The norwegian mk5 GTI
Discussion
When I was 20 years old I set a few goals for myself to reach by the time I was 30. The first was a job that I loved so much that it didin't feel like work. The second was my own apartment, and the third was to own a mk5 golf gti. When the mk5 gti was new, I was captivated. It was so good looking and the reviews were raging about, it was the car I just had to have.
Well, the e46 m3 was the car I really HAD TO have, but the thing with the GTI was that it was a way more achievable dream.
Well, this year I'm 30, and realising that I loved my job and had my own apartment, and even being happily married to a great girl, I decided it was time find the GTI.
Now, I live in Norway, which means many depressing things for a car nut. First off, you can pretty much at least double the price of any UK car to find the Norwegian price. This also rizses as the horsepower goes up because we have extra tax for horsepower, so you still cant find a decent e46 m3 for under 30 000 pounds.
Second there are toll roads absolutely everywhere. Third, insurance is insane. Back when I was 20, if I'd gotten the GTI back then, insurance would run me about 6000 punds a year. Yup.
Now that I'm 30 though I can comfortably do it without financial suicide, but it does mean that for the price of a pristine low-milage Edition 30 or tidy mk6, I get a leggy but well looked after mk5.
Another problem is that there are so few around. At any given time there are at the most 7 - 10 on sale, most of which are DSG's which is not an option for me. So when a nice looking black 5 door with leather seats, the original 18s and winter pack came up for sale, I worked pretty hard to make it happen.
I called the seller who seemed like a very nice chap. He had spared no expenses with services, using only good oil, running only on 98 RON fuel, and all repairs done by an official VW mechanic. The car also came with pretty new p zeros and almost new winter tires. This sounded like my car. Problem was he lived a six hour drive away, so I had it booked in to the sellers local garage to have it inspected. This revealed a car in great general and mechanical condition, but they did find a spring that needed changing. With this repair in mind a fair price was negotiated and a plan to arrange the exchange.
On the day of the pickup I was super nervous that I was buying a car that I hadn't seen, but upon inspection and test drive, all my doubts was blown away. It handles so well, and goes like absolute stink for a guy thats used to driving his mother-in-law's civic hybrid. And when you just want to cruise on the highway or negotiate city streets, its just a comfortable regular golf. The perfect allrounder.
Here are some photos from the ad:
After washing it for three hours the day after:
On an icy norwegian morning:
Going for a good drive today so I'll get some snaps of it on the open roads
Having thought about it for 10 years, I was worried it could never live up to my expectations, but it has actually superseded them in every way, so happy! Just want to keep driving it...
Other than the spring repair I've ordered a new front badge, and got an original boot badge from the seller so they'll be going back on. Other than that the plan is to take great care of it and keep it 100% standard
Now I have a few questions for any gti owners here:
Anybody know where I can get the exact placement of the rear gti badge? Searched all over for a template but can't find one.
Second, I'm planning to change only the broken spring, but the dealer mechanic recommended changing both, any thoughts on that?
Thanks for reading!
Well, the e46 m3 was the car I really HAD TO have, but the thing with the GTI was that it was a way more achievable dream.
Well, this year I'm 30, and realising that I loved my job and had my own apartment, and even being happily married to a great girl, I decided it was time find the GTI.
Now, I live in Norway, which means many depressing things for a car nut. First off, you can pretty much at least double the price of any UK car to find the Norwegian price. This also rizses as the horsepower goes up because we have extra tax for horsepower, so you still cant find a decent e46 m3 for under 30 000 pounds.
Second there are toll roads absolutely everywhere. Third, insurance is insane. Back when I was 20, if I'd gotten the GTI back then, insurance would run me about 6000 punds a year. Yup.
Now that I'm 30 though I can comfortably do it without financial suicide, but it does mean that for the price of a pristine low-milage Edition 30 or tidy mk6, I get a leggy but well looked after mk5.
Another problem is that there are so few around. At any given time there are at the most 7 - 10 on sale, most of which are DSG's which is not an option for me. So when a nice looking black 5 door with leather seats, the original 18s and winter pack came up for sale, I worked pretty hard to make it happen.
I called the seller who seemed like a very nice chap. He had spared no expenses with services, using only good oil, running only on 98 RON fuel, and all repairs done by an official VW mechanic. The car also came with pretty new p zeros and almost new winter tires. This sounded like my car. Problem was he lived a six hour drive away, so I had it booked in to the sellers local garage to have it inspected. This revealed a car in great general and mechanical condition, but they did find a spring that needed changing. With this repair in mind a fair price was negotiated and a plan to arrange the exchange.
On the day of the pickup I was super nervous that I was buying a car that I hadn't seen, but upon inspection and test drive, all my doubts was blown away. It handles so well, and goes like absolute stink for a guy thats used to driving his mother-in-law's civic hybrid. And when you just want to cruise on the highway or negotiate city streets, its just a comfortable regular golf. The perfect allrounder.
Here are some photos from the ad:
After washing it for three hours the day after:
On an icy norwegian morning:
Going for a good drive today so I'll get some snaps of it on the open roads
Having thought about it for 10 years, I was worried it could never live up to my expectations, but it has actually superseded them in every way, so happy!
Just want to keep driving it...Other than the spring repair I've ordered a new front badge, and got an original boot badge from the seller so they'll be going back on. Other than that the plan is to take great care of it and keep it 100% standard
Now I have a few questions for any gti owners here:
Anybody know where I can get the exact placement of the rear gti badge? Searched all over for a template but can't find one.
Second, I'm planning to change only the broken spring, but the dealer mechanic recommended changing both, any thoughts on that?
Thanks for reading!
Nice to see ones dreams coming true I also remember when the MK5 GTI came out and how Clarkson raved about it ( http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xntxhk_top-gear-v... ). Wanted to buy one in Estonis this summer but turned out most of them were rusty due to winters and salt (door bottoms, front arches, rear arches). Hope they're better in Norway.
I also remember when the MK5 GTI came out and how Clarkson raved about it ( http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xntxhk_top-gear-v... ). Wanted to buy one in Estonis this summer but turned out most of them were rusty due to winters and salt (door bottoms, front arches, rear arches). Hope they're better in Norway.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff