Golf GTI reliability / quality?

[EuroBailey]

Hi Guys,
I have been an FTO owner for the last six years after buying at auction in Japan. I think though at nearly 30 years of age, its time for me to get something a little more mature and practical!

The wishlist is an S3 or R32 but more realistically will probably go the way of a Mark V manual GTI. All the reviews over the years have been very very positive but have heard that (particualrly overseas?) they have had quite a few issues with reliability and build quality??

How have you guys found them? Are they big issues? most people had them or just some? has warranty covered them???

one of the OTHER reasons I am getting rid of my car, is the fact that now its 14 years old, little rattles and bills keep creeping up and I want to get a new car that does not have any of these annoying features! So is the Golf GTI the car to go for?

[Russ59]

Hi and welcome to the forums Rather than starting a new thread with everyone coming on telling you their personal experiences and problems with their cars, try having a read through this - http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ead.php?t=5200 This covers your MK V GTI and R32 and other MK V Golf models as well.



This should help to cover questions you may have about forum members' experiences with Audi's as well - http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...splay.php?f=16

Happy Reading

[anthony]

I think the only real issue with a lot of current VW products are the rattles,tingles,squeeks,and vibrations.
If you want a rattle free car,buy a Toyota Corolla.
My Parents have a 2001 model which refuses to rattle...

[Russ59]

I think the only real issue with a lot of current VW products are the rattles,tingles,squeeks,and vibrations.
If you want a rattle free car,buy a Toyota Corolla.
My Parents have a 2001 model which refuses to rattle...

I don't understand why you guys keep complaining about rattles and squeaks etc..., I may be just fortunate but mine doesn't have any as yet and it has over 10,000 k's on it now and my son Cam's '07 Comfortline is the same, Maybe it's a GTI thing ? I think the people on here who own cars which are exceptions need to get together and voice their opinions on these issues to VW as a group rather than individually, because there is no better way to get your point across and maybe get some action to rectify the problems.

[GTom]

I don't understand why you guys keep complaining about rattles and squeaks etc..., I may be just fortunate but mine doesn't have any as yet and it has over 10,000 k's on it now and my son Cam's '07 Comfortline is the same, Maybe it's a GTI thing ? I think the people on here who own cars which are exceptions need to get together and voice their opinions on these issues to VW as a group rather than individually, because there is no better way to get your point across and maybe get some action to rectify the problems.

That because you drive a tractor ...

I've had a few issues with rattles...

- Top Centre Vent (very common) - Rattles - Fixed then replaced under warranty
- B pillar - fixed
- C pillar - Rattling atm (will get fixed at first service)

[BarneyBoy]

I don't understand why you guys keep complaining about rattles and squeaks etc..., I may be just fortunate but mine doesn't have any as yet and it has over 10,000 k's on it now and my son Cam's '07 Comfortline is the same, Maybe it's a GTI thing ? I think the people on here who own cars which are exceptions need to get together and voice their opinions on these issues to VW as a group rather than individually, because there is no better way to get your point across and maybe get some action to rectify the problems.

Likewise - I've only had one rattle (something loose inside the tail light - warranty replacement) and is squeak and rattle-free (18,000K).

Mebbe it's the "i" that rattles...?

[Guest212]

There is no "i" in GTI bitchez.


Honestly despite the rattles and the other niggles I have with my Mk5 it is a sound vehicle. Just not screwed together overly well but what can you expect from a South African built car. Its still better screwed together than a Commodore or a Falcon. And from all reports the German built Mk5 is no better than any other type. Its just an overly complex interior with too many points to failure. You can't get it any better unless you start paying more money (and this we dislike even more than the rattles).

I would definately go for the one with the man pedal though (ie: not DSG).

Rattles can be fixed or hidden with louder music.

You can't hide a poorley designed chassis or suspension with louder music or lowered suspension Uleh!

[EuroBailey]

thanks Russ - I guess as long as everything is replaced under warranty not huge issues.....

as for toyota suggestion; i guess my criteria is looks good, quick, small but practical with some creature comforts... like leather etc etc. I think the golf is the best example of all these....

Had previously wanted a 147 GTA which are now cheap as chips, but as much as I think they look brilliant, not so sure about their reliability or function!!! too much power without any reinforcements to the 147 shell!

[Greg Roles]

Good god, if you want reliability and rattles even saying the word Alfa is a sin. Beautiful when they work....

[Splashalot]

.....Had previously wanted a 147 GTA which are now cheap as chips, but as much as I think they look brilliant, not so sure about their reliability or function!!! too much power without any reinforcements to the 147 shell!

We had a 147 and the body structure is very weak - have a look at this Euro NCAP test:

http://www.euroncap.com/tests/alfa_romeo_147_2001/108.aspx

Also, the 147GTA has major issues with gearbox/diff failures. The old Arese V6 is an peach of an engine, though (unlike Alfa's current GM-based V6).

No complaints here about the GTI - no rattles to speak of in mine, either. The only warranty work I've had is the usual steering rack noise - which is now returning ~1 year on. Overall quality seems pretty good.

[gtimk5]

Rattles??? Pfffft. Some here always mention rattles but after 35 months with my GTI which gets driven by a lot of different customers wanting to know how good you can make them I am yet to hear any rattles!
And thats with suspension and performance mods.
Go for one mate, welcome to the forum, you wont regret the decision.
Andrew

[Russ59]

I'm starting to think some of the rattles are in peoples heads, literally

[Transporter]

None of the 3 VW vehicles we have in family has any rattles. Not even my T5. I can hear a spanners from the back of my van rattling in my tool chest, that's how quiet is the interior and the diesel engine.

[Greg Roles]

Mine has some minor dash etc rattles, but I'm not a sook about it. This is the nicest car quality wise I've ever owned. Especially for the price!

[Jettinabout]

Have 73000k on my Jetta ...no major rattles yet. Had one early on ..one of the screws in the door..fixed with a Torx bit and driver.
The next question is what sort of roads are you driving on?, because all cars will eventually rattle on the pissweak roads in this country...the rough spots around here are something else....you know the ones...where your wheels leave the road, you should see the trucks bounce ....

Nothing wrong with the dubs...I think sometimes people drive around listening and hoping they will hear a rattle to complain about and if that is all the problems you have then you really aren't doing too badly. My take on it, if you don't have a small rattle somewhere then you are not driving it properly.