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2015 Volkswagen Golf r problems

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The Volkswagen Golf (Mk7) is a C-segment car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen. It is the seventh generation in the Golf series and the successor to the Golf Mk6. It was introduced in Berlin on 4 September 2012, before a public launch at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Sales in Europe began with the model in November 2012.

Marketed in three-door and five-door hatchback, van, and estate forms, the Golf Mk7 shares the MQB platform with the third generation Audi A3, SEAT León and Škoda Octavia.

In November 2016, Volkswagen presented a facelift of the Golf Mk7. It was replaced in December 2019 by the Golf Mk8, which is built on the MQB Evo platform. Production of the e-Golf and the Golf Variant ended in mid-2020.

2015 Volkswagen Golf r

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Common 2015 Volkswagen Golf r problems

Based on complaints from owners of the Volkswagen Golf R 2015, several common problems have been reported:

  • High Oil Consumption:
    • Golf Rs can suffer from high oil consumption, requiring owners to regularly check the oil level to prevent engine damage or timing chain issues. Monitoring the oil level between services is crucial to avoid potential engine problems. If the oil level drops too low, it can lead to serious engine issues.

These common problems highlight the importance of regular maintenance and servicing to ensure the longevity and performance of the Volkswagen Golf R 2015. Owners should stay vigilant about these issues and address them promptly to avoid costly repairs and maintain the vehicle's reliability.

2015 Volkswagen Golf r engine

Is 2015 Golf R reliable?

Excellent quality & reliable

It has been extremely reliable and cost effective to service and maintain (especially being a European vehicle). The interior quality is fantastic as well as hardwearing. With proper maintenance and care, this car looks like it will last me for many more years to come.

What is the common issue with Golf R?

Carbon buildup: The Volkswagen Golf R is known to experience carbon buildup in the intake valves, which can lead to engine misfires and reduced performance. Water pump failure: Some Volkswagen Golf R owners have reported water pump failure, which can cause overheating and engine damage.

How long will a Golf R engine last?

How long do Volkswagen Golf engines last? A well cared for Golf engine can last as long as a decade, but the average engine that's encountered heavy use and potential wear and tear through its lifespan should last at least 5 years before it develops the need for a little TLC.

Will Golf R hold its value?

The combination of desirable VW badge and exceptional driving dynamics has meant strong demand for Golf R models on the secondhand market. And while the fast flagship sells in greater numbers than the GTI, our experts predict that the popular R will retain at least 50 percent of its new value after three years.

Is Golf R 2015 reliable?

Reliable, yes, if you do ALL the maintenance. Cheap to maintain, only if you do ALL the maintenance, keep it standard, and don't abuse it. Volkswagen, like all German car makers, really mean it when they give you a maintenance schedule.

What is the common issue with Golf R?

Carbon buildup: The Volkswagen Golf R is known to experience carbon buildup in the intake valves, which can lead to engine misfires and reduced performance. Water pump failure: Some Volkswagen Golf R owners have reported water pump failure, which can cause overheating and engine damage.

Is the 2015 Golf a reliable car?

The Volkswagen Golf is generally a reliable car. In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, petrol models came 18th out of 29 cars in the family car category, while diesel ones actually ranked higher – 14th. Petrol models received a reliability rating of 90.4%, while diesel ones 92.5%.

How long will a Golf R engine last?

How long do Volkswagen Golf engines last? A well cared for Golf engine can last as long as a decade, but the average engine that's encountered heavy use and potential wear and tear through its lifespan should last at least 5 years before it develops the need for a little TLC.

2015 Volkswagen Golf r car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volkswagen Golf r problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Engine problems
  • Unknown or other problems
  • Air bags problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Fuel/propulsion system problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2015 Volkswagen Golf r vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

Latest 25 complaints 2015 Volkswagen Golf r

The NHTSA has received 123 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2015 Volkswagen Golf r. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2015 Volkswagen Golf r vehicles.

2024-10-24

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2020-01-01
  • VIN: 3VW217AUXFM
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: When I turn on the ignition it says on the screen Starting system fault please service the vehicle.
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2024-08-19

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-06-18
  • VIN: 3VW917AU0FM
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: I was driving to my grandparents house and once i got to the house there was gasoline dripping from the back of car, from the area of the tank. "61821 SE VERIFICO UNIDAD CON LIQUEO DE GASOLINA , SE VERIFICO Y SE ENCONTRO CHARCOL CANISTER LLENO DE GASOLINA , SE HIZO TEST PLAN Y SE ENCONTRO VALVULA INTERNA DEL TANQUE DE LA GASOLINA TRANCADA Y ESTO OCASIONANDO LIQUEO DE GASOLINA , SE REMOVIO Y SE INSTALO TANQUE DE GASOLINA NUEVO Y CANISTER DE LOS GASES NUEVO Y VALVULA N80 NUEVA Y SE LIMPIARON TODAS LAS LINES DEL SISTEMA , SE HIZO TEST Y NO PRESENTO LIQUEO DE GASOLINA" - Mecanic
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2024-07-25

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-07-25
  • VIN: 3VW217AU9FM
  • Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
  • Summary: Vehicle had recall for "leaking fuel fire risk" Strong smell of fuel inside car. Manufacturer recall #20UF NHTSA recall 24V110 There has not been a fix yet available. Dealer (Team Volkswagen Merrillville IN) replaced the Jet fuel pump. Problem continued, VW engineering said bring the car back and replace the entire fuel tank. Completed. Problem returned 2 weeks later (XXX). While driving home from work noticed extremely strong fuel odor in car. Pulled off in a store parking lot, someone ran up and told me my car was leaking fuel. Gas was literally pouring out, I lost 1/4 tank of fuel on way home. The fuel was leaking under hood, under fuel tank area and under the rear passenger seat. I had the car towed to the dealer. Volkswagen does not have an actual fix for the problem. I should be given a replacement car due to Volkswagen being unable to correct this serious safety issue. What should I do, I am afraid to take the car back. I have videos and several pictures but unable to upload onto this website. Call [XXX] Crown Point Indiana INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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2024-07-10

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-07-10
  • VIN: 3VW217AU2FM
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, there was fuel leaking from the vehicle, making it impossible to fill the fuel tank. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 73,780. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
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2024-07-05

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-06-30
  • VIN: 3VW2A7AUXFM
  • Components: STRUCTURE
  • Summary: The hood release doesn’t work and cannot access anything in the engine bay. No oil changes until the hood can be opened. Clear recall due to the danger of not being able to open. The handle inside the car broke by attempting to open the hood.
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2024-04-26

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-04-26
  • VIN: 3VW217AU0FM
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V110000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that a second notice would be mailed when parts became available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
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2024-03-13

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-11-13
  • VIN: 3VW217AU5FM
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: Thermostat/water pump housing leaking coolant at 20,000 miles. No damage to vehicle that caused this, seems to be a common issue with VW Golfs. The repair is out of pocket and the dealership which sold me the car only a year ago is quoting $1600.
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2024-03-13

SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-03-06
  • VIN: 3VWRA7AU3FM
  • Components: SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the stick shift was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed rear axle and coil springs. The contact was informed that the rear axle and coil springs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
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2024-03-02

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-02-15
  • VIN: 3VW217AU9FM
  • Components: STRUCTURE
  • Summary: Leaking sunroof !!!!!!!
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2024-02-25

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-11-11
  • VIN: 3VW217AUXFM
  • Components: STRUCTURE
  • Summary: There is a crack and leak in my sunroof. I have not done anything to my car that would result in the crack. Based on Reddit searches, this is a frequent problem for VW owners. Autobody shops do not want to touch my sunroof or fix it because they do not have success fixing sunroofs.
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2023-11-26

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-11-25
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 3VW2A7AU5FM
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: I smelled a strong odor coming from the heater that turned out to be burnt plastic and wiring associated with the auxiliary heater. This is an obvious fire/ smoke hazard that could have been deadly if other nearby components caught fire.
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2023-10-09

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2019-03-05
  • VIN: WVWLF7AU7FW
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: Thermostat housing and water pump are leaking coolant. It is available for inspection. It can cause my engine to overheat and/or fail while being used. It has been confirmed by a dealership. It has not been inspected by the police, manufacturer, or insurance company. There have been occasional reports of low coolant, and the coolant drains significantly faster than expected especially in cold weather (e.g. needing to fill coolant every 7 days). It was first repaired in 2019, and has since failed again.
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2023-08-27

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-08-01
  • VIN: 3VW217AU6FM
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: While normally driving on the street, I noticed that the car started to overheat and could hear the radiator working to keep the heat level normal. I stopped and did not notice any leaks and added coolant to the car after I left it cool for about 3 hours. The problem went away but i still took it to the dealership and i was told it might be the head gasket of the engine or thermostat/waterpump, a $4000 repair. Was advised to just sell the car. VW should address this issue as it has been a long issue now
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2023-08-09

STEERING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-08-03
  • VIN: 3VW2A7AU5FM
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: One night I started hearing a crunching noise while I was turning my wheel at low speeds. I backed out of a parking spot and started to turn the wheel to hear the full extent of the noise. The next morning, I got up and went out, backed up the car, turned the wheel to the same noise coming from the steering wheel. About an hour later, I drove home and turned into my parking spot, when the noise got worse and then stopped. At the end of the noise, two error codes arose: Airbag and transmission error. The steering wheel controls, such as volume and song control do not work, as well as other functions on the wheel, such as the dash control and cruise control buttons. I quickly googled the symptoms around the make, model and year and saw mass amounts of Volkswagen vehicles around 2015 that experienced the same issues, and the issue of a faulty clock-spring being the culprit. With this in mind, I reached out to a Volkswagen dealership to relay my concerns and the conversation ended with an appointment booked and a consensus that the issue was a faulty clock-spring, as many have had this issue. This issue seems to be widespread throughout many years and models of the Volkswagen line, however, my car follows a wide group of cars by one year in manufacture date, yet it lacks a recall part, despite the believed widespread affected group of cars. My appointment with the Volkswagen dealership went as expected- they found that my clock spring was indeed the issue. The service advisor admitted that the "clock-springs are bound to break." However, my car is 6,000 miles out of warranty to be able to cover the cost of this repair at the moment of typing this. And with further confirmation, the clock spring part is not a recalled part, thus deeming the uncovered service, despite the admittance to a faulty and common issue. I drove a significant distance to reach my dealership with the fear of my stearing wheel locking up while I am driving on the freeway. It has yet to lock.
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2023-07-17

SUSPENSION PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-07-16
  • VIN: 3VW2A7AU1FM
  • Components: SUSPENSION
  • Summary: Driving on thruway at 65 when the left rear coil spring broke. There was a loud bang and pieces of the spring exited out onto the highway where several vehicles ran over them before they bounced off the road.
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2023-07-01

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-06-29
  • VIN: 3VW217AU9FM
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Air bag error appeared on dashboard. Horn is not functioning as well. May be due to a faulty switch in the steering.
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2023-06-14

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-06-12
  • VIN: 3VW817AU7FM
  • Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
  • Summary: I was putting gas and it started shooting out gas from the tank fuel. I had filled up 2 gallons and the entire two gallons ended up on the floor of the gas station. I took the car to an old Volkswagen specialist and he suggested I get an evap system smoke test to determine what the problem is. I did the test and it came back as a faulty evap canister. That the evap vent valve is stuck closed and purge is allowing fuel into the canister. So I bought an oem canister and replaced the old one. For one day the car drove fine with no issue putting gas or any leaks. The next day I noticed the smell of gas and saw that it was leaking gas from behind the rear wheel. I took it to a local mechanic and the car leaked the remaining 60 miles of gas on the floor. Also the new canister is filled with gas again.
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2023-06-02

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-05-11
  • VIN: 3VW2A7AUXFM
  • Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
  • Summary: Over the last two months, I've had over 30 incidences where the car will either randomly shift extremely hard into a gear or will hesitate, stutter, lose power while accelerating. Some of the shifts have been so hard that they've thrown me forward. Some of the losses of power are extremely dangerous as I'm accelerating at highway speeds. I have a full log of at least 30 of these incidents (and detailed as best I could) and they are attached. I picked May 11th because that was the hardest shift/loss of power which caused me the greatest harm. I've been able to reproduce the errors in drive, sport, and Tiptronic mode. The errors occur in all gears, but are most common in 2nd and 3rd (although the higher gears are involved as well), which leads me to believe it's not the transmission, yet the mechatronics unit or something outside of the transmission and engine itself. The troubling issue here is that the car is recording absolutely zero fault codes for diagnosis; that is, the car is shifting, stuttering, hesitating randomly and erratically and no diagnostics are being provided to resolve the issue. Technicians are able to guess what the issue is, but cannot give a guarantee what the problem is without the fault codes. This is the greatest safety concern, but luckily no crashes so far. I was interested to learn that there was a recall on the same model by the Australian government related to the pressure accumulator and I'd like to see if this could be the issue, since I'm experiencing the same symptoms as those described in the recall: https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005369. The contact stated that the loss of power issue still persists. The contact stated the issue is a faulty crank trigger.
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2023-04-05

STRUCTURE,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-03-01
  • VIN: 3VW2A7AU6FM
  • Components: STRUCTURE,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: Discovered several inches of water in the spare tire boot area. The entire back seat was also soaked through. Water appears to be leaking into the car from rear pressure vents behind the bumper or from another undetermined source, posing risks including black mold and damage to the spare tire.
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2023-04-05

SUSPENSION PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-04-02
  • VIN: 3VW217AUXFM
  • Components: SUSPENSION
  • Summary: Left rear coil spring failed and is not available for inspection. The car was difficult to control when the spring failed which put driver safety at risk. The car was brought to an independent service center and confirmed that the failure was a left rear coil spring which required replacing both the left and right rear coil springs. The component was not inspected by the manufacturer. There were no warning signs or symptoms of the problem prior to failure. The car suddenly start making a loud noise in the rear left section of the vehicle while driving.
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2023-03-28

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-12-12
  • VIN: 3VW2A7AU3FM
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: The frame and track of the sun roof has developed a crack. It is available for inspection upon request. Because the frame/track developed a crack in the structural material, I can hear it rattling when I drive, which tells me it is loose. A loose sun roof structural system is not good, as driving on a freeway / highway at a higher speed could possibly cause the sun roof to become detached and fly off of the vehicle, or dislodge enough to distract the driver. Another secondary problem that has happened because of this loose, cracked sun roof track/frame, is that water has now been leaking into the car (possibly causing mold and condensation which has fogged up the windshield while driving) and slippery conditions all over the track/frame. This water drips through the overhead electrical panel, the headliner and down into the speakers. This can cause an electrical shortage in the vehicle, or shock. Water dripping into the car while driving on a rainy day on the freeway, can cause major distraction to the driver in dangerous conditions. The vehicle and sun roof issue have been inspected by the VW dealer, auto shop, and insurance. The VW dealer did tell me they have this issue often for these same models (they were fixing one as i was talking to them) and I have seen lawsuits online for this same issue. The car has never warned me about this issue, there are no warning lamps or messages pertaining to this. Nothing has ever severely impacted the car to cause this problem (It has never been in an accident). Please note, I have not used / opened / activated / operated this sun roof since this issue began back in December 2021. Car Insurance has offered to pay for a new headliner, but not for sun roof repair. The lifetime warranty has declined to pay for the repair because water has been involved (even though water is a secondary issue to the initial issue of a crack developing in the sun roof track/frame under normal dry warm conditions).
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2023-02-23

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-02-03
  • VIN: 3VW2A7AUXFM
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
  • Summary: Clock spring issue in VW golf’s should re reinvestigated. These are failing on these cars and companies are not looking into fixes or warranty help for these devices that should last. It’s shortsighted for consumers to continue to deal with this issue.
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2022-12-02

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-03-01
  • VIN: WVWLF7AU4FW
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Golf. The contact noticed that the fuel pump would frequent stop while fueling the vehicle. The contact then stated that while his vehicle was being driven by a valet, fuel began to pour out of the fuel tank while on an incline. The valet attendant managed to drive the vehicle down a decline which stopped the leak. Despite the failure, the contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The vehicle was then driven to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The dealer informed the contact that the suction pump, seal, and emission filter needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V647000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
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2022-11-29

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-11-04
  • VIN: 3VW217AU3FM
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: Loss of coolant due to cheap plastic housing leads to damage to the thermostat and water pump. Researching the forums on this issue has shown that it's a common problem with the vehicle that Volkswagen hasn't addressed.
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2022-11-13

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-11-10
  • VIN: 3VW217AU4FM
  • Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
  • Summary: Suction pump recall was completed by Karmart the dealership I purchased the vehicle from. Suction pump continues to be an issue with fuel purging or leaking. This has been an ongoing issue for the past 5 months. Most recently a few days ago.
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Positive 2015 Volkswagen Golf r car reviews

  1. Hank Quigley 2024-03-20

    I've been thoroughly enjoying my Golf R DSG for just over 10k miles now. It's my daily driver and I'm constantly impressed by its all-around capabilities. As you can see by the mileage, I'm a pretty frequent commuter, but this little Fun Box has held up beautifully. It's plain and simple: this car is an Audi in so many ways. Overall, I have nothing but great things to say about it. While it may not wow you at first, it drives very nicely and is compliant for everyday use. The moment you find the Race Mode and put your foot down, you'll simply say out loud... 'Holy Sh....' It may not initially seem fast at the top half of the soft pedal, but this car is truly an awesome vehicle once you get to know it. It's not a Boy Toy, but rather a very nicely balanced Stealth Fighter. I should mention that I have a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old, and they both ride comfortably in the back. I would also say that I've had adults up to 5'9OK, I think I am ready to go take a drive.....RRRRRRRRRRR

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