Tornado06
Go Kart Newbie
- Location
- New Jersey
Let me start this thread by saying this: Please read it with an open mind and try not to let emotions cause you any over reaction! LoL. I think we need to NOT take the forum too seriously, yet take it seriously. :wink:
What prompted me to place this new thread online, is what I've read here on existing threads. Namely, the "ask a VW salesman" one. Seems many of us question the pricing of the new GTI and even its future reliability.
I have a couple thoughts. First off: The 2006 is going to be one of the best built of this new MKV series. Mark my words. Y? It's simple to logic out.. VW was failing miserably at bringing the same (early) 1980's excitement to the GTI - for many years now. They had to redesign it, yes, but also bring it BACK in a HUGE way. They did this! The '06 model is extremely well put together and are VERY HIGHLY APPOINTED. Especially so, in areas of standard equipment and most notably, the interior! If you order the Package 2, look out. The interior is SICK. More details then can be covered in any single forum post. And, REAL leather in places many expensive cars don't use real leather. REAL metal(s) too. This level of quality is not going to be seen in ANY Si or WRX - period. If it were to be included, the Si/WRX would cost the SAME or MORE then a GTI. You never see this detail on any sub $28,000 American car. Hell, I bought my package 2 GTI for like 25,500. Think about this stuff for a moment. OK..
Thought 2: Further, I work on cars for a living and know how they are built. I know this at a level, not known by people who simply drive their cars daily. Point is, it's INSANE how VW can even sell the GTI as cheap as they do for 2006. (the opposite of what many feel here on this forum) IMHO - There is very little profit in the NEW GTI. I feel it's being built, as it is, for more reasons then ppl realize. It's sort of a BANNER car. It's their clever, little pocket rocket. A well built, highly appointed, yet practical car. One that has new technologies to showcase, including the DSG box and FSI. Although they have been out for years on Audi vehicles, they are not going to be shown to the general public that way. VW is a more affordable, mass sold vehicle. Back to PROFIT MARGIN - This is why they will inevitably cut back on standard features and possibly move assembly outside Wolfsburg, Germany - in the future.
Thought 3: VW are not bad quality autos. However, like any car on the planet, they have their own inherent problems. Some are model/year specific. Some across the board for years and years. I've been repairing German cars since the late 1980's. I find the SINGLE biggest VW issue across the board, is/are oil leaks. I've owned Chevy Camaros, purchased new, and kept for 10-15 years or more. Hell yea, things break.. But - I almost NEVER had a drop of oil anywhere on the engine. You almost never see any internal engine issues either, if unmodified. This is just GM. They quite honestly build the best small block V8 on the Earth and always have. Alternately, VW builds (in my opinion) some of the best 4 CYLs anywhere on the planet. BUT, many of them leak oil like mad. Do VW 4s break internally or blow up? NOT really. Just be prepared to look over your engine at every oil change and immediately fix oil leaks, as they occur. If you wait too long, they can become extremely difficult to pinpoint with 100% precision, as you develop multiple leaks. Now don't flame me here. This is just ONE single example.
All cars break in some area. All cars have issues. However, to say VW is more unreliable than average is rubbish. Look around on the highway and tell me you've noticed a lot of VW's on the shoulder lately, with the hazards on? It's not happenin' like that ppl. Let's not put down a really awesome auto. It's price point is justifiable. Just consider VDub's gazillion $ plant with state of art laser welding, etc. Consider they want you to walk away not only alive, but in good shape in the event of a major collision., Their safety protocols are unsurpassed in a sub 30K car. You don't like the high ride height/lame springs used in the USA? Don't fault VW. Blame our SUV/Truck saturated US market place. VW is not going to do well here in crash testing with low springs. SRS and other items do not test well when 50% of American vehicles can literally DRIVE OVER top of you - if your car is too low to ground. I hate the overuse of truck type vehicles in this country. It's a disgrace actually. Soccer moms suck. LoL. Lastly, realize, the GTI is still based on the Golf. The Golf is one of the best selling/sold cars on Earth. And for almost too many years to count. I may live in the USA, but I def think Globally since cars are my living/livelihood. To set the record straight, if I'm wrong on my initial impressions and we later find the new GTI is a flaming hunk of sh*t, I'll be the first to apologize and admit it. It is what it is! If you lasted this long, thanks for reading! :wink:
What prompted me to place this new thread online, is what I've read here on existing threads. Namely, the "ask a VW salesman" one. Seems many of us question the pricing of the new GTI and even its future reliability.
I have a couple thoughts. First off: The 2006 is going to be one of the best built of this new MKV series. Mark my words. Y? It's simple to logic out.. VW was failing miserably at bringing the same (early) 1980's excitement to the GTI - for many years now. They had to redesign it, yes, but also bring it BACK in a HUGE way. They did this! The '06 model is extremely well put together and are VERY HIGHLY APPOINTED. Especially so, in areas of standard equipment and most notably, the interior! If you order the Package 2, look out. The interior is SICK. More details then can be covered in any single forum post. And, REAL leather in places many expensive cars don't use real leather. REAL metal(s) too. This level of quality is not going to be seen in ANY Si or WRX - period. If it were to be included, the Si/WRX would cost the SAME or MORE then a GTI. You never see this detail on any sub $28,000 American car. Hell, I bought my package 2 GTI for like 25,500. Think about this stuff for a moment. OK..
Thought 2: Further, I work on cars for a living and know how they are built. I know this at a level, not known by people who simply drive their cars daily. Point is, it's INSANE how VW can even sell the GTI as cheap as they do for 2006. (the opposite of what many feel here on this forum) IMHO - There is very little profit in the NEW GTI. I feel it's being built, as it is, for more reasons then ppl realize. It's sort of a BANNER car. It's their clever, little pocket rocket. A well built, highly appointed, yet practical car. One that has new technologies to showcase, including the DSG box and FSI. Although they have been out for years on Audi vehicles, they are not going to be shown to the general public that way. VW is a more affordable, mass sold vehicle. Back to PROFIT MARGIN - This is why they will inevitably cut back on standard features and possibly move assembly outside Wolfsburg, Germany - in the future.
Thought 3: VW are not bad quality autos. However, like any car on the planet, they have their own inherent problems. Some are model/year specific. Some across the board for years and years. I've been repairing German cars since the late 1980's. I find the SINGLE biggest VW issue across the board, is/are oil leaks. I've owned Chevy Camaros, purchased new, and kept for 10-15 years or more. Hell yea, things break.. But - I almost NEVER had a drop of oil anywhere on the engine. You almost never see any internal engine issues either, if unmodified. This is just GM. They quite honestly build the best small block V8 on the Earth and always have. Alternately, VW builds (in my opinion) some of the best 4 CYLs anywhere on the planet. BUT, many of them leak oil like mad. Do VW 4s break internally or blow up? NOT really. Just be prepared to look over your engine at every oil change and immediately fix oil leaks, as they occur. If you wait too long, they can become extremely difficult to pinpoint with 100% precision, as you develop multiple leaks. Now don't flame me here. This is just ONE single example.
All cars break in some area. All cars have issues. However, to say VW is more unreliable than average is rubbish. Look around on the highway and tell me you've noticed a lot of VW's on the shoulder lately, with the hazards on? It's not happenin' like that ppl. Let's not put down a really awesome auto. It's price point is justifiable. Just consider VDub's gazillion $ plant with state of art laser welding, etc. Consider they want you to walk away not only alive, but in good shape in the event of a major collision., Their safety protocols are unsurpassed in a sub 30K car. You don't like the high ride height/lame springs used in the USA? Don't fault VW. Blame our SUV/Truck saturated US market place. VW is not going to do well here in crash testing with low springs. SRS and other items do not test well when 50% of American vehicles can literally DRIVE OVER top of you - if your car is too low to ground. I hate the overuse of truck type vehicles in this country. It's a disgrace actually. Soccer moms suck. LoL. Lastly, realize, the GTI is still based on the Golf. The Golf is one of the best selling/sold cars on Earth. And for almost too many years to count. I may live in the USA, but I def think Globally since cars are my living/livelihood. To set the record straight, if I'm wrong on my initial impressions and we later find the new GTI is a flaming hunk of sh*t, I'll be the first to apologize and admit it. It is what it is! If you lasted this long, thanks for reading! :wink:
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other than that the car has been mechanically and electronically sound so far. Some quirks here and there but I can always have it checked. :thumbup: