2002 VOLKSWAGEN GTI

Great when I was young and single

Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

My first car I bought on my own, and it was everything I wanted. Fast, quick, stylish, lots of cargo room. BUt the small things kept adding up, and just a few days ago it died for good. I bought it at 80K miles, and it took its last breath at 176K, 7 years in total. Turbo was great, but there was a noticable lag between the petal and the pick-up. BUt it was quick, out accelerating my friend's V6 cars. For the most part, the engine was great, but the timing belt blew recently, so RIP little buddy. The interior is the weakest aspect of the car. A joke of backseat legroom. Stitching on the leather seats would rip in some places. The rear sideboards were ripped from the frame because of the people squeezing in and out from the back. The plastic was brittle; glove box handle, latch on middle armrest, driver-side window controls all snapped. Age is the interior's worst enemy. I would highy recommend this car as a teen or batchelor's first ride, but not as a long-term vehicle solution.