MKVI GTI opinions?
 

So my altima coupe I used to own was crashed thankfully it was competely paid off so now my insurance check comes in and I'm in a pickle as to what to buy.. I went to test drive a 6 speed GTI today and really liked the car overall. Car was pretty loaded had touch screen naviagtion, leather seats, sound system, sunroof, etc. I have been changing the car I want lately way too much. Thought about a 2010 mustang gt also since I found one for 22k but parents insist to buy something else (resale value). Z was an option but insurance is too high (600/month). what other options would you guys recommend for the 30k max price? Sorry 'bout the rant :p

Slighty used:
Infinit G37S
Lexus IS 350
BMW M3

A G37S is an option there is a ton of e46 m3's in my area but you can get something in that range that's practically brand new and still has warranty.

If your max is 30k why don't you get into a 370Z? I was looking around recently just at some of the car prices around and you can get into a few extremely low mileage used ones already for around 27k, were I not to have a G37S and a baby on the way that would pretty much be my choice. I would say do some shopping around with insurance companies, I'm sure one of them can come to a price you can agree with while still allowing you to get into what you really want.

Granted it was a ways back with my previous insurance company I payed 1200 for 6 months full coverage on an 01 automatic 4 banger eclipse (horrible car), i switched insurance carriers and got a 350Z and I was paying 600 for 6 months.

G37s 6mt
IS350
TL type S
Challenger R/T (if that floats your boat)

There are also a lot of nice mid sized trucks that you can buy brand new in that price range. Won't be fast but they'll have a lot of options. The little Colorado and Tacoma crew cabs are pretty spiffy.

$600/mo?

I used to live in McAllen, TX.

Insurance is dirt cheap there. What have you done to incur such costs!?

Anyway, check out a used 370Z. Since you are already used to Nissans, I think you would find the Z a step up from the Altima and love it.

If the used 370Z won't fly, then a used corvette ('vette insurance is cheap). I would recommend against an E46 M3 because of the high cost of ownership now that it's out of warranty/has no "free service" program. The 'vette would be the cheapest car to own I think because of its reliability and low parts/labor cost to work on, and the fact that you can do a lot of stuff yourself on those.

C5 'vettes (especially the C5Z's) I think are about near the "bottom" of their depreciation curve right now. Resale should be great as long as you keep the car in good shape. I don't see them dropping much further simply because of all they offer performance/style/image-wise.

I really liked the MKVI GTI. Almost bought that instead of the Z. But my main reason was because of winter weather in MD. Not sure about how you're effected in TX. But I agree that it's a really well put together machine.

If you're a simple speed junkie, the MS3 is the same thing but faster and less classy.

Then there's always Subaru WRX's?

Where OP lives if the temp ever gets below freezing people start dying (literally). It NEVER gets cold down there for more than a couple days out of the year, and that itself is exceptional. I wore T-shirts year-round for 2 of the 4 years I was there.

out of curiosity, IC, what's your take on hot hatches? Have you driven a GTI or Mazdaspeed3? If not, you should give it a shot. They handle great, have decent pickup, and are practical. The GTI is really purty on the inside, too, imo.

Not saying you should buy one, but test driving is a fun experience. I may get a GTI as my next DD.

I test drove the GTI yesterday and it was pretty well equipped, it had the "autobhan" package and the interiors were SO nice it had the touchscreen nav, dynaudio sound system, and the 6 speed manual was so easy to drive. The car is peppy but who am I kidding its not like a 370z or anything. I don't think I would want a corvette or anything american for that matter. The G37 would probably be my best bet or check insurane prices again for the Z... I really enjoyed the GTI though... The engine just sounds awesome especially on shifts!!

I don't deny that they are probably fun/fast cars, it's just not a part of the market segment I am interested in. I like the corvettes/vipers for numerous reasons not the subject of this thread. For a DD, I just care that it has a good sound system and claimate control. Give me my Z06 or a Viper for a fun car, and I will DD whatever as long as it meets the above criteria. Right now I DD a 2002 Infiniti G20, lol.

If I ever move where it snows, I would give a used EVO/STi/WRX some serious though, and I wouldn't care if it were a hatch or not. It's a DD and if I found a hatch I would buy it, if a 4-door, then that. If I found both, whichever cost less/was in better shape.

Try a different company. I went through Eric Brown in McAllen, and my rates kicked ***. About 600% cheaper than yours for my Trans Am, GT, and WS6, at various times during my use of Allstate there.

The R will come in 2012....

Yeah I red about the R version but, I kinda new the car NOW... I accept that there will always be new cars coming out.. I think I'm buying the GTI.. Will visit the dealer tommorow and if the price is right wil be posting pics up see if you guys like it. GTI actually has a decent aftermarket. especially with the APR tune. CRAZY gains of torque and pretty decent HP gains as well for just 600 bucks..

Lol, he has no ride. Altima was totalled and his check is going to a new car.

The MKVI GTI is a great car but converting to german cars for you I will for warn you about electrical gremlins, and for every sensor there is about 5 more....

I have owned a 2001 MKIV 1.8t GTI, and traded it for a 2008 MKV, got to stg 2+ from apr but before i got there i had about 20 days of service time... nothing due to mods, i then hit a total of 30, sued VW and somehow ended up in a 2009 Audi A4, Anyways before i bought my Z i had put a MKVI on order, but the whole time i had my A4 i kept randomly ending up at Nissan dealerships about 5 times looking at the z, and then the sales folks that i had done business w/ messed up i canceled the order and ordered my Z.

I had 20 days of electrical issues on the A4, so i think the sales department saved me so far from a headache. But i will go back, after the Z is payed off, maybe a CPO S4, i really like the cars, and i miss driving one, but i do not miss the headaches.

That my history with vw/audi, im not trying to steer you away, im just trying to tell you what may lie ahead, also not all cars are as bad as mine were, i just always got that crappy build day of the week or what ever.

APR does amazing work, when i had my MKV @ STG 2+ it was honestly almost to much for the front wheels, paired with V3's, sways, motor mounts, and ps2's it was an animal. for a 4 banger, i miss the fuel economy of it but i enjoy the Z too much to care.

I dont know if its just this vw dealership or vw in general but the sales guy said they had the 3 years/36k miles of free servicing which I thought was pretty cool and the warranty is as good or on par as Nissans'. Hopefully I dont run into any electrical problems like yourself but thanks for the heads up. My sister actuall owns a 2006? jetta tdi its an ok car we bought it used but its nothing out of this world. Had it for about a year or two and no problems whatsoever apart from her not knowing how to park and almost ripping off the whole front bumper whenever she backs out of those concrete parking things.

Considered the option that he could buy something simple second hand, drive it for a year and then get a new car....

hyundai genesis? My buddy has one and they are actually pretty nice