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The GTi may miss out on the all-wheel drive credentials of the Subaru WRX and Lancer Ralliart, but that does not matter. It remains one of the most engaging hatches around - even as a manual. Photo Gallery
Neil McDonald road tests and reviews the Volkswagen Golf GTi manual ? and rediscovers the joy of self-shifting
IN the past few months you can count on one hand the number of manual-gearbox cars that have passed through the Carsguide garage. Except for budget priced econo-boxes, it is becoming rarer to drive a car with a manual gearbox.
Dual clutch gearboxes and newer six, seven and even eight-speed autos are becoming much more common. However, Volkswagen says the split between manual and DSG gearboxes is pretty evenly split for its hot GTi models. We can understand why. After punting a Volkswagen Golf GTi six-speed manual around for a week, we've rediscovered the joys of self-shifting.
Gearbox and engine
Don't be baulked by the six-speed manual in the GTi, it's light yet precise and the gate is like the proverbial warm knife through butter. It is an engaging gearbox and you won't tire of it even in stop-start peak-hour traffic.
The gearbox, like Golf build quality, is robust and the GTi's turbo engine and standard equipment levels make a convincing argument to pay a little extra for more fun.
Fit-out and equipment
The $3300 leather seat trim was a nice touch but $2500 for the satellite navigation system seems a bit steep in a $40,490 car. After a play we even left the adaptive chassis control - a $1500 option - in comfort and just enjoyed the sound of the sweet revving 155kW TSI turbo four and crisp bark of the dual exhausts. So flexible is the torque that you can doddle around in sixth without complaint.
The GTi may miss out on the all-wheel drive credentials of the Subaru WRX and Lancer Ralliart, but that does not matter. It remains one of the most engaging hatches around - even as a manual.
VW Golf GTi
Price: $38,990 (3-door manual), $40,490 (5-door manual).
Engine: 2L/4-cylinder turbo, 155kW/280nm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Economy: 7.7L/100km (manual)
Performance: 0-100km/h 6.9 secs
