Unfortunately the clutch in these are like chocolate fire guards! I have a Seat Leon Cupra with the same VAG running gear and EA888 engine with 300HP and mine is bone stock and I have 24k miles and the clutch is about to fail. No towing no track days no heavy launches... loads of failures in Europe.... due to the silly clutch delay valve in my opinion!
@@snoopydogg1 "Chocolate fire guards?" That's awesome. I removed my clutch delay valve during the replacement. The pedal is snappy, for sure, but I'm used to it.
@@snoopydogg1 - I did not. I had a shop do my clutch replacement; they removed the delay valve in the process. All of that was done before I was making videos about the car.
StealthGTI are us miles different to U.K. mile? You Americans seem to put a lot more miles on your cars than we do. I tent to do about 20k Miles a year and that’s fairly high in the U.K.
I really like that you get the absolute the most out of your car. I leased a truck. If I saw your videos sooner, I may have went with the GTI. Your towing videos were an eye opener. Your enthusiasm for this car keeps me a subscriber.
Just want to say I really appreciate your reviews; they are extremely thorough. I just bought a 2019 GTI, and coming from a long line of Japanese cars, I was wary of the difference in reliability, although I ultimately decided I wanted a more spirited driving experience. After seeing your reviews, I am feeling much more relieved. You are clearly driving this car to its full potential, and I look forward to having many adventures with mine too!
Nice! "A more spirited driving experience" is exactly what I wanted, too. I was a Nissan man in the 80s and 90s. They ran perfectly, but were boring. Sure, NISMO has good offerings, but they're out of my price range and their styling is too bold for my tastes. The GTI fit a sweet spot for me. Thanks for visiting.
Great video as usual. As another middle aged dude with his first GTI, I can tell you it is hands down the most fun car I have owned. So well balanced for practicality and driving enjoyment.
For 93k this car is a freaking GEM. Towing and stage 2? When you factor in that the average driver puts 93k miles on a car in about 8 yrs, this car is way beyond reliable. The"average" driver isn't towing at all and running APR stage 2 either. I just bought a 2016 GTI manual (keeping it stock!) and this video gave me confidence. Well done.
Thanks! The car has over 130k now and an IS38 turbo upgrade. I'll share more about that in July. I took the cargo trailer on a 200-mile drive today and still averaged 27 mpg. :-) Thanks for visiting!
I really appreciate the follow-up video! I'm glad I found your channel since I also use my GTI as a utility vehicle. The Home Depot employee couldn't believe I fit over 500 square feet of flooring in the back when I remodeled my living room, lol. Keep up the good work!
I have a 2006 GTI MK5, 105000+ miles, original suspension, APR Stage 1, with a Cold Air Intake that replaced the hot air box. I’ve had to replace the clutch and use a single mass flywheel instead of the dual, yup it chatters but less complex, and lighter but more durability. Headlights were replaced, not because they gave out, but mounting tabs broke...a MK5 flaw. Overall, the car is a tank, and is agile and fast, mine is now 14 years old! I have less tech in mine and it has a sunroof that has never leaked, thank God! Replaced one windshield. Like you, I love the GTIs, the original, and for me, the best. Mine is a 2 door that was built in Germany and came with a, my dealer said, unique performance package. It still gets looks and compliments, but, most of all, puts a smile on my face just about every time I drive it!
This kind of review is rarely done and I fully appreciate it and subscribed. The GTI is In my top 5 for consideration when I buy early next year. Will continue watching and I’m very interested in your continued ownership experience. Thanks for the great detail. It eases my mind somewhat about GTI reliability.
I am glad to see this video. It explained a lot questions I had from part 1, but assumed a lot the issues were "self-inflicted" or something along those lines. I have a 2018 S and just love it! I get people asking why I bought a VW and after ride in mine they never ask again. With the 6 year/72,000 warranty it was a no-brainer decission to buy mine.
HAHA! I've surprised a few people who've ridden in my GTI. We were just going to lunch and I unexpectedly punched it to catch a traffic light. "Whoa!" is the usual response. :-) Thanks for visiting.
Let me explain this to you: Scotty is right about everything he says, there's no denying it. However, Scotty's perception of what a car is in a person's life and your perception are 2 very different things. Scotty is a cheap guy, he said it himself, so he gravitates towards cars that can last a very long time. Germans build cars to last just long enough for 1 person to drive them and then get rid of them. The Japanese, for the most part, have a different philosophy when it comes to building a vehicle. Point of the story is, even though Volkswagens are built much cheaper than an equivalent Toyota, they last long enough to serve the average driver. This explains why Scotty receives so much backlash from German car owners.
Lots of people give VW's a bad rap for reliabilty unfortunately. I think it all comes down to how well you maintain your vehicle. I'll take slightly less longevity / cheapness of maintenance in exchange for a much more rewarding driving experience!
The people freaking about the clutch all drive DSG cars and don't understand that the stock GTI clutch is rather weak and can't handle much. Great video. My car is currently parked for the winter but I'm going to check that triple square bolt on the door check because I have a very bad creak when I close my door that the dealer can't seem to figure out. It also uses coolant as well, dealer pressure tested it and found no leaks, so it's just one of those things, keep a jug in the garage and top it up when it goes low.
Subbed to you because of these vids. Genuinely good bloke. I'm a Brit who lives in the US. Back in the UK I owned a Mk4 TDi for about 4-5 years. Got it up to 190k with no issues what-so-ever. I've been driving American cars for the last 4 years since I moved here and I'm fed up of them. I'm highly considering getting a Mk7 GTI as my daily and these videos are sealed the deal.
What many people such as the ones who have written those comments, don’t know or maybe don’t want to remember is that cars are ‘meant to be used’. That is why there will be contents which will run out eventually. This is totally normal. The so-called problems which are called problems by those commenters on the first valuable video about the GTI of yours, are not problems. They are just effects of 93k miles and usage of the car. But somehow people keep overreacting absurdly and calling those things as ‘problems’. So I totally agree with you. I own a Golf 7.5 TSI which handles very well and also has worked in every condition the earth and nature has thrown at it. Unlike any other European car manufacturer, VW builds tough and reliable cars. I wish you to enjoy your GTI as long as you can. I totally respect and adore your works on that car and on UA-cam. Subscribed. Greetings from Turkey. 👍
I have my golf 7.5 gti for 3 years with 32k miles. Mine is a dsg and I love it every moment with it. I wished I did the ppf when I bought it. I observed the same thing with the coolant and remote battery. I have leather seats so dont have the issue with the seats. I truly enjoy your channel. I installed coilovers which improved the handling 10x but it's making cracking sounds. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
It's nice to find a VW owner who understands and appreciates the brand and their product. A real life every day VW owner who seems knowledgeable and honest. Thanks for your insight and info. I just leased a 2019 VW Jetta, your videos may come in very handy some day...Subscribed.
Thanks for the kind words. We were in the market for a Jetta last year. Neither of us care for the Mk7 Jetta styling (but it's grown on me), so we went for one of the last 2018 Jettas (her car). Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI thank you for your reply and fine work sir...sadly the 2019 jetta I will have to admit looks a little much like everything else at the moment, with the "coupe like" styling/fastback profile...i've even heard people say it looks like a ford fusion or hyundai elantra...ugh....but it still drives nicer than the others and is still more bang for your buck in its class and doesn't come at any level with a CVT transmission which i hear nothing but problems about...i miss the more traditional sedan profile of the "now previous" 2019 Passat and the 2018 and prior Jettas, VWs have always been striking to me, i like that they don't just flow with and follow every whim and trend in appearance or engineering (unless obvious or warranted), I hope I haven't gotten in to the brand after the getting was good, but I do love my Platinum Grey Metallic* R-Line (and your GTI sir, very nice ride). vee dubs!
I agree completely, I have a 2016 with 102,000 miles and the only thing I've done is changed the transmission mount and replaced the suspension with the same factory setup, afraid to screw up such a good thing. Keep posting videos on your car, really enjoying the shared love of the GTI
I'm a vw tech and I can say gti's hold up well ur seems to be doing good. all new vw's go through coolant al little. no car is perfect people just like to moan and cry about cars they dont own or drive obviously mileage will vary but considering u do use this car alot and it's good u must be doing somthing right as an owner
I’ve got a 2013 mk6 gti autobahn dsg, it has been the best car I’ve ever owned. It’s at 97k and I’ve had zero major issues. These cars are amazing values and with a cobb pro tune, they have the perfect amount of power for the chassis.
Awesome. I thought my next car might be an AllTrack. Now that it's being discontinued, I think it's going to become a unicorn. Maybe I'll get a 2019 at some point in the future. Thanks for visiting.
Great videos, like your spirit and humour and totally respect your knowledge and expertise. Big fan of GTI's - I got 155K miles out of my UK mk6 and drove it hard for almost all of them ;-) Got my eye on and my heart set on a mk8 in 2020. Keep posting and best of luck.
I’m new to your channel , I like your diy mentality & while knowing your limitations. I do install some mods at home in the garage. I had a hand me down MK1 1980 GTI from my brother in 1990. It was great never any problems right up till I sold it with 130k miles( I changed the alternator,brakes, water pump, battery). I had a 2003 Wrx stage 2.5 (intake ,dp, intercooler, VF34 JDM turbo, injectors, brake lines , pads) 290 whp. The best thing about my mods was a set of swaybars (stock suspension). I live in NE, and it tightens the whole car without making it harsh. I did the same thing with an 2007 sti (333 whp) Worst thing I did was a set of stainless headers(stock resonator & exhaust), made a lot of drone at 70-plus) . I could not get rid of it even with whole body dynamat. Since then I have an 09 E63 with ecu tune & headers. Power, luxury, subtlety. But in New England I realistically only use it only during spring-fall. If they were available I would definitely install swaybars as a 1st suspension upgrade. It introduces minimal harshness while giving you a whole new sporty character. My daily driver is a 2017 Honda V6 touring coupe while I do like it, I’m debating getting a mk7 golf R or wait for a Mk8 golf R. Any thoughts if the current mk7 R has most of the bugs worked out? I’ve heard a lot of maintenance issues (a lot of timing chain tensioner) with VW in general. Ps- we don’t use that blue stuff for de-icing(never heard of it), just plain old corrosive, car dissolving rock salt.
In my opinion, the later years of a body style are often the best-sorted choice. If I was after a Golf R, I'd probably go for a 2018-2019. And thanks for mentioning the blue stuff. It's possible that the area(s) that used it discontinued very quickly, either because of excessive damage, too expensive, or bad for the environment. No telling. Glad it's gone, if it is. Thanks for visiting.
Recently found your sight. And enjoy all the insights. I'm on my 3RD GTI and find them all to be great. Looking forward to your next. Keep mine OEM and enjoy the way Volkswagen builds them.
I did a lot of mods to my Mk3, the majority of them favored function over form. I've done the same, but less, with my GTI. See the video description for a list of mods. I think I put them there. My website has them, too. Thanks for visiting.
my mazda 3 is 12 years old with 122K and all the plastic and electronics are fine. i had it for 4 years and its ok. i replaced the clutch, front struts, control arm, a few other things. the whole time i had it it never felt great. it felt like there was a MAF sensor issue that could not be fixed. when i disconnected the battery and cleared it it would drive really nice for a couple weeks. the seats, plastic, all that are mint. i love the look of the 2008 and enjoyed it but it was pretty slow. i can't wait to get back into the VW world. when i was a kid they were the car to get. especially the Scirocco.
I'm getting a used one this year, can't wait. I had a Golf a long time ago and loved it. I have a Mazda 3 now and its so damn slow i don't even bother trying to speed it up. I also will do the APR stage 1 and lowering springs.
I'm looking to buy a used MK7 GTI and these videos have been very helpful in making me feel even better about potential reliability issues. I already plan on getting a downpipe, a Stratified tune on a Cobb AP, and cash ready for a new clutch.
Thanks for the video. That spots at 11:40 are not from the oil pan leak. It's a kind of anti-rust sealant or mastic that's get melted in the Summer. My GTI has the same greasy spots that appeared when the temperature outside reached 30+ degrees celsius. My experience with GTI is less fortunate than yours: I had the Discover Pro screen replaced at about 12k km because of a crack and the steering rack replaced at 18k because of the crepitation inside it. Also, I have a strange knocking inside the engine at low rpm and my dealer has no idea how to fix it. But nevertheless, it's a very good car that gives me a lot of emotions and makes me smile every time I press the accelerator more than for a half.
Good review, thanks. My Mk 1 GTI rabbit had 175K miles and it still drove like a new car if you can believe that. It leaked a little oil out of the pan but that was the only prob.
BTW... NO LEATHER on my Mk7! It had that piano black look [from the factory] that your's has after the removal of the leather. Strange, I, like you, absorb everything VW GTI I can... LOVE GTIs. Have seen a lot of GTI's, driven a lot of GTI's, and never saw one that didn't have the piano black look/feel to the e-brake. On other words, NEVER saw one with leather. Great vids... thanks!
Thanks for the compliment! Apparently, the leather trim was short-lived. I know I've read about others having issues. I've been content with my bare handle.
Definitely agree with the OEM suspension magic. My old 2008 528i ZSP rode like a dream, nimble and sporty but also luxurious and smooth. The second I started swapped parts, it somehow lost it's magic... I went with Bilstein PSS coilovers and they creaked from day 1. The car just didn't perform as well, even at the highest setting. After corner balancing, it still wasn't as good as the OEM Sach struts and springs.
Thanks for commenting. I've published follow-up videos over the years. Check my "Milestones" playlist for details. Would you believe that I'm STILL on the original suspension at over 180,000 miles? I wonder if they'll be good to 200k? ;-) Thanks for visiting!
Nice, well done. I have a MK6 Driver's Edition with 176K Unitronic State 2 which runs better than my MK7. Will tune the MK7 shortly and as you've said these things that go wrong with the car are simply through use or self inflected. Thank you very much for sharing your experience with the GTI.
I own a stage 2 gti sport with 50k and original clutch. I fully expect I'll be upgrading it, but let's be real... The stock clutch is barely enough for stock power if you don't drive it perfectly. They definitely could have made it a little stronger. Also, I do all my own work and can get by without it if I have it in repair mode. I'm pretty sure I would not have bought one of these if I was a regular person needing a reliable car.
Agreed. I did buy my GTI for what it was. I bought it for what I knew it could be with Stage 2 or even IS38. Risk is part of this game. Thanks for visiting.
I have a 2015 GTI. Absolutely love it. Never had any major issues. One little thing, comestically im having some issues with some of the interior trim work around the dash. The silver metal-look trim is peeling up. At some point, my perfectionist self will want to replace the whole dash piece with a new one. Ever done this before? I feel like the dealer would charge an arm and leg to replace what would amount to just swapping a piece of plastic for a piece of plastic
Instead of simply painting your trailer hitch every year, use a small steel brush ion the rusted areas, then sand smooth to get the deeper steel brush scratches out, then spray some rust killer/inhibitor next time, (Krylon, etc.) Finally, apply the satin black paint (or whatever kind of paint) after the inhibitor dries. You may find you don't have to do it again for quite awhile... maybe never again! I had to do that to the hitch on my GMC Yukon only after a little over a year old. But after doing what I recommended to you I've not had to do it again. Gets dirty, but that's about it! ALL trailer hitches rust eventually... even factory installed new car/SUV hitches. I have no clue what's up with trailer hitches... but it's ridiculous they all rust at some point. Had a lot of cars/SUVs... again, they ALL do it.
Thanks for the note! My rust usually forms inside the hitch opening. It's unavoidable since the ball mount scrapes away the finish each time I slide in or out. The hitch pin holes are next. None of it is awful. Fixing it takes just a few minutes. I even have a cardboard template that I can hold up to the hitch to give it a quick spray without masking. :-)
Batteries Plus had a free lifetime battery replacement for 13 dollars. I get a free replacement every 15 months or so on fob. More often than I expected but love keyless and it is very secure also. '15 GSW SE This car has been and is awesome and still totally love it. Cheers
Thanks for the note! I have 2032's laying around because of my bicycle computers. Hmmm... Perhaps I should do my bicycle batteries through BatteriesPlus. Thanks for the tip!
That's a lot of mileage on those plugs regardless of if it sounds fine while driving. I'd be interested to see if it's misfiring at all if you could scan with OBDEleven or Vagcom and what they look like once removed. Would also be cool to borescope and see what your carbon build up situation looks like.
I misspoke about the plugs having 60k on them. They're at 45k, which is still too much, but not as bad. There are no misfires or codes. I hope to get them replaced next week. Thanks for writing.
2020 GTI does not have leather on the e-brake. Also, to stop premature wear on the crank shaft thrust bearing always keep the clutch out and in neutral when starting. Once oil is cycling through the crank shaft there is proper lubrication to the bearing. Same for stops always keep the clutch out and in neutral. It mostly was an issue on Mk6’s I think. Performance clutches can speed up the wear because there is too much clamping force from the pressure plate. Clamp force can be adjusted to achieve a balance. There are machining fixes for this issue to prevent crank walk.
@@StealthGTI Right, what I mean is depress the clutch, gear in neutral, start engine, and immediately let out the clutch. One theory is the thrust bearings don’t have sufficient lubrication until oil is flowing thus causing premature wear. Sometimes I wish I would have gotten the DSG.
We own a 2017 GTI Sport like yours , same color, but with the DSG. I'm an old guy and got tired of shifting. Also, ours has yet to turn over 20k so can look forward to many miles of fun.
Very nice! I hear you about the shifting. I was hesitant about the DSG. I've heard of problems, but they were with older DSGs. If I was shopping today, I'd probably get a DSG. It's not necessarily all due to my want for simplicity in driving, but the DSG is also stronger for pulling a trailer and WAY better for backing trailers up my inclined driveway. Time will tell what comes next. Thanks for visiting.
I get what your saying with not messing with the suspension. I have a mk7 golf tdi and its PERFECT! I'm afraid to upgrade anything. Dont want to mess with the perfectness !
I have an 09 GTI and it’s at 165,000 miles and it’s holding up really nice. The only problems I’ve had were ones that occurred due to neglect from the previous owner. My seat bolster started to tear but I’m 7’2 (yes actually) so I can’t complain. I love it
I have a 17 GTI Sport as well and this video was very informative. Thanks! I've got 2 1/2 years on mine and only 36K. Nothing major at all but did have a small alignment issue that I recently got fixed. I did have to top up my coolant once as well but besides that, everything is stock and I have no problems.
You should take the car to the dealer before the warranty is over. I had a slight coolant leak between the thermostat housing and engine block. Wound up getting the thermostat housing and water pump at 71k miles.
Thank you so much sir!!! Thank you for FINALLY speaking positive on a Volkswagen, I have been driving Volkswagen's since the 90's and they all have been great with the exception of one but they are always great cars!!
Thanks for visiting, Christian! VWs certainly have their flaws. But the VW community has been great for helping enthusiasts manage problems when they arise or to implement solutions before problems can surface. I'm considering an off-road vehicle. A 4Runner seems like a great and worthy choice. But I'm fond of the VW family and torn on my decision. "Building" an Atlas might be less expensive since there's only so much that can be done... and only so far one could go anyway. HAHA! Take Care!
Congratulations on growing your viewer base. I'm cross-shopping a gti against a focus st and your video had a lot of the information I was looking for. I like the idea of owning a gti but I've always been leery of vag build quality. It seems if you avoid the sunroof your in pretty good shape
Thanks! I think avoiding the sunroof is a good thing. I wish VW would get it right! The Mk8 Golf R looks to come standard with a sunroof. So, that car is off my list of future candidates. Thanks for visiting.
I just discovered your channel and enjoy the content. You pull a trailer! Wow, that's pretty darn cool? I have a 2015 Mk7 SE. 100% stock and I live 45 minutes from APR HQ. I just turned 70,000 miles. I keep thinking of getting a tune and just never pulled the trigger.
I'd be in big trouble if I lived that close to APR! HAHA! Check out my cargo playlist at ua-cam.com/play/PL-eEOW1YZ1aUfgb39PHbRFBoT0Z1YCONd.html. I have a few trailer-related videos in there. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for making these videos! As a fellow Mk7 owner (mine's a 2018), it's cool to see what will come with more use down the road. As for mine, I had a few issues early on (not pucks thankfully). My red stitching in the wheel came apart and they replaced my steering wheel. There was a rattle in the pax door which was some missing wiring clips inside the door card that were easily replaced. My only other complaint is some distortion in the windshield as it's not uniform and some grit in my wiper has caused a small scratch to appear along the arc of the wiper. Eventually, I'll probably have the windshield replaced, maybe with the brand with which you're having good luck. Otherwise, it's been a great car and I enjoy it every day. I installed a hitch for a bike rack but have yet to get the electrics installed to tow anything. Someday maybe... Looking forward to the next update on your car. Thanks again!
I'm seriously considering getting a Mk 7.5 GTI to replace my aging daily, and I found your three year update videos to be very informative. It looks like some others have mentioned it as well, but a video with a boroscope in the cylinders would be interesting given the mileage on the engine.
Not sure if I'll do the borescope. The mechanic who I'd have clean the valves doesn't expend the labor-hours until the ECU triggers a fault. I'd scope the intake if I was removing it for any other reason, but I'm not interested in doing it for science. ;-) Thanks for writing.
Thanks! I don't think I have any "how to" videos. They're time-consuming to make. Instead, mine are general overviews. I'm working on my oil pan gasket repair video now. The footage is done, just need to capture some voiceover and edit. Thanks for visiting.
Audis are good cars, I had a 1999.5 A4 with a 1.8T engine that racked up 467K miles without a single engine rebuild. I guess it all comes down to how you maintain the vehicle and how you drive it. I owned the car for about 15 years and I never once revved the engine past 4000 rpm. The mechanics at the dealership may have done it, but I certainly never did.
Subscribed! Love the way you go about the gti! I had a MK VII GTI (South Africa) had it for 3 years, replaced the key battery also twice, one car battery. i didn't as many miles as you (60k miles). I miss it, i have now the 7.5 golf r (20k miles) one year old in november and i've replaced the car key battery
Thanks for visiting. It's hard to say if I will try a Golf R next. I guess it depends on how long I keep my GTI and what I feel like doing with my life next.
I like that canvas trunk liner, will have to look into that. Yes, interested in hearing your experience especially because I own 2016 GTI SE (w/ IS38 Turbo, no flashing for me).
Your channel is going to get huge! I can tell when I see quality content. You, sir, are on the right track! Keep it up. Can you do an install video of your skid plate when you get it??! 😎👍
Thanks for the kind remarks. My growth has been slow, but so has my production. Time will tell if the channel gets more traction. I do plan to record footage of my skid plate installation. However, my shooting style is more of a "here's what I did" format than "here's how to do it." Take Care!
@@StealthGTI if I had a channel that's how I'd do it to. I like to do the work and then voice overlay. Keep up the good work! I'd love to get your contact info so we could chat sometime.
@@terraformingcats8175 - There is a contact page on my website at stealthgti.com/contact/. Feel free to tell me about yourself and share your (approximate) location.
To your question about longevity - this of course doesn't offer anything beyond the mileage, but I've long used Copart searches and filtering by odometer reading just to see what mileage cars I'm interested in are getting. I have a Golf Sportwagen and I've so far seen 180k miles on a totaled 2017 on Copart.
I think this is fantastic information for someone like myself with the exact same car I'm at 34K and 3 years old stock, 3 door DSG and love the car however im just waiting to have the side repaired as i had an argument with a Range Rover on the Highway tsk tsk.. anyway i appreciate the input and yeah i wish you many more miles of reliable motoring!
I've got a 2017 golf Sportswagen, tsi, I have only 28,000 miles. My problem is with the dealer. I bought the car with the maintenance agreement. I would bring the car in every year for an oil and filter change. I had the wheels rotated and a 4 wheel alignment. On the third year, two weeks after I had the car serviced. I checked the nitrogen pressure in the tires, with a gauge, since my other cars don't have TPMS. I was surprised when all 4 wheels had exactly 20 psi. The car calls for 33 psi. I brought the car back to the dealer to bring the pressure up to spec. They wanted $60.00 to do that. On all of my inspection reports, the dealer never charged me for adding any additional nitrogen. So, in three year, they never added any nitrogen, even though the inspection report said they did. I told the service advisor that my TPMS light on the dash never triggered. He told me that can happen. That didn't make sense to me. After reading the owners manual. In bold letters it said, TPMS. But if you read the small print. This car has, "Indirect Tire Pressure Management System". Not to be confused with, "Direct Tire Pressure Management System". The system uses the anti-lock sensors to monitor all 4 wheel speeds. When you get a puncture, the tire diameter will shrink, and the tire will rotate slower than the other wheels. At around 25 percent under inflation, your TPMS light will trigger. However, what is not in the owners manual. And you can verify this on, "Google". If all 4 tires are equally under inflated the TPMS light will never trigger. This is because all 4 tires are rotating at the same speed. Since I didn't know how long I was driving on under inflated tires, I replaced all 4 tires. When I complained to the dealer, they told me that I should have checked the tire pressure myself. I told them I would have, if they wouldn't have mislead me by saying they checked the air pressure in my tires. This is a problem with the dealer and Volkswagen. They call their system, "TPMS', when it should be called, "Indirect Tire Pressure System". And they should mention it in the owners manual, that if all 4 tires are exactly under inflated by the same amount the TPMS will never trigger. I have learned my lesson, I will always periodically check my tire pressure the old fashioned way, with a gauge. It's just to dangerous not to.
Agreed! Unfortunately, we have become too reliant on technology; it makes us lazy. I check my tire pressure about once a month or after temperature changes. Otherwise, the TPMS system is only to inform me of a potential tire puncture. Funny story - I watched a video where the owner was complaining that his Class B RV lacked a lane keep feature. He said he didn't like having to "babysit the RV." Is that what "driving" has become? HAHA! Not your beef, of course. But the technological parallel made me think of it. Thanks for visiting.
Absolutely 💯 love 💘 you and that gti I have had a few vw gtis there is a few flaws but there are flaws in every car manufacturer there are a great car and this is a excellent video please keep them going 🙂 Tom uk 🇬🇧
Thanks for the kind words. I wish I spoke as well as you think I do. ;-) I often record a few takes and then do a bit of editing to make it fit together. I speak well in front of crowds. But, somehow, having a camera in front of me turns me into a buffoon! HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
People freaking out about the clutch is hilarious. The stock clutch is fine for a stock car. Once you tune your GTI, it's a matter of when and not if the clutch will start slipping. I have a 2016 2dr 6mt GTI (only 25k miles on it btw) and as soon as I tuned my car, also stage 2 (Cobb Accessport with EQT stage 2 tune), I also went ahead and got an aftermarket performance clutch (and aftermarket rear main seal). The stock clutch can't handle the 100+ extra ft lbs of torque that most stage 2 tunes come with. If you are going to tune your 6mt GTI, you better be prepared to upgrade your clutch.
Not sure if that was a general comment or directed at me. I knew my clutch could go farther. However, I opted to replace it sooner because I knew I was taking a road trip with the trailer soon. A clutch job is easier and cheaper when done near home and according to my terms. Thanks for visiting.
Watching GTI videos makes me want to trade my current car for a 2019 SE. Local dealer is slashing $7K off msrp and another is doing $5k off msrp & lifetime power train warranty.
I got mine for $5500 below MSRP and was pretty happy with the purchase. The "lifetime powertrain warranty" is cool as long as you don't tune the car. Thanks for visiting.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. I had a 13 passat tdi. 149k before hit by a drunk driver at around 50mph and totaled while at a red light. Car was great and saved my life. I will be buying another vw. Now everything was stock/ didnt break yet except for the heater core being plugged every year.i did replace the heater core my self for $99 for the vw part. It wasn't hard, just followed a youtube video. I'm assuming the egr was cooking the coolant🤷♂️ and the adblue heater breaking at around 70k and that was covered under the emissions warranty. Other that that just regular maintenance and those dsg flushes every 40k miles.
Good explanatory video. The bottom line is if you abuse a car you will have things happen . That being said , before I bought my 3 serie bmw, I teste drove some Jettas , and it felt like driving a really cheap car compare to the bmws
Not that a GTI is as high quality as a BMW, but I do believe that they have higher quality interiors than Jettas. I think VW wants GTI owners to keep coming back by keeping GTIs nice inside. My Jettas, while adequate, have never felt as plush as my GTI. Thanks for visiting.
I ran into a coolant leak issue within the first year, kept adding to it, and eventually my dealership said there was a known issue and fixed it under warranty, not sure if it applies to yours, but it could be worth asking! Mine is a 2016 S model, for what it's worth.
I live in New England have had the rims replaced 2 times . I got rim protection for that reason . These roads kill these rims with low profile tires on
Keep up the good work. I’m considering when I should trade my 2013 golf wagon TDI in, and if the mk7 GTI would be reliable enough for me to consider. Thank you for the videos!
I have a mk4 jetta 1.8T with 222,000 miles and it’s still running strong. Mostly maintenance type repairs in the past 30,000 miles. The only actual failures were a crank sensor and a radiator fan. Not bad for a supposedly “unreliable” car 😂😂
I had a leak that required the replacement of the pump, thermostat, and housing at around 115,000 miles. I'm at 140,000 miles now and all is well. Thanks for visiting!
2008 MKV owner coming up on 250K. Honestly have done very little to the car. Original clutch. 3 sets of back brakes and 2 sets of fronts. One set of fans. 3 fuel filters, air filters, and oil. I have never flushed the brake fluid and getting ready to do that, as it is now green. The interiors on these cars don't hold up. Headliner, fabrics, seats, plastics are all beat. Rusting from the Northeast. Overall these are great cars but still reluctant to step into a direct injected turbo engine.
I understand the hesitation to progress. I drove my Mk3 Jetta TDI exclusively for 16 years. It was a bit of a driveway queen when I got my 2014 Jetta TDI. The upgrade in amenities was nice. The Mk7 GTI surpasses my Mk6 Jetta in every way except for fuel economy. But I don't care! This car is great! Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for the compliment! The drain spigot is called a Fumoto Valve. It allows you to take samples or perform drains without tools. It will NOT fit the plastic pan. See one at amzn.to/2slbk1r. Thanks for visiting.
I bought my 2010 GTI a year ago. On the test drive I noticed it was making a squealing noise under the hood, I brought it up to the dealer & he promised to fix it. So I went ahead with the sale. The car went back to the dealership for 2 weeks while they tried to “figure out the problem,” their diagnosis was that it was a noise in the fuel line & they weren’t going to fix it because it’s just a noise & noises don’t damage engines. I looked up “GTI noises” on UA-cam & literally the first video that popped up was a kid who said the noise (same noise as my car) was the exhaust manifold gasket. 🙄🙄🙄 That was the only problem I had with the car until recently, when my ESP, ABS, & airbag lights all came on. Then they shut off. Then they went back on. And shut off. And back on, off, you see where I’m going with this. Then the check engine light came on. I had it checked, it’s the exhaust manifold sensor (?? maybe?? I can’t remember if that was the name of it) Soooo now my boyfriend wants me to get rid of it except I love my car so much. 😩😩😩
Thanks for sharing your experience. It's tough to say what the intermittent ESP/ABS/Airbag light issue could be. As for the exhaust sensor, I suspect that may be on O2 (oxygen) sensor. Sometimes, repair costs can seem overwhelming as things age and begin to fail. Rather than ask if a repair costs more than the value of the car, I ask if the repair is less expensive than buying a new car. I'm not sure where that is for you. But only you can decide. Good Luck!
Very cool testimony. However, you have to admit that the cars were lighter and less powerful (clutch wear) back then. I'm sure it was still a pleasure to drive. Thanks for visiting.
Have you taken a look at the carbon build up behind your valves? A lot of MK7 golf owners recommend that they be cleaned every 60,000k miles. Apparently a lot of turbo direct injection engines suffer from this.
I have not looked. My mechanic, who's a longtime VW enthusiast, won't even accept the job of inspecting or cleaning the valves unless there is an ECU code set. I plan to drive it until I see symptoms. Thanks for visiting.
We have the same car I have APR stage 2 . 75k Mike’s and just started to get a funny noise out of the left strut ball joint who knows just keep driving
It's not the miles, it's the stoplights. Freeway driving rules. I think you are right about the time vs. mileage tradeoff. Cold starts, short drives kill cars. Stage 2? Imagine the loads on the car if that 93k was mostly surface streets, instead of cruising at .... 90mph lol. I mean what's the boost on the freeway anyway?
Agreed! I don't do "short drives" in my GTI. There's a grocery store just 1/2-mile from my house. But I still drive to another store that's seven miles away just so I can get the car up to full operating temperature. And sometimes I take a longer route just to keep the car exercised, especially these days when I don't have a daily commute. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI You have the best of worlds. The worst of worlds. What looks to be a 1500 mile commute. Or regular trip at least. The best I can do is Los Angeles to San Francisco. And to avoid road hypnosis, at my age, I have to limit myself to 250 mile chunks and stop and stretch (or pee or eat) every hour. SO I drive 250 miles up I-5 towards and check into a motel short of SF (leaving me "short" 125 miles); the next day I drive 125 miles to SF for just a one day visit, returning the same day to my I-5 motel for another 125 miles totalling 250 miles; and the third day I drive back to LA on the final 250 mile leg. I dream of making it to Portland one day. Ha. Your GTi is really overkill! You must love those roundabouts in the 'burbs though. LOL
Very interesting video. I have been wondering about reliability as the miles climb, so it is good thear about your experiences. Sometimes reading too much about the potential failure points (~plastic intake manifold, etc) can be scary. I also need the brake flush (overdue). Are doing it yourself ?
It's nice to see an adult's opinion of this car. I also came into Mk7 from an old Mk3, and I only wonder one thing about my Mk7, maybe you know. Do the doors still have a solid closing feel after nearly a hundred thousand miles?
I haven't even inspected for build-up. I'm hoping that my occasional heavy trailer load is enough to burn off carbon from time to time. Thanks for visiting.
I am thinking to buy a used one GTI or R 2016 or newer. except the liquid levels what should I be paying attention to? PS: keep it up, the videos are great.
Thanks for the compliment. I cannot think of anything specific. You could consider a CPO car from a dealer. It would cost more, but have the backing of a dealer who should go over it well before selling. Good Luck! -Scott
@@Gandalf721 thanks. I want the earlier the better, but once I reach 2017 I am start thinking about the 2018 model with the factory warranty + digital cockpit
Enjoyed both of your videos. I'm curious about two things: First, what is your regimen for exterior body care, i.e. car washes, waxing, etc. I have a 2019 GTI in white silver and do weekly washes and yearly details (both done by local shops). So far I've decided to forego the clear bra and any sort of sealant/ceramic coating. Second, how would you describe the performance improvement in going to Stage 2/DP. I'm at Stage 1 and it was the best bang-for-the buck I've ever done. I'm reluctant on Stage 2 in terms of cost vs. benefit and also the warranty risk of adding a very obvious DP. Thanks.
Thanks for the kind words. I used to wax about once a year and wash 2-3 times per month. Now that I have the ceramic coating (well worth it), I wash about once a month and don't wax at all. I'll wash more frequently if I have a special reason or if the car gets unusually dirty. This will be my first winter with the ceramic coating. So, I'm sure I will make extra efforts to spray under the car if it's exposed to salt. As for Stage 2 vs Stage 1, it's gives a tiny bit of extra kick. The bang for buck is smaller. I did it to pave the way for an IS38... which will probably never happen. HAHA! If I were to get a Golf R, I'd likely stop at Stage 1 since it already has an IS38. I hope that helps. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI Thanks for answering. I think I'll hold off on Stage 2 for now. I do agree that the IS38 upgrade looks like a big kick. I'm also going to look into the ceramic coatings. I checked about two years ago and they were much too expensive at that time.
Hey man. Thinking of getting a 2020 GTI S in Manual. Based on your experience, would you say a VW Factory Extended Warranty would make sense, if I can cut a decent deal at the dealer? Even if the 6 yr warranty was still in effect, I'd be thinking of getting some longer protection.
Extended warranties are most often a money-maker for dealerships. And VW is quick to find a way out of warranty work if they can; rather, that seems to be the case with modified cars. If you plan to keep the car stock and have the dealer do the majority of maintenance on your car, then an extended warranty may give you peace of mind... if you can swallow its cost. But I'd never consider an extended warranty on a car I expect to mod. Thanks for visiting.
Agreed. However, I'm sure plenty of VW owners troll Honda videos. The truth is a lot of people love to hide behind their keyboard where they feel safe dishing out hate. I guess it makes them feel powerful. Thanks for visiting.
@@allosaurusfragilis7782 - I, too, was annoyed by that. BUT - a lot of manufacturers did the same thing, and some even killed their customers with their scandals. Still, none paid as high a price for it as VW. Funny thing, it didn't take long for VW to rise back to being the world's largest automaker. Thanks for visiting.
It was a "fast-n-furious" trip... lots of driving and not much sightseeing. We got to our hotel, spent the night, had breakfast at Sun and Surf Restaurant, and got back on the road. We'd like to go back someday, but there's no telling when that can happen these days. Thanks for visiting.
Check out Part 1 of this video if you haven't seen it yet: ua-cam.com/video/nKx8cZS2kvI/v-deo.html
Unfortunately the clutch in these are like chocolate fire guards! I have a Seat Leon Cupra with the same VAG running gear and EA888 engine with 300HP and mine is bone stock and I have 24k miles and the clutch is about to fail. No towing no track days no heavy launches... loads of failures in Europe.... due to the silly clutch delay valve in my opinion!
@@snoopydogg1 "Chocolate fire guards?" That's awesome. I removed my clutch delay valve during the replacement. The pedal is snappy, for sure, but I'm used to it.
@@StealthGTI did you do a video on that clutch delay valve removal? That would gain you good views!
@@snoopydogg1 - I did not. I had a shop do my clutch replacement; they removed the delay valve in the process. All of that was done before I was making videos about the car.
StealthGTI are us miles different to U.K. mile? You Americans seem to put a lot more miles on your cars than we do. I tent to do about 20k Miles a year and that’s fairly high in the U.K.
I really like that you get the absolute the most out of your car. I leased a truck. If I saw your videos sooner, I may have went with the GTI. Your towing videos were an eye opener. Your enthusiasm for this car keeps me a subscriber.
I appreciate that feedback! So many think I'm out of my mind for making a GTI to be my "everything car."
Just want to say I really appreciate your reviews; they are extremely thorough. I just bought a 2019 GTI, and coming from a long line of Japanese cars, I was wary of the difference in reliability, although I ultimately decided I wanted a more spirited driving experience. After seeing your reviews, I am feeling much more relieved. You are clearly driving this car to its full potential, and I look forward to having many adventures with mine too!
Nice! "A more spirited driving experience" is exactly what I wanted, too. I was a Nissan man in the 80s and 90s. They ran perfectly, but were boring. Sure, NISMO has good offerings, but they're out of my price range and their styling is too bold for my tastes. The GTI fit a sweet spot for me. Thanks for visiting.
Great video as usual. As another middle aged dude with his first GTI, I can tell you it is hands down the most fun car I have owned. So well balanced for practicality and driving enjoyment.
I agree completely. Thanks for visiting.
Congrats on going viral, well deserved. Enjoy the holidays!
Thanks! I never expected it. Thanks for visiting.
For 93k this car is a freaking GEM. Towing and stage 2? When you factor in that the average driver puts 93k miles on a car in about 8 yrs, this car is way beyond reliable. The"average" driver isn't towing at all and running APR stage 2 either. I just bought a 2016 GTI manual (keeping it stock!) and this video gave me confidence. Well done.
Thanks! The car has over 130k now and an IS38 turbo upgrade. I'll share more about that in July. I took the cargo trailer on a 200-mile drive today and still averaged 27 mpg. :-) Thanks for visiting!
I really appreciate the follow-up video! I'm glad I found your channel since I also use my GTI as a utility vehicle. The Home Depot employee couldn't believe I fit over 500 square feet of flooring in the back when I remodeled my living room, lol. Keep up the good work!
Thanks! I think the guys at the stone quarry thought I was out of my mind. HAHA!
I have a 2006 GTI MK5, 105000+ miles, original suspension, APR Stage 1, with a Cold Air Intake that replaced the hot air box. I’ve had to replace the clutch and use a single mass flywheel instead of the dual, yup it chatters but less complex, and lighter but more durability. Headlights were replaced, not because they gave out, but mounting tabs broke...a MK5 flaw. Overall, the car is a tank, and is agile and fast, mine is now 14 years old! I have less tech in mine and it has a sunroof that has never leaked, thank God! Replaced one windshield. Like you, I love the GTIs, the original, and for me, the best. Mine is a 2 door that was built in Germany and came with a, my dealer said, unique performance package. It still gets looks and compliments, but, most of all, puts a smile on my face just about every time I drive it!
Very nice! Thanks for sharing.
This kind of review is rarely done and I fully appreciate it and subscribed. The GTI is In my top 5 for consideration when I buy early next year. Will continue watching and I’m very interested in your continued ownership experience. Thanks for the great detail. It eases my mind somewhat about GTI reliability.
Thanks for visiting.
I am glad to see this video. It explained a lot questions I had from part 1, but assumed a lot the issues were "self-inflicted" or something along those lines. I have a 2018 S and just love it! I get people asking why I bought a VW and after ride in mine they never ask again. With the 6 year/72,000 warranty it was a no-brainer decission to buy mine.
HAHA! I've surprised a few people who've ridden in my GTI. We were just going to lunch and I unexpectedly punched it to catch a traffic light. "Whoa!" is the usual response. :-) Thanks for visiting.
Jesus ... thank you for clearing things for me this man who called Scotty Kilmer makes you feel that VW’s cars are gonna explode at any time!
That's not shocking. I don't watch most of his videos. So, I cannot comment.
Let me explain this to you:
Scotty is right about everything he says, there's no denying it. However, Scotty's perception of what a car is in a person's life and your perception are 2 very different things. Scotty is a cheap guy, he said it himself, so he gravitates towards cars that can last a very long time. Germans build cars to last just long enough for 1 person to drive them and then get rid of them. The Japanese, for the most part, have a different philosophy when it comes to building a vehicle. Point of the story is, even though Volkswagens are built much cheaper than an equivalent Toyota, they last long enough to serve the average driver. This explains why Scotty receives so much backlash from German car owners.
Lots of people give VW's a bad rap for reliabilty unfortunately. I think it all comes down to how well you maintain your vehicle. I'll take slightly less longevity / cheapness of maintenance in exchange for a much more rewarding driving experience!
Will Mercier can’t agree more
Calculator SK is ABSOLUTELY NOT correct about everything he says. Thanks You for letting me explain that to you.
The people freaking about the clutch all drive DSG cars and don't understand that the stock GTI clutch is rather weak and can't handle much. Great video. My car is currently parked for the winter but I'm going to check that triple square bolt on the door check because I have a very bad creak when I close my door that the dealer can't seem to figure out. It also uses coolant as well, dealer pressure tested it and found no leaks, so it's just one of those things, keep a jug in the garage and top it up when it goes low.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Take Care.
I drive a 2017 Golf Alltrack, 41 000km now. I had 2 pano roof leaks so far, nothing else. I love it and will keep it for a very long time.
Now that the Alltrack is being discontinued, your car will be a unicorn for sure! Thanks for visiting.
Subbed to you because of these vids. Genuinely good bloke. I'm a Brit who lives in the US.
Back in the UK I owned a Mk4 TDi for about 4-5 years. Got it up to 190k with no issues what-so-ever. I've been driving American cars for the last 4 years since I moved here and I'm fed up of them. I'm highly considering getting a Mk7 GTI as my daily and these videos are sealed the deal.
Thanks for the high praise! Have fun with the new Mk7.
What many people such as the ones who have written those comments, don’t know or maybe don’t want to remember is that cars are ‘meant to be used’. That is why there will be contents which will run out eventually. This is totally normal. The so-called problems which are called problems by those commenters on the first valuable video about the GTI of yours, are not problems. They are just effects of 93k miles and usage of the car. But somehow people keep overreacting absurdly and calling those things as ‘problems’. So I totally agree with you.
I own a Golf 7.5 TSI which handles very well and also has worked in every condition the earth and nature has thrown at it. Unlike any other European car manufacturer, VW builds tough and reliable cars.
I wish you to enjoy your GTI as long as you can. I totally respect and adore your works on that car and on UA-cam. Subscribed. Greetings from Turkey. 👍
Thank you for posting that... someone who gets it. Take Care, -Scott
I have my golf 7.5 gti for 3 years with 32k miles. Mine is a dsg and I love it every moment with it. I wished I did the ppf when I bought it. I observed the same thing with the coolant and remote battery. I have leather seats so dont have the issue with the seats. I truly enjoy your channel. I installed coilovers which improved the handling 10x but it's making cracking sounds. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Thanks for sharing! I've made a lot of content since this video. I'm at 130,000 miles now. I appreciate your visit!
It's nice to find a VW owner who understands and appreciates the brand and their product. A real life every day VW owner who seems knowledgeable and honest. Thanks for your insight and info. I just leased a 2019 VW Jetta, your videos may come in very handy some day...Subscribed.
Thanks for the kind words. We were in the market for a Jetta last year. Neither of us care for the Mk7 Jetta styling (but it's grown on me), so we went for one of the last 2018 Jettas (her car). Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI thank you for your reply and fine work sir...sadly the 2019 jetta I will have to admit looks a little much like everything else at the moment, with the "coupe like" styling/fastback profile...i've even heard people say it looks like a ford fusion or hyundai elantra...ugh....but it still drives nicer than the others and is still more bang for your buck in its class and doesn't come at any level with a CVT transmission which i hear nothing but problems about...i miss the more traditional sedan profile of the "now previous" 2019 Passat and the 2018 and prior Jettas, VWs have always been striking to me, i like that they don't just flow with and follow every whim and trend in appearance or engineering (unless obvious or warranted), I hope I haven't gotten in to the brand after the getting was good, but I do love my Platinum Grey Metallic* R-Line (and your GTI sir, very nice ride). vee dubs!
I agree completely, I have a 2016 with 102,000 miles and the only thing I've done is changed the transmission mount and replaced the suspension with the same factory setup, afraid to screw up such a good thing. Keep posting videos on your car, really enjoying the shared love of the GTI
Thanks for your comments. I appreciate the compliments, too. Take Care, -Scott
I'm a vw tech and I can say gti's hold up well ur seems to be doing good. all new vw's go through coolant al little. no car is perfect people just like to moan and cry about cars they dont own or drive obviously mileage will vary but considering u do use this car alot and it's good u must be doing somthing right as an owner
Thanks for visiting.
I’ve got a 2013 mk6 gti autobahn dsg, it has been the best car I’ve ever owned. It’s at 97k and I’ve had zero major issues. These cars are amazing values and with a cobb pro tune, they have the perfect amount of power for the chassis.
Thanks for sharing that. I hope to drive mine for 10 years. We'll see if the sophisticated systems last that long.
I just picked up a golf alltrack 6 speed manual love it!!
Awesome. I thought my next car might be an AllTrack. Now that it's being discontinued, I think it's going to become a unicorn. Maybe I'll get a 2019 at some point in the future. Thanks for visiting.
@Hugo Shiglitz - That, it would! Especially after an ARP reflash. HAHA!
Love my 6 speed sportwagen! I got the 4 motion :)
I'm in absolute agreement with you. 64 years old and love my GTI. Not even a bulb in 50000 miles. Fun to drive, 33mpg and total reliability.
Excellent! Thanks for stopping by!
You must understand, that every objective user's opinions about their car (s) is a highly valuable opinion for the new buyers.
I agree. Thanks for visiting.
Great videos, like your spirit and humour and totally respect your knowledge and expertise. Big fan of GTI's - I got 155K miles out of my UK mk6 and drove it hard for almost all of them ;-) Got my eye on and my heart set on a mk8 in 2020. Keep posting and best of luck.
Thanks for the kind remarks. Take Care!
I’m new to your channel , I like your diy mentality & while knowing your limitations. I do install some mods at home in the garage.
I had a hand me down MK1 1980 GTI from my brother in 1990. It was great never any problems right up till I sold it with 130k miles( I changed the alternator,brakes, water pump, battery). I had a 2003 Wrx stage 2.5 (intake ,dp, intercooler, VF34 JDM turbo, injectors, brake lines , pads) 290 whp. The best thing about my mods was a set of swaybars (stock suspension). I live in NE, and it tightens the whole car without making it harsh. I did the same thing with an 2007 sti (333 whp) Worst thing I did was a set of stainless headers(stock resonator & exhaust), made a lot of drone at 70-plus) . I could not get rid of it even with whole body dynamat.
Since then I have an 09 E63 with ecu tune & headers. Power, luxury, subtlety. But in New England I realistically only use it only during spring-fall. If they were available I would definitely install swaybars as a 1st suspension upgrade. It introduces minimal harshness while giving you a whole new sporty character.
My daily driver is a 2017 Honda V6 touring coupe while I do like it, I’m debating getting a mk7 golf R or wait for a Mk8 golf R.
Any thoughts if the current mk7 R has most of the bugs worked out? I’ve heard a lot of maintenance issues (a lot of timing chain tensioner) with VW in general.
Ps- we don’t use that blue stuff for de-icing(never heard of it), just plain old corrosive, car dissolving rock salt.
In my opinion, the later years of a body style are often the best-sorted choice. If I was after a Golf R, I'd probably go for a 2018-2019. And thanks for mentioning the blue stuff. It's possible that the area(s) that used it discontinued very quickly, either because of excessive damage, too expensive, or bad for the environment. No telling. Glad it's gone, if it is. Thanks for visiting.
Love your channel man! I just passed 56k on my Mk7 GTI Sport 6 speed. The car drives amazing!
Thanks! I enjoy driving mine, too. My wife hates it, though. But that's okay. HAHA!
Recently found your sight. And enjoy all the insights. I'm on my 3RD GTI and find them all to be great.
Looking forward to your next. Keep mine OEM and enjoy the way Volkswagen builds them.
I did a lot of mods to my Mk3, the majority of them favored function over form. I've done the same, but less, with my GTI. See the video description for a list of mods. I think I put them there. My website has them, too. Thanks for visiting.
my mazda 3 is 12 years old with 122K and all the plastic and electronics are fine. i had it for 4 years and its ok. i replaced the clutch, front struts, control arm, a few other things. the whole time i had it it never felt great. it felt like there was a MAF sensor issue that could not be fixed. when i disconnected the battery and cleared it it would drive really nice for a couple weeks.
the seats, plastic, all that are mint. i love the look of the 2008 and enjoyed it but it was pretty slow. i can't wait to get back into the VW world. when i was a kid they were the car to get. especially the Scirocco.
The fit and finish in the Mk7 is really good. I don't feel like I'm in an affordable car. HAHA!
I'm getting a used one this year, can't wait. I had a Golf a long time ago and loved it. I have a Mazda 3 now and its so damn slow i don't even bother trying to speed it up. I also will do the APR stage 1 and lowering springs.
Very nice! Enjoy it!
I'm looking to buy a used MK7 GTI and these videos have been very helpful in making me feel even better about potential reliability issues. I already plan on getting a downpipe, a Stratified tune on a Cobb AP, and cash ready for a new clutch.
Looks like a good plan. Good luck!
Thanks for the video. That spots at 11:40 are not from the oil pan leak. It's a kind of anti-rust sealant or mastic that's get melted in the Summer. My GTI has the same greasy spots that appeared when the temperature outside reached 30+ degrees celsius.
My experience with GTI is less fortunate than yours: I had the Discover Pro screen replaced at about 12k km because of a crack and the steering rack replaced at 18k because of the crepitation inside it.
Also, I have a strange knocking inside the engine at low rpm and my dealer has no idea how to fix it.
But nevertheless, it's a very good car that gives me a lot of emotions and makes me smile every time I press the accelerator more than for a half.
Thanks for sharing the info about the fender well. Good luck with your car.
Thanks for the video. After watching it, I’ve bought a 2019 GTI today!!!
Good choice! I hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Good review, thanks. My Mk 1 GTI rabbit had 175K miles and it still drove like a new car if you can believe that. It leaked a little oil out of the pan but that was the only prob.
Nice testimony! Thanks for visiting.
BTW... NO LEATHER on my Mk7! It had that piano black look [from the factory] that your's has after the removal of the leather.
Strange, I, like you, absorb everything VW GTI I can... LOVE GTIs. Have seen a lot of GTI's, driven a lot of GTI's, and never saw one that didn't have the piano black look/feel to the e-brake. On other words, NEVER saw one with leather.
Great vids... thanks!
Thanks for the compliment! Apparently, the leather trim was short-lived. I know I've read about others having issues. I've been content with my bare handle.
Definitely agree with the OEM suspension magic.
My old 2008 528i ZSP rode like a dream, nimble and sporty but also luxurious and smooth.
The second I started swapped parts, it somehow lost it's magic...
I went with Bilstein PSS coilovers and they creaked from day 1.
The car just didn't perform as well, even at the highest setting.
After corner balancing, it still wasn't as good as the OEM Sach struts and springs.
Thanks for commenting. I've published follow-up videos over the years. Check my "Milestones" playlist for details. Would you believe that I'm STILL on the original suspension at over 180,000 miles? I wonder if they'll be good to 200k? ;-) Thanks for visiting!
@@StealthGTI 180K! That's awesome!
Nice, well done. I have a MK6 Driver's Edition with 176K Unitronic State 2 which runs better than my MK7. Will tune the MK7 shortly and as you've said these things that go wrong with the car are simply through use or self inflected. Thank you very much for sharing your experience with the GTI.
Thanks for visiting!
I own a stage 2 gti sport with 50k and original clutch. I fully expect I'll be upgrading it, but let's be real... The stock clutch is barely enough for stock power if you don't drive it perfectly. They definitely could have made it a little stronger.
Also, I do all my own work and can get by without it if I have it in repair mode.
I'm pretty sure I would not have bought one of these if I was a regular person needing a reliable car.
Agreed. I did buy my GTI for what it was. I bought it for what I knew it could be with Stage 2 or even IS38. Risk is part of this game. Thanks for visiting.
I have a 2015 GTI. Absolutely love it. Never had any major issues. One little thing, comestically im having some issues with some of the interior trim work around the dash. The silver metal-look trim is peeling up. At some point, my perfectionist self will want to replace the whole dash piece with a new one. Ever done this before? I feel like the dealer would charge an arm and leg to replace what would amount to just swapping a piece of plastic for a piece of plastic
I've never done this. But I would buy a trim removal kit like this one (amzn.to/33qmDm5) and tackle it myself. Good Luck!
same here mine cracked and i've cut my fingers couple times already
Instead of simply painting your trailer hitch every year, use a small steel brush ion the rusted areas, then sand smooth to get the deeper steel brush scratches out, then spray some rust killer/inhibitor next time, (Krylon, etc.) Finally, apply the satin black paint (or whatever kind of paint) after the inhibitor dries. You may find you don't have to do it again for quite awhile... maybe never again!
I had to do that to the hitch on my GMC Yukon only after a little over a year old. But after doing what I recommended to you I've not had to do it again. Gets dirty, but that's about it!
ALL trailer hitches rust eventually... even factory installed new car/SUV hitches. I have no clue what's up with trailer hitches... but it's ridiculous they all rust at some point. Had a lot of cars/SUVs... again, they ALL do it.
Thanks for the note! My rust usually forms inside the hitch opening. It's unavoidable since the ball mount scrapes away the finish each time I slide in or out. The hitch pin holes are next. None of it is awful. Fixing it takes just a few minutes. I even have a cardboard template that I can hold up to the hitch to give it a quick spray without masking. :-)
Batteries Plus had a free lifetime battery replacement for 13 dollars.
I get a free replacement every 15 months or so on fob. More often than I expected but love keyless and it is very secure also.
'15 GSW SE
This car has been and is awesome and still totally love it.
Cheers
Thanks for the note! I have 2032's laying around because of my bicycle computers. Hmmm... Perhaps I should do my bicycle batteries through BatteriesPlus. Thanks for the tip!
My friend who also has a GTI says it's great, reliable, and fun.
Agreed! Thanks for visiting.
That's a lot of mileage on those plugs regardless of if it sounds fine while driving. I'd be interested to see if it's misfiring at all if you could scan with OBDEleven or Vagcom and what they look like once removed. Would also be cool to borescope and see what your carbon build up situation looks like.
I misspoke about the plugs having 60k on them. They're at 45k, which is still too much, but not as bad. There are no misfires or codes. I hope to get them replaced next week. Thanks for writing.
2020 GTI does not have leather on the e-brake. Also, to stop premature wear on the crank shaft thrust bearing always keep the clutch out and in neutral when starting. Once oil is cycling through the crank shaft there is proper lubrication to the bearing. Same for stops always keep the clutch out and in neutral. It mostly was an issue on Mk6’s I think. Performance clutches can speed up the wear because there is too much clamping force from the pressure plate. Clamp force can be adjusted to achieve a balance. There are machining fixes for this issue to prevent crank walk.
Thanks for the note! My car will not start unless the clutch pedal is depressed. Otherwise, I minimize my time on the clutch pedal. Take Care!
@@StealthGTI Right, what I mean is depress the clutch, gear in neutral, start engine, and immediately let out the clutch.
One theory is the thrust bearings don’t have sufficient lubrication until oil is flowing thus causing premature wear.
Sometimes I wish I would have gotten the DSG.
We own a 2017 GTI Sport like yours , same color, but with the DSG. I'm an old guy and got tired of shifting. Also, ours has yet to turn over 20k so can look forward to many miles of fun.
Very nice! I hear you about the shifting. I was hesitant about the DSG. I've heard of problems, but they were with older DSGs. If I was shopping today, I'd probably get a DSG. It's not necessarily all due to my want for simplicity in driving, but the DSG is also stronger for pulling a trailer and WAY better for backing trailers up my inclined driveway. Time will tell what comes next. Thanks for visiting.
I get what your saying with not messing with the suspension. I have a mk7 golf tdi and its PERFECT! I'm afraid to upgrade anything. Dont want to mess with the perfectness !
HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
Diesel can't be perfect 😂
I have an 09 GTI and it’s at 165,000 miles and it’s holding up really nice. The only problems I’ve had were ones that occurred due to neglect from the previous owner. My seat bolster started to tear but I’m 7’2 (yes actually) so I can’t complain. I love it
WOW! I don't imagine there's any legroom behind your seat. ;-) Thanks for visiting.
StealthGTI even with my seat being all the way back my 5’1 girlfriend can sit behind me no problem and it’s a 2 door. I’m impressed with it haha
I have a 17 GTI Sport as well and this video was very informative. Thanks! I've got 2 1/2 years on mine and only 36K. Nothing major at all but did have a small alignment issue that I recently got fixed. I did have to top up my coolant once as well but besides that, everything is stock and I have no problems.
Thanks for sharing!
You should take the car to the dealer before the warranty is over. I had a slight coolant leak between the thermostat housing and engine block. Wound up getting the thermostat housing and water pump at 71k miles.
Thank you so much sir!!! Thank you for FINALLY speaking positive on a Volkswagen, I have been driving Volkswagen's since the 90's and they all have been great with the exception of one but they are always great cars!!
Thanks for visiting, Christian! VWs certainly have their flaws. But the VW community has been great for helping enthusiasts manage problems when they arise or to implement solutions before problems can surface. I'm considering an off-road vehicle. A 4Runner seems like a great and worthy choice. But I'm fond of the VW family and torn on my decision. "Building" an Atlas might be less expensive since there's only so much that can be done... and only so far one could go anyway. HAHA! Take Care!
Congratulations on growing your viewer base. I'm cross-shopping a gti against a focus st and your video had a lot of the information I was looking for. I like the idea of owning a gti but I've always been leery of vag build quality. It seems if you avoid the sunroof your in pretty good shape
Thanks! I think avoiding the sunroof is a good thing. I wish VW would get it right! The Mk8 Golf R looks to come standard with a sunroof. So, that car is off my list of future candidates. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI said f' it and just bought a 16 autobahn. Will be tuning in for more content
I just discovered your channel and enjoy the content. You pull a trailer! Wow, that's pretty darn cool? I have a 2015 Mk7 SE. 100% stock and I live 45 minutes from APR HQ. I just turned 70,000 miles. I keep thinking of getting a tune and just never pulled the trigger.
I'd be in big trouble if I lived that close to APR! HAHA! Check out my cargo playlist at ua-cam.com/play/PL-eEOW1YZ1aUfgb39PHbRFBoT0Z1YCONd.html. I have a few trailer-related videos in there. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for making these videos! As a fellow Mk7 owner (mine's a 2018), it's cool to see what will come with more use down the road.
As for mine, I had a few issues early on (not pucks thankfully). My red stitching in the wheel came apart and they replaced my steering wheel. There was a rattle in the pax door which was some missing wiring clips inside the door card that were easily replaced. My only other complaint is some distortion in the windshield as it's not uniform and some grit in my wiper has caused a small scratch to appear along the arc of the wiper. Eventually, I'll probably have the windshield replaced, maybe with the brand with which you're having good luck.
Otherwise, it's been a great car and I enjoy it every day. I installed a hitch for a bike rack but have yet to get the electrics installed to tow anything. Someday maybe...
Looking forward to the next update on your car. Thanks again!
Thanks for that detailed report. I'm working on the oil pan video now. Thanks for visiting.
I'm seriously considering getting a Mk 7.5 GTI to replace my aging daily, and I found your three year update videos to be very informative. It looks like some others have mentioned it as well, but a video with a boroscope in the cylinders would be interesting given the mileage on the engine.
Not sure if I'll do the borescope. The mechanic who I'd have clean the valves doesn't expend the labor-hours until the ECU triggers a fault. I'd scope the intake if I was removing it for any other reason, but I'm not interested in doing it for science. ;-) Thanks for writing.
i like your videos because they are unique and helpful with maintenance, not enough of those on youtube
Thanks! I don't think I have any "how to" videos. They're time-consuming to make. Instead, mine are general overviews. I'm working on my oil pan gasket repair video now. The footage is done, just need to capture some voiceover and edit. Thanks for visiting.
Audis are good cars, I had a 1999.5 A4 with a 1.8T engine that racked up 467K miles without a single engine rebuild. I guess it all comes down to how you maintain the vehicle and how you drive it. I owned the car for about 15 years and I never once revved the engine past 4000 rpm. The mechanics at the dealership may have done it, but I certainly never did.
I rev mine from time to time. It's good for the engine. :-)
Subscribed! Love the way you go about the gti! I had a MK VII GTI (South Africa) had it for 3 years, replaced the key battery also twice, one car battery. i didn't as many miles as you (60k miles). I miss it, i have now the 7.5 golf r (20k miles) one year old in november and i've replaced the car key battery
Thanks for visiting. It's hard to say if I will try a Golf R next. I guess it depends on how long I keep my GTI and what I feel like doing with my life next.
Off topic, what a great voice you have!
Thanks for your kind remark! It takes a lot of editing to make myself sound so good. ;-)
I like that canvas trunk liner, will have to look into that. Yes, interested in hearing your experience especially because I own 2016 GTI SE (w/ IS38 Turbo, no flashing for me).
Robert - You're running an IS38 turbo on a factory tune? Or did I misunderstand? Thanks for visiting.
Your channel is going to get huge! I can tell when I see quality content. You, sir, are on the right track! Keep it up. Can you do an install video of your skid plate when you get it??! 😎👍
Thanks for the kind remarks. My growth has been slow, but so has my production. Time will tell if the channel gets more traction. I do plan to record footage of my skid plate installation. However, my shooting style is more of a "here's what I did" format than "here's how to do it." Take Care!
@@StealthGTI if I had a channel that's how I'd do it to. I like to do the work and then voice overlay. Keep up the good work! I'd love to get your contact info so we could chat sometime.
@@terraformingcats8175 - There is a contact page on my website at stealthgti.com/contact/. Feel free to tell me about yourself and share your (approximate) location.
Awesome vid, I look forward to having my GTI a long time :)
Thanks for visiting.
To your question about longevity - this of course doesn't offer anything beyond the mileage, but I've long used Copart searches and filtering by odometer reading just to see what mileage cars I'm interested in are getting. I have a Golf Sportwagen and I've so far seen 180k miles on a totaled 2017 on Copart.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm close to the 5-year mark and past 140,000 miles now.
I think this is fantastic information for someone like myself with the exact same car I'm at 34K
and 3 years old stock, 3 door DSG and love the car however im just waiting to have the side repaired as i had an argument with a Range Rover on the Highway tsk tsk.. anyway i appreciate the input and yeah i wish you many more miles of reliable motoring!
Thanks for visiting.
Appreciated you sharing the experience. I'm waiting for your oil pan gasket video:)
Thanks! The footage is shot. Just need to edit and assemble. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI awesome. Does it fixed the leaks?
@@altimase2003 - It's too early to be certain. I want to run it through some heat cycles before I declare it a success.
@@StealthGTI I'm waiting for your result to order the gasket. It in my Amazon cart waiting to check out :)
I've got a 2017 golf Sportswagen, tsi, I have only 28,000 miles. My problem is with the dealer. I bought the car with the maintenance agreement. I would bring the car in every year for an oil and filter change. I had the wheels rotated and a 4 wheel alignment. On the third year, two weeks after I had the car serviced. I checked the nitrogen pressure in the tires, with a gauge, since my other cars don't have TPMS. I was surprised when all 4 wheels had exactly 20 psi. The car calls for 33 psi. I brought the car back to the dealer to bring the pressure up to spec. They wanted $60.00 to do that. On all of my inspection reports, the dealer never charged me for adding any additional nitrogen. So, in three year, they never added any nitrogen, even though the inspection report said they did. I told the service advisor that my TPMS light on the dash never triggered. He told me that can happen. That didn't make sense to me. After reading the owners manual. In bold letters it said, TPMS. But if you read the small print. This car has, "Indirect Tire Pressure Management System". Not to be confused with, "Direct Tire Pressure Management System". The system uses the anti-lock sensors to monitor all 4 wheel speeds. When you get a puncture, the tire diameter will shrink, and the tire will rotate slower than the other wheels. At around 25 percent under inflation, your TPMS light will trigger. However, what is not in the owners manual. And you can verify this on, "Google". If all 4 tires are equally under inflated the TPMS light will never trigger. This is because all 4 tires are rotating at the same speed. Since I didn't know how long I was driving on under inflated tires, I replaced all 4 tires. When I complained to the dealer, they told me that I should have checked the tire pressure myself. I told them I would have, if they wouldn't have mislead me by saying they checked the air pressure in my tires. This is a problem with the dealer and Volkswagen. They call their system, "TPMS', when it should be called, "Indirect Tire Pressure System". And they should mention it in the owners manual, that if all 4 tires are exactly under inflated by the same amount the TPMS will never trigger. I have learned my lesson, I will always periodically check my tire pressure the old fashioned way, with a gauge. It's just to dangerous not to.
Agreed! Unfortunately, we have become too reliant on technology; it makes us lazy. I check my tire pressure about once a month or after temperature changes. Otherwise, the TPMS system is only to inform me of a potential tire puncture. Funny story - I watched a video where the owner was complaining that his Class B RV lacked a lane keep feature. He said he didn't like having to "babysit the RV." Is that what "driving" has become? HAHA! Not your beef, of course. But the technological parallel made me think of it. Thanks for visiting.
Absolutely 💯 love 💘 you and that gti I have had a few vw gtis there is a few flaws but there are flaws in every car manufacturer there are a great car and this is a excellent video please keep them going 🙂
Tom uk 🇬🇧
Couldn't agree more! I'm at 128,000 miles now. The car still runs great! Thanks for visiting.
Very nice job on both videos. You speak well and the video is clear.
Thanks for the kind words. I wish I spoke as well as you think I do. ;-) I often record a few takes and then do a bit of editing to make it fit together. I speak well in front of crowds. But, somehow, having a camera in front of me turns me into a buffoon! HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
People freaking out about the clutch is hilarious. The stock clutch is fine for a stock car. Once you tune your GTI, it's a matter of when and not if the clutch will start slipping. I have a 2016 2dr 6mt GTI (only 25k miles on it btw) and as soon as I tuned my car, also stage 2 (Cobb Accessport with EQT stage 2 tune), I also went ahead and got an aftermarket performance clutch (and aftermarket rear main seal). The stock clutch can't handle the 100+ extra ft lbs of torque that most stage 2 tunes come with. If you are going to tune your 6mt GTI, you better be prepared to upgrade your clutch.
Not sure if that was a general comment or directed at me. I knew my clutch could go farther. However, I opted to replace it sooner because I knew I was taking a road trip with the trailer soon. A clutch job is easier and cheaper when done near home and according to my terms. Thanks for visiting.
Watching GTI videos makes me want to trade my current car for a 2019 SE. Local dealer is slashing $7K off msrp and another is doing $5k off msrp & lifetime power train warranty.
I got mine for $5500 below MSRP and was pretty happy with the purchase. The "lifetime powertrain warranty" is cool as long as you don't tune the car. Thanks for visiting.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. I had a 13 passat tdi. 149k before hit by a drunk driver at around 50mph and totaled while at a red light. Car was great and saved my life. I will be buying another vw. Now everything was stock/ didnt break yet except for the heater core being plugged every year.i did replace the heater core my self for $99 for the vw part. It wasn't hard, just followed a youtube video. I'm assuming the egr was cooking the coolant🤷♂️ and the adblue heater breaking at around 70k and that was covered under the emissions warranty. Other that that just regular maintenance and those dsg flushes every 40k miles.
Sorry to hear about the accident. But, like you said, the car did it's hidden job of saving your life. Good Luck with the next car.
Good explanatory video. The bottom line is if you abuse a car you will have things happen .
That being said , before I bought my 3 serie bmw, I teste drove some Jettas , and it felt like driving a really cheap car compare to the bmws
Not that a GTI is as high quality as a BMW, but I do believe that they have higher quality interiors than Jettas. I think VW wants GTI owners to keep coming back by keeping GTIs nice inside. My Jettas, while adequate, have never felt as plush as my GTI. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI interesting
I got the 2017 sport here in the US and mine didn’t come with leather wrapped on the e break handle. The car was made in late 2016 too!
Thanks for sharing! After all of this time without the leather piece, I don't even notice that it's "missing."
I ran into a coolant leak issue within the first year, kept adding to it, and eventually my dealership said there was a known issue and fixed it under warranty, not sure if it applies to yours, but it could be worth asking! Mine is a 2016 S model, for what it's worth.
Thanks for sharing. My car has been out of warranty for a long time due to its mileage.
i LOVE VW and just wishing you good Luck. I`m driving a Transporter from 2013 and Works like a Rolex
I wish we could get the newer Transporters over here. Thanks for visiting.
I live in New England have had the rims replaced 2 times . I got rim protection for that reason . These roads kill these rims with low profile tires on
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Keep up the good work. I’m considering when I should trade my 2013 golf wagon TDI in, and if the mk7 GTI would be reliable enough for me to consider. Thank you for the videos!
It's been an excellent car! Thanks for visiting.
I have a mk4 jetta 1.8T with 222,000 miles and it’s still running strong. Mostly maintenance type repairs in the past 30,000 miles. The only actual failures were a crank sensor and a radiator fan. Not bad for a supposedly “unreliable” car 😂😂
Thanks for sharing.
Great second part loved the videos congrats and defiantly deserves it loving my mk7 so far
Thanks for visiting.
When it’s time for struts look at racingline’s spring/strut kits. Minor lowering but great upgrade.
I think I'm going to stay with the stock ride. Thanks for visiting.
I'm actually shocked you didn't go through at least one water pump.
I had a leak that required the replacement of the pump, thermostat, and housing at around 115,000 miles. I'm at 140,000 miles now and all is well. Thanks for visiting!
2008 MKV owner coming up on 250K. Honestly have done very little to the car. Original clutch. 3 sets of back brakes and 2 sets of fronts. One set of fans. 3 fuel filters, air filters, and oil. I have never flushed the brake fluid and getting ready to do that, as it is now green. The interiors on these cars don't hold up. Headliner, fabrics, seats, plastics are all beat. Rusting from the Northeast. Overall these are great cars but still reluctant to step into a direct injected turbo engine.
I understand the hesitation to progress. I drove my Mk3 Jetta TDI exclusively for 16 years. It was a bit of a driveway queen when I got my 2014 Jetta TDI. The upgrade in amenities was nice. The Mk7 GTI surpasses my Mk6 Jetta in every way except for fuel economy. But I don't care! This car is great! Thanks for visiting.
Awesome video man!
Thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to say that.
Awesome video!!!! Congrats.
Thanks for visiting.
Great video. My 2015 GTI is at 85k and I also love it!! Is that a remote oil drain on your car?
Thanks for the compliment! The drain spigot is called a Fumoto Valve. It allows you to take samples or perform drains without tools. It will NOT fit the plastic pan. See one at amzn.to/2slbk1r. Thanks for visiting.
Love these cars.
I still enjoy the car, even after recent repairs and 115,000 miles!
I bought my 2010 GTI a year ago. On the test drive I noticed it was making a squealing noise under the hood, I brought it up to the dealer & he promised to fix it. So I went ahead with the sale. The car went back to the dealership for 2 weeks while they tried to “figure out the problem,” their diagnosis was that it was a noise in the fuel line & they weren’t going to fix it because it’s just a noise & noises don’t damage engines. I looked up “GTI noises” on UA-cam & literally the first video that popped up was a kid who said the noise (same noise as my car) was the exhaust manifold gasket. 🙄🙄🙄 That was the only problem I had with the car until recently, when my ESP, ABS, & airbag lights all came on. Then they shut off. Then they went back on. And shut off. And back on, off, you see where I’m going with this. Then the check engine light came on. I had it checked, it’s the exhaust manifold sensor (?? maybe?? I can’t remember if that was the name of it) Soooo now my boyfriend wants me to get rid of it except I love my car so much. 😩😩😩
Thanks for sharing your experience. It's tough to say what the intermittent ESP/ABS/Airbag light issue could be. As for the exhaust sensor, I suspect that may be on O2 (oxygen) sensor. Sometimes, repair costs can seem overwhelming as things age and begin to fail. Rather than ask if a repair costs more than the value of the car, I ask if the repair is less expensive than buying a new car. I'm not sure where that is for you. But only you can decide. Good Luck!
I have a 2016 GTI with 39k miles. Had a 1986 GTI I ran to 199k before I crashed it. Still had original suspension and clutch.
Very cool testimony. However, you have to admit that the cars were lighter and less powerful (clutch wear) back then. I'm sure it was still a pleasure to drive. Thanks for visiting.
Have you taken a look at the carbon build up behind your valves? A lot of MK7 golf owners recommend that they be cleaned every 60,000k miles. Apparently a lot of turbo direct injection engines suffer from this.
I have not looked. My mechanic, who's a longtime VW enthusiast, won't even accept the job of inspecting or cleaning the valves unless there is an ECU code set. I plan to drive it until I see symptoms. Thanks for visiting.
We have the same car I have APR stage 2 . 75k Mike’s and just started to get a funny noise out of the left strut ball joint who knows just keep driving
I always investigate strange sounds. BUT, if you cannot find it, just wait; it will get worse and easier to find. ;-) Thanks for visiting.
It's not the miles, it's the stoplights. Freeway driving rules. I think you are right about the time vs. mileage tradeoff. Cold starts, short drives kill cars. Stage 2? Imagine the loads on the car if that 93k was mostly surface streets, instead of cruising at .... 90mph lol. I mean what's the boost on the freeway anyway?
Agreed! I don't do "short drives" in my GTI. There's a grocery store just 1/2-mile from my house. But I still drive to another store that's seven miles away just so I can get the car up to full operating temperature. And sometimes I take a longer route just to keep the car exercised, especially these days when I don't have a daily commute. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI You have the best of worlds. The worst of worlds. What looks to be a 1500 mile commute. Or regular trip at least. The best I can do is Los Angeles to San Francisco. And to avoid road hypnosis, at my age, I have to limit myself to 250 mile chunks and stop and stretch (or pee or eat) every hour. SO I drive 250 miles up I-5 towards and check into a motel short of SF (leaving me "short" 125 miles); the next day I drive 125 miles to SF for just a one day visit, returning the same day to my I-5 motel for another 125 miles totalling 250 miles; and the third day I drive back to LA on the final 250 mile leg. I dream of making it to Portland one day. Ha. Your GTi is really overkill! You must love those roundabouts in the 'burbs though. LOL
My 2017 GTI does not have leather on the parking brake. I don’t have the carpet issue with the arm rest. Plus one to the alignment.
Thanks for sharing that.
The us version of this car looks let’s just say ... different. Cool car though nice GTD wheels.
Thanks! Check out another video where I have refinished a set in gun metal gray. They look great!
Very interesting video. I have been wondering about reliability as the miles climb, so it is good thear about your experiences. Sometimes reading too much about the potential failure points (~plastic intake manifold, etc) can be scary.
I also need the brake flush (overdue). Are doing it yourself ?
Horatio - I had the dealer do it during an annual state inspection. The cost was not terrible. Thanks for visiting.
It's nice to see an adult's opinion of this car. I also came into Mk7 from an old Mk3, and I only wonder one thing about my Mk7, maybe you know. Do the doors still have a solid closing feel after nearly a hundred thousand miles?
The doors still feel great. The Mk7 GTI is a solid car! Thanks for visiting.
Have you done any carbon cleaning yet? I had mine at 70k. Just curious what others have been experiencing. Thanks for the video!
I haven't even inspected for build-up. I'm hoping that my occasional heavy trailer load is enough to burn off carbon from time to time. Thanks for visiting.
On my 2015 I left the original oil pan but I install an alumiunm shield by ECS TUNING. I changed the key fob battery twice.
Thanks for sharing.
I am thinking to buy a used one GTI or R 2016 or newer. except the liquid levels what should I be paying attention to?
PS: keep it up, the videos are great.
Thanks for the compliment. I cannot think of anything specific. You could consider a CPO car from a dealer. It would cost more, but have the backing of a dealer who should go over it well before selling. Good Luck! -Scott
@@Gandalf721 thanks. I want the earlier the better, but once I reach 2017 I am start thinking about the 2018 model with the factory warranty + digital cockpit
Enjoyed both of your videos. I'm curious about two things: First, what is your regimen for exterior body care, i.e. car washes, waxing, etc. I have a 2019 GTI in white silver and do weekly washes and yearly details (both done by local shops). So far I've decided to forego the clear bra and any sort of sealant/ceramic coating. Second, how would you describe the performance improvement in going to Stage 2/DP. I'm at Stage 1 and it was the best bang-for-the buck I've ever done. I'm reluctant on Stage 2 in terms of cost vs. benefit and also the warranty risk of adding a very obvious DP. Thanks.
Thanks for the kind words. I used to wax about once a year and wash 2-3 times per month. Now that I have the ceramic coating (well worth it), I wash about once a month and don't wax at all. I'll wash more frequently if I have a special reason or if the car gets unusually dirty. This will be my first winter with the ceramic coating. So, I'm sure I will make extra efforts to spray under the car if it's exposed to salt. As for Stage 2 vs Stage 1, it's gives a tiny bit of extra kick. The bang for buck is smaller. I did it to pave the way for an IS38... which will probably never happen. HAHA! If I were to get a Golf R, I'd likely stop at Stage 1 since it already has an IS38. I hope that helps. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI Thanks for answering. I think I'll hold off on Stage 2 for now. I do agree that the IS38 upgrade looks like a big kick. I'm also going to look into the ceramic coatings. I checked about two years ago and they were much too expensive at that time.
Hey man. Thinking of getting a 2020 GTI S in Manual. Based on your experience, would you say a VW Factory Extended Warranty would make sense, if I can cut a decent deal at the dealer? Even if the 6 yr warranty was still in effect, I'd be thinking of getting some longer protection.
Extended warranties are most often a money-maker for dealerships. And VW is quick to find a way out of warranty work if they can; rather, that seems to be the case with modified cars. If you plan to keep the car stock and have the dealer do the majority of maintenance on your car, then an extended warranty may give you peace of mind... if you can swallow its cost. But I'd never consider an extended warranty on a car I expect to mod. Thanks for visiting.
a little late, but I have a 2017 GTI sport that does not have leather around the top of the parking brake handle.
Thanks for sharing!
People just love to hate on VW on the internet.
Agreed. However, I'm sure plenty of VW owners troll Honda videos. The truth is a lot of people love to hide behind their keyboard where they feel safe dishing out hate. I guess it makes them feel powerful. Thanks for visiting.
Maybe its because of that emissions scandal. Even though im a big vw fan(got two) i found that really annoying .
@@allosaurusfragilis7782 - I, too, was annoyed by that. BUT - a lot of manufacturers did the same thing, and some even killed their customers with their scandals. Still, none paid as high a price for it as VW. Funny thing, it didn't take long for VW to rise back to being the world's largest automaker. Thanks for visiting.
How was the trip to Nubble Lighthouse!? Did you get a chance to eat at Fox's?
It was a "fast-n-furious" trip... lots of driving and not much sightseeing. We got to our hotel, spent the night, had breakfast at Sun and Surf Restaurant, and got back on the road. We'd like to go back someday, but there's no telling when that can happen these days. Thanks for visiting.