2007 Volkswagen GTI Review

We like the Volkswagen GTI very much. We like the 2.0-liter turbochargedinline-four powerplant, and the way that it’s so zingy and enthusiastic. We like the quality and the look of the interior, especially the flat-bottomed steering wheel and, when equipped, those delectable tartan plaid and leather-trimmed sports seats. But most of all, we like the way that the whole car comes together as a whole. It’s more than just a well-built European hatchback, but rather it’s a car that has character where others are lacking. Sure, it is just a machine. Although, while maybe just delusion on our part, we’d swear that it’s somehow been infected with human traits. Maybe we’re just in touch with our inner Fast.

There are few ways to make this little hatch more appealing but Volkswagen has, and presented it in the form of a special edition version called the Fahrenheit GTI. There’s also a Fahrenheit GLI based on the Jetta GLI sedan that features the same changes, but it’s painted in yellow, not orange. It goes along with the Jetta and Passat Wolfsburg editions, plus the New Beetle Convertible Triple White as this year’s batch of limited edition cars.

The GTI Fahrenheit is one of those cars you couldn’t miss if you tried. Aside from the occasional pastel color on the New Beetle, and the yellow that was offered in limited quantities on Golf models of years past, VW colors tend to be a little more muted, and geared towards a more sophisticated crowd. Not so with this orange, which is as bright and cheerful as what you’d find on a Lamborghini Gallardo, made all that more obvious by the glossy black grille insert up front and hatch-top rear spoiler. The Fahrenheit also rides on unique, two-tone painted 18-inch wheels called “Charleston”, which remind us a little of the standard Jetta’s alloy wheels… just bigger and more detailed.

There’s no escaping the color, even if you hop inside. Where the regular GTI has the sobering black hole color scheme thattypifies German performance cars, the darkness is broken up by little splashes of orange in the Fahrenheit. The regular metal trim is now bright orange, as is the stitching on the steering wheel, the hand brake lever, on the gearbox’s boot, but not on the seats. Though it would have made the perfect touch, orange-stitched, or even orange inserts on the seats would’ve required actual certification, something VW just wasn’t willing to go through with for such small-volume production. Oh, and don’t forget the steering wheel plaque; where on the regular car it’s a rather nice plinth of metal with the classical GTI logo, on this car it’s bright orange and has “Fahrenheit” written across it with the serial number. The car you see here doesn’t include the serial number as it’s a pre-production model.

Since we’re talking about the little changes, it’s also a great littlesegue to introduce the changes that will be featured on late-production 2007 and 2008 model year cars. The headlamp washers that used to be standard have been deleted (or are an extra-cost option in some markets). It’s not a cost-cutting measure, swears Volkswagen, it’s that owners have written in stating that the washers, which automatically spritz fluid, make a dribbling mess all over the hood and bumpers. It only happens on freshly hand-washed cars, no doubt.

For the detail oriented, there are new multi-function buttons for the steering wheel. Though the button count is the same, they’re no longer covered in soft-touch rubber, but rather they’re just the buttons themselves. Even more minor is the swap of buttons on the climate control system. Air conditioning used to always be on unless the “Econ” mode was selected, but now it’s the other way around. Non-Fahrenheit GTIs alsofeature a new standard wheel design called “Denver” that look similar to the lovely “Hufeisen” porthole five-spoke wheels, though they’re an inch smaller and aren’t painted two-tone. Otherwise, the GTI is the same car that it’s been since this generation was introduced.

One thing we were hoping for with a name like Fahrenheit was a little extra heat under the hood. Unfortunately, there’s no such luck to be had. Though VW has offered the GTI in two special occasions - the GTI Pirelli and the GTI 30th Anniversary - with various modifications to produce up to 230 horsepower, there are no power gains to speak of for the Fahrenheit. Power is still 200 horses and 207 lb-ft of torque, which remains sufficient to move the little orange hatch quickly enough to get into some serious run-ins with the law.

All Fahrenheits come standard with the six-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox, which comes with a pair of steering wheel mounted paddles for a little extra fun. Since the robotized transmission is capable of upshifting at speedsthat make a regular human’s reactions seem like slow motion, this combination makes for quicker 0-60 mph jaunts than the six-speed stick. We’ve also got to give kudos to VW for engineering the exhaust note of the GTI, which is deeper, burblier and in general, sportier sounding than any other application of the 2.0T found in the Western world. Just mind the sound of half-throttle up-changes on the DSG; they sound a little like the car is passing wind.

Since only 1,200 Fahrenheits will be made, it’s reasonable to expect VW to charge just that little bit extra for the car. The sticker price is $27,665, which isn’t asking all too much considering that all Fahrenheits come fully loaded with goodies from the standard GTI such as full leather seating and the sunroof, plus the really expensive DSG gearbox. The only option you can get on this car is Sirius satellite radio for $375. The car also comes with the European-tuned sport suspension, but to be honest, it felt just as flat in the corners and supple on the streets that we wouldn’t have been able to tell otherwise.

All in all, we think the Fahrenheit is a great way of celebrating the modern rebirth of a legend… but only if you love orange.