Introducing the 5 Door GTI
January 3, 2007 – 10:20 am by Matt Radel
Filed under Volkswagen GTI
Three doors? Good. FIVE doors? Better.
eGMCarTech reports that the five door GTI is coming to the U.S. and that VW has high expectations for the model, based upon the success of the current GTI. I’ve personally already seen two five door GTI’s around Cincy in the past month, so I’d say they’re here. Here’s a pic of one I snapped with my phone (kinda lousy, I know):
I’m diggin’. And given the size of the mark V, it’s a pretty practical vehicle.
Introducing the 5 Door GTI
January 3, 2007 – 10:20 am by Matt Radel
Isn’t this news kind of dated? I mean, the brochure I picked up while shopping for my two-door ‘07 GTI had a photo of the four-door inside.
I do like the four-door, especially since it fits the poor-man’s Audi A4 label very well. At least they’re not calling it a wagon. Which it is.
Could be dated Patrick. I just saw it on eGMCarTech on the 29th, and remembered I’d snapped a pic of one in the flesh…er…fiberglass…a few days earlier.
VW tried the four-door GTI concept for a while back at the beginning of the Mark IV run. It always seemed like a good idea to me. You get the practicality of the four-door Golf with a much sweeter engine under the hood and the handling characteristics of the GTI. Really, I’m not sure why they ever stopped making them.
I really like the idea. I’ve always been more of a four door man myself. We’ll see what kind of reception they get here.
The 5-door is a no-brainer for me. I drove the 3 and 5-door back to back and walked away not really being able to tell the difference. I also think the 5-door proportions give it a more mature look. It also allowed my lady friend easy access to the back seat while my buddy and I drove the tires off of the car.
The DSG tranny is great. I have only driven sticks, but this one will change my ways.
I am also suprised at the availability of tese cars. Spotting or test driving an Si or a Speed3 is like winning the lotto in Minneapolis, while the GTIs don’t seem to be selling terribly well. A shame. Looks like I won’t have to worry about seeing too many when I get my 5-door.
The Automobile of the year award could have something to do with increased dealer stock - it seems like they have a few more on the lot around Cincy as well. Word is still spreading though, and it looks like the GTI & Jetta will bear a good deal of the burden in dispelling VW’s poor quality history.
The 5 door looks a lot more balanced than the 3 door, I think. This GTI is fantastic and i cannot wait until my order gets here, 6 weeks. It is a fantastic vehicle and I can’t say enough about the engine and looks.