GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: andykram on 30 March 2015, 11:26
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Well, after nearly 6 years with the GTi I pick up my new car this afternoon, a brand new Passat TDi 150. Yes, a diseasel!! Dark, dark times indeed!! Circumstances have dictated this to a certain extent, for example, fuel cost and the mileage I am now doing and this means running the GTi has become too expensive for us.
I also have to admit to having lost confidence in it since the cam timing unit went a few weeks ago. I genuinely thought I'd suffered the dreaded timing chain bang at the time so was "relieved" to get away with a £500 bill but it still rattles like mad on start up every morning and one or two recent failures on the timing chain thread where people have got nothing off VW have not filled me with confidence either, especially as mine is such an early 09 example. It had become almost like a game of Russian roulette every morning where you turn it on and hope it'll be ok but also know one day you'll get hit by the bullet and a £6/7/8k bill!
So in a fit of sensibleness I walked into my dealer on Saturday with a Car Wow quote for a Passat GT and two hours later walked out with an even cheaper one they had in stock. Lovely car to be fair, fully loaded and £3k cheaper than the Mk7 GTD I was seriously considering.
All in all, I've had 6 happy years with my Mk6. It's had the cam time unit fail and the inlet manifold failure too. £800 or so between them which I suppose isn't too bad in 6 years. I also had the timing tensioner changed at 4 years old. It's averaged about 35mpg pretty consistently. It's been quick, fun and gains serious respect from people who think it is just simply a cool car. In 4 years time when I've paid the Passat off we will change the wife's 1 series convertible and she has talked about another GTi then or maybe even an R but I'd want to see over the next few years if the timing chain issue aflicts the Mk7 in the same way it has the 6 - only if it were would I seriously consider one. The Mk6 has also got me into the VW scene and I intend to keep the Mk2 which is now just about completely restored and show ready so I will still continue to hang round the shows.
I'd like to thank everyone on here for the banter, the friendship and the knowledge that I've encountered since becoming a member of the forum. I'd especially like to thank Simon (Dubber) for all his help whilst I was having my Mk2 restored down in Shropshire and various others of you who have answered my queries and questions either on the forum or through the private messages,not least Rocket Ross who answered to me in great detail about the problems he was having literally the other day just before I sold mine.
Hopefully, I will see you all in 4 years time, no doubt by then on the Mk8 section!!
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I'd especially like to thank Simon (Dubber) for all his help whilst I was having my Mk2 restored down in Shropshire
It was a pleasure to help out Andy, especially knowing the worries James's lack of communication caused. He still doesn't answer his phone :rolleyes:
The Passat sounds nice. might see you over at ukpassats some time soon.
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Farewell, enjoy your new passat :smiley:
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Farewell, enjoy your new passat :smiley:
Farewell buddy.... :smiley:
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I'm a Passat owner and I still hang around getting into some of the witty banter (grindr) springs to mind :tongue: Hope the new car gives you good service :cool:
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Good luck with the Passat :smiley:
I know the 'going to the dark side' feeling very well, having changed my Mk5 GTI for a Mk6 TDI 140. The drop in power does take some getting used to but I really appreciate been in a newer car with more equipment and better MPG.
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Thank you everybody. Simon, at least James is consistent on the communication front!!!
Just in case anybody has to go to the dark side as I have had to I must say I am very impressed with the Passat. The quality seems excellent, handling is really pretty good (obviously not GTi level but it doesn't wallow round corners like an old barge) and it's also very comfortable and quiet. Interior space is also huge compared to what I've been used to.
Interestingly, I'm driving a lot less aggressively already!! Even more interestingly, now that the wife has been in it, she has already said in 4 years she may well have grown out of her stupid fetish for convertibles and mentioned the letters "GTi" and "R" and the words "driving pleasure" over and above "posing"!!!
Now that's a revelation for a woman whose middle names are "badge snob poseur"!!!!
So, all in all, definitely a head rather than heart purchase but one that I like already. Will I grow to love it, like I did the Mk6, only time will tell?