Achtung baby! - VW Golf GTI 2007

The fifth generation Golf GTI is all things to all men

By Tushal Bhadang

Volkswagen (VW) launched the first Mark I Golf GTI way back in 1974 as a 2-door hatch and was an instant hit because it offered more value for money and went faster than most other sports cars of that time. Over the years it became bigger, bulkier and slower. But the new Mark V GTI is in a league of its own. VW have paid attention to details, even today, the honeycomb front radiator grille on the car has a subtle line of red lip gloss making it beautiful enough to be recognised. The well rounded corners and flared wheel arches are anything but over aggressive. Our test car was 4-door Lemon yellow coloured chick magnet.

All the important sporting details are there but so subtly that it doesn’t attract undue attention. The brake callipers for instance are sporty red in colour, bi-xenon headlamps and low mounted fog lamps light up the road adequately (you can even program them to stay on for longer after you lock the car). You can take the GTI to a hotel and expect the concierge to open the door for you.

The true spirit of the GTI has returned with double the power compared to the first version. It develops 200 bhp from a 2 litre, 4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. There is usable power throughout the rev range and the torque at 280 Nm @ 1800-5000 RPM is a shot in the arm that keeps you bolted to your seat as it accelerates to 100 kph in 6.9 seconds! Usually car equipped with turbochargers have turbo lag (within a turbocharger's operating range, lag is the delay between the instant a car's accelerator is depressed and the time the turbocharged engine develops a large fraction of the power boost). The GTI has little to none of it from speeds as low as 50 kph in 6^th gear it just charges ahead.

Mated to 6-speed DSG (double clutch gear) gearbox from Audi the transmission is smooth as silk. And it also has tip-tronic shift with sport mode and F1 style paddle shift on the steering wheel. The GTI has the puppy dog enthusiasm to take the corners tighter and faster. It happily swings its tail out if pushed harder despite being a front wheel drive car. Unlike SUV’s it won’t drink up a litre of fuel as you park the car. Its fuel efficiency and performance are both award winning. It rides low but weighs only 1380 kilograms.

Sports cars usually have a stiffer suspension, it aids handling. The GTI’s all independent suspension package; McPherson front axle with anti-roll bars with wide track and 4-link rear axle assures dynamic performance especially on sharp bends. The ride is firm but comfortable. Our test car even came with a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The interiors are German dull black with red and blue backlit dials. The model we tested had a sunroof, heated leather seats (with GTI embossing), 6-disc CD changer, dual-zone climate control (with rear cooling vents), a multi function trip computer with controls on the steering wheel (contoured and clad in perforated leather) and to top it off — cruise control. The door panels, knobs and switches are good to touch and look like they’ll last a lifetime. It has a cooled glove box, rear seat armrest and enough leg-room in the rear for those less than six feet.

The GTI rides on wide 225/40R18 tyres with Detroit 5-spoke alloy wheels, disc brakes all around provide excellent stopping power and safety aids like ESP, ABS, EBD are highly effective. Additionally, there are ten airbags in the car and it has been awarded a 5-star EuroNCAP safety rating.

Last word
The Golf GTI may be a small car; its boot is big enough for your dog to play around in, with the seats down it large enough to move your desk. It’s a safe car; something even women will enjoy driving. The GTI does everything you could possibly want from a car. You can take your children to school comfortably, practically, safely and then on the way to work, you can give it some stick and go bonkers! The engine has a lovely rasp as the revs climb, it redlines at the blink of an eye and we enjoyed the orchestra. In its 2-door version, it becomes better suited to a newly wed couple. We’re actually pressing hard to find faults with this car; Guess the only thing we can complain about is the lack of cup holders. Buying this car over SUVs would do the world some good.

Rating 5/5.

Car supplied by Behbehani Brothers, Kingdom of Bahrain.