new gti

[maherbaz]

Hey everyone. So I'm going to be moving to wisconsin before fall, and people keep telling me that I'm going to want something w/ front or all wheel drive. First, does anyone here have much experience w/ their ti in the snow? Second, what do you guys think of the new gti? Any other front wheel or awd cars that you like better?
Thanks,
Maher

[HuGo]

Hey everyone. So I'm going to be moving to wisconsin before fall, and people keep telling me that I'm going to want something w/ front or all wheel drive. First, does anyone here have much experience w/ their ti in the snow? Second, what do you guys think of the new gti? Any other front wheel or awd cars that you like better?
Thanks,
Maher

you might want to talk to Dusten.

[96cali]

The new GTI is supposed to absolutely rock like none other before except the original. Check out this months Automobile mag. If you keep the ti snows are a must. Blizaks are good on ice but soft, Alpins and Graspics get good marks too. I'm from Milwaukee- where are you moving too?

[318i_sedan]

I haven't driven a new mkV GTI ( just a mkIV TDI and regular Golf), but from what i've heard the new GTI is supposed to be really fun to drive. its already cleaned up on awards in europe from what i've seen. VW claims 200Hp and from what i've read from dyno test in other forums its actually putting out that to the wheels, so engine may be a bit more powerfull than vw is letting on. Also of note, the 4 door gti is supposed to be arriving in late summer or early fall.

As far as reliability goes..not too sure, previous platform had a few issues...but i think that was due more to quality control than poor engineering.

check out www.vwvortex.com , they have lots of info on it in their forums.

[campaiar]

Driving the TI in the snow is sweet, dangerous at times, but sweet. Its pretty hilly in parts of Cincinnati, so you have to get good at knowing your limits, and using momentum wisely.

It can be done, it just takes practice.

[cali-ti]

drove it for 8 winters in the snow. throw some snows on and keep your head about you and it'll be fine. if you have ASC, that's also beneficial.

[Panzer_M]

Is it made in Germany or Mexico. Noticed the ads don't say German-built, just engineered.

I'd like to drive the new Mercedes A class Turbo..200hp and the size of a Xb Scion.

[Calgary98TI]

Just get some good snow tires for your ti. The ti will out handle most front drive cars. My 98ti with snow tires is the BEST handling car that I have driven in the snow, much better than any of my old gti's (I have had 3 of them). I take mine to the mountains in Banff Canada, every weekend to go skiing, fantastic car in the snow.

[Tyler]

The ti drives fine in the snow,just have to be catious.

[needle332rur]

Is it made in Germany or Mexico. Noticed the ads don't say German-built, just engineered.

I'd like to drive the new Mercedes A class Turbo..200hp and the size of a Xb Scion.

MKV's GTi's are built in germany (took them long enough to do it)

The new GTi is a great car from what i've read about it, Easily chipped to 260hp six speed or the smg type. Not to mention its the first GTi to have independent rear suspension.

But then again the Ti can be a great car year around. Driving a Ti in the winter is really not to bad. I live in CT and have never had a problem.

[maherbaz]

Thanks for the replies guys. The job I'm considering is in Madison, and I hear that there is snow on the ground for at least 6 months out of the year. You all make it sound like the ti handles that pretty well though, and I do have asc, so it may not even be an issue. While we are on the subject of the 2.0 turbo, how can a chip increase the performance by so much?

[madfronter]

I live in PA and have not had any problems while driving in the snow. I make sure my traction control is on though. I also drive to VT and NY to go snowboarding and have not had any problems driving in the snow there as well. Use your head and you'll be fine.

[DustenT]

Thanks for the replies guys. The job I'm considering is in Madison, and I hear that there is snow on the ground for at least 6 months out of the year. You all make it sound like the ti handles that pretty well though, and I do have asc, so it may not even be an issue. While we are on the subject of the 2.0 turbo, how can a chip increase the performance by so much?

I live in Madison. There is very LITTLE snow here, at least this year. I have never had a problem with driving the Ti in snow. I put Blizzaks on in the winter, although all-seasons are fine for most people, but I like to drive aggressively. Don't buy a different car just because you might have to drive it in snow, just buy snow tires.

[318i_sedan]

While we are on the subject of the 2.0 turbo, how can a chip increase the performance by so much?

more turbo boost mainly (and other misc. tweaks), but i'm guessing that extra boost would increase the stress on the engine once you get past a certain point (i haven't messed with chips myself...just watched a friend with his S4 do it and brag endlessly about it).

200hp is plenty for the street...and the gti already has plenty of torque, you don't need a chip...but then again i was happy with my 98 Hp civic hatchback i got for free a while ago :biggrin: .

[steelejared]

I live in Northern Ohio and I have driven my ti in the snow for about 5-6 years now. I have survived winters without snow tires, but I have quite a bit of experience driving in the snow from growing up skiing in Idaho. I grew up driving a Jetta in the snow with four studded snow tires on it. I have found that with my pirelli snow tires on the ti, it handles just as well as most cars out there. One plus is that if you enjoy shooting a rooster tail of slush and snow on tailgaters the rwd ti works much better than the fwd VW. The VW just shoots it all over itself.

[jmoti]

I am currently running 4 Dunlop Graspic DS-2's...they are much better dry-road handlers than the Blizzak WS-15's I had previously (though they were on a different car, my e30 325is), and have been just about as good in the snow so far. Plus, I think they're significantly cheaper. Anybody else running the Dunlops?

As far as snow driving - I've lived in fairly snowy areas (though not WI!) my whole life, and driven 3 BMW's ('73 Bavaria, 325is, ti) through plenty of it. I wouldn't trade 'em for anything till upwards of 7 inches of powder, and after that I'd go AWD or stay the heck off the road. I hate FWD in snow...you lose traction on one set of tires, you've lost both power and steering. Just my 2 cents.

[Rudenice]

The TI sucks in the snow, in my opinion, I purchased my ti from Ohio - the dealer said the lady that owned it had to sale it because of poor performance in the snow. Last October, I experienced it for myself - in Wash,dc - when i attempted to travel in snow - I could barely reach the main intersection - a half a block away - enroute to Starbucks - once on Capital Hill - I was towed for parking in an emergency zone - my 72vw superbettle runs better in snow than the 95ti

[96cali]

The TI sucks in the snow, in my opinion, I purchased my ti from Ohio - the dealer said the lady that owned it had to sale it because of poor performance in the snow. Last October, I experienced it for myself - in Wash,dc - when i attempted to travel in snow - I could barely reach the main intersection - a half a block away - enroute to Starbucks - once on Capital Hill - I was towed for parking in an emergency zone - my 72vw superbettle runs better in snow than the 95ti

what tires do you have?

[SDKmann]

Driving the ti in snow sucks. Some days I barely have to accerlerate because I can just slide to where ever I need to get to. Kinda fun until you meet up with toyotas. I wouldnt buy the new GTI though. The commercials are good but Im dont like volkswagan. They have a chick-car rep.

[CirrusSR22]

I live in Minnesota and I drive on Blizzaks WS-50's. My ti is MUCH better in the snow/ice than my old Ford Escort was with generic all-seasons.

Anyways, last week I put my Fuzion ZRi's (summer performance tire) back on because our winter is so lame this year. I wanted to start having fun again :) Well today we got an inch or two of snow and the Fuzions are absolutely HORRIBLE!!! Not that I expected them to be good BTW...

This made me realize how truly great the WS-50's are in the ice and snow. :shakefis:

It's all tires, it's all tires, it's all tires, it's all tires, it's all tires, it's all tires....