- hatchback 193,867
- 6,991 overpriced
- Everett, WA
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- autoshopper.com
2003 volkswagen golf review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. It's agile and responsive, making it fun to drive. Upscale trim and a high level of standard equipment make for a comfortable and sophisticated experience. two people can sit comfortably in the back seats. The tdi diesel boasts an epa-rated 42/49 mpg. Others are quick or downright fast. The gti is a true driver's car. The 1. 8 t delivers 180 horsepower, while the vr6 boasts 200 hp. according to volkswagen of america, the golf continues to be one of the safest cars in its category. Three trim levels are available, gl, gls, and gti. Golf gl comes standard with the 115-horsepower engine and 5-speed manual transmission, but is available with a 4-speed automatic 16,170). A five-speed manual transmission is standard in both the gl and gls. Also available is the electronic stabilization program 280), a system that uses sophisticated sensors and microprocessors to stabilize the vehicle in a sudden emergency maneuver. A third option, currently offered on the gls and available later in the model year on the gl, is the cold weather package 150) with heated front seats and heated windshield washer nozzles. gti is the hot-rod of the line and comes only in the two-door body style. It's comes with the 1. 8 t engine and is available with the manual transmission 18,910) or tiptronic automatic 19,985). It's also available with the 200-hp vr6 engine and 6-speed manual gearbox 21,775). The electronic stabilization program (esp) is an option on the 1. 8 t model and standard on the vr6. Gti 1. 8 t comes standard 16-inch alloy wheels, while 17-inch alloy wheels are an option on the 1. 8 t 400) and standard on the vr6. options on both the gti 1. 8 t and the vr6 include the cold weather package; the leather package 900), which includes leather upholstery and items in the cold weather package; and the luxury package 1,240), consisting of a power sunroof and the monsoon sound system. Available as an option only on the vr6 is the technology package 755), which includes electronic climate control, a self-dimming rearview mirror, and rain-sensing automatic windshield wipers. . walkaroundsmall enough to tuck easily into tight parking spaces with relative ease, volkswagen golf looks stylish and distinctive as well as practical. with its roofline extended over its rear wheels, the golf provides a surprisingly large storage space and more than ample rear headroom. Historically, hatchbacks have been hugely popular in europe, perhaps the most popular body style there. Hatchbacks offer some of the functional benefits of station wagons, including easy access to cargo through side doors and the rear hatch. . interiorgolf comes with an unusually high level of standard equipment, including anti-lock disc brakes and side-impact airbags. It also comes with a high level of refinement. Forget the grained plastic wood found in many cars. This trim is the real thing. Stylish instruments look like aircraft components at night with vibrant red needles over richly backlit indigo gauges. Power windows with auto-up and auto-down are normally not found in this class. there's plenty of storage space, with a large glove box, deep door pockets and a center tray that's useful for stowing cellular telephones. Golf's cup holders are well placed and adequate for most container sizes. More side bolstering would help brace driver and passenger in tight corners, however. Seating adjustments are trademark volkswagen, with its unique jack to adjust seat height; they are a bit difficult to use at first with an awkward knob for adjusting rake, but familiarity improves this. the optional monsoon sound system with eight speakers is among the best factory stereos we've heard, with crisp highs and snappy bass response. rear seats, with height-adjustable headrests, seem surprisingly roomy with plenty of headroom for all but the tallest passengers. There isn't much stretch-out legroom, but the seats are unusually high off the floor, which makes the available space more comfortable than in many other compacts. Three-point seat belts are used in all three positions in the rear, an excellent safety feature normally found on more expensive luxury cars. cargo space is generous, 18 cubic feet with the rear seats in place. Flip the articulated rear seat bottom, remove the rear headrests and fold one or both rear seat backs down to create a cavernous space capable of carrying even more cargo, 41. 8 cu. The split rear seat allows carrying one rear passenger along with luggage and long items like skis or fly rods. A cargo cover shields possessions from prying eyes when the rear seats are flipped into place. . driving impressionspirited and responsive, the volkswagen golf is a lot of fun to drive. The driving experience is colored by engine and transmission choice, so choose carefully. the 180-horsepower 1. 8 t is a joy when paired with the manual gearbox. It's quick, at times abrupt, but incredibly smooth. It delivers brisk, off-the-line acceleration. There's a surprising amount of torque available, more than enough to spin the front wheels. Traction control steps in when needed to minimize this, enhancing control. In spite of its power, it nets an epa-rated 24/31 mpg city/highway. accelerating through the gears, there is some turbo lag down at the bottom of the rev range. With the turbocharged engine, there is little torque available below 2000 rpm. It starts to build at 2500 rpm and comes on quickly after that, but it isn't the explosion of power that big turbochargers deliver. It's more like the progressive acceleration of a smaller turbo, more fluid and linear. we have issues about pairing the 1. 8 t with the five-speed automatic tiptronic transmission 1075). The automatic seems to get confused by the turbo in city traffic, often leaving the engine caught out, bogging just when we wanted quick response. When asked for moderate acceleration, the transmission would downshift, there would be a surge of power, i'd ease off the throttle, the transmission would upshift, the engine would eventually bog again, and the process would start all over. It's far more subtle than the description above suggests, but it annoyed me on downtown streets. This car is too good to be saddled with this combination. Therefore, we strongly recommend the manual gearbox with the 1. 8 t. We recommend pairing the automatic with one of the other two engines, which are naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged). gti vr6 comes with volkswagen's innovative, narrow-angle v6 engine that delivers 195 foot-pounds of torque. It feels flexible, holding its own in traffic, and is comfortable when cruising steadily at 80 mph. It isn't an engine that inspires enthusiast drivers, however. The 2. 0-liter engine is epa rated at 24/31 mpg city/highway: good, but no better than the gti's 1. 8 t engine. Its relatively low price still makes the 2. 0-liter a good value, however. Climate Control✔ Power Windows✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Player✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
6,991 Everett, WAEverett, WA at autoshopper.com