Convince me that I don't want a Golf GTI

[zinfamous]

....
- Make sure I learn about the all the options ( S has Cloth seats which I like but lacks an LSD, Autobahn has power seats and climate control)

Actually, its just that 3rd one. Coming home with a car when I tell the wife I was going out to run some errands is a bad decision.
That and we've already planned out the year financially (Driveway, holiday crap) and I'm not going to disrupt that with a car purchase.
I paid cash for my current vehicle in 2008 and the same goes for the wife's car in 2018. Haven't had to deal with car payments since 2009.

wrong!

and to update above list (which is very nice and very comprehensive):

2018+ = Mk7.5...slightly different exterior trim, upgraded performance (and 2019 > 2018 by 8 horsespowers!), and also more goodies as standard, esp with 2019

2019+ = all trims come standard with LSD and previous model year "performance package" (meaning, LEDs, same HPs and torque--for that year--bigger brakes)
upgrade with SE from 2019 (mind--this is 2019+ mk7.5, NOT 2018 mk7.5), you get leather seats (no one wants that), sunroof (almost ditto), Kessy. and, option for SE "experience package" which means DCC and Fender Audio. (OK, if they downgrade for 2020, I don't really know, because 2020 euro = Mk8...but for sure: 2019 GTI = standard LSD, power, brakes (MK 6-7, & 7.5 2018 performance package) on all trim levels, so great deal for an S, really...that's like, $24k new for a fricking 230/250 GTI that year)...that would be a price you could get in DC, at least

(2018 you could still special order an SE with cloth if you wanted, but that option was discontinued in 2019...so if you want a unicorn GTI, a 2018 SE/Autobahn with cloth and LSD and PP is magic dust. Dealers would almost certainly never ship those to lots, so it would have to be an owner that ordered it, got bored, and there you go. I guess those people exist?)

SE does have driver power seats and front passenger half power seats (it makes no sense...but how cares about the scrubs?).

This is why the 2019 Rabbit was pretty much the perfect GTI since maybe the Mk5? cloth seats, all the performance, no sunroof, less capacitive nonsense. Only thing you miss out on is DCC (Fender audio is good? maybe...I dunno. I don't really care enough to tell a difference about that stuff. People upgrade the sub anyway)

But yeah, you should drive the competition, and let me know what you think. Civic Si? (I think Type R is way above GTI class), WRX is closer, lol, Veloster N of course, decent Focus ST if you can find it (or Fiesta ST-- too small?).

Good on you for mentioning coolant, thermostat housing, and certainly crank walk. These are real issues and the first two are just, well, can be fixed. The 3rd is something that VW will never address, because they slide by with "well, we shipped it this way. We don't care that we are the Bethesda of car manufacturers and know exactly what our customers want...so if you break the thing we designed for low tolerance for our community of people that we very well know have created a cottage industry of modifying this toy to hell and back and with very high tolerance needs, well, fuck you we have more lawyers than your state has money." ...seriously, just get a DSG if you plan to tune that thing. It doesn't matter what stage, because once you start, you won't stop. It will just get bad, lol.

FWIW I only had to top off my coolant once so far, early summer...er, well, early pandemic I guess. Weird time. I don't push this car as it probably should be pushed, because I don't really have the space to (there's a place near me, but after several runs, the blind forest turns started to freak me out with the expected deer running right into my face, the sudden one-lane underpass switch up that appears at the end of a blind turn, lol...but I mean, it's still fun)

------


What about an All-Track? ...might make the wife happier.

Not having car payments is a good place to be. Car payments is for suckers....I decided to do that to myself a year ago, after about 8 years sober, lol. (I'm more than halfway through, though, on a 5 year. will be done in 1.5 years, or sooner if I get annoyed with it)

 

[pauldun170]

wrong!

and to update above list (which is very nice and very comprehensive):

2018+ = Mk7.5...slightly different exterior trim, upgraded performance (and 2019 > 2018 by 8 horsespowers!), and also more goodies as standard, esp with 2019

2019+ = all trims come standard with LSD and previous model year "performance package" (meaning, LEDs, same HPs and torque--for that year--bigger brakes)
upgrade with SE from 2019 (mind--this is 2019+ mk7.5, NOT 2018 mk7.5), you get leather seats (no one wants that), sunroof (almost ditto), Kessy. and, option for SE "experience package" which means DCC and Fender Audio. (OK, if they downgrade for 2020, I don't really know, because 2020 euro = Mk8...but for sure: 2019 GTI = standard LSD, power, brakes (MK 6-7, & 7.5 2018 performance package) on all trim levels, so great deal for an S, really...that's like, $24k new for a fricking 230/250 GTI that year)...that would be a price you could get in DC, at least

(2018 you could still special order an SE with cloth if you wanted, but that option was discontinued in 2019...so if you want a unicorn GTI, a 2018 SE/Autobahn with cloth and LSD and PP is magic dust. Dealers would almost certainly never ship those to lots, so it would have to be an owner that ordered it, got bored, and there you go. I guess those people exist?)

SE does have driver power seats and front passenger half power seats (it makes no sense...but how cares about the scrubs?).

This is why the 2019 Rabbit was pretty much the perfect GTI since maybe the Mk5? cloth seats, all the performance, no sunroof, less capacitive nonsense. Only thing you miss out on is DCC (Fender audio is good? maybe...I dunno. I don't really care enough to tell a difference about that stuff. People upgrade the sub anyway)

But yeah, you should drive the competition, and let me know what you think. Civic Si? (I think Type R is way above GTI class), WRX is closer, lol, Veloster N of course, decent Focus ST if you can find it (or Fiesta ST-- too small?).

Good on you for mentioning coolant, thermostat housing, and certainly crank walk. These are real issues and the first two are just, well, can be fixed. The 3rd is something that VW will never address, because they slide by with "well, we shipped it this way. We don't care that we are the Bethesda of car manufacturers and know exactly what our customers want...so if you break the thing we designed for low tolerance for our community of people that we very well know have created a cottage industry of modifying this toy to hell and back and with very high tolerance needs, well, fuck you we have more lawyers than your state has money." ...seriously, just get a DSG if you plan to tune that thing. It doesn't matter what stage, because once you start, you won't stop. It will just get bad, lol.

FWIW I only had to top off my coolant once so far, early summer...er, well, early pandemic I guess. Weird time. I don't push this car as it probably should be pushed, because I don't really have the space to (there's a place near me, but after several runs, the blind forest turns started to freak me out with the expected deer running right into my face, the sudden one-lane underpass switch up that appears at the end of a blind turn, lol...but I mean, it's still fun)

------


What about an All-Track? ...might make the wife happier.

Not having car payments is a good place to be. Car payments is for suckers....I decided to do that to myself a year ago, after about 8 years sober, lol. (I'm more than halfway through, though, on a 5 year. will be done in 1.5 years, or sooner if I get annoyed with it)

I'll probably start shopping in early 2021 and focus on 2017+ models (of whatever I car I get...unless I find a unicorn 15 or 16)

Was originally thinking about Civic SI but now I'm kinda over em. I'm tired of seeing them. On top of that, last year it seems like the train station was filled with Honda's on blocks missing wheels. I know they are supposed to have great gearboxes and good packaging but...I'm on an anti Honda kick at the moment.
Type R is simply not in the cards. It's hard for me to justify shelling out for that thing.

I originally had Focus ST on the brain but the back seats are even tighter than the GTI. I'd feel bad having to strap the kids to the roof when they got older. They are hard to find locally so no temptation on that front. After the seeing the GTI interior....not so sure how well they are going to fair.

Fiesta ST is basically a 2 seater with a lot of space in the back with seats folded down. I hear those cars a joy to drive but I need to carry stuff...and people from time to time.

WRX.....
I know I'm SUPPOSED to keep them in mind but they always seem a bit overpriced for what you get. Might circle back on those....I dunno.

At the very least, if I go GTI I'm going to have to stick to stock cars and won't doing any mods or tunes.
If I don't go GTI, I'll probably still acquire enough trivia to identify part numbers by smell and taste with all the reading I've been doing.

 

[ksosx86]

If you are going to drop that kind of dough - grab yourself a Mazda Miata RF; the thing looks like a cute Porsche 911. I just got myself a Fiat 124 Spider a couple of weeks ago, love it. Will keep it for a bit build up more credit and trade it in for an RF. Had a Miata for 12 years and loved it.

Why buy European? Such a hassle to maintain...

yeah, that's my plan. I gather that the reason many people keep them for a long time is that after 5 years, they have pretty much swapped out all the bits inside the engine bay for something that they have found online, perhaps quality or perhaps very dubious in nature, but spend so much time fidgeting with all parts of the car that they just teach themselves how to fix it every time they do something stupid and break it.

That's funny. Honestly, I have no idea if that's true but when I lived in Hawaii my buddy had a Golf GTI we were always - well not every day but it seemed like between surfing and smoking pot or etc it was like "oh what's up Chris?" - "uh Kevin yeah.. um yeah I need help swapping out the radiator... um now I need help with the fuel pump" or one time "hey I broke down on the pali" ... why?? "cause a head gasket blew" ... god that car...

 

[pauldun170]

If you are going to drop that kind of dough - grab yourself a Mazda Miata RF; the thing looks like a cute Porsche 911. I just got myself a Fiat 124 Spider a couple of weeks ago, love it. Will keep it for a bit build up more credit and trade it in for an RF. Had a Miata for 12 years and loved it.

Why buy European? Such a hassle to maintain...


That's funny. Honestly, I have no idea if that's true but when I lived in Hawaii my buddy had a Golf GTI we were always - well not every day but it seemed like between surfing and smoking pot or etc it was like "oh what's up Chris?" - "uh Kevin yeah.. um yeah I need help swapping out the radiator... um now I need help with the fuel pump" or one time "hey I broke down on the pali" ... why?? "cause a head gasket blew" ... god that car...

Need a back seat that will hold adults.
Miata or equivalent will come when the kids are out of college. (running joke is either a Miata or Restored MR-2 SC will be my fathers day gift when the time comes)

 

[zinfamous]

Oh, I think I was wrong above^, I don't think S trim comes with LEDs in 2019+?

and yeah, I was also strongly considering going back to Honda, but I got tired of looking at those Civics and well, all those rear-ends designed by some 15 year old. I couldn't contribute to adding more of that to the roads.

If this thing lasts me long enough, I hope my next car will be EV....maybe the GTE will be readily available in the US by then? Or Tesla will make a car by then that isn't ugly and just a stark computer inside.

But hopefully that is better than the current hybrid version, because that sounds heavy and slow

2021 Volkswagen Golf GTE Acts Like a Hybrid GTI

Meet the GTI's battery-assisted brother.

www.caranddriver.com

also, the Mk8 should be gone by then, and I don't want to think about driving around with that dirty mustache out front.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I'll probably start shopping in early 2021 and focus on 2017+ models (of whatever I car I get...unless I find a unicorn 15 or 16)

Was originally thinking about Civic SI but now I'm kinda over em. I'm tired of seeing them. On top of that, last year it seems like the train station was filled with Honda's on blocks missing wheels. I know they are supposed to have great gearboxes and good packaging but...I'm on an anti Honda kick at the moment.
Type R is simply not in the cards. It's hard for me to justify shelling out for that thing.

I originally had Focus ST on the brain but the back seats are even tighter than the GTI. I'd feel bad having to strap the kids to the roof when they got older. They are hard to find locally so no temptation on that front. After the seeing the GTI interior....not so sure how well they are going to fair.

Fiesta ST is basically a 2 seater with a lot of space in the back with seats folded down. I hear those cars a joy to drive but I need to carry stuff...and people from time to time.

WRX.....
I know I'm SUPPOSED to keep them in mind but they always seem a bit overpriced for what you get. Might circle back on those....I dunno.

At the very least, if I go GTI I'm going to have to stick to stock cars and won't doing any mods or tunes.
If I don't go GTI, I'll probably still acquire enough trivia to identify part numbers by smell and taste with all the reading I've been doing.

Si has been axed for the remainder of this generation, so you probably wouldn't be able to get one anyway, unless you find a 2020 sitting on a dealer lot somewhere.

I can tell you the Si is far superior to the GTI with regards to handling and agility. Add a few relatively inexpensive suspension modifications and it's unbeatable, if that's what you're after.

The Si really doesn't shine unless you modify it, though. So if you want to get a car you don't touch, it's not a strong contender.

The engine will last forever, though.

I'm building mine into a wannabe racecar.

 

[ondma]

Supposed to be a Mazda 3/CX30 coming out soon with the Turbo four (~250 hp and lots of torque) as well as a new WRX based on the new Suburu global platform. Both could be interesting. The thing I like is both will have AWD standard. They also have fairly decent passenger space.

 

[pauldun170]

Supposed to be a Mazda 3/CX30 coming out soon with the Turbo four (~250 hp and lots of torque) as well as a new WRX based on the new Suburu global platform. Both could be interesting. The thing I like is both will have AWD standard. They also have fairly decent passenger space.

I'm not going to buy new.
Wife gets the new and shiney stuff.
I stick with 3-5 year old used stuff and shoot for minimum decade of ownership.
Historically, I went by the 10\10
10K
10K

This go round, sticking to more realistic pricing so 20\10 (With a little wiggle room on the 20k price is the car tickles me vittles enough)

 

[rstrohkirch]

The obvious answer is that you buy someone's 5 year old Maserati Quattroporte that has depreciated from $110k down to $25k and has less than 40k miles on it.

 

[pauldun170]

The obvious answer is that you buy someone's 5 year old Maserati Quattroporte that has depreciated from $110k down to $25k and has less than 40k miles on it.

LOL

I'm acknowledging that I MIGHT be buying something questionable as an insurance policy against the wife saying "Whats the matter with your old car...." 10 years form now.

I wouldn't touch a Quattroporte even is it was free.
Hate to say but Iwouldn't even want to be caught seen in one of those things. I don't have a track suit nor do I have my eyebrows shaped.
Pretty sure Maserati ownership requires that owners have to manscape their eyebrows

 

[rstrohkirch]

Pretty sure Maserati ownership requires that owners have to manscape their eyebrows

It's in the lease agreement.

 

[pauldun170]

It's in the lease agreement.

Lol...
Same goes that the only music allowed in the car is club music.

 

[pauldun170]

What if I could have the same risk of crank walk, first gear stalling and $1800 water repairs in a car with a bigger back seat and usable trunk?
2019 Jetta GLI has enter the chat...
Civic SI has been placed on ignore.

Car shopping officially starts first quarter 2021
Will spend next couple of months compiling evidence that every car I'm considering is going to be a money pit with a fatal flaw.

 

[pauldun170]

For those curious about the 2019 GTI and GLI stalling issue

Looks like the issue was root caused (camshaft and oil pressure related) and the 24FD repair action deemed to solve the problem.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a defect petition received on 14 August 2019
requesting an investigation of an alleged defect of the manual transmissions in Model Year (MY) 2019 Volkswagen
(VW) GTI, Golf GTI and Jetta GLI vehicles. The stalling incidents cited occurred without warning as the vehicle slows
to a stop or prepares to make a turn across traffic with the clutch pressed in and the vehicle in neutral.
The hazard posed by a vehicle stalling event is manifested in the inability of the vehicle to move with the flow of
surrounding traffic. Two factors have a major impact on the potential hazard to the vehicle, its occupants and
surrounding vehicles: the surrounding traffic speed and the subject vehicle's restart ability. In the case of the vehicles
that are the subject of this petition, restart is immediate and the stalls occur when the vehicle is slowing to stop for a
traffic signal, making a turn, or is completely stopped. These circumstances substantially reduce the risk of harm to the
vehicle, its occupants and surrounding vehicles.
As of March 2, 2020, out of the population of 11,333 subject vehicles, NHTSA has identified 214 consumer complaints
in its database, with unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN), citing engine stalling as vehicles are being brought
to a stop and/or preparing to make a cross traffic turn. When combined with the warranty, field report and customer
complaint data received from VW in response to the Information Request letter sent, NHTSA identified 413 unique
VINs alleging low speed engine stalling.
Volkswagen determined that the low speed / idle engine stall was the result of unwanted gases remaining in the
cylinder caused by the intake valve camshaft not being in the correct position at idle. The intake camshaft is in an
advanced position. This advanced position results in too much overlap with the position of the exhaust valve camshaft,

Investigation: DP 19-003 Close Resume Page 2 of 2
allowing both the intake and exhaust valves to be open at the same time. The erroneous advanced position of the
intake camshaft is a result of low oil pressure at idle and high oil temperatures, greater than or equal to 110°C/230°F
combined with engine control algorithms in the Engine Control Module (ECM) that position the intake camshaft. Based
on examination of returned engines, only engines manufactured at the Silao Mexico plant were affected due to a
tolerance stack-up issue with the oil system of the engines.
In December of 2019, VW initiated a Service Action (24FD) to remedy the stalling issue in the affected vehicles. The
warranty for the affected vehicles was extended to December 31, 2025. The software in the Engine Control Module
(ECM) will be updated with a new calibration value for the adaptation nodes of the regulation valve. This is a directed
action with letters being sent to vehicle owners asking them to bring their vehicles to their dealership to have the
software update installed in their vehicle. The letters were sent in December 2019.
After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession,
information submitted by Volkswagen in response to an information request and the potential risks to safety implicated
by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that the stalling condition as alleged by the petitioner indicates
the likelihood of a safety related defect that would warrant a formal investigation, therefore the petition is denied.
Further specifics can be found in the Federal Register Notice.
ODI complaint ID Numbers are listed on the attached sheet.

 

[zinfamous]

What if I could have the same risk of crank walk, first gear stalling and $1800 water repairs in a car with a bigger back seat and usable trunk?
2019 Jetta GLI has enter the chat...
Civic SI has been placed on ignore.

Car shopping officially starts first quarter 2021
Will spend next couple of months compiling evidence that every car I'm considering is going to be a money pit with a fatal flaw.

The GLI beat the R on R&T's test track by 1 second, somehow.
Seems like a proper sedan, and the choice between those two is mostly down to size, and sedan vs hatchback.

^by the way, there are still owners that report stalling after 24FD. This does kinda track to what was going on before VW officially acknowledged the problem, when shops were trying different things, sometimes the ECM reset worked, sometimes it didn't. I think they were using different maps, as well. Not really sure, but at least it is the most likely fix and some cars are just lemons, and some actually just fix themselves. (The ECM is supposed to "learn" these tolerances after about 1k miles or so, and a lot of owners reported that happening, without or despite taking it to the shop.

 

[zinfamous]

LOL

I'm acknowledging that I MIGHT be buying something questionable as an insurance policy against the wife saying "Whats the matter with your old car...." 10 years form now.

I wouldn't touch a Quattroporte even is it was free.
Hate to say but Iwouldn't even want to be caught seen in one of those things. I don't have a track suit nor do I have my eyebrows shaped.
Pretty sure Maserati ownership requires that owners have to manscape their eyebrows

what about a Quadrifoglio? Those are sweet! (as long as they last a generous 10k miles!)

 

[pauldun170]

what about a Quadrifoglio? Those are sweet! (as long as they last a generous 10k miles!)

Lease deals on those were sweet.
You can lease a top of the line model for about $20 a month plus any recycling you have laying around the house.
They are also very reliable based on the owner reports that clearly state
"I have 5K on mine!!! Not one problem!! It's like a Toyota!!! "

However
I'm a 3 pedal snob to the core

 

[rstrohkirch]

I test drove and considered a Stelvio Quad. The lease residuals for other vehicles in its class for a 3/45 were 50-54%. The Stelvio was 42% and a 2019 they had came in at 37%. So it's not Maserati level depreciation but it's getting there.

 

[pauldun170]

@zinfamous
How is your coolant level holding up?
People are making it seem like the thermostat\water pump is a wear and tear item on a constant loss cooling system

 

[zinfamous]

@zinfamous
How is your coolant level holding up?
People are making it seem like the thermostat\water pump is a wear and tear item on a constant loss cooling system

I've only topped it off once after it dropped to the low range of the fill level, after maybe 5k miles. I'm also not a racer boi so I may not push this thing like others do. But I do keep a regular eye on it more than I otherwise would.

 

[rstrohkirch]

@zinfamous
How is your coolant level holding up?
People are making it seem like the thermostat\water pump is a wear and tear item on a constant loss cooling system

What do you mean? Like implying that they're prone to failure so you should just change them preemptively like Porsche flat 6 engines?

 

[zinfamous]

What do you mean? Like implying that they're prone to failure so you should just change them preemptively like Porsche flat 6 engines?

some people actually seem to do that--but it is one of the most common cross-generation failures, so the community pretty much assumes that VAG doesn't give a dick about it ... ... ..............and so yeah, I think some owners just swap it out early. (but that is unnecessary, it seems that if it's a failure point, it fails early and assuming under warranty, is a pretty reliable fix that you don't have to pay for)

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I'm surprised anyone continues to by from this AG. The dieselgate thingy kept me from trusting the entire group containing VW. Then again, my wife keeps eyeballing that Mecan S. She's a traitor.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I'm surprised anyone continues to by from this AG. The dieselgate thingy kept me from trusting the entire group containing VW. Then again, my wife keeps eyeballing that Mecan S. She's a traitor.

Unsure about anyone else in this thread but my buddy bought his GTI because of the 72,000 bumper to bumper... he drives a lot for work. Only 1 year of ownership and he's already over 35k miles (and one blown tranny).

 

[pauldun170]

Unsure about anyone else in this thread but my buddy bought his GTI because of the 72,000 bumper to bumper... he drives a lot for work. Only 1 year of ownership and he's already over 35k miles (and one blown tranny).

Manual or DSG?