8th Gen GTI Questions

[Ewheels]

I'm thinking about getting a new commuter car soon and it seems the new GTI checks all my boxes.
Four door, decent mpg, reasonably inexpensive, decent cargo room, still fun to drive...but I'm not too sure of VW reliability. My brother had a 2008 or so GTI and it was a sh*t box. That thing was always broken.

I've read the newer generation GTI's are much better but does anyone have any first-hand experience with these? Any comments on reliability? I don't plan to mod the engine at all but suspension and wheels/tires will definitely happen.

The new Civic R or GR Corolla would be top of my list but I need an auto so the wife or other family can drive it too. I've also looked at the Genesis G70 but Korean cars don't have the best rep either. Civic Touring could work with some suspension mods but still very slow. Same thing for Corolla Hatch.

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[Strokerswild]

VW reliability? The two VWs I've owned (2010 and 2017) have been the most trouble free new vehicles I've owned. Neither was ever in the shop for something other than a recall item or normal maintenance, the '17 is still an anvil. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if needed.

Far better experience than my '19 F150 or my last two Jeeps (Mustang has been great, knock on wood).

 

[Ewheels]

VW reliability? The two VWs I've owned (2010 and 2017) have been the most trouble free new vehicles I've owned. Neither was ever in the shop for something other than a recall item or normal maintenance, the '17 is still an anvil. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if needed.

Far better experience than my '19 F150 or my last two Jeeps (Mustang has been great, knock on wood).

That is great to hear. Thanks for your input.

 

[m3incorp]

I have a 2015 VW and only had one incident....it was an oil leak caused by a rodent...so I would say that isn't VW's fault. Other than that, it drives like the day it was bought new. My Ford Fusion on the other hand....let's see, water pump, gas pump, half shaft, rear calipers frozen...oh and I had to replace the engine on my dime at 90k.

 

[Helltime]

I’ve owned several VWs
2003 GTI 1.8T (bolt ons, tuned)
2003 GTI 1.8T (big turbo, separate car from the first one)
2009 GTI
1986 GTI ($400 beater)
2012 Jetta 2.5
2013 Jetta 2.5
2005 GTI 1.8T
2015 GTI
2016 Jetta Sport 1.8T
2019 Jetta GLI
I kept buying these cars because other than the 86 (again, $400 beater) they were all rock solid daily drivers.
With a VW do NOT neglect your maintenance, and IF something breaks fix it asap so it doesn’t cause more problems. As long as you do that they are mostly solid. The 08 your brother had was probably a FSI car (unless it was a late production 08) which IMO is one of the worst VW engines ever made.
The TSI cars from 08.5-2014 weren’t much better (known for timing chain tensioner issues).
All of the VWs I owned were manuals so I can’t comment on the auto trans, that 2016 Jetta we had was my wife’s commuter car, 122k miles when we sold it. I have to replace the clutch line from master cylinder to slave cylinder at 80k miles. That was the only issue.
My wife’s next car will be a new GLI

 

[Ewheels]

@m3incorp @Helltime thank you both for your inputs. Comments like these make me feel much better about getting one.
I've never owned a German car before but I'm sure all the horror stories (like any brand) are from people who don't take care of their cars. I'm always meticulous about maintenance so shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Helltime]

@m3incorp @Helltime thank you both for your inputs. Comments like these make me feel much better about getting one.
I've never owned a German car before but I'm sure all the horror stories (like any brand) are from people who don't take care of their cars. I'm always meticulous about maintenance so shouldn't be an issue.

You’ll read alot about water pumps going out at low miles. The waterpump/thermostat housing is plastic. I have been fortunate and never had those issues, but I do know of 2 people that have.

 

[Ewheels]

You’ll read alot about water pumps going out at low miles. The waterpump/thermostat housing is plastic. I have been fortunate and never had those issues, but I do know of 2 people that have.

Like it leaks or the pump seizes? Is there a non-plastic aftermarket version that people commonly use?

 

[Helltime]

Like it leaks or the pump seizes? Is there a non-plastic aftermarket version that people commonly use?

Leaks. They did for the Gen1 and Gen 2 TSI, I’m not sure about the gen 3 or gen 4 (gen 4 is new for the MK8)

 

[Strokerswild]

The other thing I didn't mention is the build quality. Very good, night and day versus the domestics I've owned within the same span of time along side the aforementioned VWs. Panel gaps are fantastic, no bodywork sins clearly visible under the paint, no rattles, and everything just plain fits and closes nicely. And some of the domestics were far more expensive, their QC definitely lacks.

 

[Balr14]

There have been a lot of German cars in my family. High mileage models get expensive to maintain, mostly due to parts and labor costs are a lot higher. But, also because of "excessive engineering". I still prefer them over domestic brands.

 

[Strokerswild]

There have been a lot of German cars in my family. High mileage models get expensive to maintain, mostly due to parts and labor costs are a lot higher. But, also because of "excessive engineering". I still prefer them over domestic brands.

I've yet to own a BMW or Merc, and based on a friend's sagas with both I won't, but VW parts and service tend to be orders of magnitude less expensive. At least what little I've experienced.

The first of my two VWs to date was also the first foreign vehicle I ever bought. I was nervous at first, but now I see the error in my ways....

 

[tosha]

The new Civic R or GR Corolla would be top of my list but I need an auto so the wife or other family can drive it too. I've also looked at the Genesis G70 but Korean cars don't have the best rep either

Seems that your budget could fit a Golf R. That one would be better than a GR imo.

 

[Ewheels]

Seems that your budget could fit a Golf R. That one would be better than a GR imo.

I've considered the Golf R but the lighter weight and better mpg of the GTI is actually more appealing to me.

But, needs changed and looks like I might be getting a truck now. I don't want to daily a truck though. I want something small that I can whip around corners and gets better than 18 mpg.

 

[sk47]

Hello; I was about to buy a GTI a while back. Stopped the deal when i found the engine uses a timing belt and not a chain. The sales man was evasive about how long the belts last and the manual seemed optimistic. I talked with the shop manager. He said he would do the belt at 90,000 miles or eight years.
So, if you trade often at lower miles the issue can be passed onto the next guy.

Have a friend with a diesel jetta. His car has been in the shop a lot. All sorts of problems including turbo and interior.

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