Need new car, getting rid of the GTI. *Update: Bought BMW 135is*

[postmortemIA]

Learn from your mistakes ... and don't get another German car.

 

[Insomniator]

Learn from your mistakes ... and don't get another German car.

Nah sounds like a usual VW to me.

 

[adlep]

I'm about 23 months into my 36 month lease and i must get rid of this car since i can't stand all the issues with it and the dealer's incompetence. I escalated the whole mess up to VW's CEO's assistant, who offered me a month's payment for all my trouble... lol.

Needless to say, i'm done with VW forever.

Soo, i'm thinking about getting a 135is. What do you guys think? I prefer small coupes and the 135 seems to be the only one around with a real engine, and i don't care for the 3 series since it's too big. Please no suggestions to get an ancient E46 M3.

Thanks.

So you are taking one German car out and replacing it with another German car?
BMWs are expensive to repair too man

 

[hans007]

I just got rid of my Audi which has the same engine as your gti. Had much worse problems like engines burning oil . Exhausts needing to be replaced . Fuel injectors failing. Piston rings likely needing replacing ( was being tested for a known issue). Steering rack shudder issues which I hadn't even gotten them to fix yet( there was a tsb that Audi didn't even tell me about during scheduled maintenance and they didn't fix it). . Audi by the way also rarely had owners.


I got rid of it after 34 months of owning it. Your problems don't seem took bad. If you have to put a lot of money into buying the lease out id just wait. I don't brand all German cars together but I think VW is just poorly engineered. I've heard more about late model VW products being bad than most other makes and I guess that anecdotal evidence might have some truth to it.

Late model BMW and Mercedes products seem OK. New c class has been very reliable and the current and last 3 series and 1 series has been good other than the n54 fuel pump . So don't think all German cars are bad. The 1 series should be fun. GTI looks nicer but that its main advantage so go for it if it makes you happy

 

[Arkaign]

FR-S / BRZ are sweet rides. Might be a bit weak in power but its well designed. That would be my first choice over any BMW. Especially if your tired of dealer drama.

FR-S/BRZ are an insane comparison to a 135i. 135i drops sub-5 second 0-60 runs with the manual, still has amazing balance, has a fantastic interior, and is just a nice compact lux/sport combo. FR-S/BRZ are anemic, but well balanced handling cars that can't really even hang with a decent pickup truck or minivan or even Camry V6 in a straight line. Of course there is a substantial price difference as well.

Long term reliability, I think you're right though. Maintaining the BMW is going to cost money, even if nothing serious goes wrong. There's just a lot more electronics, and more expensive parts overall, and then you have eventual turbo maintenance as well. Overall BMW seems a lot less flaky to me than Audi/VW though. One of the local dealers I work for that specializes in luxury cars has given up buying them at auction, he only drop-sells them from local CPO/warrantied sources if someone demands a certain vehicle. All of that is sort of besides the point.

Back to this, I don't think anyone who is even used to the power of a GTI will be happy in the Toybaru. I haven't driven the BRZ myself, but I tried the FR-S, and it's gutless, almost despairingly so considering the excellent handling and sporty styling. It's like Jet Li's body and agility, but paired with all the gusto of a 90-year-old cancer patient.

 

[RedArmy]

FR-S/BRZ are an insane comparison to a 135i. 135i drops sub-5 second 0-60 runs with the manual, still has amazing balance, has a fantastic interior, and is just a nice compact lux/sport combo. FR-S/BRZ are anemic, but well balanced handling cars that can't really even hang with a decent pickup truck or minivan or even Camry V6 in a straight line. Of course there is a substantial price difference as well.

Long term reliability, I think you're right though. Maintaining the BMW is going to cost money, even if nothing serious goes wrong. There's just a lot more electronics, and more expensive parts overall, and then you have eventual turbo maintenance as well. Overall BMW seems a lot less flaky to me than Audi/VW though. One of the local dealers I work for that specializes in luxury cars has given up buying them at auction, he only drop-sells them from local CPO/warrantied sources if someone demands a certain vehicle. All of that is sort of besides the point.

Back to this, I don't think anyone who is even used to the power of a GTI will be happy in the Toybaru. I haven't driven the BRZ myself, but I tried the FR-S, and it's gutless, almost despairingly so considering the excellent handling and sporty styling. It's like Jet Li's body and agility, but paired with all the gusto of a 90-year-old cancer patient.

TRD is developing a supercharger for the FA20 engine and right now with an E85 tune ($800)/intake ($300)/exhaust ($1500) you can get very close to 200whp. I know that doesn't sound like much but it's a far cry from what the car comes with stock. Perrin is also developing their own kit with a Vortech supercharger and a bunch of other tuning companies are wasting no time in doing the same with a bunch of different forced induction options.

Of course, the car was never about horsepower to begin with; the handling is awesome and I expect the engine to be pretty bullet proof considering it's all Subaru minus the D4S fuel injection system. I think Toyota did a great job on the styling side of it and brakes from the later model STi's are swappable if you so desire that Brembo bling-factor.

The BRZ Limited gives you heated seats/mirrors, alcantra, Nav, HID's, Bluetooth, much better HVAC system over the FR-S, spoiler, and keyless entry. So yeah, doesn't have much HP but it has pretty much everything else you might want, plus it gets pretty decent MPG even when you drive it like a bastard.

Conclusion: Lacks HP, good amount of options, great reviews, huge aftermarket, cheap

Source: I own one

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Ugh... I did not want to see this thread. I'm about to get rid of my 05 Dodge Neon for a GTI....

 

[nerp]

Ugh... I did not want to see this thread. I'm about to get rid of my 05 Dodge Neon for a GTI....

Don't.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Genesis is absolute garbage. Sit in one for 5 minutes and feel the rattly plasticness. I was so disappointed after sitting in a track model in dealership.

i'm perfectly happy with my genesis. my buddy's mustang 5.0 really isn't any better IMO in terms of interior fit/finish.

neither the genesis nor the mustang are really all that small. if you want small, FRS/BRZ for sure (unless you go miata, which is the only other small sports car i can think of)

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Don't.

Why not?

 

[Ciber]

Why not?

Here's a fun one for you... So you have your iPhone plugged in listening to music, call comes in, you answer and hang up 3 mins later, music never comes back and the only way to get it to play again is to unplug your phone and then plug it back in.

I hate this damn car!!!

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Here's a fun one for you... So you have your iPhone plugged in listening to music, call comes in, you answer and hang up 3 mins later, music never comes back and the only way to get it to play again is to unplug your phone and then plug it back in.

I hate this damn car!!!

A) don't have an iPhone so that's a non issue
B) that might not be the car... It could be an issue with the phone

 

[ballmode]

IS350 has a tiny back seat

 

[Arkaign]

A) don't have an iPhone so that's a non issue
B) that might not be the car... It could be an issue with the phone

http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=37

GTIs are fun when they work, but are junk imo for reliability. I've never known anyone who has bought a second one, and I've known probably 20+ people that have had one at one time or another. 3/4 of the owners have severe problems of some sort before getting rid of it, and virtually all of the owners have multiple weird issues along the way as well.

It's a shame because they drive nicely, and are a good balance of features.

I would have no problem owning one during the warranty period (comprehensive). But I would absolutely not keep one a single day out of warranty.

 

[Arkaign]

http://www.faqs.org/car/volkswagen-gti-2012/

"Volkswagen: all models experience the timing chain slipping, rattling noises of the engine after starting, and engine fails to start. 2008-13 all models.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[CraigRT]

I loved my GTI and my Jetta TDI, I'd get another without hesitation. Your dealer sucks/you got a lemon. Shit happens.

It is a lot more common with VW than with other brands.
My uncle and my cousin (his son) both had Jetta TDI's and both of them vowed never to own one again after having them for a few years. No issues with the engines, but with everything else it was constant.

There is something to be said for bad dealer service yes, but I wouldn't care if my dealer was the best in the world, just not having break downs or dealer visits at all is preferred by me!

 

[crackerjacks]

Only had one problem with my 2012 GTI after 22,000 miles was it couldn't survive hitting a 2000 Jeep Cherokee at 45mph that turned left in front of me.

It was also the base model MT and no options. Adding more electronics to a VW is a no-no.

 

[xapo99]

Nah sounds like a usual VW to me.

We had two VW's in recent years a 1.4 TSI Golf and a Golf GTD, both were plagued by faults, some quite major. The dealers couldn't give a stuff, they are too busy preparing and bussing out lease Passats to companies via the lease firms and making money on that. Or ripping people off £200 just for an oil change and calling it a 'service'.

 

[endlessmike]

Why not?

I had a 2007 that would have qualified as an automatic lemon had it been in the shop just one additional day (I think it's 30 days over the first year of ownership just to give you an idea).

Several repeat mechanical issues and also lots of goofy problems with the electronics (stereo cutting out, random check engine, airbag and burnt bulb lights).

 

[nerp]

My 03 golf went through bulbs like a chainsmoker goes through cartons of Marlboros. Every month I was replacing one. And yes, I wore gloves, didn't get them oily, etc, etc, etc. Dealer said it was normal.

 

[hans007]

My 03 golf went through bulbs like a chainsmoker goes through cartons of Marlboros. Every month I was replacing one. And yes, I wore gloves, didn't get them oily, etc, etc, etc. Dealer said it was normal.

They always say Its normal. Unless the manufacturer will pay to fix it. Then its a problem they are happy to fix since corporate is payng

 

[cbrsurfr]

2008 w/ 70K here. Couple problems that the dealer took care of. I did have to switch dealers from the one I bought it from, seemed like the original dealer only liked to do quick warranty jobs and overpriced scheduled maintenance. I'll likely be buying a MKVII in a few years, unless I fall into some cash and get something much higher end (GT-R, 911, etc).

 

[JCH13]

2008 w/ 70K here. Couple problems that the dealer took care of. I did have to switch dealers from the one I bought it from, seemed like the original dealer only liked to do quick warranty jobs and overpriced scheduled maintenance. I'll likely be buying a MKVII in a few years, unless I fall into some cash and get something much higher end (GT-R, 911, etc).

Lulz. I might get another hot-hatch... or, you know, a super car. No bigs.

 

[cbrsurfr]

Lulz. I might get another hot-hatch... or, you know, a super car. No bigs.

Hence the fall into some cash constraint. :biggrin:

My buddy went from a Mazdaspeed 3 to a 2005 F430. Of course he then needed to pickup a WRX because the F430 isn't exactly a daily driver.

 

[Ciber]

A) don't have an iPhone so that's a non issue
B) that might not be the car... It could be an issue with the phone

I like my vehicle to work as advertised. It's not the phone, it does it with an iphone 3, 4, 4S, 5 and IOS 5/6. There's threads about all these issues with the nav headunit all over the forums. it's a piece of crap. Got another random bulb warning today lol.

More importantly, i'm having trouble finding a 135is exactly how i want it, might have to order and wait foreveeeeeeeeer...