Mk5 Golf GTI Pirelli Edition
Discussion
I have just let go of my Mondeo ST220 after 3 years of ownership. I've loved this car, but it's just time for a change! I bought the mondeo as I am a strength coach and PT, ad have to carry a lot of kit around with me and needed the big estate car. On one of the more recent day spa's for the mondeo (a.k.a, snapped throttle cable) I borrowed my GFs little Mazda 2, and managed to fit 95% of what I need in, and I have sorted the other 5% in order to accomadate having more flexibility with car buying - as large, quirky, interesting etsate cars aren't all that common, and they tend to be out of budget.
After flirting with a few different cars, I settled on a Golf GTI Edition 30. I spent a couple of weeks viewing several cars, but not finding anything that really stood out. I wanted a 5dr, DSG and a red one. Two cars in derby were scruffy, and over priced. One in Bradford was very scuffy, and either broken or modded (very noisy turbo, and a dump on gear change), and another bradford car was lovely, but scruffy, top money (£11k) abd was a parellel import, which put me off.
When discussing the import issues on mk5golfgti.co.uk, a memeber posted up a link to a pirelli edition, about 1hr 20 minutes from me. It looked too good to be true... 10,000 miles less, 18 months newer, apparently much better condition and advertised at £2k less than my previous favourite ED30, at £9000. I called the guy up, and went to take a look about 2 hours later. We shook hands at £8750 - which for a 58 plate, 49,000 miles, excellent condition Pirelli GTI I think is a very very good price!
The car was in Yarm (really pretty little town!) and when I pulled up, the car looked lovely. I met the seller, and instantly got an idea of how much he cared about the car. We had a good look around together and the car was in really excellent condition. There is a tiny door ding or the FL wing, and a tiny light scuff on one alloy. Apart from that, the car is perfect (although I found one more ding when I got home, on the skirt under the car - you can only see it if your eyes are at ground level). The inside was perfect too, really clean and very well looked after. Not a spec of dust in the door hinges - like I said really well looked after!
The test drive was great. It was silver, not red and manual, not DSG but I much prefered driving it to the DSG ED30s I'd tested. This might have just been because manual is what I am used to, but either way I'mm happy I went for a manual and not DSG in the end. Whilst the Silver isn't as striking as the red, it looks great. I originally preferred the ED30 wheels, but now I think I prefer the pirelli's, and they'll be easier to clean! They are not the standard colour, they're maybe a shade or two darker which I think looks great; but if I ever get them refurbed I'll go back to OEM i expect. The seats. Those Seats. For those who don't know them, maybe google a photo - they have Pzero treadmarks in them. Before I saw the car it was stopping me looking at Pirelli editions, but in the flesh they're not so garish, and now I'm used to them I quite like them. The seats are very snug for me (5ft8 and just over 15 stone) but are very comfortable half alcantara/half leather and heated. Not electrically adjustable, except for the lumbar though (the Recaros in the 220 are hard to beat!)
Spec wise it's fairly low. It was the only GTI I saw that didn't have the multi function stearing wheel. It has Dual Zone climate, which I think is standard but a very nice feature. It doesn't have cruise or nav which I would have liked, but there's a guy on mk5golfgti that will fit cruiser for £30, and he'll fit the nav too but units aren't cheap - I am definitely going to invest in cruise, and I expect NAV (upgraded head unit with DAB too) as well in the not too distant future. No Xenons or parking sensors, but I've never had either so they won't be missed.
Driving wise I've spent about 3 hours in it since I got it, but only covered about 70 miles. Lots of traffic! It drives really nicely. Much more nimble and more planted than the ST, and feels loads faster too, although on paper it's not that different the turbo makes the power/acceleration much more usable day to day. It's firm but more compliant than the ST. I'm really enjoying driving it but scared of putting any scuffs on it, so being very picky about where I park it! Fuel economy wise I'm touching 30mpg, which was a wet dream in the ST
Oh and I forgot to mention, a really nice touch, he sold it with a 2008 copy of VW driver, with the Pirelli as the main feautre. A really nice touch I think.
Anyway, a couple of photos...
After flirting with a few different cars, I settled on a Golf GTI Edition 30. I spent a couple of weeks viewing several cars, but not finding anything that really stood out. I wanted a 5dr, DSG and a red one. Two cars in derby were scruffy, and over priced. One in Bradford was very scuffy, and either broken or modded (very noisy turbo, and a dump on gear change), and another bradford car was lovely, but scruffy, top money (£11k) abd was a parellel import, which put me off.
When discussing the import issues on mk5golfgti.co.uk, a memeber posted up a link to a pirelli edition, about 1hr 20 minutes from me. It looked too good to be true... 10,000 miles less, 18 months newer, apparently much better condition and advertised at £2k less than my previous favourite ED30, at £9000. I called the guy up, and went to take a look about 2 hours later. We shook hands at £8750 - which for a 58 plate, 49,000 miles, excellent condition Pirelli GTI I think is a very very good price!
The car was in Yarm (really pretty little town!) and when I pulled up, the car looked lovely. I met the seller, and instantly got an idea of how much he cared about the car. We had a good look around together and the car was in really excellent condition. There is a tiny door ding or the FL wing, and a tiny light scuff on one alloy. Apart from that, the car is perfect (although I found one more ding when I got home, on the skirt under the car - you can only see it if your eyes are at ground level). The inside was perfect too, really clean and very well looked after. Not a spec of dust in the door hinges - like I said really well looked after!
The test drive was great. It was silver, not red and manual, not DSG but I much prefered driving it to the DSG ED30s I'd tested. This might have just been because manual is what I am used to, but either way I'mm happy I went for a manual and not DSG in the end. Whilst the Silver isn't as striking as the red, it looks great. I originally preferred the ED30 wheels, but now I think I prefer the pirelli's, and they'll be easier to clean! They are not the standard colour, they're maybe a shade or two darker which I think looks great; but if I ever get them refurbed I'll go back to OEM i expect. The seats. Those Seats. For those who don't know them, maybe google a photo - they have Pzero treadmarks in them. Before I saw the car it was stopping me looking at Pirelli editions, but in the flesh they're not so garish, and now I'm used to them I quite like them. The seats are very snug for me (5ft8 and just over 15 stone) but are very comfortable half alcantara/half leather and heated. Not electrically adjustable, except for the lumbar though (the Recaros in the 220 are hard to beat!)
Spec wise it's fairly low. It was the only GTI I saw that didn't have the multi function stearing wheel. It has Dual Zone climate, which I think is standard but a very nice feature. It doesn't have cruise or nav which I would have liked, but there's a guy on mk5golfgti that will fit cruiser for £30, and he'll fit the nav too but units aren't cheap - I am definitely going to invest in cruise, and I expect NAV (upgraded head unit with DAB too) as well in the not too distant future. No Xenons or parking sensors, but I've never had either so they won't be missed.
Driving wise I've spent about 3 hours in it since I got it, but only covered about 70 miles. Lots of traffic! It drives really nicely. Much more nimble and more planted than the ST, and feels loads faster too, although on paper it's not that different the turbo makes the power/acceleration much more usable day to day. It's firm but more compliant than the ST. I'm really enjoying driving it but scared of putting any scuffs on it, so being very picky about where I park it! Fuel economy wise I'm touching 30mpg, which was a wet dream in the ST
Oh and I forgot to mention, a really nice touch, he sold it with a 2008 copy of VW driver, with the Pirelli as the main feautre. A really nice touch I think.
Anyway, a couple of photos...
Edited by TheBALDpuma on Sunday 31st July 09:42
Very nice! I looked at one of these back in 2009 when I sold my m3 to a mate, but at that time they were outta my price range so I ended up with approved used mk5 Gti instead.
Love them seats too
P.s I have one of them bluefin tuning devices that needs a reset if you need a bit more go
Love them seats too
P.s I have one of them bluefin tuning devices that needs a reset if you need a bit more go
I really like that. I'd definitely go for the cruise and HU upgrade though, not only will it be better for you and to use, but will also make it more saleable if/when you come to shift it on.
Wow, those seats are pretty bold aren't they! I think I like them, id need to see them in real life I think....
Wow, those seats are pretty bold aren't they! I think I like them, id need to see them in real life I think....
Drive Blind said:
I'm guessing the seats will be a marmite feature.
TheBALDpuma said:
The seats. Those Seats. - they have Pzero treadmarks in them.
Was there a lesser model with the P6000 tread pattern on them ? Interesting car, and never seen a P-edition in the metal.
For £30 cruise is a no brainer, and I'd be tempted to do the nav if it's something you would use.
xu5 said:
Not heard of mk 5 Pirelli before. That interior looks great.
Could they of not done a modern interpretation of the P wheels though?
They did! There is a P shaped into the spoke of the wheel. Much more subtle than the mk1, and part of the spoke rather than the hole. I think they look great.Could they of not done a modern interpretation of the P wheels though?
Podie said:
Interesting car, and never seen a P-edition in the metal.
For £30 cruise is a no brainer, and I'd be tempted to do the nav if it's something you would use.
Just sold my ST220 Podie - for the princely sum of £1k. I feel like I'm letting the side down letting it go that cheap, bit I needed a quick sale and the body work was shabby at best
I have just spent the last 20 mins doing a readers car for my GTI, until I realised I'd already written one! Balls!
By way of an update I'm 4500 miles in and really enjoying it. The ride is very firm and is on the line for what I'd call statisfactory for everyday use around a pot holed Leeds.
It's been trouble free up until this weekend, when a bunch of warning lights have all come on together and the rear LH door won't unlock - It's all come at once so I'm assumimg the warnings lights (Traction Control, Tyre Pressure, ECP and EML) are linked, and possibly the rear door or possibly a coincidence - anyway I think it's something electrical causing some problems as the car runs fine, it's booked in on Thursday to have it looked at.
I've been up to scotland in it, and I'm heading over to the lakes next weekend. It's also done a lot of motorway work to conferences and family down south as well as all the about town work - which is how I've put 4.5k miles in just over 2 months. It's averaged 30mpg since, and I'm pretty happy with that.
By way of an update I'm 4500 miles in and really enjoying it. The ride is very firm and is on the line for what I'd call statisfactory for everyday use around a pot holed Leeds.
It's been trouble free up until this weekend, when a bunch of warning lights have all come on together and the rear LH door won't unlock - It's all come at once so I'm assumimg the warnings lights (Traction Control, Tyre Pressure, ECP and EML) are linked, and possibly the rear door or possibly a coincidence - anyway I think it's something electrical causing some problems as the car runs fine, it's booked in on Thursday to have it looked at.
I've been up to scotland in it, and I'm heading over to the lakes next weekend. It's also done a lot of motorway work to conferences and family down south as well as all the about town work - which is how I've put 4.5k miles in just over 2 months. It's averaged 30mpg since, and I'm pretty happy with that.
Really like the MK5 Golf GTI, was looking through the classifieds the other day and the early models at £4k look a bit of a bargain!
Pirelli edition must be nice to have in that it's so rare, and those seats are ace!
Will give you a wave if I see you around Leeds, if you're ever out for a hoon give me a message too as I'm always up for one
Pirelli edition must be nice to have in that it's so rare, and those seats are ace!
Will give you a wave if I see you around Leeds, if you're ever out for a hoon give me a message too as I'm always up for one
I was just thinking to myself how long have I had this car, so I thought I'd look for when I wrote the readers car!
It's been just over a year (and 20,000 miles). Overall it has been a good one, and I've really enjoyed the car. It's quick enough and good fun on regular trips over to the lakes, and comfortable enough on motorway hauls down south to visit family - although the seats are a little snug for me!
What's gone wrong:
Both passenger door locks failed and needed replacing.
The throttle body failed, and when replaced it wouldn't pair with the ECU, so that got sent off to be refreshed/refurbed (or something).
Other than that routine stuff like servicing, all new pads and discs, 4 new tyres (p zero's of course!) etc; so I've actually had to spend a fair wedge on it, but apart from the locks and the TB, nothing that wouldn't come up on every car at some point anyway, it just so happened it was all within a few months.
I still love the fact it's not just a normal GTI; it's a great all rounder with a but of a special twist.
It's been just over a year (and 20,000 miles). Overall it has been a good one, and I've really enjoyed the car. It's quick enough and good fun on regular trips over to the lakes, and comfortable enough on motorway hauls down south to visit family - although the seats are a little snug for me!
What's gone wrong:
Both passenger door locks failed and needed replacing.
The throttle body failed, and when replaced it wouldn't pair with the ECU, so that got sent off to be refreshed/refurbed (or something).
Other than that routine stuff like servicing, all new pads and discs, 4 new tyres (p zero's of course!) etc; so I've actually had to spend a fair wedge on it, but apart from the locks and the TB, nothing that wouldn't come up on every car at some point anyway, it just so happened it was all within a few months.
I still love the fact it's not just a normal GTI; it's a great all rounder with a but of a special twist.
Ambleton said:
I really like that. I'd definitely go for the cruise and HU upgrade though, not only will it be better for you and to use, but will also make it more saleable if/when you come to shift it on.
Wow, those seats are pretty bold aren't they! I think I like them, id need to see them in real life I think....
ttWow, those seats are pretty bold aren't they! I think I like them, id need to see them in real life I think....
They are certainly different
culpz said:
They look really smart these. Any mods done or planned for the future?
Thanks No mods done, and probably none planned. I like it being totally standard really. An easy 300hp from stage 1 remap is so so tempting though! Also a deadset kit which should stiffen it up a bit, and hopefully resolve a knock from the subframe might be on the cards.
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