I'm not ready to buy quite yet, but like everyone else, always on the hunt for my next car. I figured I'd replace my '11 TSX with a TLX when the time came, but having read some of the reviews, I just can't get excited about the prospect. My two biggest (really only) gripes about my current TSX are 1) low power and 2) FWD. So to fix those, I'd really need to go with the V6 AWD, and we're talking $40k+. Not out of the realm of reason, but is it really that much better than the almost paid-for TSX I already have? It's a lot of coin considering the middling reviews.

But then I expand my scope, and anything I look at is just boring, or $45k+. Any BMW I build up is $50k or more, same with the IS350, and the A4/C-class/G37 or whatever it's called this week just aren't doing it for me. I've even sorta thought about SUVs, but the only ones that interest me (Grand Cherokee, 4Runner) are just as $$$. I just can't get excited about any of these cars for what they cost.


But then, the new GTI is getting pretty rave reviews, and it's $30k or less. All I really need in a DD is a back seat (2y/o daughter) and "interesting/fun to drive". I've never been a big VW guy, but my wife has had an '08 Jetta since new and it has given us few problems in 104k miles. And this new GTI seems like a great value, enough power to have some fun with, and you can get a LSD to tame the FWD. I dunno, anyone think of stepping down/sideways like this? Just seems silly to pay damn near $50k for some boring premium sedan that's not that fun to drive, when something like the GTI sounds like more fun, cheaper, and just a better buy all around.


Thoughts?

 

New only?

 

New to new-ish, and I've found that in the current market, cars that I'm interested in don't appreciably depreciate until they're older than I really want to own. Like I'd love to own a 997, and could pick one up in the $35k range, but don't really have the stomach for the parts prices, potential maintenance issues, etc.

 

We've had our 2012 GTI close to 3 years. It's been completely problem free so far. It's my wife's car and she loves it. Its very easy to drive and provides a decent amount of low end grunt. It does run out of steam a bit at the top end but it really is pretty easy to drive fast.

I was actually considering one when I sold my S this year as I struggled to find something that would be a worthy replacement but ended up with a new Corvette Stingray instead

 

How about one of Volvo's newer offerings?

 

Not buying from a China-owned company, thanks.

 

Friend has been driving Rabbits/Golf/GTI's since the mid 1980's. He loves them. The only problem I could see, is if you decide to have more children. Eventually, you may need more room for soccer days, swimming days, family vacations... etc.

For used GTI, the usual caution about maintenance of turbocharged engine. Esp religious oil changes.
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Yeah, I failed to specify...this would be MY DD, but my wife will always have a larger SUV. This would be a commuter/backup family car (drop the kid off at daycare occasionally, etc).

 

A GTI would make a great DD. Makes sense to me. And that 2.0T has been in use a while now, should be pretty reliable.

 

I have an 08 4 door GTI and I fit my 4 year old and 2 year old in car seats in the back. The 2015 has a larger backseat so you shouldn't have any problems. My wife can even squeeze in behind the two car seats in a pinch, granted she's 100 lbs!

Ours has been problem free for 6.5 years, but it only has 46k miles. Tons of fun especially after an APR tune, I'm hearing the MK7's are putting down some serious power with just a stage one tune, running 13.1's and trapping at 110. The MK7 is built in Mexico as opposed to the MKV and MKVI being built in Germany, so that may be something to think about. I think they have a brand new factory so it technically shouldn't be a problem, but given the choice I'd rather have something built in Germany over Mexico.

One more thing, I'd wait for the performance package that is supposed to be come out in a few months, mechanical LSD, larger brakes and 10 more hp for $1500.