Major points of clarification: My clutch did NOT fail at 15,000 miles. In fact, it did not fail at all. It slipped ~15k after tuning my car. I replaced it preemptively. The majority of the issues I detail in this video are either self-inflicted, petty, or both. Also, OBDEleven is a diagnostic tool that plugs into the OBD2 port: obdeleven.com/en/. Part 2 of this video is now published. It includes the footage of the suspension, exhaust, and other items that show the condition of the chassis and underbody: th-cam.com/video/s2x1-Y9kzfA/w-d-xo.html. Thanks for visiting.
StealthGTI The oil you thought was leaking from the diff that turned out not to be - smell the oil, gear oil has a distinctive smell. Your worn bolster - I lower myself into my car using the A-pillar. It prevents contact with the bolster. And I have a cover on the driver’s seat.
@@davel1898 - Sorry to have missed this. YT doesn't notify me of replies, only initial comments. I found this by accident. Anyway, I'm running APR Stage 2, their initial release at the time of this recording and now their "final release" with slightly less torque down low and slightly more power up top. See my APR video for details. As for the clutch, I'm using an "RSR" kit by HS Tuning. I have details in my "20 Questions Volume 2" video. Take Care.
This is one reason that drove me to purchase my mk7 gti, too many people discount VWs as unreliable when they're actually quite solid if you maintain it.
@@willmercier2852 - Maintenance is KEY. Sure, there are some cars that can be driven with total neglect. But they're also boring. There isn't really THAT much maintenance to do. What do people expect? NO maintenance? HAHA!
@@faliray4889 - VW certainly are not cars that tolerate neglect. But my experience is that the car takes care of you if you take care of it. I may be proven wrong someday. I'll jump ship if that's the case. ;-)
That was great presentation! A man who admits his own faults. It's not always the manufacturer's. And done in a calm, cool, collective way. I've just subscribed.
Thanks! I try to keep things honest. I learned long ago to not get too excited over things. It's part of the reason I never did any "reaction videos" as I tuned the car. Even if I was impressed, it hardly shows on my face. That makes for boring video. HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
Great video! Excellent details! I bought my 2001 VW Jetta 1.8t 5 speed manual brand new with 3 miles on it! Arrow Silver with grey cloth interior and a sunroof with the monsoon sound system. I loved that car for 7 years and 125k before I sold it. Sunroof never gave me an issue but everything else did! I also had a stage 1 flash of my ECU and it was an absolute blast to drive. I had a lot of trouble with my ignition coils constantly going bad. Same with my spark plugs. Replaced the clutch once with a heavy duty one and it was fine after that. My issue was how much time it was in the shop over 7 years. From electrical gremlins to check engine lights it was non stop! It was an absolute blast to drive but based on my experience i simply dont trust the brand. I've owned a maxima since for 7 years and 130k with mo problems at all and currently own a 2015 Honda Accord V6 Coupe that has been flawless. VW made fun cars but until they get with the program with their quality control and manufacturing quality as well as assembly quality....I can go back. Just my experience though.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I, too, sometimes consider jumping ship. My GTI and my wife's 2018 Jetta (low miles) have been great cars. I'm considering an SUV as a third vehicle. The "VW nut" in me says to get an Atlas. But my diehard reliability, capability, and build quality tells me that my needs may be better met with a 4Runner or a used GX460. We'll see.
@@StealthGTI You get a strong vote for the 4 Runner here! Lexus not a bad choice either other then the horrific gas mileage! But neither will let you down. I've heard many horror stories about the Atlas. In fact there is a guy on TH-cam who documented his story of his wife's Atlas that was eventually lemon lawed. They ended up with another Atlas because she really liked it and wasn't deterred from the experience. Either way best of luck with your current VWs and any future vehicles that you choose to purchase! Cheers!
@@StealthGTI Thank you! In a world (TH-cam) of stupid videos, it's nice to watch a grown up tell about his experience with the Golf. By the way, your car looks very nice! -is it Reflex Silver or Tungsten Silver?
@@StealthGTI I just signed the papers on my "new" car! Golf 2019, High Line (SE in US?) Reflex Silver with 18" Durban alloys.... I can pick it up next thursday! Watching your videos while waiting, thanks!
@@SteenHolm134 - Congratulations! I bought a set of Durbans to use as "winter wheels." I powder coated them in gun metal gray since they'd closely match my gun metal gray Nogaros. Then I quickly found a great deal on another set of Nogaros. I'm going to put the Durbans on my daughters 2015 Golf. She's happy about that. Thanks for visiting.
My 2003 MK4 GTI VR6 is 17 years old now, and is built like a tank (built in Brazil, no less)! Original clutch and chains, no leaks ever. The only thing that needed replacement was the engine radiator fan, and the coilpacks (which were a general recall when the car was new). This is the most reliable car i've ever had by far, and a blast to drive!
That's great to see. I felt the same about my 1998 Jetta TDI. It was very reliable until rust set into the front strut towers. The 450,000-mile power train lives on in a B4 Passat somewhere in TN now. Thanks for visiting.
in some ways I regret selling my 04 Gti 1.8t. 15years/140k miles and it had usual car stuff. leaky rusted downpipe (replaced by TT 2.5" DP, sunroof, falling headliner, sticking calipers, but other than that it was nearly flawless and fun; never chipped
Previous MK6 model owner: the issues I had: radiator replaced, water pumped replaced and 2 ignition coils replaced, this was all before 36K miles. That being said, this was all covered under factory warranty. Around 50K the auxilary fan went bad. Around 60K replaced the rear brakes. Later, around 70K they had to take apart the motor because of some oil leak. I fought that one hard because the car was not leaking oil, before I had dropped of the VW service department. Around 80K, due to the carbon build up, I had to get that cleaned. That was not cheap. That being said, it was still a fun car. I had it from 7K - 105K miles. 5 years, the transmission, motor and turbos were still going strong.
Very cool! I was in the band at ABRAHAM LINCOLN's commissioning ceremony. The Navy wanted it on Lincoln's birthday. The local Navy band didn't want to freeze in February; so, our little Coast Guard Training Center band played. And, yes, it was COLD. HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
Thank you for this video - I have been researching GTI data and am considering buying a certified 2017 model and it is awesome to see a detailed review after some pretty serious miles. Thank you Sir - and thank you for your service.
Coolant issue is very common. It happened on my 2012 GTI, my 2016 Golf, and I'm sure it will happen to my 2018 Tiguan as well. I have never found any leaks. I also noticed the weak VW factory glass. All of my VW's have had cracked windshields before 100k. I would definitely stick with the factory oil pan. I lowered my Golf with sport springs at ~20k and never had an issue 90k miles later.
Appreciate your video. I'm getting close to 50K on my 2016 6MT and have found it to be very problem free. Tires at 35K, battery at 40K, a cracked windshield early on, and that's it. On rare occasion, the Apple Car Play can be glitchy after taking a phone call. Brakes still test well, zero leaks, and I'm not consuming any noticeable coolant. I did find that the dealer's 10K oil interval was too long and the car used 1.5 quarts on at about 9,000 miles...I shortened the intervals thereafter, but noticed no consumption after the "break-in" oil was replaced. I'm 6'3" and adjusted the way I enter as well, but luckily no noticeable bolster wear yet.
Advice to other owners, always inspect upper timing cover for oil leak on 15-17 Mk7s. Nearly $2K repair - labour is $1200 and the kit was $599. Great video!
Thanks for that note. I've never inspected that area. I suspect it will come up on a forthcoming "wellness visit" with my mechanic. He might spot things that I don't know to look for. Take Care, - Scott
The Chinese products are known to be cheap because consumers want cheap stuff. BUT Chinese plants can and do produce high quality stuff when it's specified. Take the bicycle industry, for example. A lot of fine bicycles come from China. Quality is there, if it's demanded. Thanks for visiting.
Love the content!! Thank you so much for your vids with the resonator, I've finally solved my droning problem too haha and congratz with the 3 years anniversary :)
I appreciate the compliment! Content is slow on my end, in part because I'm not continually modding the car. Now that AGE is catching up, perhaps I'll have more to say. HAHA! Take Care, - Scott
I also have a 2017 sport trim 6speed. Mine will be three years in March 2020 and I'm sitting at 41k miles right now. Very cool to see the report on your car after so many miles. Mine was stage 1 for about 5k miles but recently put it back to stock to preserve the clutch, which I'm thinking might be on its way out. Anyway, great video, looking forward to more!
@@StealthGTI VW isnt the best place for a VW ( in my opinion ) ! A good independent specialist is what you need, even for a new car , you should not have problems with your warranty as long as genuine parts are used.
@@amazingvidguyz - I had an independent specialist selected before I even found my car. My car has been to the dealer only for early warranty work and a few simple tasks that I found them convenient to do. :-)
@@TubesWidener - If you jack up the front wheels, you'll have better access to the struts and the boots that cover the strut shaft. Lift the boot from the bottom to expose the shaft. If you see blue plastic things, you probably have pucks. If you see a steel shaft, then you probably don't. If the car rebounds over speed bumps without harshness, they were probably removed. Thanks for visiting.
Great video, my Mk7 GTi started drinking coolant at the same rate as yours. Dealer found the water pump and theromsat housing were leaking and fixed it under warranty. I understand this is a common fault so could be related to your leak. Quick pressure test and checking under the car with the shield removed should help confirm if this is correct. Great video 👍
Thermostat housings are notorious for leaking on all 2 liters and 1.8. Try to get a aluminum one if they make it for your car, it shouldn’t leak after that
Another Virginia VW guy! I'll be following you on your journey with this guy. I just got a MK6 GLI (my second GLI , along with a Passat V6 and another Jetta 2.0t FSI) and it's fantastic. You seem to an great job keeping up on your car. I'll be learning some useful tips from you on how to do this. Cheers!
I have a 2015 white gti se only things wrong with it are the tire sensors randomly comes on about once a week. The sun roof cover snags a little bit. The door does the click after a few months. other then that It runs like new only have 40k miles on it
Nice Video & car. I own a Golf mk4 for almost 20 years. I bought it new from VW and it is the best and most reliable car i've ever had. had some mercedes' too. Wish you much more fun with your GTI. Greetings from germany.
Moment I started watching, I was waiting for you to make a comment about the dropping coolant levels. All MK7 suffer from quality control water pumps, that either fail through the double 0 connector or the actual plastic gets heat cracked. You can check this if you see any dried coolant , usually dries flaky red, on the middle or lower block. I replaced mine at 35k with the revision parts, coolant level haven't dropped since))j.
@@StealthGTI I didn't' think the metal billet pump justified the cost, especially since the revised version seems to hold just fine. I would just call VW and they'll give you the latest revision part number, then try to find the best deal either through amazon or ebay vw part wholesalers. You'll need the waterpump, thermostat housing and double 0 Connector... All in all about a $350 job if you're replacing yourself. Just be aware if you replace the belt too it's a reverse thread, but if the belt doesn't look bad then don't replace it unless you absolutely have to as it's nightmare to remove, with many horror stories.
Really good review. I've had a Golf 1.5 in the UK through my work for the last 3 months. In that time, I've covered 8000 miles. I find it really relaxing to drive. It's so quiet compared to my previous car which was diesel.
I loved the console condom :) The only delivery issue I had was the front hood locking mechanism ws not sitting correctly, two minute adjustment and NO problems:) Since 2010 the VW GTI has been greatly improved and reliable-FINALLY!
I'm working on a review video of my 2013 GTI as I just passed 100K miles. I completely feel what you meant about the dead skin on the arm rests. It's my main complaint about my car! I've actually considered replacing all arm rest material with vinyl or leather. Nice review.
My early research indicated that the Mk7 engine addressed all of the shortcomings of the previous 2.0T's. Time will tell if they did a good job. Thanks for writing.
I have a 2016 51K GTI Autobahn - APR stage 1 tuned. I can confirm EVERY issue you mentioned here. My biggest one was with the coolant, then my leather seats starting to tear in the same spot from buttons from back pockets on my pants/shorts. Other than that, this thing makes me happy!
Scott, I just wanted to stop by and say Hi. The all-knowing YT algorithm brought your review to my attention, and the Stealth part definitely caught my attention (from your StealthTDI days). We've gone on several NorCal road trips together and it's good to see you're still in the VW family. I still have the same TDI I had 23 yrs ago, lol. If I watch too many more of your vids I may have to break down and pick up a Mk7 or 8.
Welcome to the channel! It's been a LONG time! I'm curious to know if this is Norman, Peter, or someone who's slipping my mind. The Mk7s are wonderful cars! My daughter has a Launch Edition Golf. I kept my Mk3 for 20 years. I stopped driving it in 2014 with the plan to fix some rust issues around the gas filler while I drove a new 2014 Jetta. When I finally dug into it, I found a serious case of the dreaded strut tower rust. I sold the car in 2018 with 445,000 original miles to someone who wanted the engine and modified transmission for his B4 Passat. Oddly enough, after driving a Mk6, I had no idea how I ever felt safe in a Mk3! HAHA! Feel free to e-mail me through StealthGTI.com if you want to get back in touch. Take Care!
@Blair Aquilia - Very nice! Someone posted a simple comment elsewhere, "You drive too much!" Really? Who determines that? I drive to where the job is, but don't prefer to live there. Isn't freedom great? ;-) Thanks for sharing your mileage. -Scott
on the flip side, I'm not saying your wrong but I wouldn't say its common. I work for Audi here in the uk (same engines) and personally havent ever seen a plastic sump leak. Plus the plastic is not going to rust over time either
@@andyboy13100 it's one of those things just to inspect during maintenance. Yea, corrosion isnt a concern. At Audi you'll rarely come across the low mileage high abuse drug dealers car as you would in a north london private garage...
This is exactly the same color and configuration of the MKVII I had. I traded it in when I went to a Tesla Model 3, but I really miss it. They're such great cars. I had the Eurodyne Stage 1.5 flash - turned it into a monster. Great review, I enjoyed watching.
Nice update. Love the detail you put into the video as well as the write up on the website. I have a GTI sport in Black with a manual. I found your website when I was still deciding between a Focus ST and the GTI. My only mods so far are winter wheels and tires.
StealthGTI have a look at these: www.micksgarage.com/d/wind-deflectors/Volkswagen/Volkswagen-Golf/GOLF-VII-2012-Onwards/products/3195142-10585/front-and-rear-heko-deflectors-for-volkswagen-golf-vii-2012-onwards
My brother turned me on to this video....I watched it before but never seen the alternate ending..I currently have a mk7 tdi that I love so much but I'm afraid to go gti and regret it...im glad to see your an ex tdi owner as well and is happy with the switch
Thank you for putting out this video. There's plenty of [great] new car reviews on youtube, but 3 years and 90k+ miles, not so much! The encountered warranty issues all seem reasonable and the owner-created problems are good to know about.
Thanks for the note. Yes, many of the Mk7 related videos I watch center around mods, performance, or racing. My mods are fairly standard, as is my performance levels. I stopped racing cars in 2010. Some of my mods are unique and unpopular. So, my videos get relatively low play time. But THIS video apparently has given the community something they want. Who knew a video about a geriatric GTI would be so popular? I'm working on "Part 2" now. The oil leak discovery added more content than expected. So, I have more to share. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI Keep in mind that 2017 mk7s are coming off of leases and are still in the band of fairly new used cars to pick up. Speaking for myself, i'm really curious about the truths, myths and realities of VW ownership, especially regarding the GTI. I like to own my cars for a *long* time, so the long-term ownership experience is highly valued. Best of luck with your next 100k! :)
That's interesting. You're the first to share something like that. Can you share anything about the venting, perhaps some online reading? The car looks pretty solid to me. Thanks for sharing.
it may be common, but isn't normal for any car. Especially these kind of rates. cap regulates pressure and overpressure sends fluid to the reservoir. Underpressure then draws it back to the radiator. Coolant loss without any leak can come from evaporation, but this is always slow. The whole reservoir in 6 months means it goes to either the oil, indicated by a rising oil level, or the cylinders. Either is bad for an engine. If you say this is normal for VW engines, that indicates a quality issue. Not that this would surprise anyone, VW has built quite the negative track record over the past 10 years regarding engines..
@@dwergmaster - To be clear, I don't lose the entire reservoir in six months. I lose about 3/4", which is about a 20% or less. Sure, it may not be normal in your book. But I felt it was worth noting that my loss is not as terrible as you describe.
@@StealthGTI Ah I thought you mention 3/4th quarter.. In my understanding, that's 75%. Still not sure what " indicates? Litres or some freedom unit? 20% is still quite a lot though, not only in my book ;-)
Love this car. I've always appreciated it. Everyone always says these cars are unreliable, but you seem to have had fairly normal experiences with any car with this kind of mileage. Plus, as a detailer, I really appreciate how nice your engine bay looks 👍
Thanks, Dylan. In truth, the engine bay is dirty by my standards. I need to hit the crevices with a brush and vacuum out the pockets in the intake manifold. I'm curious to see if the intake manifold cover I bought will keep debris out of those crevices, as well as hiding them.
I had hoped to include the footage of the suspension, exhaust, and other items that showed the condition of the chassis and underbody. However, discovering the oil leak compelled me to comment on that, which made the video longer than expected. I will create another video about the mechanical condition of the car and share that next.
StealthGTI love your work, for the brand of replacement your front windshield. “FY” is fuyao glass. The made all OEM glass for Mercedes, BMW and VW, all most all made and models. This should be original parts without VW logo.
@@woody555kl - Thanks! I don't know that I could have a custom gasket made for the same $18 I paid for the Tiguan gasket I received recently. I hope to find out how well it works soon.
My 15' has 56k miles. I had to have the waterpump/thermostat housing replaced @ 46k. If there's a leak you'll notice it if you pull off the belly pan. It was caked around the oil pan very obviously as well as stained the belly pan up a bit. Even after replacement my GTI still consumed about the same amount as yours. Just had my cousin check it yesterday at the VW dealer he works at. Bone dry underneath and around the usual spots. Who knows where the coolant goes lol.
I also was going to install the metal oil pan but decided to do the aluminum skid plate instead. I love it. Not only does it protect the oil pan, it protects the other plastic parts that can get damaged by heavy snow etc.
I have a 2015 with 66k and the stock oil pan with no issues. I recently experienced the vaporizing coolant. I added a little bit of distilled water and all good for now. I also have the same tires and I love them. Next time I will buy them in 235. thanks for sharing
Great review! I nearly bought one of these after I brought in my golf tdi on the last day of buybacks. Interested to see if you can nail down the coolant thing.
Honestly, I'm not terribly worried about it. The car's been great, even with what is a very small amount of coolant disappearing almost since it was new. The TDI buyback was probably one of the best things that happened to me. Without it, I'd probably still be driving my Mk6 Jetta TDI, completely unaware of how much better the GTI is. HAHA! Thanks for visiting. -Scott
My wife’s car had the same issue, coolant reservoir low about half an inch every 8k miles or so. It turned out to be a bad seal from the coolant flange on the driver’s side of the motor. It’s the same flange where the coolant sensor, upper hose and the engine block meet. Replaced the flange, no issues since.
The clutch in the Mk7 is known to be weak. It'll slip with an APR stg1 and aggressive driving. The DSG on the other hand, will hold 400+ lbft of torque.
@Liam Ross : The clutch that comes with the car is intended for the engine which it comes with. If you tune the car, etc, then the factory clutch will not last as long. I have 170000 kilometre on original clutch in my VW. My brother in law has even more, on his. Not to mention, some people have no idea how to drive a manual and ride the clutches to no end.
@Liam Ross My 2004 GTI has 131,000 miles with the original clutch still installed. The clutch is doing fine. No issues. I believe it will reach 150,000 miles.
Interesting and refreshingly honest video. I'm an Englishman and have a 4.5 year old Ford Focus with 90,000 miles on the clock ... had a leaky offside driveshaft seal and , like you , a cracked windscreen. For the last 50,000 miles, every once in a while, the car lets out a little moaning noise which baffles everyone as to the cause but gets no worse nor more frequent. I have to say that after its monthly clean the car looks as good as brand new, inside and out. I used to run Audis but became exasperated with the number of faults I had ... whilst your VW GTi seems to be doing pretty well this has confirmed my view it may be best to stick with Ford for my next car. Thanks for posting this.
Great video and I just subscribed. I’m about to take ownership of a 2016 mark 7 GTI S model with DSG transmission. I’m transitioning from a BMW F30 335i due to daily 60 mile commute and MPG improvement. Im going to bing watch your channel.
WOW! Thanks for the binge session! Some of my early content is a bit awkward for me to watch. HAHA! Hopefully, you'll see improvement as you wade through the content. I've been away from making videos for a bit, but I'm about to get back at it. Thanks for visiting!
Thanks! I appreciate the comment. I already have footage from my undercarriage inspection. I'll shoot additional video and hopefully will have a good video soon. This weekend is out because I'll be on a road trip. Maybe before Thanksgiving. -Scott
I dunno man, if you’ve seen those mk 8 videos they are all high tech and heavy on the electronics. I really like and want something more easy to do self maintenance on.
Thanks for sharing that. She started as a general service technician at a shop. She had just enrolled in a heavy diesel repair school and had a plan. Then she decided to join the Marines. For now, she's learning how to work on aircraft tugs, power generation equipment, and I think hydraulics. She wants to learn jet engines, too. We'll see how that goes. Thanks for visiting.
I bought my Seat Ibiza TDi 130 new in 2002. It always had pressure build up in the coolant reservoir and I had to top it up every month. It was the head gasket. A specialist replaced the head gasket (with pictures as proof) and the problem stayed the same. I don't want a car from the Volkswagen group anymore.
The glass manufacturer is FuYao, which is a Chinese company making car park in US, and it also has a documentary about its conflict between union and company, good stuff, people keep saying Chinese made sucks, but not in this case, it has better quality and cheaper price than almost every other US company, great Video
Thanks for the note. I've seen the documentary. It can be a little divisive, I imagine. But, the glass is a quality product without a doubt! Thanks for visiting.
@@josephcreed7 - Glad to hear it. However, it's worth noting that the Mk7 APR tune I had at the time outputs 38 hp and 40 lb-ft more than what APR advertises for the Mk6. The EA888 can easily overpower the stock clutch, especially on a cold morning with a trailer in tow, as was the case for me that day. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI I can imagine a trailer will cause the clutch to go a bit sooner. I will admit however the clutch began to slip once and a while around 75k, but it was the throw out bearing causing the issue. I just took it easy in first gear till 100k, just before I went to upgrade the clutch someone totalled it when it was parked. I had a Unitronic Stage 1 tune
I think you're right about Honda's reliability. However, I don't think I can go back to anything with less than 300 hp after driving my Stage 2 GTI. HAHA! If I somehow become disenchanted with VW's, I'll find something. But I don't think Honda fits my desires. Thanks for visiting.
My 2017 golf with 59k km or 37k miles has been great so far, no oil leak from plastic oil pan at all. I’ve thought about going for the steel pan but i just trust the rubber gasket on the plastic oil pan more that the RTV gasket.
Good to hear. For now, I'm going to try out a Tiguan gasket with my steel pan. It's by far the cheapest fix. If that doesn't seal it sufficiently, then I'll go back to the composite pan and then get a skid plate. Thanks for commenting. -Scott
@@StealthGTI Doesn't hurt to try it! By the way I love the quality of your videos and the content on your StealthGTI website, keep the videos coming! Have a great day!
@@proboxpepper6752 - Thanks for those compliments. I'm still no natural at talking to a camera, but I think I'm getting better. I'm also going to try settings other than the driver's seat. Inside the car is a great sound stage, but it has to be getting trite for viewers. I'll have footage from a garage in my next video, but I cannot talk to a camera and get any work done. So, I'll probably do a voiceover on that one. We'll see.
I picked up a mk7 Golf TDI for cheap as a CPO car and sold my mk4 Golf TDI. I'm getting that buzzing noise in the front door that I haven't been able to find. I'm checking that bolt on the door check! Hopefully that fixes it. The only upgrade that I'm dying to do on it is upgrade from MIB1 to MIB2 for the sound system. The 2015 infotainment is pretty lacking. I'm hoping the upgrade won't be too difficult. I've been following your cars since you first got your mk3 TDI. It's nice to see that you're still working with the VWs.
Thanks! It's always good to see someone from my diesel days! Have you seen EuroZoneTuning.com? He carries MIB upgrade packages. They're not cheap, but he's done all the research and work to assemble a ready-to-install package. It's where I got my MIB2 display upgrade.
@@StealthGTI Just to add to you comment - I had a GLI with 280k miles on it and never had my injectors replaced or my values cleaned. But I did start using Top Tier Full exclusively starting around 60-80k when I want Stage Two flash. Top tier is what is best for a new age direct injection engines anyway.
My mk7 has 40k miles on it and never had an injector replaced or valves cleaned.....so what your saying is just cooked up because you dont like dubs. Hell my old mk6 tdi had 200k miles and only ever cost me oil changes, 2 timing belts, 2 batteries, 1 accessory belt and tires in the 5 years i owned it not once breaking on me while i was drive all maintence done just because it was time to be done....because i maintain my vehicles. My old TDI's was the most reliable car ive ever owned.
I have a 2015 GTI with 34,000 miles. I installed an aluminum skid plate before steel oil pans were available. I kept my plastic oil pan and have had no issues.
Already changing the oil from up top. It's great. That's part of the reason I didn't discover my leak until it was quite a mess. HAHA! Thanks for visiting. -Scott
I see no reason to change my oil pan. Living in the Chicago area, I doubt I'll ever hit anything that causes damage. Plus, I don't want the hassle of having to do the gasket etc.
I did 48,000 miles in one year with my old Golf. A family relative who lived about 300 miles away got cancer and was dying so when I finished work I would go and see them at the weekend this went on for just over a year before they passed. I was doing nearly 1000 miles a week and the car kept going like clockwork. I sold it with 257,000 miles on the clock.
Finally someone who’s talking about coolant. I have to be honest, I didn’t check my engine bay for like a month and while I was toping up the screen washing solution I noticed the level was pretty low. Went to service they checked if something is broken or some cracks in some tubes... NOTHING. And now I just add a little bit once in a while
I have a gallon of G13. I need to read to see if it's premix or if I need to add distilled water to dilute. I wasn't worried at my first top-off. BUT, if adding is the new normal, then I need to ensure it's mixed properly. Thanks for visiting.
Good to hear about the longevity of the GTI... I REALLY want to tune my '18 but afraid of the warranty no longer being honored. Stage 2 and that many ponies though sounds so enticing... So many stock camaros and stangs always trying to test me on the highway lol
In my case, I disagree. I had added over 80 hp and 100 lb-ft to the mix; AND was towing at the time. I didn't speak quite accurately about my clutch. It didn't FAIL, it simply slipped a little while towing a trailer one cold morning. I CHOSE to replace when I did. I could have driven more, maybe another 20,000 miles. I'm not sure. Regardless, I don't think it's reasonable to expect a stock clutch to last with everything I was expecting from my car. Thanks for visiting.
@@boss4330 well i heard nothing good about it. a german car magazine made a 100.000km test with a mercedes a class and a golf mk7. the dsg gearbox had to be changed at 60.000 km with a lot of other stuff. the a class seemed to be the better deal.
I had a 335i BMW, Mercedes C320, Infinti G35...NONE are fun like my 2019 GTI Rabbit. I had a Jetta GLI 2006 and that car was also amazing. These VWs connect with you like no other. I am VW consumer for LIFE. I love the premium interior quality, handling, little exhaust farts....just an overall amazing car. Watch this video....the GTI was defined as BRILLIANT in every way! Any for those negative people, every car brand has issues. My friend’s Lexus in and out of the shop and another friend had an Infiniti with countless electrical issues. VW owns the most powerful name plates from Porsche to Bugatti and I am very happy and satisfied with my Rabbit. It’s fast, beautifully crafted, and has German heritage and auto-bond handling ! th-cam.com/video/3VwgvIqXg3A/w-d-xo.html
Agreed! I think every car I get will always be "the best car I've ever had" because cars are constantly getting better. Still, the Mk7 was a huge leap forward for Volkswagen. Thanks for visiting! -Scott
Shame how terrible the overall build quality is. Throw in the electronic issues and VW has chased me away, forever, and man was I a fanboy. Even sold them. While selling them delivered so many cars with issues. The engines failing, trans, and all of that beautiful interior detail just pealing off after a 3 year lease.
evythefish123 GTI was rated very high by every single professional car journalist. VW GTI is legendary and the wear and tear is no different from any other auto maker. I have friends with Lexus and other luxury brands that all have their issues. I love VW and they are the biggest auto maker on the world with the most power name brands in their family. I love my GTI. My Jetta I had for nearly 5 years and nothing fell apart.it had a high quality interior and very reliable.
Great review - I appreciate your candor and intelligent insights; a sense of humor always helps, too. I got a 2019 GTI in April - love it. Came from an '04 E46 that I also loved, but the repair costs were mounting. I tend to keep my cars for a long time, and hope this one makes it. The seat bolster is going to get worn, though.
Oh boy - All I can say is I had one VW GLI with 280k and was flashed APR stage 2 never had an issue with my engine- Clutch was original too. My second VW is a Jetta and it has about 145k on it now- regular maintenance checked my oil levels and cars still feels as good as ever.
In high school my best bud had a diesel VW Rabbit. It was a interesting ride. The gearshift felt broke - it was fine. With me riding his top speed with air conditioned on was 45 mph on level road.without air 55 mph. If alone he claimed 63 mph “ givin her all she’s got “ . It was normal. Low power cars. He did manage to almost get his license taken while driving it. On the WVA Turnpike he got clocked going about 80 mph . Down the biggest longest mountain at the bottom. Beckley mountain. He was trying to make up time he lost at 30 mph climbing the same mountain in 2 Nd gear. We jammed Sammy Hagar , “ I cant drive 55” it was true comedy. Glad to see they are better 30 years later. Nice little road machine now, or appears to be to me.
My 2016 GTI (manual transmission) has 81,000 miles. The engine temperature control actuator was leaking coolant which was discovered during the 80,000 mile maintenance. We are replacing that and the water pump as a result. I have had to replace my windshield due to extensive pitting. My keys are on their third batteries. And, I replaced my battery around 60,000 miles. Great video!
Thanks for this type of information. Some people say VW and Chrysler are not reliable etc. My last vehicle was a Chrysler and I drove it over 10 years with no trouble except a $67 cam shaft sensor that went out twice. Other stuff was routine scheduled maintenance. I traded it in on a new 2019 GTI SE three days ago. My girlfriend gave her 2008 VW Passat to her son and it's still going. I hope to drive my GTI for 10 years or 100,000 miles whatever comes first. I'm trying to get a stage 3 done on it by next summer. I have been communicating with people about it but the internet is misleading because as of now I can't find a stage 3 for mk7.5 just mk7. I sent out emails today. Thanks
Awesome review 👍. I have not seen one by anyone else as good as this review. Very thorough! I have been tempted to try a new GTI or GLI and much appreciate the information you provided.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Check your thermostat housing for coolant leaks. Seems to be a very common leak point, but as you've done, can be managed with periodic top-offs for awhile.
I have a 2015 MK7 , 89000 miles SE and it has the plastic factory oil pan with no leaks so i am planning to put the skid plate. i also noticed the coolant consumption is about the same as what you pointed out.
Thanks so much for this. I am considering a 2018 GTI that was a demo car. It would be 35 yearsolder than the very first VW I bought, a 1983 Rabbit GTI. You're making me think I need to do this!
Very nice! If I was shopping today, I'd probably get a 2018 or 2019. Do some research on stalling issues with the 2018 with DSG (if you're shopping a DSG). I don't know if it's been resolved, but I recall some discussion about it at GolfMk7.com. Thanks for visiting!
You worried me when you said your clutch failed at 15,000 miles😁. I've been driving my 2007 Toyota tacoma 4 banger base with manual transmission for 13 years, 247,000 miles on it with still the original clutch. I'm planning to treat myself with a 2020 GTI se 6 speed manual and I'm keeping it stock. Good video very informative. Stay safe.
Thanks for the note. Please read the pinned comment at the top of the comment feed. In short, my clutch did not fail. I replaced it preemptively. Thanks for visiting.
I want to do a steel pan as well but fear what you experienced and would definitely pay a shop to do it for this exact reason. I went with IS38 Turbo and happy with 300 HP.
Thanks for your comments, Robert. Unfortunately, a shop may or may not do as good a job. See how I resolved an oil pan leak at th-cam.com/video/YQudcXG_5AQ/w-d-xo.html. This is something you can do yourself.
A member on the Golf R forum has fitted the plastic underbody tray from a Passat Alltrack. This unit gives slightly more protection than the standard tray. He did need to procure a few extra fasteners and two small brackets to complete this conversion. It certainly looks the business when fitted and offers much greater protection to the sump area. All the best from Nottingham, U.K.
Thanks for sharing that. Some in the U.S. have fitted a similar tray from our Golf Alltrack... same concept. ShopDAP.com sells complete kits. Thanks for visiting.
If you're obsessive about the oil pan issue go look at the Wortec aluminum pan. The latest version is milled to accept a factory o-ring seal. Perk is that it adds oil capacity and improves cooling. Downside: cost. But the Wortec solution is still better than the skidplate because the skidplate is almost as expensive as the pan and you have to take the skidplate off every time to do an oil service or conduct any service inspections. I'd just as soon have an easy-to-access pan that makes oil changes trivial.
The factory front window was IR-protected, while aftermarkets usually don’t. So yeah, it should be more clear. Btw. you can easily spot the ir-shield and/or the lack of it with polarized glasses.
I think my new glass is still protected. I recall seeing "spots" when viewed with polarized glasses. As for the lack of clarity in the factory glass, it's hard to explain. It was almost like it had a uniform sandblasting look or perhaps microscopic bubbles throughout. I think all glass has them, to a degree. The key is the tolerance of the manufacturer. I described Fuyao as an "aftermarket" glass maker. The truth is they're an OE glass maker. They simply didn't win the contract to put the VW logo on their glass, quite possibly because their glass was more expensive (i.e., better quality) than whichever company won the contract. Thanks for writing.
Regarding the coolant I would suggest to check the heating radiator which is located under the dashboard. Sometimes the radiator is getting corrosion and leaks without seeing any water around because is minimal and gets evaporated.
Very interesting creak troubleshooting (door hinge, but sounded like it was the B pillar). I had an odd rattle in my 2014 mk6 GTI that turned out to be a loose piece of plastic inside the sealed passenger headrest. I removed the headrest and shook it, and the rattle was quite loud. Fortunately the dealer gave me a new one, as it was still under the bumper to bumper warranty.
Major points of clarification: My clutch did NOT fail at 15,000 miles. In fact, it did not fail at all. It slipped ~15k after tuning my car. I replaced it preemptively. The majority of the issues I detail in this video are either self-inflicted, petty, or both. Also, OBDEleven is a diagnostic tool that plugs into the OBD2 port: obdeleven.com/en/. Part 2 of this video is now published. It includes the footage of the suspension, exhaust, and other items that show the condition of the chassis and underbody: th-cam.com/video/s2x1-Y9kzfA/w-d-xo.html. Thanks for visiting.
StealthGTI
The oil you thought was leaking from the diff that turned out not to be - smell the oil, gear oil has a distinctive smell.
Your worn bolster - I lower myself into my car using the A-pillar. It prevents contact with the bolster. And I have a cover on the driver’s seat.
@@ghostinthemachine76 Thanks for visiting.
Which APR stage 1 tune are you running? Is it the low torque?
Did you replace with an OEM clutch or something else?
@@davel1898 - Sorry to have missed this. YT doesn't notify me of replies, only initial comments. I found this by accident. Anyway, I'm running APR Stage 2, their initial release at the time of this recording and now their "final release" with slightly less torque down low and slightly more power up top. See my APR video for details. As for the clutch, I'm using an "RSR" kit by HS Tuning. I have details in my "20 Questions Volume 2" video. Take Care.
@@StealthGTI hello, I have a 2014 GTI. How do I know if it is a MK 5, 6, 7? I believe it is the most standard version available.
I love long term reviews on these cars
Thanks! Glad I stuck with the GTI and TH-cam long enough to do one. I'll work on an undercarriage video next. Thanks for visiting! -Scott
This is one reason that drove me to purchase my mk7 gti, too many people discount VWs as unreliable when they're actually quite solid if you maintain it.
@@willmercier2852 - Maintenance is KEY. Sure, there are some cars that can be driven with total neglect. But they're also boring. There isn't really THAT much maintenance to do. What do people expect? NO maintenance? HAHA!
Thanks for making this video. Ive been interested in buying a VW for years but all the negative comments discourage me.
@@faliray4889 - VW certainly are not cars that tolerate neglect. But my experience is that the car takes care of you if you take care of it. I may be proven wrong someday. I'll jump ship if that's the case. ;-)
This dude is meticulous,..I am impressed.
Thanks! Sometimes my attention to detail can make the videos a bit long-winded. I leave a lot on the cutting room floor. Thanks for visiting. -Scott
He must be an engineer.
@@AJ-xm4xc - Nope. Just engineering-minded, I guess.
@@StealthGTI Probably some influence from the U.S. Coast Guard time, too. Appreciate your service in our smallest military branch.
@@Bluegrassriver8 - I appreciate your comment. Thanks for visiting.
That was great presentation! A man who admits his own faults. It's not always the manufacturer's. And done in a calm, cool, collective way. I've just subscribed.
Thanks! I try to keep things honest. I learned long ago to not get too excited over things. It's part of the reason I never did any "reaction videos" as I tuned the car. Even if I was impressed, it hardly shows on my face. That makes for boring video. HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
VW / AUDI eating coolant. Yes, yes they do.
Thanks for visiting.
My A4s were terrible for eating coolant.
Hey stealth! Yep, me too. Coolant magically disappears every 5k Miles or so.
2015 Mk7 60,000 miles now, approximately the same coolant consumption. Strangely comforting to hear others observing this too
mine also did then we realized I had a defective EGR cooler. now no more coolant loss
Great video! Excellent details! I bought my 2001 VW Jetta 1.8t 5 speed manual brand new with 3 miles on it! Arrow Silver with grey cloth interior and a sunroof with the monsoon sound system. I loved that car for 7 years and 125k before I sold it. Sunroof never gave me an issue but everything else did! I also had a stage 1 flash of my ECU and it was an absolute blast to drive. I had a lot of trouble with my ignition coils constantly going bad. Same with my spark plugs. Replaced the clutch once with a heavy duty one and it was fine after that. My issue was how much time it was in the shop over 7 years. From electrical gremlins to check engine lights it was non stop! It was an absolute blast to drive but based on my experience i simply dont trust the brand. I've owned a maxima since for 7 years and 130k with mo problems at all and currently own a 2015 Honda Accord V6 Coupe that has been flawless. VW made fun cars but until they get with the program with their quality control and manufacturing quality as well as assembly quality....I can go back. Just my experience though.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I, too, sometimes consider jumping ship. My GTI and my wife's 2018 Jetta (low miles) have been great cars. I'm considering an SUV as a third vehicle. The "VW nut" in me says to get an Atlas. But my diehard reliability, capability, and build quality tells me that my needs may be better met with a 4Runner or a used GX460. We'll see.
@@StealthGTI You get a strong vote for the 4 Runner here! Lexus not a bad choice either other then the horrific gas mileage! But neither will let you down. I've heard many horror stories about the Atlas. In fact there is a guy on TH-cam who documented his story of his wife's Atlas that was eventually lemon lawed. They ended up with another Atlas because she really liked it and wasn't deterred from the experience. Either way best of luck with your current VWs and any future vehicles that you choose to purchase! Cheers!
13:51: "It's kind of a little condom for my armrest, I like it"... Nice one and a good idea!
Thanks for visiting!
@@StealthGTI Thank you! In a world (TH-cam) of stupid videos, it's nice to watch a grown up tell about his experience with the Golf. By the way, your car looks very nice! -is it Reflex Silver or Tungsten Silver?
@@SteenHolm134 - Thanks for the kind words. My car is Reflex Silver.
@@StealthGTI I just signed the papers on my "new" car! Golf 2019, High Line (SE in US?) Reflex Silver with 18" Durban alloys.... I can pick it up next thursday! Watching your videos while waiting, thanks!
@@SteenHolm134 - Congratulations! I bought a set of Durbans to use as "winter wheels." I powder coated them in gun metal gray since they'd closely match my gun metal gray Nogaros. Then I quickly found a great deal on another set of Nogaros. I'm going to put the Durbans on my daughters 2015 Golf. She's happy about that. Thanks for visiting.
My 2003 MK4 GTI VR6 is 17 years old now, and is built like a tank (built in Brazil, no less)! Original clutch and chains, no leaks ever. The only thing that needed replacement was the engine radiator fan, and the coilpacks (which were a general recall when the car was new). This is the most reliable car i've ever had by far, and a blast to drive!
That's great to see. I felt the same about my 1998 Jetta TDI. It was very reliable until rust set into the front strut towers. The 450,000-mile power train lives on in a B4 Passat somewhere in TN now. Thanks for visiting.
in some ways I regret selling my 04 Gti 1.8t. 15years/140k miles and it had usual car stuff. leaky rusted downpipe (replaced by TT 2.5" DP, sunroof, falling headliner, sticking calipers, but other than that it was nearly flawless and fun; never chipped
Previous MK6 model owner: the issues I had: radiator replaced, water pumped replaced and 2 ignition coils replaced, this was all before 36K miles. That being said, this was all covered under factory warranty. Around 50K the auxilary fan went bad. Around 60K replaced the rear brakes. Later, around 70K they had to take apart the motor because of some oil leak. I fought that one hard because the car was not leaking oil, before I had dropped of the VW service department. Around 80K, due to the carbon build up, I had to get that cleaned. That was not cheap. That being said, it was still a fun car. I had it from 7K - 105K miles. 5 years, the transmission, motor and turbos were still going strong.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hey shipmate! I was on the uss Abraham Lincoln! Thank you for your service and sharing all this info.
Very cool! I was in the band at ABRAHAM LINCOLN's commissioning ceremony. The Navy wanted it on Lincoln's birthday. The local Navy band didn't want to freeze in February; so, our little Coast Guard Training Center band played. And, yes, it was COLD. HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
Thank you for this video - I have been researching GTI data and am considering buying a certified 2017 model and it is awesome to see a detailed review after some pretty serious miles. Thank you Sir - and thank you for your service.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for visiting.
Coolant issue is very common. It happened on my 2012 GTI, my 2016 Golf, and I'm sure it will happen to my 2018 Tiguan as well. I have never found any leaks. I also noticed the weak VW factory glass. All of my VW's have had cracked windshields before 100k. I would definitely stick with the factory oil pan. I lowered my Golf with sport springs at ~20k and never had an issue 90k miles later.
That's good news. Thanks for sharing.
Coolant issue is the water pump common problem.
Appreciate your video. I'm getting close to 50K on my 2016 6MT and have found it to be very problem free. Tires at 35K, battery at 40K, a cracked windshield early on, and that's it. On rare occasion, the Apple Car Play can be glitchy after taking a phone call. Brakes still test well, zero leaks, and I'm not consuming any noticeable coolant. I did find that the dealer's 10K oil interval was too long and the car used 1.5 quarts on at about 9,000 miles...I shortened the intervals thereafter, but noticed no consumption after the "break-in" oil was replaced. I'm 6'3" and adjusted the way I enter as well, but luckily no noticeable bolster wear yet.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
You are my new source for GTI info. Thanks for making the time to do these videos!
Glad to help! Thanks for visiting!
Such a useful long term review. Thanks for your valuable feedbacks 👍
Thanks for visiting.
Advice to other owners, always inspect upper timing cover for oil leak on 15-17 Mk7s. Nearly $2K repair - labour is $1200 and the kit was $599. Great video!
Thanks for that note. I've never inspected that area. I suspect it will come up on a forthcoming "wellness visit" with my mechanic. He might spot things that I don't know to look for. Take Care, - Scott
I already have at 120K kms
The windshield replacement was from a Chinese factory. It is pretty impressive that their quality has improved dramatically in the past decade.
The Chinese products are known to be cheap because consumers want cheap stuff. BUT Chinese plants can and do produce high quality stuff when it's specified. Take the bicycle industry, for example. A lot of fine bicycles come from China. Quality is there, if it's demanded. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI 100% correct. Bad perception of products made in China because of that. Some BMW motorcycle engines are made in China.
You can thank NAFTA for the glut of Chinese made junk exported into the USA
Your iPhone and Android made in China
Gar I have those FUYAO Chinese windows on my l Chevy Cruze so there's not bad.
Love the content!! Thank you so much for your vids with the resonator, I've finally solved my droning problem too haha and congratz with the 3 years anniversary :)
I appreciate the compliment! Content is slow on my end, in part because I'm not continually modding the car. Now that AGE is catching up, perhaps I'll have more to say. HAHA! Take Care, - Scott
wow... I put on like 3k miles a year; would take me till retirement to get that many lol
HAHA! Yeah. My wife's car is that way, but 5k/year. That one will get the full benefit of VW's long 2018 warranty. Thanks for visiting.
I also have a 2017 sport trim 6speed. Mine will be three years in March 2020 and I'm sitting at 41k miles right now. Very cool to see the report on your car after so many miles. Mine was stage 1 for about 5k miles but recently put it back to stock to preserve the clutch, which I'm thinking might be on its way out. Anyway, great video, looking forward to more!
Thanks for your kind remarks. See you next time!
This is a really great review! Detailed and informative, stayed for the whole thing.
Glad it was helpful! And thanks for your comments and view time!
My GTI also had the pucks still installed when I received it!
Yep. The PDI "techs" probably turn over frequently enough that VW cannot keep them trained, even for something so simple.
@@StealthGTI VW isnt the best place for a VW ( in my opinion ) ! A good independent specialist is what you need, even for a new car , you should not have problems with your warranty as long as genuine parts are used.
@@amazingvidguyz - I had an independent specialist selected before I even found my car. My car has been to the dealer only for early warranty work and a few simple tasks that I found them convenient to do. :-)
Hi, my wife has new Passat B8 few months ago, how to look for those puck? Where are they exactly and what happens if they are not removed? Thank you
@@TubesWidener - If you jack up the front wheels, you'll have better access to the struts and the boots that cover the strut shaft. Lift the boot from the bottom to expose the shaft. If you see blue plastic things, you probably have pucks. If you see a steel shaft, then you probably don't. If the car rebounds over speed bumps without harshness, they were probably removed. Thanks for visiting.
Great video, my Mk7 GTi started drinking coolant at the same rate as yours. Dealer found the water pump and theromsat housing were leaking and fixed it under warranty. I understand this is a common fault so could be related to your leak. Quick pressure test and checking under the car with the shield removed should help confirm if this is correct. Great video 👍
Thanks for the note.
Thermostat housings are notorious for leaking on all 2 liters and 1.8. Try to get a aluminum one if they make it for your car, it shouldn’t leak after that
Another Virginia VW guy! I'll be following you on your journey with this guy. I just got a MK6 GLI (my second GLI , along with a Passat V6 and another Jetta 2.0t FSI) and it's fantastic.
You seem to an great job keeping up on your car. I'll be learning some useful tips from you on how to do this. Cheers!
Thank you for that. My next video publishes tomorrow at 2pm. Thanks for visiting.
Love this video. Car's amazing. Owner knows how to keep his GTI in good shape.
Thank you!
I have a 2015 white gti se only things wrong with it are the tire sensors randomly comes on about once a week. The sun roof cover snags a little bit. The door does the click after a few months. other then that It runs like new only have 40k miles on it
Nice Video & car. I own a Golf mk4 for almost 20 years. I bought it new from VW and it is the best and most reliable car i've ever had. had some mercedes' too.
Wish you much more fun with your GTI. Greetings from germany.
I appreciate that. Thanks for writing.
Moment I started watching, I was waiting for you to make a comment about the dropping coolant levels. All MK7 suffer from quality control water pumps, that either fail through the double 0 connector or the actual plastic gets heat cracked. You can check this if you see any dried coolant , usually dries flaky red, on the middle or lower block. I replaced mine at 35k with the revision parts, coolant level haven't dropped since))j.
Thanks for sharing. Did you get the metal part that I've read about? Or just an updated VW part? -Scott
@@StealthGTI I didn't' think the metal billet pump justified the cost, especially since the revised version seems to hold just fine. I would just call VW and they'll give you the latest revision part number, then try to find the best deal either through amazon or ebay vw part wholesalers. You'll need the waterpump, thermostat housing and double 0 Connector... All in all about a $350 job if you're replacing yourself. Just be aware if you replace the belt too it's a reverse thread, but if the belt doesn't look bad then don't replace it unless you absolutely have to as it's nightmare to remove, with many horror stories.
@@Revedance2002 - Thanks for that. I'll keep it in mind.
Really good review.
I've had a Golf 1.5 in the UK through my work for the last 3 months. In that time, I've covered 8000 miles.
I find it really relaxing to drive. It's so quiet compared to my previous car which was diesel.
Nice. I find driving to be relaxing, too... driving in the rural areas, that is. Thanks for visiting.
I don't find newer diesels to be noiser than petrol engines of the same power at all.
@@JAnx01 they get slowly noisier
I loved the console condom :) The only delivery issue I had was the front hood locking mechanism ws not sitting correctly, two minute adjustment and NO problems:) Since 2010 the VW GTI has been greatly improved and reliable-FINALLY!
Glad to read about your longevity report! Thanks for writing.
Its great to hear it from an owner rather than a dealer / seller. Thanks for the videos !
Thanks for visiting!
I'm working on a review video of my 2013 GTI as I just passed 100K miles. I completely feel what you meant about the dead skin on the arm rests. It's my main complaint about my car! I've actually considered replacing all arm rest material with vinyl or leather. Nice review.
Get the arm rest condom... it works! ;-) Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for your film. Currently have a '08 Mk5 GTi with 180k & my wife runs a '12 Mk6 GTi also with 170k... so good to know how the MK7 holds-up
My early research indicated that the Mk7 engine addressed all of the shortcomings of the previous 2.0T's. Time will tell if they did a good job. Thanks for writing.
Looking at a MK6 11'-12' with under 70k on it? I only hope to get another 100k out of it with proper maitnace. Is yours still holding up?
diesel geeks have the BEST steel pans.
most of these problems I have with my mk7 Golf r as well.
I agreed back when I was a dieselhead. Now it seems he's only stocking plates for the Mk4. Thanks for visiting.
I have a 2016 51K GTI Autobahn - APR stage 1 tuned. I can confirm EVERY issue you mentioned here. My biggest one was with the coolant, then my leather seats starting to tear in the same spot from buttons from back pockets on my pants/shorts. Other than that, this thing makes me happy!
Thanks for sharing.
Scott, I just wanted to stop by and say Hi. The all-knowing YT algorithm brought your review to my attention, and the Stealth part definitely caught my attention (from your StealthTDI days). We've gone on several NorCal road trips together and it's good to see you're still in the VW family. I still have the same TDI I had 23 yrs ago, lol. If I watch too many more of your vids I may have to break down and pick up a Mk7 or 8.
Welcome to the channel! It's been a LONG time! I'm curious to know if this is Norman, Peter, or someone who's slipping my mind. The Mk7s are wonderful cars! My daughter has a Launch Edition Golf. I kept my Mk3 for 20 years. I stopped driving it in 2014 with the plan to fix some rust issues around the gas filler while I drove a new 2014 Jetta. When I finally dug into it, I found a serious case of the dreaded strut tower rust. I sold the car in 2018 with 445,000 original miles to someone who wanted the engine and modified transmission for his B4 Passat. Oddly enough, after driving a Mk6, I had no idea how I ever felt safe in a Mk3! HAHA! Feel free to e-mail me through StealthGTI.com if you want to get back in touch. Take Care!
That's a lot of miles for 36 months. I'm about to turn 91,000 KM after 64 months.
I'm a driver. What can I say? :-)
@Blair Aquilia - Very nice! Someone posted a simple comment elsewhere, "You drive too much!" Really? Who determines that? I drive to where the job is, but don't prefer to live there. Isn't freedom great? ;-) Thanks for sharing your mileage. -Scott
@Blair Aquilia I drive 100k miles a year. My altima is less than 3 years old with 230k miles.
@@occckid123 That sure is a lot of miles... are you saying that you drive around 275 miles a day for every day of the year? Yikes!
@@EveKitty08 exactly
The factory ones leak also. In the UK, I'm doing inspections are cars everyday and I've seen the plastic sumps leak, earliest I've seen is at 45-50k
Thanks for sharing that.
on the flip side, I'm not saying your wrong but I wouldn't say its common. I work for Audi here in the uk (same engines) and personally havent ever seen a plastic sump leak. Plus the plastic is not going to rust over time either
@@andyboy13100 it's one of those things just to inspect during maintenance. Yea, corrosion isnt a concern. At Audi you'll rarely come across the low mileage high abuse drug dealers car as you would in a north london private garage...
Oh man I’m so excited I’m getting one this year and it’ll be my first ever car from a dealer.
Congratulations! Thanks for visiting.
Same !!
Great all around car I have the 2016 dsg.
Me tooo I’m soo fucking excited
This is exactly the same color and configuration of the MKVII I had. I traded it in when I went to a Tesla Model 3, but I really miss it. They're such great cars. I had the Eurodyne Stage 1.5 flash - turned it into a monster. Great review, I enjoyed watching.
Thanks for your kind remarks. Take Care!
Nice update. Love the detail you put into the video as well as the write up on the website. I have a GTI sport in Black with a manual. I found your website when I was still deciding between a Focus ST and the GTI. My only mods so far are winter wheels and tires.
Thanks for sharing. It's always good to know that some are familiar with my website and that my efforts there are not a waste. ;-)
This was really clear and informative - great video!
Thank you.
Great review... I’m on my 5th golf and always good to hear other folks thoughts....
thanks.
Thanks for visiting.
10:25 some wind deflectors on the windows should sort that out, plus they look good in my opinion.
Thanks for sharing. Do you have them, too? I've considered them, but hestitate since I can be too pragmatic at times. HAHA! -Scott
StealthGTI have a look at these: www.micksgarage.com/d/wind-deflectors/Volkswagen/Volkswagen-Golf/GOLF-VII-2012-Onwards/products/3195142-10585/front-and-rear-heko-deflectors-for-volkswagen-golf-vii-2012-onwards
I have them and they are a gift from above. I opted for the in channel weather tech, and the wet arm is no more! Well worth the hundy or so they cost.
@@imalexodell - Thanks for sharing.
If I liked the way they looked I'd go that way, but I just don't unfortunately.....
My brother turned me on to this video....I watched it before but never seen the alternate ending..I currently have a mk7 tdi that I love so much but I'm afraid to go gti and regret it...im glad to see your an ex tdi owner as well and is happy with the switch
Excellent! Thanks for sharing your story. Perhaps you have room for both? Take care.
Thank you for putting out this video. There's plenty of [great] new car reviews on youtube, but 3 years and 90k+ miles, not so much! The encountered warranty issues all seem reasonable and the owner-created problems are good to know about.
Thanks for the note. Yes, many of the Mk7 related videos I watch center around mods, performance, or racing. My mods are fairly standard, as is my performance levels. I stopped racing cars in 2010. Some of my mods are unique and unpopular. So, my videos get relatively low play time. But THIS video apparently has given the community something they want. Who knew a video about a geriatric GTI would be so popular? I'm working on "Part 2" now. The oil leak discovery added more content than expected. So, I have more to share. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI Keep in mind that 2017 mk7s are coming off of leases and are still in the band of fairly new used cars to pick up. Speaking for myself, i'm really curious about the truths, myths and realities of VW ownership, especially regarding the GTI. I like to own my cars for a *long* time, so the long-term ownership experience is highly valued. Best of luck with your next 100k! :)
@@YasumotoUS - Thanks for the comments. I hope to give regular reports as the car gets older. Thanks for visiting.
I work for VW, the coolant loss is normal, the cap regulates pressure for the cooling system and vents at times and needs to be topped off.
That's interesting. You're the first to share something like that. Can you share anything about the venting, perhaps some online reading? The car looks pretty solid to me. Thanks for sharing.
That’s never happened on my 2.5L
And my VW has 140k miles
it may be common, but isn't normal for any car. Especially these kind of rates.
cap regulates pressure and overpressure sends fluid to the reservoir. Underpressure then draws it back to the radiator.
Coolant loss without any leak can come from evaporation, but this is always slow. The whole reservoir in 6 months means it goes to either the oil, indicated by a rising oil level, or the cylinders. Either is bad for an engine.
If you say this is normal for VW engines, that indicates a quality issue. Not that this would surprise anyone, VW has built quite the negative track record over the past 10 years regarding engines..
@@dwergmaster - To be clear, I don't lose the entire reservoir in six months. I lose about 3/4", which is about a 20% or less. Sure, it may not be normal in your book. But I felt it was worth noting that my loss is not as terrible as you describe.
@@StealthGTI Ah I thought you mention 3/4th quarter.. In my understanding, that's 75%.
Still not sure what " indicates? Litres or some freedom unit?
20% is still quite a lot though, not only in my book ;-)
Love this car. I've always appreciated it. Everyone always says these cars are unreliable, but you seem to have had fairly normal experiences with any car with this kind of mileage. Plus, as a detailer, I really appreciate how nice your engine bay looks 👍
Thanks, Dylan. In truth, the engine bay is dirty by my standards. I need to hit the crevices with a brush and vacuum out the pockets in the intake manifold. I'm curious to see if the intake manifold cover I bought will keep debris out of those crevices, as well as hiding them.
I had hoped to include the footage of the suspension, exhaust, and other items that showed the condition of the chassis and underbody. However, discovering the oil leak compelled me to comment on that, which made the video longer than expected. I will create another video about the mechanical condition of the car and share that next.
The response to this video has been great! I appreciate everyone stopping by and commenting.
I remember having a halon extinguisher in the car many years ago 👍
Just have a gasket made for the steel pan
StealthGTI love your work, for the brand of replacement your front windshield. “FY” is fuyao glass. The made all OEM glass for Mercedes, BMW and VW, all most all made and models. This should be original parts without VW logo.
@@woody555kl - Thanks! I don't know that I could have a custom gasket made for the same $18 I paid for the Tiguan gasket I received recently. I hope to find out how well it works soon.
My 15' has 56k miles. I had to have the waterpump/thermostat housing replaced @ 46k. If there's a leak you'll notice it if you pull off the belly pan. It was caked around the oil pan very obviously as well as stained the belly pan up a bit. Even after replacement my GTI still consumed about the same amount as yours. Just had my cousin check it yesterday at the VW dealer he works at. Bone dry underneath and around the usual spots. Who knows where the coolant goes lol.
Thanks for the note.
I also was going to install the metal oil pan but decided to do the aluminum skid plate instead. I love it. Not only does it protect the oil pan, it protects the other plastic parts that can get damaged by heavy snow etc.
I may wind up going that path later. We'll see. Thanks for writing.
2016 Jetta 1.8t, 110k miles. Love seeing videos from other high mileage drivers. May do APR stage 1 tune soon.
Nice! Thanks for sharing. -Scott
May do = won't do. Yawn.
@@polopowered Doesn't seem like a good idea with a turbo model at that mileage IMO.
@@SI0AX at 110k why not
@@liltayg53 Because some turbo engines may only last 100k if driven hard, before getting rings worn out and requiring a rebuild.
Not a GTI but I own a Scirocco and plan on keeping it forever! Great video👍
I hope to keep mine for a very long time. But you never know with the complicated electronics in today's car. We'll see. Thanks for visiting.
I like the arm rest condom idea a lot 😂
HAHA! My sense of humor is quite warped. Link for said condom in the video description. Thanks for commenting.
I have a 2015 with 66k and the stock oil pan with no issues. I recently experienced the vaporizing coolant. I added a little bit of distilled water and all good for now. I also have the same tires and I love them. Next time I will buy them in 235. thanks for sharing
Thanks for writing.
Never owned a VW product,but I have subscribed😲
I like your laid back style and descriptions😃
Thanks for your kind comments! New video at 2pm EST today.
I see you love your GTI so very much sir despite all the shortcomings, wished I could do that.
Most of its shortcomings are self-inflicted. The rest are small issues or normal wear and tear. Thanks for visiting.
I see you love your Scotty Kilmer so very much sir despite all his shortcomings, wish I could do that.
Great review! I nearly bought one of these after I brought in my golf tdi on the last day of buybacks. Interested to see if you can nail down the coolant thing.
Honestly, I'm not terribly worried about it. The car's been great, even with what is a very small amount of coolant disappearing almost since it was new. The TDI buyback was probably one of the best things that happened to me. Without it, I'd probably still be driving my Mk6 Jetta TDI, completely unaware of how much better the GTI is. HAHA! Thanks for visiting. -Scott
My wife’s car had the same issue, coolant reservoir low about half an inch every 8k miles or so. It turned out to be a bad seal from the coolant flange on the driver’s side of the motor. It’s the same flange where the coolant sensor, upper hose and the engine block meet. Replaced the flange, no issues since.
So you replaced the factory clutch at like 30k? That seems really low for such a big job..
It's because he was tuned. The stock clutch is only good for stock power.
The additional 100 lb-ft of torque at the low end and towing took its toll on the clutch. Thanks for visiting. -Scott
The clutch in the Mk7 is known to be weak. It'll slip with an APR stg1 and aggressive driving. The DSG on the other hand, will hold 400+ lbft of torque.
@Liam Ross : The clutch that comes with the car is intended for the engine which it comes with. If you tune the car, etc, then the factory clutch will not last as long. I have 170000 kilometre on original clutch in my VW. My brother in law has even more, on his. Not to mention, some people have no idea how to drive a manual and ride the clutches to no end.
@Liam Ross My 2004 GTI has 131,000 miles with the original clutch still installed. The clutch is doing fine. No issues. I believe it will reach 150,000 miles.
Interesting and refreshingly honest video. I'm an Englishman and have a 4.5 year old Ford Focus with 90,000 miles on the clock ... had a leaky offside driveshaft seal and , like you , a cracked windscreen. For the last 50,000 miles, every once in a while, the car lets out a little moaning noise which baffles everyone as to the cause but gets no worse nor more frequent. I have to say that after its monthly clean the car looks as good as brand new, inside and out. I used to run Audis but became exasperated with the number of faults I had ... whilst your VW GTi seems to be doing pretty well this has confirmed my view it may be best to stick with Ford for my next car. Thanks for posting this.
Thanks for visiting.
Great video and I just subscribed. I’m about to take ownership of a 2016 mark 7 GTI S model with DSG transmission. I’m transitioning from a BMW F30 335i due to daily 60 mile commute and MPG improvement. Im going to bing watch your channel.
WOW! Thanks for the binge session! Some of my early content is a bit awkward for me to watch. HAHA! Hopefully, you'll see improvement as you wade through the content. I've been away from making videos for a bit, but I'm about to get back at it. Thanks for visiting!
Amazing review. Thanks for pictures and detailed explanation. Keep this up! And maybe 2022 MK8 gti 😉
Thanks! I appreciate the comment. I already have footage from my undercarriage inspection. I'll shoot additional video and hopefully will have a good video soon. This weekend is out because I'll be on a road trip. Maybe before Thanksgiving. -Scott
You can buy the MK8 even earlier in Spring 2020
@@maxims8121 - Not in the U.S. Thanks for writing.
I dunno man, if you’ve seen those mk 8 videos they are all high tech and heavy on the electronics. I really like and want something more easy to do self maintenance on.
@@davidlindsay8937 - I think nearly everything has more and more electronics today... and it's getting worse (better?).
I liked how he said that his daughter did the work on her own car.
Thanks for sharing that. She started as a general service technician at a shop. She had just enrolled in a heavy diesel repair school and had a plan. Then she decided to join the Marines. For now, she's learning how to work on aircraft tugs, power generation equipment, and I think hydraulics. She wants to learn jet engines, too. We'll see how that goes. Thanks for visiting.
Wow you do some high mileage a year!!!!
Yes. I enjoy driving, especially if there's no one else around. :-) Thanks for visiting.
I bought my Seat Ibiza TDi 130 new in 2002. It always had pressure build up in the coolant reservoir and I had to top it up every month. It was the head gasket. A specialist replaced the head gasket (with pictures as proof) and the problem stayed the same. I don't want a car from the Volkswagen group anymore.
Thanks for sharing. I don't know much about Seat. What are you driving now?
@@StealthGTI Seat is a brand of Volkswagen. I have been extremely unlucky with the engines in the cars I have had the last 20 years.
The glass manufacturer is FuYao, which is a Chinese company making car park in US, and it also has a documentary about its conflict between union and company, good stuff, people keep saying Chinese made sucks, but not in this case, it has better quality and cheaper price than almost every other US company, great Video
Thanks for the note. I've seen the documentary. It can be a little divisive, I imagine. But, the glass is a quality product without a doubt! Thanks for visiting.
the cap on overflow does not look straight to me, make sure it clicks when fully tight..
Thanks for that. I backed it off a hair since it was quite difficult to remove when I topped it off recently. I'll snug it a bit more.
New clutch at ~32k miles? That's crazy low mileage, right? Is that "normal" for a GTI?
Not normal at all. There's more to my story. "Part 2" explains more. Thanks for visiting.
My Mk6 Gti clutch lasted 100,000 miles on stage 1
@@josephcreed7 - Glad to hear it. However, it's worth noting that the Mk7 APR tune I had at the time outputs 38 hp and 40 lb-ft more than what APR advertises for the Mk6. The EA888 can easily overpower the stock clutch, especially on a cold morning with a trailer in tow, as was the case for me that day. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI I can imagine a trailer will cause the clutch to go a bit sooner. I will admit however the clutch began to slip once and a while around 75k, but it was the throw out bearing causing the issue. I just took it easy in first gear till 100k, just before I went to upgrade the clutch someone totalled it when it was parked. I had a Unitronic Stage 1 tune
Good review! I love how these and all Volkswagen’s drive/comfort. I’ll stick to Honda’s though.. much less issues and sunroofs never leak on them.
I think you're right about Honda's reliability. However, I don't think I can go back to anything with less than 300 hp after driving my Stage 2 GTI. HAHA! If I somehow become disenchanted with VW's, I'll find something. But I don't think Honda fits my desires. Thanks for visiting.
Hyundai are better in my opinion but alr
StealthGTI The top Civic has over 300 horses even before any tuning
@@jamesmedina2062 - Thanks for sharing. The top Civic's styling is too overt for my tastes. Plus, it's $10,000 more than what I paid for my GTI.
@@StealthGTI how much did you pay in tuning it up (downpipe, clutch, etc?)
My 2017 golf with 59k km or 37k miles has been great so far, no oil leak from plastic oil pan at all. I’ve thought about going for the steel pan but i just trust the rubber gasket on the plastic oil pan more that the RTV gasket.
Good to hear. For now, I'm going to try out a Tiguan gasket with my steel pan. It's by far the cheapest fix. If that doesn't seal it sufficiently, then I'll go back to the composite pan and then get a skid plate. Thanks for commenting. -Scott
@@StealthGTI Doesn't hurt to try it! By the way I love the quality of your videos and the content on your StealthGTI website, keep the videos coming! Have a great day!
@@proboxpepper6752 - Thanks for those compliments. I'm still no natural at talking to a camera, but I think I'm getting better. I'm also going to try settings other than the driver's seat. Inside the car is a great sound stage, but it has to be getting trite for viewers. I'll have footage from a garage in my next video, but I cannot talk to a camera and get any work done. So, I'll probably do a voiceover on that one. We'll see.
StealthGTI I broke the aluminum oil pan on my 1.8t Passat and when replacing it, the mechanics used Hondabond to good effect, no leaks there later
I picked up a mk7 Golf TDI for cheap as a CPO car and sold my mk4 Golf TDI. I'm getting that buzzing noise in the front door that I haven't been able to find. I'm checking that bolt on the door check! Hopefully that fixes it. The only upgrade that I'm dying to do on it is upgrade from MIB1 to MIB2 for the sound system. The 2015 infotainment is pretty lacking. I'm hoping the upgrade won't be too difficult. I've been following your cars since you first got your mk3 TDI. It's nice to see that you're still working with the VWs.
Thanks! It's always good to see someone from my diesel days! Have you seen EuroZoneTuning.com? He carries MIB upgrade packages. They're not cheap, but he's done all the research and work to assemble a ready-to-install package. It's where I got my MIB2 display upgrade.
Thank you for saving the manuals.
HAHA! Yes! Thanks for visiting.
30k: carbon build up on fuel injectors. Service depending on vw engine ranges from 1-2k. Meanwhile toyota/lexus 200k engine just started breaking in.
I use Top Tier fuels exclusively. I'm hoping that it helps to keep things clean. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI Just to add to you comment - I had a GLI with 280k miles on it and never had my injectors replaced or my values cleaned. But I did start using Top Tier Full exclusively starting around 60-80k when I want Stage Two flash. Top tier is what is best for a new age direct injection engines anyway.
@@jasonhaye3457 - Thanks for sharing.
My mk7 has 40k miles on it and never had an injector replaced or valves cleaned.....so what your saying is just cooked up because you dont like dubs. Hell my old mk6 tdi had 200k miles and only ever cost me oil changes, 2 timing belts, 2 batteries, 1 accessory belt and tires in the 5 years i owned it not once breaking on me while i was drive all maintence done just because it was time to be done....because i maintain my vehicles. My old TDI's was the most reliable car ive ever owned.
Admiral Ackbar perhaps, but then you’d be stuck driving an appliance with odd styling and zero personality.
Thank you so much for this video. I now have the confidence to buy a GTI.
You're welcome. I think you'll like it.
My 15 GTI has currently 130K on the clock, I am on my 3rd set of tires, 2 set of brakes pads & rotors, replaced the clutch at 120K,
My car is mostly a highway car. So, I am fortunate to not need tires and brake replacement as frequently. Thanks for commenting.
I have a 2015 GTI with 34,000 miles. I installed an aluminum skid plate before steel oil pans were available. I kept my plastic oil pan and have had no issues.
Thanks for sharing.
just leave the plastic pan alone, steel skid plate and change oil from the dipstick tube
Already changing the oil from up top. It's great. That's part of the reason I didn't discover my leak until it was quite a mess. HAHA! Thanks for visiting. -Scott
I see no reason to change my oil pan. Living in the Chicago area, I doubt I'll ever hit anything that causes damage. Plus, I don't want the hassle of having to do the gasket etc.
@@willmercier2852 - All is well until you hit a chunk of ice. What are the odds? Hopefully, very slim. That said, I wouldn't do it again.
I have a 2016 jetta and everything is fine
Awesome! I enjoyed my three Jettas over the years. The GTI was a great change for me. Thanks for writing.
30k per year, damn i thought i drove a lot 😂
HAHA!
I did 45k in one year. I need to chill. Texas bound. Runs good but will fix her up
I did 48,000 miles in one year with my old Golf. A family relative who lived about 300 miles away got cancer and was dying so when I finished work I would go and see them at the weekend this went on for just over a year before they passed. I was doing nearly 1000 miles a week and the car kept going like clockwork. I sold it with 257,000 miles on the clock.
Finally someone who’s talking about coolant.
I have to be honest, I didn’t check my engine bay for like a month and while I was toping up the screen washing solution I noticed the level was pretty low. Went to service they checked if something is broken or some cracks in some tubes... NOTHING. And now I just add a little bit once in a while
I have a gallon of G13. I need to read to see if it's premix or if I need to add distilled water to dilute. I wasn't worried at my first top-off. BUT, if adding is the new normal, then I need to ensure it's mixed properly. Thanks for visiting.
Good to hear about the longevity of the GTI... I REALLY want to tune my '18 but afraid of the warranty no longer being honored. Stage 2 and that many ponies though sounds so enticing... So many stock camaros and stangs always trying to test me on the highway lol
A Stage 2 GTI is a pleasure to drive, that's for sure. It's probably going to get me in front of a judge someday, though. HAHA!
@@StealthGTI ahhh man don't tell me that haha! I need winter tires in a baddddd way lol
To change a clutch on one of these car at 30K is just poor reliability.
Unfortunately it’s common with a clutch and stage 1 tune. Should be fine with that tune and DSG
In my case, I disagree. I had added over 80 hp and 100 lb-ft to the mix; AND was towing at the time. I didn't speak quite accurately about my clutch. It didn't FAIL, it simply slipped a little while towing a trailer one cold morning. I CHOSE to replace when I did. I could have driven more, maybe another 20,000 miles. I'm not sure. Regardless, I don't think it's reasonable to expect a stock clutch to last with everything I was expecting from my car. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI you might be right in that case but my collegue bought a GTD with DSG gear box and it made barealy 20.000km.
@@indahooddererste That's surprising. There are usually no problems with DSG transmissions on cars with a stage 1 tune.
@@boss4330 well i heard nothing good about it. a german car magazine made a 100.000km test with a mercedes a class and a golf mk7. the dsg gearbox had to be changed at 60.000 km with a lot of other stuff. the a class seemed to be the better deal.
I had a 335i BMW, Mercedes C320, Infinti G35...NONE are fun like my 2019 GTI Rabbit. I had a Jetta GLI 2006 and that car was also amazing. These VWs connect with you like no other. I am VW consumer for LIFE. I love the premium interior quality, handling, little exhaust farts....just an overall amazing car. Watch this video....the GTI was defined as BRILLIANT in every way! Any for those negative people, every car brand has issues. My friend’s Lexus in and out of the shop and another friend had an Infiniti with countless electrical issues. VW owns the most powerful name plates from Porsche to Bugatti and I am very happy and satisfied with my Rabbit. It’s fast, beautifully crafted, and has German heritage and auto-bond handling !
th-cam.com/video/3VwgvIqXg3A/w-d-xo.html
Agreed! I think every car I get will always be "the best car I've ever had" because cars are constantly getting better. Still, the Mk7 was a huge leap forward for Volkswagen. Thanks for visiting! -Scott
@@shaunsnyman5107 i love it....
Shame how terrible the overall build quality is. Throw in the electronic issues and VW has chased me away, forever, and man was I a fanboy. Even sold them. While selling them delivered so many cars with issues. The engines failing, trans, and all of that beautiful interior detail just pealing off after a 3 year lease.
@@shaunsnyman5107 not sure about little boys, but I am sure that they are junk.
evythefish123 GTI was rated very high by every single professional car journalist. VW GTI is legendary and the wear and tear is no different from any other auto maker. I have friends with Lexus and other luxury brands that all have their issues. I love VW and they are the biggest auto maker on the world with the most power name brands in their family. I love my GTI. My Jetta I had for nearly 5 years and nothing fell apart.it had a high quality interior and very reliable.
Great review - I appreciate your candor and intelligent insights; a sense of humor always helps, too. I got a 2019 GTI in April - love it. Came from an '04 E46 that I also loved, but the repair costs were mounting. I tend to keep my cars for a long time, and hope this one makes it. The seat bolster is going to get worn, though.
Thank you!
Excellent review. Sounds like your GTI is holding up well for your power output.
Thanks! I have been very happy with the car.
Good reveiw you lucky that your rings didnt go yet because these engines are very poorly build
WOW! I've never heard of bad rings on the Mk7, not out of the blue, anyway. Functionally, the car is still great. Take Care, -Scott
Oh boy - All I can say is I had one VW GLI with 280k and was flashed APR stage 2 never had an issue with my engine- Clutch was original too. My second VW is a Jetta and it has about 145k on it now- regular maintenance checked my oil levels and cars still feels as good as ever.
@@jasonhaye3457 - Thanks for sharing your experience. Also, I agree with your original response, "Utter non-sense." ;-)
In high school my best bud had a diesel VW Rabbit. It was a interesting ride. The gearshift felt broke - it was fine. With me riding his top speed with air conditioned on was 45 mph on level road.without air 55 mph. If alone he claimed 63 mph “ givin her all she’s got “ . It was normal. Low power cars. He did manage to almost get his license taken while driving it. On the WVA Turnpike he got clocked going about 80 mph . Down the biggest longest mountain at the bottom. Beckley mountain. He was trying to make up time he lost at 30 mph climbing the same mountain in 2 Nd gear. We jammed Sammy Hagar , “ I cant drive 55” it was true comedy. Glad to see they are better 30 years later. Nice little road machine now, or appears to be to me.
Ugh! I cannot imagine needing to pinch my pennies to the point of wanting to drive something so slow today. HAHA! Thanks for visiting.
My 2016 GTI (manual transmission) has 81,000 miles. The engine temperature control actuator was leaking coolant which was discovered during the 80,000 mile maintenance. We are replacing that and the water pump as a result. I have had to replace my windshield due to extensive pitting. My keys are on their third batteries. And, I replaced my battery around 60,000 miles. Great video!
Thanks for visiting.
Thanks for this type of information.
Some people say VW and Chrysler are not reliable etc. My last vehicle was a Chrysler and I drove it over 10 years with no trouble except a $67 cam shaft sensor that went out twice. Other stuff was routine scheduled maintenance. I traded it in on a new 2019 GTI SE three days ago. My girlfriend gave her 2008 VW Passat to her son and it's still going. I hope to drive my GTI for 10 years or 100,000 miles whatever comes first. I'm trying to get a stage 3 done on it by next summer. I have been communicating with people about it but the internet is misleading because as of now I can't find a stage 3 for mk7.5 just mk7. I sent out emails today.
Thanks
Thanks! And good luck with your tuning endeavors.
Awesome review 👍. I have not seen one by anyone else as good as this review. Very thorough! I have been tempted to try a new GTI or GLI and much appreciate the information you provided.
Thanks for your kind remarks! Take Care.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Check your thermostat housing for coolant leaks. Seems to be a very common leak point, but as you've done, can be managed with periodic top-offs for awhile.
Thanks for sharing that.
I have a 2015 MK7 , 89000 miles SE and it has the plastic factory oil pan with no leaks so i am planning to put the skid plate. i also noticed the coolant consumption is about the same as what you pointed out.
Thanks for sharing your report!
Thanks so much for this. I am considering a 2018 GTI that was a demo car. It would be 35 yearsolder than the very first VW I bought, a 1983 Rabbit GTI. You're making me think I need to do this!
Very nice! If I was shopping today, I'd probably get a 2018 or 2019. Do some research on stalling issues with the 2018 with DSG (if you're shopping a DSG). I don't know if it's been resolved, but I recall some discussion about it at GolfMk7.com. Thanks for visiting!
You worried me when you said your clutch failed at 15,000 miles😁. I've been driving my 2007 Toyota tacoma 4 banger base with manual transmission for 13 years, 247,000 miles on it with still the original clutch. I'm planning to treat myself with a 2020 GTI se 6 speed manual and I'm keeping it stock. Good video very informative. Stay safe.
Thanks for the note. Please read the pinned comment at the top of the comment feed. In short, my clutch did not fail. I replaced it preemptively. Thanks for visiting.
@@StealthGTI Yes I read😁. That's what give me a peace of mind. I'm excited to get mine!
I want to do a steel pan as well but fear what you experienced and would definitely pay a shop to do it for this exact reason. I went with IS38 Turbo and happy with 300 HP.
Thanks for your comments, Robert. Unfortunately, a shop may or may not do as good a job. See how I resolved an oil pan leak at th-cam.com/video/YQudcXG_5AQ/w-d-xo.html. This is something you can do yourself.
A member on the Golf R forum has fitted the plastic underbody tray from a Passat Alltrack. This unit gives slightly more protection than the standard tray. He did need to procure a few extra fasteners and two small brackets to complete this conversion. It certainly looks the business when fitted and offers much greater protection to the sump area. All the best from Nottingham, U.K.
Thanks for sharing that. Some in the U.S. have fitted a similar tray from our Golf Alltrack... same concept. ShopDAP.com sells complete kits. Thanks for visiting.
If you're obsessive about the oil pan issue go look at the Wortec aluminum pan. The latest version is milled to accept a factory o-ring seal. Perk is that it adds oil capacity and improves cooling. Downside: cost. But the Wortec solution is still better than the skidplate because the skidplate is almost as expensive as the pan and you have to take the skidplate off every time to do an oil service or conduct any service inspections. I'd just as soon have an easy-to-access pan that makes oil changes trivial.
I wouldn't say obsessive. But I also don't want oil mist all under my car. I'm hoping the new seal will work for a long time. Thanks for writing.
The factory front window was IR-protected, while aftermarkets usually don’t. So yeah, it should be more clear. Btw. you can easily spot the ir-shield and/or the lack of it with polarized glasses.
I think my new glass is still protected. I recall seeing "spots" when viewed with polarized glasses. As for the lack of clarity in the factory glass, it's hard to explain. It was almost like it had a uniform sandblasting look or perhaps microscopic bubbles throughout. I think all glass has them, to a degree. The key is the tolerance of the manufacturer. I described Fuyao as an "aftermarket" glass maker. The truth is they're an OE glass maker. They simply didn't win the contract to put the VW logo on their glass, quite possibly because their glass was more expensive (i.e., better quality) than whichever company won the contract. Thanks for writing.
I have a 2015 GTI SE with the plastic pan and no issues at 86,000 miles. Great video.
Thanks for visiting.
Regarding the coolant I would suggest to check the heating radiator which is located under the dashboard. Sometimes the radiator is getting corrosion and leaks without seeing any water around because is minimal and gets evaporated.
Thanks for the note. My thermostat housing eventually failed at ~115,000 miles. The car is has 163,000 miles now. Take Care!
Very interesting creak troubleshooting (door hinge, but sounded like it was the B pillar). I had an odd rattle in my 2014 mk6 GTI that turned out to be a loose piece of plastic inside the sealed passenger headrest. I removed the headrest and shook it, and the rattle was quite loud. Fortunately the dealer gave me a new one, as it was still under the bumper to bumper warranty.
Very interesting! Cars are fickle things! ;-) Thanks for visiting.