IT is probably fair to say some of my family, friends and colleagues turned a slight shade of green (with envy) when they spotted me zipping around in the new Volkswagen GTI.
The one I drove was the six-speed VW Golf GTI 2.0 TSI DSG and it was a beautiful, pure white colour.
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Before last week, the closest I got to driving one was riding shotgun with a mate in Cape Town about 10 years ago.
A car fanatic of the highest order, he had longed for one of these iconic cars from early high school days.
He gave the GTI some gas on those twisting roads that hug the ocean … and boy did it respond. It was riveting stuff, what a ride.
However, some of it was a bit of a blur and I could see why I was not made for anything faster than maybe 142km/h.
Could have been because the sound system was pumping out the music so loud it felt like being back in a nightclub.
“Of all the cars I have owned (more than 50), it is in the top three,” he said.
While you could buy a small flat somewhere on the South Coast for its price, it’s a phenomenal vehicle and easy to see why it so widely adored.
For me it has understated ‘attitude’. It doesn’t need to be too loud or too flashy. It’s cool and it knows it.
The sight of the hint of red on the distinctive black grille was enough to up the heart rate.
Inside there is so much space it doesn’t seem possible. Plenty in the boot, too. Luggage capacity is 380 litres.
Again, styling is trendy but not overdone. There’s nothing garish about the interior.
The feel of the leather and visual absorbtion of what’s available on the dashboard kept the heart rate up.
(No need for hours on the treadmill for cardio exercise at this rate).
Options fitted include: panoramic sunroof, KESSY advanced key, rear assist and rear view camera, DynAudio sound package, Discover pro satellite navigation system, adaptive chassis control, park assist, blind spot detection, active info display, front assist and 19-inch Santiago alloy wheels.
It kicks out 169kW between 4 700 rpm and 6 200 rpm. Peak torque of 350Nm is reached between 1 500 rpm and 4 600 rpm
It bolts from zero to 100km/h in 6.4 seconds, and has a top speed of 248km/h. Fuel consumption (combined) is 6.4 litres/100km. Fuel tank is 50 litres.
It comes with a three-year/120 000km warranty, plus a service plan of five years or 90 000km, as well as a service interval of 15 000km.
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