When Volkswagen introduced its new GTI a couple of years ago, it ran a series of TV ads featuring a stereotyped German engineer, his leggy female counterpart and a variety of over-customized sport compact cars. The ad's Teutonic duo then 'un-pimped' the cars by smashing or destroying them, hence allowing the introduction of the new GTI.
The TV spots were fun (you can find them on YouTube, naturally) but more importantly, there was real substance behind them. After a string of lackluster GTIs, the latest edition is once again a key member of the hot hatch justice league.
And unlike some rivals, it doesn't have to resort to spoilers, scoops and gimmicky interior trim. The fifth-generation ('Mk V') GTI went on sale as a late 2006 model and heads into 2008 with minimal changes. As expected, the GTI starts life as your basic economy-minded Rabbit.
It then gains a variety of upgrades that serve to increase sporting potential. VW and Audi's common but highly regarded 2.0-liter direct-injected turbocharged engine (aka, the 2.0T) is used here, and it can be fitted to Volkswagen's excellent Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission, an automated-clutch, paddle-shifted manual. Also on the GTI are more powerful brakes and a sport-tuned suspension that's been further enhanced for 2008 via a 15mm drop in ride height. This is definitely the best GTI in a long time. It's also versatile - it comes as a two-door or four-door and has a roomy and well-built interior.
Your only pause for concern might be that the GTI is a bit pricey and lacks in performance when compared to other top sport hatchbacks or coupes. The Honda Civic Si and Mini Cooper S are more nimble and fun to drive, for instance, and the well-rounded Mazdaspeed 3 packs more of a turbocharged wallop. There's also the Volvo C30 to consider this year as it, too, brings a refined European feel to this segment. Overall, though, the 2008 Volkswagen GTI is still a very good choice, especially for somebody wanting a hot hatch that's grown-up, comfortable and pleasingly 'un-pimped.' The 2008 Volkswagen GTI is a performance-oriented hatchback. Both two-door and four-door body styles are offered.
Standard equipment includes xenon HID headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated outside mirrors, full power accessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, sport front seats, a 60/40-split rear seat and a 10-speaker, six-CD/MP3 audio system with satellite radio, an auxiliary jack and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. This year VW is offering an Autobahn Package; it includes a sunroof, a premium audio system, leather upholstery and heated front seats. Most of the Autobahn's features are also offered as stand-alone options. Other upgrades for the GTI include 18-inch wheels, an iPod adapter and, when equipped with the Autobahn Package, a navigation system. Standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.
Rear side-impact airbags are optional on four-door models. In government testing, the four-door Rabbit/GTI earned four stars out of five for its protection of front occupants in frontal impacts. For that agency's side-impact test, the car earned a five-star rating. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, the car scored a 'Good' rating (the highest possible) in both the frontal-offset and side-impact tests. Start the 2008 Volkswagen GTI and there's a deep, burbling engine note that increases in volume once the throttle is opened under load. It's an enjoyable tone that's rare in the world of turbocharged cars.
The engine also provides plenty of torque at low rpm to make squirts through urban traffic quite easy. Around town, the GTI's ride quality is quite agreeable, and overall the car is an excellent choice for a daily driver. From an enthusiast's standpoint, however, the GTI falls a bit short of cars like the Civic Si and Cooper S in terms of handling and driver enjoyment. This year's lower ride height has helped matters somewhat, but the softy tuned VeeDub still suffers from a beefy curb weight and lackluster steering feel. Like the Rabbit, the GTI's interior design is straightforward and traditional, with upscale materials and excellent build quality. A few special metallic trim pieces grace the cabin, and the GTI-specific sport seats are very supportive.
Distinctive design elements include the standard cloth upholstery, which has a retro plaid print, and the flat-bottom steering wheel. The main advantage to the four-door GTI is its more accessible rear seat, though the two-door's front seats slide forward quite easily to improve entry and exit. With either body style, there's plenty of rear-seat room for a couple of kids.
Behind the rear seat, the GTI can hold 15 cubic feet of cargo. I have not driven a car that gives you so much for the price. It's fantastic the way the motor and transmission work together. The DSG is the best auto-manual there is. The car feels very refined and stays relatively quiet on the road.
The seats are awesome and I love the steering wheel. Loaded with features that are usually offered on luxury cars. Turbo lag is there low in the RPM range, but after driving a couple of weeks it is easy to get used to. The 4-door version has all the room I need. Carries 4 people comfortably, and my kid's car seat fits great.
Have had no reliability issues. All around this is one of the best cars money can buy. Could not be happier with my purchase.
2008 Golf Gti For Sale
This car has phenomenal performance, but man does it have things go wrong with it. A few things you should know of you buy this car. You're going to replace the coil packs on this car every 30-40K miles and when the first one goes, replace them all. In fact, carry a spare in your car at all times along with a code reader. When you get a misfire, read the code, find out which cylinder it is and replace it yourself.
Here is a list of all the things I've had to replace since I bought the car with 21K miles on it (it has 54K now): 4 coil packs, 4 spark plugs, 1 thermostat, 1 vacuum pump, 1 intake line, 1 headlight bulb and both headlight auto-leveling motors. I haven't even had to replace the brakes yet.
Think about that. All in, I've spent about $4,000 in repairs on this car. No one should go through this many repairs for a car that has less than 55K miles.
In the last 9 months I've spent half of those dollars on repairs for parts that just brake. I love this car, but if/when I get another, I'm leasing it. I'll never buy a Volkswagen again. A real shame too, because the fun factor is a 10. Reliability factor is a 3.
I purchased my 2008 GTI rather than a Mustang. I wanted a sporty, fast car. My decision was made primarily due to increasing gas prices. This wasn't solved since the car runs best using premium fuel anyway. While the car was extremely fun to drive, the ride is stiff but should be expected. Maintenance costs are high as are costs for replacement items such as tires.
At 10k miles it needed a 4 wheel alignment. I always drove the car easy, no curb hopping. Sold car at 22k miles due to notification from VW USA of possible problems with the DSG transmissions. Buy the car if you have money to burn on upkeep and maintenance.
I went back to Toyotas, no more headaches. I purchased this car to be my everyday car. It is very fast and fun to drive.
The auto trans shifts to quick, it is twitchy. The build quality is not what you would expect a nearly 30,000 car. The factory ipod connect is bad! Fuel economy is not that great if you get on the gas. Over all it is a good car but I just feel that for the price you should get more and better quality. My rear cup holder broke like in 2 days.
There is some cabin noise and the seats are not that comfortable. It does have considerable blind spots even when turning your head to switch lanes. I say you owe it to your self to drive the competition before you buy, I did not. 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 4dr Hatchback w/Prod.
End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 2dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 2dr Hatchback w/Prod.
End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M). 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 2dr Hatchback w/Prod.
End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 2dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M).
2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 2dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 2dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M). 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 4dr Hatchback w/Prod.
End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 2dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM) 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) 2dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M). More about the 2008 Volkswagen GTI Used 2008 Volkswagen GTI Overview The Used 2008 Volkswagen GTI is offered in the following submodels: GTI Hatchback.
Available styles include 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M), 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM), 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM), 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M), PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M), PZEV 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM), PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM), PZEV 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M), 2dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM), 4dr Hatchback w/Prod.
End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM), 2dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M), and 4dr Hatchback w/Prod. End 05/08 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M).
What's a good price on a Used 2008 Volkswagen GTI? Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Rutland, ND. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them. Which used 2008 Volkswagen GTIS are available in my area? Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2008 Volkswagen GTI for sale near. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you.
Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2008 Volkswagen GTI. Can't find a used 2008 Volkswagen GTIs you want in your area? Consider a broader search. Find a for sale - 3 great deals out of 16 listings starting at $10,967. Find a for sale - 7 great deals out of 7 listings starting at $21,567. Find a for sale - 1 great deals out of 22 listings starting at $14,096.
Find a for sale - 10 great deals out of 14 listings starting at $7,587. Compare prices on the Used Volkswagen GTI for sale in Rutland, ND to other major cities. Starting Price $10,781 Should I lease or buy a 2008 Volkswagen GTI? Is it better to lease or buy a car?
Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis.
It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so. Check out Check out.
What to Do If Your Lost Your VW Owner’s Manual By Product Expert Posted in on Thursday, August 25th, 2016 at 3:32 pm How to Get a New Volkswagen Owner’s Manual The owner’s manual is an important part of vehicle ownership. It’s your complete guide for questions about your vehicle, ranging from maintenance, safety and tech features.
But things happen, and sometimes you might buy a vehicle second-hand from an owner who didn’t have the manual. Or, perhaps you somehow lost the owner’s manual at some point during your ownership. Well, there’s no need to worry, as we’ll explain how to get a new Volkswagen owner’s manual for your vehicle. Of course, the easiest thing you can do is to, like us right here at Volkswagen Santa Monica. Even if they aren’t able to provide a new copy of the owner’s manual, they should be able to guide you through the steps to get one and help answer any questions you’re having in the meantime. Apart from that, however, there are a few resources you can go to. According to Volkswagen, those looking to get a copy of an owner’s manual can visit the following website:.
In addition to owner’s manuals, you’ll be able to receive maintenance manuals, radio manuals and more. If a service manual is what you’re after you’ll want to check out for vehicles from model year 2009 or older. Service information is also available (in digital form) for 2010 model year vehicles and newer at. How to Get a Digital Copy of Your Volkswagen Owner’s Manual Online Of course, these days, many drivers may prefer to have a digital copy of the vehicle’s owner’s manual. You can get that too. In fact, it may even be an easier process for you. If you have a vehicle that is from the 2014 model year or newer, you can download the iOwn app.
This will provide you with a digital copy of the owner’s manual, in addition to other resources like a Roadside Guide, SiriusXM Satellite Radio Guide and a Navigation Manual. So, if you’ve been trying to figure out how to get a new Volkswagen owner’s manual, the process should be easy and painless. Just use the resources we’ve provided and you should have a manual in your hands (or in your phone) in no time. Be sure to check back to the for more helpful tips for life with your VW. Be Sociable, Share!