[kkttsang]

Need new car after the winter. Looking at these 3.
Reason I pick these three instead of like a civic si is because these three will fit in my garage I need a car that’s 180in or shorter so limits my choices. My heart wants the gti, but worry about reliability. Keeping this car for 8-10 years.
I’m using this car just from home to work, so the practical choice would be the Hyundai. This is hard.


Civic Hb touring 31-32k
Pros all option I want, reliable brand
Cons expensive for civic, not as sporty, 3yr com warranty

Elantra gt sport 28-29k
Pro new model with 205hp 195tq. All option I need, cheap, 5yr com warranty
Cons it’s a Hyundai, had a 98 tiburon many years ago ruin my perception of Hyundai.

Gti 32-33k
Pro. Fun, sporty, 4yr warranty
Con. Reliability reliability. Lack of the option I want

[Badhobz]

GTI for driving experience
Civic for reliability
Hyundai for best price

pick one thats most important to you.

Id go for the GTI

[Traum]

Given your planned duration of ownership, I would skip the GTI. Year 6 and on becomes rather annoying and $$$.

[!Aznboi128]

I would go with Elantra, it's brand new and a lot of be desired. If you want to keep it for 8-10 years a GTI will have some problems down the line. The civic is good but it's pricey for touring I would just go for the Sport instead.

[vyrospec]

I'd go with the GTI. (biased as a golf owner)
- for power, and fun to drive
- I like heavier doors
- super easy for parking
- only downside its made in mexico

Civic Hatch as 2nd
- more cargo space?
- made in UK (so technically euro)
- rear visibility is crap (i don't trust cameras)

Elantra
- best bang for dollar with everything you want/need
- economical w/ 87 instead of 91 for the other two
- cheap plastics all around car you'll eventually hate over time
- questionable reliability and the depreciation rate...

[Simplex123]

Civic would have a lot more aftermarket support compared to the Elantra, so technically it can be as sporty as you want it to be.

+1 for Civic

[bcuzracecarz]

Civic sport then Hondata flash it, remains very reliable, it's cheap, and gets you much more power than even the civic si (230hp/260ft/lbs). Hyundai is intriguing, but very blah and don't see it holding any sort of value. And gti obviously if you want the best overall pkg out of the box. My vote would be civic hatch sport. Good luck

[FerrariEnzo]

I have a 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring, no problems.. always did my maintenance on time.. nothing major needs replacement...

Deciding between Hyundai Tuscon (fits like a glove... looks nice) or the Mazda CX 3/5.. my mom has the CX5 and its very nice..

[bcuzracecarz]

Deciding between Hyundai Tuscon (fits like a glove... looks nice) or the Mazda CX 3/5.. my mom has the CX5 and its very nice..

Not to jack OPs thread, but I just picked up a '17 Tuscon 1.6T, absolutely love it, no gripes at all. Mom has a' 16 CX5 and thought I'd go with that, until I drove the 1.6 Tuscon, sporty to drive, all the torque you need down low from the turbo and the dct is very quick and responsive for a small suv, drove the base 2.0ltr Tuscon and it wasn't inspiring at all in comparison. Plus the looks of the Tuscon are great, especially with the 19" wheels and full glass moonroof

[kkttsang]

I keep hearing Hyundai has come a long way since the 90s. Quality and reliability wise. Is it true.

Why can’t vw be reliable. Why can’t the si be 4 inches shorter or Honda have a hatchback si.

The civic hb sport don’t have leather or led headlights. I want those, but I was willing to sacrifice those for the gti.

Cars are so big these days.

[oldsnail]

little disappointing that you cant put a hitch on the civic.

they have exhaust in the middle.

so i cant bring my bikes with me.

[Traum]

I keep hearing Hyundai has come a long way since the 90s. Quality and reliability wise. Is it true.

The difference is night and day, but when the reference point is the early 90's Hyundai, that is a really, really low standard to compare against. The question you want to ask is -- are they reliable enough today? Recent incidents like this is not exactly confidence inspiring:

https://globalnews.ca/news/3363691/hyundai-kia-recall-1-4m-cars-in-canada-u-s-for-possible-engine-failure/


Why can’t vw be reliable. Why can’t the si be 4 inches shorter or Honda have a hatchback si.
First thought that came to mind when I read this -- cheap, fast, reliable, pick 2. That has always been the case.

Second thought that came to mind -- why can't my gf be smart, hot, rich, and have a nice personality? EleGiggle And why can't I be 4" lon... I mean, taller? EleGiggle EleGiggle EleGiggle


The civic hb sport don’t have leather or led headlights. I want those, but I was willing to sacrifice those for the gti.

Leather seats burn my a$$ and thighs in the summer, and freezes them in the winter. Not sure why anyone would ever want leather seats in a car.

[bcrdukes]

Leather seats burn my a$$ and thighs in the summer, and freezes them in the winter. Not sure why anyone would ever want leather seats in a car.

After owning many cars with leather seats, I finally got one with cloth and I will never go back to leather again.

I have a hard time recommending Hyundai, despite how many people say "they've come a long way." There are so many little quirks in Hyundai's I've driven over the years that add up very quickly and it pisses me off. Given the choices you've listed, I get the impression you want something fun and sporty, yet practical. I simply do not equate the Hyundai to the Civic or GTI, but this is personal.

Some things you may want to consider as well, such as your cost for insurance. It may make or break your short list of vehicles and influence your purchase decision.

[kkttsang]

Have kids. Muddy shoes plus cloth don’t mix.

[bcrdukes]

And leather does? :confused:

Any how, you may want to update your original post to include that. You originally only posted that it was going to be an A-to-B car (to and from work.)

[kkttsang]

And leather does? :confused:

Any how, you may want to update your original post to include that. You originally only posted that it was going to be an A-to-B car (to and from work.)

Well the kids won’t be in the car all the time. Only if I have to take them somewhere without the wife. leatehr clean up better and don’t stain like cloths does. And if the sport had led or even hid headlights I would go for it.

Which is why I was willing to sacrifice leather for the gti.

[!LittleDragon]

The difference is night and day, but when the reference point is the early 90's Hyundai, that is a really, really low standard to compare against. The question you want to ask is -- are they reliable enough today? Recent incidents like this is not exactly confidence inspiring:

https://globalnews.ca/news/3363691/hyundai-kia-recall-1-4m-cars-in-canada-u-s-for-possible-engine-failure/


For me, it's been reliable enough. Had a 2011 Sonata 2.0T and I didn't have any major problems. Some small QC problems but I had those parts replaced under warranty. Never broke down on me other than when the battery died about 4 years in.

Only traded it in because I found FWD boring. It was my first and last FWD car. Traded it in for a Genesis Sedan last year. No complaints about this car either. In 3-4 years time, I'll probably trade it in for another Genesis.

[kkttsang]

For me, it's been reliable enough. Had a 2011 Sonata 2.0T and I didn't have any major problems. Some small QC problems but I had those parts replaced under warranty. Never broke down on me other than when the battery died about 4 years in.

Only traded it in because I found FWD boring. It was my first and last FWD car. Traded it in for a Genesis Sedan last year. No complaints about this car either. In 3-4 years time, I'll probably trade it in for another Genesis.

How’s the trade in value. Big depreciation? If I keep this Hyundai for 8-10 years it probably will have no value when I want to trade in for another car.

[Jmac]

Golf GTI. Civic hatchback looks awful, IMO. Dislike the Hyundai.

[!LittleDragon]

How’s the trade in value. Big depreciation? If I keep this Hyundai for 8-10 years it probably will have no value when I want to trade in for another car.

I didn't lease the car, I was on the 84 month financing because I thought I was going to drive it to the ground when I bought it. Didn't think I would get bored of it.

I was basically happy if they just paid out what I still owed which was about $15k left after 5 years. The car was about $40k after taxes, fees, extended warranty, replacement insurance, etc...

I probably would've got more if I went with a private sale but I didn't want to deal with that. Private buyers are picky. I didn't want to explain the 110k mileage, curbed rims, damage from a rear ender, etc... The dealership didn't even look at the car. They know it well because they did all the maintenance on it and my friend is a service adviser there.

[jcmaz]

How’s the trade in value. Big depreciation? If I keep this Hyundai for 8-10 years it probably will have no value when I want to trade in for another car.

There will be large depreciation values for most of the compact sized cars, especially Hyundai's. From what I see at work, I suggest you to go with the Civic HB Touring if you plan on driving it for a longer period of time. You'll have Honda reliability plus most bugs or kinks should have been worked out with the Civic when compared with the Elantra GT. The Civic should worth more when are you done with it.

Although the Hyundai has advantage for warranty, you can always purchase extended warranty for the Civic and GTI.

[donk.]

buy a delorean man

[supafamous]

Earlier this year I was comparing a GTI, Civic Sport HB, and a Mazda 3 GT Hatch. I was going to go with the 3 before I decided to save the money and buy a beater 3 instead.

I loved the Civic HB except it was just too ugly - only a mother could love the look (I don't mind it in Type R form though). Nearly everything else about it was better than the 3 (the 3 has fantastic steering and was much more premium) but way too ugly for my tastes.

The GTI was nice but I couldn't justify the cost and it wasn't as practical compared to the huge on the inside Civic.

If you can stomach the looks then the Civic is it.

[snowfarmer]

Holy crap! 23 posts in and nobody has said go drive the 3 cars you're considering. That is what you're going to do with the thing every day. We can blather on all day about aftermarket parts support and reliability 6 years from now blah..blah..blah but really what matters is how much you enjoy driving it. Is reliability 6 years from now the key consideration? Are you going to buy a car that you like the least among your options because it might and the key word is might at some indeterminate point in the future have less issues than a car that you liked better? I've been in your shoes cross-shopping similar vehicles in a category, test driving the different cars made the decision easy. I'm not advocating for any of your options over the others, just go drive the things and let that guide your decision.

You're looking at 3 new cars all dripping with warranty, you can't really go that far wrong...or we could help you find a great deal on a 10 year old Audi S6 with a stomping V10 motor, what could go wrong with that?

[kkttsang]

Holy crap! 23 posts in and nobody has said go drive the 3 cars you're considering. That is what you're going to do with the thing every day. We can blather on all day about aftermarket parts support and reliability 6 years from now blah..blah..blah but really what matters is how much you enjoy driving it. Is reliability 6 years from now the key consideration? Are you going to buy a car that you like the least among your options because it might and the key word is might at some indeterminate point in the future have less issues than a car that you liked better? I've been in your shoes cross-shopping similar vehicles in a category, test driving the different cars made the decision easy. I'm not advocating for any of your options over the others, just go drive the things and let that guide your decision.

You're looking at 3 new cars all dripping with warranty, you can't really go that far wrong...or we could help you find a great deal on a 10 year old Audi S6 with a stomping V10 motor, what could go wrong with that?



Yes I will test drive them. And yes if it will be unreliable no matter how good it drives It won’t be on my list. Which is why I’m asking for opinion on the gti reliability and from what I been hearing it will be last on my LIst due to its reliability.

Honestly do you think I was gonna just go down to the dealership and buy the car without test driving them. I’m asking for people opinion and advice. Hence why there are reviews on cars. If everyone just answer with just go test drive them why even bother writing reviews.

[underscore]

My mom has a 2012 Tucson with over 100k on it (purchased new) and it has been great, other than fluid changes all it has needed is a set of pads/rotors (just to pass an OOP, they were still good for quite a while) and this month it got a new set of tires. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up a Hyundai as a long term daily.

Elantra
- questionable reliability and the depreciation rate...

Questionable reliability compared to a VW?

As for depreciation, if OP is keeping it for 8-10 years I think it's a pretty moot point. The up front $2k savings over the Civic and $4k over the Golf along with being able to run cheaper fuel is going to make more of a difference overall than resale in 10 year time.

I know this won't be exact, but I went on VMR and ran it for a 2007 Elantra, Civic and Golf GTI. I tried to make them as equal as I could (similar to what OP would buy, all options ticked with 200k km). These are the "retail" prices.

Elantra: $4475
Civic: $5375 ($900 up)
Golf GTI: $6675 ($2200 up)

The odds of getting the cost difference back in 10 years seem slim.

[snowfarmer]

Yes I will test drive them. And yes if it will be unreliable no matter how good it drives It won’t be on my list. Which is why I’m asking for opinion on the gti reliability and from what I been hearing it will be last on my LIst due to its reliability.

Honestly do you think I was gonna just go down to the dealership and buy the car without test driving them. I’m asking for people opinion and advice. Hence why there are reviews on cars. If everyone just answer with just go test drive them why even bother writing reviews.

I'm sorry if you thought I was attacking you or if I came across the wrong way. My comment was remarking that no one else had made reference to the importance of the driving characteristics (which are generally more a matter of personal opinion. None of the 3 brands you're considering are at the top of the reliability rankings so other factors play into the decision.

If you want reliability rankings, go to Consumer Reports. Generally what you'll get on a forum is anecdotal feedback "I had one and it was great" or "I had one and it sucked." It's not exactly reflective of the overall quality/reliability of the brand/model. Anecdotal info is more useful for the intangibles of the cars one is considering, reviews as you mention.

Of the three brands you're considering the highest ranked is Honda at #9 with Hyundai at #10 and the Elantra as their most reliable model, so there you have it.

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/car-brands-reliability-how-they-stack-up/

2018 RANK
1 ↑1 Toyota
2 ↓1 Lexus
3 ↑2 Kia
4 — Audi
5 ↑4 BMW
6 ↑5 Subaru
7 ↑1 Infiniti
8 ↓5 Buick
9 ↑1 Honda
10 ↓ 3 Hyundai

[Jmac]

I'm sorry if you thought I was attacking you or if I came across the wrong way. My comment was remarking that no one else had made reference to the importance of the driving characteristics (which are generally more a matter of personal opinion. None of the 3 brands you're considering are at the top of the reliability rankings so other factors play into the decision.

If you want reliability rankings, go to Consumer Reports. Generally what you'll get on a forum is anecdotal feedback "I had one and it was great" or "I had one and it sucked." It's not exactly reflective of the overall quality/reliability of the brand/model. Anecdotal info is more useful for the intangibles of the cars one is considering, reviews as you mention.

Of the three brands you're considering the highest ranked is Honda at #9 with Hyundai at #10 and the Elantra as their most reliable model, so there you have it.

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/car-brands-reliability-how-they-stack-up/

2018 RANK
1 ↑1 Toyota
2 ↓1 Lexus
3 ↑2 Kia
4 — Audi
5 ↑4 BMW
6 ↑5 Subaru
7 ↑1 Infiniti
8 ↓5 Buick
9 ↑1 Honda
10 ↓ 3 Hyundai
For the Honda Civic, CR rated it:
- 76/100 on the road test
- For this generation (2016-Current), the only real blemish on the record is in-car electronics for the Honda Civic. Everything else is above average or well above average for reliability feedback.
- Previous generation (2012-2015) was nearly flawless in reliability feedback.
- The Honda Civic ranked 3rd in its class in owner satisfaction (behind the Prius and Elantra)

For the Hyundai Elantra, CR rated it:
- 66/100 on the road test
- For this generation (2017-Current), everything is above average or well-above average for reliability data.
- The previous generation (2011-2016) had issues with the early years (transmission, suspension, brakes, power equipment), but later years had good feedback.
- The Hyundai Elantra ranked 2nd in its class in owner satisfaction (behind the Prius)

For the Volkswagen Golf, CR rated it:
- 82/100 on the road test
- For this generation (2015-Current), the problem areas are the fuel system and in-car electronics (below average). Power equipment, climate system, and fuel system also have average reliability feedback. Almost everything else is well above average.
- The previous generation (2010-2014) had major issues with the fuel system and lesser issues with the climate system and power equipment. Drivetrain has well above average reliability.
- The Volkswagen Golf ranked 9th in its class in owner satisfaction (behind the Prius, Elantra, Civic, C-MAX, Cooper, 3, Soul, and Corolla).

[underscore]

Toyota being at the top of those rankings (and generally considered to be reliable vehicles with good resale value) have you considered a Corolla iM? I just checked and it's 170.4" long, so it would fit, and it's cheaper than the other 3.

[kkttsang]

Toyota being at the top of those rankings (and generally considered to be reliable vehicles with good resale value) have you considered a Corolla iM? I just checked and it's 170.4" long, so it would fit, and it's cheaper than the other 3.

I want something with a little more punch than the 137hp. They should make the corolla im with the 86 engine. To compete with the hatches. I would be into that.

[mos_skeeto]

My first 3 cars were Japanese because I was worried about reliability. I never kept them long because they bored me. My 4th car was a VW and I got a 7 year warranty with it because I was paranoid. I'm about 2 years into ownership with zero issues.

[bcedhk]

we have an elantra GT (2015) model. 20k km in and no issue so far.

Performance and quality is sub-par but for the price and reliability we are having so far, it is a good daily driver.

[Liquid_o2]

With the three choices given, I would likely go with the Civic based on the reliability and the strong driving performance of the new Civics.

Not to throw a new option into the the mix, but have you looked at the Kia Soul Turbo? 163 inches in length so well below your threshold, 201 hp and 195 torque. Tons of room inside. My mom has a 2014 Soul EX+ and I borrow it all the time to haul stuff. Would be really easy if you have kids, especially with child seats depending how old they are. I haven't driven the Turbo, but it seems to have gotten pretty good reviews. And you can get one for about $26,000 + tax.

[Traum]

My first 3 cars were Japanese because I was worried about reliability. I never kept them long because they bored me. My 4th car was a VW and I got a 7 year warranty with it because I was paranoid. I'm about 2 years into ownership with zero issues.
As the saying goes, "the night is still young", my friend. My MkIV car has been nearly flawless for the first 3 years, and the MkV car totally flawless for the first 4 years or so. And then then little things start to creep up on you. And then they grow into bigger, more troublesome, and more $$$ things with higher frequency.
EleGiggle

(You'll also learn to curse the German engineerers who designed things that require 2 hours to Re&Re instead of a 5 min quick swap.)
FailFish

Still loved both cars, esp the MkIV, and I was glad to have owned & driven them. But their later years have been troublesome, time consuming, and $$$$, and I know I wouldn't want to go through the same thing again.

[quasi]

Leather seats burn my a$$ and thighs in the summer, and freezes them in the winter. Not sure why anyone would ever want leather seats in a car.

That's why Baby Jebus invented Heated and Cooled seats.

[quasi]

I bought my wife a new 2013 Elantra in 2012, no issues at all and she's put over 100K on it. We had to do the front brake pads and tires but that's all regular maintenance. For the price can't really go wrong, I'd buy another Hyundai.

[iforyou]

FWIW, Car and Driver has the following ratings:

Golf GTI: 5/5 stars
Elantra Sport (not GT): 3.5/5 stars
Civic HB: 5/5 stars

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2017-volkswagen-golf-gti-in-depth-model-review

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2017-hyundai-elantra-sport-in-depth-model-review

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-honda-civic-in-depth-model-review

For me it's the Civic vs GTI. The Elantra is a good deal but I feel like it's not quite there yet. Not all that fun to drive, not much feel, plain interior, etc.

The Civic Touring looks pricey at $30k but it's well equipped. From my personal experience, the cargo room is large and practical, comparable to my RDX. The chassis is well sorted and it's a brand new design from Honda. Car and Driver managed 0.93g in a regular Civic hatchback sport with all season tires. Being a 1.5T that is relatlvely new, its tuning potential is not comparable to the GTI. But if all you need is 180whp stock with the potential of well over 200whp, the Civic HB is more than enough.

The GTI is the default go-to car for enthusiasts looking for an affordable but fun to drive HB. It's well built and perceived quality are high. With the DSG, it's also decently fast. At the price you are looking at, as you already pointed out, you do lose out quite a few features that are standard on the Civic Touring. Are you going to be okay with that for 8-10 years?

[Ch28]

I own a 2018 Elantra GT GLS, which is 1 trim level below the sport and I have to say this car is fun to drive. The sport has better rear suspension and more HP and torque, so I can only imagine it'd be even more of a blast to drive on that.

If you do go ahead and purchase an Elantra GT Turbo then I highly suggest you stay the fuck away from OpenRoad Hyundai on Boundary. Their sales manager is a lying sack of shit that made promises to me and then blatantly lied to my face after the fact.

[J-Chow]

and just to throw in a few minor details;

GTI - Premium Fuel
Civic / Elantra - Regular Unleaded

That's like an additional $10-15 extra per fill up.

[oldsnail]

Have kids. Muddy shoes plus cloth don’t mix.

I have 2 kids....
and i use a Civic Type R to pick them up... in car seats..

[oldsnail]

and just to throw in a few minor details;

GTI - Premium Fuel
Civic / Elantra - Regular Unleaded

That's like an additional $10-15 extra per fill up.

if you go with the civic hb sport and higher... it is premium fuel
https://i.imgur.com/C1Z0LI9.jpg

[BaoTurbo]

Fun or Reliability

Choice is yours

I would choose GTI since I would want to mod it to stage 2 later in ownership probably. Plus German to me feels more premium and more stability. Yes it does come as a cost in parts and maintenance versus the Honda but that's something I'm willing to sacrifice for my own satisfaction

[djstyles]

I would say go for the GTI but I am a bit biased. I still currently own my MKV GTI which I bought brand new in 2007. No major problems but I have been very good at keeping up with maintenance and other things. Keep in mind as well as my car has been on an APR Stage 2+ tune for nearly 6 years without issue. The one thing that keeps me from replacing it is that even after 10 years of ownership the car is still holding together well and more importantly still very fun to drive .

[kkttsang]

Both trim in gti and civic sport that I want has “projector halogen” headlights. Are these HIDs. Or just regular amber headlights?

[J-Chow]

Both trim in gti and civic sport that I want has “projector halogen” headlights. Are these HIDs. Or just regular amber headlights?

I would assume these are regular halogen bulbs, in a projector headlight. Unless otherwise it states Xenon or HID lights.

My old 2006 Subaru impreza had "Projector Halogen" headlights, and it was merely halogen bulbs in the projector.

I installed aftermarket HID's in my projector halogen headlights but had to adjust the angle to prevent blinding oncoming vehicles.

Check out youtube reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSGk-iXsHm4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQin_9jiXBY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zeQT4HPWvw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm_Kc92bbXg

[BaoTurbo]

2018 GTI will feature stock LED headlights

[kkttsang]

2018 GTI will feature stock LED headlights

Not in the base option that I want. Only in autobahn. Base gti is projector halogen.

[Badhobz]

I love halogens. All the cars in my family are either xenon/HID/LED except my golf sportwagen. Hell, even the 2016 corolla i traded in for the sportwagen had LED lights.

NOT A BIG FAN of these bright ass lights. The cutoff areas are too apparent and its too easy to blind oncoming traffic. I find on the i5 and other highway driving that the halogens actually project further as it disperses light without the glare or super apparent cutoff areas.

[Manic!]

Maybe buy used.
https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/d/2016-ford-focus-rs-turbo-awd/6394644484.html

[BaoTurbo]

Maybe buy used.
https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/d/2016-ford-focus-rs-turbo-awd/6394644484.html

Bro, didn't you hear their engine breaks apart every 2000 kms? Lol

https://jalopnik.com/why-so-many-ford-focus-rs-owners-are-freaking-out-about-1820280550

[donjalapeno]

Civic Hatch is the best out of the 3............:pokerface:

[westopher]

I owned a GTI from when it was 3 years old CPO, to it being 6 years old. I slammed it, did a shitty job of changing the oil on time, redlined it constantly.
I never spent a penny on it other than oil changes, gas and mods. It was a great car as far as reliability goes. The vw reliability issues are greatly exaggerated when it comes to their newer models. It was the mk4 that fucked everything up for their reputation, and any passat ever made.

[oldsnail]

I am pretty sure the SPORT TOURING has LED's.
My CTR has them.. and all the aesthetics are based from the touring.

[bcrdukes]

any passat ever made.

LOL @ Passat. :fuckthatshit:

[Traum]

I owned a GTI from when it was 3 years old CPO, to it being 6 years old. I slammed it, did a shitty job of changing the oil on time, redlined it constantly.

I never spent a penny on it other than oil changes, gas and mods. It was a great car as far as reliability goes. The vw reliability issues are greatly exaggerated when it comes to their newer models. It was the mk4 that fucked everything up for their reputation, and any passat ever made.
Which gen of GTI was it? Within my realm of experience, I seem to recall that the MkIII cars with the 2.slow engine is generally quite reliable. The engine, in particular, was basically bulletproof.

I should also add that my MkIV and V cars never left me stranded either. Limp modes, yes. Stranded -- never. Also, the worst the cars have ever done to me was 3 or 4 unscheduled repairs / breakdowns within a calender year. For someone who is accustomed to Japanese reliability, that is quite a difference, esp when each repair was notably more $$$$ than Japanese repairs. But for a German / Euro car, perhaps they aren't so out of the norm?

[twitchyzero]

limp mode :heckno:
mechanically anything needing more than the fluids and wear & tear is not worth owning to me...leasing may be
if you don't mind selling your car after warranty expires and taking the significant depreciation, more power to you

If you want reliability rankings, go to Consumer Reports
yes and no..i think there's merit in consulting a car forum...CR is far from not being biased either (they released a definitive recommendation before a new product launched based on a previous-gen track record)

You just have to assess each forum posts...people saying their cars are flawless after only 2 maybe 3 years should be taken with a grain of salt.

It would be more meaningful to find out from owners with the same platform but going back 5 years+. For the MK7 GTI look for problems in the MK3 A3 going back to 2012-2013 since it's the same platform.

Maybe buy used.
https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/d/2016-ford-focus-rs-turbo-awd/6394644484.html

buddy hooned it into a ditch...5k fix on a 50k car becomes a rebuilt?

[AzNightmare]

buddy hooned it into a ditch...5k fix on a 50k car becomes a rebuilt?

"With 2,3L engine 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque this car eats DIRT all day long."

fixed :troll:

[Manic!]

buddy hooned it into a ditch...5k fix on a 50k car becomes a rebuilt?

Did not even notice it was a rebuild. :failed:

[westopher]

Which gen of GTI was it? Within my realm of experience, I seem to recall that the MkIII cars with the 2.slow engine is generally quite reliable. The engine, in particular, was basically bulletproof.

I should also add that my MkIV and V cars never left me stranded either. Limp modes, yes. Stranded -- never. Also, the worst the cars have ever done to me was 3 or 4 unscheduled repairs / breakdowns within a calender year. For someone who is accustomed to Japanese reliability, that is quite a difference, esp when each repair was notably more $$$$ than Japanese repairs. But for a German / Euro car, perhaps they aren't so out of the norm?I had a mk5. It was a rad car. Its hard to say I miss it with the M3 replacing it, but I certainly remember it fondly.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8680272278_8d6791be50_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ee3EwS)DSC_0432 (https://flic.kr/p/ee3EwS) by Chris West (https://www.flickr.com/photos/westophervan/), on Flickr