2003 Volkswagen Golf

GTI VR6 2.8L Hatchback

6 Cylinder 2.8 Liter

Manual

9BWDH61J534004066

Gasoline

Air Conditioning

Little did I know as a single buyer in 2003 that my family would fill all four seats of this gorgeous GTI long before the car would wear out. I love it and would drive it for another decade if it weren’t for its having two doors. But two doors are not terrific when you’re regularly loading and unloading two kids from car seats, as my husband and I will be in a few months. Anybody seriously looking at a GTI knows that its spunky vim and vigor make it fun to drive. But what many people don’t realize is how all that zippy handling makes the car extremely safe as well. With its quick reaction speed and instant maneuverability, this sporty VR6 has probably saved my life three times — once when a rogue semi almost flattened me, another time when a surf board flew from a neighboring Thule rack toward my windshield, and then when a driver ahead of me on the highway suddenly collapsed and ricocheted into my lane. As someone reviewing this car wrote when it came out, “In any gear at any speed, you can ask the GTI to accelerate hard and it will gladly comply.” That’s very true. This car is a 6-cylinder, 6-speed, 200-horsepower joy ride that thrives on athletic driving, whether you are playing a bit on offense or reacting in a blink on defense. I like that this car packs its power into a compact frame, not dominating the road like an oversized, gas-gobbling SUV. It gets 30 mpg on the highway, and you can run it at least 15 miles past when the gauge says it’s empty if you’re in a pinch. (A nifty multi-function indicator on the dash tells you miles to empty and instantaneous and average fuel consumption, not to mention average speed, outside temp, time and distance driven, and even warnings for icy roads.) I also like that you can hike up the front seats nice and high to see the whole road before you, Omni-theater style, then adjust the tilting and telescoping steering wheel to meet your position, and crank the lumbar support into the small of your back if you need the extra padding. (My first car, a trusty Honda, had a lot to recommend it, but the comfort of its low seat buckets just couldn’t compare to this VW over longer trips.) Driving this car in New England is a dream, too, since you can meet crisp fall days with fresh air coming in the moonroof and heated front seats to keep you toasty. Other safe and sporty features you can expect: daytime running lights; self-dimming interior rear view mirror; dual front and side-impact airbags PLUS side-curtain airbags; an anti-trap device in the trunk (my personal favorite); a set of 225/45 tires on 17-inch rims; three-channel anti-lock braking; and VW’s impressive stability control system (ESP), where high-performance sensors collect all sorts of data —brake pressure, multi-axis rotational speed, steering angle— to keep the car on the road. In plain English, ESP means that if the car skids, it will automatically brake the best wheel to correct the problem; if you oversteer, the car’s brakes know to apply themselves mostly to the outside wheels. Pretty cool. You can deactivate this system at the touch of a button when you have good reason (i.e., you’re trying to vault the car out of a snow bank), and later the dash will remind you to reactivate. I have been this car’s only owner and driver, and it has never been in an accident or been exposed to cigarette smoke. All of the features function and illuminate properly. I have service records since the original purchase and can pass along years of maintenance docs, most from VW dealerships. Some things you should know:The car was properly serviced for 75k, 80k, and 85k miles. I’m told the timing belt will never need replacement because in fact the VR6's timing "belt" is a timing chain meant to last the life of the car. This means that unlike with 4-cylinder Golfs, this GTI will not need to go to the shop for a massive timing-belt expense between 90k and 100k miles. Last year I gave the car a new oxygen sensor. More recently I had the thermostat replaced with seals, bought a new secondary cooling system, had the tires balanced, and put in a new battery. The car comes with three keys, one remote and two valet; the remote, however, is no longer remote. It works like a hand-held key. Probably it just needs a new battery. VW contacted me about ignition coil and sunroof drain recalls; I took the car to the dealership and replaced both, so you don’t have to anticipate any problems with those.Tires still have plenty of tread left; a mechanic told me to call them 80% new. The shell for the right rear view mirror is split in one place at the bottom; the mirror function isn’t affected, and the split is noticeable only if you're looking for it. I have the title in hand and can sign it over to you without delay. Note the tiny ping on the hood just up and left of the VW symbol: A ping just up and to the right of the driver-side door handle: I have described this vehicle thoroughly and honestly but invite you or a designated mechanic to inspect it before committing to a bid. You can call me at 781-369-1729 to ask any questions or schedule an inspection. Please do not contact me about ending the auction early or paying in any way other than those listed here. You need to be able to pick the car up here in Massachusetts, or I can also pick you up from Logan Airport in Boston if you want to fly here and drive the car home. It's good to go! If you recently signed up for eBay and have zero feedback, please contact me via phone before bidding so that I can verify your identity and confirm that you are a serious bidder. The deposit is nonrefundable, all sales are final, and there will be no refunds. This is a true no reserve auction — the highest bidder gets this terrific little car! Good luck, and happy bidding.