Golf TDI Replacement

"bobbe17" (rob-runte)
09/15/2016 at 10:32 • Filed to: None

After going back and forth a few times, my wife and I are planning on getting rid of the TDI early on in the buybacks rather than waiting around driving the free car. This is mostly due to the risk of dumping money into the car that we’re planning on getting rid of.

So now the debate on what to replace it with. The hope would be that this car sticks around for at least a good 100,000 miles or so.

Criteria:

Automatic- I’d like a good automatic and not a CVT but ultimately it’s my wife’s car so I just won’t drive it if I don’t like it.

Hatchback- Must be a hatchback and anything with significantly less space than the 4-door Golf won’t be an option.

Newish/Niceish- My wife has complained that I ruined cars for her because she notices more about cars and is pickier now. Cars that feel underpowered and cheap won’t be options.

Price- Hoping to stay around $20k plus maybe a grand and minus two or three.

So far we’ve driven a Mk7 Golf TSI and a Mk7 GTI. She liked the GTI a little more but not $5k more. I’m hoping I can get a supplier discount through my company and that VW will try to retain customers for a deal on a new model but my wife isn’t crazy about buying new.

Other options considered and will hopefully be driving in the near future:

Mk6 GTI: It’ll be just like her car now but gas and better. CPOs are right around 21k. I don’t trust the five cylinders after her Jetta so it’s Mk6 GTI or no Mk6.

Lexus CT200H: I have a feeling she’ll hate driving it but I’m curious

Mazda3 Hatchback: I worry this will be a step backwards in quality and feel from the Golf but admittedly don’t know too much about them. Has Mazda fixed their rust issues?

Subaru Impreza: Similar quality and feel concerns as the Mazda. Also CVT and probably slow feeling.

What are Oppo’s thoughts on these cars? Anything I missed?

Also, does anyone know if we could get tax savings with the buyback like one can with a trade in? It’d certainly be a pro for buying a VW if we could save $1000 on sales tax by only being taxed on the difference between buyback and the new car rather than paying tax on the full new car price.

DISCUSSION (27)

CB > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 10:37

Would an Elantra GT or a Rio5 (with the 1.6 turbo) be of interest?

Tripper > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 10:37

I like the GTI weather it be mk6 or 7. The best “all-arounder” that does not feel cheap.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 10:37

Impreza: AVOID. Unless you’re shilling out for the WRX/STI/WRXSTI/WHYARETHERESOMANYLETTERSTI the only thing it has going for it is kinda good if a little numb cornering. It looks, feels and acts cheap. And it might as well be a pedal car for all the sensation of acceleration you get.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 10:39

I have a 2nd gen Mazda 3 and am a big fan. Your wife might not be a huge fan of the lack of torque after driving the TDI, though.

On the plus side, I have yet to see a 2nd gen 3 have the rust issues that plagued the first gen.

Mid Engine > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 10:41

I’ll never own another VW, Subarus inexplicably eat head gaskets and burn more oil than gas, Honda and Toyota build extremely bland appliances, and the Koreans don’t do hatchbacks. My want list is similar to yours and it looks like we’ll be buying a Mazda 3 hatchback with automatic. Only thing that will get in the way would be the purchase experience, if the local Mazda dealers are assholes I’ll have to move on. My daughter was all set to buy a Mazda 3 and gave up, the process was just too painful.. she picked up her new Civic yesterday.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 10:41

I haven’t personally experienced a Mazda3, but have read many good things. I’ve heard that the interiors are actually pretty great for a sub-20k car, the transmission (even the automatic) feels good, and it’s still sporty and fun to drive. It consistently gets ranked near the top in best cars under $20k.

I say go check one out in person and see for yourself.

I’m also a fan of the GTI idea.

What about a FoST or FiST?

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/15/2016 at 10:46

Wat? The WRX and especially STI are pretty awesome and definitely not lacking in the acceleration department.

Or were you talking about the base Imprezas?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Snuze: Needs another Swede
09/15/2016 at 10:48

Unless you’re shilling out for the WRX/STI/WRXSTI/WHYARETHERESOMANYLETTERSTI

As noted, yes. Though not exactly base, but ANYTHING below the nutter cars.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 10:50

Focus titanium could be an option though the ford “powershift” has some issues still.

Chevrolet malibu is a genuinely underestimated car in the mid sized sedan segment. I love the new looks and inside it is a whole new car. I saw one in gloss black with new alloys and wow......WOW that is a good looking car. Near buick levels of luxury inside too. ANd this is modern buick luxury not 90s buick “fake wood grain plastic on the pontiac parts” luxury.

Chevy volt? Might have some potential there.

Buick. Give them a look......STOP LAUGHING! THE REGAL KICKS ASS! Basically upscale opels nowadays, it is a genuine option.

Avoid nissan. Just......no.

Honda civic/accord? THey’re common for a reason

Acura? Maybe? They’re solid cars.

bobbe17 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/15/2016 at 10:54

Focus Titanium was a borderline option. I figure it’ll feel slow and cheap though. Other than toys and interior niceness, is it any different than a base model?

If Buick made the Regal in a hatchback, I’d be all over it.

All other hatchbacks that I can think of are cheap and underpowered so that's why my list was as short as it was.

bobbe17 > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
09/15/2016 at 10:56

FoST and FiST are manual only right? My wife has no interest in learning manual especially with her commute in traffic.

Ike > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 10:56

Can I make a random suggestion, I've seen Chevy volts going for about 11k-18k on the used market, I had a friend who wanted a simulate criteria in cars who ended up in a volt based on a discussion we had. I'm not sure if it would fit all your needs (def not hatch back) but maybe the plug in nature makes it worth looking at?

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 10:57

Ah, right.

Then yeah, Mazda3 or GTI.

bobbe17 > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/15/2016 at 10:57

That's the overwhelming impression (imprezzion?) I was getting as well. It might be worth driving just for setting the baseline of "Here's the low end of the bar and what we don't want"

bobbe17 > Where have all the lightweights gone?
09/15/2016 at 11:01

I think we’d probably go Gen 3 to get something with lower miles and possibly CPO if it makes sense. The lack of torque might be an issue as she doesn’t really rev her cars too much to get into the power.

Good to know that Mazda seems to have taken care of the rust issues.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 11:05

Oh, by all means try it. No harm in that. Good to know what to avoid.

Honestly, if it were me and I had to have a CVT Subaru, I’d probably go for the XV Crosstrek. At least that gives you a better looking exterior and ground clearance so you can do fun stuff that isn’t fast.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/15/2016 at 11:11

Sorry, somehow my brain didn’t interpret that correctly.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Snuze: Needs another Swede
09/15/2016 at 11:12

Meh... we all do it.

bobbe17 > Mid Engine
09/15/2016 at 11:13

I really, really don’t want to buy another VW based on principle and not having the greatest with reliability from our Jetta or Golf. But the Golf is just such a great car with the right blend of feel, speed, and price that no one else seems to match. I’ve also only had German cars so I’ve gotten really used to working on them and know them inside and out so they’re well within my comfort zone.

I’m always amazed that people will choose a different car based on a dealership experience. They’re dropping thousands of dollars on a car that that they’ve likely fallen in love with and they let the purchasing experience affect what they'll be driving for years to come. That being said, it's amazing that a dealership can make things so crappy that someone would make that decision.

bobbe17 > CB
09/15/2016 at 11:15

I think my wife’s driven those as rentals and they've felt too cheap for her.

AndyG_UK > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 11:17

The Lexus has a CVT btw and they are dreadful cars to drive, just a tarted up Prius.

Mazda 3 would be my pick, esp if it’s expected to do 100k trouble free.

Dru > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 11:19

Having owned a Kia hatchback for the better part of 100K miles, I can say I’m happy with it overall. My main complaints are that it feels just shy of adequately powered, and the interior is inoffensively cheap, but still cheap. That said, the newest Forte 5 has a Turbo GDI motor and available 7 speed DCT. The interior looks improved as well. I would seriously check those out if I needed to check all the boxes you do.

bobbe17 > Dru
09/15/2016 at 11:35

Hmm, those do look intriguing. Probably worth a drive.

bobbe17 > Ike
09/15/2016 at 11:36

My dad won't shut up about the Volt whenever we start talking cars. While it isn't a traditional hatchback shape, it does technically have a hatch so it's probably worth looking at.

Dru > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 11:40

If you do get to drive one, let us know what you think.

Arrivederci > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 12:08

I’d imagine you should be able to swing a good deal on a new GTI. I’ve seen them advertised for very low $20k-range.

Mid Engine > bobbe17
09/15/2016 at 12:16

I bought my TDI by email, I refused to go into the dealer and play their game. At the time I was also very seriously considering buying a new Outback but the dealers would not budge off MSRP, so Subaru lost a customer.

My daughter got tired of the Mazda dealers, she’s leasing a car for four years so she’s not really too concerned whether she made the “best choice”. Millenials don’t have much patience to begin with, so the ridiculous gamesmanship most dealers indulge in go over like a fart in church.