First let me say that after owning my 2002 GLX 5-speed Manual for a week, it is simply amazing to me that a car costing under $28K can be this refined. Best money I have ever spent on a car. Now that I have had some time behind the wheel, here are a few things that I like and dislike:
LIKE:
1. Handling (better than I thought it would be)
2. Quietness (super quiet at 80 mph+)
3. Armrest (seems to adjust to the ideal spot)
4. Cupholders (fit a Dunkin Donuts medium perfectly!)
5. Ergonomics (unbelievably good - I even see the dash dimmer switch in between the spokes)
6. Monsoon (sounds great with CD, radio reception good, and has better bass than expected)
7. Headlights (bright and focused, much better than the units on the Jeep I got rid of)
8. GLX Wheels (not sure of the name of the stock wheels, but they are growing on me and seem to look closer to 17" - probably because the spokes extend out to the lip)
9. Elbow room (the depressions in the door panel molding make for a ton of elbow room - comfortable for people with long arms such as myself)
DISLIKES:
1. Seat side bolsters (I find that through aggressive cornering, the seats could use mroe bolstering)
2. Lumbar support (could use about an extra inch of lumbar)
3. Factory floormats (very, very cheap - after 3 days of driving the mats already had permanent depressions where my heels were)
4. Chrome around gauges (the quality of the chrome doesn't seem as high as the rest of the interior materials).
5. Owners manual cubby hole in dash (too tight, as my manual doesn't seem to want to fit into it)
Well, those are my initial thoughts. I really like the ride as is. I thought I'd be itching to throw in an aftermarket suspension right away, but that isn't the case. There is a little more squat and dive than I'd like, but the cornering is much flatter than I thought it would be.
The quality of the floormats is pathetic. Actually, for me it isn't a big deal, as I tossed them aside yesterday in favor of the VW Premium Rubber Floormats (not the big monster ones). I really like the Premium Mats because they aren't so thick that they'll look out of place in the car all year round, which is what I plan on doing.
Well, just figured I'd post these thoughts after a week of ownership. Overall I am elated with the car.
Mike
[Modified by Michael_B, 3:53 PM 2-8-2002]
LIKE:
1. Handling (better than I thought it would be)
2. Quietness (super quiet at 80 mph+)
3. Armrest (seems to adjust to the ideal spot)
4. Cupholders (fit a Dunkin Donuts medium perfectly!)
5. Ergonomics (unbelievably good - I even see the dash dimmer switch in between the spokes)
6. Monsoon (sounds great with CD, radio reception good, and has better bass than expected)
7. Headlights (bright and focused, much better than the units on the Jeep I got rid of)
8. GLX Wheels (not sure of the name of the stock wheels, but they are growing on me and seem to look closer to 17" - probably because the spokes extend out to the lip)
9. Elbow room (the depressions in the door panel molding make for a ton of elbow room - comfortable for people with long arms such as myself)
DISLIKES:
1. Seat side bolsters (I find that through aggressive cornering, the seats could use mroe bolstering)
2. Lumbar support (could use about an extra inch of lumbar)
3. Factory floormats (very, very cheap - after 3 days of driving the mats already had permanent depressions where my heels were)
4. Chrome around gauges (the quality of the chrome doesn't seem as high as the rest of the interior materials).
5. Owners manual cubby hole in dash (too tight, as my manual doesn't seem to want to fit into it)
Well, those are my initial thoughts. I really like the ride as is. I thought I'd be itching to throw in an aftermarket suspension right away, but that isn't the case. There is a little more squat and dive than I'd like, but the cornering is much flatter than I thought it would be.
The quality of the floormats is pathetic. Actually, for me it isn't a big deal, as I tossed them aside yesterday in favor of the VW Premium Rubber Floormats (not the big monster ones). I really like the Premium Mats because they aren't so thick that they'll look out of place in the car all year round, which is what I plan on doing.
Well, just figured I'd post these thoughts after a week of ownership. Overall I am elated with the car.
Mike
[Modified by Michael_B, 3:53 PM 2-8-2002]
