A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Hello all, I am one of the lurking many that sit in the shadows, appreciate the intelligent conversations and laugh at the not-so-intelligent. Been coming to this sight for around five years now and realize the huge wealth of information available here and have a simple question.
I am going to be graduating from college in a little over a year and am looking into treating myself to a new car when i finally graduate and get my first real job. I am going to have a 280z that i will be working on and i wanted to get a quick fun car that will get reasonable gas mileage. I never ever ever ever would have thought of getting a fwd car but I am seriously thinking about getting the new VW GTI.
200 HP, reasonably priced, quick and fun handling, and safe. How can I go wrong.
What do you guys think about this car, any personal experience, horror stories, love stories, silly anecdotes, anything really. It is important to note that this car does not need to be super fast, I am going to build up a 280 to be a fun weekend monster. This car needs to be practical and fun at the same time...
'77 280z
Post Edited (May 27, 6:35pm)
A:
The GTI is a very good car. I've autocrossed the new GTI and is very well sorted for a front wheel driver. It sounds like you have a good plan, purchase a fun daily driver to keep stock and enjoy. It's under warranty, has all the creature comforts and will be plenty of fun. I think the GTI fits that description very well. One word of caution, the price can jump from $24,000 to over $30,000 very quickly with all the options available, so be frugal. It comes with a good amount of standard items, so don't get stars in your eyes on the showroom floor and order all kinds of options! Also, don't modify it! Enjoy it as-is, and get your speed fix out of the Z.
Also, consider the new Civic Si. Potential blasphemy around here, but that's one fun car to drive. Quirkier than the GTI, though. Enjoy!
-- Next Up: SCCA ITR 300ZX --
A:
Ya I have read a few articles and what i saw is that the GTI is faster. I also have an unreasonable prejudice against honda for absolutely no reason. Kinda retarded and immature but o well.
'77 280z
A:
The GTi is a very nice car, but consider an R32 is slightly less for a much better looking, AWD, non-turbo 6 cylinder. It's one of the best sounding cars on the market and has plenty of power (with a huge aftermarket if you're not happy) and a smooth shifting 6-speed. And don't get me started on their Recaros!
R32 all the way.
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Pete1978z: "It's not that I think stupidity should be punishable by death, I just think we should take the warning labels off of everything and let the problem take care of itself."
A:
srt-4 cheaper and faster
73' 240z: F54 4.2L, OS Giken LY DOHC Crossflow head, 17:3comp.ratio, N33, Tripple SU's, T10 Hybrid Draw-Through TT @ 47pds, Roots&Centrifugal Type supercharger, 3-2-1 headers, Centerforce 4 clutch, 6oz flywheel, R300 differential, Super-Hicas
A:
After a miserable experience with an 86 Golf I have sworn off VW's for life...except for REAL pre 72 BUGS.
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12.804 @ 107.26 mph on crappy street tires with Dual SU Powered 2.9L Stroker!
ZCAR.COM member since Aug 1998
A:
In the real world and not on paper, VW's have a poor rep. for reliability. The dealers here can't move 'em w/ anything less than dynamite. Expect many problems in areas related to the sensors and electrics. This goes for their AUDI brothers, too. Plus, w/Euro cars, you are paying at least 25% extra for their socialist labor structure that keeps their products from being competitive in today's market. I am not addressing the pure fun or performance aspects, and if your mind is already made up, don't let me confuse you with the facts.
Rusty but running.
Polish cell phone and two tubes of Aluma-seal.
And, now we are historic.
A:
I'm in a similar position right now and I too looked at the GTI. Now I've never owned or known anyone close to me that owned a VW but I haven't heard good things about them when it comes to reliability. First thing I did to find out about this car was check reviews of the car online like Edmunds, car and driver, road and track, consumer reports etc. Most of the test drive reports came back great with only minor complaints which happens with pretty much every car; they always find something to complain about. Next I found message boards like this for VW's in general and GTI specific ones also. This is what kept me from buying it. VW owners and GTI owners on the majority said the cars weren't reliable. I found a lot saying that if they had to do it over again they would have bought something different. I found plenty of stories of them having to take it back to the dealer. I also read that when things go wrong they cost more to fix than domestics or japanese. In general after reading hundreds of posts I said no. I figure if the owners of these cars are saying how crappy they are why should I spend 20K+ of my hard earned money on it. To me it was too much of a risk. Like I said in the begining, I have no first hand knowledge of these cars but after what I read it was enough to have look elsewhere. My suggestion to you is to do your research.
Other cars too look at are the civic si and WRX. The civic si so far seems to have no issues and has got pretty good reviews. The WRX (not the STI) is about 24k and also doesn't seem to have any issues. The only thing with the WRX is that the 5-speed tranny in the past has not held up well with lots of racing, however for 2006 subaru redesigned it to be much stronger. Still, with the AWD the only good way to launch is a clutch drop at 5k or higher which I can see why in most cases wouldn't be good for the tranny or the clutch. Just do your research and check site specific forms for the cars you are looking at, it's the best way to learn about the car.
1977 280z: Intake, exhaust, high flow cat, header, euro damper, cam, MSD, adj. FPR, 3.7 lsd, F+R sway+strut bars, 2580lbs
1984 300zx: intake, exhuast, high flow cat, headers, JWT ECU, F+R sway bars, F strut bar
06 WRX TR
A:
...but you're not looking for a racecar anyways. For the same money there would be no question for me. I'd be driving a WRX. Talk about a blast to drive! And with the three Subarus that I've owned, only one of them had less than 200,000 miles on it when I sold it.
ZCAR forum motto:
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
Proverbs 15:22
A:
I just bought an 06 Honda Civic SI.....thats one fun ass car.
Knowledge Speaks, Wisdom Listens.
A:
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
i cant say much on a good note or a bad note about vw's..
i know people who have horrible luck with them (my sister), and people who have nothing but good luck with them (a few of my friends).
it just depends on what model car you buy... they do a lot of funky things like have non-serviceable autos... that go bad.
but for the most part, if you find a non lemon, and take care of it, itll be as reilable as the rest.
taking care of it is key though... and finding a good year car.
77Z- (mfg. 7/77)
"Arm-chair Autox'er"
A:
Man I hate VW, I was ready to go on in detail and describe the numerous problems and issues people have had with audi/vw. But Im glad to see others have already pointed out everything I would have said, so Ill just say this.
It sounds like your mind is made up, I knew a girl whos mind was made up, she wanted a Jetta because it was "cute." I specifically told her not to get it. I pulled up numerous sources with factual material about very real and very expensive problems that VW owners have had, after showing her countless sources for this I was starting to make her cry. What made her cry? I was telling her that buying the car she absolutely loved, the VW jetta, was a poor chioce and would cost her dearly. She stopped talking to me few 2 days after that, I had so completely destroyed her world and concept of what she wanted, she thought it was great and cute and all would be merry. The truth can really hurt. Well she only started talking to me after she went and looked at a Jetta, she said it was horrible and had all the problems I had described to her in detail, it took someone showing her many issues, from countless VW owners, and then finally seeing with her own eyes the problems that they have, before she would even begin to shake her concept of what was good.
But, like it was said before, we dont want to confuse the issue with facts here, its about what YOU WANT. Not about anything else.
Currently own:
1990 2+2(For sale soon)
1991 TT(parts for sale)
1993 NA(parts for sale)
1993 Convertible(Converted TT)
1996 TT(with 9,124 miles on it)
"When you do things right people cant really tell that you've done anything at all."
l
A:
I have a friend with a 05 TDI Jetta and he hasn't had any problems with it... and I am certain that you are more likely to see people who need to complain post their messages on the internet than people who are completely satisfied.
1978 280Z Turbo MS
1981 280ZXT - scrapyard
A:
Yes I agree, you are more likely to hear the bad things on the internet than the good.
I can also attest from personal experience working on them and from the issues my father and I have had that the quality is really lacking on VW/audi comparitively with other cars. And I can say that unbaisedly too.
Where I get baised is when they start hurting me financially, then I have it out for them.
Currently own:
1990 2+2(For sale soon)
1991 TT(parts for sale)
1993 NA(parts for sale)
1993 Convertible(Converted TT)
1996 TT(with 9,124 miles on it)
"When you do things right people cant really tell that you've done anything at all."
l
A:
"Yes, mein fuhrer, the curves do look dorky
like the car of that American cartoon mickey mouse,
we will make it boxy next time."
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A:
This MkV GTI has been out for nearly two years now. I actually drove one of the first Audi A3s in the US (same car with Audi badge) last year. That car changed my beliefs about FWD cars. The front tyres have so much grip that you can actually kick out the rear without the hand brake!
People say VW's are unreliable but they aren't. They are just not as reliable as their Japanese counterparts. People who are used to Japanese cars say really nasty things about German cars.
I was considering an A3 as a car I would drive after I graduate. However I changed my mind. I'm putting down a deposit for another European hatchback.
1971 240Z
"Fear is exciting for me." -Ayrton Senna
A:
I have in no way made up my mind about this car. This is going to be the first (and maybe only) car that i buy off of a lot. If I am going to buy it despite numerous problems I want to be ready for anything it is going to throw at me. I love the styling of the car and the semi-sport heritage of this car, but I also realize that there are many better cars out there for what may be a better deal.
I have thought about a wrx, beautiful cars with impressive engineering but I kinda wanted to stay away from awd. Same reason I didnt want the R32 (which is also much more expensive than the GTI unless you get an older one). I dont want awd because, in general, correct me if i am wrong here: heavier, more expensive to maintain, worse gas mileage, takes more power to accelerate (weight and drivetrain losses). I love the sti and someday i would love to have one but right now I am looking for a small quick reliable car with good gas mileage to get me from point a to point b with a smile on my face, and YES they do exist.
I seem to be hearing a lot of people say that VW has been having some reliability problems. This could be people just finding something wrong with a fine product but it is still useful information and thanks for the heads up. I will definately look into some more information on the reliability of this car, I am sure I will find plenty of people with stories from both ends.
Another car I have been looking at lately is the Mazda 3 hatch, I dont like how gimmicky it looks from the factory and it looks to be slower and heavier than the gti but it is also cheaper. Any other suggestions, I really dont want an srt-4, and though I have heard a lot of good about the honda si I kinda dont want one. Just doesnt tickle my pickle like I think my first significant car purchase should.
Thank you very much for the numerous responses; and thanks for the pic post, I spent 10 minutes trying to find a good pic of one just to show the simple yet elegant styling and eventually gave up. I like that I am getting advice from people that have similair taste in cars that I have.
'77 280z
A:
AWD is not a drawback to acceleration,if anything you have two more tires for NEEDED traction.
Have you ever been to the track and seen an AWD car launch at 6000 rpm?
I raced an AWD eclipse running steet tires that pulled a 1.64 60 ft!!
Try doing that with either a FWD or RWD car equipped with only street tires.
Forget the Eurotrash and get the WRX.
Later,Norm
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12.804 @ 107.26 mph on crappy street tires with Dual SU Powered 2.9L Stroker!
ZCAR.COM member since Aug 1998
A:
But given a smaller amount of power, losing the problems with wheelspin, the car takes more power in the engine to get it to the wheels. AWD has more drivetrain losses, at least thats what I would think.
'77 280z
A:
The power loss through the drivetrain is negligable in comparison to the traction gains and the balance all wheel drive gives you through a corner.
1972 240Z always in progress
***WARNING*** MY POSTS MAY CONTAIN SARCASM
A:
If you compromise luggage and interior space then the Miata is another excellent choice. The new one feels more refined and is easier to drive than the original.
Like I already said, VW makes reliable cars. It's just not as reliable as Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. Electrical problems are the main concern for VW's.
1971 240Z
"Fear is exciting for me." -Ayrton Senna
A:
I was hoping to find a Top Gear review for the Gti, but nothing was coming up on google video. I did find this Australian review though:
A little bland, but seems pretty positive overall
1978 280Z Turbo MS
1981 280ZXT - scrapyard
A:
Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson absolutely loved it. Fifth Gear named it the car of the year . . . back in 2004.
Every review I've read has said nothing but good things about the car. It's only those "VW reliability" skeptics that ruin it. To those people I say this: if you equate a good car with reliability then save yourself a few bucks and buy a Honda Civic.
1971 240Z
"Fear is exciting for me." -Ayrton Senna
A:
I second the Miata - go for the Mazdaspeed!
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'82 280zx -- 400+hp 355 sbc / T-56
'72 240zt - T3/T4 hybrid / TEC-II / not much stock
'82 280zxt - Stock...for now
'77 280z 2+2 -- Ongoing battle; currently in the process of "ricing
A:
That VW is starting to look like a Civic.
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