Overview & Reviews

For the 2002 model year, the GLS and GLX trim levels are dropped. Instead, choose from the juiced-up 180-horsepower turbocharged inline four (that can be mated to a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic) or the VR6 engine. The current 174-horsepower, 12-valve VR6 will be replaced with a 24-valve unit good for producing 200 horsepower in the spring of 2002. Later on, a special-edition model called the GTI 337 will arrive with a six-speed manual hooked up to the 180-horse 1.8T, as well as 18-inch wheels, 225/45VR18 performance rubber, a ground effects kit, genuine Recaro seats and red accents inside and out. All-new Volkswagen vehicles come standard with an improved four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, up from two years/24,000 miles. In addition, Volkswagen offers a fully transferable limited powertrain warranty that covers five years or 60,000 miles.

• Fun to drive, reasonable price, lots of standard goodies, hatchback design offers excellent cargo utility, available six-speed manual.

• Some controls hard to decipher, handling could be crisper, dated styling.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 150.00

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  New GTI - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Kmills - October 7 - 10:00 am

  Significantly more powerful than Honda/Acura VTech products dontt have to redline(5500 in Integra) to get max hp. But will not corner like one either. Generally great fun to drive. Interior with leather is sweet and the monsoon is good for a stock system. The seatbelt often gets stuck on the seat release which is seriously irritating. I had problems with the power windows at under 5000 miles. Apparently they used plastic clips in there causing world wide problems. They will only fix when broken as not enough replacement parts yet for recall.

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  Fantastic Car - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By CamarilloGTI - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I test drove a GTI, Civic SI, Focus SVT, Subaru WRX and Celica GT. Theyre all great cars. If money was no object and it werent so ugly I wouldve gone for the WRX. But taking money and style into consideration the GTI is the best choice. The engine is very torquey. I love the solid feel of this car. Just shut the door and hear a solid thud, not a hollow boom like on the RSX. Slide the turn signal and feel it snick into place. Run your hands over the dash and feel the quality of the components used, unlike the hard plastics in the Celica. Its the little things like these which gives a car so much of its soul that I never seem to find on a Japanese car.

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  GTI THAT IS HOT - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By ALAN YOUNG - March 3 - 3:30 am

  BUILD QUALITY IS VERY GOOD BUT THER WERE SOME PROBLEMS AT ONLY 80 MILES THE COMPUTER FAILED AND THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE BUT THE DEALER GAVE ME A GAS C CARD AND A NEW A4 TO DRIVE AT NO COST TO ME AT ALL.IT TOOK 2 WEEKS TO GET THE PART AND I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS BUT THE WAY THEY TREATED ME WAS 5 STAR.GETING PARTS ON VW CAN SOME TIMES TAKE FAST I HAVE HAD IT UP TO THE WORK OR WHO LIKES SLEEPER TYP OF AUTO THIS GTI IS THAT FAST.

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  Great, But Not Perfect - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Lenny - February 2 - 4:13 am

  Love this car. Sporty, but versatile; I can just throw my mountain bike inside. I have the 24V version with 200 HP and its SWEET! Very torquey yet smooth; feels like a much bigger motor. ESP is great and has saved me many times as has the ABS. Stock suspension was way too mushy for me so I lowered the car with Eibach springs, and Koni Sport shocks. Now, handling is a match for the motor at the expense of ride comfort. Only complaints I have are interior squeaks and rattles, and the soft wheels. Already had to replace 2 because of potholes. My Monsoon has been great, but could use better bass.

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  2002 GTI 1.8T - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By GTI_4ceFed4 - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Car is very fun to drive, and has not presented me with any major problems what so ever. Engine is great to modify, with an engine chip, manual boost controller, diverter valve, and exhaust the car is quicker than most youll see on the road. Plenty of aftermarket syling and suspension options as well.

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  Great Little Car - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By 0202GTI - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Runs great. Easy to chip. Early models had rough idle that took out the coils. Many complaints about window regulators. Otherwise a real treat.

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  Amazing car, could be improved. - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By anon. - February 11 - 9:43 pm

  Really fun to drive. Best first car I could have asked for. A bit pricey for the build quality that is has. The clutch tore out at 35K and the glove box handle snapped off. Love the seats and the sunroof. Love the smooth shifting and the engine sound. Really quick. Nice handing and really nimble.

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  fun to drive but will it last ? - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By bingo baggins - December 12 - 2:00 am

  Okay, the car is a blast to drive, city or highway. Say goodbye to the Eclipses, will stay with the WRX. Even smoked an older Porsche. Transmission sucks, soft in the corners. Has been to the dealer for the defective ignition coil thang and a squeaky door. Good for trips to Home Depot as well as a jaunt down the Seward highway. Great in the snow and ice, I just hope this thing can hold up until I get it paid off !

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  great car! - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By protijy - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Great all around sport compact. factory upgrades like none other, BBS rims, TT brakes, 6 spd, recaros, lowered sports suspension, ect... I love the car I hate the company VWOA and thier coilpack issues, unhelper customer service and bad dealerships have killed my VW experience next time Ill by an Audi and get the real service.

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  2002 VW GTI - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Carlos Z. - July 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car because of the exterior design and style but thats were it ends. This car was nothing but headaches and problems. I had problems with over heating, seat belt sensor, sunroof, alternator, battery, water pump, radio, ignition coils, engine hoses, coolant system, bad ECU, transmission, and thats just off the top of my head. Be ready to become best friends with your mechanic because youll be seeing him and a check engine light on a lot. Not to mention that all VW parts are extremely expensive. Safe your money people and get your self a honda or toyota. I would never buy another VW again i have sold it since and moved on to a honda best move ever made.