Golf GTI mk 6 vs mk 7

[ugene425]

Hello I am looking to buy a second hand work car for myself, a five door hatch seems the best choice for me. Annual mileage would be between 10-12k I imagine, for my new job. Not huge mileage I know.

I am looking to spend between £10-15k on a second hand car. I don't need to lease a brand new car and pay several hundred £ per month, to be left with no car at the end of the lease term and be hit with the depreciation. I am thinking of putting down £3-5k as cash deposit, and take a cheap £10k loan from Natwest or Sainsbury as the interest rates are so low atm.

Allow me to get to the point, I am looking at returning to buying a golf, a golf GTI (most likely as they are such reliable and well made cars. Also I have owned a W reg 1.6 petrol back in the day! I have never driven or owned a GTI, but always thought they must be great cars! Given my budget has a ceiling of £15k (I need to draw the line somewhere) I am not sure if I can afford a good spec mk 7 gti, with ideally less than 70k miles, over a high spec mk 6. Can anyone provide me with feedback with the mk 6 and mk 7? I gather the latter will have newer tech and a completely new chassis under the hood. Also I always wonder what’s a good max mileage to look up to? If the car has just over 60k, the cam belt should have recently been changed and had a full service? 70-80k+ opens up a lot more car options..

Essentials are leather seats, nav, front/rear parking sensors, fsh. Ideally xenons. I love my cars and do a huge amount of research before buying. As we all know, cars are generally the worst things to spend money on, given they just depreciate year after year.

Thank you for your time and looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts.

[p4cks]

I will always see the MK6 as a facelifted MK5.

The MK7 is an entirely new car so that's where I'd be looking

[ZX10R NIN]

There are some great hot hatches out there & if you want a good VAG car I'd say look at the Seat Leon Cupra 300:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009244...

290

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012147...

280

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101037...

I personally enjoy driving the Cupra's more so than the GTI's so maybe test drive both, also there are some cars that are just as reliable but also more engaging when it comes to upping the pace.

PS 308 GTI great steer & you'll be able to extend the Manufacturer's Warranty too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101067...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011055...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101047...

If you don't mind a three door then the Astra GTC VXR's are a good steer & good value too.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009053...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

Reliability is pretty much a given & VAG products are no more or less reliable than their Ford/Peugeot counterparts & they depreciate at a similar (remember they cost more & things that are standard become options on VW/Audi) rate.

If you want a badge then I'd say look no further than the M135i not the hottest hatch but neither is the GTI but as an all rounder it's a step ahead.

M135i with Pro Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012076...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101027...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012207...

125i M Sport this is probably closer to the GTI in the 1 Series range:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101077...

If you just want a nicely spec'd car with a quality interior that can hustle down an A road then the (they're the same car but the first has AWD & imo the better interior) two cars below are well worth a look.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011186...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008212...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011035...

Out of the two it would be the MK7 but test drive some alternatives first.

[culpz]

MK7 is a much better car than the MK6, so out of those two, that's where my money would go.

As above, there are some other decent picks. The Cupra is always worth a look, as it's a basically FWD Golf R for the same price with more kit as standard. Bit less posh inside but a little more engaging to drive.