Golf Mk5 ED30 or Mk6 GTi - Impartial advice please

Golf Mk5 ED30 or Mk6 GTi - Impartial advice please

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chris285

Original Poster:

811 posts

131 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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Ok I currently drive a 05 plate mk1 SEAT Leon FR TDi, done about 75k and in decent condition however I'm doing about 6-7k a year so I don't have a need for a diesel anymore. The above mileage is at the top end of of use as well as I am starting to not use the car for work which is about a mile away, and other than this I use the car to go shopping once a week which is less than a 10mile round trip and visit parents for free Sunday lunch at about a 20mile round trip but that's it in terms of regular mileage.

Because of the above and the fact I will have had the Leon for 5yrs in November and it still should be worth something, I am looking to change cars to something with the 2.0T VAG engine during the middle of next year at this point in time. During conversations with various friends in my car circle I spoke to one who currently owns a red Edition 30 with black BBS wheels and he mentioned he was looking to sell his around the same time I was looking to change next year, now I am not sure the exact mileage or year of the car to hand and I know it has half leather interior so he said I could have first refusal.

At this stage no price has been mentioned so I decided to do my own research as to what sort of price they are going for right now so I have an idea what to expect, and I found that around £11k seems to be a reasonable figure to expect him to ask for which is around the ball park figure I was expecting. However what has thrown something into the hat which I didn't expect is I noticed a few Mk6 GTi's during my search as well which I was not expecting, granted this is the lower end of the scale but it did get me thinking as I prefer the look both inside and outside of the Mk6 myself.

Now I know the Mk6 has a revised engine with lower power but it has the benefits of slightly better book CO2 and MPG figures as well, and I personally think I wouldn't notice a huge difference power wise if I was to drive 2 of them.

What I would like to know is has anyone experience of driving or owning both versions of these cars, and as you may be able to tell I am leaning towards the Mk6 myself but expect the limited edition nature of the ED30 is there another reason to choose one over a Mk6 GTi at all?

rb5er

11,657 posts

171 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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The mk6 does look much better and a remap would make it more powerful. If I had to have a golf in that price range the mk6 would get my money.

chris285

Original Poster:

811 posts

131 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
quotequote all
Yeah it would be remapped at some point, granted my leon is no slouch with 202bhp/366lbft but its still a diesel at the end of the day. Thanks for your reply its helping to cement my view on this really, plus its easier to offload my current motor to a garage rather than having to sell as well

richyt

47 posts

140 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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My dad has the MK6 GTI, he had the MK5 previously, I personally prefer his MK6, looks nicer outside, similar power wise but I think you will find interior to much improved compared to the MK5.

SMB

1,513 posts

265 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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chris285 said:
Yeah it would be remapped at some point, granted my leon is no slouch with 202bhp/366lbft but its still a diesel at the end of the day. Thanks for your reply its helping to cement my view on this really, plus its easier to offload my current motor to a garage rather than having to sell as well
The impact of real world mpg differences mk5 to mk6 are going to be minimal, an edition 30could map to 300bhp, a mk6 to 240-250.
Things to note
Mk6 -chain not Cam belt, early cars can suffer tensioner issues
An early mk6 will probably hold its value a little worse than a late ed 30 assuming condition is good.


the-photographer

3,479 posts

175 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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GTI

+ Better refinement (motorway)
+ Lighter steering
+ Better MPG/Tax
+ Chain engine
+ Cabin quality
+ Newer gadgets available

- Might suffer from wastegate rattle, fix available now

ED30
+ Lower and harder (might be a minus)
+ Easier chip engine, but fast enough in standard form
+ Only 2500 in country
+ For the pub VW Driver mag tested 0-60 5.6secs

- More turbo lag, then "boom"
- Hard to find one without leather bolster damage
- Cabin rattles (check before buying)
- Usual MK5 problems;
- Rust (fixes available for most things, so do them before it starts)
- AC compressor failure (out of goodwill window now)
- PCV DV failure (cheap, don't worry)
- Forums suggest the wheels are vvvveery heavy

Both
+ Fixed price dealer servicing and spares

chris285

Original Poster:

811 posts

131 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for the info, didn't know the Mk6 was a timing chain rather than a cambelt so good to know that information

In terms of value its not really a concern for me as my plan is to keep either car for the same length i've had the leon, as for MPG yes i am quoting book figures so real world will see little change as said but the lower tax is a bonus.

I've always found the Mk5 a little dull myself which is why i'm not a fan of the standard gti, the edition 30 does help rectify this to some degree but i still think the Mk6 is the better looking car overall even in standard guise compared to the edition 30

Thanks for the information guys

va1o

16,029 posts

206 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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I'd go for the Mk6

Scirocco may be worth a look also, as well as the S3 and Leon Cupra if budget allows

chris285

Original Poster:

811 posts

131 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
quotequote all
Leon cupra I'm ruling out for now, the interior is not as nice and build isn't as good which is a real shame as it's a great car

S3 I can't put my finger on why but just doesn't do it for me, despite the drivetrain and more powerful engine

I've not looked at the Rocco I have to say but will a gander at them

cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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Owned an ED 30 and driven the MK6, both very capable, both produce more power than VW claims (Audi sales protection).

ED 30 runs the Audi S3/Golf R engine (with minor differences) your mate has probably already told you this, makes it a different drive to a normal GTI, very quick car even without tuning, not quite as refined as the MK6 and that's to be expected as the breed evolves.

Can't go wrong with either, great all rounders if a little too polished and clinical.


SMB

1,513 posts

265 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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chris285 said:
Leon cupra I'm ruling out for now, the interior is not as nice and build isn't as good which is a real shame as it's a great car

S3 I can't put my finger on why but just doesn't do it for me, despite the drivetrain and more powerful engine

I've not looked at the Rocco I have to say but will a gander at them
I suggest you test drive a mk6 a scirocco and the ed 30

The mk6 will feel composed and smooth but lacking an edge, very civilised
The scirocco with the same engine , lower wider and feel more stable on the road with a lower c.o.g
The ed30 more traditional turbo, a more reactive throttle and once on boost a lot faster feeling. - despite what the reality might be compared to the others

I agree on the s3

chris285

Original Poster:

811 posts

131 months

Thursday 3rd October 2013
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I don't know what it is with the sirocco but somthing has a niggling no factor in my head, i think its the fact the one i am looking at seems a little dated styling wise compared to the Mk6 which seems to have sharper styling and i do love the back end on the mk6 with the twin exit exhausts which only the R sirocco gets. Also the mk6 is gonna be a tad more practical as well which is something else I have in the back of my mind, right now I don't really need it but I do use the space in my Leon several times a year and I feel a sirocco may not quite have what I need in that department. Also I do slightly prefer the mk6 interior as well over the sirocco, not that it is dire by any means but just a more up to date design

chris285

Original Poster:

811 posts

131 months

Thursday 3rd October 2013
quotequote all
On an extra note looking at the mk6, seems confusing as to the ACC adaptive chassis control as some places i've seen it listed as a standard option but other places state its an extra and not all have the button for this. So does anyone know how common this feature is on the mk6, and secondly is it actually worth trying to locate an example with one at all or not?

the-photographer

3,479 posts

175 months

Thursday 3rd October 2013
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chris285 said:
On an extra note looking at the mk6, seems confusing as to the ACC adaptive chassis control as some places i've seen it listed as a standard option but other places state its an extra and not all have the button for this. So does anyone know how common this feature is on the mk6, and secondly is it actually worth trying to locate an example with one at all or not?
Unknown really, but its probably better to buy on condition and bigger extras like xenon lights.

davey68

1,199 posts

236 months

Thursday 3rd October 2013
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Interesting topic and one i've looked into. Interior of mk6 is certainly nicer to my eyes, and I agree nicer than the scirocco. From what ive read the 210ps mk6 feels a fair bit more grunty than the mk5 200ps, with better mpg/CO2. All in all i'd probably stretch my budget and go the mk6 route. Ed30 are interesting but some of the ed30 features like half leather and pescara alloys I don't take to. I much prefer monza alloys especially 18's. If you are into modding (i'm not really) then the k04 ed30 engine is a bit of a beast, easily tuned to 280hp with stage 1 map. I found the same engine in the TTS to be quite laggy. As said, it comes in hard but below 2.5k revs its quite flat. Depends what you prefer.

chris285

Original Poster:

811 posts

131 months

Thursday 3rd October 2013
quotequote all
thanks guys for the replies, pretty much confirmed my thoughts and cleared up what to look at extra's wise on a mk6 so thanks

Crackie

6,386 posts

241 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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Thread resurrection.......

I've been trying to persuade my wife to change her 3.2TT(MK1)for a MK6GTI or ED30/Pirelli. It appears that the MK6 engine makes way more power than VW's stock claims, more than a stock ED30/Pirelli based upon Superchips' info. Has anyone any experience of this ?

I was biassed towards the ED30 but based upon the fact a MK6 is lighter and has much fitter looking dyno graphs I'm going to favour the MK6.

TIA

Actus Reus

4,229 posts

154 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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Is Mk.6 really lighter? I thought it was heavier. Stand to be corrected on that though.

AGK

1,601 posts

154 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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Actus Reus said:
Is Mk.6 really lighter? I thought it was heavier. Stand to be corrected on that though.
Yes by a few kg.

I had an Edition 30. I felt it was a better car compared to the MK6.

ManOpener

12,467 posts

168 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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Mk6 GTI is somewhat lighter than the Mk5, I think it's 1,318kg versus 1,336.