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 41 through 50 of 150.00

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  coil packs and windows regulators??????? - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By sil - December 7 - 10:00 am

  great car

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  I love this car - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By jannette - September 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought my car new and I am still loving it today. I love the handeling and performance. People stop me all the time and ask me about it.

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  2001 VW GTI - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By RTieken - June 22 - 1:26 pm

  Other than an engine that runs rough for about thirty seconds at start up (after a long rest), the car is great. Handles pretty well in the snow thanks to all-speed traction control. Radio reception is horrible, but the rest of the 8 speaker Monsoon powered system is outstanding.

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  1.8t speed super awesome car - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Scott j - June 2 - 5:36 am

  I picked up this car used from a good friend of mine. This car is SUPER fun to drive. The car corners excellent. Very few mods can make it a very fast little car. Many mods are available for them as well. Such as interior, mine has imported blue Recaro GTI seats they fit right in the car. The car looks extremely sporty inside and out. Fuel economy is excellent as well if the car is driven right itll get above 30 MPG. The blue and red gauges are very very attractive looking as well and give the car and upper class feel.

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  vw turbo gti - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By Emilo - May 7 - 10:00 am

  every car manufacturer has its problems, the ones you will get with your volkswagen are not big enough to worry about, its a great car.

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  Incredible! - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By clarkma5 - March 31 - 2:00 am

  The GTi is the best car ever. My aunts BMW 325i doesnt even come close....it is way to numb and uninvolving, unlike my GTi, which begs to be tossed around corners, and feels like an part of yourself when you get into driving it. Build quality inside and out is perfect, and is supposedly better if the car is from Germany (Mine is Brazilian, although the drivetrain is from Germany). The engine is excellent; the turbo comes on just below 2000 RPM, which makes for quite a rush. The car gets very good mileage considering its power output. The suspension is a bit soft for my tastes, but I dont have the 17" wheels. Remember, the GTi is also veddy practical....5 adults and stuff, no prob.

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  Love It - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By 24vowner - March 28 - 10:20 am

  I love my GTI. I have one of the first 24V VR6 GTIs as it is a 2002.5 model. I agree that the suspension is a bit soft, but I had the dealer install Eibach springs within two months of owning it and that made a huge difference in the handling. I also installed a rear sway bar which helped a ton with the understeer. The car is rock stable at speeds of 85+ mph. I regularly get 30+ mpg on the highway if i stay under 80 mph. The VR6 rumble is music to my ears. After replacing the stock tires, the road noise went down and traction was less of a problem when getting on it. All the room in the back is great for carrying all sorts of stuff.

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  I Love This Car - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By GTIDriver - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I cant say enough about this car! It is pure driving pleasure for under 25K. It handles like a true sports car and when you hit the gas, watch out because you will redline FAST and the front wheel drive will pull you to one side if your not ready. Also, its fun to watch all those kids in souped-uo Civics drool! Get One!

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  Fun to Drive - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By belliott77 - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I have had the car for 5 days already have 1200 miles on the car and am very happy with it. A couple of trips to the Big Bear, a local mountain resort, and one trip to Phoenix and back. This car is fun to drive. On the mountain roads it was great! Handling is terrific, feels like it is on rails, scared my wife a couple of times, but pushed the car nowhere close to the limit. The engine is silky smooth with a fairly broad powerband. Power comes on around 3000 rpms, but unlike some cars I have driven with a high rpm powerband this one is not taxing to drive.

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  Best VW I have driven since 1978 - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By cumming hutch - February 8 - 10:00 am

  A,s a licensed driver for fifty years I have owned and driven cars built by GM,and Ford.I have rented late model Chryslers and Buicks for vacations (added space needed).There is no equal with VW,s turbo I cannot see where they could improve on.