2008 Volkswagen GTI

In the 1980's, small hatchbacks were mostly considered to be the ugly step-children of the automobile industry. They were cheap, but they weren't pretty, and they certainly weren't powerful. So when Volkswagen decided to juice up its little Rabbit, people just didn't know what to think. It looked kinda like the car that teacher down the street drove. But it had spoilers, big wheels and an angry exhaust note. What was this supposed to be? A sports car slash hatchback?

Well, VW got this one right and they sold a ton of their little 'hot hatches'. Their formula of putting a powerful engine in a small but practical car proved to be so popular that an entire market segment was created.

Over the last 20 years, the Volkswagen GTI got progressively bigger, loosing some of its skateboard-on-wheels feel. But for 2006, VW decided to go back to its GTI roots with a smaller, and lighter version of their pocket rocket. Starting with a 2-door version of the redesigned Golf (now called Rabbit), they added some aggressive body mods including a menacing front grill and huge 18' wheels. Then they added a 200-hp, turbocharged 2.0L and a new suspension. What resulted was probably the most entertaining GTI since the original Mk1.

The new independent rear suspension glues the car in the curves and eliminates the GTI's famous tail-hop. Handling is still lively, but it's easier to control. Though it's less powerful that the Mk IV, the reduced weight means the new GTI will rocket to 60 in just 6.8 seconds. Smooth and peppy, the 2.0L provides an awesome punch of power off the line and the gear changes in the paddle-shift 6-speed automatic (DSG) are amazingly fast. There's also a traditional 6-speed manual for purists.

On the inside, you get VW's perfect ergonomics. Controls are placed logically and fall easily to hand. Switches have that great German 'click' feel, and the fit and finish are superb. The seats are comfortable and supportive, but can become taxing on long trips. There's a nice list of options that includes Navigation, heated seats and special wheels. Safety isn't an option however and the new GTI has a long list of safety features including ESP (Electronic Stability Control), huge brakes with ABS and side curtain airbags.

After years of languishing in the shadows, the Volkswagen GTI is back, and it's better than ever. . COMMON PROBLEMS FOR THE VOLKSWAGEN GTI: If the airbag warning light comes on, it's likely due to a faulty connector under one of the front seats (2006-2007). The side windows may come off their track, requiring the glass to be glued to the track (2006). A bad odor from the A/C will require the evaporator coils to be cleaned (2006-2007).