Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk5: Spotted
The saviour of the Golf GTI, now from £4k...
You'll no doubt be aware of that context already, though it does bear worth repeating. Now we expect a modern VW Group hot hatch to have a disarmingly broad range of talents, which simply wasn't the case a couple of generations back. If the Mk5 had been a spudder too, who would have given VW another chance after more than a decade of hot hatch mediocrity?
As well as banishing memories of previous duffers, the Mk5 Golf GTI set the template for future versions too; the Mk6 was less fondly received than the 5 (despite lots of shared stuff), but the Mk7 was right back at the sharp end on its 2013 introduction, with just 20hp more than the Mk5 and a not-dissimilar look. Indeed just last month Autocar awarded the current 'Mk7.5' the title of best hot hatch ever, and it's difficult to imagine that happening without the Mk5.
It's a pretty big deal, then. And like all the good Golf GTIs, the Mk5 sold healthily and has now depreciated to an alluringly low level. Remember when the Mk1s and Mk2s did that, before they became classics? What it means for Mk5s, though, is that very presentable cars like this one are available for just £4,000.
As far as specs go for a Golf GTI, this 2005 car is very good: manual gearbox, tartan upholstery and 18-inch wheels. Five doors may put some off, but it should be noted that good three-door manuals are unsurprisingly quite hard to get hold of. It's had a very recent cambelt change (as in less than 5,000 miles ago), a new clutch and has a year's MOT. Sure, a freshen up of a few more consumables would probably be a good idea, but which 100,000-mile car wouldn't benefit from that? This looks as good a start as any, as long as we assume that the missing interior pics have simply been innocently forgotten...
Sadly rust is a known issue on these Golfs (as highlighted out in the PH Buying Guide), so that has to be a key inspection point on any prospective purchase. Again, though, name a car that hasn't presented problems later in life. What's on offer here is a seemingly fine example of a fine hot hatch, one that, if cared for properly, should always be in demand later in life. The 15th anniversary of the Mk5 Golf GTI is next year, so classic status can't be far off, can it?
SPECIFICATION - VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI
Engine: 1,984cc, 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 200@5,100rpm
Torque (lb ft): 207@1,800-5,100rpm
MPG: 35.3
CO2: 189g/km
First registered: 2005
Recorded mileage: 101,000
Price new: £19,995
Price now: £4,000
See the full advert here.
on the plus side however it's very good on fuel for a "hot hatch" I quite regularly get mid-high 30's driving it around weekly. It's not an amazing car but it certainly isn't the worst i've driven either, makes a reasonably good daily driver
Keeping on top of the maintenance can see them go on for some time!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
Add a remap for £300 and it'll see off most challengers!
The descriptive powers of the person that wrote the ad is woeful. So whilst Matt Bird says the spec is 'very good', he's basing his opinion on the fact that it has a manual gearbox (or 'the standard gearbox'), Tartan upholstery (again, standard) and the 18in alloys (ok, I'll give him that one). As there are no interior pictures, and a distinct lack of words in the ad, who knows what else it has. Or doesn't have.
Mk5 GTI's are a specification dependent beast as so many were ordered as company cars & had zero extras - no leather/Cruise Control/multifunction steering wheel, basic audio, base 17in wheels. I think I'd prefer to sit in heated leather. A sunroof wouldn't influence me either way.
The one extra I wouldn't want ticked would be the DSG gearbox; unfortunately that was probably the most commonly ticked option. Great when new, but the thing of nightmares over a decade down the road, partly due to maintenance neglect, partly due to the complexities of that particular shifting arrangement. As a result the cheapest GTI's come with 2 pedals and a price tag also beginning with a 2.
I found the intro a bit odd though. It seemed to slate all '90s VW products but, as I recall, road testers were quite fond of some of them. The Golf VR6 got decent reviews, and I don't seem to remember the 16v GTI being slated wildly, while people appear to covet the Lupo GTI like it's an E-type.
As others have said, they are a great all rounder but by God, they are boring!
The rare one I spot these days has normally been barried in some way, not as bad as most VW products admittedly.
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