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 51 through 60 of 63.00-
Feel 18 Again!! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By JDISCO18 - June 1 - 10:23 amI love this car!! Traded an IS300 for an 2007 Armada (Gas Pig). Traded for the 08GTI. This is the funnest car Ive ever had! Stock car is fast and handles great! Love the DSG. I Added a APR Stage 1 ECU Upgrade and this little rocket now has 252 hp and 303 ft- lb of torque! I took a long road trip and averaged 28.2 mpg at 90 mph. Ive read about the VW having cockpit rattles, however I havent noticed any. As a 37 year old single parent, I wanted something sporty and family friendly and the GTI was the best fit. 6 Airbags, seating for 5, good leg room in the back. Added the rear storage shelf under the hatch. I feel 18 again and with the Stage 1 upgrade, I make up reasons to leave the house!!
-
Just about perfect - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By MrRizzo - September 20 - 7:43 amTraded 2006 Passat 3.6 for GTI taking advantage of owner loyalty credit and 0% financing. Im extremely satisfied with my purchase and look forward to getting in the car every day. The Passat was a nice car, but zero fun to drive. The GTI is an absolute ball. This car reacts to every thought like its hardwired to your brain. The suspension is firm but supple, taking bumps better than the Passat did. Im averaging 23 MPG in stop and go driving vs. 15 MPG for my V6 Passat. I had read all the hype in the car mags and I guess, well, its all true!
-
Abaun Dream - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By mattman - August 4 - 1:56 amI looked at SUVs first but with gas costing so much I decided a 4 dr hatchback would be better; they offer a lot of utility/space. I did a lot of research before buying and 95% of the online sources recommended the GTI. The overall GTI package cant be beat! Handling is secure, safety top-notch and with the standard features youd think the GTI would run $30K. Also, the 2.0L turbo 4 cyl, and the DSG auto tranny is straight from the Audi A4, a $40K+ car. Its nice to see F1 engineering trickle from Audi down to the VW making this car stand way ahead of competitors like Honda and MINI. Put this car on the top of your list, its on C&D 10 best cars 2 years running for all the right reasons!
-
Not Bad, Not Bad at All - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By Katsai - May 24 - 9:36 pmThis car drives and performs well; the fuel economy is good and getting better. I previously owned a Nissan 350Z with a manual transmission and it was an outstanding performer. The GTIs performance is not as sharp and it does not have quite as much power as the Z, but is a better daily driver especially in the heavy traffic that I must deal with on a daily basis. The GTI is a very comfortable car, fun to drive, has plenty of power with very little turbo lag, exceptional build quality and easily accommodates my 61 250 pound frame. The 2 door has surprising room in the back for passengers, the stereo is surprisingly good, and I dont miss my Z.
-
Sports car, SUV, city runabout all-in-1! - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By Bob - January 5 - 6:20 pmThis car acts as: (1) a sport scar because it is a blast to drive, (2) an suv because it hauls lots of people/stuff and is very user friendly/utilitarian, (3) a city runabout due to small size/easy to park and good on gas (31-35 mpg on highway depending on speed). This car is as fun to drive as my boxster S. Not overly flashy or showy but still looks "hip". I think VWs leather is plasticky so I got the cloth. Can be chipped for around $600 to get about 40 more hp if so inclined. The weak points of this car are well known due to tuners upgrading them to 300+ hp and no major issues if left stock or slightly modified. DSG is amazing and satisfies both automatic and manual drivers.
-
Making Friends with your Fast - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By tryan - December 15 - 3:00 amAfter much research and test driving, I traded in my 04 Passat GLX 5-Speed for a 08 GTI 4-Door. I needed something more practical, but also wanted to upgrade slightly in performance. However, I also wanted to stay below (well below) $30k while doing it. With the current crop of hot hatches proliferating like bunnies (no pun intended), the GTI seemed to have the best mix of everything, features, performance, space and a well-executed interior. The Mazda3 was the only real competitor that gave the GTI a run for its money - especially in the value aspect. However, in the end, the GTI was more unique and hit a lot more design details that I appreciate (illuminated vanity mirrors for one).
-
The right choice - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By Duffy - November 28 - 12:40 amI have owned 6 VWs and was sure that I wanted to get something different and wanted a Civic SI. I then drove the SI and the GTI back to back and had no doubt that I wanted the WV. The SI was nice but from the second I sat in the GTI I could see the materials were of higher quality and it has more features, all the switches light up for the windows etc. And when you step on the gas in the GTI you get a rush that the SI does not provide. This car is simply a blast to drive, on the highway it is great, but the twisties is where it excels it is sure- footed and stable even when pushed hard. On the practical side the hatch will work better for me (2 kids,skis,snowboards etc).
-
Great Car - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By Matt - November 14 - 8:16 amI have 4000 miles on my GTI so far and its a great car. This is my favorite car that I have owned (02 Mustang GT, 98 Cadillac STS). VERY fast and still gets good gas mileage. DSG is fun to drive on open roads and automatic mode is very convenient in traffic.
-
Perfect package - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By mgh - November 9 - 9:46 amThis car is a great mix of way fun to drive, very respectable gas mileage, useful features, and overall grin inducing ownership. The driver is pampered in a GTI; great seats, superb steering wheel, quality switches, tight handling. Now that Ive put almost 5,000 miles on it, the fuel economy is starting to improve. Started out at 25 mpg on a hilly highway commute, now Im up to 33 mpg - very timely.
-
A good idea - 2008 Volkswagen GTI
By ed - September 24 - 3:46 amI had a 91 GTI 16 valve when I was in high school, it was a matter of time before I got another one. I traded in my 04 Passat 4-Motion for a new 08 GTI and am happy I did. I went for the 4 door, Autobahn package and 18" rims. Ive had the car for almost 4 weeks and like it more every day. Styling, handling and acceleration are great, as is gas mileage and comfort. Car feels like a BMW inside and performs like a car twice its price. I was shocked how quick it is and the 6 speed manual makes it that that much more fun to drive.
