RE: Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk5): PH Heroes

[aaron_2000]

Tommie38 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.

The Mk4 is horrid and absolutely was a massive let down for the breed. I had a 1.8T car for a year.

Especially when for the same money you could get the ST170, equal power, but dynamically a different league. Better than both would be the 225 Leon which I believe was around the same price.

[Mr Tidy]

aaron_2000 said:

Tommie38 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.

The Mk4 is horrid and absolutely was a massive let down for the breed. I had a 1.8T car for a year.

Especially when for the same money you could get the ST170, equal power, but dynamically a different league. Better than both would be the 225 Leon which I believe was around the same price.

Yes, I couldn't quite work out what the article was getting when it mentioned the lethargic 1.8 Turbo - unless it meant the version that got put in the Golf!

I had a 2000 Leon Cupra and never found it lacking in urge!

And by the time the MK5 Golf arrived Seat had the 225bhp Cupra R anyway - I think I'd still prefer one of those.

[jon_273]

galaxie500 said:

I absolutely don’t dispute the improvements made on the Mk7 over the Mk5; it’s the little things that ought to be incremental over a previous model and aren’t or additions that are half baked really annoy me! I spent a lot of time adding door marker lights, footwell lights and other previously standard but then deleted niceties to my Edition 30. Didn’t think these things would be missing from the 7R!
You’re right though; these are trivial compared to the dynamic abilities of the car and it’s a great drive although one definitely feels a little less connected than when in the more ‘seat of the pants’ Mk5 Edition 30.

Well there seems to have been some Project Drive style cost cutting during the MK7 lifecycle too. My boss has a later one and it has unpainted screws in the door shuts and missing ISOFIX clip covers etc.

NGK210 said:

Someone mentioned creaking rear suspension on the Mk7 GTI. A fella claims to have found a fix: replacing the factory-fit Sachs dampers with Bilstein B4s (part number BLS19-230559).

Thanks, will look into that.


Anyway, back on topic, it was having a drive of a MK5 GTI and experience of helping a friend buy and run a MK5 TSI which convinced me to buy my MK7. Previously I had always dismissed the Golf as being boring but now I think it makes a lot of sense.

[warch]

GTEYE said:

warch said:

raceboy said:

Been told to look for rust but what car doesn't

Really do look for rust, they rust quite badly, probably non structurally but it looks unsightly. Obviously the front wings, door shuts, especially at the front of the front doors, where there's a mud trap, boot lid and doors. Things like the suspension fasteners and spray shields on the brakes rot like something from BL in the 70s.

I'd quite like a Gti to replace my TDI, especially as I've done so many repairs on the latter I've become a bit of a mechanical specialist

Like most cars if you neglect them or abuse them, you'll get problems.

But Golfs do tend to last if you look after them.

From some I've seen, and not just Golfs, rust tends to take hold in later years due to poor quality repairs/paintwork and general neglect.

Not necessarily the case. My wife's car (Qashqai) is only a year or so newer, but looks very much as it did when it left the showroom, with no rust anywhere on it. Fasteners are all present and correct and there are no broken plastics. It is a good comparison as both cars are looked after in a similar way.

Golfs haven't been better built than the competition since the Mk 2 imo.

None of which takes away from the fact that the Mk V Gti is an unusually good car in terms of balance and handling. It isn't overpowered so you aren't constantly fighting the steering and they're quite contemporary in appearance. You don't get in one and feel like you're in a old cabin.

[Emeye]

exgtt said:

Low mileage ones with mint Tartan interior will be future classics for sure. Great cars.

Just noticed A3 2.0T's are cheaper, are these as good as the GTI?

Edited by exgtt on Monday 2nd April 17:53

I have been looking at A3 2.0TFSi S-lines, and they are cheaper than the Golf Gti - I am guessing the suspension is way too harsh as most S-line Audis were in the noughties?

Seems a lot of car for the money.

[Hub]

I haven't driven the A3 2.0T, but considered it before getting the Golf. Everything I read suggested that while it had the same engine and power, it was a bit softer and aimed more for comfort and refinement, so not as enjoyable to drive as a 'hot hatch'.

[Dale487]

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.

At launch there were two:

125ps 1.8 20v with a normal GTI badge
150ps 1.8 20v turbo with a GTI badge with a red “I”

The non-turbo was replaced by the 2.0 with less power but more torque

[Dale487]

sege said:

I think it's unfair to cast the Mk3 and 4 as weak points in the evolution of the GTI. Both had much nicer interior plastics than the French competition at the time, lots of really great 'perceived quality' and also doors that didn't shut with a tinny clang, but rather a solid....

But the French competition ran rings round them from an entertainment point of view - as the article says they became more of a trim level. The MK5 proves you can blend both to great success.

[Fun Bus]

Aes87 said:

“Heroe” is a strong word for this car. Can’t see much that’s heroic about it

Interested to know why not?

[Dale487]

Fun Bus said:

Aes87 said:

“Heroe” is a strong word for this car. Can’t see much that’s heroic about it

Interested to know why not?

In an over steer, homologation special way the MK5 Golf GTI isn't a PH Hero.

But the fact it set the template for the Golf GTI for the 21st century as the best balance of pace, space, usability and discreet style it is a PH Hero - I bet its all the car 95% of would us ever need.

[asimmalik]

1509kg? Even by VAG standards that's a big old lump. Surely it's lighter than that

[NGK210]

Aes87 said:

“Heroe” is a strong word for this car. Can’t see much that’s heroic about it

Indeed. There was another VAG 5-door hatch, which was cheaper than a GTI 1.8T Mk4, and faster, and sharper - but no less supple or practical - and it had better brakes (Brembos).
And when the Mk5 GTI was launched, it too was pricier and slower - eg, 1:32.9 vs 1:33.7 at Top Gear’s track - than its older in-house rival.
The Mk1 Leon Cupra R, now that’s a ‘hero’.

[Cheib]

shotta287 said:

I'm on the lookout for one. Surprised how hard it is to find one with factory fit xenons (a lot have been retrofitted with Depo projectors), multifunction steering wheel and elec folding mirrors.

Xenon’s are a rare factory fit option. I have one with those three options, Xenon’s were something I really wanted and took a while to find the right car. Might be up for sale soon.

Edited by Cheib on Wednesday 4th April 22:23

[s m]

NGK210 said:

Aes87 said:

“Heroe” is a strong word for this car. Can’t see much that’s heroic about it

Indeed. There was another VAG 5-door hatch, which was cheaper than a GTI 1.8T Mk4, and faster, and sharper - but no less supple or practical - and it had better brakes (Brembos).
And when the Mk5 GTI was launched, it too was pricier and slower - eg, 1:32.9 vs 1:33.7 at Top Gear’s track - than its older in-house rival.
The Mk1 Leon Cupra R, now that’s a ‘hero’.

Sounds like a contender for the "309 Effect" thread - a talented cousin living in the shadow of its more popular relative

[aaron_2000]

NGK210 said:

Indeed. There was another VAG 5-door hatch, which was cheaper than a GTI 1.8T Mk4, and faster, and sharper - but no less supple or practical - and it had better brakes (Brembos).
And when the Mk5 GTI was launched, it too was pricier and slower - eg, 1:32.9 vs 1:33.7 at Top Gear’s track - than its older in-house rival.
The Mk1 Leon Cupra R, now that’s a ‘hero’.

Nicer inside too, pretty much an S3 interior. Looked miles better outside too, the MK5 was better than the MK2 Cupra though.

[screanz]

Actus Reus said:

Pound for pound my black Mk.V GTi is the best car I've ever owned. I've had faster and flashier, but it was exactly what a hot hatch was supposed to be - all things to all men. Wonderful car which I will always have fond memories of. (not so much the Mk.IV that went before it which was awful).

EFA

Edited by Actus Reus on Tuesday 3rd April 13:00

I completely agree.

I bought a MkV on hard times. Needed a car and with a budget of £5k and it fitted the bill of being fun and I could get rid of it quickly if I needed the money.

It was written off in a freak accident and I was gutted. As these things sometimes work out I found an Edition 30 nearby (business had improved a little) and it's the best car I've had. £7k and while I DK the boys things as investments I'm pretty sure if get that back to our. I've had flasher and technically better but nothing comes close as a whole package for me. My Dad had a cracking Mk2 then a Mk3 (dog which got jettisoned soon aftwr) then a VR6 which he still goes on about (has a V8 Vantage now) so I think it's came from the excitement of Dad's first cool car.

So, we needed a 2nd car and so picked up a new Discovery Sport the other week and while it's am incredible car it doesn't come close to the excitement of the Golf. And one of the guys at the dealership complimented me on the golf sitting among the various vogues, velars et al.

From reading a few former Edition 30 owners here who wished they still had theirs (and it's not the first time I've read such) it'll only go for a 911 or an M2 and even then I think the golf would stay.

[Mr Peel]

Dale487 said:

In an oversteer, homologation special way the MK5 Golf GTI isn't a PH Hero.

But the fact it set the template for the Golf GTI for the 21st century as the best balance of pace, space, usability and discreet style it is a PH Hero - I bet it's all the car 95% of would us ever need.

This man gets it.

[jay_ess_em]

These have been on my radar for a while now, as a second car/ daily (to shops, gym etc)

Do you go for the manual or DSG? What was the DSG like back then? It will be driven mainly in town and for a few 'spirited' journeys every now and again.

Thoughts?

[Dale487]

jay_ess_em said:

These have been on my radar for a while now, as a second car/ daily (to shops, gym etc)

Do you go for the manual or DSG? What was the DSG like back then? It will be driven mainly in town and for a few 'spirited' journeys every now and again.

Thoughts?

Manual! It'll throw up less problems, easier to fix when it does, more involving to drive & more likely to be more sort after when it eventually becomes a classic.

With tartan seats not leather.

[jay_ess_em]

Dale487 said:

Manual! It'll throw up less problems, easier to fix when it does, more involving to drive & more likely to be more sort after when it eventually becomes a classic.

With tartan seats not leather.

^ this.