2006 Volkswagen GTI: Discover a Hidden Gem in the Junkyard
Remember when Volkswagen of America ran its “Unpimp ze Auto” series of television commercials? Let’s all watch them again, because they never get old even after 18 years. The car being advertised as being far superior to any backyard-built front-wheel-drive hot rod of the mid-2000s was the 2006 Volkswagen GTI, and that’s exactly what we’ve got for today’s Junkyard Gem.
A Brief History of the GTI
Volkswagen has applied the GTI label to many heated-up models since the Golf GTI and its Scirocco GTI cousin first hit German streets in 1976, including the Gol and Polo, but only the Golf version has ever been offered in the United States. Back when the Golf was known as the Rabbit here, the first GTIs hit American showrooms as 1983 models. Despite having just 90 horses under the hood, the Mk1 Rabbit GTI was great fun and quickly established a cult following here.
The Disappearance of the Rabbit Name
Volkswagen ditched the Rabbit name when the Mk2 Golf showed up in the United States as a 1985 model. Because there were no GTI versions of other VWs sold here, the GTI could be sold without Golf badging by VWoA. Thanks to the devoted enthusiast following for GTIs of any generation, these cars are not easy to find in car graveyards; prior to today’s car, I’d documented just a handful of examples of the Mk2 GTI and Mk4 GTI in such places.
The Power of the Mk5 GTI
This 2006 Volkswagen GTI is a genuine Mk5, also known as the 2006 New GTI. It is much heavier than its 1983 ancestor, weighing in at 3,308 pounds compared to the 1,918 pounds of the Mk1 Rabbit GTI. However, it has a better power-to-weight ratio thanks to its turbocharged 2.0-liter DOHC engine with direct injection. With 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, each horse pulls just 16.54 pounds compared to the ’83 Rabbit GTI’s 21.31 pounds per horse. It’s clear that cars just keep getting heavier.
The Last of the Three-Pedal GTIs
By the mid-2000s, Americans had already spent a good 40 years falling out of love with manual transmissions, but the original buyer of this car chose the six-on-the-floor. We are now living in the final model year of three-pedal GTIs here, according to Volkswagen.
A Well-Preserved Gem
This 2006 Volkswagen GTI appears to be in very nice condition for its age, with a pretty decent interior and mostly straight and solid sheet metal. There’s a bit of decay around the rear glass, but nothing serious. It seems that some costly mechanical problem sent it to a yard just south of the Denver city limits.
A Nod to Iron Lung Records
Among the various stickers on this GTI, there’s one for Iron Lung Records of Seattle. Perhaps the previous owner was a fan of the label or simply enjoyed collecting stickers.
In Conclusion
The 2006 Volkswagen GTI is a hidden gem in the junkyard. With its lineage tracing back to the cult-favorite Mk1 Rabbit GTI, this Mk5 GTI offers improved power and performance while retaining the beloved manual transmission. It may have found its way to the junkyard due to a mechanical issue, but its overall condition suggests that it was once cherished by its owner. As enthusiasts continue to search for these iconic hot hatches, stumbling upon a well-preserved GTI like this one is a rare treat.