3 years with the GTi - thoughts and experiences

[Stitch]

I've had the GTi for almost 3 years now (6 months old when I bought it) and have covered c37k miles in it. This is my first GTi and infact first VW after a few Lotus Elise's and BMW's. I wanted a more sensible car but one that wouldn't cost the earth to run and one which I thought would have great build quality and the support of a good dealer/customer netowork.......mmmmm.

Build quality, specifically the interior is awful. It rattles and tizz's more than my Lotus' ever did. It's was in with the dealer 12 times to fix rattles (centre console, gear stick area and doors) which were never resolved. VW customer service are shocking and the dealer who I bought the car from basically told me to FRO. The rattles started within a month of purchasing the car and the warranty ran out before they fixed them and the other issues I had (door seals, foggy light clusters, replaced fuel pump, replaced bushes, wheel arch liners coming loose, sound deadening material coming loose to name a few). The 18" monza II's also suffered from the cap problem and the "milk" problem but VW refused to replace them.

That said, after giving up and excepting the car it does do a lot of things very well. The engine has to be it's finest point with the turbo offering a good level of torque which makes for interesting driving. Running costs are good (although this year with the 40k mile service, discs and pads and camblet and water pump will be a bit rich) and I can average 34mpg without trying.

Unfortunatley, the VW dealer experience and VW customer service experience means I would never buy another VW - which is a shame as I think the product could be be excellent. I understand that things go wrong, even on German cars but BMW and Lotus fixed the problems without hassle and to me that is the sign of a good brand.

Anyway, only just found this forum but looks like a wealth of information - looks like a good find.

Anyone else have these issues or did I get a Friday car?

[ccaasjf]

Hiya,

Read your post with interest, had my 57(2008) 5-dr manual GTI DPM Monza II rom new supplied by MotorProvider in Sheffiled, an import built to my spec had 9 miles on the clock when i picked her up 25k now.

Faults: headlamp broke when I changed the bulbs, ipod adapter replaced, honey comb came loose and new 3rd brake light on spoiler. Keyfob broke after 3 months, VW customer service refused to replace it!

So far had no alloy white worms or cabin rattles and mechanics have been 100%.

Positives:
Great car to own for everyday driving, could not agree more about the engine so much torque makes the daily commute very easy, returns 31/32 mpg combination of town, a & b roads. Always leaves me with a smile on my face.

Negatives:
Having to deal with VW custimer service and dealers. Expensive to service and 4 year Cambelt change with water pump. Not as well built as you would think.

Think i have been lucky and have a good one, would I buy another GTI? Yes, would I buy another VW? Hell No.


I

[Stitch]

Hi

It's a real shame that VW are so bad. They tried to blame the "really stiff sports suspension" for the rattles - at that point I gave up. I have tended to buy two cars of every marque I've had (2 Lotus, 2 BMWs) but i can't see it being 2 VW. My GF wanted a new Polo but is getting a Ford Fiesta instead afer she;s seen the way VW have dealt with my issues.

[ub7rm]

I have a rattle free car and have had no issues (touch wood) except for a steering rack replaced under warranty and third brake light which was an easy fix in the end.

The worst thing about VW is deff the dealers and their attitude.

[Stitch]

I am very fussy with my cars and other friends have said they've not had the issues I have so have probably been unlucky. I suspect I'll be changing it later this year or ealry next year (try and get some value out of the servicing and cambelt change!).

I have a rattle free car and have had no issues (touch wood) except for a steering rack replaced under warranty and third brake light which was an easy fix in the end.

The worst thing about VW is deff the dealers and their attitude.

[Pando]

Almost 4 years and 40k miles on mine
No problems apaprt from a rust spot on the front facing edge at the back door beside the little window, sorted under paint warrenty though
Everything has run ok fingers crossed

Fancy buying a S4 avant but i dont want to get rid of the golf as we both enjoy it to drive

Its a hard decision

[smiffy555]

Over the last 4 yrs I've had 2 GTi's.

The first was a 5dr, the one problem I had with this was the white worm on the 18"s, which the dealer replaced imeadiately.

The current GTi is an Ed30 which has had a new flywheel at 8,000 miles and replaced under warranty and without hassle, and the piece of trim under the steering column used to rattle. I unscrewed it and stuck some anti rattle tape on the joint and screwed it back into place.

Both have been a true joy to own and drive, the Ed30 being the better out of the two thanks to it's extra top end grunt, slightly better handling, deeper exhaust note and it being a little more exclusive.

Servicing costs have been low, I use Listers in Stratford and they have always provided a 'top class' service to me. I've never paid over £210 for a service and the fuel consumption has been an average of 32mpg over a total mileages of 70,000 miles.

It's come to a point where I'm thinking of changing the Ed30 but I just can't think of a better cat out there to replace it with!!!!

[jaydubveedub]

My GF wanted a new Polo but is getting a Ford Fiesta instead afer she;s seen the way VW have dealt with my issues.

If you think VW customer care is bad (which it is, no argument there) then wait until you experience a Ford dealer.

I speak from experience when I say that they are bad enough with standard servicing work (not doing everything they should, not doing what you ask, oily marks on the interior - I could go on all day) but when it comes to warranty work they could not give a flying fcuk. They have even tried to charge for warranty items on a 2 year old car.

A colleague of mine bought one of the new Fiesta's last year. Had loads of electrical faults and bits of trim kept falling off. He never bothered getting them fixed because the service is so poor. Ended up trading it in.

[Davstylee]

I have admired the MK5 GTI for ages, then I got to a position where I could afford one (only just) so after searching a lot I found and brought one from Abridge VW in Essex at the end of November 2009 and I was very with it. Then things started going wrong. First was a broken timing valve which VW replaced under the extended warranty. 2nd was the drivers side electric window motor needed replacing, which was covered under the warranty. Also when I brought the car the dealer told me that it had had the DSG oil change, but I rang the garage that apparently carried it out and they said they hadn’t done it. So I got it done along with a head light alignment and door alignment, which in total cost me £280. Luckily the sales man at Abridge said they would cover the cost and im just waiting for the cheque.
So all in all I was a little disappointed with how a few things have broken, or needed adjusting in the short time I have owned the car, but I am very happy with how well the sales man at Abridge VW has handled everything. He genuinely seams quiet sorry about all the things going wrong, band has been more than happy for me to get the issues fixed at my local VW, and then reimburse me the cost, rather than me drive all the way into Essex (hour there and an hour back plus £3 on the toll bridge)
Apart from the issues I have had, the car is amazing. Great fun to drive, brilliant engine and really comfortable. As I drive mainly in towns and short distances on a day to day basis, my MPG is at about 25 at the moment. My heavy right foot and the fact it has crap tyres on it probably donesn’t help though. I have no rattles or anything like that so touch wood it will stay that way.
I think the GTI is a great car, but I have been surprised at all the build quality issues myself and other people on this forum seam to experience. Mind you coming from one of the first new shape Suzuki Swifts and having to take that into the garage 4 times for safety recalls my GTI seams to be built a lot better ha ha!
As for the question of would I buy another GTI? Yes I would, but I may go for a MK6, but one of the later models so that VW have had time to iron out any issues it has.

[Stitch]

That's the other thing that puts me off another GTi - the pricing of the Mk6 Golf. In decent trim, they are c£30k. Not only is that S3 money (not saying the S3 is a better car but its better spec'd and has a percieved better image) but you could pick up so much more metal for your money (thinking  of a 1 year old 335i M sport Coupe for starters).

I spent >£21k on the Golf and within a matter of weeks it became evident that I would have to fight and argue for the next 30 months to out their faults right. Trading standards were involved also.

I am genuinley dissapointed that my view has become so negative about the Golf as I was really looking forward to owning my first GTi. I will write a letter to VW when I eventually sell the car, not that they'll care but the customer care aspect is as important as the car itself in my opinion.