MK7 TDI Sedan Owners - Would you buy again?

[3turboz]

Edit: I meant hatchback, but cant edit the title.

After parting with my beloved MK4 (see profile picture) I have been looking for another TDI. I have been looking at Jettas as we wanted a functional back seat for occasional use. After considering a 328d and deciding I could probably make do with that rear seat, I thought maybe a new, larger golf might also do.

I looked at a 2015 Golf SE today. 84K miles. Sure enough it had a back seat suitable for occasional adult use. I found it a little more engaging to drive than the Jetta. I was not crazy about the new sunroof design (and I want a sunroof).

So to those of you who have them or have had them, wold you do it again?

Is the car worth any issues with the DPF and SCR?

Does that huge sunroof leak?

Notice I am not asking GSW owners, I know all of you are rabid fans.
I'm just more of a hatch or sedan guy,

I also have found that Jettas can be had cheap, Golfs go for a bit more, and GSWs command far more. I can pick up a 328d for a little more than Golf sedan money.

 

[paperthin]

If this helps...I have an A3 sedan and absolutely love it. I too am a sedan guy. My buyback was the 2009 jetta TDI sedan. I love the Jetta back seat and trunk space, I knew that this would be a downgrade in space when I chose the A3. A 328d was a second choice for purchase if I couldn't get my hands on an A3.

 

[Matt927]

I have owned three MK7 Golfs, one TDI and Two GTIs, all with the large sunroof.

All of them made various noises, creaks and groans. Mostly when closed. My GTI had a leak do to small cracks in the frame that was repaired under a TSB. My wife's entire sunroof frame was replaced due to loud noises that could not be traced and fixed with any known methods. It was a $4400 repair covered under warranty.

My wife's vehicle still makes noise sometimes closed and sometimes opened. Temperature swings have an effect it seems. I have had no leaks on any of them through the conventional clogged sunroof drains though.

Personally, I will never own a vehicle with a pano roof again, I hate them. I am currently driving a Mk6 Golf TDI and much prefer the smaller sunroof opening and design.

I do keep the seals and weather stripping lubed which seems to help with the noises on the GTI.

 

[thundershorts]

I'd buy again, but might buy sportwagen instead for the extra 1500 I'd stay with the S.

 

[Mike in Anchorage]

Are you limiting yourself to a sedan for a reason. Both of my sportwagens have been wonderful. Currently a 2015 SE with lighting package. It's a sweet machine, and I'm an avid cyclist. I can get any one of my bikes into it without taking off the front wheel. Or I can easily get in two bikes with front wheel removal and a pad between them to keep scratches down. In other words, it has LOTS of space and comfy back seats. The pano sunroof has not been a problem on either one, and I sometimes open it by mistake when it's still frozen shut. So it opens with a pop. No damage or leakage so far.

 

[JM Popaleetus]

I love my 2015. I have no regrets buying my car and plan on keeping it. Especially with the warranty and price I paid out-the-door in 2018. However...

CarPlay/Android Auto retrofit is a 100% necessity, there isn't much non-interfering space to mount a phone otherwise. And the sunroofs on these car are prone to failure via major leaking, that was already a $1000+ unexpected repair a year into ownership.

If I was shopping today, I'm not sure I'd buy another. A 328d (or dx) is certainly tempting, however, I myself would also be looking at a GTI, R, Chevy Volt, V60...there are a lot of great 2016-2018 options. I'm even slightly embarrassed to admit I really like the new Camry TRD.

Gasoline efficiency has come a long way, and even Premium is annoyingly cheaper than diesel right now.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

The only MK7 TDI sedan in the US is the 2015 Audi A3. The Jetta is on an older platform, as is the Passat. And the A3 is only available with a DSG.

 

[3turboz]

The only MK7 TDI sedan in the US is the 2015 Audi A3. The Jetta is on an older platform, as is the Passat. And the A3 is only available with a DSG.

Good point, I guess the Golf is a hatchback. I'm just used to a 2 door Golf.

 

[740GLE]

MK7 Golf hatchback is a great ride, and full of quirks just like you're MK4, you'll love it.

 

[TheMysticWizard]

I have a 2015 A3 TDI (sedan) and love it, If it were to be gone, I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

That being said, if they had an A3 Hatch/Wagon in TDI, I would have bought that instead.

Wife and I testdrove a Alltrack before buying the A3, granted it wasn't TDI, she said absolutely not, and I was leaning toward no after driving it anyway. Imagine it's similar enough to a sportwagen, that it would have been a no as well.

 

[15tdi_mk7]

I have a 15 sel. Love the car. I live in Florida so lots of rain and sun, no issues with sunroof. I would buy the car again if I had to do it over.

 

[moon1234]

Edit: I meant hatchback, but cant edit the title.

After parting with my beloved MK4 (see profile picture) I have been looking for another TDI. I have been looking at Jettas as we wanted a functional back seat for occasional use. After considering a 328d and deciding I could probably make do with that rear seat, I thought maybe a new, larger golf might also do.

I looked at a 2015 Golf SE today. 84K miles. Sure enough it had a back seat suitable for occasional adult use. I found it a little more engaging to drive than the Jetta. I was not crazy about the new sunroof design (and I want a sunroof).

So to those of you who have them or have had them, wold you do it again?

Is the car worth any issues with the DPF and SCR?

Does that huge sunroof leak?

Notice I am not asking GSW owners, I know all of you are rabid fans.
I'm just more of a hatch or sedan guy,

I also have found that Jettas can be had cheap, Golfs go for a bit more, and GSWs command far more. I can pick up a 328d for a little more than Golf sedan money.

You can buy an Audi A3 TDI Premium with very low miles for the same or less money than a Golf TDI. They are both built on the same new MQB platform. The A3 is essentially the sedan version of the Golf.

I drove four 2015 Golf TDIs in various trim levels. I then then drove two 2015 Audi A3s in Premium and Premium Plus trims. I bought an Audi A3 Premium Plus with almost every option, 15k miles on it and it comes with the same emissions warranty (11 years, 162k miles) as a VW. It's the same 2.0 TDI engine. I paid 16.9K for this Audi.

If you want a good deal, the Audi A3 TDIs are one of the best bargains at the moment.

 

[Nuje]

The one thing that irks me about the MQB Audi A3 vs. the Golf 7 is the cruise control. On the Golf, it's super-easy to find, use, tweak (by 1km/h if need be) because it's right by the thumb of my left hand.

The A3 (on my wife's e-tron; I assume the A3 TDI is the same) has a separate stalk below the turn signal stalk that's invisible to my eyes while driving, so if I forget which button is "set" and which is "resume"....it's a 50-50 game. AND, it's only possible (despite what the owner's manual says) to adjust cruise speed to the nearest 5mph/10km/h increment using the "+" or "-" buttons; no adjusting from 107km/h to 115km/h - it's 110 or 120.

I even asked at the dealership (thinking it might be a software bug or something) who seemed as surprised as I was; but then they checked with Audi HQ and were told, "Nope - that's how it's designed to work."

 

[RIP TDI]

AND, it's only possible (despite what the owner's manual says) to adjust cruise speed to the nearest 5mph/10km/h increment using the "+" or "-" buttons; no adjusting from 107km/h to 115km/h - it's 110 or 120.

But that's true of the Mk. 7, too, at least on U.S. spec models.

Admittedly its not intuitive to have to use SET and RESUME for 1 km/h or 1 mph adjustments rather than the + or - buttons, but easy enough to adapt to on the Mk.7. The A3's hidden stalk would require more muscle memory.

 

[Nuje]

That's just it, though: The Mk7 VWs with steering wheel controls allow for both +/- 1km/h as well as +/- 10km/h. The MQB A3 (at least ours) has only the +/- 10km/h.

 

[RIP TDI]

That's just it, though: The Mk7 VWs with steering wheel controls allow for both +/- 1km/h as well as +/- 10km/h. The MQB A3 (at least ours) has only the +/- 10km/h.

I misinterpreted your original post. You're saying +/- 1 km/h is possible on the A3, just less convenient than the Mk. 7 because you can't see the switch position on the stalk and if you rely on feel, it's trial and error whether you're going up or down in speed.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

But you still adjust by +/- 1 on the stalk, right?

You can adjust cruise speed up or down 1 MPH. I think it's on the stalk, but it's been so long since I've used it on that car I don't remember! But I do recall someone had to tell me how to do it, I hadn't found it on my own.

 

[Nuje]

No - that's my whole point. There is absolutely no way to adjust cruise speed +/- 1km/h on our MQB A3 e-tron.

The manual says there is (on the stalk), but tried by me many times, and then confirmed by the dealer (who thought, like I did, that there *must* be a way) when they checked with head office....nope.

 

[Mike in Anchorage]

Hmmm. When I drove my 2015 GSW through Alberta, BC and Yukon, I put the system into metric. I could change by 5 KM/hr or by 1 km/hr, but as I recall I had a different method to effect the choices. Seems it was the up/down versus side to side activation.

 

[Nuje]

Yeah - no problem on my 2015 GSW either. In, you get +/- 10km/h (or 5mph if in US units) with the +/- buttons (side to side), and +/- 1km/h with the RES/SET buttons.

It's our A3 e-tron (same MQB platform - lots of shared part numbers) where we can only change cruise speed by +/-10km/h.

 

[MattRabbit]

I sold my mk4 Golf TDI (393K miles) after purchasing a mk7 Golf TDI SE (43K miles). I've put just over 25K miles on the mk7, and I have to say it's been a great car. I miss the mk4, but really, I don't regret my decision.

As for the sunroof, I would rather not have it, but it's nice that it's there. No leaks so far, but the plastic surround on the outside is peeling. I either have to have it painted or vinyl wrap it. Lots of these cars do that.

If you like the new Golf, do it. The mk7 is a wonderful platform!

 

[sootchucker]

i sold my MKV jetta to the buyback.

i replaced with an MK7 SEL. i would buy again, but not an SEL. sunroof sucks. it leaks, but i "deleted" the sunroof via vinyl wrap. the car is great overall- a blast to drive. i do agree, the cruise control is not user friendly at all.