct gasoline injection
- 207 lbs-ft torque
- 6 speed DSG automatic/manual transmission with overdrive
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 14.5gal.
Convenience
- Climatic manual air conditioning
- Speed control
- Power front windows, with driver and passenger 1-touch down/up (operable from the driver seat only)
- Remote power door locks with 2 stage unlock and illuminated entry
- Manual tilt/telescopic steering wheel
- Day-night rearview mirror
- Front and rear cupholders
- Dual visor vanity mirrors
- Full floor console
- Covered console storage
- Driver and passenger door bins
Seats and Trim
- Seating capacity of 5
- Front sports seats
- 6-way driver seat adjustment
- Manual driver lumbar support
- 6-way passenger seat adjustment
- Manual passenger lumbar support
- Center front armrest
- 60-40 folding rear bench seat
- Premium cloth seat upholstery
- Aluminum instrument panel insert
- Leather steering wheel
- Sport steering wheel
- Floor mats
- Leather/aluminum gear shift knob
Entertainment Features
- AM/FM/Satellite-ready radio w/3 months free trial of Sirius.
- 6-disc CD changer in-dash mounted
- MP3 format readable
- AUX port for external MP3 player
- Steering wheel mounted radio controls
- 10 speakers
- Integrated roof diversity antenna (i.e. shark-fin style)
Lighting, Visibility and Instrumentation
- Xenon high intensity low beam projector beam headlights
- Front fog lights
- Variable intermittent front windshield wipers
- Speed sensitive wipers
- Fixed interval rear windshield wiper
- Rear window defroster
- Light tinted windows
- Front and rear reading lights
- Tachometer
- Compass
- Outside temperature display
- Trip computer
- Trip odometer
Safety and Security
- 4-wheel ABS brakes
- Brake assist
- 4-wheel disc brakes
- Stability control
- ABS and driveline traction control
- Dual front impact airbags
- Dual seat mounted side impact airbags
- Side Curtain Protection(TM) overhead airbags
- Airbag occupancy sensor
- Power remote door locks with 2 stage unlock and panic alarm
- Security system with Immobilizer III ignition disable
- Manually adjustable front head restraints with tilt, anti-whiplash
- 3 manually adjustable rear head restraints
Suspension/Handling
- Front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, gas-pressurized shocks
- Rear independent multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar, gas-pressurized shocks
- Sport suspension
- Speed-sensing electric power-assisted rack-pinion steering
- Front and rear 17″ x 7″ silver aluminum wheels
- P225/45R17.0 W BSW performance front and rear tires
Body Exterior
- Driver and passenger power remote door mirrors
- Turn signal indicator in mirrors
- Body-colored door mirrors
- Rear lip spoiler
- Body-colored bumpers
- Body-colored bodyside moldings
- Clearcoat paint