Driving 5 Year Old VW Golf GTI - Keep or Change?

Ljchay on 10/08/2016 - 13:06
Last edited 10/08/2016 - 15:06 by 1 other user

Owned a Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk6 since new very well maintain and taken care. The car is coming 6 years soon which I recently replaced the intake manifold and water pump for the coolant. Cost me more than $1.8k for this replacement.

I love my car but probably not in a position to buy another similar great car like this. Resell value is probably similar to a current Corolla but drive this car drive far better. I am in a dilemma as whether to sell my car and purchase a new car under warranty or keeping my current car.

What's your experience in driving a 5-6 year old euro car? I am trying to save some cash here for home loan repayment but at the same time wanted to have a reliable great car that can last without major mechanical repair cost.

Automotive

Comments

  • airzone on 10/08/2016 - 13:16
    +2

    Lol, what happened to the inlet manifold that required you to change it?

    • jchay on 10/08/2016 - 13:25

      I got a CEL on my dashboard due to the faulty inlet manifold.

      • airzone on 10/08/2016 - 16:03
        +2

        A quick google shows that there is a little plastic actuator linkage arm that gets brittle and snaps, and the 2010-2011 models are notorious for it. And while you can source after-market linkage arm replacements cheaply, VW will only sell you a whole inlet manifold. Oh, and VW in the USA have a 10 year warranty on inlet manifolds because of this..

        Learn a new thing every day!

        • WT on 11/08/2016 - 11:54

          I guess in this case $1500 could have been saved by a quick google and buying the parts and taking it to an independent.

          We have an 06 jetta tdi, just oils, fuel and pads. Old owner did timing belt and a few other things.

          If you sell now and get a new car for a similar price, you are not really saving anything as you are taking 2x hits of depreciation in a small time. So short term you may save a thousand or so. Long term you will loose tens of thousands.

          My advice, research common problems with your car, it will often show a solution as well. Usually an expensive option and cheaper alternatives. If the repairs are 3k + for teh cheapest option in the next few years I would then consider selling. To save the max you have to have some inconvenience. To have no fussy warranty you gotta pay. Cant have cake and eat bla bla bla

          Personally, I would find going from a GTI to a corolla a down grade. If thats the case I would rather sell and buy a cheap 5K car and pocket the difference for the home loan.

        • jchay on 11/08/2016 - 21:27

          @WT: it hard to source for cheap parts when your car is broken down and require immediate parts. I also found out their replacement parts have revision after revision and it's important that you provide your VIN number to ensure compatibility.

        • jchay on 11/08/2016 - 21:28

          Absolutely, 3 years warranty for VW car is definitely not enough!

  • StewBalls on 10/08/2016 - 13:40
    +1

    What's your experience in driving a 5-6year old euro car?

    IME, it could get quite costly without warranty…5-6yo Jap car, very different story IME. My advice, if you want to save money, is to sell the VW and buy the equivalent Jap car.

    • MrMcHairyHead on 10/08/2016 - 13:52
      +3

      I bought a 2005 Toyota Prius in 2012. In four years I haven't had to do any maintenance on this now eleven year old car that wasn't scheduled anyway: just tyres, two brake pads, fuel filter, wiper blades, and fluids. All expected. That's it. It's been a dream.

      • DJ Sex Crimes on 10/08/2016 - 23:57
        +2

        Not much can go wrong when it has the power of a Hoover.

        • MrMcHairyHead on 11/08/2016 - 13:46

          You realise it makes absolutely no difference to anything right? We're limited only by the speed limit and traffic. You could have a Ferrari and still get everywhere in the exact same amount of time as me. I just waste less petrol to do so.

        • jchay on 11/08/2016 - 21:33

          @MrMcHairyHead: test drive one of the euro car and you will know the differences. I used to thought Mitsubishi was tough and great car. Not until they screw their existing owner by constantly drop their Rrp price which affect the resell value. Btw the comparison between those two car. Make the jap car like rubbish. I am coming from Honda and Ex Mitsubishi owner.

        • MrMcHairyHead on 11/08/2016 - 21:47
          -1

          @jchay: As I explained, it can't make any difference, as you're limited by the speed limit and traffic. Since the Prius can still accelerate as fast as is safe, and go the maximum speed limit of 110, it makes no difference.

    • Agret on 10/08/2016 - 15:51

      Do you know what is the jap equiv. of a VW Eos?

      • blergmonkeys on 10/08/2016 - 17:42

        Mazda mx5?

        • Agret on 10/08/2016 - 21:40
          +1

          Nah mx5 is only 2 seater and is more of a sports car, the eos is a 4 seater luxury car with the leather seats. I guess something by Lexus is probably the equivalent after giving it some thought.

  • JimB on 10/08/2016 - 14:06

    Keep it, you know the history of the car.

    I have a MkV GTI and had to do some minor non-scheduled repairs, but nothing major, so $1,500 all up. Not too bad for a 9yo car.

    Find yourself a good independent specialist (I know of a couple in Melbourne) as they can try to fix things rather than just replace it with new parts, or if they replace it when rip you off.

    As you said, you enjoy driving it, so keep it.

    The biggest cost of a car is depreciation, it's already depreciated so you may as well keep it. That's what I'm doing.

    I'll sell mine or trade it in when my GTI gives me constant trouble or lets me down. It's already done 130k so is worth fck all so I may as well keep it.

    I plan to keep it if I get the car I really want (BMW M2) and use the GTI as a beater to take to the shops etc. I've learned that my 2 and 4yo don't give a stuff about your nice cream leather interior.

    • rmg on 08/01/2017 - 14:17

      hi jb1
      you mention good independent VW specialists in Melbourne , I have en eos 2012 and am looking for am independent that I might turn to when issues arise. Currently running well .. touch wood.
      Can you advise?
      thanks

      • JimB on 08/01/2017 - 19:55

        Audvolks in Oakleigh and Volkscare in Boronia.

        Not to say there aren't any other goods one but I have used these ones before.

        Good luck.

  • xyron on 10/08/2016 - 14:10

    Not that unusual to have to spend that kind of money on a car that is 5+ years old to keep it going - euros are definitely more demanding in this regard, though.

    i say you should keep it. you'll lose more money chopping and changing than you will in keeping up regular maintenance (and hopefully you won't see too many more $1k+ repair bills in the near future - especially as, i think, the mk6 GTi runs a timing chain which doesnt need replacing - compare to the mk5 which has a belt that requires replacement and is expensive).

    • JimB on 10/08/2016 - 14:12
      +1

      Correct, timing chain on the Mk6.

      Mk5 requires a change every 7years or 105k, budget about $800 for the kit and labour.

      • jchay on 10/08/2016 - 14:29
        +1

        I watch some YouTube about timing chain tensioner failures in the US for MK6 GTI. Hope the AUS car here have better quality.

        • JimB on 10/08/2016 - 14:32
          +1

          I'm sure the quality will be the same! lol.. but anyway, no point worrying about it.

  • mini2 on 10/08/2016 - 17:12

    Got a Mk5 R32. Now it's 10 years old, still on the original battery though heaps of other things have died around it - control arm bushes, shocks, headlining sagged, some water or moisture ingress I have yet been able to traced, both front's inner and outer CV boots, oxygen sensors, the sunroof switch is a bit screwed (it's posessed) but other than that, no major spendy spend. All of those things are due to wear and tear anyway so warranty wouldn't helped.

  • railspider on 10/08/2016 - 17:20

    I've driven a 27 year old car for the past 18 months and it's been mechanically A1. I'm not sure why you'd want to get rid of your 5 y/o VW, particularly when you know its mechanical history.

    Chopping & changing for a different 2nd hand vehicle is not worth the risk.

  • shortblack9 on 11/08/2016 - 09:52

    It depends on the number kilometers on the clock. Definitely sell it before 100K. Otherwise, be careful where you get your repairs done. Not all VW repair specialists are good. Go to VWWaterCooled forum and ask the enthusiasts which repairer is best and cheapest.

  • Mumbles on 11/08/2016 - 20:27

    Am guessing at 5 years the warranty has run out and beginning to worry about the expenses of maintaining a VW.

    I'd research online and in car forums. Start with Google searching "VW Golf reliablity". Remember to keep a healthy dose of pessimism as there are a lot of fanboys and VW spends big dollars on marketing and astroturfing.

    Problem is that every owner is different. I know fanatic Alfa Romeo friends who are totally honest about their car always breaking down and leaving them stranded but their driving experience is so good that they'd still buy an Alfa Romeo again.

    If this is the kind or relationship you have with your Mark VI Golf GTI then stick with it.

    You'll need to be aware that out of warranty repairs for VW are expensive. Eg. replacing a faulty VW DSG gearbox costs $13K for parts + labour.

    Admittedly I'm biased against VW Golf's as I've had friends who own the Mark V Golf GTI and TSI118 who had expensive and repeat problems within their first 2 years. Eg. 3x engine replaced, leaking sun roof, broken interior panels. These owners soon offloaded their cars before warranty expired. I've no idea what these cars would look like after 10 years.

    • jchay on 11/08/2016 - 21:36

      What car did they end up with now? I actually quite like the new VW Tiguan and Ford Mondeo wagon. How's the Ford reliability compare to VW?

      • Mumbles on 11/08/2016 - 22:37

        The owner of the TSI118 now owns a Subaru Forester. I lost contact with the owner of the Mark V Golf GTI as he turned into a douche bag (not to do with the being a VW owner).

        VW Tiguan I have no idea and frankly VW doesn't interest me enough to care.

        I personally love the Ford Mondeo Wagon. There are heaps of happy owners, especially the non-diesel motors. My cousin who owns the Ford Mondeo Wagon Titanium, petrol engine and thinks its the best affordable luxury car.

        There was news about some Mondeo diesels suffering issues with the Ford DSG gearbox:
        http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/ford-mondeo-used-rev…

        Its better to ask your family mechanic for their recommendation as they'd have exposure with numerous cars. I'm not a mechanic.

        For reliability stick with the old advice which is to stay away from new technology. Older tech means tried and tested. VW and Ford were the first adopters of DSG gearboxes, direct gasoline injection, supercharger-turbo engines. Its the early cars from VW and Ford with these changes that have highest complaints.

  • payless69 on 08/01/2017 - 14:39
    -1

    I will swap you with my camry, better than the corolla lol

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