R I C H

What bills? I had a 2014 GTI for a while and it cost nothing beyond routine servicing.

Atlantic Xpat

VW does have that whole "perpetuating a massive emissions fraud on the world with their not-very-clean-diesels" thing to get over though. Probably a good time to buy a VW from a price perspective even if the neighbours spit at you as you drive past.

R I C H

No doubt. Two neighbours have recently purchased gas engined VWs at discounted prices - the dealership is hurting, so just wants to keep some degree of sales momentum.

Yorkiechef

Why not get another MINI, perhaps the unsized version?

Tootlepootle

Golf GTI was on the shortlist!
So we have new Mini Clubman, Mini Cooper(s)
Mustang Convertible, Golf GTI. Could have some fun on the Test drives!

Danny B

I am fairly sure that Mazda are the first (and possibly only) manufacturer to offer unlimited mileage warranty.

Service Adjustments: 12 months/unlimited mileage
New Vehicle Basic Warranty Coverage: 36 months/unlimited mileage
Roadside Assistance: 36 months/unlimited mileage
Powertrain Warranty: 60 months/unlimited mileage
Anti-Perforation: 84 months/unlimited mileage
Original Equipment Battery: 36 months/unlimited mileage
Emissions Defect: 96 months/128,000 km
Safety Restraint: 60 months/unlimited mileage

Stinkypup

Not the Kia Soul then?

Ok we give her all the advice, Mazda sensible choice, and what does she do?- goes for the heart over the head... unbelievable- very boylike if you don't mind me saying (boy racer that is!)

Pizzawheel

I had heard that Fiat had made some progress in quality/ reliability in the last decade- while I was running around Africa where anything non Japanese is a potential death trap. Any the Chrysler build quality wa sfamously bad to start of with.

I really don't know, time will tell, the Renegade is the first Jeep actually built in Italy isn't it?

Quite afew friends have reported VW's being not quite a bulletproof as they were expecting, and the bills are on the high side.

This is the reason I'd actually consider a VW-badged VW right now (I've previously been a fan of the european skodas).

OK just go for the 'stang.

Tootlepootle

Cheeky Blighter!! I actually did a double think on the Soul this morning as I saw someone pull away quite briskly from some lights!

Tootlepootle

Someone told me the North American VWs weren't as well built as the European ones? Any truth in this?

R I C H

The GTIs are built in Germany.

Just an anecdote, but my vehicle history here has been:

6 x US built trucks - all suffered major warranty issues. Two got returned to the dealerships for replacement, which subsequently also had problems.

4 x Japanese hatchbacks - Two required engine replacement within 6 months of ownership.

2 x European built SUVs - Perfectly reliable.

2 x European built cars - Perfectly reliable.

R I C H

If you're buying new as the OP has intimated then a warranty covers bills. No need to pay stealership servicing costs, so they're as inexpensive to run as anything else in my experience.

Pizzawheel

VW does seem to be evolving two lines. So rather the the old Golf (hatchback) and Jetta/Bora/ Vento (sedan) twins, the Golf is billed as an upmarket semi-exec hatch while the Jetta tries to compete in the civic segment. So I think there's likely to be a growing quality difference as each vehicle competes in a different market.

For the record all RHD golfs are actually made in south africa...

So any views on which was the worse out of Chrysler/ Fiat?

MarkG

Except:

1. The warranty doesn't cover the time and hassle of having to keep taking a car in to be fixed. Someone on another forum had three engine block replacements in their car before they sold it, for example... all under warranty, but requiring multiple visits to the dealer, and a couple of days off the road each time.
2. Low reliability typically results in low resale value, so you pay when you sell the car. On the other hand, it may also result in low purchase price, so it could all work out in the end.

Pizzawheel

Oh the Mazda comment was also from a towtruck driver who said he was towing a lot of Mazdas of late. But then they're selling more cars so you might want to take that with a pinch of salt...

I was pondering a Mazda 5 but the lack of upgrade engine was putting me off before I heard that, and then a friend one packed up and she switched to a Toyota.