Golf- not built like it use to be?

[Homer]

Hi folks, I have a mate who is a mechanic and he says that modern cars including my GTI are simply not made as well as they once were- I questioned why and his reply was that having worked on many a car he has found that a lot of the parts are now being made in China. He said regardless of whether it’s a Merc, BMW etc when he is working on the engine he finds most the parts say made in China. I said that doesn’t necessarily mean they are crap parts to which he said everything made in China is generally S***. Anyway just wanted to know your thoughts, were the GTI's of old better than the ones we have today?

[vRS Carl]

  Ask him to show you were it says "Made in China" on something.

I have had many a part off/on/replaced on my car and never noticed a "made in China" label. Not saying they aren't but I think he is talking bollocks personally.

Here is a part I happened to have in the garage. I never knew China was in France 

[B3n]

What car does your mate drive?

No matter where things are made they still need to meet the standards of the manufacturer

[Mk5 GTian]

Sounds like pub-talk to me.   

My Mk5 feels as well put together as any of my older Golfs, and the Mk6 I drove recently felt bomb-proof, a step up in quality.

[Nickyboy]

After owning 9 Hondas, which upheld the reliability awards Honda are renowned for, I looked for reliability first and foremost when shopping for something a bit easier to get the power from.

5 years and 52,000 miles later, most of that remapped, all that's gone wrong with my Eddie is a wheel bearing, and even that wasn't needed in a hurry.


Made in China?  Pish. Parts are well above made in China prices, which sucks on one hand, but is good news on the other

[Hedge]

I think the Mk5 is probably one of the better built cars around. The Mk6 is built "cheaper" whatever that implies. 

[Bazgti]

Im not sure about the china thing. But i do agree with the build quality thing. I do think my Mk4 Anniversary was built better than my Mk5 GTI. The 5 blows it out of the water in handling, performance etc but i sometimes feel like its a bit fragile compared to the 4.

[RedRobin]

I think the Mk5 is probably one of the better built cars around. The Mk6 is built "cheaper" whatever that implies. 

....I think VAG are saying that built "cheaper" means they are cheaper to build. More efficient to build and hence saving costs, perhaps, rather than built with cheapo parts. 

[rich83]

I think the cabin on the mk6 is better than the mk5, however everything seems the same (because 99% of it is)

[RedRobin]

I think the cabin on the mk6 is better than the mk5, however everything seems the same (because 99% of it is)

....The term "better" is subjective. Most folks would agree with you but I personally much prefer the less bling interior styling of the Mk5. I don't like lots of silvery bits in a car's cockpit.

I recall reading that the Mk6's doors were much cheaper to manufacture. Yet they close just as well.

[rich83]

Sorry.. by better i meant build quality wise.

[CarrG]

All built with cost in mind. I don't think anything is made/manufactured these days using the same quality materials as used yrs ago.

[vRS Carl]

All built with cost in mind. I don't think anything is made/manufactured these days using the same quality materials as used yrs ago.

My farts are 

[andrewparker]

I don't think the MK5 is as well built as the cars that preceded it. I've had a lot of problems with mine and I've never been impressed with the build quality of the interior, particularly in comparison to a MK4 I used to own. I've had extended experience with a number of MK6 Golfs, all of which have felt more solid than the MK5 too.

[Kregiel]

I think interior quality wise the older the car the worse it is, so m6 would be better/nicer inside materials and noise level wise than mk5 and mk5 better than mk4 etc I exclude general preferneces ect

however talking about technicalities and relaibility the older the better due to:
-less electronics used
-less power from an engine capacity and not all comes from technical advancements - engines more strained
-cheaper the better approach and even more in current economic climate etc

Paul