Mk5 Golf GTi - Isofix
Discussion
With apologies for a rather dull thread as my first foray into this forum, can anyone confirm whether the Mk5 GTi has rear isofix connectors as standard, or are they optional?
Are there any particular child seat issues (newborn, so rear-facing) that I need to be aware of more generally?
Fatherhood beckons in a few months so it's time to start turning my mind to thoughts of a replacement for the rather impractical old school 911....
Are there any particular child seat issues (newborn, so rear-facing) that I need to be aware of more generally?
Fatherhood beckons in a few months so it's time to start turning my mind to thoughts of a replacement for the rather impractical old school 911....
AFAIK all Mk v GTi's and R32's have them as standard - they are really obvious as there are plastic guides in the bottom of the seatbacks with "ISOFix" stamped on them! You should easily be able to see them.
I've just handed back a GTi Edition 30 which had 2 Isofix seats in the back at one point!
Seem to recall both models come as standard with them in the front passenger seat too - albeit hidden between the seat base and cushion in the more usual style.
Regarding rules for baby-seats:
Most newborn baby seats (Group 0 - suitable from birth to 9 months) need to be rear facing in order to appopriate support and protect the babys head. Therefore if you put it in the front passenger seat you will need to manually turn the passenger side front airbag off (there is a keyslot switch in the glovebox and a warning light on the dash).
ONce the little nipper is over 9kgs/9 months it can go into a Group 1 forward facing seat, and the airbag can be left on.
General health and safety guidance I think is to keep them in the back and only put them in the front if absolutely necessary. Health and safety people have clearly never tried to get a baby seat in and out of the back of an Audi TT!
I've just handed back a GTi Edition 30 which had 2 Isofix seats in the back at one point!
Seem to recall both models come as standard with them in the front passenger seat too - albeit hidden between the seat base and cushion in the more usual style.
Regarding rules for baby-seats:
Most newborn baby seats (Group 0 - suitable from birth to 9 months) need to be rear facing in order to appopriate support and protect the babys head. Therefore if you put it in the front passenger seat you will need to manually turn the passenger side front airbag off (there is a keyslot switch in the glovebox and a warning light on the dash).
ONce the little nipper is over 9kgs/9 months it can go into a Group 1 forward facing seat, and the airbag can be left on.
General health and safety guidance I think is to keep them in the back and only put them in the front if absolutely necessary. Health and safety people have clearly never tried to get a baby seat in and out of the back of an Audi TT!
Edited by DMH@VWG on Monday 7th January 11:38
Thanks DMH 
I had been able to establish from VW's online brochure that the Edition 30 has Isofix as standard, but the generic Golf brochure wasn't much help in relation to "standard" GTis.
I'm aware of the front airbag issue, so Junior will only be travellig in the back until s/he can sit in a forward-facing seat.
I had been able to establish from VW's online brochure that the Edition 30 has Isofix as standard, but the generic Golf brochure wasn't much help in relation to "standard" GTis.
I'm aware of the front airbag issue, so Junior will only be travellig in the back until s/he can sit in a forward-facing seat.
I've just stumbled across this thread and read it with interest as I am currently looking to sell my Alpina Roadster and buy something a bit more family friendly as we have our first child on the way.
My query is, is the Golf GTi big enough to swallow all the luggage that comes with a little nipper? It would be a great choice as far as I'm concerned, but I was moving towards something a bit bigger and going for a sporty saloon.
Grateful for any feedback from GTi owners with newborn kids.
Cheers,
John
My query is, is the Golf GTi big enough to swallow all the luggage that comes with a little nipper? It would be a great choice as far as I'm concerned, but I was moving towards something a bit bigger and going for a sporty saloon.
Grateful for any feedback from GTi owners with newborn kids.
Cheers,
John
johnboy_78 said:
I've just stumbled across this thread and read it with interest as I am currently looking to sell my Alpina Roadster and buy something a bit more family friendly as we have our first child on the way.
My query is, is the Golf GTi big enough to swallow all the luggage that comes with a little nipper? It would be a great choice as far as I'm concerned, but I was moving towards something a bit bigger and going for a sporty saloon.
Grateful for any feedback from GTi owners with newborn kids.
Cheers,
John
We have used an R32 with a newborn for nearly 3 years and I cant think of any other car I would sooner have used for all the baby transporting duties.Its still a very compact car,easy to drive and park so you can get the doors open properly and lift out baby seats etc.The boot is actually smaller in the R32 than the GTi due to the four wheel drive hardware but we still had plenty of room for all the associated stuff which has to travel with a small child.Sometimes we also have my son who is 12 years old and he has plenty of room in it as well.The car is also fun to drive which is another plus point for me.My query is, is the Golf GTi big enough to swallow all the luggage that comes with a little nipper? It would be a great choice as far as I'm concerned, but I was moving towards something a bit bigger and going for a sporty saloon.
Grateful for any feedback from GTi owners with newborn kids.
Cheers,
John
In answer to the OP,all Golfs from MK4 onwards have ISOFIX as standard.
Johnboy,
We bought a 5-dr for the wife with the intention of not needing to get rid of it as/when we have a child. Boot is big and practical, albeit if you believe one set of our friends nothing less than a full-size people carrier will be big enough!
Re: Isofix - no cost option on the MkV, apparently. Might be worth checking if it can be retro-fitted by a dealer...
We bought a 5-dr for the wife with the intention of not needing to get rid of it as/when we have a child. Boot is big and practical, albeit if you believe one set of our friends nothing less than a full-size people carrier will be big enough!
Re: Isofix - no cost option on the MkV, apparently. Might be worth checking if it can be retro-fitted by a dealer...
havoc said:
Johnboy,
We bought a 5-dr for the wife with the intention of not needing to get rid of it as/when we have a child. Boot is big and practical, albeit if you believe one set of our friends nothing less than a full-size people carrier will be big enough!
Re: Isofix - no cost option on the MkV, apparently. Might be worth checking if it can be retro-fitted by a dealer...
All Golfs from MK 4 onwards have ISOFIX as standardWe bought a 5-dr for the wife with the intention of not needing to get rid of it as/when we have a child. Boot is big and practical, albeit if you believe one set of our friends nothing less than a full-size people carrier will be big enough!
Re: Isofix - no cost option on the MkV, apparently. Might be worth checking if it can be retro-fitted by a dealer...
Thanks for all the responses.
I have also been considering the Focus ST, BMW 130i, Renaultsport Megane (5dr) & SEAT Leon Curpa.
Met some friends today that have just had a baby (3 mths old) and they have a BMW 116i and I have to say the boot did not take much of their gear. The pram and carrycot took up pretty much the entire boot and it claims to hold 330L of luggage. The Golf on paper is only marginally bigger at 350L and the Focus ST bigger again at 385L.
The Golf would still be top choice ahead of the Focus and Megane, but I think that I might need to try the pram and other accessories in one to see whether it will be big enough. Don't really want anything any bigger than it needs to be!
Cheers,
John
I have also been considering the Focus ST, BMW 130i, Renaultsport Megane (5dr) & SEAT Leon Curpa.
Met some friends today that have just had a baby (3 mths old) and they have a BMW 116i and I have to say the boot did not take much of their gear. The pram and carrycot took up pretty much the entire boot and it claims to hold 330L of luggage. The Golf on paper is only marginally bigger at 350L and the Focus ST bigger again at 385L.
The Golf would still be top choice ahead of the Focus and Megane, but I think that I might need to try the pram and other accessories in one to see whether it will be big enough. Don't really want anything any bigger than it needs to be!
Cheers,
John
hi there, just reading this thread and was going to offer my experience with the golf. we had a baby girl back in july and decided to do the DAD thing and sell my mk5 dsg and get a bmw320 touring , lovely car but no bigger than the golf. if anything the boot is SLIGHTLY bigger but in the cabin is smaller. so after 8 mths we are going back to the mk5 dsg( in my opinion dsg is the 1 to have) and i pick it up wednesday, cant wait!! i have had lots of cars aand mostly sports ones and this is the only car that i have returned to. they are aa faantaastic all rounder .. buy 1 you wont regret it. all the best with being a dad its awesome... ade
just picked the golf up. faaaaaaaaab>>>>>
like i said the 3 series boot was slightly bigger and a little easier to load as it has a level threshold but also is a funny shape. as for inside the rear of the golf is MUCH bigger than the bmw. we had the latest shape. and my mate got in the back today and he was well comfy.
i need a little help. our little miss is moving on to a bigger carseat. i want to use the isofix. any recommendations???? all help would be welcomed..
thanks
like i said the 3 series boot was slightly bigger and a little easier to load as it has a level threshold but also is a funny shape. as for inside the rear of the golf is MUCH bigger than the bmw. we had the latest shape. and my mate got in the back today and he was well comfy.
i need a little help. our little miss is moving on to a bigger carseat. i want to use the isofix. any recommendations???? all help would be welcomed..
thanks
I have a mk5 GTI - superb car!
In my opinion the boot is too small for a baby and all its clobber though.
By the time I've got the pram / pushchair in there there is no room for anything else.
Wifey's mk2 Octavia (essentially same chasis but longer bigger body) is a much better size.
The 2.0T VRS drives pretty well by all accounts too...
In my opinion the boot is too small for a baby and all its clobber though.
By the time I've got the pram / pushchair in there there is no room for anything else.
Wifey's mk2 Octavia (essentially same chasis but longer bigger body) is a much better size.
The 2.0T VRS drives pretty well by all accounts too...
adeben73 said:
i need a little help. our little miss is moving on to a bigger carseat. i want to use the isofix. any recommendations???? all help would be welcomed..
thanks
We're about two months away from our first and we've been looking at the Jane range. I have a thing about safety after getting hit head on by someone who lost control in the past and they have a neat piston thing that reduces impact forces by up to 4G; well worth a look. We're looking at the Strata which they are just about to add an ISOFIX base for, but the next step up is the Exo which should do you a treat. The UK disti is called Johnston Prams from memory but most decent online places should have details. thanks
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff