Volkswagen GTI MK 7 – Best In Show So Far?: Paris 2012 Live Shots

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Yesterday’s coverage was fairly snarky, for the simple reason that none of the product was particularly compelling or exciting. But I love the look of the new VW GTI, especially in this blue hue. In my senior year of high school, my father bought a 2006 Jetta 2.0T with the DSG gearbox; it might be one of the all-time great sleepers, with just enough power to be fun in the city, but not enough to get you in serious trouble. Even on mundane all-season tires, it was one of the better FWD platforms I’ve ever driven. I can’t imagine how much fun the new GTI will be with more power and 200 fewer lbs.



Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Disaster Disaster on Sep 30, 2012

    Not really a fan of the huge fake (I assume) slotted brake intakes in the lower front grill. Do like that it hasn't adopted the big mouth grill that so many new cars are sporting. Two tone side mirrors don't add anything either.

  • Beemernator Beemernator on Oct 01, 2012

    I used to be a real VW Golf anorak back in the eighties and nineties. Then my VR6 found endless ways to fleece me and I have never been back to a VW dealer again. These days I find it hard to tell the Mark V, VI and VII apart. But that is just me. Looking at the VW sales figures, they are doing just fine without me as as a fanboi.

  • ArialATOMV8 All I hope is that the 4Runner stays rugged and reliable.
  • Arthur Dailey Good. Whatever upsets the Chinese government is fine with me. And yes they are probably monitoring this thread/site.
  • Jalop1991 WTO--the BBB of the international trade world.
  • Dukeisduke If this is really a supplier issue (Dana-Spicer? American Axle?), Kia should step up and say they're going to repair the vehicles (the electronic parking brake change is a temporary fix) and lean on or sue the supplier to force them to reimburse Kia Motors for the cost of the recall.Neglecting the shaft repairs are just going to make for some expensive repairs for the owners down the road.
  • MaintenanceCosts But we were all told that Joe Biden does whatever China commands him to!
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