Thanks for another entertaining - to the point review. I like your reference to Consumer Reports since VW has (in my mind) a reliability issue. I owned one and that was enough - even though i love the handling (i'm sure reliability has improved since my used 1981 Scirocco).
Great review Tom, I still have to edit up my video of this car. I had a ZERO option S model late last year, I think I pulled 41mpg on the highway! Just posted my GTI review, if you haven't driven it yet, you WILL love it. Still sets the benchmark for the class.
Just sold my MKVI GTI and wondering if I should have got for the MkVII. Tom, make sure you get the GTI with performance pack, they say it is awesome. Looking forward to seeing the Focus RS, Golf R and Subie WRX STI comparisons.
I've always liked the Golf, but in recent years they have been too far on the spendy side for my wallet. For $30K there are a number of other options. Still, there is just something about the Golf you have to love.
Nice car as I bought the TSI SE but had to swap it ... seats too small, no tilt seat feature and seat cushion was flat. Caused back pain/sciatica nerve pain down leg. Got a bigger Non-VW car instead. Overall... good car, quiet and preppy.. fun to drive.. change lanes then rev off on the highway or even the street with smooth ride and the sound insulation was relatively very good :) But there were obviously some not so good things but minor... No USB port, flat/hard driver's seat with no tilt adjustment, needs more room even for 6' [readers from various online forums state that tall people can fit like 6'4" people but do they sit in the driver's position under a sun roof? EVERYONE is different!], some cheap plastic areas, did I mention the seats?
This was an infomercial. I was looking for a proper review. Not easy to find as they all seem to be in the pocket of the car manufacturer. What's the point and what's the deal? Do you do the "loan me you car and I'll make it look great" approach?
I don't know what you're talking about but he has a neutral view and has bashed shitty cars and complimented good cars. He's not for or against anything.
The seat bolsters on this car are so severe that only skinny people will feel comfortable in the narrow seats. The base-level Golf has more comfortable seats, albeit with limited adjustment. A very solid and expensive-feeling car otherwise.
I'm still uncomfortable about reviews. I've been to six or seven different websites and they all say the Golf is unreliable and to expect serious and PAINFULLY expensive repairs after 60,000 miles. Any Golf owners who can share their stories? How many miles is on your Golf? How does it hold up after 50-55,000 miles? Also, I'm shocked that many say the manual transmission is unreliable and that reverse gear tends to fail!
+largol33t1 I seen tons of VW's with 300+ k miles, running strong. It will depend on if you maintain it the right way. The TDIs are bulletproof. So are the new TSI engines.
I hope you're right. I usually listen to the dealer. If the manufacturer says to replace the air filter at 20,000 miles, I do it at 20,000. If they say to replace the brake pads at 55,000 miles, I do it a little bit before 55,000. Last car was a MINI and if MINI opened its mouth and said to "take care of this before it becomes a problem" I listen and follow their directions. The MINI had 60,000 miles and only one minor mechanical issue in that entire time. I hope the Golf holds up as well because I don't like the styling of the newer MINIs. VW is one of the very few brands still offering a stick as an option so I had fewer choices to pick.
On my second Golf (Mark 7 TSI- the one tested here). No problems. My Mark 6 saw 97,000 miles of trouble free driving and proved to be a tank when rear ended at 45-50 MPH by a huge Van (the kind with the Bus like rear). My car was drivable from the scene and the Van had to be towed. I always do maintenance at VW Dealerships and follow the schedule to the letter, just as before. My experience with VW Golfs has been very reliable and no more trouble than any other brand I have owned and I am 55. In my experience, almost any decent car will prove reliable if taken care of and not flogged. Why people cut corners on their cars is beyond me as you will probably spend more money in total on your cars over your life than your home.
The problem with Volkswagen is that the long term reliability is HORRIBLE (especially with the electronics)! This is a rental car... you bring it back after 3 years and ask for a new one (as I would do with all German cars except for Porsche because they are actually very reliable (JD Powers). Not only that but they are built in Mexico... no real leather? And no USB? How's the GPS interface? Is it still as clunky? Don't get me wrong, they are pretty and fun to drive but finish off being a garage queen.
Had 2 VW and 1 Audi, no problems (though I got an extended warranty with the Audi, I was ready!). Audi is now near top of Consumer Reports (CR) and as per Tom VW is now midpack. Golf has done well, but Beetle and a few others are not recommended. Trust CR more than JD. The USB deal is not a big reason to overlook, can get adapters and my last one came ready for an Apple IPhone.
I would like to trust CR but they ask for a membership and I'm not paying 30,00$ for that! The thing is that people who love volkswagen tend to ''forget'' the problems and that makes them think their more reliable than they really are. Everyone I know who has had a Volkswagen have told me they had problems. These people didn't have the attachment that other people have towards those cars so they didn't mind talking about it. Sadly, people do joke a lot about how unreliable they are so I think people try to hide the problems because they really want to like the car. Also, this is a new model and I'm talking about the long term not the ''I've had the car for 2 weeks and nothing's wrong'' haha. Anyway, I still trust JD Power.
Mr Horse Face Since in the UK (where I originated) VW has the opposite persona, my best guess is that the US spec Jetta's were not good and hence the reputation. They lost sight of the goal and focused in on the price point too much - seem to be back on track now with the right content. My old German built MkVI was faultless to a tee, great car to own and drive. On the CR front, I really have enjoyed the $30 access and when we purchased a Mazda 3 it was by far a) most informative on price and b) got us a huge discount (via truecar), but what I like most is they tell you more detail than JD about what was going wrong with each model in each year. Where JD and CR both bug me, is that will not say what the response number was per model per year (though CR was bragging on how Tesla responses they had had).
I call bs. My vw passat has 170k miles on it and I haven't had a single problem with it. Have you even owned one? My friend has a 2014 vw Golf with 50k miles on it and he hasn't had a single problem... His car was made in Mexico, too. Want luxury? Go to VWs Audi line. Don't like Audi? Go to VWs Porsche line. Oh, not enough? Buy VWs Buggati Veyron.
Mop and bucket I'm not sure where you're getting your data from but the golf is good reliable inexpensive car. further I think it's funny you are clowning on vw but you're talking about porsche like they're totally different. they're not. vw and porsche have been connected at the hip forever.
+s0nnyburnett It's made the same way and with same materials as the German Golf. Keep in mind, Golf was always made locally in a factory near you (in Europe at least)..
