I have been buying these brands for 30 years, and yes they have been very reliable but they are so boring to drive and at 56 years old, I want something more fun to drive without going into boy racer mode ie WRX, Honda Civic Type R.
I'm thinking of a 2018/19 Golf R. These years have a 6 year warranty from VW, they are the last few years of this generation so bugs should mostly be worked out. The R's are made in Germany not Mexico like the GTI's, they are fast, fun and practical with the hatch.
Talk me into it or out if it?
More info:
OP wants-
comfortable daily driver
drive it for 10 years
fast and fun.
Considering manual transmission Golf R, knowing the risks that it isn't exacly a very reliable vehicle, but sees the powertrain to be relatively proven.
Willing to make some trade offs.
Wants the practicality of a hatchback but not the ugliness and type of car like the Civic type R.
If you are willing to make a few reliability trade offs and you know what you are getting, then I guess get what you want realize after 8-10 years VWs just fall apart.
… at 56 years old, I want …
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… yes, we all understand! Really. Anyway, … skip that Vee-dub, and off to the Lexus dealer! Start with IS, than step up to RC and next RC F. Test them all three, … choose the one you like best after! Go, …
F.S.
I'm a fisherman, I need some practicality, a hatch provides it.
Ever look at the Nissan 370Z?
Lexus Gs350 or Is350 are very fun to drive. If you want a hatchback because you need to store more stuff, I would just say the Honda civic type R. I think you can probably remove the spoilers.
I test drove a GS350 when they had all wheel steering. Don't know if they still do, but it was a very fun car to drive. Scared my wife to death going around corners, but it handled them perfectly. Wound up not getting it because the colors were gaudy and they did not have another around, but I would have bought that one if the colors were right. Very fun car. Now the IS350, it wasn't bad but to me it was way too low to the ground to get in and out of.
I would not get an is250 because I am 6'5", but the gs350 is the car I might be considering as a potential first car for me.
I will usually say that Volkswagens are usually endless money pits. If you are using it as a weekend toy, it's an okay vehicle to use. They usually have problems around 100,000 miles for the electronics. Most people don't like Volkswagens because they use too much cheap plastic on most parts of the car.
If you want something fun and reliable get a Civic Type R they have The reliability of a Honda and everything is Designed for max performance.
Here's a video Scotty did about the Civic Type R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_guRUqp3gco
@matt-1 He didn't want the Type R. But I understand that it's reliable while being a fast car.
I would consider the Type R if it were not for that ridiculous giant wing.
LOL Yes Honda went a bit overboard with the spoiler. I thought you where considering the Type R since you mentioned it. My Bad.
If they removed the damn wing, I would get one.
I am not certain but you could probably remove it.
@joec the rear wing can be removed on the Type R per the Civic forums, but I don’t have a step by step instruction or video for you readily available so not sure what is involved. But it can be done.
What are you hoping to get out of the vehicle? If you are going to keep for a long time well out of warranty, it’s your daily driver and you want to put mileage well past (>>>) 100,000 miles you might be disappointed.
Have you also looked at the Mazda’s? They are sporty and fun to drive and reliability is up there (not quite Toyota/Honda but better then the VW).
I would like a comfortable daily driver and be able to drive it for 10 years that is fast and fun. I realize that's a little risky with the Golf R. Now the motor in the Golf R has shown to be fairly reliable and if I get a manual transmission that should put to bed any major transmission problems. I know VW's have other issues, ie weak water pumps and a few others. It may be worth the trade off to me at this point in my life.
I'm older than you and have a newer Camaro SS 6spd manual. Trouble free and Love it. Won't touch Ford or Dodge... Almost went with the Civic Type-R, but didn't want to go with the turbo-4 especially with the oil dilution issue Honda has.
If you want the excitement of a vehicle that will quickly fall apart there is always Fiat/Chrysler.
