What Car: Replacing a GTI with something with less European "reliability"

All great options, I'd lean toward Hyundai for reliability based on personal experience, but damn that Mazda is sexy. The Venn between both is, of course, the Civic.

For some out-of-the-box ideas:

Buick Encore. It's no GTI from a performance standpoint, but for a small, premium hatch at that price point, it ticks a lot of boxes.  She would be giving up driving joy for features. 

BMW X1.  The previous generation is very car-like from the driver's seat, and the Sport models handle like a 3-series. Not sure what you get for $30k, but I bet its not too shabby. 

That's the inside of a new Kia Soul.  You can get a turbo with 201hp. Again, it won't handle like a GTI but it will never be in the shop and she will enjoy living with it every day.

Its not European and it looks really good in person.

The new AWD Mazda 3 would be my first pick as well.

Infinity Q50 maybe? They seemed to have insane depreciation. You can get a 2015 for under $20k and 2017's for under $30k.

I'd probably be leaning in the direction of the Genesis G70 myself.

I came to the same decision point with my MKIV GTI (24V VR6).  Based on the frequency of blown coil packs, melting aux fuse boxes, etc, I sold it at 80k miles.    I was also still on the original brake pads, shocks, and timing belt (lots of highway miles) and with my 100 mile/day commute, I would have needed to spend real $ in the near-term.  

If you're watching promotions and model-year end sales...you could still snag a  new GTI in the low $20s...just consider the repairs or replacement a cost of doing business.  

Because you're looking for an automatic transmission, you've got lots of options.  The ventilated seats may be tough to find on a new car under $30k.

A Mazda3, even with 180hp, is not a rocket ship, and probably a bit smaller than your GTI.  Definitely test drive one though, because they're light, and tossable.  They were just to small for  my family road-trip duty requirements.

The Kia Forte5 and the Hyundai Veloster are also available with the same ~200hp turbo as the ElantraGT.  I've only driven NA versions, which were lazy and unimpressive.  I'm guessing they're most comparable to having a GTI engine but a base GOLF handling.

If you want something fast, the Ford Ecoboost cars are legitimate sleepers.  The FoST and FiST are only available with manual transmissions, but the Fusion is smaller than a Camry and is available with 270hp and AWD.  I have zero insight into the reliability.

Civic will probably check off all the boxes (except for the "Hatch" design that's really just a fastback).  Unfortunately, it looks like the Si version is MT only and the EX models have a CVT...I wonder how your wife will like a CVT. 

If you're seriously considering the Mustang make sure you drive it for at least an hour. I took one home for an overnight test drive and the seating position was not compatible with my back. After ~90 minutes of driving I was ready to give it back.

The new Subaru WRX has a lot of the criteria you're looking for, including a CVT automatic transmission. Heated seats for both cloth (microsuede) and leather seat options. Optional sunroof. It's not as well put together as the GTI would be, but it's a lot more spacious inside despite not having the hatch.

I have a 2016 STI and I could fit the german shepherd's dog crate in the trunk and still have seating in the back seat, which my gf's 2015 Mazda 3 hatch could not even come close. Also, in my friend's 2017 Golf, my knees are often touching the passenger side dash if someone is sitting behind me and I'm barely 6' tall. In my Subaru, I can comfortably sit behind my 6'6" friend when he's in the driver seat.

If the top items on the wish list are nice interior and stone-dead reliable, a newer IS350 F-sport sounds like the right answer.  Quiet, comfortable, drives "sporty".   I would have one today if they came in a manual.   I may still buy one when my E46 ages out.  There should be plenty coming off lease below $30k.

She hates most CUVs/SUVs with passion (except the Crosstrek she had as a loaner for two weeks last year), so I'm a little loathe to recommend them, but I have thrown a few on the list.  Here's what I plan to give her as of right now, and she'll likely throw them in a spreadsheet, and start doing some analysis to eliminate a bunch so she can minimize her test driving:

Compact:

*Lexus IS (used, probably)
*Civic EX (or higher trim)
*Mazda 3 Preferred (or higher trim)
Hyundai Elantra GT
Kia Soul GT-Line Turbo
-Acura ILX

Midsize/Intermediate:
-Genesis G70
Honda Accord Sport 2.0T
*Toyota Camry (XSE or XLE trim)
*Lexus ES350 (used)
-Buick Regal (Essence or Avenir trim)

Sports:
Ford Mustang Ecoboost Premium
-Subaru BRZ Limited
-Mazda Miata Club (or higher trim)
-Toyota 86 GT

CUV:
Mazda CX-5 Touring (or higher trim)
-Mazda CX-3 Touring (or higher trim)
-Subaru Crosstrek (Premium or Limited)
-Subaru Forester (Sport or Premium w/Heated Seats)

*Ones I'd suggest checking out most closely
-Less likely options

In reply to AlcantaraFTW :

I may mention that to her, but I've heard the CVT saps a lot of the fun out of the WRX.  I have a 2018 WRX myself, so she at least has some time riding around in one.

Well see, in the thread talking about a car to replace a Speed 3, the GTI was mentioned, but I have been very leery of VW reliability for a while.

Have you looked at the Corolla Hatchback?  I think it has a decent engine in it, not sure about the options you are looking for.  It does have a nice hatch and is a pretty good looking car (they look good in person also, I have seen a few driving around).  I believe it can even be had in manual (not that you are looking for that).  I am going to guess it will be a LOT more reliable then the GTI.

I was about to say the same thing!  

In reply to aircooled :

I’ll add that one to the list, it’s probably at least worth sitting in since she’ll likely end up at a Toyota dealer, and the XSE has heated seats.

One other nitpick she (and I) have with cars is outward visibility.  That’s one of the things she really liked about the GTI and I like about my WRX (and Subarus in general).  They didn’t seem to get infected with the “bunker” design language that was going on in the recent past.  I’ve noticed a-pillars are starting to slim down again, so I hope she has more options than last time she was shopping.

One curveball competitor... 

Tesla Model 3? 

It'll do 0-60 almost a full second quicker than a '15 GTI so it'll feel plenty fast.  It's positioned against entry level luxury compacts, so it'll have heated seats and the premium feel she seems to be after.  

Not European.  

xflowgolf said:

One curveball competitor... 

 

Tesla Model 3? 

It'll do 0-60 almost a full second quicker than a '15 GTI so it'll feel plenty fast.  It's positioned against entry level luxury compacts, so it'll have heated seats and the premium feel she seems to be after.  

Not European.  

So OP is having reliability issues and we're going to recommend a Tesla? 

In reply to xflowgolf :

From what I hear from a few people who have owned them, their build quality seems to be, err, somewhat reminiscient of a bad VW.

BoxheadTim said:

In reply to xflowgolf :

From what I hear from a few people who have owned them, their build quality seems to be, err, somewhat reminiscient of a bad VW.

I get the impression that most of their reliability issues don't impact the ability to get from point A to point B, but then again, the same could be said of her problems with the GTI.

eastsideTim said:

BoxheadTim said:

In reply to xflowgolf :

From what I hear from a few people who have owned them, their build quality seems to be, err, somewhat reminiscient of a bad VW.

I get the impression that most of their reliability issues don't impact the ability to get from point A to point B, but then again, the same could be said of her problems with the GTI.

I'm not sure how much of it is reliability vs badly duct taped together build quality. Based on the accounts from a few friends and acquaintances, the build quality would probably drive me nuts. And out here, there's also the issues with (super)charging stations.

And that's before we get to the spares situation.

Watching this with interest, as I'm contemplating moving away from my '11 GTI also.  I have not had nearly as many issues as Mrs. Eastside has had, but still ... looking to move to something engaging to drive, with the reliability of my wife's '14 Accord and the '09 Accord that preceded it and the '01 Accord that preceded the '09.  I floated the "What does the hive know about the '16 or newer ILX?" question here, and the response was pretty much that it is a gussied up Civic - which maybe isn't all bad!  I drove a later model IS, and did not like the interior layout enough to want to live with it day in and day out. 

BoxheadTim said:

eastsideTim said:

BoxheadTim said:

In reply to xflowgolf :

From what I hear from a few people who have owned them, their build quality seems to be, err, somewhat reminiscient of a bad VW.

I get the impression that most of their reliability issues don't impact the ability to get from point A to point B, but then again, the same could be said of her problems with the GTI.

I'm not sure how much of it is reliability vs badly duct taped together build quality. Based on the accounts from a few friends and acquaintances, the build quality would probably drive me nuts. And out here, there's also the issues with (super)charging stations.

And that's before we get to the spares situation.

Of course the GTI won't randomly combust either.  We use the same cells in our product that Tesla does, and they are not, how shall we say, immune from self destructing. 

Kia Soul Turbo GT-line with dual clutch gearbox

In reply to racerdave600 :

At least you won't be buying used fenders or quarter panels on ebay (or wait months for them, as the Internet suggests) if it catches fire...

In reply to Eric Kilber :

Interesting rig, but that guy goes for GTI money from what I am seeing

einy said:

In reply to Eric Kilber :

Interesting rig, but that guy goes for GTI money from what I am seeing

Yes, but the Hyundai/Kia depreciation curve is your friend here if you don't mind buying slightly used.

In reply to eastsideTim :

If outward visibility is an issue I doubt she will like the Mazda 3. We sat in one at the auto show and were not impressed with that. The Elantra gt on the other hand was great for that and was close to gti level.

In reply to itsarebuild :

That’s a bummer.  We’ve both liked every 3 we’ve driven in the past.  I wish this had all come up a few months ago, so we could have gone to the auto show.  For that reason alone, she might even wait til next January, just to avoid going to too many dealerships.

eastsideTim said:

I wish this had all come up a few months ago, so we could have gone to the auto show.  For that reason alone, she might even wait til next January, just to avoid going to too many dealerships.

The 3 is an all new generation this year, so that may be a little different.  However, if other cars on your list are not "all new" for '19 one way to avoid having to do to half a dozen dealers is to kick tires at a place like CarMax.  They have such a huge variety, you can probably test drive 3-4 different types of '17-'18 models in one stop.

In reply to eastsideTim :

The new 3 has revised (slimmer) A pillars that provide better visibility. It's going to be better than the outgoing car.

I have had extensive seat time in the outgoing 3 (2015 sedan) and the visibility isn't bad, but not great. Better than the Priuses I've driven, and the last gen Fit, which was downright scary in city driving. I haven't driven a GTI in so long I can't remember how it compares.

For me, most modern cars just suck compared to older greenhouses. Driving my Festiva is like a breath of fresh air.