GTI

by "AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
Published 10/03/2017 at 02:14

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STARS: 2

Does anyone on here have a GTI? I know Automatch Tom bought one a while back but I’m not sure he’s on Oppo as much anymore after making it to the big leagues.

Here’s the situation, I’m kind of done with the lightweight fun car as a daily thing. It’s uncomfortable, it’s horrible to transport anyone in, it’s loud and it’s torque-less. I tried it. I’m done with it. For those that love it, more power to them. It’s not for me. I’m looking at the GTI since it has 100 more lb·ft of torque for only 200 more pounds. With that I’d get added practicality for transporting more than one person, more low end grunt, more comfort and more longevity (read: I can get a pure fun car later if I keep the GTI).

So my questions are: how are they to own? How is the shift feel (the brz shift feel is meh)? How is the comfort? How is the reliability? How is the maintenance?

Replies (47)

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
10/03/2017 at 02:33, STARS: 2

AddictedToM3s - Hates his BRZ

"Spasoje" (Spasoje)
10/03/2017 at 03:24, STARS: 2

I’ve got a MkIV (Jetta, but with the GTI’s 1.8T), have driven a MkVI GTI, and autocrossed a MkVII GTI. In short, the MkVI kinda got derailed with respect to driving feel: it’s got that loose, Civic-esque feel in a lot of ways. The MkVII is a return to form, with good handling, comfortable seats and ride, and immense cabin space. The MkVII has the perfect, buttery-smooth shift feel of my MkIV, though the clutch is a bit too light (probably fixed with an assist spring swap or delete).

As for maintenance and reliability, it can’t be any worse than my MkIV...while it couldn’t even approach the service costs of a BMW if it tried, you’re still paying Audi figures for parts & labor when stuff does break.

My MkIV has this mysterious, undiagnosible problem where the engine decides to cut power randomly for a second or two, and then re-engage as if nothing happened. I bring that up since during one of my service visits, a MkVI GTI got towed in for the same problem... It’s worth finding out if the MkVII is out of the woods there.

Other than that, these cars are really great to drive and live with – the fact that I won’t sell my MkIV tells you everything... Hell, if I didn’t already have it, I’d probably have a MkVII GTI!

"His Stigness" (HisStigness)
10/03/2017 at 04:24, STARS: 1

I’ve got a MKVI TDI Manual, and while the MKVII is on a new platform, I believe I can at least give you an idea.

In terms of fit and finish, I’ve found my Golf to better than some Audis, which is sad. There are no squeaks or rattles anywhere, even after 50k miles.

The comfort on 17"s is great. It’s not an S Class, but for the handling it provides it is very, very comfortable. And being a German car, it’s a joy to take on long trips. It tracks straight no matter the speed, and high speeds are nothing.

The manual: German clutches are much longer than those found in Japanese cars, but I prefer that. It allows for more fines. While the clutch isn’t a tad light, it still offers wonderful modulation, and you have to be an idiot to stall the gas cars. The diesel is easy if you’re not paying attention, like say starting in second, or trying to feather the clutch too much.

In terms of shift feel: the only thing that rivals a VW gearbox is a Porsche one. Seriously. My Golf manual is only slightly under that in a 997 911. It’s just fantastic. And that’s before adding a short throw kit it. The manual makes my car the joy it is.

Reliability : take care of the car and it will take care of you.

Do 5k oil changes, not 10k. Use high quality oil like Liqui Moly or Motul. Use the factory oil filter.

You must must must do an induction/intake service at least every 20-30k miles to avoid carbon buildup on the valves. You should be using a high quality fuel additive like. BG 44k on a regular basis. And always use Top Tier gas. And only premium.

Change the coolant every 30-50k miles to keep the seals fresh and avoid leaks.

Any other questions?

"Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen" (distraxi)
10/03/2017 at 05:47, STARS: 5

I had a mkV for 8 years before trading the other way, to a GT86, and while the mkVII has moved things on a bit, they’re pt a million miles different, so I’m probably in a decent position to compare. So:

As a sole transport a GTI is just about perfect. It has “enough” of everything - performance, handling, comfort, space, practicality. Clarkson’s “All the car you’ll ever need” is bang on the money.

Against that it doesn’t truly excel at anything: it’s just pretty darn good at everything. Coming from a BRZ you’re going to find it remote and irritatingly wooden on the limit, and that’s before we even consider the FWD thing. If you’re prepared to give up the one thing the Twins do really well, go for it: otherwise maybe consider a 1 series.

Mine was a DSG so I can’t talk about the shift - but if I was moving back to a golf I’d be going for DSG again. It’s as good as autos get, and it works well with the turbo: modern turbos are great, but they’re still pretty gutless and soft under 2k rpm, which you’ll notice more with a manual -DSG hides that. With a manual you may find the gain in torque from the BRZ less noticeable in practice than the numbers suggest. Having said that, the lack of torque in the gt86 doesn’t bug me, so my take on this may not mean much. I’d try a DSG car though.

Confortwise, the interior’s really good, feels better quality than anything in its class, and held together well. Seats are good but maybe not as good as the gt86s, which are brilliant. Useable back seats are a major plus though, if only for chucking crap in. From that perspective - get a 5 door: flipping seats forward all the time is a PITA

Reliability-wise, mine was pretty good up till about 8 years old, but after that I had quite a few issues. Nothing huge, but a few hundred here, a thousand there, it adds up. Parts aren’t too bad for routine stuff but some of the application-specific bits are pricey - not BMW country but worse than Toyota. Likewise most jobs aren’t bad for labour but theres a few killers (e.g. replace thermostat:4 hours).

I kept mine 2 years longer than I should have, but till I decided to bite the bullet and go single vehicle DD/trackrat I couldn’t think what to replace it with. And now the wife’s Leaf needs replacing with something longer range, we’re thinking seriously about putting a GTI back in the fleet alongside the GT86. Which probably tells you what you need to know.

"arl" (arl1968)
10/03/2017 at 06:26, STARS: 3

2017 GTI Autobahn 6 speed manual here. 11K miles since new.

Good

1. Comfy, sporty, heated seats. I love the front seats. My favorite seats in a modern car.

2. Interior is solid and well built. Closing the front door results in a solid thunk. The Fender stereo is very good. I’m not an audiophile, but I think it really rocks.

3. Flexibility is great with 4 doors, the hatch, folding seats, etc.

4. The engine is really sweet. Good torque for a 4 cylinder, but you have to be in the right gear to get the turbo spooling.

5. The shifter is very smooth. I added a BFI knob and Boomba short shift kit, but really, it didn’t need it. But it’s even better than stock now.

Bad

1. I had the dreaded (and known) creaking body sounds from the top interior. There’s some sort of assembly issue where interior panels rub against each other. It had to go in the shop for 2 weeks right after I bought it. It was frustrating - but they fixed it and it’s been perfect ever since.

2. The ACC radar is tied to the cruise control and can’t be disconnected from it. My radar went out of alignment and it takes a special tool and a certified tech to align it. My dealers tech was out of town and I had to go drive a 1200 mile trip. Without an aligned radar, and without cruise control. And I’m not a fan of adaptive cruise to begin with. It sucked and I dread the day I’m ut of warranty and the radar needs to be aligned. It was 4 hours of shop time So 400-500 bucks to align it after warranty is over. Ugh.  

3. A few things broke on the interior. The grab handle and sun visor broke. They were fixed under warranty, and everything’s been great ever since. Not sure what to ake of this - the interior seems (and feels) really well built.

4. Sunroof developed a creaking sound. It was fixed under warranty, but it’s a crappy design (outside the roof) and I wouldn’t be surprised if it developed problems later.

Driving experince

1. Great. Fast, handles well, heated seats!

I would buy one again, but I might not buy the Autobahn with the radar and sunroof. I would probably buy the S or SE and get the plaid heated seats without the sunroof or radar (although I would miss the Fender stereo).

"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
10/03/2017 at 07:34, STARS: 1

I don’t own one so I can’t speak to reliability but I test drive an Mk6 manual a while back and was really impressed with the shifter, the interior and ride quality, all of which were way ahead of the FoST. Power and handling were about the same. Overall it was a great car but they had just come out and without any discounts were out of my budget.

"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
10/03/2017 at 07:53, STARS: 0

Every time I hear about buying the GTI over the ST’s because of quality issues with the Ford’s, I read stuff like this. I’ll take my shit ride quality, thank you.

"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
10/03/2017 at 07:57, STARS: 1

I’ll chime in since my S3 is basically a Golf R, which is basically a tarted-up GTI.

I came to this from a BRZ as well and while I loved that car, I wanted to move on from it for all the reasons you listed. I considered the GTI before I found the S3 and, if I was to buy new, that’s probably what I would’ve gotten. However, I found my used S3 for about the price of a new GTI SE, so that seemed like an easy call to me.

The GTI/Golf R/A3/S3 are all phenomenal cars. If you prefer the styling of the A3 over the Golf, do keep in mind you can nab an A3 with the 2.0T GTI engine and quattro. I think base A3's come with a 1.8T, you don’t want those.

MQB is a tremendous platform - it’s tight, quiet, nimble, predictable, comfortable and very sporty in the GTI. Having driven a GTI with the manual, if you think the BRZ shift action is meh, the GTI will be even more meh. It wasn’t bad, but it’s not great either - that’s part of the reason I’m not terribly sad the S3 only comes in DSG stateside. The DSG is phenomenal - I’d recommend testing one out with it just for giggles.

Power in the GTI is so much better than the BRZ, it’s not even really a comparison. The extra torque feels like such a treat. You will miss the handling and tossability of the BRZ; however.

VAG reliability is always in question and maintenance will generally be higher than other cars in its class. I was looking at my car’s 35k recommended service and it includes spark plugs, DSG fluid change, among other things. I’m going to be looking at a big bill. If you can afford new, it might be worth it with VW’s new 6yr/72k warranty.

"arl" (arl1968)
10/03/2017 at 08:39, STARS: 0

Yea, I hear you. But now that the issues are fixed I’m very happy with it.

I had a Honda Accord Sport that basically had no problems (other than a few interior trim squeaks,) but I just never warmed up to it. It wasn’t fast, the suspension didn’t feel right (like it was oversprung and underdamped,) it was loud with almost no sound insulation, the stereo was terrible, the seats were uncomfortable, etc, etc.

The GTI had a few issues, but now that they’re straightened out I’m loving it.

But of course anything could go wrong with the VW again. But until that happens, I’ll be smiling in the GTI.

"arl" (arl1968)
10/03/2017 at 08:47, STARS: 1

Pictures of my 17 GTI. I have Driver Gear springs and ECS flush spacer kit on it. The interior pic was before the Black Forest Industries shift knob install.

"GTI Sprinks" (gtisprinks)
10/03/2017 at 09:06, STARS: 1

2015 GTI S here. 20k miles. 2dr! :P

I’ve had it now 2 years, minor complaints from wear and tear (door squeaks, no body squeaks or rattles though). Drives great.
Hauls girlfriend, big doggo, and myself around town and on major road trips no problem. At the same time has no problem being hucked into bends and twisty roads and staying quite civilized.
I can’t comment on shift feel. DSG owner. Reliability is fine. Oil change at 5-10k per the manual.

"bobbe17" (rob-runte)
10/03/2017 at 09:15, STARS: 1

I (my wife) have a 2016 S with a DSG so I can’t comment on the shift feel. My friend has a 2016 Golf R, if the clutch feel is the same between the GTI and R, I hate it but I’m sure one would get used to it. It’s just very vague and doesn’t give any feedback. Shifting feels fine in it though.

Switching between my E46 M3 and my wife’s GTI, I feel like there’s too much body roll in the GTI so you may feel similar at first coming from the BRZ. A suspension upgrade would be on my to do list if it was my car.

We’re at 16k in the GTI now, no issues at all yet. Maintenance is pretty basic and straight forward on VW’s plan, with a manual you don’t have to worry about the $300 DSG fluid change. I’ve done one engine oil change and it was the easiest oil change I’ve ever done on a car.

"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
10/03/2017 at 09:35, STARS: 0

I have a 16 GTI SE with the Performance pack and 6MT. I made the dealer swap in the base S trim plaid seats for me.

What all the others have said is true. It is a great daily, if not a little boring. Thankfully the aftermarket is enormous, so there is always something that you can buy or tune to make it more interesting.

"gawdzillla" (gawdzillla)
10/03/2017 at 09:47, STARS: 2

i dont think i have ever heard a good story about that damn sunroof lol

(glad that i got my wife the S)

"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
10/03/2017 at 10:31, STARS: 0

I have its snobby cousin the Audi A3 but mine plays nice with others. Its AWD , DSG , longer wheelbase and only a little softer. It doesn’t plow into turns after swapping in a 25mm rear sway. HP at about 270 with some changes I’ve made. Solid, quiet, capable and comfortable.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/03/2017 at 11:45, STARS: 0

Always trying to make me change my name. Maybe I should get an is 300 sportcross and stance it out for you.

"B_dol" (bdolan40)
10/03/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 0

Many friends with GTI or Golf R’s. Personally I would end up in a Golf R if MT were the requirement or S3 otherwise. Both owners absolutely love their cars and coming from a BRZ the VW/Audi interior will feel sublime as well as the overall car quality. I should know, I owned an FRS.

As a side note - given the username, why not go used M3? You could get into an E90 V8 M3 in this price range.

"GTI Sprinks" (gtisprinks)
10/03/2017 at 14:23, STARS: 0

you and me both (glad i got my S 2dr, sometimes peasant spec, sometimes racecar spec).

"Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2" (pompei426)
10/03/2017 at 14:32, STARS: 0

I did a shit ton of research a few weeks ago, and I was about to buy a GTI. Either the ‘S’ or ‘Sport’. I didn’t pull the trigger, because my DD’s issue ended up being an easy fix and it’s paid off. But, if you have the means, get the GTI. Tons of fun and refinement for the price.

Owning? I don’t own one, but I have 3 friends with them, and they love them. These are guys that play with M3s and GT3RSs on the weekend. Good enough for them, good enough for me.

Shifting was easy and direct.

Comfort? I loved it.

Reliability/Maintenance? Unless you tune the car, you shouldn’t have any issues in the first 3-4 years. Past that, no one really knows.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/03/2017 at 21:07, STARS: 1

Interesting. I was wondering about the plaid seats since everyone talks about them but didn’t see them on anything but the base model ones.

That’s good to hear. I am excited to maybe get into a more comfortable and practical car (if things line up correctly but as of now it’s looking very slim, unfortunately).

If I were to get one it would probably be a used S or SE with lighting package and a manual.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/04/2017 at 00:04, STARS: 1

That’s a very honest answer. I appreciate it. Ideally, I’d get the GTI and use it as a daily so I’m not really looking for a car to take it to the limit so a car that does everything well is all I need. The GTI is starting to look more and more like what I need. This is making a very interesting case. I never would’ve thought of a GTI until recently.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/04/2017 at 00:08, STARS: 0

Interesting you brought up the Audi like another commenter. I am tired of the cheap BRZ interior. Everything is hollow sounding and the road noise is atrocious.

Clutch travel I don’t really have an issue with as long as it doesn’t catch all the way at the top like the BRZ. If it catches in the middle with a long travel that actually sounds a lot better. Your comment about the shift feel now has me salivating. Now I’m hooked, FWD be damned.

So how does one service the carbon buildup? Are there warning signs? Or do you just do it at the set 20-30k intervals? Can you DIY it? Or is it more of a, “you’re better off letting a shop take care of it” type deal?

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/04/2017 at 00:10, STARS: 0

The Golf R is a wild card for me. Is it really worth it? How does the AWD feel compared to the GTI’s FWD?

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/04/2017 at 00:12, STARS: 0

Your use sounds almost exactly like what I’d be using the GTI for minus the dog. What do you mean by door squeak? Like when opening and closing? Or all the time?

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/04/2017 at 00:14, STARS: 0

That’s a high endorsement if your friends with M3s and GT3RSs still love the GTI. Do you mind if I ask what they love about them?

The tuning part was what I was hoping for. A lot of the forums are full of people who tune the car and don’t know what they’re doing which leads to the reliability.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/04/2017 at 00:18, STARS: 0

You don’t have to tell me twice on the interior. I’m practically salivating over the GTI interior compared to the plastic fantastic BRZ interior.

Your side note is very very valid. I am actually tossing that thought around. My only concern is gas mileage. My commute is in stop and go traffic for about 10 miles and I do most of the driving since my girlfriend doesn’t like to drive. I’d basically use a little under a gallon and a half of gas each day just going to and from work. Although if you can convince me I’d be more than happy to oblige this thought further.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/04/2017 at 00:19, STARS: 0

Did the dealer take off any of the price when they swapped the seats? I like the plaid seats and hate leather seats.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/04/2017 at 00:21, STARS: 1

Now there’s something I didn’t think of. Is the A3 basically the same reliability-wise as the GTI? Or are there other issues I should worry about like the electrics?

Yes, I crave the torque. Sounds like the GTI is a step in the right direction. What do you define as Meh? I’m saying the BRZ is meh since the shift feel is just rough and clunky. What is the GTI like?

"Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen" (distraxi)
10/04/2017 at 00:24, STARS: 1

I’d do it. It’s not a car you’re going to fall in love with, but unless you’re unlucky (or intolerant) on the reliability front, it’s one you’ll almost certainly be very happy with.

You may find you miss easing the tail out on occasion more than you expect, though :-)

"arl" (arl1968)
10/04/2017 at 06:33, STARS: 1

Cool, I hope you’re able to get things lined up.

Just a note on tunes and the manual. The stock clutch is pretty much rated for stock power. It’s fine as long as you don’t tune.

But pretty much everyone on every forum agrees, if you tune (and it’s so easy and pretty cheap to do,) you’ll be replacing the clutch with a high performance clutch - so factor 1200-1800 into your tune cost for a replacement clutch (assuming you pay someone to replace it).

The DSG can handle a lot more power, so go DSG if you’re going to tune and don’t want to fork out more money.

"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
10/04/2017 at 07:55, STARS: 1

A3 shares the same platform as the Golf/GTI, and as long as you get an A3 with quattro, you get the same 2.0T out of the GTI (220hp /258tq). Earlier base FWD A3's came with a 1.8T, so it was easier to tell the difference, but the new base FWD models also come with a detuned 2.0T with something like 180hp.

Reliability should be the same, but I’d imagine I’m going to pay a small premium for parts/service over someone with a Golf R. The quattro in the A3 is Haldex, and there have been reports of some of those units failing in the early run (2015) cars. I have a 2015, but haven’t had an issue with mine, but I’ve only had the car since June :).

As far as “meh”, it just felt more disconnected to me than the BRZ. I had a weighted knob in my BRZ (Raceseng Signatur) and I thought that helped with the clunkiness. I think a lot of us were expecting the twins to be more snick-snick like the Miata or S2000, but that was never the case. The GTI’s shifter isn’t bad, it just has a longer throw and less of a direct feel than the BRZ.

I’d recommend driving both a DSG GTI as well as a manual. You might be surprised how much you dig the DSG.

"GTI Sprinks" (gtisprinks)
10/04/2017 at 08:21, STARS: 1

Oh the most trivial and minor of noise when the driver window goes down. (Meant to add clarity when originally posting but had to run off and do something else). I think there’s some dirt in the track or something that i just haven’t attended to. Otherwise the car is silent.

"Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2" (pompei426)
10/04/2017 at 09:15, STARS: 1

They, as well as I, like the refinement for the price. I was just talking to my friend with the GT3 this weekend about the GTI. We agreed that no other car in the segment is as nice and well-engineered. It’s a tossable car, but it’s also well suited on long roadtrips.

If you need further endorsement, I was speaking with an Indy Lights (soon to be Indy) driver, and his DD is a GTI. He did the APR tune, which is what I’d go with, and he loves it. It was $500 and he said it’s faster than a ‘R’. He hasn’t had an issues with it, but from what I read, the clutch can’t handle that tune for too long.

If you have a few extra $s, the R isn’t a bad choice. I drove a tuned R and it was a rocket ship.

"bobbe17" (rob-runte)
10/04/2017 at 09:16, STARS: 1

I haven’t driven it extensively, just a quick little drive around town once. It hauls ass for sure though. I didn’t get a good enough feel as far as how the drive type compares between the two though. It certainly isn’t abusive so you’re not sacrificing comfort or livability in a daily driver at all.

"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
10/04/2017 at 11:33, STARS: 1

Yes, actually, but not for the reason you think. So, “Cool story, Bro,” time.

I had actually ordered a base GTI with the Performance pack because I didn’t care for the sunroof and really like the plaid seats. Four months later, I finally get a call from the dealer that they have a car for me. I guess VW just couldn’t be bothered to build the car I wanted. This was just as the diesel cheating scandal was blowing up, so I realize VW had bigger issues, but when I literally walked into the VW dealer and basically said, “Here, take my money,” and they can’t be bothered to do so...just wow guys. Great job.

Anyway after waiting four months for something other than, “No, we don’t know anything new. Sorry.” the dealer says they have a car, but it’s the next trim level up (SE). Okay...? Then they say they will swap the seats to the plaid ones from the base GTI (S trim), and most importantly, only charge me for an S trim GTI because VW wouldn’t build me one.

So, yeah, I basically stole my car and managed to get plaid seats in an SE GTI without paying for them.

"B_dol" (bdolan40)
10/04/2017 at 11:55, STARS: 0

How many miles are you driving annually? Anything under 12-15K and I’d say the gas $$ argument is moot, unless prices shoot up north of $4.25 again (expensive here in CA).

The M3 is a vastly different beast than the GTI/GolfR/S3 price competitors. RWD, V8, essentially the German pony car. Definitely drive all your options and start seeing what priorities float to the top - do not let the internet or journalist opinion entirely drive your next car choice.

"His Stigness" (HisStigness)
10/04/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 0

Well, it’s not like that in the Golf at all. Tires will definitely influence road noise, but I’ve got Michelin Pilot AS3's on now, and they are pretty aggressive; definitely not a luxury tire, and I they don’t stand out. When I mentioned the Audi is was actually to point out that, in my opinion at least, the Golf feels as nice, or nicer. The one that stood out to me was a 2011 Q7, which is not a cheap car, and the door plastics/trim were much harder than the Golf.

Most of the surfaces you touch are either squishy plastic material or softer plastics. The only eco-box shitty scratchy plastic in on the lower end of the doors, and anywhere else you would never reach for.

Oh and the carpets are also very plush (for a non-luxury car), and the seats are wonderfully supportive and the material feels wonderful.

Can you tell I like my car?

Perhaps my problem with Japanese cars isn’t the clutch travel then, per se, but the catch point. I don’t know. I’ve just always associated Japanese cars with super short clutches which are not as easy to modulate, nor as comfortable to do so.

The Golf clutch catches in the middle, and it’s very, very easy to modulate. As I said, even with the diesel you have to not be paying attention to stall it. The gas ones are even easier.

Re Carbon Buildup: there are going to be several companies that make a product in a can that allow you to DIY. I know CRC makes one, but the only product I’ve used personally and seen actual results with is a professional product from BG. BG has two options for using their product, one is DIY friendly and works off vacuum , and it would be perfect for the GTI (disconnect the PCV hose on the manifold and then plug the PCV side with an old spark plug).

There aren’t really warning signs because if you notice anything it’s too late for those services and you have to pull the intake manifold and soak the valves. I don’t recommend that for any novice because you need special tools for the fuel injectors which are expensive. It’s doable if you want to invest in the tools because there are plenty of write-ups and videos on it.

But don’t let that scare you away. If you’re buying new just do the DIY service every 20k miles, and also drive it like you stole it. I forgot to mention that: generally, problems only develop when you putt around in it and never romp on it like you’re supposed to. The only cars I’ve seen develop the problem are cars driven by idiots that shouldn’t be driving a sports car and should be relegated to Camry’s and other boats.

"His Stigness" (HisStigness)
10/04/2017 at 19:23, STARS: 0

A large aftermarket is both a blessing and a curse.

I do love that ECS has grabbed a bunch of Euro goodies that we can put in our cars. I plan on adding under seat cubbies and other cool things we didn’t get here.

"His Stigness" (HisStigness)
10/04/2017 at 19:32, STARS: 1

Without testing this myself I would guess the AWD reduces some of the understeer , but then, the only time I get understeer in my Golf is when I’m being a complete fool and basically trying to get it to understeer. The chassis is so wonderful, and the steering so responsive, I am always able to modulate the understeer and it is never a problem.

AWD would also help with launches. But then, launching a TDI?GTI isn’t really that hard if you’re good at it. I added the Neuspeed dogbone mount insert and it killed the wheel hop and allowed to me do epic launches. If I pay attention at a light I can get the tires to hook up with but a slight chirp and I’m off.

"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
10/04/2017 at 23:10, STARS: 1

Yes. Absolutely worth it. Former coworker had an R. It honestly feels like a damn Audi, but for thousands less.

His R was full stage-2 with proper downpipe and clutch. That car was terrifyingly fast. If you held 2nd above 5k, by the time you went for 3rd you’d be going 100 mph.

If I could do it all over again, I would get an R and live with the seats. And that is even including my Cool story, Bro GTI purchase. The Golf R is perhaps the perfect hot hatch.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/06/2017 at 01:35, STARS: 1

Well, I’m sold. Now to hope that things go according to plan and I can get my butt into a GTI.

"His Stigness" (HisStigness)
10/06/2017 at 11:14, STARS: 0

I’m glad you’re sold because there was a lot of negativity on here. Just make sure you go on a nice long test drive, and maybe do it a few times. But, judging by your dislikes of the BRZ I think you will be very happy with a GTI .

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/06/2017 at 11:49, STARS: 1

I have learned to take a lot of people’s complaints about German cars with a grain of salt. A good majority of those complaints are from people used to Japanese economy cars that they can treat like garbage and they’ll still run. Then when they switch to a German car they’re surprised that they have to actually take care of the car.

I have a coworker who poo-poos anything German. It’s always, “yes, but German engineering. Things are going to go wrong. I had a [always the same car and story]”. Everyone always has one story about either their car or their friends car that was German and had an issue. Okay, so that’s one account out of how many million that they sold?

Mind you, I like to be comfortable and look decently stylish while he prefers value for money so that’s part of it. He thinks I’m being irrational because I don’t like lightweight Japanese sports cars with low power. I’m more for torque and comfort with decent handling. Yes, I know that it’s more power than I need and it’s heavier, but I prefer that.

Long story short, stories about German reliability should be taken with a grain of salt. But I’m sure you know that very well.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/06/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 0

I drive about 15-17k miles a year and I live in California so gas prices are horrible. Still, a part of me does consider the remote possibility of dailying the e9x.

I will need to drive everything.

"B_dol" (bdolan40)
10/06/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 0

It’s still a <10 year old car, plenty friendly to daily. At this point I am happy with anything averaging 19-20 mpg, I do miss the days of my FR-S and 28-30 mpg.

"His Stigness" (HisStigness)
10/06/2017 at 19:34, STARS: 1

I love you because you get it.

German cars are not perfect, but no car is. Sure, you can drive on a Honda with a cup of oil (literally) and be no worse off, but if you’re a litre shy on a German car it will get mad. But if anyone ever had to go through a TUV inspection (I haven’t but I know what they entail), they’d understand why German cars are the way they are.

Germans take care of their shit, and they like well-built things. I do too, which is why I love German cars and will always pay more to own one. And when taken care of properly they are just as reliable, sometimes more so, than other country’s offerings.

I too am like you and want to be comfortable and drive a nice looking car. That’s also why I don’t my cars go more than two weeks (three is the longest I’ve ever gone) before I clean my cars. I take a lot of pride in them and enjoy people standing in awe of them and are shocked when they find out one is 17 years old and the other is a 2012 (which, no joke, looks brand new).

And I love the solidity of German cars. That charismatic German “ thwump ” when you close the door is worth a lot to me. I also hate any rattle. I think that last one is genetic, though, because apparently, my granddad would sell cars that developed any type of rattle. It kind of freaks my mom out that I’m just like him.

I used to get really irritated with uninformed idiots who would crap on German cars, but I’ve let it go because it’s there loss and my gain because German cars continue to depreciate fast enough to where I can enjoy them on the second-hand market and just go through them with a fine tooth comb to get the stupid out.

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
10/07/2017 at 13:52, STARS: 1

You hit the nail on the head. We’ll just take advantage of the used German car market. It’s a wonderful land of cars.