Volkswagen GTI named Automobile Magazine's Car of the Year
As is the custom, Automobile Magazine is the last of the big four, which also includes Motor Trend, Car and Driver and Road & Track, to drop its February issue on the public. On account of this, the smallest paperback of the four hasn't drawn the ire of the internet for breaking any embargoes yet. Thus, we're happy to pass news along to you of Automobile's Car of the Year, which for 2007 is the Volkswagen GTI. Automobile calls the GTI "the right car for our times" based on the fact that it's fun to drive, has lots of utility and can still return 30 mpg on the highway. The magazine's editorial staff was so convinced of the GTI's "Of The Year" status that the voting was unanimous in its favor.
Automobile also crowned a few more "Of The Year" winners, including the Aston Martin V8 Vantage for Design of the Year, Roger Penske for Man of the Year and Electronic Stability Control for Technology of the Year.
Follow the Read link to view Automobile's press release that provides deeper insight into the editors' choices.
[Source: Automobile Magazine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MikeW 4:41PM (12/28/2006)
Those damn red turn signals.
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Jason 4:43PM (12/28/2006)
I like the GTI.
Except for those volkswagon gremlins that show up after the first 15k miles. Yikes. Disclaimer: I know someone will pop up to tell me their VW has been reliable for decades. Response: Yeah, you're lucky, but I'm sticking with the masses on this one. VW is junk.
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xxlost_causexx 4:58PM (12/28/2006)
@#2
I won't disagree with you. I had a Corrado, and I'd swear there was a Wet Gizmo in there somewhere poppin out Gremlins left and right. Either that or a long lost miniature AMC factory. Heh.
But anyway, a lot of those gremlins can be avoided by simple maintenance problem is people these days think that with the technology in these cars that they'll run forever being driven hard and run to the dickens. But they need TLC just like any other heap. Not maintaining the car is , in my opinion, what makes a good car go bad.
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V Greene 7:40PM (12/28/2006)
It's such a good car that they've already tweaked it significantly for Europe. Shyeah.
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DriftPunch 5:20PM (12/28/2006)
It seems as though these awards are given without regard to how long the joy of ownership will likely last. I have no doubt that it is an excellent car given the measuring sticks used, but I cannot 'forget' about long term reliability as easily as an editor with the keys for a week. Especially given VWs reputation. You've got to consider this when painting it with 'right car for our times', which implies more than just fun and efficient driving.
I loved my '88 corvette while driving it (25 mpg hwy too). It was a complete pain in the ass at all other times. Fiberglass and liberal use of aluminum make it a very long lived body and chassis, but cheap switches, too much plastic, an too much tech for 1988 production proved a stronger foe...
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Malto 5:40PM (12/28/2006)
Damn with reliability! Enjoy life if u can!
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Joe 5:42PM (12/28/2006)
Interesting considering that in their January edition of their 2007 All-Stars, the vehicle didn't even get considered. In Fact the Mazda 3 (and its Mazdaspeed Stablemate) took the honors for the catagory....
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chewy 5:46PM (12/28/2006)
Excellent pick. Overall the GTI is a package that is hard to beat.
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Ian 6:22PM (12/28/2006)
While a good effort the VW GTI is hardly the cutting edge sporty car it once was.
It weights well OVER 3,000 lbs
o-60 in over 7 seconds
Costs in the twenties
Surely there were other cars which could beat it in all the important categories?
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leo 6:23PM (12/28/2006)
I know someone with a GTI and 22mpg he says is hard to get, but he does have a heavy foot,
I agree with #2 thou, VW is lower than junk, even Ford makes more reliable cars.
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Jeremy Clarkson is an Idiot 7:46PM (12/28/2006)
The GTI is by no means the best car out there. The options add up faster than drugs in Nicole Richie's purse. A reasonably equipped GTI will run you $30,000; fully loaded will hit you more than $40,000.
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Stphane Dumas 7:39PM (12/28/2006)
It could be interesting to see a list of Automobile's previous winners of COTY (Car of the year)? we got a list on Wikipedia of Motor Trend previous winners, AJAC, C&D Top ten, Wheels Car of the year in the Aussie world, Euro car of the year,etc... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_of_the_Year
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Michael Karesh 7:57PM (12/28/2006)
My problem is with the car's eligibility. I don't consider the GTI a different car from the Jetta GLI, and the new Jetta GLI was already eligible last year, but did not win. Cannot remember whether it was in the 2006 All Stars. Anyone?
VW has the right to name it's cars anything it wants to. But I don't think calling the hatchback a different name from the sedan should be enough for the press to consider them as two separate cars.
As for fuel economy, my site's real-world fuel economy data on the compact VWs can be found here:
http://www.truedelta.com/fuel_economy.php?stage=powertrains&brand=Volkswagen&modelCode=279&email=Guest
Initial reliability for these cars has been decent based on the data I've collected. Asian cars tend to do better, but domestics tend to be worse. But this is for cars with an average of 11,800 miles on them at the time of the survey. They may or may not age well. Time will tell.
Vehicle Reliability Survey results:
http://www.truedelta.com/results0906.php
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Bruce Lee 8:36PM (12/28/2006)
With so many cars to choose from, how stupid of a choice was this. Sure it's a great car when you drive it off the lot, but wait, after about 36,000 and this is just as bad as owning a Ford product, a real peice of CRAP! Vdub must have paid alot of money for this title, and to the publishers of Automobile, I'm ashamed of you, and will think twice before I purchase you magazine.
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John Bui 9:27PM (12/28/2006)
Mazdaspeed3. Need I say anything more?!!! But again, this is coming out of Automobile. Geesh.
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Howard Kerr 10:48PM (12/28/2006)
Automobile magazine......I remember when it first hit the newstands, they didn't even do their own track testing but instead used(reprinted?) the numbers other magazines had arrived at.
As far as the Golf being a different car from a Jetta, or not. VW (or VW of America) has from time to time offered Golfs/Rabbits that were not available in exactly the same specification as a Jetta. And let's face it, they have been marketed as separate nameplates since "day 1", unlike the equivalent Mazda or Honda product where the hatchback and the 4 door sedan ALWAYS carried the same name.
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Mike from Scarborough 10:54PM (12/28/2006)
Good for VW.With their family of brands,they have alot more technology than they are given credit for,for especialy the Japanese car lovers who frequent this blogg,who think the auto world revolves around their bland and boring brands,mazda 3 gimee a ^%$#ing break..
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C R 11:44PM (12/28/2006)
I have owned two VW's and they were very durable, and enjoyable to drive. I would love to have GTI.
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John P. 12:00AM (12/29/2006)
This is a great choice for Car of the Year. I'd take this over just about anything the japanese are pushing, except for maybe the mazdaspeed cars.
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Andy 12:41AM (12/29/2006)
I wouldn't vote for the GTI. It is a sharp compact with mean looks, but the cost adds up and the performance just doesn't match the value with options. The MazdaSpeed3 is practically a Euro Focus, and you can buy one with good equipment for around $24,000. With good reliability and a low MSRP, the MazdaSpeed3 wins my vote.
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