I’ve had my GTI-P since new from Nov 2015, and now has 110,000kms. No complainants except for: - thermostat housing replacement at 80,000kms - foil trim around DSG peels and cuts fingers Full service history in great condition.
I have the exact same model and never had an issue besides getting the water pump done last service at 65k. Have an apr tune and it puts the car on a hole new level!! 5 years of hassle free motoring and she’s a little weapon. I’d definitely recommend 1! 👍🏼
My water pump broke at around 30,000 miles. Luckily no other problems and I bought it brand new when it came out. I have mods on it and still has been a solid car.
I have been living with 2 VWs (one 4 years old and the other 9 years old). If you want reliability get those built after 2014 (2015 onwards). The mk7 golf is ok provided it wasnt driven by a maniac. The engine plastics are ok although I do agree the plastic waterpump issue may crop up. Otherwise the more likely problem you’ll end up with are the wheel speed sensors failing or roof liner sagging. My cars havnt have any major breakdowns at all.
Do a regular 1.4T VW Golf 7/7.5 please. They sold in huge numbers in Australia around mid-decade and it’s interesting to see what issues lie with it in the long term. Looking back they were also reviewed very highly, and won just about all small car comparisons when new. The only known issue at the time was the DSG, but it’s interesting to look at it as a used car.
I have a 2018 model and just paid 3k for service because it blew its cam shaft pulley just after 4 years and 60k kms and right after warranty. while my 2009 Xtrail is still going solid . Bullshit German engineering.
Just had my 2016 GTI in for its 5 year service today, it’s been leaking coolant and yes the water pump has gone. Needs a new battery as well so looking at close to $2k all up. Mechanic mentioned he’s replacing 3 or 4 water pumps a week but overall he described the engine as bulletproof if properly serviced. Great car overall but just be mindful of the potential costs, the 4 year service was quite expensive as well due to the DSG oil needing replacing.
Man the garage ripps you of. I paid 600 euros for a waterpump with distribution belt and the rolls. Battery is around 200-300 euro i think. (It’s a gtd but same waterpump probs)
Is it a VW dealer? You should look into a reliable third party mechanic that specializes on Euro cars. I go to one that does Audis and Volkswagens and they only charged 650! Worth looking into.
Well not a big deal spending 2K$ on it in a two years, when you take in count that it's sort of compromise between "sport car" and daily driven car. Bro I bought A4 2.0 TDI 125kW and I have been in service cost around 5K$ for a three years and 80k kilometers driven and everything that failed during that time was just things that are sort of "consumer goods" car axle that's already 1,5k$ on it's own, even when you replace a fkin door lock which believe me one of 4 locks will fail each year due to it's great and uncomplicated design :D it's 250$ for replacement in non-autorized service. If you do it home then it's just like 50$ for non original part. And all of this was a service cost in unauthorised service...
I like the honesty. I had gtiS. Mk2, mk4 and for the mk5 I had a audi A3 ( which is mecanically the same) . What a incredible hatch, direct injected turbocharged sequentially shifted... piece of crap. Had it for 4 years and it had all the repair you will find in forums ( waterpump, after run cooling pump, valves carbon deposite, turbo housing, main crank seal, windows slider (3), A/C condenser, blower motor, colum lock barrel. Just from 89k km to 158k km. After 20 years of gti this vw got me so scared I now drive a Toyota Camry!
Very accurate review, thank you. They are brilliant cars when they work but water pump on these is a real problem. I had to replace it on my car and a mate with his Audi had it replaced twice in 3 years. It cost a lot of money, specially on labour.
I bought a base model 2017 GTI 6spd brand new. Have 97k miles on it. Still going very strong! Yes, I’ve had my fair share of things fail on it, but that’s mostly because of modding it. It’s currently IS38 91oct on meth with a custom tune, FBO, CTS FMIC, ST XTA coilovers, SB STG3 Endurance clutch, fully modded shifter components. Close to 400whp/430wtq. It’s quick, and pushing over double whp from the factory, hence why some things have failed, but the engine has been completely bullet proof, and the interior has had zero issues. Apple CarPlay works perfectly every time still, and it’s quick too. I think the MK7 GTI is okay from the factory, but it’s a little soft for me. Once modded though, it’s another animal altogether.
Hey man I checked out ur channel, love the videos and the car, I want a gti for myself as my first car. Anything u suggest doing to the car? Would it be worth buying a gti with like 150k+ km on it? I really want a gti but for someone who’s in university I wanna make sure it’ll be worth the money in the end and not drag me into crippling debt
My 2016 Golf GTI hasn’t had a single issue that these reviewers claim are “so common”. I bought GTI brand new and it has been the best car I have owned. I meticulously maintain my car and it has been reliable for over 120K. Ohh, did I mention I am big turbo as well??
I bought my 2015 GTI Autobahn with manual transaxle new. On one hand it’s a fantastic car. It’s small but has plenty of room inside. I did a stage 1 APR tune on it which is mild enough to not cancel the warranty but transformed the personality. It’s fun to drive even for very long trips, it’s well laid out and just an overall great design. It looks mature enough to valet at a nice restaurant too. Complaints : vw dealer service sucks. Early on I had an issue in which my car was very humid and misty inside whenever it would rain. I took it to the dealer several times under warranty for this and they found nothing. I went to install a tow bar to hall bikes with a couple of years later and after pulling certain parts out to do so, I found a huge amount of mold. I traced it to under the carpet etc. I found on my own through some testing that there are check valves that allow air out but do not allow water in, and they failed, allowing water to pour in during a car wash or heavy rain. It was going right under he carpet. Vw refused to do anything about it because the car was out of warranty, even though I’d complained about it for the time it was still under warranty on several occasions. 3 dealers and vw of America refused to do a thing. I ended up replacing the check valves and the seats and carpet with items from a wrecked GTI. There have been no other issues with the car since then until this week-I hit 76,000 miles and now I have a fairly heavy tick on the engine that I believe is the cam. So I’m divided. I still love the car. And other than the water issue and the recent problem it’s been extremely reliable. The two issues it has had, are not insubstantial and again, despite me being a lifelong vw driver I was appalled at the lack of assistance from vw or its dealers.
Up to 50,000 miles my mk7.5 has been super solid. Driven through harsh winters and summers. We'll see how it goes the next 50k miles. Hopefully good ;)
I'm a member of several Golf forums where just about every Golf has been modified within an inch of their lives and even in that world these cars are pretty reliable. A lot of the guys run Mark 5s too which are now all well over 10 years old and i'm not hearing daily horror stories. Sure water pumps are a common problem, but everyone knows about that. Life is short. Buy a good low mileage GTI, do a stage 1 ECU and TCU tune and you will have a hugely entertaining car which is the perfect blend of daily and performance car. Most of the competition ride too hard and will drive you nuts on rough suburban streets.
I have a used 2007 GTI MK V with 120k km which I bought in 2018 as a 1 owner car. Almost 5 yrs later the car has now 20km more and been perfectly reliable and a joy to own. Granted Ive been working abroad so the mileage isnt so high but irregular use, regular servicing, and I couldnt be happier. Fuel consumption not too baad either, between 30 to 35mpg depending on how heavy the right foot is. Used as a daily driver, and still looks great.
Hi again. Watching from South Africa only the tuned ones and dealership babies seem to last. I don't see any sunroof or any mad engine issues besides the carbon fouling and DSG (if they go unserviced) as I've observed we tend to keep our cars here, many still happily own theirs. Just watched your review again, tying to decide between the M140i, Civic Type R (2016) and a 2016 performance golf. Also looking for something I can work on myself. Of the 3 which would you go for? Practicality, Daily driving, grand touring and some track driving will be involved.
from the US. just found your channel and really enjoying. excellent length plenty of detail on less prevalent issues you would otherwise never hear about without hours of digging through forums. excellent delivery and just relaxing to watch, thanks!
had a 2006 GTI and the oil burning, carbon buildup and general HPFP design were horrendous (chewed up camshaft lobes). seems those isssues were resolved at least within 10 years?
Got my MK 7.5 S a few weeks ago and I get so many good emotions from it. Only thing is my old Prius had insanely better fuel economy and I miss refueling twice a month for dirt cheap
I’m on my 3 GTI and I love them. I’ve had both the stick shift and the DSG and the DSG is actually more fun and can handle the extra torque from my power module. Mine is forever in sport mode. When it isn’t, it feels unstable around corners but that’s all relative. I haven’t experienced any issues other than rattling in the back but that was covered with the warranty.
@@ReDriven although I should have mentioned that the Android auto connection disconnects often and makes me want to drive into a pylon. I’ve tested my phone and new cord in other cars and they work just fine. It’s definitely the car.
Technically the water pumps don't fail, the gasket between the block and the pump fails causing seepage or a leak. Why VW doesn't have a fix for this very well known problem is beyond me. Other than that? They are pretty solid cars👍😎
I’ve had 4 GTI’s. The 87, ‘08, ‘12, and now I have the ‘15. I do agree with most of what you said. Thankfully it hasn’t cost me a ton since I’m a mechanic so I’ve done pretty much all the work myself. But if you’re not a mechanic or you’re not really good with tools then yeah. This car will hurt your pockets for sure.
I am the original owner of a 2015 VW GTI-S model. I have never heard of or seen the water leaks this fellow mentions. I don't have a sun roof so I can't comment about roof leaks. By the way, I live in South Carolina where we get monsoon amounts of rainfall. The EA888 has been flawless. I'm also on the original clutch with 50K miles. The only unexpected fix was a air conditioner seal covered under warrantee.
2015 and 2016 year models saw a few issues such as waterpump failure and wastegate issues on the turbos. I have had my 2017 for almost 5 years now tuned with all the bolt ons, and it has been a gem. I have the manual, so the clutch upgrade was an extra cost, but that's to be expected. German cars just require more persistent general maintenance than a japanese counterpart. You can beat on a honda for 100k miles worry free with total disregard for abuse, but with german cars, you gotta make sure to spend a little time with the ole girl here and there. Leads to a healthier relationship.
@@niconiconnu waterpumps are completely random. I've had mine for almost 6 yrs now and it has a slight drip leak, but still holding up. I'll probably have it replaced within the next year as well as carbon cleaning at the same time. As for the turbo, most people with wastegate issues will get an epc light and limp mode upon hard driving at highway speeds, but it seems more frequent than it is bc online most who mention it are tuned. I doubt many people saw issues stock. Then again, i've been tuned for 5 years and never had an epc light, so i dunno. Maybe after a certain high mileage it would be good to check the voltage of the wastegate via vagcom. Im at only 61k miles right now.
That's why I own a Japanese car. Always wants the comfort and silence of a German car but I the maintenance costs always put me off. I'm at 80000 miles over 17 years. I've only done oil changes, air filters and.... That's it!!
The potential problems give me an excuse to upgrade. I have had mine for 3 years, So far only problem I had was high pressure fuel pump, decided to upgrade and car is still working like a gem. I do recommend learning how to take off the intake manifold because labor time is definitely expensive, parts eh its reasonable.
If you have a good car keep it. These problems are uncommon. I’ve had friends “upgrade” expecting their new car to be perfect and have more problems then they did with their previous car.
I was looking for one. And i just change my mind after i check all points of this video. Most of the GTI cars on my country come from the USA after they are crashed. Flooded or rollover. Definitely A AWSOME AND HELPFULL VIDEO TNX
Jim's taken the words out of mouth. See those issues all the time at the workshop. Constantly see water pumps letting go at 30 - 40,000km on even well maintained cars.
class action lawsuit in the US for owners of several VW models with water pump issues. extends warranty or if you've had repair you can get partial reimubursement.
Thanks! Love the honest commentary. I seriously was looking to buy one of these Mac 7s but now will definitely look into some of the issues you mentioned. It was the shape that I was after than the Mac 8, but I guess a new one would make more sense.
Oh bro, please tell me you didn't buy a different car just because of his review.. His review out of all was the most weirdest review Ive seen so far for this car... He did stress some key points (try to look for manufac. year 2016+ and maintenance is IMPORTANT change oils 5-10k miles, if you buy the car just look it up) but its not as bad as he portrayed it.. Otherwise nobody would be buying the car.. Im trying to import one as we speak and mine was in a car accident so I actually have to get it fixed first before driving it but still.. so far, the reviews and rl convos are highly positive, just dont forget the above mentioned things. Oh, I thought of buying the MK8 but the majority of reviews Ive seen werent positive (in difference to this one and MK7) but my personal beef w the MK8 is its interior, not a fan of it at all but the MK7 is just a gem 😍
Had my 7.5 manual from new 4 years old now best car i have ever had ,never heard of major problems ,only thing i done is remove bag out of coolant expansion tank which can split & cost a fortune to repair. Try owning a Harley Davison you would be on here hours with problems🤣🤣🤣😂
2018 gti sport 60k miles bought new lots of aftermarket goodies and the car still drives great only issue is after many runs of hard braking 120mph plus had to rebuild a leaking brake caliper. Best upgrade better tires.
Funny thing Is I came across this video months ago and ignored the advice and bought a 2019 Rabbit edition with a 6 speed manual transmission. I can’t stop driving the car and my girlfriend would steal the keys to it whenever she gets a chance. The only thing I agree with in terms of the negative stuff are the tyres. They absolutely suck!
had any issues so far with the clutch or shifter? I found that the factory stock clutch and shifter in the Golf Gti and R , to be waaaay too light and spongy. Had no feeling at all, doesn't feel like a proper manual car. I'd imagine they would be cheaper to service and maintain longterm compared to the auto DSG.
I have a 3 doors GTI manual clubsport, it has a R engine, i still love it. It still looks better then the MK8. And BTW i live in europe, you must get the bad ones i guess, never had any problem with mine.
Bought a new one in 2020 (FL Performance) Have it for a year now with only 7.500km. Fun and good car. We will see how it will last over the years. Nice review!
@@belikeawolf4627 once or twice. In the holidays more often. I live in a big city where i mostly drive with a e-scooter. The GTI is just for fun or holidays.
the only thing I can say about these gti's is the waterpump/thermostat housing is junk. had a 2016 6speed that I bought with low mileage in 2018 at 70k my 1st water pump went. and now my 2020dsg that I upgraded to new, in 2020 is going threw its 1st waterpump at 102K kilometers. other than that make sure you do oil changes every 8000km Liqui moly or motul, keep a spare qaurt in the trunk if you drive it hard as these tend to burn a fair amount of oil. I'm stage 1 tcu ecu with all the bolt-ons aside from a downpipe. my old mk7 was stock aside from an airbox and muffler delete. DSG gearing make this car move faster imo once tuned. and dont have to spend 2-3 grand on a clutch upgrade on the glass house stock clutch. also here in canada the base models 2019 onwards had the performance pack as standard (golf r brakes, DQ381 7 speed, adaptive LSD, and more power.)
The golf GTD with a manual transmission is the most glorious budget driving machine there is. It’s a bloody beaut. Also, those wheels and the slammed suspension seems like it’d be a nightmare going over potholes or trying to actually use it like a hatchback by having people and cargo in it simultaneously. And if that’s happening while going over a pothole? Herniated disc, here you come! Also, the running joke of FWD hatchbacks, especially ford fiestas oversteering into a hedge or front yard never gets old to me.
This is my car featured in the video. The wheels are stock size (19”) but just a different style and a bit wider, and the suspension is lowered 20mm - so its hardly “slammed”. The suspension is very high quality and the springs are a progressive design, so its very comfortable. I can take 4x adults in the car in comfort and without any issues. The boot is still fully functional and while doing renovations on my house id regularly do trips to the Hardware store, fold the rear seats down, and fill the car up with timber, bags of cement and tools etc. It is still a very practical car.
@@LucasVWGolfR ah. I figured payload would be an issue since there’s not much travel to the rear shocks, so I reckoned the rear wheel wells would be bottoming out while under load. Good to know. I prefer chunkier tyres on my vehicle, but that’s just me.
I just bought a 40th anniversary gti.. 195kw but it has 213kw on over boost for 10sec..great car loving it . Fortunately it’s my weekender not my daily so won’t get that much of a workout
4 1/2 years in a std 2015 GTI manual, 55,000kms. Water pump changed under warranty, otherwise no issues at all. (it didn't fail, dealer picked up a leak at service and replaced it). Advantage with a non-Performance model is you can get a far more engaging and issue free manual gearbox, more comfortable 18 in wheels. 162kw vs 169kw - not much! Joy of cruising quietly and smoothly in Comfort or enjoying Sport mode or configuring you own mode. Lightly loaded, and sticking to the speed limit, best economy run was 5.8l/100km = 850km run to Melbourne from Sydney on a single tank - 50km until empty it said.
@@_Demonsthenes_ exactly, it sounds like he’s just coping with not having the PP. You can still get a manual with the performance model (you can get a manual with any trim actually). I don’t see how bigger brakes and a limited-slip differential would add less engagement, if anything it adds a lot more engagement and fun
@@_Demonsthenes_ Granted a Type R can be had for around $40k but a mint condition GTI Performance like the one we filmed here and recommend out of all the GTI will still ask high thirties. Yes you can get them for far cheaper but a good one can cost as much as $38k. - AK
@@_Demonsthenes_ Oh mate, Australian prices are crazy. Once luxury car tax is included into the price of high end cars it gets very upsetting. A base spec Porsche 911 Carrera in US retails at around $100K, the same car here is $250K and that's before the on-road costs. Include on-road costs and you'll be looking at closer to $265K. A new Turbo S in the US starts at $203,000 where as here in Aus, it starts at $473,000 before any options and on-road costs.
@@belikeawolf4627 I see a lot of guys pulling 30 plus mph out of these. But this isn’t a Prius. It’s a hot hatch that wants to be driven hard, while also being comfortable and safe. 🤷♂️
i have had ford mustangs, holden SS ute, ford xr6turbo amoung other cars, but so far my favourite car was my old golf mk6 gti, greatest sports car i have driven id happily swap my Holden ss for another gti or golf R. and my olf gti that had 160,000ks on it and had less issues in the few years i owned it than any of the other cars i mention above
what was it about the gti that you liked over the ss ? suspension and handling? gearbox? id' rather have the SS or a mustang as a fun daily driver than a gti or R, even if its a bit more fuel thirsty.
Owned a scirocco 2.0tsi, golf r and driven the scirocco r, honestly do not see why you would but the gti over the scirocco r or just spend 10% more for similar mileage golf r.
Thank you for the informative review, I'll be watching more of this channel as a new subscriber, and i am looking forward to seeing the other reviews...
As a previous Honda owner, being a VW owner is a completely different story. I don't know, how was the feeling in the newer model GTI's like, but in my slow MK4 polo GTI be like, she is a bit grumpier, I always miss her gear rev when I shifting... I don't know she is being nice to me finally, or it is my driving skill improved, I start getting more used to driving her around. Although I own her just for a year, keep her looks as clean as possible, bov still making "chuu chuuu" noises. DSG? Sorry she s in manual gears.
In the used small hot hatch markets, at least in EU, the Clio RS Trophy is an absolute gem. Very, very revy and "on rails" in the corners and you can get them with the factory optional Akrapovic exhaust, sounding like a real track car. I've droven a 2017 Polo GTI but the car even with it's 2L engine, feels muted and not that "racy". The Clio RS Trophy with the bigger turbo and with that exhaust always makes sounds, want's for you to push it and rewards you.
Central Cup holders slide cover with roller shutter has tiny skeletons which can came out and hard to put back in place.. the sliding is still working without them though
I'm very interested in your thoughts on the Golf R 7 or 7.5. Holding their value massively in Australia, making it very hard for me to find one for a good price and condition.
G'Day Matt. We had an R booked for the shoot but something went boom in the engine and the car because unavailable. I have driven a load of different R's and like the GTI, when they work, they're awesome. They're faster than the GTI off the line and out of corners but I feel the GTI is more fun and involving to drive. If you want fast without having to learn throttle modulation and want a car that will make you feel like you're a brilliant driver all the time, get an R but if you want a car that requires talent to extract the best out of it and one that is more "fun", get a GTI. But if you want a car that has bulletproof reliability, maybe look elsewhere.
@@ReDriven Nice and very honest review. Thank you. If considering new MK 8 Golf R or GTI. Is the car recommendable? Have 5 years warranty. But still not wish car to be in the service centre for warranty repairs all the time. If not Golf, is Mercedes A35 used or new any good or does that have issues? Can you please review the used Mercedes A35 and A45 please as like golf? Thanks again
@@srinimohanbabu3539 We'll find an A45 to review as soon as we can mate. A Golf R (or GTI) with lots of warranty is a great way to go. The vast majority don't have major issues but it's just smart to be aware of the potential issues.
@@belikeawolf4627 GTIs are for looking at the road at high speed. If I’m looking out a 300lb glass roof I’m doing something wrong. Also no, there’s no sun where I live.
@@cartilagehead imo, if you buy such car at such a high price you need a panoramic option, looks very nice from the outside and it makes your car fresh from an angle that is only applicable from above.
Engine is notorious at building carbon. You need a catchcan and using CRC Valve cleaner every 10000 miles or less. CHANGE OIL, don't leave more than 5000 miles. Change transmission fluid every 30000 miles. Do this and car will be in excellent condition
Not true at all when it comes to carbon build up, at least not on the mk7. No catch can needed either, not sure where you’re getting your info on those two things.
Buy a near new one, drive it for 4-5 years and get rid of it, you will be OK. Don't forget the bolstering wearing out on the base of the driver's seat, what a pain in the ass to fix (helpful hint, buy a whole new seat squab)
It's coming Ryan. Which Type R generation would you like. A hot hatch comparison is way way above our financial and time abilities at the moment but one day when we can do this as our full time jobs, we'll do one. - AK
For the price of a GTI, I can get a Seat Leon Cupra ST... which is basically a golf R estate, but looks way cooler. 300 hp, all wheel drive. Better car imho
Never had any issues with any vw’s when I lived in the UK or the one I own here in Australia but they get a bad wrap here must send the dogs to Australia
I owned a R for a while here in Australia and honestly am thinking of getting another one and in my experience it was fine. It had some really random electrical issues like the song skipping when I indicated etc but other than that mechanically it was fine.
@@NippyMoto It's such a tough call mate. I'm personally very tempted by an R wagon but with putting all this content together, when it comes to fast Golfs, the stories are either like yours with owners loving them and never having an issue or complete horror stories and catastrophic engine failures. One of my best mates had a Mk7 R, perfect condition, loved it, never a drama, drives very sensibly and just out of warranty and one day BAM, engine does its big end bearings and implodes. The repair bill was over $20k!! But, nothing does was a Gold R wagon can do! So torn. - AK
Consider me a subscriber, decent review! Any chance you could have a look at the Volvo c30? For whatever reason I just want to buy one as a spare car haha
So if I want a reliable and dependable hot hatch that gives you years and years of trouble-free performance and practical driving even when it's out of warranty, then I should buy....???
I tend to agree with ad ci, i30N is a cracker of a thing and proving to be very reliable. Civic Type R is up there with the best cars I've ever driven, is supremely reliable and as long as you keep your eyes firmly closed when walking towards it and make sure you don't look back when walking away from it, is excellent!
It’s really not that bad. Read some more comments, and you’ll find that long time owners of these cars have had very little to no issues. Including me. You can do so much with these cars and they will do it right alongside you. It’s the same thing with any car, actually look at it before you buy it. I saw some guy on here complaining about how his water pump broke 7 times. Even though he had one of the first mk7 gti ever made. As if every car company doesn’t have problems in their first gen. 10’ Mercedes c63 amgs blew up, Ford couldn’t figure out what gasket to put in the focus rs or eco boost mustang so they explode all the time, the veloster n is cool but costs so much more. Then this guy is recommending a civic type r over a gti. As if the civic isnt 40,00 dollars and the GTI you can find for less then 20.
I've got a 400+ bhp plus suspension mods mk7 that I bought used (stock) and it's been great for 3+ years and counting. A practical daily that's a riot to drive. Only rwd could make it better. I do my own work and am very comfortable with anything that could happen.
Wrong, don't keep it in sport all the time. It will drive you nuts when town driving. It will only stay in 2nd gear. Well, if you want to keep your license
I’ve had my GTI-P since new from Nov 2015, and now has 110,000kms.
No complainants except for:
- thermostat housing replacement at 80,000kms
- foil trim around DSG peels and cuts fingers
Full service history in great condition.
Foil trim is a recall item. Mine was replaced with a trim that didn’t cut last year as part of a service at VW.
I have the exact same model and never had an issue besides getting the water pump done last service at 65k. Have an apr tune and it puts the car on a hole new level!! 5 years of hassle free motoring and she’s a little weapon. I’d definitely recommend 1! 👍🏼
Awesome to hear mate.
My water pump broke at around 30,000 miles. Luckily no other problems and I bought it brand new when it came out. I have mods on it and still has been a solid car.
I have been living with 2 VWs (one 4 years old and the other 9 years old). If you want reliability get those built after 2014 (2015 onwards). The mk7 golf is ok provided it wasnt driven by a maniac. The engine plastics are ok although I do agree the plastic waterpump issue may crop up. Otherwise the more likely problem you’ll end up with are the wheel speed sensors failing or roof liner sagging. My cars havnt have any major breakdowns at all.
Do a regular 1.4T VW Golf 7/7.5 please. They sold in huge numbers in Australia around mid-decade and it’s interesting to see what issues lie with it in the long term. Looking back they were also reviewed very highly, and won just about all small car comparisons when new. The only known issue at the time was the DSG, but it’s interesting to look at it as a used car.
I have a 2018 model and just paid 3k for service because it blew its cam shaft pulley just after 4 years and 60k kms and right after warranty. while my 2009 Xtrail is still going solid . Bullshit German engineering.
Just had my 2016 GTI in for its 5 year service today, it’s been leaking coolant and yes the water pump has gone. Needs a new battery as well so looking at close to $2k all up. Mechanic mentioned he’s replacing 3 or 4 water pumps a week but overall he described the engine as bulletproof if properly serviced. Great car overall but just be mindful of the potential costs, the 4 year service was quite expensive as well due to the DSG oil needing replacing.
Man the garage ripps you of. I paid 600 euros for a waterpump with distribution belt and the rolls. Battery is around 200-300 euro i think. (It’s a gtd but same waterpump probs)
Is it a VW dealer? You should look into a reliable third party mechanic that specializes on Euro cars. I go to one that does Audis and Volkswagens and they only charged 650! Worth looking into.
Well not a big deal spending 2K$ on it in a two years, when you take in count that it's sort of compromise between "sport car" and daily driven car.
Bro I bought A4 2.0 TDI 125kW and I have been in service cost around 5K$ for a three years and 80k kilometers driven and everything that failed during that time was just things that are sort of "consumer goods" car axle that's already 1,5k$ on it's own, even when you replace a fkin door lock which believe me one of 4 locks will fail each year due to it's great and uncomplicated design :D it's 250$ for replacement in non-autorized service. If you do it home then it's just like 50$ for non original part.
And all of this was a service cost in unauthorised service...
I like the honesty. I had gtiS. Mk2, mk4 and for the mk5 I had a audi A3 ( which is mecanically the same) . What a incredible hatch, direct injected turbocharged sequentially shifted... piece of crap. Had it for 4 years and it had all the repair you will find in forums ( waterpump, after run cooling pump, valves carbon deposite, turbo housing, main crank seal, windows slider (3), A/C condenser, blower motor, colum lock barrel. Just from 89k km to 158k km. After 20 years of gti this vw got me so scared I now drive a Toyota Camry!
Very accurate review, thank you. They are brilliant cars when they work but water pump on these is a real problem. I had to replace it on my car and a mate with his Audi had it replaced twice in 3 years. It cost a lot of money, specially on labour.
I bought a base model 2017 GTI 6spd brand new. Have 97k miles on it. Still going very strong!
Yes, I’ve had my fair share of things fail on it, but that’s mostly because of modding it. It’s currently IS38 91oct on meth with a custom tune, FBO, CTS FMIC, ST XTA coilovers, SB STG3 Endurance clutch, fully modded shifter components. Close to 400whp/430wtq. It’s quick, and pushing over double whp from the factory, hence why some things have failed, but the engine has been completely bullet proof, and the interior has had zero issues. Apple CarPlay works perfectly every time still, and it’s quick too.
I think the MK7 GTI is okay from the factory, but it’s a little soft for me. Once modded though, it’s another animal altogether.
Hey man I checked out ur channel, love the videos and the car, I want a gti for myself as my first car. Anything u suggest doing to the car? Would it be worth buying a gti with like 150k+ km on it? I really want a gti but for someone who’s in university I wanna make sure it’ll be worth the money in the end and not drag me into crippling debt
@@mrpoppz838 me to same
My 2016 Golf GTI hasn’t had a single issue that these reviewers claim are “so common”. I bought GTI brand new and it has been the best car I have owned. I meticulously maintain my car and it has been reliable for over 120K.
Ohh, did I mention I am big turbo as well??
I bought my 2015 GTI Autobahn with manual transaxle new. On one hand it’s a fantastic car. It’s small but has plenty of room inside. I did a stage 1 APR tune on it which is mild enough to not cancel the warranty but transformed the personality. It’s fun to drive even for very long trips, it’s well laid out and just an overall great design. It looks mature enough to valet at a nice restaurant too.
Complaints : vw dealer service sucks. Early on I had an issue in which my car was very humid and misty inside whenever it would rain. I took it to the dealer several times under warranty for this and they found nothing. I went to install a tow bar to hall bikes with a couple of years later and after pulling certain parts out to do so, I found a huge amount of mold. I traced it to under the carpet etc. I found on my own through some testing that there are check valves that allow air out but do not allow water in, and they failed, allowing water to pour in during a car wash or heavy rain. It was going right under he carpet. Vw refused to do anything about it because the car was out of warranty, even though I’d complained about it for the time it was still under warranty on several occasions. 3 dealers and vw of America refused to do a thing.
I ended up replacing the check valves and the seats and carpet with items from a wrecked GTI.
There have been no other issues with the car since then until this week-I hit 76,000 miles and now I have a fairly heavy tick on the engine that I believe is the cam.
So I’m divided. I still love the car. And other than the water issue and the recent problem it’s been extremely reliable. The two issues it has had, are not insubstantial and again, despite me being a lifelong vw driver I was appalled at the lack of assistance from vw or its dealers.
Up to 50,000 miles my mk7.5 has been super solid. Driven through harsh winters and summers. We'll see how it goes the next 50k miles. Hopefully good ;)
Awesome to hear Jason. - AK
Do you still have the Gti Jason, any updates on how the last year was?
@@BobK5 Yep still have it. I just passed 66 thousand miles got my winter tires on and ready to rock another winter. No issues to report.
@@Max_Thunder thanks for the update Jason, the 7.5 GTi is a very cool car, all the best
I'm a member of several Golf forums where just about every Golf has been modified within an inch of their lives and even in that world these cars are pretty reliable. A lot of the guys run Mark 5s too which are now all well over 10 years old and i'm not hearing daily horror stories. Sure water pumps are a common problem, but everyone knows about that. Life is short. Buy a good low mileage GTI, do a stage 1 ECU and TCU tune and you will have a hugely entertaining car which is the perfect blend of daily and performance car. Most of the competition ride too hard and will drive you nuts on rough suburban streets.
8:35 bloody brilliant work mates!
Hahahaha cheers mate
I have a used 2007 GTI MK V with 120k km which I bought in 2018 as a 1 owner car. Almost 5 yrs later the car has now 20km more and been perfectly reliable and a joy to own. Granted Ive been working abroad so the mileage isnt so high but irregular use, regular servicing, and I couldnt be happier. Fuel consumption not too baad either, between 30 to 35mpg depending on how heavy the right foot is. Used as a daily driver, and still looks great.
any tips on keeping it well maintained? just bought an 08' gti myself
"Arguments with speedbumps" I honestly appreciate your choice of words mate 😂✊🏿
Cheers mate! - AK
@@ReDriven ===
Hi again. Watching from South Africa only the tuned ones and dealership babies seem to last. I don't see any sunroof or any mad engine issues besides the carbon fouling and DSG (if they go unserviced) as I've observed we tend to keep our cars here, many still happily own theirs. Just watched your review again, tying to decide between the M140i, Civic Type R (2016) and a 2016 performance golf. Also looking for something I can work on myself. Of the 3 which would you go for? Practicality, Daily driving, grand touring and some track driving will be involved.
Bus seriously. This is good content. That cheat sheet comes in handy this side of the world too
from the US. just found your channel and really enjoying. excellent length plenty of detail on less prevalent issues you would otherwise never hear about without hours of digging through forums. excellent delivery and just relaxing to watch, thanks!
had a 2006 GTI and the oil burning, carbon buildup and general HPFP design were horrendous (chewed up camshaft lobes). seems those isssues were resolved at least within 10 years?
I’ve got 200,000 klms on my 2010 GTD. Only normal maintenance so far. Love it and 5 litres of diesel gets me 100 klms.
Picking up a 2018 gti tomorrow. 21k miles. 2 years warranty and free servicing.
Fingers crossed.
Got my MK 7.5 S a few weeks ago and I get so many good emotions from it. Only thing is my old Prius had insanely better fuel economy and I miss refueling twice a month for dirt cheap
So good to hear mate. Thanks for watching too. - AK
I’m on my 3 GTI and I love them. I’ve had both the stick shift and the DSG and the DSG is actually more fun and can handle the extra torque from my power module. Mine is forever in sport mode. When it isn’t, it feels unstable around corners but that’s all relative. I haven’t experienced any issues other than rattling in the back but that was covered with the warranty.
Awesome to hear Tommy, congrats.
@@ReDriven although I should have mentioned that the Android auto connection disconnects often and makes me want to drive into a pylon. I’ve tested my phone and new cord in other cars and they work just fine. It’s definitely the car.
Can you expand on the back rattling? My 2015 has back rattling (nothing noisy but there). What is it?
@@reklovjj it happened twice, both times it was strut mounts and bearings. Front then back.
Good to hear about all the potential problems. What you have there is very well maintained example! Usually they are hammered!
Technically the water pumps don't fail, the gasket between the block and the pump fails causing seepage or a leak. Why VW doesn't have a fix for this very well known problem is beyond me. Other than that? They are pretty solid cars👍😎
Just bought a 17 model 6 speed with 23,000 miles absolutely fantastic drive
I’ve had 4 GTI’s. The 87, ‘08, ‘12, and now I have the ‘15. I do agree with most of what you said. Thankfully it hasn’t cost me a ton since I’m a mechanic so I’ve done pretty much all the work myself. But if you’re not a mechanic or you’re not really good with tools then yeah. This car will hurt your pockets for sure.
I am the original owner of a 2015 VW GTI-S model. I have never heard of or seen the water leaks this fellow mentions. I don't have a sun roof so I can't comment about roof leaks. By the way, I live in South Carolina where we get monsoon amounts of rainfall.
The EA888 has been flawless. I'm also on the original clutch with 50K miles. The only unexpected fix was a air conditioner seal covered under warrantee.
The water leaks are well reported online Paul.
In fact two friends that own both GTI and R have had the issue. - AK
2015 and 2016 year models saw a few issues such as waterpump failure and wastegate issues on the turbos.
I have had my 2017 for almost 5 years now tuned with all the bolt ons, and it has been a gem. I have the manual, so the clutch upgrade was an extra cost, but that's to be expected.
German cars just require more persistent general maintenance than a japanese counterpart. You can beat on a honda for 100k miles worry free with total disregard for abuse, but with german cars, you gotta make sure to spend a little time with the ole girl here and there. Leads to a healthier relationship.
how does one check for those issues when not only buying but driving it everyday, does the car tell you the waste gate failed?
@@niconiconnu waterpumps are completely random. I've had mine for almost 6 yrs now and it has a slight drip leak, but still holding up. I'll probably have it replaced within the next year as well as carbon cleaning at the same time.
As for the turbo, most people with wastegate issues will get an epc light and limp mode upon hard driving at highway speeds, but it seems more frequent than it is bc online most who mention it are tuned. I doubt many people saw issues stock.
Then again, i've been tuned for 5 years and never had an epc light, so i dunno. Maybe after a certain high mileage it would be good to check the voltage of the wastegate via vagcom. Im at only 61k miles right now.
That's why I own a Japanese car. Always wants the comfort and silence of a German car but I the maintenance costs always put me off. I'm at 80000 miles over 17 years. I've only done oil changes, air filters and.... That's it!!
The potential problems give me an excuse to upgrade. I have had mine for 3 years, So far only problem I had was high pressure fuel pump, decided to upgrade and car is still working like a gem. I do recommend learning how to take off the intake manifold because labor time is definitely expensive, parts eh its reasonable.
If you have a good car keep it. These problems are uncommon. I’ve had friends “upgrade” expecting their new car to be perfect and have more problems then they did with their previous car.
I was looking for one. And i just change my mind after i check all points of this video. Most of the GTI cars on my country come from the USA after they are crashed. Flooded or rollover. Definitely A AWSOME AND HELPFULL VIDEO TNX
Jim's taken the words out of mouth. See those issues all the time at the workshop. Constantly see water pumps letting go at 30 - 40,000km on even well maintained cars.
class action lawsuit in the US for owners of several VW models with water pump issues. extends warranty or if you've had repair you can get partial reimubursement.
Thanks! Love the honest commentary. I seriously was looking to buy one of these Mac 7s but now will definitely look into some of the issues you mentioned. It was the shape that I was after than the Mac 8, but I guess a new one would make more sense.
Oh bro, please tell me you didn't buy a different car just because of his review..
His review out of all was the most weirdest review Ive seen so far for this car...
He did stress some key points (try to look for manufac. year 2016+ and maintenance is IMPORTANT change oils 5-10k miles, if you buy the car just look it up) but its not as bad as he portrayed it.. Otherwise nobody would be buying the car..
Im trying to import one as we speak and mine was in a car accident so I actually have to get it fixed first before driving it but still.. so far, the reviews and rl convos are highly positive, just dont forget the above mentioned things. Oh, I thought of buying the MK8 but the majority of reviews Ive seen werent positive (in difference to this one and MK7) but my personal beef w the MK8 is its interior, not a fan of it at all but the MK7 is just a gem 😍
Really appreciate the honesty that comes across in all your reviews!
Had my 7.5 manual from new 4 years old now best car i have ever had ,never heard of major problems ,only thing i done is remove bag out of coolant expansion tank which can split & cost a fortune to repair. Try owning a Harley Davison you would be on here hours with problems🤣🤣🤣😂
2018 gti sport 60k miles bought new lots of aftermarket goodies and the car still drives great only issue is after many runs of hard braking 120mph plus had to rebuild a leaking brake caliper. Best upgrade better tires.
Funny thing Is I came across this video months ago and ignored the advice and bought a 2019 Rabbit edition with a 6 speed manual transmission. I can’t stop driving the car and my girlfriend would steal the keys to it whenever she gets a chance. The only thing I agree with in terms of the negative stuff are the tyres. They absolutely suck!
had any issues so far with the clutch or shifter? I found that the factory stock clutch and shifter in the Golf Gti and R , to be waaaay too light and spongy. Had no feeling at all, doesn't feel like a proper manual car. I'd imagine they would be cheaper to service and maintain longterm compared to the auto DSG.
I have a 3 doors GTI manual clubsport, it has a R engine, i still love it. It still looks better then the MK8. And BTW i live in europe, you must get the bad ones i guess, never had any problem with mine.
We're thinking it's the roads and conditions here Bill. Both are pretty extreme. - AK
VW scene in the US is pretty strong, the gti/gli will take so much power on stock hardware with just tuning, it's pretty amazing.
@@ReDriven common problems in the North East US seem to be intake flap malfunctions and wheel bearings constantly going bad
I learned something today. The country that I thought was Australia, is actually known as "Stralia" lol. Great vid bud, thanks for the info!
100% mate. Possibly the most important part of being Australian is to abbreviate everything! Thanks for watching and enjoying! - AK
13:30 bruh it’s a dct - ofc it’ll feel that way
Best purchase I ever made. Every day my commute puts a smile on my face. I so drive too fast, though.
The ad for the 2005 GTI is the best commercial of all time
I have a red one in pristine OEM look with stage 1 APR engine tune, 327PS, 23000km on the odo. Insane 100-200kph acceleration.
Bought a new one in 2020 (FL Performance) Have it for a year now with only 7.500km. Fun and good car. We will see how it will last over the years. Nice review!
Congrats mate and thank you. - AK
hey, how many times do you fuel your car in a month?
@@belikeawolf4627 once or twice. In the holidays more often. I live in a big city where i mostly drive with a e-scooter. The GTI is just for fun or holidays.
the only thing I can say about these gti's is the waterpump/thermostat housing is junk. had a 2016 6speed that I bought with low mileage in 2018 at 70k my 1st water pump went. and now my 2020dsg that I upgraded to new, in 2020 is going threw its 1st waterpump at 102K kilometers. other than that make sure you do oil changes every 8000km Liqui moly or motul, keep a spare qaurt in the trunk if you drive it hard as these tend to burn a fair amount of oil. I'm stage 1 tcu ecu with all the bolt-ons aside from a downpipe. my old mk7 was stock aside from an airbox and muffler delete. DSG gearing make this car move faster imo once tuned. and dont have to spend 2-3 grand on a clutch upgrade on the glass house stock clutch. also here in canada the base models 2019 onwards had the performance pack as standard (golf r brakes, DQ381 7 speed, adaptive LSD, and more power.)
The golf GTD with a manual transmission is the most glorious budget driving machine there is. It’s a bloody beaut. Also, those wheels and the slammed suspension seems like it’d be a nightmare going over potholes or trying to actually use it like a hatchback by having people and cargo in it simultaneously. And if that’s happening while going over a pothole? Herniated disc, here you come! Also, the running joke of FWD hatchbacks, especially ford fiestas oversteering into a hedge or front yard never gets old to me.
This is my car featured in the video. The wheels are stock size (19”) but just a different style and a bit wider, and the suspension is lowered 20mm - so its hardly “slammed”. The suspension is very high quality and the springs are a progressive design, so its very comfortable. I can take 4x adults in the car in comfort and without any issues. The boot is still fully functional and while doing renovations on my house id regularly do trips to the Hardware store, fold the rear seats down, and fill the car up with timber, bags of cement and tools etc. It is still a very practical car.
@@LucasVWGolfR ah. I figured payload would be an issue since there’s not much travel to the rear shocks, so I reckoned the rear wheel wells would be bottoming out while under load. Good to know. I prefer chunkier tyres on my vehicle, but that’s just me.
I’ve a mk5 it currently has 360000km makes lifter noises leaks oil but still going strong can’t kill it
got a mk7 gti 7 years old now no problem at all apart from new battery and window wipers coming up 30k now so first set off tyres
I just bought a 40th anniversary gti.. 195kw but it has 213kw on over boost for 10sec..great car loving it .
Fortunately it’s my weekender not my daily so won’t get that much of a workout
I am surprised. Issues?? The only issue you can have is the water pump. 300€. I have one I know many people with this cars and no problems at all
There is a learning curve for how to drive a DSG. I wouldn't put it as a negative.
Very true, however, some twin clutch transmissions seem to be more intuitive than others. - AK
4 1/2 years in a std 2015 GTI manual, 55,000kms. Water pump changed under warranty, otherwise no issues at all. (it didn't fail, dealer picked up a leak at service and replaced it). Advantage with a non-Performance model is you can get a far more engaging and issue free manual gearbox, more comfortable 18 in wheels. 162kw vs 169kw - not much!
Joy of cruising quietly and smoothly in Comfort or enjoying Sport mode or configuring you own mode.
Lightly loaded, and sticking to the speed limit, best economy run was 5.8l/100km = 850km run to Melbourne from Sydney on a single tank - 50km until empty it said.
How is the non-performance model more engaging exactly?
@@Chris-qe6qr easy answer 😂 it’s not. The gearbox is the same, except you don’t get the bigger brakes, or the differential.
@@_Demonsthenes_ exactly, it sounds like he’s just coping with not having the PP. You can still get a manual with the performance model (you can get a manual with any trim actually). I don’t see how bigger brakes and a limited-slip differential would add less engagement, if anything it adds a lot more engagement and fun
I’ve been looking at these, and it turns out that this exact one is now for sale on Carsales
Edit: it got sold a couple of days ago
Thanks for being honest with your verdict especially with GTI. Non-GTI regular 1.8T Golf is far more reliable for long-term ownership.
Its the same engine, just with 1800cc capacity instead of 2000cc. Identical otherwise.
What would you recommend other than a GTI in the same price range?
i30N or Civic Type R mate. - AK
Did this guy just recommend a civic type R over a GTI. A civic type r cost close to 40 grand, and a GTI you can grab for less then 20k.
@@_Demonsthenes_ Granted a Type R can be had for around $40k but a mint condition GTI Performance like the one we filmed here and recommend out of all the GTI will still ask high thirties. Yes you can get them for far cheaper but a good one can cost as much as $38k. - AK
@@ReDriven You guys paid 38,000 dollars for a 2016 GTI 😂😂 you guys got ripped off hardcore. Mk7 GTI PP with less then 20k miles sell for 20k all day 😂
@@_Demonsthenes_ Oh mate, Australian prices are crazy. Once luxury car tax is included into the price of high end cars it gets very upsetting.
A base spec Porsche 911 Carrera in US retails at around $100K, the same car here is $250K and that's before the on-road costs. Include on-road costs and you'll be looking at closer to $265K.
A new Turbo S in the US starts at $203,000 where as here in Aus, it starts at $473,000 before any options and on-road costs.
Thanks for this refreshingly practical advice! Cheers
Thanks for watching and enjoying! - AK
I had a 1996 GTI with the same water problem. You would thing VW fixed that by now.
I got a 2018 golf GTI in late 2020 that only had 1 previous owner and 14k miles.
F*****g love it
how is the fuel costs?
@@belikeawolf4627 I see a lot of guys pulling 30 plus mph out of these. But this isn’t a Prius. It’s a hot hatch that wants to be driven hard, while also being comfortable and safe. 🤷♂️
Mpg*
No reviewer mentions “max” leg room, I love the Golf being a German car with the amount of legroom for the driver. I’m 6’6 and fit easily
same also the visibility is the best I've experienced in a hot hatch. Japanese cars a terrible for it.
Would love to see a review of the golf R 🙂
great video.
great host.
great editing.
*chef kiss*
Cheers mate!!!
Mechatronics units are close to $4k installed (waaaaay more at a dealer). Careful of that one. I'm still crying 😢
Would love to see a review of its cousin the Skoda RS
i have had ford mustangs, holden SS ute, ford xr6turbo amoung other cars, but so far my favourite car was my old golf mk6 gti, greatest sports car i have driven id happily swap my Holden ss for another gti or golf R. and my olf gti that had 160,000ks on it and had less issues in the few years i owned it than any of the other cars i mention above
what was it about the gti that you liked over the ss ? suspension and handling? gearbox? id' rather have the SS or a mustang as a fun daily driver than a gti or R, even if its a bit more fuel thirsty.
Owned a scirocco 2.0tsi, golf r and driven the scirocco r, honestly do not see why you would but the gti over the scirocco r or just spend 10% more for similar mileage golf r.
Thank you for the informative review, I'll be watching more of this channel as a new subscriber, and i am looking forward to seeing the other reviews...
Thanks so much mate. - AK
I have 64k km on my base 2016 Gti. I also have a stage 1 apr tune. No issues so far.
Is the tune worth it? I too have a 2016 base, 3 door, with 60k km and have been thinking about it for a while. Any issues with stock clutch?
@@thomas8734 I have a dsg. The tune is totally worth it. It feels like a totally different car.
"Some people think ..., but they're wrong." I like a reviewer that is not afraid to put their opinion forward.
Thanks Peter, I like a commenter that compliments me! - AK
As a previous Honda owner, being a VW owner is a completely different story.
I don't know, how was the feeling in the newer model GTI's like, but in my slow MK4 polo GTI be like, she is a bit grumpier, I always miss her gear rev when I shifting...
I don't know she is being nice to me finally, or it is my driving skill improved, I start getting more used to driving her around.
Although I own her just for a year, keep her looks as clean as possible, bov still making "chuu chuuu" noises.
DSG? Sorry she s in manual gears.
In the used small hot hatch markets, at least in EU, the Clio RS Trophy is an absolute gem. Very, very revy and "on rails" in the corners and you can get them with the factory optional Akrapovic exhaust, sounding like a real track car. I've droven a 2017 Polo GTI but the car even with it's 2L engine, feels muted and not that "racy". The Clio RS Trophy with the bigger turbo and with that exhaust always makes sounds, want's for you to push it and rewards you.
Thanks for fantastic review .... glad to see an honest review - with the cons a buyer would be better off in a bmw with everything you've mentioned .
nice review! but i somehow feel that the conclusion does not 100% fit the video before .... ;)
Central Cup holders slide cover with roller shutter has tiny skeletons which can came out and hard to put back in place.. the sliding is still working without them though
I was juggling between i30 vs corolla vs Golf and I'm definitely eliminating Golf. Thanks for the honest review!
Amazing how many times this guys says something is a problem but then says we haven’t experienced that with this car though
I'm very interested in your thoughts on the Golf R 7 or 7.5. Holding their value massively in Australia, making it very hard for me to find one for a good price and condition.
G'Day Matt. We had an R booked for the shoot but something went boom in the engine and the car because unavailable. I have driven a load of different R's and like the GTI, when they work, they're awesome. They're faster than the GTI off the line and out of corners but I feel the GTI is more fun and involving to drive. If you want fast without having to learn throttle modulation and want a car that will make you feel like you're a brilliant driver all the time, get an R but if you want a car that requires talent to extract the best out of it and one that is more "fun", get a GTI.
But if you want a car that has bulletproof reliability, maybe look elsewhere.
@@ReDriven Nice and very honest review. Thank you.
If considering new MK 8 Golf R or GTI. Is the car recommendable? Have 5 years warranty. But still not wish car to be in the service centre for warranty repairs all the time.
If not Golf, is Mercedes A35 used or new any good or does that have issues?
Can you please review the used Mercedes A35 and A45 please as like golf?
Thanks again
@@srinimohanbabu3539 We'll find an A45 to review as soon as we can mate. A Golf R (or GTI) with lots of warranty is a great way to go. The vast majority don't have major issues but it's just smart to be aware of the potential issues.
I have a gti tcr model 2019 and have to say its a beauty my tcr has bigger disc break and looks very much better loveit
Buy one without sunroof and without leather and it'll be great
Sunroof makes it look better
@@sethuhlatshwayo2281 it really doesn't
@@cartilagehead you need a sun roof to make it panoramic right?
@@belikeawolf4627 GTIs are for looking at the road at high speed. If I’m looking out a 300lb glass roof I’m doing something wrong. Also no, there’s no sun where I live.
@@cartilagehead imo, if you buy such car at such a high price you need a panoramic option, looks very nice from the outside and it makes your car fresh from an angle that is only applicable from above.
Could you guys do like a tier list, of the top cars in Australia for your more juvenile demographic
The fact that in today's markets a GTI even if upgraded still costs over 40k and people are willing to pay that is wild to me
so what is the best hot hatch to buy that won’t give you issues? don’t know why it’s so hard to find a hatch that sounds nice and doesn’t break 🙃
Hyundai i30N.
My 2016 Mk 7 GTI had the water pump fail at 33,000km, 6 months after the warranty expired.
Engine is notorious at building carbon. You need a catchcan and using CRC Valve cleaner every 10000 miles or less. CHANGE OIL, don't leave more than 5000 miles. Change transmission fluid every 30000 miles. Do this and car will be in excellent condition
Not true at all when it comes to carbon build up, at least not on the mk7. No catch can needed either, not sure where you’re getting your info on those two things.
My car has done about 200,000 miles with oil changes at between 15,000 and 20,000 miles. Dealer serviced from new and never any mechanical issues.
Buy a near new one, drive it for 4-5 years and get rid of it, you will be OK. Don't forget the bolstering wearing out on the base of the driver's seat, what a pain in the ass to fix (helpful hint, buy a whole new seat squab)
I would like a civic type r review! Or even a hot hatch comparison as I would love to know the most reliable hot hatch!
It's coming Ryan. Which Type R generation would you like.
A hot hatch comparison is way way above our financial and time abilities at the moment but one day when we can do this as our full time jobs, we'll do one. - AK
For the price of a GTI, I can get a Seat Leon Cupra ST... which is basically a golf R estate, but looks way cooler. 300 hp, all wheel drive. Better car imho
We’ll get it then lol
So this GTI is actually screwed together better than an S-Class... Neat!
Hahahaha yep!
If your dsg is not smooth, there is someting wrong
Never had any issues with any vw’s when I lived in the UK or the one I own here in Australia but they get a bad wrap here must send the dogs to Australia
We hope most are reliable but the horror stories we see and hear are becoming far too common Adam. Thanks for watching and commenting too.
I owned a R for a while here in Australia and honestly am thinking of getting another one and in my experience it was fine. It had some really random electrical issues like the song skipping when I indicated etc but other than that mechanically it was fine.
@@NippyMoto It's such a tough call mate. I'm personally very tempted by an R wagon but with putting all this content together, when it comes to fast Golfs, the stories are either like yours with owners loving them and never having an issue or complete horror stories and catastrophic engine failures.
One of my best mates had a Mk7 R, perfect condition, loved it, never a drama, drives very sensibly and just out of warranty and one day BAM, engine does its big end bearings and implodes. The repair bill was over $20k!!
But, nothing does was a Gold R wagon can do! So torn. - AK
Consider me a subscriber, decent review! Any chance you could have a look at the Volvo c30? For whatever reason I just want to buy one as a spare car haha
Cheers mate. Great request and yes, we'll try to track one down. - AK
Thanks for the video was about to buy one used but think an i30n wiĺ be better
What would be considered low kms for something like a 2015 model? found a 2015 with 120km but i wasn't sure if that counts as a lot of kms
Great video. Thank you.
Thanks Eric! - AK
really nice review
Thanks mate. - AK
So if I want a reliable and dependable hot hatch that gives you years and years of trouble-free performance and practical driving even when it's out of warranty, then I should buy....???
A Japanese hot hatch.......oh wait.
Hunday i30N, Honda Civic Type R .....
Easy question!
Next one please! 😂
I tend to agree with ad ci, i30N is a cracker of a thing and proving to be very reliable. Civic Type R is up there with the best cars I've ever driven, is supremely reliable and as long as you keep your eyes firmly closed when walking towards it and make sure you don't look back when walking away from it, is excellent!
It’s really not that bad. Read some more comments, and you’ll find that long time owners of these cars have had very little to no issues. Including me. You can do so much with these cars and they will do it right alongside you. It’s the same thing with any car, actually look at it before you buy it. I saw some guy on here complaining about how his water pump broke 7 times. Even though he had one of the first mk7 gti ever made. As if every car company doesn’t have problems in their first gen.
10’ Mercedes c63 amgs blew up, Ford couldn’t figure out what gasket to put in the focus rs or eco boost mustang so they explode all the time, the veloster n is cool but costs so much more.
Then this guy is recommending a civic type r over a gti. As if the civic isnt 40,00 dollars and the GTI you can find for less then 20.
I've got a 400+ bhp plus suspension mods mk7 that I bought used (stock) and it's been great for 3+ years and counting. A practical daily that's a riot to drive. Only rwd could make it better. I do my own work and am very comfortable with anything that could happen.
Awesome mate! That would be amazing to drive. - AK
what issues have you found?
Reliability? I’ve driven more than 200,000 miles in my four Mk7s with ZERO issues. Perspective. 🤷🏻♂️
Is the water pump timing driven?
Great review. Can yoiu do mazda 6 2009 luxury version?
What suspension is this GTI running?
Hi, which alloys are those please
Wrong, don't keep it in sport all the time. It will drive you nuts when town driving. It will only stay in 2nd gear. Well, if you want to keep your license
Good point mate. I only had it for a few days so maybe the novelty of sport mode didn't have a chance to wear off. - AK
With the Polo GTI having the same engine but de-tuned, would it be a fair assumption that the Polo GTI should be more reliable?
We'll find out when we review it mate. - AK
@@ReDriven nice. Looking forward to it.
Can you do a BMW F20 LCI-2 125i please🙏
They said its a Rear Wheel Drive GTI?
What wheels are those? I’m between neuspeed r10 or these
Koya SF11 19x8.5 ET43