MK 5 Golf GTI - is now the time to buy?
Discussion
So I now have an immediate need for a daily commuter, only doing 30 mins a day so mpg not an issue. Been looking at various sub £1000 cars as this is only a nine month deal. Doing a search I stumbled across what looks to be a lovely gti for six grand. 10 years old, great ownership history and sub 70k mileage with all the bits done.
It got me to thinking, it will provide smiles whilst also being an able family second car... So it may be something I keep after the work is done and I no longer need the motor. I'm fairly sure it is going to be negligible in costs if I sell it later as it is already priced well.
Is this still a modern feeling car? Anything in particular people have experience of good or bad? I've read all the guides on pumps and belts etc, just wondered about general ownership views.
It feels like a stock low miles gti is becoming a rarer thing than before so is now the time to enjoy one whilst I can?
Cheers!
It got me to thinking, it will provide smiles whilst also being an able family second car... So it may be something I keep after the work is done and I no longer need the motor. I'm fairly sure it is going to be negligible in costs if I sell it later as it is already priced well.
Is this still a modern feeling car? Anything in particular people have experience of good or bad? I've read all the guides on pumps and belts etc, just wondered about general ownership views.
It feels like a stock low miles gti is becoming a rarer thing than before so is now the time to enjoy one whilst I can?
Cheers!
Spent the weekend buzzing about in my dad's DSG one. It's a fairly low-miler (40k), and still feels nice and modern despite being 10 years old. It's not nearly as raw as some other hot hatches, but it covers all the basics really well and yet is still fun to punt down a back road too
I had a 2006 Seat Leon FR, same platform and engine as the GTI, and it was a great car. Mine had a remap so went very and was easy to drive.
Post above is a good overview of the issues, but generally speaking they are solid cars.
Key mechanical points are:
Diverter valve tears - loss of boost and so performance and is a cheap repair
Cam follower - check and replace each service
Wheel hubs rust leading to broke ABS sensor (G46) - intermittent abs, Esp and tmps lights on.
Abs sensor can go (G21) - VW should cover this if it does as was a common safety issue across many cars, Google will reveal all. Symptoms is abs light permanent on.
Wheel alignment leading to inner edge wear on rear tyres, known as sawtoothing - for some reason seems common on this platform
Rear wash wipe pipe come detached and leaks into the car causing damp. This is as well as the leaves causing blockages as described above.
Oil consumption can be high as per any VW turbo engine. Always use quality longlife3 507 spec oil.
Car also should ideally be run on 98Ron fuel and above (as defined by the manufacturer, not just the Internet forums). Fuel cap recommends this, but will run on 95.
Seat bolster can collapse.
Inlet can become coked up with carbon deposits as it is a direct injection engine - may need a clean. Some say quality fuel and oil, as well as regular Italian tune-ups help. Others deny the problem completely. Poor idle, loss of power and increased fuel and oil consumption are the main symptoms.
These cars responsible very well to tuning and so many have been played with. This isn't a bad thing unless done cheaply or not maintained accordingly. A quality remap, induction kit and exhaust upgrade (bigger downpipe at least) will net around 280+hp and 300+ftlb.
Post above is a good overview of the issues, but generally speaking they are solid cars.
Key mechanical points are:
Diverter valve tears - loss of boost and so performance and is a cheap repair
Cam follower - check and replace each service
Wheel hubs rust leading to broke ABS sensor (G46) - intermittent abs, Esp and tmps lights on.
Abs sensor can go (G21) - VW should cover this if it does as was a common safety issue across many cars, Google will reveal all. Symptoms is abs light permanent on.
Wheel alignment leading to inner edge wear on rear tyres, known as sawtoothing - for some reason seems common on this platform
Rear wash wipe pipe come detached and leaks into the car causing damp. This is as well as the leaves causing blockages as described above.
Oil consumption can be high as per any VW turbo engine. Always use quality longlife3 507 spec oil.
Car also should ideally be run on 98Ron fuel and above (as defined by the manufacturer, not just the Internet forums). Fuel cap recommends this, but will run on 95.
Seat bolster can collapse.
Inlet can become coked up with carbon deposits as it is a direct injection engine - may need a clean. Some say quality fuel and oil, as well as regular Italian tune-ups help. Others deny the problem completely. Poor idle, loss of power and increased fuel and oil consumption are the main symptoms.
These cars responsible very well to tuning and so many have been played with. This isn't a bad thing unless done cheaply or not maintained accordingly. A quality remap, induction kit and exhaust upgrade (bigger downpipe at least) will net around 280+hp and 300+ftlb.
Sorry, but i'm really confused with this post. So, you set out to buy a car for 1k and then ended up deciding that you'd be better off spending a further 5k more for a Golf GTI?
You can buy some decent cars for around a grand. Do you actually like/want the Golf? I'd make sure that you definately do before spending that amount of money on one. What's the reason why you was only originally looking at cars worth around a grand?
You can buy some decent cars for around a grand. Do you actually like/want the Golf? I'd make sure that you definately do before spending that amount of money on one. What's the reason why you was only originally looking at cars worth around a grand?
Great cars, I just sold mine and in 3 years and 40k other than routine servicing the only thing it needed were a roll bar drop link and £600 for the DSG box valve body replacement (box had become more and more jerky).
Mine used around 1ltr of oil every 5k but many don't use any. I also replaced the fuel pump follower for peace of mine at 70k but mine showed very little wear. The interior held up well, drivers seats do tend to wear the lower bolster if they do lots of short trips as these parts aren't real leather (leatherette stuff). The rusty front wing issue seems to be limited to the earlier models although I did make a point of clearing out leaves and debris from the area in front of the doors.
Not a single rattle or squeak from the interior and a really comfortable place to be on long journeys.
The prices for these are all over the place now from 4k sheds through to 8 or 9k low mileage late models, just remember they are showing their age now and the only thing propping up prices if the disdain most people have for the Mk6. I can see a bit further along when more and more Mk7 GTi's make it on to the 2nd hand market prices will dip for all but the ED30 models.
I've loved driving mine and found it to be a great all rounder, I'd agree now is the time to buy as prices have levelled out a bit and a good, well specced low miler shouldn't lose too much in value for a couple of years of so.
Mine used around 1ltr of oil every 5k but many don't use any. I also replaced the fuel pump follower for peace of mine at 70k but mine showed very little wear. The interior held up well, drivers seats do tend to wear the lower bolster if they do lots of short trips as these parts aren't real leather (leatherette stuff). The rusty front wing issue seems to be limited to the earlier models although I did make a point of clearing out leaves and debris from the area in front of the doors.
Not a single rattle or squeak from the interior and a really comfortable place to be on long journeys.
The prices for these are all over the place now from 4k sheds through to 8 or 9k low mileage late models, just remember they are showing their age now and the only thing propping up prices if the disdain most people have for the Mk6. I can see a bit further along when more and more Mk7 GTi's make it on to the 2nd hand market prices will dip for all but the ED30 models.
I've loved driving mine and found it to be a great all rounder, I'd agree now is the time to buy as prices have levelled out a bit and a good, well specced low miler shouldn't lose too much in value for a couple of years of so.
culpz said:
Sorry, but i'm really confused with this post. So, you set out to buy a car for 1k and then ended up deciding that you'd be better off spending a further 5k more for a Golf GTI?
You can buy some decent cars for around a grand. Do you actually like/want the Golf? I'd make sure that you definately do before spending that amount of money on one. What's the reason why you was only originally looking at cars worth around a grand?
The plan was to buy a car for a grand just to run for a few months, but seeing this car I wondered if it would be better as a longer term option. I'm not bound by any particular budget I just wanted to see if it would make sense right now as a long term prospect over a short term banger. You can buy some decent cars for around a grand. Do you actually like/want the Golf? I'd make sure that you definately do before spending that amount of money on one. What's the reason why you was only originally looking at cars worth around a grand?
carparkno1 said:
The plan was to buy a car for a grand just to run for a few months, but seeing this car I wondered if it would be better as a longer term option. I'm not bound by any particular budget I just wanted to see if it would make sense right now as a long term prospect over a short term banger.
Ah right okay, fair enough. As others have said, they're brilliant all-rounders and prices to seem to be coming into good value territory. They still hold heir value well despite this. They're never going to be an investment though but i'm sure that's not what you're going for anyway.I'd just be careful though as this mindset can be a slippery slope as you can quite easily look at what else can be had that's good value and the corrrect time to buy. With no specific budget in mind, you could end up with an M3 of some sorts
Great stuff, a good android headunit would probably be your best bet, just beware of cheapo Chinese specials. I have heard that the vns veyron is a OEM style unit that quite good.
Ebay for the armrest I guess. Do they not have the standard on the GTI? Edit: Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112157153847
37mpg is really good. You need to drive harder haha. I used to get 28-32 on average. 36 on a slow run but no more!
Ebay for the armrest I guess. Do they not have the standard on the GTI? Edit: Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112157153847
37mpg is really good. You need to drive harder haha. I used to get 28-32 on average. 36 on a slow run but no more!
Edited by Mike335i on Thursday 27th October 16:50
Thanks for the advice on units and armrests everyone. I think the mpg was down to a very steady 70 for close to seven hours. I intend to get those figures into the 20s once it's refilled and on my favourite B road.
Very settled on the mway, nice place to be, heated leather an unexpected bonus. My intention is to keep this for a couple of years and keep it as standard as possible before the next enthusiast wants it. I'd never really thought about a gti but I can now see why it is such an all rounder.
Very settled on the mway, nice place to be, heated leather an unexpected bonus. My intention is to keep this for a couple of years and keep it as standard as possible before the next enthusiast wants it. I'd never really thought about a gti but I can now see why it is such an all rounder.
carparkno1 said:
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/gnfz65Sb.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/697eiDqf" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/697eiDqf.jpg)
Gotta love that interior. Just done 380 miles, 37mpg and didn't put a foot wrong. Excellent so far but need an armrest and a better oem head unit.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff