[TheLateGTI]

Hi TCL,
My wife and I just had our first born and we took him home in the GTI and I am really getting the itch for selling my GTI and getting a stick shift sedan.
I actually have a lot of fun and really enjoy having the GTI as my baby transporter, even when I have to climb in and pop the car seat in :snowcool:
But, in the summer I bring out my 128i (6MT) so it doesn't make much sense to have dual 2-door cars.

So I'd like to solicit everyone's opinions on which sedan to get, my only stipulations are as follows:
-Must be stick shift
-Price must be less than 14k or whatever I sell the GTI for
-Total price of the next car must include taxes, fees and shipping since I will be purchasing the car from a state down south
-No V8's

It will be for year round driving and I am able to wrench on it myself, anything short of replacing engine/transmission/clutch/maybe suspension. And I am good at detailing and making the exterior and interior looking like it just came off the showroom.

Obligatory GTI pic

 

[[email protected]]

Legacy GT? Jetta GLI?

 

[Maximum_Download]

Yep, thinking Jetta GLI is where you need to be shopping.

 

[rickandshana]

Well sorted b5 Audi S4.


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[absoluteczech]

Used 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport's have to be that price by now I would think.

 

[TurboREX]

I think you could probably find a nice e90 328i xdrive, Legacy/WRX, B7/8 A4

 

[Yuppie Scum]

ATS

 

[88c900t]

Honestly, I can't think of a car I'd rather have for sub 13K (before shipping) than a MKVII GTI, When I bought my Focus ST, early 2015 GTIs with 40K miles were going for 17K at least.

Since you want a sedan, the GLI would be your only choice for the price and not feel like a massive downgrade. Even so I question the logic of buying a relatively new car and shipping it from the south at great expense.

 

[YoKev]

Buick Regal

 

[ice4life]

TL 6spd?

https://www.cars.com/for-sale/searc...sTypeId=28112&yrId=27381,39723,47272&zc=80221

 

[Colty_CM]

Mk6 Golf R? I've seen a few for around that price. Kind of curious as to why a 4 door GTI wouldn't do it for you. Just need something different? A GLI is a nice sidestep and will be familiar when you drive, wrench, and sit in it. Manual Passat CC?

 

[absoluteczech]

I have to say, why not get a 5dr GTI, problem solved? More functional than a sedan and you still get to enjoy a GTI.

 

[n0rdicalex.]

Yep, thinking Jetta GLI is where you need to be shopping.

yep, short of a 4-door GTI, get the best 2016 GLI you can find with your budget. my mom has one and we've taken it on several long road trips in all kinds of weather, and it's been a great machine. she does a lot of hiking with friends and can comfortably fit her friends in the back with gear in the trunk.

 

[chuckster1]

Yep, thinking Jetta GLI is where you need to be shopping.

Beware of torn seats and underbody damage hidden by the dealer.

YMMV.

 

[Colty_CM]

I also gotta ask, have you tried the newborn's car seat in the back of a proper sedan? The sloping roof can make you bend a bit more than is comfortable for me (6'1"). My Fiancee has a 4 door VW Rabbit (Mk5). If the carseat is front-facing, (I haven't tested this), I would imagine the (2dr) folding seats and leaning in from the front will be easier than going from the side of the car-seat in a 4dr. Can't be certain, but I've heard from both sides of parents regarding the 2dr vs 4dr debacle.

 

[bnkrpt311]

Legacy GT would be fun!

 

[mrothwell]

What are ATS 2.0T's going for these days? No idea on carseat compatibility, but its an awesome chassis with an available manual transmission.

Also, FWIW, I've got an E91 (same legroom as an E90) with a carseat in it, and our rear facing seat JUUUST fits. I'm not comfortable in the passenger seat with the car seat in, but my 5'5" wife is okay. We've got a Chicco Fit2.

 

[Maximum_Download]

For anyone questioning why a sedan, I believe a sedan is a better choice for kids in car seats, especially a mk6 GLI, due to the increased legroom, separate cargo hold, and longer trunk space of the Jetta.

It's a no brainer to me.

 

[EverthingIsTerrible]

I had my first kid with a mk6 2 dr gti. Later on I got a 4dr sport wagen as a 2nd car. It really isnt much easier loading and unloading the kid into a car seat with a 4 dr and eventually they get big enough they can just climb in themselves.

You should keep the GTI. They dont make coupes anymore.

 

[Stevo12]

I also gotta ask, have you tried the newborn's car seat in the back of a proper sedan? The sloping roof can make you bend a bit more than is comfortable for me (6'1"). My Fiancee has a 4 door VW Rabbit (Mk5). If the carseat is front-facing, (I haven't tested this), I would imagine the (2dr) folding seats and leaning in from the front will be easier than going from the side of the car-seat in a 4dr. Can't be certain, but I've heard from both sides of parents regarding the 2dr vs 4dr debacle.

My 5’9” opinion is that a sloping sedan roof >> not having enough rear seat space. I recently traded my crew cab Frontier for a Camry, and whatever ease of loading advantage that the Frontier had was instantly negated by the fact that the front seat was just too small. It was fine for short trips, but anything longer was uncomfortable.

Also beware the relationship and size of the door/window opening. The door is just wide enough in our 08 Outback, but the window opening is significantly smaller and is toward the front of the door, meaning it’s a pretty tight squeeze to get Jr. in and out of his seat while it’s still on the base.

Now, you can go for best of all worlds - the Toyota Highlander we rented last month was amazing from a loading/unloading standpoint- huge door opening, tons of room front and back. But that’s about as far as you can get from a nimble, manual, stick shift car.

As mentioned earlier, I think the Mk6 GLI is as good as you’re gonna get to get the space you want while maintaining as much of the feel in your current GTI within your budget, short of a 4dr GTI.

However, with a newborn, the extra load space of the sedan vs the hatch is going to be much more useful. While we have the best of both worlds with the Outback and Camry, it’s the extra load floor area of the Outback that makes it useful. Strollers are big, especially for newborns.

The poorer resale of the GLI will also work in your favor as you can get a newer/lower mileage car for your money.