Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Are the mark 7 Golf GTi's as fun as they say? Is the R worth the extra $$$?

Subaru Forester STI outside my house today - too dark for a photo. Such a sick/stupid looking car, absolutely love it.
Similar to pic.

Have a service due for the Golf. Apparently a major service so £350. What surprised me is the list of works is:

• oil/filter
  
• air filter
  
• spark plugs
  
• "major inspection"
  
  

To much noise going on to properly quiz it, but to me that doesn't seem like a major service. I'd expected some sort of DSG fluid change, etc. etc.

AIBU?

Main dealership premium?

This is what VW say a major service is

"It includes: Oil & filter change. Replace pollen filter. Replace air filter. Spark plugs (petrol engine) or fuel filter (diesel engine) if required. Remove wheels and check brakes. Check/adjust tension of all drive belts. Check gearbox oil level. Check final drive oil level. Vehicle inspection and report to include all lights, instruments, bodywork, glass, locks, battery, coolant levels, drive belts, braking system, steering, hoses, drive shafts, suspension and exhaust system. Full vehicle road test. Diagnostic check including report. Re-set service interval display. Volkswagen stamp in service book."

I think £349 is the flat rate for a major service from a VW dealership.

Thanks. Found something similar so I guess the guy was just getting it mixed up and it sounds a bit more reasonable.

Now I've just got to battle my OH to get sign off. She thinks these things are cons. While I'm inclined to agree, I'm disinclined to skip a major service for peace of mind and dealer stamps/resale.

My rule of thumb is main dealer til out of warranty,, then specialist / or DIY if you are handy and/or mileage north of 100k. Retain receipts for fluids and filters if you DIY. Changing fluids is essential maintenance and the stamps are vital for resale value.

While we're on servicing, should this be done annually or at 10k miles? Ours is due in June but we'll probably tick over 10k miles since then this month so feasibly another ~3k to go until June.

Annually or 10k miles, whichever comes first

When traction is not an issue they're basically the same car. For normal spirited driving you'd never know the difference.

In snow and wet, huge difference.

The difference is really in the all wheel drive. Not the engine or the handling. In fact the GTI is like 300 lbs lighter.

So it is better, but whether it's worth it depends on your finances

Annually or manufacturer's recommneded interval, whichever comes first. Lots are 12k or even longlife servicing 20 or 24k

Should be in the owners manual, failing that the Haynes site has a good list of what servicing should be done however often (though not sure if it will apply to your car).

I had my Golf serviced in December, all those points covered plus a little extra labour for re-loctiting a driveshaft joint - £266, excellent garage though non VW dealer. It's an 07 car without a perfect service history so I don't see the point in forking out for dealership work.

Cheaper is better for me on a practical level, but on a more idealogical one I prefer the GTI because it's got check cloth seats and well it's a GTI

WTF is loctiting a drive shaft joint..

Paraphrasing from memory – it was something threaded that had worked loose, apparently common in VAG cars with transverse engines. Maybe the lower engine mount?

So much VAG reliability heh. ;)

Oil change wise, if you are keeping a car changing the oil/oil filter more often won't hurt an engine. Especially if the car does alot of stop start driving and short journeys.

cc @Dammit
In case you didn't see...

Old work used to get us cheap hire cars for ridiculous journeys (like Scotland to basically Switzerland on the weight limit), worst was a hyundai i40/50? Mondeo sized, and tbf most of it was absolutely fine, but the steering at 60mph + was lethal, really heavy over weighted, and then wheel would suddenly turn and you'd be half way out of your lane. Had several of them and all drove the same, no thanks!
Many cars since 2005 use electro hydraulic system, generally chosen for mpg/emmisons reasons i think, some have good feel others are awful, most vag cars you can adjust various parameters of the steering assistance in vcds/obd11

That reminds me of having a terrible Citroen hire car in Mallorca that had horrible speed sensitive steering, and would suddenly change the amount of assistance in the middle of a corner if you went above / below it's speed thresholds

I’ve done two hours of autobahn in an i40. Terrifying.

Cheers. It's 2012/40k, so from a Google a few years out of warranty now.

I'll discuss it with my OH, but my gut is to get this major service done, then find a good indy.

With my mini I switched to a real good BMW indy for a while, but then Mini started doing the TLC package which is such ridiculous value it's hard not to go with the convince of someone picking up your car for you and bringing it back.

I didn't like the steering on a Passat we had (2009 car). Much prefer the steering feel on the Superb we now have.

So seemingly VAG can get it right. Sometimes.

I am sure you're all gripped by my collision claims story...

Anyway I today received a cheque for my excess (£600) which my insurer had deduced, from the 3rd parties insurer. I emailed them last week asking them to pay me, and they have, unbelievably! Well they owed me, but I expected them to drag heals etc.

Nice one! How's the Saab?