Is the VW Golf a Bad Car?

[dareo]

A big part of the german car reliability equation is how it is cared for. They are less tolerant of improper fluids and intervals. So buy one new, if you can, or from somebody who can prove proper care. Somebody like Surfstar will get tons of miles with limited trouble. The average ignoramus will have more issues with german stuff.

Also, there is a bid difference between a golf sportwagen and lets say Audi All Road. The golf keeps things simple and that gives as much reliability as possible. The golf gives you an Aisin slushbox, manual, and on some models, a reputable DCT trans.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

There is nothing wrong with a CVT as long as it isn't Nissan

A leftover 2020 Sonic might be the car for you. It uses a regular automatic that's not a CVT, or worse, a DCT.

There is nothing wrong with Honda's CVT cars. A leftover 2020 Fit is a great car.

 

[parimento1]

There is nothing wrong with a CVT as long as it isn't Nissan

A leftover 2020 Sonic might be the car for you. It uses a regular automatic that's not a CVT, or worse, a DCT.

There is nothing wrong with Honda's CVT cars. A leftover 2020 Fit is a great car.

I was looking at the Sonic. I would like to avoid the turbo too, but not as much as the CVT. I was also looking at 2019 Kia Rio.

 

[Cdn17Sport6MT]

Some folks would not want to buy a car where that car line is ending. Depends on how long ownership is planned for I guess.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I was looking at the Sonic. I would like to avoid the turbo too, but not as much as the CVT. I was also looking at 2019 Kia Rio.

The Rio is good too! I actually forgot about it

Actually, they just dropped DI starting in 2020, so there's that too

Some folks would not want to buy a car where that car line is ending. Depends on how long ownership is planned for I guess.

They seem to be discontinued due to low sales, so if they're not selling well, it may be possible to get a good deal that you can't pass up

 

[gregk24]

Drive one, I'll bet you will fall in love.

 

[dishdude]

Golf is a great car, but I think they stopped selling it in the US. Aren't they only selling the GTI here?

 

[surfstar]

A big part of the german car reliability equation is how it is cared for. They are less tolerant of improper fluids and intervals. So buy one new, if you can, or from somebody who can prove proper care. Somebody like Surfstar will get tons of miles with limited trouble. The average ignoramus will have more issues with german stuff.

Ah crap, you jinxed me! If my sportwagen grenades tomorrow I'm blaming you!

related side note - I'm very anti-extended warranty. For my VW, though, I have Geico mechanical breakdown insurance. It has a $250 deductible, can be cancelled at any time, and is pretty cheap ($48/6mo I think) - goes out to 7yr/100k.
Haven't used it at all, but I find it comforting to have in case something 'major' or Germanly expensive goes out. (like an overpriced waterpump, etc) It'll be $700 for 7 years and I'll be planning on replacing with an Outback at that time anyways. Cheaper than an extended warranty (as it is basically bumper to bumper coverage vs just a powertrain).

^correct - the standard Golf is gone after 2019, I believe. Can still find new, leftovers on lots (along with Alltracks and Sportwagens), and work a deal.

OP - take a test drive in one. MQB chassis underpins the A3 as well, and I still say it will feel like a class above a Civic/Mazda3/Elantra in solidness and understated looks and interior. I think the design will age better as it isn't all that flashy or edgy and it is hard to tell the different years/models apart. But if I had a major breakdown, maybe I'd be singing a different tune

 

[supton]

I've thought about going back to VW, but only if I could find a good shop local to me. I got tired of driving out of state for service, then got lucky with a local trusted mechanic--then threw in the towel when he closed shop. Little different now that I have a garage of my own--yet I'm not sure how much work I want to do on my own cars these days.

But having a good mechanic seems wise no matter what brand.

 

[wag123]

The Mazda3 uses a geared automatic.

The Corolla SE uses a CVT with a launch gear. The SE has a bigger engine, gets better fuel economy and has more power
than the grandma Corolla LE.

+1
The Mazda3 is a better choice than the VW Golf IMO.

 

[Boomer]

I have owned 4 VWs in the past10 years. Two were diesels and I now have the two gassers in my signature. My diesel Passat I had for 8 years and never had any warranty or repair work done on it. The diesel Jetta wagon had over 30,000 miles on it.....same thing. I sold that one back to VW and bought the gas Golf All Track wagon. I traded the diesel Passat (had VW retune it) for the gas Passat in my signature. Did that for health issues as my wife did not like filling up at diesel pumps! I have had no warranty issues on of my signature cars. I find the local VW dealers to be good places to get service done and to purchase a car.

So I can give VW a big thumbs up. Far better reliability than any GM, Ford or Chrysler vehicle I have owned over a 53 year period. And I find the fit and finish on mine to be excellent.

 

[supton]

I dunno, once my VW crossed 100k it seemed it needed something every year. On one hand, I was doing 32k/year. OTOH it certainly felt pretty often at the time. But I did like it enough to drive for 11 years and 314k! Still miss that car... don't miss driving to get work done, and in the end it was falling prey to road salt, but sometimes I wish I could have it back.

 

[RooflessVW]

^This. Depends on how long you plan on keeping it. Probably a pretty good car up to 150k miles, then it is amazing the avalanche of failures occurs. It's not just electronics, but suspension, bearings, transmission, you name it.

So like every car

 

[wings&wheels]

In an effort to buy a small car without a CVT the Golf seems to be the only one available without this transmission.

I know German cars are usually unreliable, but are VW cars turds like Audi, BMW etc?

I agree, avoid them all....

 

[Huie83]

I've owned two VW's over the past 6 years. They are drivers cars, more solidly built with better driving dynamics than other compacts and a lot of fun to own and maintain.

They are not Toyota reliable but from my experience, far from turds either as long as you maintain them by the book with OEM parts/fluids. VW's do not like to be neglected. For that reason, unless you can verify service history at a VW dealer or with the correct maintenance items, I would never buy a used VW.

Just be aware if you do buy one that maintenance items are a tad more expensive than a Asian/US vehicle. If you don't have a good VW dealer close, make sure you have a good Indy mechanic that does VW's in case you need to fall back to them for bigger items.

 

[jstert]

how about a toyota yaris hatchback, either the original toyota with 4sp auto trans (my 2014) or the rebadged mazda2 with 6sp at? both nonturbo, n.a. engines. my simple base yaris has been a great runabout, crank windows and all, though i did add cruise control.

 

[jstert]

I've owned two VW's over the past 6 years. They are drivers cars, more solidly built with better riving dynamics than other compacts and a lot of fun to own and maintain.

They are not Toyota reliable but from my experience, far from turds either as long as you maintain them by the book with OEM parts/fluids. VW's do not like to be neglected. For that reason, unless you can verify service history at a VW dealer or with the correct maintenance items, I would never buy a used VW.

Just be aware if you do buy one that maintenance items are a tad more expensive than a Asian/US vehicle. If you don't have a good VW dealer close, make sure you have a good Indy mechanic that does VW's in case you need to fall back to them for bigger items.

gospel truth here.

 

[zzyzzx]

The Corolla SE uses a CVT with a launch gear. The SE has a bigger engine, gets better fuel economy and has more power
than the grandma Corolla LE.

This CVT, and it's KIA imitation also with the launch gear have already had problems.
Probably better than a CVT without a launch gear though.

 

[jstert]

cpo buick encore, though it has a turbo engine?

 

[JHZR2]

I know German cars are usually unreliable, but are VW cars turds like Audi, BMW etc?

You know that? Then why ask?

My experiences say otherwise, including our ownership of a 2008 Rabbit.