1997 Volkswagen Golf GTI Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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User reviews for 1997 Volkswagen Golf GTI
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by Alicia S
Mar 11, 2013
just a nice little airport car. Has been fairly reliable. Handles well, sips fuel. Brakes well. Hoping that someone will want to give it a home when it's retired from airport use. Needs some paint and TLC from a mechanic-type :)Mar 11, 2013
by Craig H
Jul 09, 2012
This is a fun little car. It's a VR6 so its pretty fast. Not as good on gas as the 2.0L but still good. Relatively easy to work on. Very good looking car too. Very good car for the price.Jul 09, 2012
by Andrej Č
Aug 27, 2010
Very fun, timeless design, bulletproof engine, unbeatable sound, go-cart-like handling. Needs very few "mild" engine mods to keep up with much faster-rated cars...or go turbo if you like to embarrass vettes and chase down new M3's. Simply great little toy car.Aug 27, 2010
User rating:
by Alicia S
Mar 11, 2013
just a nice little airport car. Has been fairly reliable. Handles well, sips fuel. Brakes well. Hoping that someone will want to give it a home when it's retired from airport use. Needs some paint and TLC from a mechanic-type :)Mar 11, 2013
by Craig H
Jul 09, 2012
This is a fun little car. It's a VR6 so its pretty fast. Not as good on gas as the 2.0L but still good. Relatively easy to work on. Very good looking car too. Very good car for the price.Jul 09, 2012
by Andrej Č
Aug 27, 2010
Very fun, timeless design, bulletproof engine, unbeatable sound, go-cart-like handling. Needs very few "mild" engine mods to keep up with much faster-rated cars...or go turbo if you like to embarrass vettes and chase down new M3's. Simply great little toy car.Aug 27, 2010
by Kevin V
Dec 25, 2009
my car is the coolest its balck it has 17' in rims ATS its not a fast car but i like driving my hatch everywhere jamming too my stereo full blast dont care about the laws is this almost forty words.Dec 25, 2009
by Julian V
Dec 13, 2009
fast and fun. The gen 4 cars were amazing and gen 5 was ok too. But there new ones r eh and the rabit sucks. nothingwill stop the 1997 gti it was quite amazing and a joy to drive. noochDec 13, 2009
by Babu B
Dec 08, 2009
It has good performance and it does not need any repairs. It has a good interior with bucket seats and a good exterior. It is an expensive car to maintain. It is a realy fun car to drive around hehe.Dec 08, 2009
by Jessica B
Jul 20, 2009
This car handles GREAT!
it is lowered, has a after market exhaust,& cold air intake!
very fast-
this is a limited edition few were painted Jazz blue.
handling & braking is great...
this is like the mustang cobra- only a summer car...
Jul 20, 2009
by Lincoln C
Jul 13, 2009
It is my baby, I love her dearly. She will wipe the snot from the very ground upon which you walk. Give me a long and winding road, loud music, and a warm sunny clear day. I love Remelina. V-Dub for life.Jul 13, 2009
by Paweł B
Apr 02, 2009
Performance - acceleration was decent as was braking, but handling was sometimes not to par.
Build quality - no major problems, clutch lasted until the end, some rattling
Appearance - for a '97 it was nice. i like simple 'boxy' cars. nothing flashy so i thought it looked ok.
Cost of Ownership - parts for german cars are expensive but i take the responsibility for choosing to do mods, regular maintenance was pretty cheap, average fuel consumption as 10-12L/100km
Fun Factor - it delivered decently when properly pushedApr 02, 2009
by Noah B
Dec 19, 2008
This car has a lot of acceleration due to its light curb weight and powerful short angle engine. With a 5 speed manual transmission, it's fun to drive and good on gas. My average MPG is 27. Definitely a good buy and fun to drive.Dec 19, 2008
by Daniel L
Nov 11, 2008
its all to do wit sentimental values.. you really want me to air out my car on face book?!?!...ok its always breaking down!!!...maybe cuz a dat stigma attatched to it!!! but its soooo cool yo i could just go on and on about this dumb car!...so mind ya biz! (50 words yet?!?!/ sheezs!!! )Nov 11, 2008
by Paul D
Sep 19, 2008
OK, I drive a 5 door, 2 L, 16v, Mk 3 Golf Gti putting out about 155bhp. Critics have universely slagged the Mk 3 and it is usually regarded as the weakest of Golf versions. They are wrong! I love it. It may not have the purity of a Mk 1 or the dynamics of a Mk 2 Gti. Nor may it have the quality of a Mk 4, but hey, try one, you might just like it. It pulls hard all the way to nearly 140 mph, revs to 6700rpm, has plenty of grip and the back end can be forced into play if you try hard enough! All on private road of course. It's chunky, in a handsome kinda way, quite economical considering the performance and only costs £300 fully comp a year to insure. The only downside is the steering lacks the direct feel of a Mk 2 Gti and the ride height is comically high. Go on try one, it may exceed your expectations!Sep 19, 2008
by Trey N
Sep 07, 2008
The car i have has about 182,234 Miles on it and i
practically looks brand new original every thing.
the seats aren't nice feeling at first but after ac couple
of months they feel great.the car comes like a Gt
version of the golf. it comes in a VR6 "Supercharged"
or the turbo version i love the car and it still runs like
it just came off the lot.Sep 07, 2008
by Johnny H
Aug 20, 2008
as it is 10 years old its starting to cost more money replacing parts, as all cars do but vw parts aint the cheapest, but i suppose they do last, can't afford new car but makes me think, when spending all this money on it. regarding rattles and squeaks probably worry to much, like everythhing to be perfect, suppose its fun to drive likes corners.Aug 20, 2008
by Ross K
Aug 01, 2008
fun to drive, great to look at, a pain to take care of. Mine has a cold air intake, an aftermarket set of cams, it's been chipped, has a very stiff aftermarket suspension, and an after market muffler. It probibly makes close to 210hp so it's not hard to make more power on these cars. It gets 25 to the gallon in the city and close to 31 to the gallon on the highway ( as long as I stay off the pedal ) .Aug 01, 2008
by Ashley K
Jul 30, 2008
I love the V dub, but the only thing missing is vr6 and i want to get badge less grill and some coil overs and rims/tires. and a new lip ha ha. got work to do! But it is fun to drive for sure! 5 speed of coarse! lateeeeJul 30, 2008
by Michael L
Jul 11, 2008
I loved this car!
Performance: I had this 2 litre tuned with pretty much everything I could afford. Chip, air-filter, camshaft, was enough to make it a respectable performer. Also it had an Eibach lowered suspension with 16" wheels and low-profile tires.
Build quality: Great. It's a VW.
Appearance: I loved the boxey European look. Hatchbacks are the most practical cars in my opinion.
Cost of ownership: Not too bad. Insurance was higher because it says "GTI". Premium gas, but it performed excellently with it.
Fun Factor: 5/5. I loved cruising down river valley road at night with the moon-roof open. It was heaven on wheels!Jul 11, 2008
by Tim W
Jun 12, 2008
I love it although its A MK3 5 Door Golf GTi 2l 16v not a VR6Jun 12, 2008
by Paul D
May 26, 2008
great handling you can feel the road and grips well in the corners
mines done 140000 miles ands is still going well with no problems
overall a great car May 26, 2008
by Igor K
Apr 30, 2008
2.8L VR6 DOHCApr 30, 2008
by Adam F
Apr 23, 2008
just go and buy oneApr 23, 2008
by James H
Apr 15, 2008
average performance, not that ecconomical and weighed much as a tankApr 15, 2008
by NicK B
Mar 30, 2008
It may look like a dumpy little hatchback, but it's got a 2.8 litre v-6, and weighs 2700 lbs.
Nice leather interior, roomy for a 2-door, great gas milage (20 in town, 35 on the highway).Mar 30, 2008
by Gary C
Mar 20, 2008
This was my first car. I really enjoyed it...apparently it doesn't enjoying being impaled by telephone poles 16 ft in the air. Who would've guessed?Mar 20, 2008
by John M
Mar 15, 2008
Not as good as the mk2 golf gti, but with more features and safety aspects, i chose this as i have a young family.Mar 15, 2008
by Shane B
Feb 04, 2008
My V-Dub...
2.8L V6 - 172HP
EiBach Lowering Springs
EuroSport Exhaust
2 12" Kenwood Sub's
1200W Peak Sony XPlod Amp
Yellow LED Underglow Kit
17" Devino 220'sFeb 04, 2008
by Dean M
Jan 24, 2008
10 years running and still giving pleasureJan 24, 2008
by Mike S
Jan 16, 2008
great car, very soft suspenion as standard needs uprating but after you have done that the handleing tighten's up and it a real drivers carJan 16, 2008
by Mike J
Jan 13, 2008
They fit the biggest engine they could find into the smallest car they make....geniusJan 13, 2008
by Gus F
Jan 10, 2008
Fun, fast, and torquey. Schrick Cams, GIAC chip, VR6.Jan 10, 2008
by Vincent P
Jan 02, 2008
Bought this car 100% stock and drove it almost 3 years. Jan 02, 2008
by Michael A
Dec 20, 2007
cheap on gas,very economical BUT......parts will bankrupt you,mine has let me down twice in 12 months.Dec 20, 2007
by Nick P
Dec 17, 2007
needs more saltDec 17, 2007
by Anonymous
Jun 19, 2007
i feel that parts are way over priced and hard to work on, so far i replace a starter and a clutchJun 19, 2007
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1997 Volkswagen Golf GTI Pricing
Original MSRP
$16,820 to $20,570Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: sport bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent