My Wife Still Doesn't Like the Kia

"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
07/10/2015 at 12:05 • Filed to: gti, car shopping

So, my wife is still after something different from the Kia. She likes the Mini Cooper S and we’ve driven a few. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . So I read some Mini Forums. For a car that much smaller and less reliable it wasn’t going to work. We could afford it but without a rock-solid warranty it wouldn’t be worth it.

But...

VW has a good CPO warranty. And !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! two hours away. It’d be a nice excuse to take the drive. I’m going to email them and ask some questions about it.

Nice price - $1500 below what KBB and Edmunds say I should pay for a CPO GTI in its condition.

DISCUSSION (25)

E92M3 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 12:12

GTI’s are great to drive. They aren’t the most reliable either. Be ready to dump it after the warranty expires.

Cash Rewards > E92M3
07/10/2015 at 12:14

Knock on wood, I’m a few years and tend of thousands of miles over warranty on mine so far....

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 12:19

Don’t laugh, but did you ever consider the HHR SS? Yeah, they’re ugly, but 240hp gets those moving pretty good.

djmt1 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 12:20

Kinja'd!!!

Made in Germany.

Also manual AND Diesel!

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
07/10/2015 at 12:22

My sister in law had an HHR LT for a few years. I wouldn’t mind it but my wife hated it. HATED IT!

Sorry. Exclamation and caps for emphasis.

duurtlang > djmt1
07/10/2015 at 12:30

I actually have one of those as a company car (diesel, wagon, manual, not an ST). Meh.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 12:30

Okay then, no to that. Lol.

Can the wife drive manual? Ever consider the Speed3 or 6? And if she can’t, Mazda did make a really sharp 6 estate up until 2007 in the states

nermal > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 12:31

Looks like that’s a DSG one - make sure the 40k mile service was done. It’s expensive and important.

Also, pricing doesn’t seem too bad for a CPO version. I’ll sell you my ‘12 Autobahn / manual version for less than that though, and it has less miles!

Mine has been great, owned it since new. Awesome to drive, relatively cheap to own, and the interior is better than anything you’ll find for the price. Ride is a little bit harsh, but roads are bad here.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
07/10/2015 at 12:34

Her first car was an 86 Civic sedan with a 5-speed. She wants a hatchback or wagon with a sunroof. That leaves the Mazdas completely out. Also, I’m of the opinion that 200hp/3000lbs is kind of a sweet spot for a daily driver, especially when coupled with the DSG

jkm7680 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 12:37

yissssssss doo iiittttttttttttttttt

BobintheMtns > E92M3
07/10/2015 at 12:42

Yawn.... That shit is so tired. I’ve got a GTI, similar to the one pictured, now with 130K and it’s been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned. And not only reliable, it’s a fucking brilliant car too.

Vicente Esteve > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 12:47

Seems like a solid choice, but yes do buy that warranty so it doesn’t make you hate VW for sure.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 12:51

Ifn’ you’re around the Nothern tri-states Cantech is among the best at CPO Mini’s (And BMW’s and Posches, and Mecedes...) and fixing/ decarbonizing all their ailments... I worked on the site but I’m more poud of the facebook liberties.

Anyway, after driving a few in n/a, super and turbocharged guise and blasting an S54 up through some gorges togue style backroads I am a solid convert. That wheelbase and midrange punch out of the corners is everything.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Vicente Esteve
07/10/2015 at 12:52

She still loves VW after her beat-up, poorly-maintained Passat.

Svend > djmt1
07/10/2015 at 12:55

The U.S. didn’t get the estate version. Only the saloon and hatchback.

Though I think the ST estate would of done great there.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 13:28

GET THE GTI! But I don’t see a plaid interior... also, if you do buy it, get some 17 inch wheels because the 18’s don’t stay pretty for long and the ride is pretty bumpy... and if you live in a cold, snowy climate (Upstate NY?) get some 16s with winter tires...

Vicente Esteve > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 13:59

Great!

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
07/10/2015 at 14:05

I’m in Charlotte, NC. I don’t know that snow tires are a necessity.

It looks to have a factory roof and nav, so I would guess it’s the Autobahn package because it’s got the embossed backrests and all that. Still, I’m emailing back and forth with sales right now.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/10/2015 at 15:47

Anyways, if the roads aren’t perfect I’d get a set of 17s

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/11/2015 at 16:48

VW CPO car owner here. The warranty is great. they tend to carry on the factory warranty if it’s not up, and add on the CPO one. all the issues I had my VW dealer took care of (and by issues I mean one check engine light) make sure the water pump’s been replaced BTW. my stepdad had his go out on his 2014 GTI at 5K miles

otherwise, these are bulletproof, tunable, cool, fast cars

PWRandSPD > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/11/2015 at 18:21

I am a full supporter of the VW GTI, had a MKV and loved it. My wife has the Mazda 3 Hatchback and we love that too. It is not to the same quality level as the GTI, but the handling and drivability are great. If I was in the market for myself, I would be in a VW GTI again in a heartbeat. I know you are looking at CPO, which is what my last one was with the autobahn package . That MKVII with the performance package and lighting package has got my eye for a next car. I will wait for some to come off lease and pick one up then more than likely. If they end up bringing the GTD over, I may have a bit of trouble waiting.

boxrocket > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/11/2015 at 23:13

Why are the moonroof/sunroof and a wagon/hatch mutually exclusive? My Mazda6 has a moonroof from the factory, and there are aftermarket options.

Add the Volvo C30 and V50 to your list.

boxrocket > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/11/2015 at 23:25

Just to satisfy my inner DeMuro, it seems CarMax has several 2011 GTIs in your region (free shipping from store-to-store) for similar money and mileage (and a couple with even less mileage). At least they tend to vacuum the car before taking pictures.

I tried to post a link but Kinja apparently won't even let me so that anymore.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > boxrocket
07/12/2015 at 00:50

Speed 3= no sunroof.

Speed 6= no wagon/hatch.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > boxrocket
07/12/2015 at 00:58

Around Charlotte, there are three With sunroofs priced under $20k, within “free transfer” distance and none have four doors. Nearest 4 door is Lexington Kentucky.