I agree with the topic in the threads being a bit repetitive and not that fresh anymore, but i guess that what happens when a forum serves a model that has been discontinued for 2-3 years or so, and therefore has cars that are between 2 and 9 years old. I'm like you , I usually changed my cars between the 2-3 year mark, but my current GTI will be 5 years old next May !
I also usually change a car when I feel it's become so mature that teenagers can afford to run an early one and mod the hell out of it (spoilers, slammed, huge drainpipe exhausts etc), that's usually when I want to get out of a particular model as I somehow always feel that dilutes a models heritage (maybe it's just the snob in me
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Whilst I can honestly say though is that the GTI it's one of the best (if not the best) car I've ever owned, I think a good part of why I've kept it so long is 3 reasons
1. Like a lot on here, there's not that much (certainly within the same segment) that appeals to me more than the GTI
2. The price on newer replacement cars has gone though the roof and with dealers now offering little to no discounts or incentives anymore, the price to change to very high.
3. The delivery time on a new replacement is going to be 12-18 months.
I also think part of the reason I've kept it so long is the spec (see my sig for more information), as it has pretty much all of what a modern VW has. Is it the perfect spec...no. If I'd have had the money at time of order, I'd have definitely added the Performance pack and ultimately the pano sunroof as well (that would have been my perfect spec). As it is, I've never really pushed my GTI to the point where i guess the benefits of the Performance pack would have helped and with so many stories of failed Pano sunroof surrounds, maybe I dodged a bullet on that one.
It just goes to show that 9 years from launch the MK7(7.5) performance models (GTI, GTD & R), really were very well sorted cars with great standard equipment, great looks, decent build quality and pretty much spot on driver characteristics. VW really did hit the nail on the head with this generation (in my humble opinion).