My New Car

[12,000 RPM]

That's a possibility. I know a few of the new turbo cars are able to run on regular.

Not an unfair point, but the R runs on premium.

[r0tor]

OEMs are hitting a target HP number sufficient for it's competition... Your Civic example is hitting the max possible HP before it blows up

[CaminoRacer]

OEMs are hitting a target HP number sufficient for it's competition... Your Civic example is hitting the max possible HP before it blows up

AFAIK he's just questioning the boost levels, not the power levels.

[r0tor]

Because they are not trying to hit peak power levels, (and for emissions and reliability) they run super safe afr's and ignition tables... So boost is higher to reach a power target then a max tune engine

[12,000 RPM]

I think the R18 can take more than 10lb on stock internals.... prob not for too long though

I'd definitely be curious to see how emissions compare; that's the missing piece of the puzzle most likely.

[r0tor]

Gas vs Diesel... But VW is out how many billions do to tuning vs emissions

[12,000 RPM]

With HCCI diesel won't matter, at least in the passenger car realm.

[Galaxy]

With HCCI diesel won't matter, at least in the passenger car realm.

It may have some of the same challenges as diesels though because of the high pressure.

[SJ_GTI]

Bump...

Passed my 2 year anniversary this weekend with the Golf. I just hit 11,315 miles this morning on my drive to work. Not much to update, but here goes:

No defects or anything so far. It hasn't ever been back to the dealer since I do the maintenance myself.

Gas mileage seems to stay in the 23-24 MPG range. Its not bad considering my daily commute is ~5 miles each way.

Still have not mastered the clutch unfortunately.

Presuming there are no catastrophic mechanical failures I will be keeping the car for at least a few more years.

[MrH]

What could have been...

You could be driving a Chevy SS but wimped out

In all honesty, the more I drive the SS, the more it confirms you made the right choice.

[12,000 RPM]

5K miles a year....

Why would you say the R is better than the SS? I have some ideas of my own but I'm surprised you'd think that.

[cawimmer430]

Its not bad considering my daily commute is ~5 miles each way.

I'd get panic attacks because my engine, oil and catalytic converter wouldn't get warm with such a short distance.

And my upcoming car will have a particulate filter (required by the EU for all gas/diesel cars now) which means once that engine has been fired up I should ideally drive 20 km minimum!

[12,000 RPM]

It makes no difference how short the trips are if the number of trips is low and he takes it easy.

[SJ_GTI]

I'd get panic attacks because my engine, oil and catalytic converter wouldn't get warm with such a short distance.

And my upcoming car will have a particulate filter (required by the EU for all gas/diesel cars now) which means once that engine has been fired up I should ideally drive 20 km minimum!

Every car is different of course, but in the summer particularly it only takes a couple of miles for the oil to be warmed up (the Golf actually has a digital oil temperature gauge available). In the winter the oil isn't usually warmed up until right when i get to work though.

I do get the occasional longer drive in (visiting family or shopping). My work commute only accounts for about half of my overall mileage.

[93JC]

And my upcoming car will have a particulate filter (required by the EU for all gas/diesel cars now)

Particulate filters aren't required, it's just how some manufacturers will get some of their cars to meet the more stringent Euro 6_ standards.

[cawimmer430]

Every car is different of course, but in the summer particularly it only takes a couple of miles for the oil to be warmed up (the Golf actually has a digital oil temperature gauge available). In the winter the oil isn't usually warmed up until right when i get to work though.

I do get the occasional longer drive in (visiting family or shopping). My work commute only accounts for about half of my overall mileage.

[cawimmer430]

Particulate filters aren't required, it's just how some manufacturers will get some of their cars to meet the more stringent Euro 6_ standards.

They are required by law since 2018.

[SJ_GTI]

Bump...

So the car is officially 3 years old now.

I am somewhat astounded to say that the car has never been back to the dealer. I do my own oil changes and wheel/tire seasonal switching and so far it hasn't needed anything beyond that. There are a couple technical recalls but they were so minor I haven't bothered with taking the trip to the dealer. Mileage is @ ~16,500 miles. Still using the original summer tires that came with the car...tread looks fine so I expect I will get at least one (maybe two) more season(s) out of them.

Not much else to add. It makes a good daily driver...it is reasonably comfortable while still being pretty fun to drive. I am still not a fan of the way the engine makes its power but I still don't see anything else on the market that would be more suited to my tastes. It seems like cars continue to use small engines with bigger/higher pressure turbo's while manual transmissions seem to be getting less available so I don't see any changes to that view on the horizon.

I had my previous car for ~6 years and, as long as nothing major goes wrong, I hope to keep this car just as long. If I can make it closer to 8-10 years this might be the last internal combustion engine (new) car I purchase. 

[MrH]

16,500 miles in 3 years?

[SJ_GTI]

16,500 miles in 3 years?

I live close to work., so about ~50 miles a week for job commuting. Figure about ~2500 miles a year for job (~7500 over 3 years), the rest is just for visiting friends/family, shopping, etc...

[CaminoRacer]

Well I'm glad it hasn't gone back to the dealer in 16k miles.

[BimmerM3]

16,500 miles in 3 years?

What's wrong with that?

[MrH]

Just seems like a really small amount of driving.  I do that in less than 8 months I think.

[SJ_GTI]

Just seems like a really small amount of driving.  I do that in less than 8 months I think.

Having a short commute helps.

When i first moved back to NJ I lived closer to Philly and was driving 35 miles to work each way, so 70 miles a day, or ~17,500 miles per year. My total mileage was closer to ~20k miles a year at that time.

[12,000 RPM]

Well I'm glad it hasn't gone back to the dealer in 16k miles.

Hey you know what I think Wimmer's Bimmmer had all its fuel injectors replaced by about that time. It's not that far fetched.

[Laconian]

Just seems like a really small amount of driving.  I do that in less than 8 months I think.

My Miata has 7400 miles over 2.5 years.

[Xer0]

Just seems like a really small amount of driving.  I do that in less than 8 months I think.

My Si has only 42K in about 6.5 years.  Living in the city means less reasons to drive.

[SJ_GTI]

Well I'm glad it hasn't gone back to the dealer in 16k miles.

I think I was mentally prepared for the stereotypical VW experience of routine dealer visits. I would have been fine if it had an issue or two, but was definitely worried about the possibility of having recurring issues.

[MX793]

I live close to work., so about ~50 miles a week for job commuting. Figure about ~2500 miles a year for job (~7500 over 3 years), the rest is just for visiting friends/family, shopping, etc...

My Mustang is coming up on 4 years old with about 17K miles on it.  Similarly, I have a short commute.  I also only drive it about 7 months a year.

[12,000 RPM]

Even with my short tenures I still manage to put more miles on my cars than you guys

I drive about 20-22K miles a year. ~85 miles a day with the gym and day care