#2003 gl golf hatchback interior driver

Launched in Europe in 1976, and in the US in 1983, the GTI version The PA plant continued producing Volkswagons through 1984, GTI for the North American market, and also the first Caddy pick-up, based on the MK1 Golf.Ĭonsidered to be the third-best car during the 1980's, the GTI Mk I, also known as the Rabbit GTI. Company executives in Germany weren't happy with the changes made and reverted back to stiffer shocks, suspensions, and higher-quality interior trim. Over the years, McLernon tried to soften the suspension and used cheaper materials for the interior to 'Americanize' the car. It was 1978, and Volkswagon became the first European car manufacturer to produce a vehicle in the U.S. The Volkswagon Golf was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, Italian automoble architect of ItalDesign design studio.ĭeciding to lower costs by producing locally, Volkswagon chose James McLernon, a former Chevrolet executive, to run a factory in Westmoreland County, PA. In South Africa, a Volkswagon CitiGolf, an entry-level still produced, is a version of the original Golf model. and Canada as the Rabbit, and in Mexico as the Caribe. Acquiring the Ingolstadt company in the autumn of 1964 from Daimler-Benz in 1964 a huge turn-around occurred in Volkswagen production as they gained access to Audi's expertise in water-colled engines and front-wheel drive which were crucial in producing the new generation of Volkswagens. The Auto Union GmbH, which owned Audi became the saving grace for the struggling German car giant. The public was repeatedly turning away from the Type 3 and Type 4 at this time and showed no interest in Volkswagen's air-cooled, rear-engined models. Volkswagen has always had a reputation for solid built-quality and reliable engineering, the design and record-breaking sales reinforced this. The success of the Golf was paramount to Volkswagen, as it aided the struggling company in the early 1970's (after terminal sales of the Beetle had plunged the company into decline) and turned sales around. The Golf is an example of a hot hatch vehicle. Several versions and variations have been produced over the years, most famously, the 3-door hatchback style, the 5-door hatchback, as a sedan, convertible, and as a station wagon. In 1975 it was featured as Wheels magazine's Car of the Year. After all, Beetle is now a familiar face in America.Manufactured by Volkswagon in 1974, the Golf compact car has become their best-selling vehicle with over 24 million built.

Just don't expect to see people looking, smiling and waving at you every time you come around a corner as much as they did when the New Beetle first hit the streets. Beetle earned top scores in the federal governments crash tests and comes with Volkswagen's excellent safety features. On the road, the Beetle is smooth and sophisticated and handles well. Its exterior and interior design details are fun and creative. It comes in an assortment of bright, fun colors. Introduced for 2002, the Beetle Turbo S is fun, too, though its fun is best measured with a stopwatch. New for 2003, Beetle convertibles are offered with a choice of trim and 2.0-liter or 1.8-liter turbo engines.

Volkswagen has engineered a winning chassis with none of the cowl shake common on most convertibles. Nor is there a lot of trunk space.ĭrop the top and all these concerns are blown away, of course. Interior ergonomics are not as good those in a more traditional car, such as the Golf.

#2003 gl golf hatchback interior driver

Like other retro-mobiles, however, driver and passengers must make some concessions for style. It combines German engineering and performance with exceptional fit and finish, and it represents a good value. And because it's a Volkswagen, the Beetle is a refined car. With the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Thunderbird, Mini Cooper and other retrospective designs stealing headlines, the Beetle no longer basks in the retro-fad limelight.īeetle remains a stylish car, however. The question now becomes: Did they wait too long? Volkswagen's New Beetle is no longer that new, having been around for about six years now. At that time, we asked: Where's the convertible? We've been asking that question every year since. When it arrived in 1998, Volkswagen's New Beetle rekindled the magic of its legendary namesake and became a ray of sunshine in an all-too-serious car market.