2001 Volkswagen GTI GLS review from North America
"Just OK"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Drivers power window mechanism broke which caused window to fall into door.
Clasp on armrest compartment broke.
Continuing problem with electrics. Specifically, it sometimes will not shift into hi gear on the freeway. This is caused by an "unidentified short" which has never been fixed despite numerous attempts by the dealership. The problem is easily fixed by stopping the car and restarting (very annoying on the freeway).
General comments?
A reliable car, and very fun to drive.
Decent MPG (though I was expecting more from such a small car).
Terrible turn radius for a small car (my Volvo sedan was better).
Takes between 1-2 seconds for gears to engage when switching from D to R (or vice versa) with automatic transmission.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model Year | 2001 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 turbo Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 25 miles |
| Most recent distance | 60000 miles |
| Previous car | Volvo 244 |
| Date of Entry | 1st August, 2005 |



