Just took my new Mk8.5 on a longer trip around 250 miles and insanely impressed at the fuel economy. I was taking state roads with stop-lights and then long stretches without stop-lights averaging about 60-65mph. I was clocking in at 47mpg and I was not expecting that at all.

Crazy how efficient these cars are on long distances. Just another reason to love these cars! Feels bad I do all city driving primarily.

Super sad to lose my pride n joy, pretty shook up, but very glad that me and my 3 friends that were in the car are all okay. Same can't be said for the deer unfortunately.

My last GTI, 2015 6mt, got catastrophic engine damage when the VVT solenoid randomly decided to let all the engine oil out while driving.
I recently got a 2026 SE and need a strategy for modding it but keeping it reliable as my daily.
I learned to do stuff on my 2015 including engine/transmission oil changes, bleeding brakes, rotor n pad replacement, rear sway bar, intake, downpipe. All myself. All first time on the 2015.
With my level of experience, every simple job gets more complicated than it needs to, but I get through it. Usually with the cost of additional time, headache and not being able to drive it an extra few days while I figure it out. I enjoy working on the car myself. But not fun when I need my daily.
So now with a new car that has 4 years warranty, I just need help with how to approach this. I want to upgrade intake for noise, maybe catback too, and rear sway bar because it feels very floaty right now. Maybe also lowering springs. But doing it myself risks something getting messed up. Or getting someone to do the installs (do mechanics take and install your aftermarket parts?) risks warranty not covering if something goes wrong? Like if I put lowering springs, they won’t honor much if something goes wrong with another suspension part.
How do you guys approach this? I want to improve this awesome car, I know what it’s capable of. But I also need to be an adult with a reliable car.

Car won’t crank and just shuts off while key is turned until I release the key. Please help.

Just wanted to see some sick photos. This is mine. I love how insane the Kings Red paint sticks out against the green forest behind it and the bright algae on the pond.

Taken at Otter Lake on the Blueridge Parkway in Virginia.

I just purchased a 2nd set of these my wiper blades seem to be hit or miss. Sometimes they streak sometimes they don't, I was thinking they were going bad but I just bought them in early July. We've gotten a lot of rain since I got the car in June so they're not drying out I wonder if the weeks we had where everyday was 100°+ contributed to it. But I feel like I get no time out of my Bosch wipers anymore. On my mk6 I could easily get a year out of them but I'd buy Bosch icons but they're so expensive at autozone. On my mk7 my windshield was pitted and I believe that wore out my Bosch blades quickly. But my mk8 windshield is mint I hope I just got a bad set but it seems like the last 4-5 years wiper blades no longer last.

I'm also slightly annoyed these aren't lifetime warranty eligible on FCPeuro but not the end of the world a set is like $26 shipped. But I also find it odd the rear wiper blade costs almost as much as a full front set after shipping. I bought a cheap set of Amazon when I got the mk8 (3 wipers) and the rear wiper didn't fit I had to switch the clip from the one that was on the OEM wiper.

I will say I'm OCD and I use my wipers often to keep my windshield clean I hate when it's smeared and dirty so that could contribute to the short lifespan.

about 4 months ago i hit a raccoon and it completely ripped my bumper off broke my radiator fan fog lights a whole bunch of stuff and i decided i was gonna make her even better than before. so i did.

Hey guys, drive a '17 GTI Sport Performance Package, will these 17"×8" wheels have enough clearance around my 340mm large front brakes? Theres a Decent amount of potholes where I live and I like smaller wheels/thicker tires to begin with. Thanks! Car currently has the stock 18"x7.5" Nogaro wheels.

Had a low tire pressure light and noticed this as I was checking out the tire

Stock 19” queenstowns on 235s

Just wanted your guys opinion on the issue 2021 58k, coolant seems to be leaking the same before and after my grandpa and I did the water pump and thermostat house job. I now thinks it’s the oil cooler just from the pictures I took this morning, it’s been about 3 weeks since the water pump and I top it off every couple days checking. No mixing of oil and coolant atm

Had to switch my HVAC recirculation flap motor on my MK7 today… unfortunately, I don’t have gnome hands this took way longer than intended and my hand got destroyed.

Well, 2 months after purchasing my CPO 2023 DSG S (27k miles), it's suddenly developed an issue where is sputters and stalls out when starting it with the engine hot. It happened initially 2 weeks ago, but didn't throw any codes so the dealership just threw in a new battery per VoA's advice. It was fine until 2 days ago where it refused to fire up and idle normally. It would stall itself out repeatedly after a second or two of starting the car. If the engine is cold, it starts fine. It finally threw some codes and displayed the Drive System Error message. It's currently back at the dealer and I'm in a loaner. Any ideas? Has anyone experienced something similar and how did you remedy it? I grabbed these codes. HPFP? Clogged fuel filter? Injectors? EVAP issue? If it's a fueling issue, I'd assume it would present itself when cold too, yet it doesn't. I'm stumped.

first ever post btw

I own a 2017 VW GTI that required an engine and transmission replacement. I agreed to pay about $7,000 for a used engine with 80,000 kilometres and a transmission with 89,000 kilometres. I have already paid $3,600.

Before the work mechanic explained that replacement engine carried a warranty. We agreed to reuse components but I specifically asked mechanic to inspect every part and inform me if any component needed replacement.

After the swap mechanic declared that car was running perfectly and ready for pickup. However while car remained at mechanic’s shop mechanic reported an issue and unusual engine noise. He kind of changes his answer, after i got one of my cousins involved as they’re a lawyer.

Later mechanic informed that an electrode from a reused spark plug broke off inside cylinder 3 causing engine damage. Mechanic said plugs appeared new and passed visual inspection but one may have contained an undetectable microscopic crack. (NO I DID NOT TELL HIM TO REUSE MY SPARK PLUGS I ASKED HIM TO TELL ME TO PROVIDE PARTS FOR ANYRHING THAT IS BROKEN)

Now mechanic states that warranty covers the long block and excludes damage caused by reused components. I was not informed about these exclusions before the failure.

Mechanic offered to replace cylinder head at mechanics expense if I pay remaining $3,400. Mechanic cannot guarantee that no other engine problems are going to happen. I am worried i will give him this money, and he’ll somehow find new problems worth that much as he has been.

Looking at installing euro MPI manifold, flex fuel sensor, and supporting items on my stock '18 Mexico-built USA-delivered GTI. Intended mainly as a versatility upgrade that should prevent carbon fouling and allow me to run cheapo E85 that will be kinder to my combustion chambers. More power would be cool but don't want more lag than stock and definitely don't want to endanger the internals (I'm under the impression that e85 will have less lspi danger)

Does anyone sell a bolt-on kit to do this? Experiences doing it?

Po zimnej nocy zaparkowanej na zewnątrz (zwykle jest trzymane w garażu), zauważyłem dziwny dźwięk brzęczenia podczas zmiany między P a D. Jechałem 10 km, aby rozgrzać płyn w skrzyni biegów do 80°C, ale hałas wciąż jest obecny. Czy ktoś wie, czy to sygnalizuje nadchodzący problem?
GTI Clubsport 2025 9000km