The mk5 Golf GTi?
Discussion
For the last two years I've been driving a mk3 renault clio dci, it's main purpose being a cheap to run car with a low insurance group in which I could build up a few years NCB.
While I like this car and it's 54mpg at worst fuel economy and (touch wood) awesome reliability I feel it's time for a change. Since some clown decided to push me into the Armco on a dual carriageway and admirals quite frankly poor attempt at repairing the car it just hasn't felt the same to me.
Anyway, onto the golf.. My first car was a 1.6 mk4 golf which at the time I thought was the best car ever, it had electric everything and 110 bhp to play with but £240 a month insurance meant I didn't have it for long..
Now, a 2005 mk5 gti has come up for sale locally with 75k on the clock with a manual gearbox.
What exactly can I expect fun terms of fuel economy on a 25 mile each way commute which is a mixture of dual carriageway and stop start traffic into the centre of cardiff?
How will it compare to the little clio? Tires, servicing, tax and insurance will all cost a little more but most importantly, will it bankrupt me?
While I like this car and it's 54mpg at worst fuel economy and (touch wood) awesome reliability I feel it's time for a change. Since some clown decided to push me into the Armco on a dual carriageway and admirals quite frankly poor attempt at repairing the car it just hasn't felt the same to me.
Anyway, onto the golf.. My first car was a 1.6 mk4 golf which at the time I thought was the best car ever, it had electric everything and 110 bhp to play with but £240 a month insurance meant I didn't have it for long..
Now, a 2005 mk5 gti has come up for sale locally with 75k on the clock with a manual gearbox.
What exactly can I expect fun terms of fuel economy on a 25 mile each way commute which is a mixture of dual carriageway and stop start traffic into the centre of cardiff?
How will it compare to the little clio? Tires, servicing, tax and insurance will all cost a little more but most importantly, will it bankrupt me?
dci said:
Now, a 2005 mk5 gti has come up for sale locally with 75k on the clock with a manual gearbox.
I drive an Octavia vRS Mk2 so I can't tell you every answer but I can tell you what I'd want to know.Has it had the cambelt done? Recommendations are every 4 years so it should have been done last year. If not, that'll cost you. Check if the water pump's been done while the cambelt's off. (The recommendation was originally 120,000 miles for a water pump but many people do it at the same time as the cambelt's off anyway since there are tales of them failing before then. The recommendation did change to 60,000 IIRC.)
Manual is a good choice. Many people swear by their DSG gearboxes, but many people swear at them too when they go wrong and the manual is a good box.
I would say 32-35mpg on a steady motorway run is realistic. They like 98 Octane and above though, and while opinions vary I think it makes enough difference to fuel economy to make it worth paying for the nicer stuff.
Stop start traffic... well, you'll get 0mpg in stationary traffic
but I know Cardiff well and I think 18-20mpg around town is typical for my Octavia vRS (which is 50kg heavier than the Golf GTi and I carry a lot of stuff around for work, mind!)EDIT: For clarity, the 18-20mpg stuff is for the 5-10mph inner city stuff. I agree with the poster below that 35mpg on a DC is realistic.
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Sunday 3rd August 20:08
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Sunday 3rd August 20:49
Take a look on the VW Audi forums on here, lots of helpful info. In short look out for faulty Air con compressor, coil packs, split diverter valve, rusty wings. The car runs noticeably better on super unleaded.
I'd say you would be looking at more like 35mpg on that commute. I know Cardiff well.
I'd say you would be looking at more like 35mpg on that commute. I know Cardiff well.
dci said:
For the last two years I've been driving a mk3 renault clio dci, it's main purpose being a cheap to run car with a low insurance group in which I could build up a few years NCB.
While I like this car and it's 54mpg at worst fuel economy and (touch wood) awesome reliability I feel it's time for a change. Since some clown decided to push me into the Armco on a dual carriageway and admirals quite frankly poor attempt at repairing the car it just hasn't felt the same to me.
Anyway, onto the golf.. My first car was a 1.6 mk4 golf which at the time I thought was the best car ever, it had electric everything and 110 bhp to play with but £240 a month insurance meant I didn't have it for long..
Now, a 2005 mk5 gti has come up for sale locally with 75k on the clock with a manual gearbox.
What exactly can I expect fun terms of fuel economy on a 25 mile each way commute which is a mixture of dual carriageway and stop start traffic into the centre of cardiff?
How will it compare to the little clio? Tires, servicing, tax and insurance will all cost a little more but most importantly, will it bankrupt me?
Dunno but the PH GTI forum name is already taken I think.While I like this car and it's 54mpg at worst fuel economy and (touch wood) awesome reliability I feel it's time for a change. Since some clown decided to push me into the Armco on a dual carriageway and admirals quite frankly poor attempt at repairing the car it just hasn't felt the same to me.
Anyway, onto the golf.. My first car was a 1.6 mk4 golf which at the time I thought was the best car ever, it had electric everything and 110 bhp to play with but £240 a month insurance meant I didn't have it for long..
Now, a 2005 mk5 gti has come up for sale locally with 75k on the clock with a manual gearbox.
What exactly can I expect fun terms of fuel economy on a 25 mile each way commute which is a mixture of dual carriageway and stop start traffic into the centre of cardiff?
How will it compare to the little clio? Tires, servicing, tax and insurance will all cost a little more but most importantly, will it bankrupt me?
I had a mk5 gti, i did 40000 miles in 3 and a bit years. It was a great car and only let me down with a coil pack failure. Lovely car but its looking rather dated now i think. Look out for rust on the front wings. Tyres where around £100 per corner on 18s goodyear gds3 i think i used. Never saw more than 33mpg but did see over 150mph after it was revo'd. All service was done at a main dealer but i had discount after i fitted there showroom sky box;)
Insurance was cheap but then I'm older. Maybe a 2.0tdi gt could suit you better,interior is nearly gti spec. I now have a E91 320d and id never go back to a gti.
Insurance was cheap but then I'm older. Maybe a 2.0tdi gt could suit you better,interior is nearly gti spec. I now have a E91 320d and id never go back to a gti.
Edited by gtidriver on Sunday 3rd August 21:56
Edited by gtidriver on Sunday 3rd August 22:02
blearyeyedboy said:
I drive an Octavia vRS Mk2 so I can't tell you every answer but I can tell you what I'd want to know.
Has it had the cambelt done? Recommendations are every 4 years so it should have been done last year. If not, that'll cost you. Check if the water pump's been done while the cambelt's off. (The recommendation was originally 120,000 miles for a water pump but many people do it at the same time as the cambelt's off anyway since there are tales of them failing before then. The recommendation did change to 60,000 IIRC.)
Manual is a good choice. Many people swear by their DSG gearboxes, but many people swear at them too when they go wrong and the manual is a good box.
I would say 32-35mpg on a steady motorway run is realistic. They like 98 Octane and above though, and while opinions vary I think it makes enough difference to fuel economy to make it worth paying for the nicer stuff.
Stop start traffic... well, you'll get 0mpg in stationary traffic but I know Cardiff well and I think 18-20mpg around town is typical for my Octavia vRS (which is 50kg heavier than the Golf GTi and I carry a lot of stuff around for work, mind!)
EDIT: For clarity, the 18-20mpg stuff is for the 5-10mph inner city stuff. I agree with the poster below that 35mpg on a DC is realistic.
The journey in particular is Aberdare to Newport rd, so a quick jaunt down the A470 and then through stop start on manor way then more dual carriage past the Heath hospital to Newport rd.. Has it had the cambelt done? Recommendations are every 4 years so it should have been done last year. If not, that'll cost you. Check if the water pump's been done while the cambelt's off. (The recommendation was originally 120,000 miles for a water pump but many people do it at the same time as the cambelt's off anyway since there are tales of them failing before then. The recommendation did change to 60,000 IIRC.)
Manual is a good choice. Many people swear by their DSG gearboxes, but many people swear at them too when they go wrong and the manual is a good box.
I would say 32-35mpg on a steady motorway run is realistic. They like 98 Octane and above though, and while opinions vary I think it makes enough difference to fuel economy to make it worth paying for the nicer stuff.
Stop start traffic... well, you'll get 0mpg in stationary traffic
but I know Cardiff well and I think 18-20mpg around town is typical for my Octavia vRS (which is 50kg heavier than the Golf GTi and I carry a lot of stuff around for work, mind!)EDIT: For clarity, the 18-20mpg stuff is for the 5-10mph inner city stuff. I agree with the poster below that 35mpg on a DC is realistic.
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Sunday 3rd August 20:08
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Sunday 3rd August 20:49
How would one go about diagnosing such faults as the coil packs giving out?
I had a manual MkV Golf GTI for 5 year and typically average between 29 and 32 mpg in normal driving.
Best I ever got was 40mpg on a late night drive to holland, where i did 60mph pretty much the whole way.
It was a great car. In fact i'm going to test drive a new Golf GTi tomorrow, as it happens.
Best I ever got was 40mpg on a late night drive to holland, where i did 60mph pretty much the whole way.
It was a great car. In fact i'm going to test drive a new Golf GTi tomorrow, as it happens.
I have a 56 plate GTI manual and would definitely recommend one as a sensible all-rounder. They are fun to hustle but also quiet and comfy cruisers and they do everything a car should do extremely well.
Mine seems to do 39-41mpg on long runs, 25 or so in really slow traffic and I'm probably averaging 37 or so overall. I run it on V-Power and occasionally Tesco 99 as it runs better, does more mpg and there are tales on the internet of major engine damage resulting from using 95 octane regularly.
The cambelt does indeed need doing every 4 years and costs a bit but most cars are similar in this respect. The other stuff like diverter valves, PCV valves, fuel pump cam followers, coil packs etc are all cheap and easy DIY jobs so I wouldn't worry about them.
Mine seems to do 39-41mpg on long runs, 25 or so in really slow traffic and I'm probably averaging 37 or so overall. I run it on V-Power and occasionally Tesco 99 as it runs better, does more mpg and there are tales on the internet of major engine damage resulting from using 95 octane regularly.
The cambelt does indeed need doing every 4 years and costs a bit but most cars are similar in this respect. The other stuff like diverter valves, PCV valves, fuel pump cam followers, coil packs etc are all cheap and easy DIY jobs so I wouldn't worry about them.
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