What Makes This VW Golf GTI Mk6 So Bad its Owner has Given Up German Cars for Good?

[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@keyo525]

I have a lovely lowish Mk4 r32 James if you fancy a review .

[@F4Insight-uq6nt]

It's 14 years old so...

[@patrickj5731]

Thank you sir I appreciate your help and I will check the link👍

[@thomassmith3817]

Sounds to me like he’s bought a car that’s been stood. And inherited all the problems. Seized brake calipers isn’t a mk6 gti issue it’s a car that’s been parked a long time issue. Same with the noisy clutch and leaking stuff, seals go hard. Sounds like he’s been unlucky but buying cars based on the number on the odometer solely is not a good idea I’ve done a few times and damn you do seem to inherit the bills

[@gianlucavignali]

That’s exactly what I thought. There’s nothing wrong with the mk6 gti at all, this is just another example of someone who’s been unlucky with the example they’ve purchased and it’s tainted their view of the car as whole. I had that with my jcw r56, great car but full of issues from previous ownership so didn’t enjoy it like I should’ve, but hey ho.

[@vahlokprime3175]

it's typical with these reviewers. They get their hands on a specific car and base their whole opinion of that type of car on that specific one. If he gets a cheap hugely depreciated unreliable shitty bmw or audi or maserati that will break in 10.000 miles but is driving well now, he'll say it's such a good car and underrated and bullshit like that, while costs of thousands of euros/pounds are awaiting for the next owner... There's a lot of false information in these reviews unfortunately...

[@jameshowe6057]

@@vahlokprime3175 He’s a KZbinr…basically a nobody 🤷‍♂️

[@Mopar_logic]

Do you think this is acceptable on 13 years old car?? I don't! I bought japanese cars that stood for years and I never had any issues with them and I bought at least 20 - 25 jdm cars.

[@Mopar_logic]

​@@jameshowe6057and who are you?? Why are you watching "nobody's" video?? Are you lost?

[@Conor.Twomey]

Thanks Jay for the review. I drive a 2010 MK6 GTI 3dr Tornado Red too. I have owned it since 2012 and it has been my daily driver. It has 215K kms on the clock now of which I have clocked up 180K kms so I have some experience of owning one long term. I do all the mechanics myself and so this has kept costs down over the years, however, I always use genuine VW or OE parts (i.e. Sachs clutch, Bosch rear discs, ATE front discs etc.) I have kept detailed records of the extras I have had to spend. So here goes: Total costs excluding tyres for 11.5 years of ownership is €5790 (€500 per year) this includes: servicing (every 15K kms), timing chain tensioner, clutch+flywheel, 2 x wheel bearings, 4 x shocks+springs, inlet manifold, 4 x ignition coil packs, pcv valve, 4 x disc+pads, powder coating of original 17" alloys and a number of small cosmetic items No car is perfect and provided you are aware of each car/engine's foibles you can do a lot of preventative maintenance. Fingers crossed it hasn't let me down yet. I have really enjoyed driving it. My eldest learned to drive in it and hopefully, the rest of my children will learn to drive in it too.

[@andrewkent7677]

Just recently sold my mk 6 after 11 years of ownership, only things that went wrong was the manifold and a few coil packs, best car I ever owned, looked stunning in candy white with shadow monzas, bi xenon headlights and led rear lights. Finally part ex’d it for a mk7.5 r

[@pete3198]

I gave up long ago on trying to buy cars based on reliability. Of all the cars I've owned the two that coat me the most money and time in maintenance are my Alfa 147 GTA and my Lexus IS200 auto. The Alfa was actully really good for about 3 years, but eventually as it started to approach 20 years old things started going wrong, and they weren't typically cheap. The lexus on the other hand gave me problems from day one and never stopped. The key difference is that the Alfa is an Alfa - you don't buy one for reliability, you buy one for joy of driving, and it fulfilled that to perfection. To this day it's still probably the most fun and enjoyable car I've ever owned, and somehow i was always able to stomach the repair bills because i knew how much joy the car brought me - it made it all feel worth it. The Lexus however i bought largely for reliability and to be relatively cheap to run, and it failed at both miserably. It was horribly unreliable and cost an absolutely fortune in parts, maintenance, insurance and fuel. Yet unlike the Alfa it didn't really bring me any joy. It looked nice and it drove OK enough, but it just wasn't fun or enjoyable in any way, and did nothing to put a smile on my face... which made the pain of keeping it on the road feel even more...well... painful. I'm the meantime I've also owned a Subaru Legacy twin turbo which was a nice enough all rounder and was a bit pricey on maintenance but not too bad. Then I've also owned an Alfa Giulietta QV, a Mercedes W204 C250 and an 8v Audi S3 sedan - and the latter three euro cars have all been pretty much flawless in terms of reliability. The three most reliable cars I've ever owned. What all this has taught me is... in the modern times no cars are particularly simple. Even cheapo japansae eco cars often have complex turbo motors, DSG/CVT style gearboxes, complex infotainment systems, etc which can all go wrong in so many ways and can cost you significantly money when they do. So it doesn't matter what you buy, you can never really be sure of how reliable it will or won't be. So at the end of you day you may as well by something that you're going to enjoy so that at least if/when those repair bills come in you can actually justify paying them knowing that the car brings you joy. Because otherwise you may buy a relatively unexciting car purely for the sake of being sensible, and you might still end up spending a fortune on repairing it. And when that happens it's far harder to swallow.

[@follyfour506]

Surprised by the Lexus reliability. We had a IS 200 and apart from brakes and tyres it was faultless. Tell a lie the kids jammed the multiplay CD player up which cost a fortune to repair. I sold it in 2009 and still see it about .

[@pete3198]

@follyfour506 My main mechanical issue with the IS200 was an electronic throttle that would get stuck fully open sometimes if you put your foot to the floor (which you had to sometimes because was so slow). One time in particular I got stuck at full throttle while approaching a traffic light. Thank good one lane was clear at the lights so I was able to go through without hitting anybody. I had to push the brake down to the floor just to be able to knock off enough speed to take the next left hand corner, then had to pull up the handbrake and shut off the ignition up get it to stop. Very easily could have killed me if the circumstances were different. Aside from that it was mostly small niggle issues that resulted from - surprisingly enough - bad design and build quality. Head unit would scratch and eat CDs. The key fobs were made of almost paper-thin plastic and would just snap from normal use (common issues). The soft touch paint on the dash would scratch horribly just from looking at it, and there was no apparent easy way to repair it. The chrome paint on the gear know would wear off, leaving an ugly, cheap looking beige plastic exposed underneath. The brakes were horrible- I pretty much had to put the pedal to the floor to make the damn thin stop. Used parts were practically impossible to find on ebay or at wrecking yards, so you pretty much had to buy everything new from Lexus - who charged so much for parts that it made my Alfa's look like Corollas. To make matters worse the car would get me around 12L/100km (with that ancient 4 speed auto) despite only having about 114kw and being one of the slowest things on the road. The seats would give me a sore back if I drove any more then about 20 minutes at a time - only car I've ever had that problem with. The rear end was sketchy and would slip out in the wet with pretty much zero provocation - an issue I saw reported by a number of other owners, but had assumed they are probably just driving like hooligans And suspe soon wise, it was too soft and squicky to feel remotely sporty, yet somehow also too bumpy to ever feel luxurious. Aside from the styling and general design (which I always liked) that thing was just horrible to own. Sadly it's forever deterred me from ever buying another lexus again.

[@jdmguy44]

Hmm. Did you really own a Lexus IS?! If you did it must have been an absolute neglected lemon. The IS is notoriously reliable and capable of big mileages. However parts (and maintenance) can be pricey so buying one because you want a cheap car to run doesn't add up. They also drink fuel. At the end of the day an IS is a regular saloon car like a BMW 320 or A4 so a comparison to a 147 GTA is silly. Totally different cars. Also your reference to Japanese eco cars being TURBOCHARGED (and having DSG boxes) makes no sense? What Japanese eco cars are turbocharged with DSG? Euro cars are turbocharged and have DSG. Japanese small cars are NA with manual/CVT or torque converter...

[@pete3198]

@jdmguy44 Yes, I had an IS200 - from memory it was a 2004 model (facelift, with updated interior, 160,000km). Most of the issues that I mentioned and known and/or common reported issues for those cars, including: - the throttle sticking (recalls) - rear end stability (numerous reports) - key fobs snapping (known issue) - cds getting sick in player (common) The only one I'm not sure about was the high fuel consumption (which you just confirmed) and the brakes being bad (I assume this was probably just my car). As for the driving experience, of course I'm not comparing it to a 147 GTA. I'm comparing it against numerous other cars that I've owned. I actually upgraded to the lexus from an Alfa 147 2.0 Twin Spark selespeed, which (other then gearbox issues) was more enjoyable to drive then the IS200 in just about every possible way. Hugely disappointing given that the IS200 was RWD and was hyped no end for being one of the more fun and sporty cars in its category. And as for maintenance costs, let's not forget that I as moving to the lexus from an Alfa Romeo - cars notorious for being expensive to repair and maintain. Yet the lexus cost me far more to own and run.

[@pete3198]

@jdmguy44 And yes, there are plenty of japanese/Korean cars economy cars on the market right now that used low capacity turbo motors, and the vast majority of small japanese/Korean cars use either CVT or DSG boxes. Nissan and Honda both use CVTs, Hyundai from memory have used Dual clutch boxes, Toyota I believe have also used CVTs. Many of these cars are also hybrid which only adds further complexity.

[@stevecotterill7981]

I owned a mk5 GTI Edition 30 230hp for 7 years and it was mostly reliable. The main issue was the large amount of oil it used from new. I part exchanged it for a mk 7.5 Golf R and have never looked back. After 6 years I’ve only had a couple of minor trim issues… apart from that a rock solid daily driver. I love it…so versatile and quick. 👍🇬🇧

[@derrickarmour]

Have an s3 8p same engine. Drinks oil despite great maintenance and thicker viscosity oil super annoying.

[@Takutak866]

Same same. Mk 5 GTI ed 30. Amazing car tuned to 350bhp but drank fuel and all other fluids. Mk 7 R now myself and it's great car at the same power as the mk 5 and does at least +10mpg

[@Goxy1]

Maybe you haven't done the engine head so it doesn't waste oil? There is a service station, it is a place where one man repairs a car.

[@thedoble]

I have a 2011 MK6 Golf R DSG, which I've owned from new and has now done 155kkm. It's been extremely reliable, with just normal servicing and tyre costs. I believe the R has a different engine to the GTI, which could account for my great experience. I had it tuned after the warranty finished, which really gives it the extra power and torque it should have. (in addition, Australian engines are slightly de-tuned for 'hot climate') The car still 'feels' new and drives well, the seats and paintwork are in excellent condition. I've taken good care of it, but it's my daily driver and I've also used it to move house a few times, carry work gear, and visit the rubbish tip! It's highly optioned with leather interior, dynaudio sound, adaptive suspension, and 19" wheels. I'm surprised you didn't mention the seats as I know you like a good chair Jay! - the Golf seats are some of the best I've had. The R is a great all-rounder, fast, practical, fun. If you ever come to Australia I'd be happy for you to take it for a spin :)

[@markvanramselaar4868]

The Mk6 Golf R has an EA113 engine, as does the Mk5 GTI. The EA888 series is more receptive to modifications/tuning.

[@timmccreery81]

I own a facelift A3 8P with the same EA888 Gen1 engine as the base mk6 GTI (not the EA113 from the Edition 35). In my ownership (7 years) the only major failure I've had was one dead injector. Thankfully I'm very mechanically minded and work on my own cars. Four new injectors (revised parts), a DIY carbon clean whilst the intake manifold was off and it's been fine ever since. I am a fan of preventative maintenance so I've refreshed the whole timing chain system myself - new chains, new tensioners, new sprockets, new timing cover. Mine is also DSG (DQ250) and so far it's been a mixed afair. It can be quite jerky when cold. When I did my first DSG service I drained red fluid - likely standard ATF. With correct DSG fluid the jerkiness improved. I'm about to do my second service on it and hopefully flush even more out. I will eventually have the gearbox remapped as it's behaviour could do with some improvements.

[@markvanramselaar4868]

I’ve had a Mk6 Golf R for over 18 months. Black Pack (Black headlight bezels, 19” wheels and black wheel spats, full leather interior, Dynamic Chassis Control. It now has an RCD440 head unit with Apple CarPlay/AndroidAuto, aftermarket cold air intake, Superpro 26mm adjustable rear sway bar and adjustable end links, Ultra Racing front strut tower brace, DBA T2 slotted rotors and Performance brake pads all round, stainless braided brake hoses, and a custom Stage 1+ ECU and TCU tune. 193awkw and 396Nm atw. It’s an incredible machine to carve corners in. I’ve had zero issues in my time owning it.

[@ca9968]

I got to use one of these for a month when I was on leave working at a used car dealer in Johannesburg back in 2014...I loved the thing...drove the MK5 when it came out and liked it, the MK6 felt like they`d addressed all of the niggles and issues with the MK5....drove the MK7 after and have to admit that was really good, but the MK6 I became very fond of... The only downside to any GTi in Johannesburg is that they are number 3 on the top 5 most hi-jacked cars list, so driving it around at night was a little nerve wracking...spent a lot of time with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on my concealed carry 9mm handgun...

[@kaleknikker123]

Oh South Africa... Never change

[@suhailballim4159]

We VrrrRRrrPha for a reason 😅

[@polopowered]

Cool Story Bro

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

Bro I've got a whole bunch of Seth Effricken mates in here in Australia (there's a lot of them in the mining game, of course) and they all have something in common... None of them live in Seth Effricka. Get out while you can. Hell I know plenty of companies who won't even send staff over to certain projects. Well, staff above a certain pay grade of course. There's always someone below to send.

[@wanderinggentile]

Oh look, VW living down to their reputation with American customers. Nothing is fun if it is broken.

[@TheChazas]

Main issue with MK6 GTI was its engine with its famous timing chain, while MK5 GTI Edtion 30, MK6 GTI Edition 35 and MK6 R used different engine with belt, with proper maintenance these cars amazing, especially stage tuned.

[@shambo3803]

The CDL engine block is a solid engine as long as the key stuff has been done.

[@sbrader97]

Early ea888 suffers from excessive oil burning too because of the piston rings designed for maximum efficiency with a tighter clearance but over time they get carbon buildup in the rings and start burning oil

[@SturbokSensei]

More than 5000€ a friend had to pay for that repair. He never bought an Audi or a VAG product again.

[@KonstantinosKarakostas-z4n]

I still own and drive my mark6 gti as a daily driver since bought it new in 2014. It came with the updated tensioner, all I had to do in ten years was the water pump and fuel pump. 125,000 miles today and runs like a dream. I do have carbon on the valves and have treated with crc twice, ho0ing to avoid a manifold carbon takedown. I recently changed the tyranny fluid and brakes and gonna hand it down to my son. I love my mk6

[@ig88andribs]

Currently own a Mk6 Edition 35, Had it for 12 years from 18k to nearly 100k milage now. Owned 2 x Sciroco Mk2 (GTX and Scala), a Corrado VR6 and a Mk4 GTI going back to the mid 90s While it has not been problem free it has been no more trouble than any other VW I've owned. My kids have grown up in the back of it and only manged to take out the drinks holder. My wife has tried to destroy it by crashing it into a variety of stationary objects - repairs have been reasonable now it is past the age where it gets done at a VW dealership. I used it as a van to move all the furniture to two new houses... All the while it has kept the ability to hustle down Somerset A roads in a semi-serious and pleasing manner. Do I love it like the Corrado? No of course not, but then I still have my license. Is it cooler than my mint silver Scala rolling through North London in the 90s. No, but the brakes work. Is it as tedious and turgid as the Mk4 GTI? A car that got named 'Jonathan Boring Nose' and deserves all the hate in the world? No it's a lot of fun. I don't doubt the common problems, but with a combination good luck and good maintenance I've swerved most of them. It's been 'a good car' and it's still going.

[@michaelk1471]

Well written.

[@bmorris5863]

Edition 35 is way less problematic! Love my mk6 and have swerved most problems by preventive maintenance

[@shambo3803]

The EA113 CDL engine is very solid and way less problematic than the EA888 found in the mk6 gti

[@ig88andribs]

@@shambo3803 Ah-ha I diidn't know that.

[@timj41]

One person who drives the edition 35 at our house (actually paid for it as a matter of fact) has become very fond of curbs, the lovely Watkins Glen alloy wheels are all but destroyed on front left wheel 😭

[@Autoforthepeople22]

At least it isn't a Toerag (Toureg). Manufacturers pretty much gave up when they realised they can make 3 times as much profit on a Chelsea Tractor as a proper car.

[@EddieRicks-i8v]

I had a mk6 gti and it’s a great car but I had a lot a issues that cost me around 15grand in just a few years after warranty. The way they drive is just so much fun now have a mk7.5 and it’s been real reliable no problems at 68000 miles now 🤞😊 I have faster cars and this one is more versatile 😊

[@kingchooet9966]

What kind of issues did you get that were so expensive?

[@EddieRicks-i8v]

@@kingchooet9966 there was a stud that caused a exhaust leak and the cam went around the same time as the belt tensioner’s timing chain 😳 and a radiator leak then manifold and then some sensors this was all in a 2year period but other than that the car was great lol 😂 I had a vw rabbit 🐇 2008 and put 210 miles on it with no issues crazy

[@kingchooet9966]

@@EddieRicks-i8v Uuf bad luck i guess. Vw Rabbit is the US version of like a GTI right? I got a 2005 golf 5 R32 manual since a couple of months, needed some love but drives like a king now.

[@EddieRicks-i8v]

@@kingchooet9966 the rabbit 🐇 was like the golf of that year and it held up so well I sold vw for a living and I heard many stories of how people survived accidents in the vw and overall it’s one of the best cars out there and yes I had bad luck 🍀 with one ☝️ but the other cars I have owned are really great 👍 I also have that vr6! Motor in a audi tt and it sounds amazing and it’s a shame that cars are now all forced induction and hybrid or EV 🙃

[@kingchooet9966]

@@EddieRicks-i8v Yes it is unfortunally. But this car will never leave me hehehe.

[@someyoungguyjohnson7239]

I used to sell tons of these, more often than not they were a problem. Wonderful to drive, terrible to service. Spot on.

[@spiderglass]

Yup, you summed that up perfectly. I currently own a MK6 GTI and I'm now looking to sell it as I'm just waiting for the next thing to break. Ive had to replace the water pump. Ive had break calipers seize up. Ive had two coil packs fail at the same time. The drivers side window has recently stopped going up and down. The drivers side rear window had to have the cable and motor replaced. The air conditioning water wastage pipe or whatever you call it blocked and made the car smell like a sewer until I managed to get it unblocked, and currently the lining in the roof has started coming away and will eventually come to rest on my head if I don't sort it out. But... I absolutely love driving the car, it is somuch fun, feels so quick and handles brilliantly that there's part of me that doesn't want to part with it.... but I will.

[@burny6666]

Yup, I just had the driver window stop working yesterday. The dealership got it up this morning, and will diagnose it next week. Good think I got the extended warrantee when I bought the car. Still, the car is so fun to drive, and so comfortable.

[@thebackroomstockboy7336]

Might I suggest a mk7? They have an excellent track record in reliability and are a bit quicker stock than the mk6 was. I have a mk7 and it’s been fantastic! No complaints here.

[@chinnyvision]

Coil packs are a consumable that are easily dealt with. I'm always surprised when people just expect them to last forever.

[@mercer982]

But the mark 6's are pretty old cars. A seized brake caliper just is what you'd expect on a older car. I don't know what you guys think when you're owning an older vehicle and then bashing it for having some very common faults you could find on any vehicle. After all those are all small things, it's not like it's an major engine problem or something. Just something you could expect, when motoring.

[@LorienHamilton]

I have owned and loved my mk 6 GTi. Early models had issues which were mostly ironed out. Mime was a 2011 model. It never missed a beat.

[@matijazupan6438]

My GTI Mk6 (MY 2009, stock, no mods, a 5-door version, manual) developed a serious radiator leakage after only 60k km from new - so the radiator and the water pump had to be replaced. It had a very questionable build quality, especially for a Teutonic car (uneven outer gaps, back lights got annoyingly pale after just 2 years, etc.). It never felt like a true driver`s hothatch - too dull, unwilling to pivot around corners. I still regret wasting a reasonable amount of money on it. Perhaps the best bit was the fuel consumption - fairly decent for the show.

[@silentviper88]

If you are unhappy about the conering abilities, take a test drive in a modern Cupra, then you know what dull and unwilling cornering feels like, my 2011 Mk6 GTD (which is way heavier) still beats my 2021 Cupra equipped with Hankook S1evo on 265.000km old dcc dampers with a broken rear-spring and winter tires. When on some corners the Cupra starts to slide at 60kph, the Golf still stays stable at 80 kph in the very same corner on the very same conditions (15°C and dry). The radiator leakage I can also not confirm, probably a stone chip. Mine is still fine but the water pump broke at 180k km, so like 30k km to early.

[@dennismarks6133]

@@silentviper88 I had a 2012 Golf Mk6 GTD. It was a great car.

[@kennykarlsson6691]

Welcome to the club. I own a Volkswagen sharan from 2010. It has set me back in repair costs allmost the same amount of money i paid for the car 6 years ago. But you come a point when you realise its better to keep it because its impossible to get enough money back when you sell it. Ps its really practical and nice to drive with the 2.0 tdi engine and dsg 6 speed automatic gearbox with close to 200hk. Yes it has received more ponys.

[@ChoPi-Eww]

I own a mk 7. 5. Bought used with 30k miles, I've put 35k miles on it. No major issues yet, but I do all the maintenance on time. It's not modified, and it's good to drive. I like it for what it is. No, it doesn't blow my socks off, but I really don't need a super spicy car when I'm just driving to work or running errands. Beats most SUVs and other economy cars, I suppose.

[@Dizzy206]

I currently own a 2013 MK6 GTI. First Volkswagen, and fell in love with it on the test drive. It’s been a little over a year now, with 82k+miles. So far, it’s been great.

[@jamesmacd]

Test drove one of these a few years ago, my wife was so unimpressed she didn't even look up from her phone 😂

[@JayEmmOnCars]

A damning review indeed

[@EvoraGT430]

People just buy the hype.

[@AdamnSonn]

Cos she was messaging someone with a mk5

[@skipsterz]

How beta of you. Probably had flappy paddles too. Lol.

[@skipsterz]

@@AdamnSonnindeed. Every one after the Mk5 platform, with the exception of the Mk6 Golf R, is absolutely hideous.

[@andrewcouper770]

I’ve had my mk5 gti for 12 years and had huge issues with callipers, each one replaced twice. Had seized door locks, seized boot, seized bonnet latch, nearly everything rubber replaced numerous times and a few broken springs. Drives great and nothing else has really taken my fancy and the amount of things I’ve replaced I would assume it’s good for another 130k miles

[@JustinStrife]

My 2013 Golf R has 152k miles with no issues(I've started modding it infact). My 2012 GTI has 144k miles and I upgraded to a K04 turbo, downpipe, intercooler, coilovers and f/r swaybars last September at 134k miles. While I was having the k04 put in, replaced the injectors and the intake manifold, and she's been reliable as a daily driver for me. Anything man made can be hit or miss. Some cars have a bad batch over a few months like a C6 Z06 that had failures dropping valves in the heads. Over 7 years, the problems were just from 6 months worth of production, the rest were fine. With the mk6 GTI, you might have problems with the timing chain tensioner, you might not. What year you buy, and how well the maintenance was kept up, all make a difference.

[@TheTechnoaddict]

The flaws of the 6 gti wasn't in the man made part but in the engineering. The piston rings let to much oil by, the chains were bad quality, ... they already consume more oil as normal from new. You are lucky to have no problems or it already had some things fixed cause it's a late model.

[@misterdecibel]

I had a 2010 GTI, purchased new. I kept it for nine years and it was still great when I traded it in for a 2019 Golf R. The GTI spun a camshaft journal at 8250 miles, VW replaced the engine and turbo under warranty, and it was all smiles for eight more years. The engine and turbo they gave me were new, not reconditioned, and it only took two weeks to ship the crate from Germany to Arkansas and install it. The car never required anything beyond normal maintenance. So there are people who had good experience with MkVI GTIs. BTW the R has been trouble-free for four years.

[@shko0o0]

My father has imported MK4 GTI 2002 from America back in 2004. 1.8T with 132kwh, and the car has been driven daily without any major issues for almost 20 years. Regular maintenence and some hoses getting changed and thats it. It's not much compared to todays cars, but it still can put up a fight :)

[@f.v.s.7107]

1.8 T is/was one of the most populair engines ! (back in the day that is ..)

[@shko0o0]

I can totally see why! The sound is unique, even tho it's not loud as some of todays engines haha

[@Treasurebro123]

I've got a mk 6 2012 GTI and have had these issues: oil leak, faulty turbo inlet pipe that needed replaced because air was getting out and carbon build up. Been driving it for many years and I love it regardless. If you maintain it as with most cars it will be reliable. Cheers.

[@styleemusic]

I almost bought. Gti but ultimately settled with a wrx. Coming from bmw was fed up with maintenance

[@carlosandleon]

We got a 1 series BMW and it runs like a Toyota. We don’t even do much maintenance- if at all. I’m surprised it lasted this long

[@AllAhabNoMoby]

I owned a Golf 6 GTD and a 6 R, both chip tuned. Both completely reliable. A total of 6 years in them. I feel bad for this owner but I don't think it's representative for the Mk 6 Golf.

[@SturbokSensei]

Thank you for an honest and thorough explanation of all the different failure points of these cars. No sugar coating and like you said, it's a shame since they look good and drive really well. Test drove one and you could tell the chassis, suspension and steering had A LOT of money put into the development. But at that time these were already on the used market and were also becoming increasingly famous for their awful reliability in terms of the DSG being an expensive and common failure point, and besides the EA888 engine the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI engines were also known for their timing chain problems. I knew it was really bad when i had a look at the aftermarket warranty for the car i ended up buying (a Giulietta) and it specifically mentioned that it does not cover any problems related to the DSG boxes or 1.2, 1.4, 1.8 or 2.0 TSI or TFSI engines installed in VAG cars. WOW. That is why i have been a bit cross about you complaining about a non working washer fluid pump on a Giulietta in your review but completely overlooking how reliable they are in terms of costly powertrain repairs. With these you were screwed if you wanted basically anything else than a manual diesel one. And lets be honest, those diesels worked and returned great MPG because they were fitted with the dieselgate software so not a good look for VW there either. Another great looking car plagued with the same engine and gearbox problems is the Scirocco, really a shame. All those great designs and great driving cars made in these era are basically unobtanium if you wish to not keep a spare 5k for repairs in your account at all times. This car, no, to be honest not the GTI specifically but this era of VAG products in general have put off a lot of people from German cars. A friend got a 2008 Audi A4 MultiTronic 1.8 TFSI (so the same EA888 engine as this). It needed: Timing chain, (located at the back of the engine making it a costly repair) and some valve/headwork since some of the valves were bent , then less than a year later it started burning oil and needed new pistons (also a common failure point). The MultiTronic transmission started to cook it's fluid constantly, it would turn pitch black in 6 months of use. He did 3 fluid flushes and nothing changed. It started to shut off during him moving off from a set of lights due to the gearbox shedding itself to pieces. When he did get rid of it it had cost him way more than 10 000 euros in repairs and the dealer who took it from him laughed that all in all the car should be thought of as being worth 3 times what he is paying my friend if you added all the repairs together. He didn't just get rid of the Audi by the way, he lost confidence in all cars and now lives a car free life. Also the cooling lines for the transmission were replaced at least two times. The rear left door stopped opening from the inside (he told me that was a common problem on them). Sometimes when driving the car would start to scream that the brake fluid reservoir was empty. Both rear door speakers stopped working. The trunk started to rust around the handle. Front fenders started to rust from the inside. Coils were needed to be replaced at a fairly low mileage. The only thing that car didn't need was extensive suspension work, control arms or balljoint, tierods etc, never had to replace anything in that regard. Another good one was when the sales manager at my previous workplace got a Passat CC as a company car, 2.0 Diesel with the DSG. in 6 months that car ended up going back to the dealer three times for extensive repairs on the DSG box. He got fed up with it (since he needed the car to the sales work) and actually got encouraged to try a Jaguar XF, since "how could it possibly be worse". He didn't touch a VAG product ever since. This era of VW, is the time when they were just raking in the money by making subpar products as cheaply as possible (and cheating in emissions tests to get marketshare too), they sold well (when new) due to reliability status of the MK4 Golf era products still lurking around.

[@davidgavin7280]

Diesels were shite too, 1.6 in particular having notoriously shitty injectors that would fail regularly

[@lankyboy90]

It depends on the car. I had a Giulietta (1.4TB Veloce) and in the space of 4 months, it had gone back to the dealers 8 times and been declared unsafe by an independent assessor due to the gearbox popping out of gear whilst driving. Worst car I've ever had the displeasure of owning.

[@EastDallasKicks]

2.5L in the states seems to be fairly reliable if maintained. Nothing fancy on them

[@yoshi555king]

ea888 is 2.0TSI only bozo

[@SturbokSensei]

​@@yoshi555kingit was also the 1.8 TSI / TFSI. I know it isn't related to the 1.2 or 1.4 engines and never claimed they were ea888.

[@ru6886]

This is why it’s not worth taking an older car to the main dealer go independent

[@preetdurhailay5246]

We've had our 2012 mk6 gti for over a year now. Bought on 145k now on 157k miles. Had it checked for timing chain and was all in spec. Other than pcv being replaced, a bit of oil use and its been trouble free. Been to the ring, uk camping trips, school run etc. Does everything well, not the most exciting, but very reliable and comfortable for our family.

[@bidz5963]

got a remap? it will certainly make it more exciting :)

[@shanemitchell5807]

You will eventually have worsening oil consumption which will end in an engine rebuild. The piston oil ring design is poor and considered an engineering flaw. To fix the oil consumption, the pistons, rings and conrods need to be replaced. It happened to mine. No engine should have oil consumption issues unless there has been serious neglect or a design flaw.

[@bidz5963]

@@shanemitchell5807 hondas are known for it most older cars burn oil completely expected with age tbf

[@alexadelaide]

I’ve had mine for 2 years, done new coils, and high pressure fuel pump. Not the worst. Turbo has wastegate rattle but otherwise good. I’m just glad it’s a safe place for my family and fun to drive so happy to pay for it.

[@davesudlik9638]

I'm glad I have the MK V with the previous gen 2.0T engine. Other than having to replace the timing belt (not chain) every 100,000 miles, maintenance has been very easy. It now has 240k miles and has been very reliable for me.

[@AgonxOC]

I have the very old BPY 2.0TFSI and while not as many miles as yours, it has been relatively reliable even thought its been pushed hard all its life.

[@bettersteps]

I drive a manual 2013 MK6 GTI. Bought it new and have always kept it well maintained. I love it. It has cost me less than $500 to fix broken components since purchased. It has been unbelievably reliable, still looks great and drives like new. Fantastic car with amazing handling. No regrets on the purchase. A complete blast to drive. Fun from start to finish.

[@willst2580]

I have the A3 equivalent of this car with the same first gen EA888 and I feel the owners pain... New rear calliper's, Rear main seal with clutch and flywheel, blower motor and various small vacuum and coolant leaks. Desperately saving for a mk7 of some guise!

[@polopowered]

Sucker for punishment. Never mind. Baaaaa.

[@sunsetgarage755]

Anyone familiar with these VAG 2L turbo engines, knows instinctively that the water pump needs to be replaced when the timing belt/ chain AND tensioner is replaced. It’s the same as replacing a clutch if the gearbox has to come out. It just makes good sense & is relatively cheap compared to the price or effort required to do it when it fails. A lot of problems all GTI’s have are caused by young owners who drive their cars hard most of the time, and don’t invest in preventative maintenance. Having said that, I avoid the Mk6 GTI models for most of the reasons mentioned, but the Mk6 R, with the 6 speed manual & coupe body shell is a masterpiece, & has already proven to be a definite future classic just like the Mk4 R32 turned out to be. Damn I wish I still had that one!

[@eze8970]

Sorry to hear about owners woes, hopefully all sorted now! Thanks J! 🙏🙏

[@DavidParker-sx5ps]

We just imported a 2008 Manual Mk V with 70,000kms from Japan. The paint was unmarked although it hadn't been driven for awhile and was de-registered. The Auction cost for the car was 1800 but freight, ins and Tax pushed that to 5000. It needed a few mechanicals (fluids, Brakes, headlining etc) and it owes us around 7500. My sons first car and what fun it is. He is car mad and loves it. Great to drive. It did take 6 months to find though, being both manual and low kms.

[@B1gBud78]

Who did you buy it through ?

[@shambo3803]

Who did you import with?

[@Nathan.Guthrie]

I have a mk7 GTI as my daily and cant fault it. The only issue ive had was the boot lid filling with water after the drain pipe from the rear badge/handle came off. If you wanted to review a standard mk7 GTI you would be welcome to mine.

[@augustortiz]

MK7 is a much better vehicle overall. Much faster too.

[@sugerbear586]

Loved my Mk7, only car i regret selling

[@paulmcdonald9592]

Had a MK 6, 6 speed and everything mentioned, I experienced. Owned it for 10 years. Fixed everything including two walnut carbon cleanings. Countless water pumps. Some replaced under warranty, some my dime, last one through through USA class action lawsuit. Let's talk timing chain tensioner. Replaced and reimbursed under class action. Still loved the driving experience. 86 K on the odo when I traded. NOW, I enjoy a 2021 MK 7.5. First dual clutch. The car's a killer. Also, with purchase, got a free warranty extension to 7 years. A Certified Pre Owned. The car had 5 k dealer miles on it. So far so good just turned 25 K. Not enamored with the MK 8. Too much ridiculous tech. The 2024/25 tones it down, however. After that, I believe it's all electric. The memories...

[@escapenguin]

The MkIII had weird little details that were interesting, for one: door hinges like a vault. The Jetta's trunk also had elaborate hinges that folded outside of the trunk space instead of the ubiquitous goose-neck hinges that are now still in everything. They were slow but spunky and fun to drive. Good torque. Little Tikes interior quality. It was weird what they seemed to overbuild and then skimped out on. I kinda gave up on the brand after being stranded multiple times. When things failed, it was usually oddly catastrophic. Despite all that, it was an incredibly fun car to drive.

[@peterbrunner1978]

Just hit 291.000 Km with my 2010 MK 6 Gti DSG... Fully Stock. Original Turbo/ DSG/ Engine. Had timing Chain issue. Had Carbon build up. Best Car I ever had.

[@willhandley]

I bought myself a 2009 Mk6 GTI 5 months ago, it was on 163k and I've since done another 6k or so. Paid £4,500 for it, serviced every 7,000 miles with proof of the revised chain and intake manifold being done by VW. So far I've fitted new sparks and coils and I've had a full carbon clean of the intake. I've got some injectors to fit soon as well. Otherwise, I've been really happy, love how it looks and drives and I'm happy with what I paid.

[@jameshowe6057]

Will…(Shhh)….doesn’t fit in with the VW haters narrative that…(car maintenance)… they don’t know what that is!….You’re going to get hate comments from all the wankers in japanese,korean and american cars 🙄😄

[@davidhaygarth648]

Engines cant even fuel right and rarely run right but no one admits it.

[@jameshowe6057]

@@davidhaygarth648 yes if there running on awful US fuel

[@Underp4ntz_Gaming_Channel]

Most cars with the chain tensioner got a recall and fixed for free under warranty, some ea888 gen's got piston ring recalls too under warranty (was a 10 years warranty). at least in europe. The GTI's that have issues... are just from those awful users who didn't care servicing the car during a interval... most of them are also trashed by its user, especially the cheaper ones you see... if you buy one second hand go for a fully stock one. if it has a 3rd party air intake... stay away from it... they probably didn't go under a interval service because the user didn't care. same as the Subaru WRX STI's stay away from modded ones... but that counts for every car.

[@eponymous7910]

​@@Underp4ntz_Gaming_ChannelI doubt the tensioners were replaced under a recall in the majority of markets. Ditto the intake manifolds

[@Valentino_Cilantro]

Great video. I own a 2013 gti, in the US. Great fun driving, but tons of issues, water pump, fuel pump, and too many to list. All issues occurred under 70,000 miles. Got me stranded more times than I care for. For reference, I bought it for $28.5k and spent around $15k in 10 years of ownership. Truly a shame, it handles great.

[@71Serai]

German cars look nice, but are these reliable- I see so many VWs and Audi's listed for sale with stated mechanical flaws.

[@MaleficRacing]

Loved my 6 speed, 3 door, 2012 GTI. Had a couple of fuel pump failures in the 8 years I owned it (if I recall there’s a high and low pressure pump, both gave up in me at different times). Had a very small oil leak from a tiny plastic part, easy resolution on that. Traded it in on getting my Cayman so it definitely didn’t turn me off German cars. I think I got 145k km out of it, so felt like those were not huge failures. I do miss my cloth tartan seats, like them a lot more than leather.

[@bat33.12]

To be fair to VW my 1982 mars red Mk1 1.6L GTi had a fuel pump failure many, many years ago so it's not exactly a new issue. I wonder where that car is now?

[@roelfkromhout]

Par for the course. Had a MK5 and spent 7 grand on maintenance in the span of just 2 years. And I overspent to get a supposedly good example. What a nightmare. Absolutely wonderful to drive, but like this gentleman I’m never ever getting one again.

[@onecookieboy]

It seems to me that almost every VAG car made after about 2005 has been very expensive to run and maintain. From the direct injection and timing chain problems to the DSG gearboxes, brakes, suspension and the electronics. Not the cars they once were.

[@danielrapacioli9581]

So true I had an Amarok v6 till end of last year, from nox sensors to water pump issues to gear box going wrong just a nightmare in the time I owned it. It had only done 50k VW we’re about as useful as a chocolate fire guard. The only good thing about their service was the recovery trucks who collected the car three times and they were outsourced!

[@jameshowe6057]

It’s terrible…i can’t afford to pay my bills anymore due to the unrelenting reliability of my mk 7 golf..my wifes mk 3 leon has also left her with absolute non-destitute with the non-expense of repairs…the relatives skoda koraq has left them waiting on the driveway after a 200 mile drive for someone to unload there cases after an airport trip!……it’s terrible! they are so unreliable! 🙄🤣🤣 🔔🔚

[@jameshowe6057]

Amorok?..oh yeah…a FORD RANGER 🤷‍♂️

[@heiner71]

Always like these general statements with nothing to back it up other than what's copied and pasted from other comments sections. I bought a new Rabbit in 2007 with the 2.5L 5 cylinder engine and 6 speed automatic, drove it for 3 years and now my daughter still drives it. Have not had any major issue. However, it is serviced regularly. Ergo, it seems that almost every VAG car since 2007 has been close to flawless. Oh, and my wife's 2013 Jetta just passed 240K miles without ever having major issues.

[@jameshowe6057]

@@heiner71 Shhh!!…..it doesn’t fit the “unreliability” narrative for VW on social media! 🤫🤫🤫

[@johnforeman634]

I had an 08 GTI with the DSG and it was probably the overall best car I’ve ever owned. Owned it for 8 years.

[@YoyoZee]

I've had my MK6 GTI for over 2 years now, at 169,000KM and have had 0 personal issues other than a battery needing replacing. Previous owners did all the preventative maintenance on time. This EA888 Gen.1 can be good, but needs to be looked after. (Side note it seems the Australian ones seem to be more reliable in general).

[@bluemango7112]

Same here , only issue i had was two coils , probably due to stage 1 , the key is servicing on time , timing chain tensioner was the item most mechanics warned about ,never had the issue,sold mine at 85, 000 km and got a MK7 Clubsport/40 years , no issues after 6 years , both cars manual .

[@jamessheehy4895]

My mk5 3rd 1.9 tdi with plastic wheels is the best car! I love it never misses a beat

[@Tomica1207]

I have been an owner of Golf 6 GTI for almost 3 years now. Nothing but trouble with this car. I had to change intake manifold due to CEL, one coilover failed, PCV valve membrane ruptured, replaced timing chain as it had original tensioner, diverter valve failed, clutch made weird noises so I replced it together with dual mass flywheel, had to replace left drive shaft as car was vibrating.... and now as the latest problem car started to hesitate around 3000 rpm when accellerating under light throttle.... very annoying and I am going to get rid of it.

[@wakaflockaproject]

What year is the gti

[@jbisham8986]

I think the criticisms are slightly unfair . It’s nearly 14 years old so you’d expect there to be issues . I’ve got a basic mk5 golf that I’ve done 140,000 + miles . The only problems I’ve had in 12 years of ownership was the power steering and suspension .

[@fabianhenrich4697]

The thing is these cars are super rare now even in Germany, not only the GTI also the standard Golf 6. The production time was very limited compared to other Golfs. You see more Golf 4s than 6s on the street.

[@Underp4ntz_Gaming_Channel]

In the Netherlands you see the MK6's a lot especially the GTI's, lot of them are cheap too but you know what kind of people drives them... who give 0 fcks about the car, trash them to the scrapyard drive with almost zero tire profile left on it... full of "sponsor" stickers and smoke in them.

[@grahamfairbanks3407]

Harry bought a lemon. I have a tornado red Mk6 GTI auto, 4 door, its just clicked over 250k kms. Zero problems other than normal car issues. Yes the Golf has known faults such as the water pump, timing chain etc but I change the oil and filter myself every 5000kms and its been as close to perfect as mechanically possible. Yes I have a small coolant issue to address but focus on preventative maintenance and it will look after you. I also teach driving in it and have had no problems, most students finish the lessons with a big smile on their faces, especially after the lesson about the sports mode.

[@Tony-vb4bh]

+1 for plenty of issues with the Mk6 For me, I had issues with both the fuel system and timing. These things are not cheap to run, especially outside of Europe.

[@michaelw6277]

I’ve had my mk6 since new in 2009 and can confirm, yeah… it’s a needy car. The first 100k miles were basically trouble free, but after that I’ve replaced more than I’d consider reasonable for even a high mile car. I put up with it because I still like it.

[@Punisher9419]

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't even notice a 10 hp difference.

[@clfield2]

I think the major gripe there was not that it only had 10hp more than the previous generation, but that its rivals had overtaken it by around 20-30hp yet cost less. Even some of the MK5 rivals were pushing 250hp so 200-210 was deemed a little stingy by VW when they could easily have turned it up a little

[@Vikturus22]

Current MK6 gti owner here. I upgraded from the MK5 to the MK6 because of modifications more readilly accessible in my country ( New Zealand ) and in my time of owning VAG products ( also have owned a C6 audi A6 with the 3.2 V6 ) I Have really only had one issue which was a very simple fix, the High pressure fuel pump on my mk6. It was so simple to do I even was able to do it myself which says alot. The timing chains are really only a issue for cars up to 2011 and I have replaced mine. As long as you stay up to date on maintanince and use good quality oils/fuel, you wont have any issues!

[@Bmovie5000]

Great review and so true! You should really try a MK4 GTI to compare, especially one with the 2.8L VR6. In stock form, you will find it is softer riding than the MK5 and almost as quick. And it makes wonderful noises. I own year 2000 GTI VR6 GLX with the 5 speed manual. I’ve owned it for over 10 years after purchasing it from the original owner and it has proven most reliable only needing, apart from consumables, a water pump and the replacement of cracked suspension bushings front and rear. I only wish my 2009 Passat wagon (with the same 2.0L TSI engine as the MK6 GTI) was so trouble free.

[@DabDabGoose]

Idk about the VR6 Mk4 but every other MK4 i have been in is more crashy than the MK5, the longer wheel base gives it much better footing on the road, I have the R32 of that gen and even though it has the stiffest suspension it still rides better than the 4 Cyl turbo GTI Mk4.

[@ArcadiaVibe]

I currently own a Tuned 12 Mark 6 GTI and a mostly stock 07 Mark 5 GTI. I fell in love with the MK6 and I love the MK5. I purchased the MK6 with 129k Miles, I'm at 148k, and ive spent close to $4000 in maintenace including oil changes. I expect ro spend another 3k fairly soon. I purchased the MK5 at 99k and its at 128k miles now. I spent around 3k in repairs and maintenance. I change oil every 3k miles. The joy I get from hearing my engine in the morning as it warms up, or how it makes my 30 mile each way commute feel like nothing 5 days a week. Or that I can go to a car meet and have people come up and say "Wow, your car is so cool." Even when I'm at my office, I've had co-workers tell me that they think my car is cool. I've spent hours under the hood fixing things I'd never seen before. I think the GTI is a lifestyle. Whenever I meet other GTI owners, whether it be looking at each other from across a stoplight or you happen to run into someone at work who has a GTI, or you meet a random 76 year old veteran in a walmart parking lot who also has a GTI. Its a wonderful rollercoaster.

[@patrickgile320]

I absolutely loved driving my Mk6 GTI, but after several problems (water pump, fuel pump, timing chain tensioner, coil packs, brake pad wear sensor...) I had to give up by 100k miles. My Mk7.5 Golf Variant 1.8T has been slightly better, but I'm starting to feel problems coming again. Something tells me I'm also going to end up in something Japanese soon as well...

[@daddymulk]

Japanese sounds like best option to me

[@bennojz]

My 2013 Seat Leon 5F 1.2 TSI startet to become really problematic at 120000 kilometers and up. It's said that the EA211 TSI's are better, but mine started burning oil due to piston ring failure. Then I also had a leaking water pump, the infotainment system started to freeze from time to time, cracking of plastics around the interior started, and the led headlights were blinding. In the end i was more than happy to get rid of it. Right now I'm driving my aunts old Kia Ceed ED 1.4 CVVT, it surely doesnt drive great but except a failed ABS sensor and some light bulbs no worrries at all with that car.

[@chad6876]

I used to have a mk5 6MT, absolute great fun but lost it during a flood but now got the 6R also great. I really like these cars since they do a bit of everything.

[@matth5838]

Great review and sums up the mk6 GTI well. Never got the love it deserved at the time IMO but is beginning to get some deserved attention these days. Each modern generation of Golf is more of an evolution than revolution these days, but wonderful cars if you appreciate the ‘do it all’ nature of the them. They may not be flamboyant and as styled as something like a Focus ST, but as a daily that delivers practicality, comfort, and a bit of fun when you want it, they’re up there for me.

[@jameshowe6057]

Best comment with intelligence so far 👍

[@garyleibitzke4166]

I had a Mk7 Golf R with the DSG. Outstanding car.

[@baker6928]

If you drive a mk4, make sure to try a PD varient. Theyre much better than the 2.0 (two point slow). Im building a hybrid turboed Bora at the minute, should be a reliable 240bhp ish when sorted. Cheap reliable motoring at its finest.

[@mrflippant]

Ahhh two-point-slow... I haven't heard that name in a long time.

[@scoobers90]

I bought a '12 3-door in black with 18k miles in mid 2014. Right after I got it the hatch struts failed, then had the obligatory 40k mile water pump replacement . Then my AC quit working, and my rear brake calipers seized. Even after the brakes were replaced things weren't right. After 3 years and 50k miles I was over it. The car didn't have enough personality to make up for the issues.

[@spainter1985]

The timing chain and tensioner issues of VAG cars in this era is not to be understated. It affected all of the VAG sub brands and lots of different engines. The most annoying thing in my experience, is that dealers are not forthcoming and honest when you do try and get it rectified. The safest bet is to get a GTI Edition 35/Golf R/Leon Cupra/Audi S3 with the 'old' engine that uses a timing belt.

[@acefighterpilot]

Yes, if you like replacing cam followers every 20k miles.

[@spainter1985]

@@acefighterpilot The one for the high pressure fuel pump? A bit annoying but quite trivial in the whole scheme of things.

[@atotaltryhard4675]

My mk6 is 400bhp and has had the dreaded Mecahtronics but apart from that its been good 😅

[@Speedingonion838]

My mk6 gti cost me £4000 in 2 years. £1200 for timing chain tensioner, £1800 as the DSG mech unit was playing up then around £900 when 1 of the injectors went caput + some service stuff. Got an R36 now so hopefully that’ll be better!

[@spehammond]

@richardharrold9736 R36 is Passat

[@Speedingonion838]

@richardharrold9736 the W8’s were cool, but yeah the R36 never sold in the numbers like the R32 golf. So they’re forgotten beast. Incredible to drive though, and Jayemm actually did a video on them which is a great watch!

[@Speedingonion838]

@richardharrold9736 there’s a couple manual R36’s but they’re like gold dust. The skoda’s look a lot higher off the ground and less sport’s oriented so I’d imagine they’re probably a softer ride and a bit more boaty. The Passat also comes with an extra 40bhp. I think skoda went for luxury and VW went for making the ultimate Grant tourer estate.

[@FaraiThePropertyGuy]

I can relate to his pain; Bought my E91 320i LCI from Japan in 2019 with 102000km on the clock thinking it's an "ordinary" BMW so shouldn't be hard.. First year of ownership, probably the only full year I had to drive and enjoy the car but you could already tell things weren't right. I knew suspension was close, had a coolant leak somewhere that noone could diagnose, and the blue smoke of death was creeping in.. Second year of ownership (2020), started smoking (stem seals went), radiator and a few plastic bits cracked. Spent 10 months in the local "specialist" shop doing this work and a few others for preventitive maintenence ( timing kit, PCV valve, oil pump chain, head was machined) Third year of ownership (2021), more plastic bits cracked and needed replacing, re-did the cooling system again hoses, another new radiator. Went back to the specialist for another round of teardown too where a new battery was fitted, CO2 cannister replaced, active head rests were replaced, new water pump fitted, gearbox was also serviced, new fuel pump, alternator, oil level sensor, rod bearings, belt tensioner pulley, connecting rod bolts and piston rings were fitted, all oxygen sensors were replaced and even had my catalytic converter stolen. Another 10 months in the garage.. Fourth year of ownership (2022), More coolant leaks, replaced more plastic bits and pipes then the gearbox oil cooler failed and swopped the oil and water around, had oil in the cooling system and water in my gearbox!! Back to the "specialist" to have the systems flushed and replace necessary parts, also replaced the radiator fan and at the same time, my comfort access tapped out. To this day noone has an answer for this. Fifth year of ownership (2023) my "specialist" really has been taking the piss with me, discovered oil still present in the cooling system, incorrect gearbox oil was used and the engine oil cooler has now failed as well. No more "specialist"visits, it sits in my garage waiting for parts to arrive as it's become my DIY project car and no longer a daily driver. It has 172k on the clock currently. Am just over 10k in on it, selling it in this condition wouldn't get much more than 2k in my country (Zimbabwe), so I'll keep it and work on it at my pace. When it works, it's absolutely brilliant, I hate paying M3 prices for 320i parts. I feel the ownership experience is tainted by fake parts here and mechs that prioritise profit over simply doing a good job, also (controversially) this everyday car suffers because the M cars exist and share the same platform. Somewhere in this story are a few life lessons for my children.

[@samfutch101]

I’ve had a mk6 R for almost seven years now - barring a sagging headliner and the rear wiper fluid line breaking, it’s been as reliable as I can ask. However I do think I’m in the minority here…

[@mariochen2470]

My mk6R has been in our family for 11 years, never stranded us, never skipped a beat. Just service it on time and really can't go wrong. I've been running an ecu and dsg tune for the last two years and still hasnt skipped a beat. Our example really could not be more reliable

[@mariochen2470]

Oh but yes we do hav a sagging headliner!

[@shambo3803]

Different engines used. The mk6 has a CDL EA113 engine which is much more reliable than the GTI engines which is EA888. - fellow mk6 R owner myself.

[@IamJimhunder]

Good review Jay! I have a 2010 MK6 GTI with 350,000km. As long as you’re on top of your maintenance, it shouldn’t give you much issues. The moment you slack off , it will bite you in the back real hard.

[@alandowney5851]

Nice vid Jay but tbh I think at least half the problems would be common to any car that's been sat around and fitting "progressive" springs to a Golf is a sign he's someone that's better off in something else anyhow.

[@Hargan]

Hey, I'm the owner of this Golf. A lesson has been learned and I wouldn't buy a car that has been sitting again. I'm looking to buy something else in the next 6 months when funds allow. I'm genuinely curious though, what's progressive springs a sign of? 🤔 I thought progressive springs are the best combination of ride quality and improved handling? (Well as much as a set of springs can be). I mean vs non progressive springs.

[@CherylCold]

About 4 years ago we borrowed a friends Mk6 GTI, we liked it so much I bought my wife a good daily mk5 GTI (same price as a ratty mk6), its been a terrific car and possibly a keeper.

[@jamessheehy4895]

Please review a mk4 R32

[@joshmerrick4716]

I’ve had a mk3 and an mk4. My mk3 was a k reg so one of the early gti’ of the era. I loved it. It wasn’t particularly quick but it was a really good balance of oldschool meets modern (ish) It handled well, I liked the look of it and it was a rare dark grey colour which got a lot of attention off people. My mk4 was a 1.8 20v turbo on a w reg so it was an agu 150bhp model. It was a black 5 door with the recaro cloth interior. I loved it. I bought it just before my wife and I had our first child because I wanted something fun but practical. It served us well. I had it remapped by revo. I think it was running just over 180bhp from memory. I lowered it and fitted some anniversary alloys and that was about it. I loved both cars very much. I have driven a mk5 gti and I’ll admit that was a better car than the mk4 in lots of ways but not better enough to warrant the mk4 getting as much hate as it did

[@Sandy-oy2lr]

This is why in 2017, I decided to go with a Mazda3 2.5L manual. Not quite as quick, but, surprisingly fun and engaging to drive. The rear end is a very similar setup to an Audi A3. The ride is excellent and with Michelin summer tires, handling levels are very high. And at over 50Kmiles, not one issue. I'd heard too much about the lack of long term reliability of VW Golfs and the very high levels of maintenance with expensive repairs. I doubt I've spent more than $750 (oil, filters, intake/fuel cleaning, fresh brake fluid) so far over the 5 1/2 years of ownership. Unfortunately, the 2019s and on aren't the same car. Not nearly the 'driver's' car as the pre-2019s. A real pity....

[@highmm2696]

Mazdas are usually setup more sporty than people give them credit for. They're really nice to drive.

[@CatBroiler]

Yeah, "electronic LSD" is usually manufacture speak for fancier TC, this was true as recently as the i30N (non-performance).

[@rayaanshaikh5830]

It's worth bearing in mind this is an early MK6. Generally in the old days, most would say stay clear of early cars of any brand and I still hold that true today. In fact, it's still the case and certainly true for the MK8 Golf. Anything between 20-22 plates are riddled with issues which don't seem to happen past 72 plate cars.

[@shanemitchell5807]

VW rush their cars to market problems and all.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

I used to have a 2014 passat and while it was reasonably mechanically reliable, the interior quality was atrocious. I spent my entire ownership of that car searching down various squeaks and rattles in the cabin. I do think they were cutting corners during that period for sure.

[@rahulmandala4930]

That’s what Piëch era VW did wonderfully. Those cars had interiors that were just silently better than what most would expect out of a VW. I mean in materials as well as the sound build quality.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

The Škoda Superb MK2 at the time finished the Passat off, it was better in every single area.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

​@@paulie-Gualtieri.Couldn't agree more. The Superb really lives up to its name.

[@damienmills293]

Had a Mk 5. One of the few new cars I ever owned. It had issues!!! Dangerous torque steer. Wore through its very expensive Pirelli tyres in less than 10,000 miles. The rears simply scrubbed out on the insides. The lack front traction meant the front tyres just slipped. Even on dry warm tarmac. When we first got it, all the coolant just disappeared. We got a warning light. Took it in after adding litres of coolant and it was actually fixed but no diagnosis was ever offered. The front lower splitter would crack if you went over a speed bump. After replacing 3 I sold the car. Now we only drive Lexus. 100% reliable. Fabulous service. No B*llsh*t.

[@madanto2394]

The steering wheel was good

[@MrSonicAdvance]

Buy the EA888 young and service it religiously. Also watch out for the silica bag in the water reservoir, which can burst and give you a big bill flushing all the silica out of your water system and heater matrix. If one side of your car's heater won't blow warm air, then sadly that's one of the symptoms the bag has already burst. Fish the silica bag out and replace the G13 coolant with G12evo, and you're golden.

[@davidw5814]

I think this review is slightly unfair, this car is nigh on 14 years old, who knows how it has been driven and maintained over this time🤔

[@patrickj5731]

First of all, I want to say thank you for the great Contant that you put a hold on to have been thinking about giving up on German cars but it’s something about the C 63 is a must have for me. I have been checking out a lot of videos on it. Also the M4, I think the C 63 is a more exciting car. I found a 2021 with low mileage. What’s your opinion?

[@JelloTypeR]

I’ve owned several generations of M3s, E36, E46, E90. I currently have a W205 C63. The C63 is more of a muscle car than a sports saloon, it’s not as delicate as an older M3 but it is brutal when I want it to be. It’s also very comfortable and reasonably economical when I’m driving frugally. The bi-turbo V8 is an incredible engine and has one of the best sounds in motoring. The C63 is a better all rounder though and I’d recommend one above an M3.

[@jameshowe6057]

my opinion is mercs use Renault engines..so no thanks

[@Frybrainzr1]

I have a 2013 gti, bought used and have put 70k mikes on it. Lost one coil pack, thats it. It has bern extremely reliable,. hasn't nickel and dimed me at all, just regular service. Love the car,blast to drive, enjoy smokin people out driving occasionally..

[@Nialletto]

Hmm. They should try a French car. The grass really isn’t greener. 😂

[@alphatrion100]

The answer is: Civic Type R

[@bhuvstechworld9743]

@@alphatrion100 more like civic si civic type r is wayy to pricey

[@alphatrion100]

@@bhuvstechworld9743 Fk8 is affordable and fn2 is cheap

[@bhuvstechworld9743]

@@alphatrion100 what abt comfort tho these type of cars are not the fun car of ppl these are usually their daily drivers

[@alphatrion100]

@@bhuvstechworld9743 Sure those have stiffer springs but at the end of the day they're still based on a hatchback. Ive seen people daily Porches...

[@engellyjones8683]

I've had a MK6 since new and have had no problems other than a new water pump. Great car.

[@theladyfingers___]

Aside from the old Mercs (which really are indestructible), I've never understood the reputation German cars have. Growing up, every kid I knew whose family favoured VW, Audi or BMW always seemed to have some sort of Stockholm syndrome with the things as cash sinks: "they're so reliable if you maintain them!" I think in their minds constant, expensive repairs WERE maintenance.

[@bhuvstechworld9743]

bmws are better now and so is audi mercs are now worse tho

[@seinsmeld13]

My MK5 GTI was a fantastic car. I sold my 2007 GTI to a friend when he was desperate for a car due to a breakup with his former wife. When I sold. the car it had near 300,000 km on the dial. He drove the car for about 6 years when it finally gave out. What a great car it was. I miss her.🥶

[@JacesOwnWorld]

If you are looking to get into a GTI platform, trust me, skip all the generations except the MK7/7.5. Thank me later…

[@OzzieMozzie777]

I can't wait to get my hands on a mk6 TDI 😁

[@brennansquad]

You think so? I was looking at a 2012 2-door MK6. Slap a new timing chain/tensioner and it’s not all good?

[@stuffhappens5681]

I bought a 2013 GTI Mk6 brand new. It was my daily driver for 7 years. Rain-sleet-snow. 4 snow tires each winter. 30mi round trips to work 5 days a week. Before it was out of warranty I had APR ECU tunes for engine and DSG transmission. APR intake. APR 3” downpipe w/hi-flow cat. Also thicker H&R rear anti-roll bar to dial out understeer. After I retired I did the full APR 3” exhaust. I just sold it after 10yrs of ownership. In 10 years the only money I put into it was for general maintenance and normal consumables. I have no idea what everyone’s complaining about. That car was perfect.

[@asifnoaman8978]

Golf GTI's are so boring everytime I see one I want to yawn. Nothing "hot" in the Hot Hatch about them. Compare with a Megane 250RS, Focus ST or Astra VXR

[@lukewatts3284]

Leon cupra?

[@asifnoaman8978]

@@lukewatts3284 I like the look of the Cupra including the older MK1 and MK2 models

[@lukewatts3284]

@@asifnoaman8978 got the mk3 300 manual and it's pretty banging

[@silva.jcw02]

Hey so I actually recently bought a Golf 6 GTi with 190000 KMs, the car seemed awesome from the start and just as read on the forums I changed the coil packs, the car didn't consume a lot of oil and it still doesn't but it has what I consider a medium oil leak on the right passanger side. I sold my Audi TT MK2 and then bought this car... I regret it and I DO NOT recommend anyone buying it. Hold on to your money a little longer and save up to a GTi MK7 or buy the Edition 35 or R since the engines are so much better. (The car also has a boost leak somewhere)

[@Thisonegoestoeleven666]

Sounds like this guy did not do a proper pre-sale inspection and brought a lemon.

[@johnmitchell2269]

These have got to be the most dull and bland looking hot hatch of all hot hatches.

[@rahulmandala4930]

For VW and their GTI, It’s kind of been that way since the MK5 as these were basically still good cars, just not as raw as the old ones prior were (MK1-MK4). The old ones are truly a riot with their lighter weight and powertrains (MK3 and MK4 had a VR6 IIRC). The R32’s as well.

[@TwoDollarGararge]

So ideal German design

[@robovac3557]

Yeah. We call them shit hatches where I'm from. And people who drive them are known as shit heads. We feel it fits.

[@nimamahdavi5592]

I completely disagree, looks really good imo

[@bmorris5863]

Have you ever seen a mk4 GTi? It doesn't look any different from the bog standard ones

[@christopher_ahs]

Both Golf V and VI corrode alot here in Sweden! So, YES, they are all that bad...