Car Talk 5: The Juice is Loose!

[MexicanYarisTK]

328i is less fun than a GTI?

I haven’t driven a GTI in years but stock for stock I think so. Larger than fronts would likely change that.

I remember when I had my mk6, pops and I went to the BMW dealer to get the f10 serviced and gave us a f30 328i luxury loaner, it didn't even took me 30 seconds to conclude that GTI is definitely fun. It might have to go with the suspension setting, but it actually felt boaty and noodly.

[MexicanYarisTK]

I feel like as more of a daily driver with slower speeds that's less likely to take you to slammer, the mk6 GTI wins plain and simple (slow car fast, fun, agile), hell even a miata, but that's 2 different leagues. 328i is more fun because it dynamically is and when you actually send it, definitely more fun on blue ridge, handles like a champ without dealing the wrong wheel drive drama.

[Johnny_P]

I think what I’ve discovered is that modern German vehicles are just too refined for me.

Dunno... my 2019 R drives great, but refined??? hmmm, the fact that 75% of the "oh shit" handles on the headliner have failed in the first 6 months and were never used doesn't scream refinement.



Seriously, 3 of the 4 handles have dropped the pin and spring that keep them suspended, so now they just hang down in your peripheral vision. I had to resort to using VHB tape to hold them up since the warranty replacement will just fail as well due to the crappy plastic on plastic pin that holds the spring in.

Hah. Once I hit a pothole in my MK6 and one of the chrome trim pieces on the air vent directional tab popped off and landed in the cup holder.

[MexicanYarisTK]

Dunno... my 2019 R drives great, but refined??? hmmm, the fact that 75% of the "oh shit" handles on the headliner have failed in the first 6 months and were never used doesn't scream refinement.



Seriously, 3 of the 4 handles have dropped the pin and spring that keep them suspended, so now they just hang down in your peripheral vision. I had to resort to using VHB tape to hold them up since the warranty replacement will just fail as well due to the crappy plastic on plastic pin that holds the spring in.

Hah. Once I hit a pothole in my MK6 and one of the chrome trim pieces on the air vent directional tab popped off and landed in the cup holder.

coincidentally same thing happened to me on mine, just days before it got totaled, but it happened out of nowhere.

[Melon]

328i is less fun than a GTI?

I haven’t driven a GTI in years but stock for stock I think so. Larger than fronts would likely change that.

The FWD vs RWD aspect of the two makes me favor the BMW. I'd say the GTI had better steering. The BMW is good, don't get me wrong, it's well weighted, but feels about 15% less connected than I'd like. The N20 is a peach of an engine as well. BMW has stiffer suspension and much better brakes. It's also $15k more.
New vs. New at MSRP it's not an easy call.

[Melon]

I haven’t driven a GTI in years but stock for stock I think so. Larger than fronts would likely change that.

I remember when I had my mk6, pops and I went to the BMW dealer to get the f10 serviced and gave us a f30 328i luxury loaner, it didn't even took me 30 seconds to conclude that GTI is definitely fun. It might have to go with the suspension setting, but it actually felt boaty and noodly.

Yeah, I can imagine the models without the M-sport suspension are

[wap]

Agreed. The only think it's lacking for me is a better then poverty HU, and the lack of a compass will forever leave me

https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/diy/a ... y-vehicle/

[wap]

Agreed. The only think it's lacking for me is a better then poverty HU, and the lack of a compass will forever leave me

$12. Fixed.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Outdoor-Auto ... c-EALw_wcB




Or pony up $20 and get one that goes on the air vent.

https://www.dhgate.com/product/kanpas-v ... g5EALw_wcB



mostly kidding, of course. Unless you like it.

Yea, we've gone down this road here already.
Haven't seen that vent clip mount one before. That actually has some promise.

[wap]

I think what I’ve discovered is that modern German vehicles are just too refined for me.

Dunno... my 2019 R drives great, but refined??? hmmm, the fact that 75% of the "oh shit" handles on the headliner have failed in the first 6 months and were never used doesn't scream refinement.



Seriously, 3 of the 4 handles have dropped the pin and spring that keep them suspended, so now they just hang down in your peripheral vision. I had to resort to using VHB tape to hold them up since the warranty replacement will just fail as well due to the crappy plastic on plastic pin that holds the spring in.

Wow. That's never happened in any VW I've owned in the last 36 years.

[wap]

Dunno... my 2019 R drives great, but refined??? hmmm, the fact that 75% of the "oh shit" handles on the headliner have failed in the first 6 months and were never used doesn't scream refinement.



Seriously, 3 of the 4 handles have dropped the pin and spring that keep them suspended, so now they just hang down in your peripheral vision. I had to resort to using VHB tape to hold them up since the warranty replacement will just fail as well due to the crappy plastic on plastic pin that holds the spring in.

Hah. Once I hit a pothole in my MK6 and one of the chrome trim pieces on the air vent directional tab popped off and landed in the cup holder.

This made me for some reason.

[Johnny_P]

Hah. Once I hit a pothole in my MK6 and one of the chrome trim pieces on the air vent directional tab popped off and landed in the cup holder.

This made me for some reason.

The sunroof also used to fly open if I hit a hard enough bump at a fast enough speed on the highway.

That car drove pretty refined when it was working. But it was not at all reliable. Massive piece of shit.

[CorvetteWaxer]

Dunno... my 2019 R drives great, but refined??? hmmm, the fact that 75% of the "oh shit" handles on the headliner have failed in the first 6 months and were never used doesn't scream refinement.



Seriously, 3 of the 4 handles have dropped the pin and spring that keep them suspended, so now they just hang down in your peripheral vision. I had to resort to using VHB tape to hold them up since the warranty replacement will just fail as well due to the crappy plastic on plastic pin that holds the spring in.

Wow. That's never happened in any VW I've owned in the last 36 years.

Google returns many threads on mk7 and other forums that this is a super common problem on the newer models.

My two mk6's were pretty solid.

[wap]

This made me for some reason.

The sunroof also used to fly open if I hit a hard enough bump at a fast enough speed on the highway.

That car drove pretty refined when it was working. But it was not at all reliable. Massive piece of shit.

The shade or the actual glass sunroof itself?

[wap]

Wow. That's never happened in any VW I've owned in the last 36 years.

Google returns many threads on mk7 and other forums that this is a super common problem on the newer models.

My two mk6's were pretty solid.

Dang. I'll keep an eye out on mine, but they seem solid so far.
Mine's a '19 so pretty new.

[CorvetteWaxer]

Google returns many threads on mk7 and other forums that this is a super common problem on the newer models.

My two mk6's were pretty solid.

Dang. I'll keep an eye out on mine, but they seem solid so far.
Mine's a '19 so pretty new.

Me too, 19 R purchased in October 2019.

[Johnny_P]

The sunroof also used to fly open if I hit a hard enough bump at a fast enough speed on the highway.

That car drove pretty refined when it was working. But it was not at all reliable. Massive piece of shit.

The shade or the actual glass sunroof itself?

The glass

[wap]

Dang. I'll keep an eye out on mine, but they seem solid so far.
Mine's a '19 so pretty new.

Me too, 19 R purchased in October 2019.

I when you got it.
I just got mine in May. My was totaled

[wap]

The shade or the actual glass sunroof itself?

The glass

[D Griff]

I think what I’ve discovered is that modern German vehicles are just too refined for me.

Dunno... my 2019 R drives great, but refined??? hmmm, the fact that 75% of the "oh shit" handles on the headliner have failed in the first 6 months and were never used doesn't scream refinement.



Seriously, 3 of the 4 handles have dropped the pin and spring that keep them suspended, so now they just hang down in your peripheral vision. I had to resort to using VHB tape to hold them up since the warranty replacement will just fail as well due to the crappy plastic on plastic pin that holds the spring in.

Very capable doesn’t necessarily = very fun to me. I actually got passed by a MK7 R on the track in my Corvette yesterday... I was out driven.

For me the interior being just so quiet and everything so buttoned down is a bit boring, which is why I never fell in love with my BMW, the car drove pretty well but lacked excitement to me.

[D Griff]

I remember when I had my mk6, pops and I went to the BMW dealer to get the f10 serviced and gave us a f30 328i luxury loaner, it didn't even took me 30 seconds to conclude that GTI is definitely fun. It might have to go with the suspension setting, but it actually felt boaty and noodly.

Yeah, I can imagine the models without the M-sport suspension are

the four pot brakes are great as well, without those they’re meh from what I remember on the other one I drove.

[CorvetteWaxer]

Dunno... my 2019 R drives great, but refined??? hmmm, the fact that 75% of the "oh shit" handles on the headliner have failed in the first 6 months and were never used doesn't scream refinement.



Seriously, 3 of the 4 handles have dropped the pin and spring that keep them suspended, so now they just hang down in your peripheral vision. I had to resort to using VHB tape to hold them up since the warranty replacement will just fail as well due to the crappy plastic on plastic pin that holds the spring in.

Very capable doesn’t necessarily = very fun to me. I actually got passed by a MK7 R on the track in my Corvette yesterday... I was out driven.

Doesn't seem that unreasonable to me, I think you have a C5 IIRC.

These cars have a very similar weight and power output. The additional grip of the Haldex system doesn't hurt either. Add a good driver and there are a lot of upset AARP members making excuses about how their car gets them chicks and a VW won't.

[CaleDeRoo]

Very capable doesn’t necessarily = very fun to me. I actually got passed by a MK7 R on the track in my Corvette yesterday... I was out driven.

Doesn't seem that unreasonable to me, I think you have a C5 IIRC.

These cars have a very similar weight and power output. The additional grip of the Haldex system doesn't hurt either. Add a good driver and there are a lot of upset AARP members making excuses about how their car gets them chicks and a VW won't.

Don't think a chick has ever looked twice at my car. AARP members outside working on their lawns or porch sitting? They drop spin their arm above their heads and point me down the road, then presumably pop a boner pill and get after it.

[D Griff]

Very capable doesn’t necessarily = very fun to me. I actually got passed by a MK7 R on the track in my Corvette yesterday... I was out driven.

Doesn't seem that unreasonable to me, I think you have a C5 IIRC.

These cars have a very similar weight and power output. The additional grip of the Haldex system doesn't hurt either. Add a good driver and there are a lot of upset AARP members making excuses about how their car gets them chicks and a VW won't.

Ehhh my car was definitely faster on the straights and has a lot more tire, a C5 is a faster car around a track than an R stock for stock, the dude was just a better driver than me.

[CorvetteWaxer]

Doesn't seem that unreasonable to me, I think you have a C5 IIRC.

These cars have a very similar weight and power output. The additional grip of the Haldex system doesn't hurt either. Add a good driver and there are a lot of upset AARP members making excuses about how their car gets them chicks and a VW won't.

Don't think a chick has ever looked twice at my car. AARP members outside working on their lawns or porch sitting? They drop spin their arm above their heads and point me down the road, then presumably pop a boner pill and get after it.

Sorry, that was an old callback to a story that I posted about here that I'm sure nobody remembers.

When I was younger, in late 1994/early 1995 I had a new 1995 Camaro Z28 and went to a 7-11 for something to drink with my best friend. As we are about to get in my car, a fat dude in a C4 Corvette pulls up and gets out in some ratty sweat pants and a leather jacket and compliments me on my car, and in the same breath insults it (or him) "Nice car.... but my car gets me laid!". I was actually kind of surprised and had nothing to say, but my friend didn't hesitate to reply that "Wow, it must suck needing to rely on a car to get chicks!".

The guy was pretty pissed and went into the store and we drive away laughing. From then on, even after the next year when my best friend bought a '96 LT4, we would joke about how Corvettes get you chicks.

[CorvetteWaxer]

Doesn't seem that unreasonable to me, I think you have a C5 IIRC.

These cars have a very similar weight and power output. The additional grip of the Haldex system doesn't hurt either. Add a good driver and there are a lot of upset AARP members making excuses about how their car gets them chicks and a VW won't.

Ehhh my car was definitely faster on the straights and has a lot more tire, a C5 is a faster car around a track than an R stock for stock, the dude was just a better driver than me.

My point is that upgrades, in tech, or driver make the gap close. Stock for stock my R would definitely be faster than my C5 was. FE1 suspension, floating everywhere and understeering like a big ole