Chapter closed. Traded in for $9.5K and picked up a CPO 2019 GTI SE with SE Experience Pkg that has 12K miles. No more software tune (well..maybe APR Plus which has its own warranty to replace the factory's). The remaining VW warranty will last me through 2026 or 84000 miles. The car also comes with a limited lifetime warranty on the powertrain at no charge from the dealer (Covid is really hurting the car business.) My final loss is $6300.
Didn't go with the repair route because:
- It cost more to replace the long block in Seattle. ~$3000+tax labor and parts. Engine would be $3750+tax. Tax is 10% here.
- It cost more to repair the engine. Nobody close to me does this job. Only one machine shop I contacted gave me a number for amusement - over $6000, and said he really didn't want to do it.
This is my third Golf/GTI. The 2016 Golf got totaled when a friend drove it and crashed. The 2016 GTI suffered the engine damage due to the stage 1 tune. Now the 2019 GTI, with a buttload of debt since day one.