MKIV Guy Thinking About Buying a CPO MKVI

So I've lived my VW life with the MKIV for the past 8 years or so. I've grown an extensive knowledge base on those cars. My current 03 is in need of some work and I've been looking closer at one of the newer golfs that they're blowing out with an extended warranty included.

My question would be what to look out for? Are the auto's still absolute trash in these cars or are they better now? I'd pick up a manual, but I've also been reading about clutch issues in those as well. Is there still camshaft issues in these motors?

I have all the tools to work on the alh and the brm motors including a vcds cable that'll work on any VW. Will those suffice or is there another set of something I'll need?

There's some nice ones around here with really low k and mine is getting pretty rattley and it seems like more sh!t is wrong with it weekly, not to mention the rust...

Forging new ground here eh?

Every generation VW has its additional issues. Sounds like your not afraid to learn and adapt. I myself cut my teeth on a 57 baja and 59 36hp bus in the 80s... Ouch. Obviously a different world. I love my 6m JSW. If you find a low mile, good history, 6m, CPO, I bet youd never look back. My biggest "awareness" would be the DPF. I have been seeing alot of clutch slave cyl. issue post lately? Good solid car though.

I've owned a 2003 Jetta from 110K to 150K miles (a friend crashed it), then a 2014 JSW from new to 30K miles (VW recalled it). Both manual.

I still remember how I felt about the JSW the first week I owned it, comparing to the mk4 jetta:

1. Clutch and shift felt so much better and somehow shorter
2. Sound system is for sure more premium, and of course I enjoyed bluetooth connectivity
3. Having a backup camera is a game changer. I just stopped looking back my shoulders , and less scratches on the bumper too
4. JSW is quieter too
5. Fuel economy for the mk4 is 51mpg, and 42mpg for JSW

#6, most importantly, JSW saved me tons of time in the weekend working on them. Yes, the JSW was new and thus less issues. But I still remember all the cold days working on the mk4, alternators, pumps, shocks, struts, glow plug harness, pulleys...

Now driving an Alltrack I have enjoyed its 4 motion system and Android Auto. But the subpar fuel economy made me often think of going back. I've been debating between mk4 and JSW too -- the biggest regret I had with mk4 was that my best tank was 972 miles, 28 miles to the 1000 mile club. I know in the JSW I will always only be in the 600-700 mile club since the tank design doesn't allow venting.

Now that I think about it, to exaggerate it a bit unfairly on the mk4, it looks to me that the only good thing about the mk4 is the engine, the indestructible engine that often gives you miracles; the rest of the car, mainly body and mechanics, are often problem prone. If you look into any of the ads selling the mk4's, the owner hopefully will have a detailed list of fixes on the car; if you look closer, you'll find that the time or mile interval between fixes are usually only a few months or a few thousand miles. That means having a car with a chronicle disease; you are constantly in the garage or at the shop. Those are the things that eventually made the owners let go the car. Any car with too many problems to live with kills the original love you had with it.

It's a bit unfair to compare a 16 year old mk4 with a much newer JSW, whose own problems have yet to surface as years to come. Thus I second your decision to get the newer JSW with maybe 100K warranty and enjoy your spare time on something else.

I love my 2010 MKVI Golf TDI 6-speed manual transmission with 175K miles, but I had mine since new. I had essentially all the work done at the dealer or a very experienced and highly recommended TDI specialist at GDM not too far from me in Pennsylvania. My car is amazing!

The auto trannys are much more reliable than the MKIV's so don't let that be a factor is you find a great deal.

I have a MKIV and a MK7, both wagons:


I also owned a MKVI for a few years, sold it about six months before Dieselgate. All bought new. I bought the MK7 as new dealer leftover stock after the stop sale was lifted, in April 2017. Currently the MK7 has 13K on it, don't drive it often. The MKIV is sitll my daily, just passed 400K miles.

MKVIs are nice cars. The DSG is much more durable than the older autos, but it's still an automatic. Intercooler icing is an issue on the VIs, but where you live it may not be a problem. They also have issues with some of the EGR system, but that will be covered under the extended warranty. And winter FE isn't what you're getting in your MKIV, don't be surprised if it drops into the mid- to high 30s. (US MPG). And I found the ride in the VI cars, especially with 17" wheels, to be harsher than the IV. The IV is also much easier to work on.

Contrary to posts above, I think the MKIV platform may be VW's best effort ever. I was fortunate to get my Wagon with crank windows and no sunroof, eliminating two problem areas. But between me and my sons we've owned 6 MKIVs. They've all been great. If yours is in good shape I'd say repair and enjoy. But if you want a change, the VI is a good car. i'd hold out for a manual, however.

"I think the MKIV platform may be VW's best effort ever" IBW

I too have owned a MkVI, but much prefer the MkIV platform.
When up to snuff they're a great driver's car IMO. Yes, finding a
good one is hard, but parts are cheap and their longevity when maintained is truly exceptional. I'll never part willingly with my Golf.

My $.02

Thanks guys.

I've been rolling around with both a truck and a car insured for over 7 years now.

The mk4's have been good to me. My German built 01 was leaps and bounds better than my current Mexican built 03 though in terms of quality. My car currently needs struts and engine mounts. My fault for installing sh!tty struts and not OEM motor mounts. They're only 3.5 years old and the car has a brutal rattle when I start it cold. Goes away in about 30 seconds after I start it.

I no longer need my huge Cummins and am going to replace it with a tundra. I bought a motorcycle last summer to see if I'd like riding again and whaddya know, I do. My bike gets amazing fuel economy and I'll ride it for 6 months a year. Then I have 3 vehicles insured.

I'm going to abandon driving TDI's. It's been a good run, but the extra 1300 bucks a year to insure it and the maintenance involved in it are just weighing on me a bit. It's been fun.

Thanks for your input.

Rolled 50k km (110k total) on our '14 CPO GSW this morning. So far so good, just fluids & filters.