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VW Jetta GLI vs Honda Civic Si
subaru_man
Member Posts: 17
I drove a 2007 VW Jetta GLI over the weekend and really like the car. My biggest concern is the reliability/depedability of the vehicle. My research as led me to sites such as myvwlemon.com. Everyone I talk to tells me to stay as far away from VW as possible. There were about 60+ TSB listing for the 06 Jetta, thus I am really concern. However, I really like the car. I need some input from past VW owners or someone who owns the 2006 Jetta 2.0T version. Do VW still have quality issues?
I'm also looking at the 07 Civic SI as an option. Have you heard anything bad about this car?
I'm also looking at the 07 Civic SI as an option. Have you heard anything bad about this car?
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http://www.infotraxx.com/searchPublic.php?Year=2006&Make=VOLKSWAGEN&Model=JETTA&- Submit=View+TSBs
It lists like 60+ service bulletin for the 2006 Jetta. Compare with 3 for the 2006 Civic.
I have a 2007 Si and two things I consider (sort of) bad about the Si are: the rev hang issue (the engine rpm "hangs" for a second or two before dropping when changing gears- very annoying) and interior seat fabric that doen't look like it'll hold up.
The Si has been an absolute blast - I thought the Passat was fun but the Si reminds me of my 86 Prelude Si except for the fact it has virtually twice the horsepower and it makes the most wonderful sounds!
Call me prudent if you want, I'm pretty sure I am, but I think I'd take an Accord V6 6-speed with NAVI for around $26k (check the Accord Prices-Paid forum to see the discounts on Accords these days) and pocket $2 grand.
As far as reliability goes, a co-worker of mine bought a new GTI and his MFD (Multi-Function Display) failed the first week, so his dealer replaced the whole dash. Being a Honda owner, I should've been able to laugh at him. But unfortunately, I found out the same week that I had a defective rear shock on my Si sedan and had to have it replaced.
Buy the Si sedan if you want the best transmission south of $30k and plan to exercise the 2.0L VTEC frequently.
Buy the GLI if you think the interior is worth the extra money.
That would also get you some V8 equipped cars that are on the market, too.
I agree that the gli can get pricey; plus unlike the gti its made in mexcio, i'd rather have a wolfsburgian parked in my driveway if i'm gonna pay that much...
but then again grad...the tsx is a compact 4 cyl and its anything but cheap!
I like the gli a lot, but i would def keep the options down on both it and a gti if i was considering one. To ME thats what makes them more bang for your buck.
Ain't that the truth! I really wonder why people buy that car with an Automatic. It is a GREAT handler, probably best handling for under $35,000 (a friend's mom has one that I drove briefly a year or so ago). But it is a chassis wanting more power, and probably the worst deal in Honda/Acura's lineup, unless you compare it to a bottom-end Saab, Merc C-Class, or IS250.
with regards to handling; i really think its the tires that bring the tsx down; if i recall correctly, when the gli won the shootout between itself and the tsx, it was commented that while the shifter was better on the tsx, the gli's much more aggressive tires brought it home; it would have still lacked a bit in acceleration, but with better tires, the tsx would have done better than the gli, and without the body roll that the gli has.
A friend just bought a Civic Si sedan. While I love the engine and tranny, it just doesn't get me excited. And the seat fabric is just awful. In this price range, trade-offs have to be made. I chose a nicer interior, German pedigree, and gadgets over a probably-more-reliable Si.
But, I find it very interesting the difference between my new Si and my past European stablemates. It seems Honda goes to great links to keep things simple (ergonomics; non turbo, high revving engines; short/quick clutch pedals with short throw shifters, etc) while my German rides were more plush, more complicated, "felt" heavier and just overall more refined. And although refinement is important, there is such a thing as over doing it and disconnecting the driver from the car. The Si really feels like something you "put on" whereas my 330i (the "benchmark") felt heavy and was always a bit of a struggle with the clutch/shifter interface (not to mention it was expensive to maintain had a lot of QC issues).
Anyway, I'm rambling on....your post was good, I just wanted to share a complete opposite view. In fact, I find it very interesting that you came from a V6 Accord b/c it tells me that the change from Japanese to European or vice versa might be something we all need to do occasionally just to appreciate the differences....I'm glad you're enjoying your GLI.
Your point is right on that Honda (Japanese automakers in general) try very hard to keep things as simple as possible. One thing I like about Honda is that I can get in any of them, from my 97 Prelude to my 00 S2000, to the 04 Accord and know almost instantly how everything works. Total plug-n-play, if you will. with my VW, I read the manual cover-to-cover, hung out on vwvortex, etc., to figure out everything it could do. A lot of people aren't into that type of thing, but I definitely am. I guess I like my cars a bit more complex. And oftentimes that means less reliable!
I would love an si sedan, but a gti 5 door is probably in the works for me.
Thats cool that you still get to mess around with the tl, its like having the best of both worlds.
Does your girlfriend ever size you up with her ride?
Must be a newbie.
As someone who currently owns 3 VWs (5 total over 25 years) and as a former mechanic/current engineer, the reliability of cars has improved across the board over the years. The reliability of automobile owners however, has steadily gotten worse.
Every VW I’ve owned has gone at least 200,000 miles (my 1987 Golf has gone 624,000 miles). The secret - they are properly MAINTAINED. I also bought these cars because I knew what I was buying instead of listening to advertising jargon from a bunch of marketing-droids peddling the latest bells and whistles. I also avoided buying cars early in their production years.
With the exception of my first VW, a 1975 Scirocco, every VW that I’ve owned were purchased near the end of the production cycle (after all the bugs are worked out). I prefer letting others volunteer as guinea pigs by being the first on the block to own a brand-new fresh-out-of-the -factory 1st-year production model.
30 plus years ago, the knowledge of properly maintaining the family car was a rite of passage passed from father to son (and in many cases, father to daughter). Back then, the average autombile owner knew how to change the oil, replace headlights, replace the air filter (I’ll give a mulligan on replacing the spark plugs, since the mid-1970s emission controls took up more room in the engine bay and made that task damn near impossible), etc.
Nowadays in this age of convienience, entitlement, and electronic leashes (including mind-control devices like iPods, Blackberries, Bluetooth devices, text-messaging, etc.), if a light bulb goes out, today’s driver will go to the dealership, throw a fit, and constantly complain until the issue has been resolved. It seems that people today will gripe at the slightest inconvienience. No wonder society has gone soft these days
Something that is a VERY smart thing to do!
if a light bulb goes out, today’s driver will go to the dealership, throw a fit, and constantly complain until the issue has been resolved. It seems that people today will gripe at the slightest inconvienience.
If "today's driver" has shelled out $30,000 on a car, it would seem that he or she had a right to do so, especially if the car is within, say, 5 years or 75,000 miles of purchase. When I had a brake-light go out in my '96 Accord, the dealer simply changed it while it was in for the oil change. Charged me $2 for the bulb, $22 for the oil change, and I was on my way in 30-40 minutes. No fit necessary
Sure, people will gripe at inconvenience, especially when their neighbor bought brand X and didn't have the same problems with their car. It makes them feel cheated.
Back then, i don't think warranties and convenience was pushed AS MUCH as it is now with regards to new vehicles, hence why the whole 'fix it yourself' approach was used often like 600k said. Granted i also dont agree with throwing fits, especially over something so trivial.
None taken. The point I made can be applied to any vehicle, not just VWs or Hondas.
I think the GLI is a great looking car and I'm sure it's a lot of fun with the current engine. I just don't know that it's 20% more fun than the Si and doubt it's 20% more reliable. I looked at VW's and also considered the Si before being sensible (for me in my specific requirements) and choosing my LX.
aside from american built hondas, our country is not exaclty known for turning out the most reliable OR well built automobiles.
mexican made vw's are exactly the poster child for reliabiltiy either, but at least the interior is nice.
the jetta is the only vw made in mexico. the rabbit and gti are both built in woflsburg, with the rabbits engine being sourced from mexico.
at any rate, i think it has more to do with the company in question than the actual place of build. a honda will be great no matter where its built, wheras with vw, it actually does resonate a bit more to have a german built one.(i've had no problems with mine, and i had no real problems with my ohio made civic either.)
So just what is this "perception" of yours based on...since it supposedly not based on anything offensive?
i just like the bragging rights!
It doesn't matter to me at all what nationality the workers are or where the parts are slapped together.