Why can't I get rid of this car?

[Gray_Panther]

Totally get needing the space. Main reason why my Tacoma got traded for the Atlas, needed the space for the dogs. Now they can ride in the back in their own little area with the 3rd row folded down, and still have room for 3 adults in the back seat.

Atlas is the best! So much space back there. Do you got the VR6 or the 2.0T?

 

[EpicTech]

Atlas is the best! So much space back there. Do you got the VR6 or the 2.0T?

2.0T

 

[Gray_Panther]

2.0T

Clubsport S muffler!!!

 

[EpicTech]

Clubsport S muffler!!!

IDK how that would work being as the rear bumper has fake exhaust tips. I did notice APR has tuning options, I want to get it but kinda waiting for Unitronic to hurry up and finish their tune for the Atlas platform. They are done with the Mk8 GTI/R, so the Atlas cant be too far behind.

 

[YamR1rider]

Like everyone else is saying - these are great cars which do everything, especially if they are your one and only car. Had mine nearly 6 years now. Acts like a mini SUV when you need it to be - I've gotten so much stuff in the back with the seats folded down during trips to Lowes etc. Its also an all round grocery getter and school runner - but then goes all the way through to cranking on the back roads and occasional track days. Great modding community with a lot of support and how-to's out there; you can do as much or as little as you like.

I liked my GTI so much, I bought my daughter her high-miler 1.8TSi. Very little has gone wrong with my own low mile car, but hers, if you've seen my other threads, has required quite a bit of work - which I did 100% DIY and even at 150k miles that motor is solid, running better than new. I love that what I've done on that will translate over to my own or any other MQB car for that matter; I now know much more about this platform than any other car I've owned, have got several special tools and adapters etc; it would be hard for me to throw away all that knowledge and confidence gained to start over with something else.

Alas, in about a year or so, I will have to get rid of my GTI - because after 20 years in the US I am going to be moving back to my native rural England. Where I will buy.....another Mk7 GTI. Actually, I may even get an R, as the price delta between a PP GTI and R is minimal in the UK; I'll buy whichever decent example comes up first. Clubsport would also be an option.....but prices on those are continually on the up. Looking forward to having endless twisty country roads on my doorstep again rather than these boring Florida straight and congested highways!

Following up for those interested.....I have now moved back from Florida to UK as I mentioned. Didn't have to sell the GTI in the end....instead I sold daughters car and let her have mine, which she has taken up to FSU. Left myself a comprehensive toolkit under the trunk floorboard in it so I can still do some work on it when visiting her in Tallahassesse (which will be a regular occurence on account of my overseas rotational work and still getting good big chunks of downtime).

So what did I end up with here in UK? Well I did get sorta get my Golf R - but in an Audi suit (thankyou @Superfreak for the initial suggestion in this thread!). 2014 S3 Sportback 5 door hatch. Its got 115k miles (but runs like its got 15k). Only two previous owners, been someones company car so came with full service history including a recent replacement of the prop shaft and rear diff. Completely bone stock (very hard to find!!).

Only had one minor issue, which I have just rectified - a rattle at tickover coming from cam cradle area. Being familiar with these cars, I had a very good idea when buying the car it would be either one of the magnetic solenoids or the cam timing spool valves underneath them. Used it as a bargaining point, got the seller to knock some money off. Replaced the magnets, still carried on, this morning I swapped out the intake cam spool valve and voila, now completely fixed. Was exactly as shown here:

(thanks @Diggs24 for linking that video in a thread somewhere)

Now that's fixed, I shall probably get stage 1 ecu/tcu tunes of some description as per my other two cars, just for that bit of OEM+ as I prefer. Thinking about my usual APR (I know, not everyones cup of tea but I rate them), REVO seems bigger and more available here though so might give them a try. They have a couple of interesting features such as a OBD plugin device which allows for map switching including a neat anti-theft mode which might be handy when I'm away at work).

Quick pic below, might put some more up at some point when I've given it a good wash - rural roads are pretty nasy here this time of year!!