Overview & Reviews
The 2008 Volkswagen GTI receives a lower ride height for better handling, and minor equipment and trim level changes.
- Hatchback utility, upscale features and interior design, strong turbocharged engine, optional sequential-shifting DSG gearbox.
- Higher price than many competitors, handling nimbleness dulled by beefy curb weight.
User Reviews:
Showing 11 through 20 of 63.00-
Great car for the price. - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By david84j - April 29 - 6:20 amThe Car is a great fun vehicle. Fairly affordable. I have fun driving the car. I am on a 24 month lease to get a feel for the car. If i like it I will keep it. So far so good.
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Eine Kleine GTI!!! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By Pasnbyu - March 24 - 9:53 amI needed to upsize my daily driver from a 03 MINI Cooper to something fun with 4 dr (2 preschoolers) & the 4 dr GTI was at the top of my list because of the DSG transmission (this is the tranny wave of the future!). Even after 3 months, I am still stunned by the overall refinement level - handling/stability at speed, acceleration, braking, seats, & lights are all fabulous. There is absolutely no torque steer (I hate torque steer & would notice even a hint of it). When I have my 1st service, Ill ask about the radio display (I think its computer needs to be reflashed since speed sensative volume & name scrolling dont seem to work), but thats the only "quality" issue. The GTI is back!!!
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Falls Short of the Mazda3 - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By Rob - March 16 - 8:33 pmWhile the 08 GTI is fun to drive and well designed, it still falls short of the competition. The steering feels much heavier than what one would expect in a sport tuned hatch. The performance of the automatic transmission is also sub-par, as it frequently shifts to higher gears too quickly causing the engine to strain and grumble. Ive ended up using the paddle shifters to correct the problem. My 05 Mazda3 (S) with automatic transmission and 156hp had better handling and off the line acceleration.
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One of the best - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By Todd - February 24 - 8:40 amI have not driven a car that gives you so much for the price. Its 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 kids 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.
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Performance without pretension - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By JTi - December 16 - 1:46 amI have owned and driven a lot of different cars over the past 27 years, from true two-seater sports cars to sport/lux sedans. So take that into account when I say that this car is flat out a blast to drive! I live in an area where everyone has (or wants) a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, etc., and being one to never be comfortable following the crowd, I took the advice of Car and Driver and Edmunds and gave the GTI a spin. Great little car inside and out. I opted to bloat the price by loading it up with everything but nav, but it was well worth it. More sophisticated drive than the the MazdaSpeed3 with comparable performance and better looks (IMO).
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Always fun to drive - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By Terje - July 28 - 11:40 pmIve owned several BMWs which all seem to fall apart @ 80K miles. My last 740I was very expensive to maintain & boring to drive. I wanted to try something more practical with better mileage. Im 41 so I thought my white GTI with 18"s was a practical, fun and young looking decision. So far I like it very much. The DSG is amazing. If you are considering the fun factor, compared to BMW, Audi & Honda, the GTI is a great choice.
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Possibly the best sub $30k car you can buy - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By robcarter3 - June 30 - 1:31 amThis car is a blast. It puts a huge smile on my face every single time I drive it. The power delivery is smooth and effortless and the engine makes a satisfying growl. The DSG is fantastic. The ride strikes a great compromise between sportiness and comfort. This car does everything. I can drive aggressively and have a fantastic time. I can haul 5 people, or 4 comfortably. I can haul a ton of stuff. I get great gas mileage. The interior of this car is far more refined than any of its competitors. The materials look and feel upscale. Its just a nice place to be. For the money, this car is darn near unbeatable. It is equally good as a daily driver and a weekend toy.
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Expensive to own! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By pbesong - June 8 - 7:46 amExpensive to own and operate! It takes premium gas only, so while everyone else is paying $2.60 per gallon, youre paying $3.00 a gallon. It takes a special oil, too, which at Pep Boys costs $8.00 per bottle and youll need 5 bottles. The oil filter from the dealer costs $28, but you can get it from NAPA for a mere $16 (still expensive if you ask me). And you need to change it every 5k miles. Its not a straight-forward oil change either. A bit more complicated. Xenon headlights cost $150 to replace and since the daytime running lights are on all the time, youre sure to burn through quite a few. Im not keeping mine long enough to find out how many. transmission can have mechatronic unit problem.
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Gotta Love the DSG! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By Curt - May 25 - 12:26 pmI like driving sporty cars with manual gearboxes. I never thought I would give up the thrill of shifting. But then, I test drove the GTI with the direct shift gearbox and I fell in love with it. The paddle shifters on the steering wheel give the same thrill as doing the clutch thing. But there are times when you just want to let the car take over. On the other hand, drop the shifter into sport mode, step on the pedal and hang on! What a rush! The fit and finish are superb, like all my VWs of the past. I also love the exterior styling. This car looks like it is always in motion. I never would have considered the GTI an option until they came out with the 4-door version.
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Bye-Bye STi - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By David Bond Jr. - May 24 - 1:46 amLast year I had to go down to one car. I thought a Subaru STi Limited would satisfy my need for scalding performance, reliability, a warranty and 4 doors. After driving the STi daily for a full year, I realized that driving a race car to work every day was not as much fun as it sounded. The GTI is fantastic; quiet, refined, good ride, handles exceptionally well for a front driver. This car makes for a great enthusiastss daily driver. The Autobahn package is worth every penny. The car swallowed a a surprising amount of stuff on a trip to the home improvement store [including a 7 long mailbox post via the pass through], with two kids in the back. A great vehicle.
