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I ordered a silver manual TDI Sportline + roof, mats, plastic boot liner and mudflaps in May 2007 for $37,000 but when I went to see it in pre-delivery the all-grey cloth was depressingly dull, so I cancelled the order.
I then got wind of the 125kw TDI and in January 2008 I ordered a white TDI manual with roof, flaps, plastic boot liner and iPod adapter for only $1,230 more.
Not bad considering the GT diesel, in addition to 21% more power and 9% more torque, gained traction control (~$700) and bigger wheels. It also had more uplifting red brick/grey cloth. But I did lose the metallic paint.
When I ordered it, the GTD was yet to be built and about 3 months after ordering it I took my wife to the dealer that should have got my order and we test drove the TSI, GTD and GTI. The TSI was impressive but I was wary of the technology. As for the GTD, my wife did not like the lag then sudden surge of power. She liked the GTI.
While we were test driving these cars the other dealer rang to say the white GTD was in pre-delivery. Yikes!
Fortunately, the dealer once again agreed to cancel my order (it was a pretty lean deal). And the other dealer came up with a silver GTI with leather and roof and the other accessories bar mudflaps for $5k more than I was paying for the GTD. Not bad seeing it was worth over $6k more (with leather and metallic paint).
And that is how I came to own a GTI. So I can thank my wife and the kind dealer who cancelled the previous orders for making it all possible.
(Of course, taken to its logical conclusion, we should now be driving a Phaeton or Bugatti Veyron but we'll just have to make do with 'Jessie' for now.)
Ecoomy-wise, 12 months and 10,700km down the track, our longer-term average is a bit over 10l/100km and on a recent 2,000km trip up and down the NSW coast, 7.3l/100km (family of four and a Thule box on top). I gather a diesel would have used 20% - 30% less fuel, but, with the mileage we do, and diesel having been a bit exy in recent times, the savings for us would not have been great. And the GTI's power delivery is very linear with almost as much torque as the 2.0 diesels, but without as many carcinogens.
Warranty-wise, we've had a loose front door hinge and mottling in the metallic silver which was corrected with a respray of the roof.
Product-wise, VW disappoints with vinyl where there should be leather, and the lack of a full range of adjustments for the driver's seat.
Apart from which, the GTI is easily the most exciting and rewarding car I have ever owned and, with the addition of Thule roof racks and pod for additional storage when required, a most practical family car I would wholeheartedly recommend.
While we are yet to use the iPod adapter in earnest, the boot liner makes cleaning sand etc out of the boot a cinch (I went with the more sturdy plastic one rather than the cheaper foam version, although the dealer would have delivered the car with the foam one installed had I not pointed it out).
Now I'd just like to know who can program the roof and windows to shut when it rains on the unattended car . . .
I then got wind of the 125kw TDI and in January 2008 I ordered a white TDI manual with roof, flaps, plastic boot liner and iPod adapter for only $1,230 more.
Not bad considering the GT diesel, in addition to 21% more power and 9% more torque, gained traction control (~$700) and bigger wheels. It also had more uplifting red brick/grey cloth. But I did lose the metallic paint.
When I ordered it, the GTD was yet to be built and about 3 months after ordering it I took my wife to the dealer that should have got my order and we test drove the TSI, GTD and GTI. The TSI was impressive but I was wary of the technology. As for the GTD, my wife did not like the lag then sudden surge of power. She liked the GTI.
While we were test driving these cars the other dealer rang to say the white GTD was in pre-delivery. Yikes!
Fortunately, the dealer once again agreed to cancel my order (it was a pretty lean deal). And the other dealer came up with a silver GTI with leather and roof and the other accessories bar mudflaps for $5k more than I was paying for the GTD. Not bad seeing it was worth over $6k more (with leather and metallic paint).
And that is how I came to own a GTI. So I can thank my wife and the kind dealer who cancelled the previous orders for making it all possible.
(Of course, taken to its logical conclusion, we should now be driving a Phaeton or Bugatti Veyron but we'll just have to make do with 'Jessie' for now.)
Ecoomy-wise, 12 months and 10,700km down the track, our longer-term average is a bit over 10l/100km and on a recent 2,000km trip up and down the NSW coast, 7.3l/100km (family of four and a Thule box on top). I gather a diesel would have used 20% - 30% less fuel, but, with the mileage we do, and diesel having been a bit exy in recent times, the savings for us would not have been great. And the GTI's power delivery is very linear with almost as much torque as the 2.0 diesels, but without as many carcinogens.
Warranty-wise, we've had a loose front door hinge and mottling in the metallic silver which was corrected with a respray of the roof.
Product-wise, VW disappoints with vinyl where there should be leather, and the lack of a full range of adjustments for the driver's seat.
Apart from which, the GTI is easily the most exciting and rewarding car I have ever owned and, with the addition of Thule roof racks and pod for additional storage when required, a most practical family car I would wholeheartedly recommend.
While we are yet to use the iPod adapter in earnest, the boot liner makes cleaning sand etc out of the boot a cinch (I went with the more sturdy plastic one rather than the cheaper foam version, although the dealer would have delivered the car with the foam one installed had I not pointed it out).
Now I'd just like to know who can program the roof and windows to shut when it rains on the unattended car . . .
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