RE: Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk5): PH Heroes
Discussion
ambuletz said:
Nigel_O said:
Mk3 GTi - 113bhp and 1089kg (but it generally got lighter as the rust took hold....)
I remember the 16 valve coming out in 1993 and it was competitive in its day. It was only really beaten by the 306 S16 when it came out a year later. I'm not quite sure why its so lambasted now.
The Mk4 however, I am surprised why so many people are sticking up for it. At launch in 1998 it was already off the pace compared with the competition, was too heavy and too soft. Sure it had beautiful build quality, hence why so many are still around now but when was that the judge of a decent hot hatch?
Just to add the nail in the coffin, it wasn't even the best hot hatch in the VAG family. The Leon 20VT was much better and so was the Octavia VRS...I think it was this that made VW try really hard with the Mk5, which is really one of the best!
We have one, as a part-time commute and nip to the shops and occasional long trips car. Paid £5k for it. It's chipped to 220bhp, and have had no real issues. Changed the standard stereo for an updated double DIN nav one for £250, and have a telephone module to fit into it. When looking, wanted xenons but most don't have them, but having driven it with 150% halogens, it's actually fine and I won't be changing them - can get £250 projector xenons if you really want.
It's nippy, darting down roads with great feel and aural pleasure, helped by an exhaust that has been mostly welded to go through the MOT but still sounds rorty (note that patterned exhausts are not available, so a new one is £400 from VW or you go aftermarket). We have an abysmal subsiding road near us that is part of my daily commute, and it rollers it much better than machinery 3 times the price.
Turn-in is excellent, as is pull out of the bends, and it cruises all day if you need it to. Space in the back for 3 kids, and we can get the wolfhound in the boot (in fact, as it's lower than the disco, it's the preferred car for taking him places). Swap front tyres to rear on changeover, and don't put budget ones on, and you'll have fun for not much outlay.
You can do many things yourself on it (and pelican parts have some good how to guides online) though cambelt and water pump necessitate lifting the engine up, so find a good indy - prices range from £280-£500 for this job, so choose carefully.
Great car - reliable, easy to drive, fun, easy to work on. Lots to love.
It's nippy, darting down roads with great feel and aural pleasure, helped by an exhaust that has been mostly welded to go through the MOT but still sounds rorty (note that patterned exhausts are not available, so a new one is £400 from VW or you go aftermarket). We have an abysmal subsiding road near us that is part of my daily commute, and it rollers it much better than machinery 3 times the price.
Turn-in is excellent, as is pull out of the bends, and it cruises all day if you need it to. Space in the back for 3 kids, and we can get the wolfhound in the boot (in fact, as it's lower than the disco, it's the preferred car for taking him places). Swap front tyres to rear on changeover, and don't put budget ones on, and you'll have fun for not much outlay.
You can do many things yourself on it (and pelican parts have some good how to guides online) though cambelt and water pump necessitate lifting the engine up, so find a good indy - prices range from £280-£500 for this job, so choose carefully.
Great car - reliable, easy to drive, fun, easy to work on. Lots to love.
I had two Mk5 Gtis - a 7 month old, 4k mile 57 plate, black 3 door, which I bought for peanuts from the local main dealer as the recession had kicked in, and a few years later i bought a 3 year old black 5dr - great cars - a pretty notmal Golf when you were around town or on the motorway and great fun on a county road.
At the time of my first Gti I was single and dating a lot - a black Golf Gti was the only car I have owned that all girlfriends and girl-friends have loved. Not sure if a current Golf Gti works wonders in the same way?
At the time of my first Gti I was single and dating a lot - a black Golf Gti was the only car I have owned that all girlfriends and girl-friends have loved. Not sure if a current Golf Gti works wonders in the same way?
Had my MK 5 Edition 30 from new ( May 2007) Now done 14,900 miles. Did 233 miles this last year. Really I should sell it. It costs a fortune to tax,insure and VW warranty each year. But you know what ,I've had some great cars over the years ,all the Cosworths,Integrales ,MK1 Lotus Cortinas ,V12 E type etc etc and for some reason -I don't know if it's the styling ,effortless performance or what , I just love owning this car ! And it's all original -no mods -it's fast enough for me!
Sorry to ramble on - I thought it may be of interest to someone .
Paul.
Sorry to ramble on - I thought it may be of interest to someone .
Paul.
tiggyzak said:
Had my MK 5 Edition 30 from new ( May 2007) Now done 14,900 miles. Did 233 miles this last year. Really I should sell it. It costs a fortune to tax,insure and VW warranty each year. But you know what ,I've had some great cars over the years ,all the Cosworths,Integrales ,MK1 Lotus Cortinas ,V12 E type etc etc and for some reason -I don't know if it's the styling ,effortless performance or what , I just love owning this car ! And it's all original -no mods -it's fast enough for me!
Sorry to ramble on - I thought it may be of interest to someone .
Paul.
If it's so wonderful, why don't you use it more? Or do you have some other great cars to use?Sorry to ramble on - I thought it may be of interest to someone .
Paul.
I am a great believer in that cars should be driven, toys should be used etc etc.
Oh dear ,I had a feeling that I might have set myself up here !
Actually my wife has a Tiguan and I really enjoy driving that . I'm 6'4" and the electric seats in the Tiguan are fantastically comfortable for me. On the other hand with my height a long journey in the Golf is not so good - infact on a long journey it's b****y uncomfortable ! Plus at my age I'm finding getting in and out more difficult and I don't want to ruin those seat sides when I lumber in and out. They look awful when they're all floppy and creased - don't you tend to agree ?
Pathetic I know. But , believe me ,there was a time when I could scramble in and out of an Elan Sprint no problems.
Fire away......
Actually my wife has a Tiguan and I really enjoy driving that . I'm 6'4" and the electric seats in the Tiguan are fantastically comfortable for me. On the other hand with my height a long journey in the Golf is not so good - infact on a long journey it's b****y uncomfortable ! Plus at my age I'm finding getting in and out more difficult and I don't want to ruin those seat sides when I lumber in and out. They look awful when they're all floppy and creased - don't you tend to agree ?
Pathetic I know. But , believe me ,there was a time when I could scramble in and out of an Elan Sprint no problems.
Fire away......
Had a 5dr DSG for a couple of years.
Took me 6 months of driving to get used to the dsg (mainly just coming of the brake a half second before wanting to set off - allowing the car to get in motion on its own in 'creep' before booting it - transformed the perceived smoothness for me at least), once I was used to it, I loved it.
Did the best impression I've driven of something that could swing from a mini-GT to a hot hatch, to an IKEA runner with no effort.
Some issues: the dsg was always unpredictable and jerkey in reverse up hills which I had read was a sign off impending doom, not that that doom ever happened in my two years of ownership. The various suspension bits seemed to be made of blu-tac.
Took me 6 months of driving to get used to the dsg (mainly just coming of the brake a half second before wanting to set off - allowing the car to get in motion on its own in 'creep' before booting it - transformed the perceived smoothness for me at least), once I was used to it, I loved it.
Did the best impression I've driven of something that could swing from a mini-GT to a hot hatch, to an IKEA runner with no effort.
Some issues: the dsg was always unpredictable and jerkey in reverse up hills which I had read was a sign off impending doom, not that that doom ever happened in my two years of ownership. The various suspension bits seemed to be made of blu-tac.
I bought my wife one when they first came out, off the back of a trailer delivered about 2 weeks before the new registrations arrived if I remember correctly. Never really chased registrations but it was a good car....though sadly jinxed. Within first month 2 wheels and 1 wheel bearing were replaced after she had to take avoiding action on a country lane then 1 year in, pissed farmer parks his 4x4 in the wing when parking at local shop.
It also got delivered with the tear in the seat you can see in this pic, so new seat 1 week in too!
Having said all of that, it was a good car....but as jinxed it had to be sold as the devil had got inside it....honest
It also got delivered with the tear in the seat you can see in this pic, so new seat 1 week in too!
Having said all of that, it was a good car....but as jinxed it had to be sold as the devil had got inside it....honest
Drive Blind said:
g7jhp said:
There were two Mk4 badged GTI.
The Mk4 2.0 GTI is a dog with 115bhp.
The Mk4 1.8t GTI with 150 or 180bhp isn't a bad GTI. It's well built, can be easily remapped for more power.
there was also a 1.8 na GTi, with 125bhp iirc.The Mk4 2.0 GTI is a dog with 115bhp.
The Mk4 1.8t GTI with 150 or 180bhp isn't a bad GTI. It's well built, can be easily remapped for more power.
My wife had a new Mark 4 Golf 1.8 20v GTi. (125bhp non turbo)
She loved it, had a smart interior and very smooth engine but should not have worn the GTi badge.
Unfortunately was stolen and found in a lock up with half a kilo of cannabis under the passenger seat prompting a visit from the local police wanting to know where it came from.
I am a big fan of the MK5. Had an edition 30 which I remapped and added bigger brakes too. Great fun. Miss that car
greenarrow said:
ambuletz said:
Nigel_O said:
Mk3 GTi - 113bhp and 1089kg (but it generally got lighter as the rust took hold....)
I remember the 16 valve coming out in 1993 and it was competitive in its day. It was only really beaten by the 306 S16 when it came out a year later. I'm not quite sure why its so lambasted now.
The Mk4 however, I am surprised why so many people are sticking up for it. At launch in 1998 it was already off the pace compared with the competition, was too heavy and too soft. Sure it had beautiful build quality, hence why so many are still around now but when was that the judge of a decent hot hatch?
Just to add the nail in the coffin, it wasn't even the best hot hatch in the VAG family. The Leon 20VT was much better and so was the Octavia VRS...I think it was this that made VW try really hard with the Mk5, which is really one of the best!
Funny how they were so much better yet were exactly the same.
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