Volkswagen Golf GTI

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Delboy

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I got hit buy a fully loaded gravel truck and trailer last week - thank god it was in the car, not the bike. I was stopped and the cop said he hit me around 100 or 120.

The car is totaled and I ended up with a broken leg and ribs, but I need to start looking for a new car.

I had a Mk1 GTI after I left school and always had a sweet spot for them. I must be going through a bit of a mid life thing as I think latest model looks really nice but I have heard bad things about VW reliability.

Anyone have any experience with newer model VW's?
 
I don't have a gti but they are a drivers cars which is also very functional. All around good car.

Also I would look at the 2011 wrx hatch or sedan. Those are solid
 
I wouldn't say VW has really bad realiability..test drive and pick the car you like. The new ones won't be as light and fun as the original, but they're still pretty cool. I had a Passat wagon and I thought it was a solid car..loved the highway.
 
It all went downhill after the Mk IIs.

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Well, it's not a GTI, but I have a 2006 Jetta TDI, manual, which currently has 351,000 km on it. The only kinda expensive non-scheduled maintenance it has needed has been wheel bearings, and it has had all four corners done. Aside from that, the car has been good. My dad has a 2011 Golf TDI, DSG automatic, and it has also been good.

As usual with German cars, the Germans expect you to read and follow the scheduled maintenance by the book. If the warning label and the service manual says thou shalt use VW G12+ engine coolant (which it does), then thou shalt use VW G12+ engine coolant and nothing else. If you are a prior VW owner, you already know this. People who don't follow the maintenance book to the letter will pay for their sins.

There is plenty of aftermarket support for VW/Audi, so even though you have to use specific coolant (and engine oil, and power steering fluid if it has hydraulic power steering, and transmission oil) all of this and a lot of the maintenance parts are available in the aftermarket for less $ than the dealer, and there are a fair number of VW/Audi specialist shops for doing the maintenance without having to go running to the dealer all the time. Mine hasn't seen the inside of a dealer's service shop since the last scheduled maintenance inside of warranty.
 
I just recently purchased a VW Golf 2011. They are great cars. The new model VW Golfs are now made in Germany and not Mexico like the previous versions. So far this car has been alot more reliable than my previous Mercedes C230 every was. I currently have just over 18,000 km on it and I haven't had to do anything except for the 15,000 km oil change.

You may want to also consider the 2012 VW Golf R - This is basically a higher performance version of the GTI - same engine except it's pushing out approx. 256 hp (56 more HPthan the GTI) , 0-100 in about 5.6 secs, and comes with 4 wheel drive.
 
The Golf R is a joke... 40 frickin grand? They're nuts. And as usual with the GTIs, they're porky and underpowered. For that money, anybody looking for an "R" version of a grocery getter needs to head on over to Subaru or Mitsubishi. Hmmmm, Golf R or STi? lol

But the VWs have nice interiors and overall great fit/finish, that's for sure. I'd drive one, just not a GTI... it tries to be performance but it's always underpowered and grossly overweight.
 
While I do love the WRX STi... I would still buy the Golf R over it for a few reasons. Not gonna get into it too much but basically the interior is not nearly as cheap and ****** looking. And fuel economy. And IMHO it looks a lot better.
 
I certainly agree that VW interiors are a lot nicer than Subie. My biggest complaint about the Subies is their boring instrumentation.

From the people I know that have owned VWs the only semi-common issue is wheel bearings and they can be a bit spendy to get replaced.
 
mmmnaked said:
The Golf R is a joke... 40 frickin grand? They're nuts. And as usual with the GTIs, they're porky and underpowered. For that money, anybody looking for an "R" version of a grocery getter needs to head on over to Subaru or Mitsubishi. Hmmmm, Golf R or STi? lol

But the VWs have nice interiors and overall great fit/finish, that's for sure. I'd drive one, just not a GTI... it tries to be performance but it's always underpowered and grossly overweight.
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I'm relieved we're not having a very grown-up "your gsxr is a joke, my r6 is totalllllly better" argument..
 
invictus43 said:
I'm relieved we're not having a very grown-up "your gsxr is a joke, my r6 is totalllllly better" argument..
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If you want something with great fit and finish that drives great, but you also want something light, fast and fun... Buy a TDI Golf and a Foxbody 5.0L Mustang. :)
 
Or an mk1 golf w/ busa engine swap

[video=youtube;3Xdks-j3yt0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xdks-j3yt0[/video]
 
My 7 yr old neice died in the back seat of a Mk IV Golf 3 yrs ago. My brother in law was driving 110 kmh on the 403 when they were rear ended by a BMW 5 series. The tailights of the Golf were forced right against the backseat and she died on impact.

It is my opinion that most hatchbacks to day are engineered for passenger space, so their hatches have become super tiny. 20 yrs ago, most 4 cyl hatchback cars had sloped hatchglass from roofline to tailights and 3feet of distance from tailights to back seat. Now most have near vertical hatchglass from roofline to tailights and half of the distance or less between backseat and tailights, giving the people in the backseat more leg and head room, but less impact absorbing space behind the occupants. I would never put my children in one. My folks have a Yaris, and my son is not allowed to travel in their car. I will spend $2000/yr more in fuel, just to save from driving a subcompact.

My 2 cents.
 
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My condolences to your niece but we are on a motorcycle forum. Most of us put safety 2nd to how the car/bike feels or even looks.

Btw smart cars are pretty safe cars just ugly and slow.
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