Convince me that I don't want a Golf GTI

Page 12 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146
VW has a plant in Gyor, Hungary that also builds EA888 engines.

Yeah, I believe those engines go to the European market GTIs and all the Rs (because all of those are made in Germany).

It's possible there is just something about this market's engine....However, I'm not sure if there are any reports of the Canadian GTIs having this issue for 2019, yet...
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146

Nope can't do it I think you want one.....


________________

man, I'd love the Mk1 body with all the modern goodies on the inside. And I bet the dude driving that one is having a blast.

....but ah, it looks like you're a bit late on the convincing in this thread. :D
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,342
1,855
126
man, I'd love the Mk1 body with all the modern goodies on the inside. And I bet the dude driving that one is having a blast.

....but ah, it looks like you're a bit late on the convincing in this thread. :D
I know a guy who has 2 Rav4's....
Maybe more folks are trying to convince you from buying a duplicate GTI for when the primary GTI is in the shop?
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146
I know a guy who has 2 Rav4's....
Maybe more folks are trying to convince you from buying a duplicate GTI for when the primary GTI is in the shop?

now now, that's just rude!
No more stalls in the last ~week--but 2 after I got it back from the shop when they didn't do anything. Driving down to NC this weekend. We'll see if this thing kills me.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,342
1,855
126
now now, that's just rude!
No more stalls in the last ~week--but 2 after I got it back from the shop when they didn't do anything. Driving down to NC this weekend. We'll see if this thing kills me.
Oooh, you gonna spend any time in western NC enjoying the mountains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man, I wanna go to Asheville again now.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146
Oooh, you gonna spend any time in western NC enjoying the mountains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man, I wanna go to Asheville again now.

Nah, we ain't hillfolk. (though, my Uncle does live out in Jefferson, along the BR Parkway). We're Piedmont/Eastern folk.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,342
1,855
126
Nah, we ain't hillfolk. (though, my Uncle does live out in Jefferson, along the BR Parkway). We're Piedmont/Eastern folk.
Ahhh, I was thinking .. new GTI ... Blue Ridge Parkway ...
most fun you can have at 35mph except maybe on a bike .....
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146
Ahhh, I was thinking .. new GTI ... Blue Ridge Parkway ...
most fun you can have at 35mph except maybe on a bike .....

Oh I have certainly thought about it of course. I did visit ~ 2 years ago. Already planning to visit again.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,342
1,855
126
Oh I have certainly thought about it of course. I did visit ~ 2 years ago. Already planning to visit again.
Have a nice trip!
I dont know eastern or central NC, but plan to make it down there one of these days... Buddy in Columbia, SC always talks up Raleigh, NC and Charolette, NC as good road trip places, but ,maybe just because they are nicer than where he lives ....
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146
Have a nice trip!
I dont know eastern or central NC, but plan to make it down there one of these days... Buddy in Columbia, SC always talks up Raleigh, NC and Charolette, NC as good road trip places, but ,maybe just because they are nicer than where he lives ....

well, he lives in SC. even Charlotte would be a better place! (worst part of NC, tbh). Just ask @highland145

Anyway, it's all pretty gorgeous down there and the roads are kinda legendary for the most part. Very well-maintained overall. I'm biased, of course.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,342
1,855
126
well, he lives in SC. even Charlotte would be a better place! (worst part of NC, tbh). Just ask @highland145

Anyway, it's all pretty gorgeous down there and the roads are kinda legendary for the most part. Very well-maintained overall. I'm biased, of course.
Well, you've spent some time in the Chitown area, so, you know the roads are better there then they are by me :)
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,342
1,855
126
I am envious of Chitown roads after living in the DMV area for the last few years.
Ohh yea, I forgot that is where you are now ....
When we were in Baltimore for their cruise port ... the drive home of 750 miles took 21 hours thanks to a blizzard causing the tunnel to close on the interstate. We spent 6 hours parked while the wife had to pee really bad.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146
Finally crested 1k miles! ...by doubling the mileage over weekend trip to NC and back, heh.

Couple of things--let my buddy drive it and certainly brought it more than I have at this point. Dude has way more confidence than I do, but I'm just worried about getting a ticket everywhere I drive here.

3 more soft stalls...need to get this thing back to service and possibly let them spend more time with it. ...don't want to do that, though, because I really want to drive this thing. It gets more and more fun every day.

mileage is ridiculous. So, first ~500 miles, nearly all city driving, barely out of 4th gear at most, I was getting something like 19-22mpg. But on the ~550 mile trip to, around, and back from NC< nearly all ave. 77mph and 6th gear, that total mileage bumped up to 28mpg (over 1.1k miles so far), and on those tanks: 37.7mpg on the return trip. And the best part: filling up around Petersburg, VA, nearly 200 miles later, I had half a tank left with an estimated remaining range of 240 miles on the same tank. That's right at 41-42 mpg if I was all expressway driving....and this is with the AC on the whole time.

That's ridiculous for a gas car, imo. I'm thinking the 508 spec oil is a large part of that--and also what might currently be causing those stalls, lol (well, could be the computer isn't quite sending the wrong info because it's expecting previous model year data where the engines all used 506; so shutting itself down due to misreporting/software glitch. or something)
 

ondma

Diamond Member
Mar 18, 2018
3,303
1,687
136
Finally crested 1k miles! ...by doubling the mileage over weekend trip to NC and back, heh.

Couple of things--let my buddy drive it and certainly brought it more than I have at this point. Dude has way more confidence than I do, but I'm just worried about getting a ticket everywhere I drive here.

3 more soft stalls...need to get this thing back to service and possibly let them spend more time with it. ...don't want to do that, though, because I really want to drive this thing. It gets more and more fun every day.

mileage is ridiculous. So, first ~500 miles, nearly all city driving, barely out of 4th gear at most, I was getting something like 19-22mpg. But on the ~550 mile trip to, around, and back from NC< nearly all ave. 77mph and 6th gear, that total mileage bumped up to 28mpg (over 1.1k miles so far), and on those tanks: 37.7mpg on the return trip. And the best part: filling up around Petersburg, VA, nearly 200 miles later, I had half a tank left with an estimated remaining range of 240 miles on the same tank. That's right at 41-42 mpg if I was all expressway driving....and this is with the AC on the whole time.

That's ridiculous for a gas car, imo. I'm thinking the 508 spec oil is a large part of that--and also what might currently be causing those stalls, lol (well, could be the computer isn't quite sending the wrong info because it's expecting previous model year data where the engines all used 506; so shutting itself down due to misreporting/software glitch. or something)
Most mid-size sedans can do 40 mpg on the interstate if you hold the speed down to 70ish. Of course not with the fun and performance of the GTI.
I have a question though. Have been reading a lot about dual clutch automatics, and how they can have issues at low speeds. Do you have the dual clutch automatic or a manual?
You certainly have a lot more patience with the car than I would. If I had so much trouble with a brand new car, I would be furious and also experiencing a serious case of buyer's remorse, no matter how much fun the car is to drive.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146
Most mid-size sedans can do 40 mpg on the interstate if you hold the speed down to 70ish. Of course not with the fun and performance of the GTI.
I have a question though. Have been reading a lot about dual clutch automatics, and how they can have issues at low speeds. Do you have the dual clutch automatic or a manual?
You certainly have a lot more patience with the car than I would. If I had so much trouble with a brand new car, I would be furious and also experiencing a serious case of buyer's remorse, no matter how much fun the car is to drive.

manual.

buyer's remorse and yes...these things exist. at least 3 GTi forums on the world wide webs are pretty active about this.

after tonight, 14 confirmed stalls and going back to the dealer on Monday to drop it off again, on guarantee that tech will be in car and log the stall (I've got it down to a science how to make it happen, and after other independent experienced drivers have made it happen in my car, without knowing what happened)....anyhoo.

yes, I'm patient. The car is a tool. Fuck it, basically. It's the one I want and if VW doesn't make it right within the law, and I'm strangely willing to let them keep mine beyond reasonable time to use this as a platform for testing (look, I'm a scientist: I assume others here are, but I've learned that isn't always the case because so many that post on AT are just angry idiots that pretend to care about bullshit until they are "personally inconvenienced"--so I'm willing to give the techs the benefit of the doubt that they also want to figure this out. It's why I'm going back to the same place because they made honest offers before...meaning, want to make sure it's all right)....then I will pursue Lemon Law if it comes to that. There are already 2 successful buyback cases, that I know of , regarding the 2019 GTI 6MT in the US over the last 2 months. So, VW knows about it. I also know that the NHTSA has ~90 separate reports, and that they are pushing VW about this. At some point, the levee will break and this issue will be solved. It's a tool with problems. That's life.

I have confirmation that NHTSA knows about it, that VWoA absolutely knows about it, and that these options are all on the table. I grabbed some video, too, of my car stalling (engine just shuts off, really) in neutral, foot on the dead pedal, completely unacceptable. ...but I'm naturally curious about the problem and just want it fixed. I want all of these cars fixed because fuck it all: it's goddamn fun as hell to drive. If it comes to the worst of the worst, I'm going to offer a replacement with a DSG instead of pursuing Lemon Law and hope that VW bites. ...this is only after offering my car for a ~monthly test in exchange for a new set of Pretoria wheels and 2x sets of sticky Michelins, lol.

Again: this is when braking as you come to a stop. So in pretty much all cases reported so far, the car is practically stopped...so I'm personally not too concerned about safety but that doesn't mean no one shouldn't be. I'm a bit nuts and to be honest, I'm only worried about the people around me which, really, is why this matter: it's all about traffic and yielding and stop-go on the highway when the asshole behind you decides you are going without looking, your car has stalled, and they plow into you because they are an asshole. Without power, you have no chance. It's not like they aren't responsible, but's it's still your car at the bottom of their chassis now, so really: who just lost?
 
Last edited:

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,342
1,855
126
Man sorry your having so many problems :(
That MPG is pretty good though...

I've driven about 1000 miles on my GS-350, and I have averaged about 19.1mpg.. this weekend will be taking it to visit family in WI about 250 miles away, so hopefully will get closer to 25-27mpg on the interstate
 

Yeroon

Member
Mar 19, 2017
123
57
71
yes, I'm patient. The car is a tool. Fuck it, basically. It's the one I want and if VW doesn't make it right within the law, and I'm strangely willing to let them keep mine beyond reasonable time to use this as a platform for testing (look, I'm a scientist: I assume others here are, but I've learned that isn't always the case because so many that post on AT are just angry idiots that pretend to care about bullshit until they are "personally inconvenienced"--so I'm willing to give the techs the benefit of the doubt that they also want to figure this out. It's why I'm going back to the same place because they made honest offers before...meaning, want to make sure it's all right)....then I will pursue Lemon Law if it comes to that. There are already 2 successful buyback cases, that I know of , regarding the 2019 GTI 6MT in the US over the last 2 months. So, VW knows about it. I also know that the NHTSA has ~90 separate reports, and that they are pushing VW about this. At some point, the levee will break and this issue will be solved. It's a tool with problems. That's life.

I have confirmation that NHTSA knows about it, that VWoA absolutely knows about it, and that these options are all on the table. I grabbed some video, too, of my car stalling (engine just shuts off, really) in neutral, foot on the dead pedal, completely unacceptable. ...but I'm naturally curious about the problem and just want it fixed. I want all of these cars fixed because fuck it all: it's goddamn fun as hell to drive. If it comes to the worst of the worst, I'm going to offer a replacement with a DSG instead of pursuing Lemon Law and hope that VW bites. ...this is only after offering my car for a ~monthly test in exchange for a new set of Pretoria wheels and 2x sets of sticky Michelins, lol.

Again: this is when braking as you come to a stop. So in pretty much all cases reported so far, the car is practically stopped...so I'm personally not too concerned about safety but that doesn't mean no one shouldn't be. I'm a bit nuts and to be honest, I'm only worried about the people around me which, really, is why this matter: it's all about traffic and yielding and stop-go on the highway when the asshole behind you decides you are going without looking, your car has stalled, and they plow into you because they are an asshole. Without power, you have no chance. It's not like they aren't responsible, but's it's still your car at the bottom of their chassis now, so really: who just lost?

I'm assuming it occurs when the clutch is depressed as you come to a stop?
Does it change behaviour if you slow down in gear down to approx idle rpm before depressing the clutch, vs clutching at a higher rpm when coming to a stop?

I'm glad you're willing to put some effort in to help them diagnose and hopefully fix the issue. I don't know too many people who would put up with that on a brand new vehicle.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146
I'm assuming it occurs when the clutch is depressed as you come to a stop?
Does it change behaviour if you slow down in gear down to approx idle rpm before depressing the clutch, vs clutching at a higher rpm when coming to a stop?

I'm glad you're willing to put some effort in to help them diagnose and hopefully fix the issue. I don't know too many people who would put up with that on a brand new vehicle.

I fully admit that it's irrational to put up with it, but owning this car is already irrational, so I crossed that barrier already. :D

So, I've been able to repeat it in various configurations--clutch to the floor, shifter in-gear (1st or 2nd), clutch to the floor, in neutral, clutch out, in neutral. All while braking and coming to a stop. It "seems" to happen more frequently if you try for a harder, quicker stop. But of course it happens just rounding the car into my driveway. That was one of the earlier ones (but after the first service attempt), where I noticed power steering disappeared as I was turning into driveway and was oh...yeah, engine shut off. Which is why this is odd and not a real user error stall--the engine just shuts off. It's not a quick jerk like you'd get on a proper stall. Often, owners don't know it has happened until they try to get on the power after a light has changed, and realize that their engine has turned off. And probably is why there aren't as many reports as their should be--they just blame themselves or aren't thinking about it. I've kept it in full Sport driving mode, because that does boost the revs a bit, though the idle seems a bit rougher, and this does seem, for me anyway, to lead to more stalls. Problem around here is that the roads, when they aren't potholes, are just rough and bumpy. Not something you can see, so your brain doesn't expect it, but the roads can be like driving on rumble strips, or you thinking that your suspension is busted. So, often times when I feel that the car is doing something funky while slowing down or taking off, or any time, it's just the road messing with me. It makes it a bit difficult to isolate the problems. ...this is also why a dedicated parking lot with some space has been useful to test this out.

I actually find that if you slow down with brakes while in gear reasonably and then clutch and into neutral, it doesn't seem to happen. At least, I think it doesn't. Now that you mention it, I'm going to try that now and see if it matters. I'm still a bit unused to how long the gears are on this car and how well it idles in 1st or 2nd at low speeds or low RPMs. My old Honda would just stall out if I drove it like this, so I've been nursing out the bad habit of turning corners with the clutch in (save the throwout bearings!), and it really doesn't mind, even insists on frequent downshifts into first. So, I've gotten more comfortable with shifting into neutral and coasting a bit more to a stop, still perhaps a bit earlier than I should. I used to just sit at lights in first, with the clutch down. I learned that was bad, so I don't do it with this car. I never really rode the clutch back in those days (OK well, not all that often--again, something in my college years that I didn't know was bad, haha).

In some cases, it seems to have "fixed itself" after break-in, in others, some fixes have worked while the same fixes haven't worked for other owners.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,439
33,028
136
If it makes you feel any better, my ‘75 Suburban used to stall as well. Butthead mechanic had installed a length of rubber hose in the fuel line (suction pump) that would pinch when the truck reached 40mph.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,738
31,103
146
If it makes you feel any better, my ‘75 Suburban used to stall as well. Butthead mechanic had installed a length of rubber hose in the fuel line (suction pump) that would pinch when the truck reached 40mph.

well it sounds like a perfectly reasonable solution. How else can he charge you $20 for a $0.25 length of cheap rubber hose?



...dropped the GTI off at the service station again this morning. Car stalled 3 times on the way there (expected) and 2 more times when I got the tech in the car to observe it. I also submitted 2 videos that I recorded of it happening. So, they definitely know it is really happening now. The thing has stalled about 21-23 times now, mostly in the last two weeks. What I posted up there a few days ago now isn't completely accurate, because it just stalls out in perfectly sensible, city, nice and comfy driving as well.

I told them to keep the thing as long as they need to and even use it as a guinea pig for central VWoA to run various fixes. ....crap, I forgot to ask for a new set of light 18x8.5 wheels and 2 sets of Michelins in return. I'll bring that up when they call back and make the request.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Hail The Brain Slug

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,342
1,855
126
The Lexus made it up to Door County WI last weekend.

Gets 25-26mpg at 90mph, and driving 4 hours is comfortable and doesnt feel like 4 hours.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,342
1,855
126
whoa, you drove at 90mph for like, 4 hours?
Nah, drove for 4 hours, only was able to maintain decent speed during most of the stretch between Milwaukee and Green Bay as well as a little bit south of the WI border (just hanging our with speed of traffic)

Southern WI up through Milwaukee was slow thanks to construction, traffic, and cities. Green Bay to Sturgeon Bay is a bit slower since speed limit drops down to like 65.
From my house to the interstate, the first 30min or so, is like 0-60mph....

my Subaru got 30mpg at 50-60mph, and then got 25 at 70-80, and then got like 20-22 at 80+