My first German: Mk5 Golf GTI
Discussion
Quick update - recent MOT passed with zero advisories! To say I'm pleased would be an understatement, given that the cost of the last MOT crept ominously close to four figures!
I feel like the car deserves a reward of some sort, but as of yet I'm undecided. Also I'm meant to be saving for a house deposit at the moment, and I doubt the OH would be best pleased if I spent hundreds on a new exhaust/remap like I've been considering...
I feel like the car deserves a reward of some sort, but as of yet I'm undecided. Also I'm meant to be saving for a house deposit at the moment, and I doubt the OH would be best pleased if I spent hundreds on a new exhaust/remap like I've been considering...
Some exploratory surgery today to try and find out why my passenger door doesn't want to unlock...couldn't find anything, and you can hear the mechanism working inside the door, it's just not actually unlocking the door. I may have to take it to VW....
While the door was apart I took the opportunity to refurb the door pulls; been meaning to do this for a while as they were pretty tatty
It's amazing how grubby door handles can actually get, as plastic is brilliant at absorbing all the dirt and oils from your hands. A proper scrub with soapy water and steel wool then sanding with wet/dry before priming and painting
Much better!
The floor mats were fit for the bin so I bought some snazzier replacements. Wasn't sure about them at first, I thought they were maybe a bit too unsubtle, but I really like them now
While the door was apart I took the opportunity to refurb the door pulls; been meaning to do this for a while as they were pretty tatty
It's amazing how grubby door handles can actually get, as plastic is brilliant at absorbing all the dirt and oils from your hands. A proper scrub with soapy water and steel wool then sanding with wet/dry before priming and painting
Much better!
The floor mats were fit for the bin so I bought some snazzier replacements. Wasn't sure about them at first, I thought they were maybe a bit too unsubtle, but I really like them now
I love this thread for more than one reason- as well as being a good read- that's my old car! I'd wanted one since reading the Evo reviews when it first came out, so on leaving uni and spending years in a carless city I was determined that my return to the road wouldn't be in an eco-box supermini. It broke the bank somewhat at the time, but I had some great days out in it.
Glad it's found a new home and I'm more than a little jealous that you're blasting around the countryside whilst I'm heading back to a city again.
I bought it from its second owner, sold it in, I think, 2015 on 125000 miles. The passenger door would refuse to unlock when I first bought it until I figured out that you needed to double-tap the fob to unlock it (after I'd bought myself a new mechanism
), so either I've been lucky or it's a recurring problem.
Glad it's being looked after!
Glad it's found a new home and I'm more than a little jealous that you're blasting around the countryside whilst I'm heading back to a city again.
I bought it from its second owner, sold it in, I think, 2015 on 125000 miles. The passenger door would refuse to unlock when I first bought it until I figured out that you needed to double-tap the fob to unlock it (after I'd bought myself a new mechanism
), so either I've been lucky or it's a recurring problem. Glad it's being looked after!
Edited by glazbagun on Sunday 25th February 20:00
I do love it when this sort of thing happens on readers car threads! Yeah it's being well looked after and it's proving every bit as enjoyable as I expected it would be. I bought it in late 2016, presumably from the chap that you sold it to, and he'd only put about 1,500 miles on it in over a year. I've done rather more than that and it's sitting on 139,000 now. Still running strong!
If your passenger door lock is anything like my old Leon's driver door lock. the motor in them dies gradually- first you lose the unlock, which presumably requires a bit more torque or something, then you lose the locking. I caught mine at the "unlock no worky" phase. Just replaced the mechanism entirely.
I can't believe the difference my winter tyres have made this past couple of days. I'm converted. Getting another set of wheels and winter tyres for the missus kia now aswell.
I've been so close to buying a mk5 gti in a number of occasions in last few years. It's just my 500 mile aweek commute. As economical I mica as they can be. It's just not going to touch my fabia at the min. As soon as the miles calm down. I will be sampling one
I've been so close to buying a mk5 gti in a number of occasions in last few years. It's just my 500 mile aweek commute. As economical I mica as they can be. It's just not going to touch my fabia at the min. As soon as the miles calm down. I will be sampling one
Door lock appears to have fixed itself...for the time being at least. I suspect it will go again soon, but it's working just now so I'll deal with it more permanently when it breaks again!
Weather was finally looking good enough to swap the wheels back over, so I did this at the weekend....then I read that there's more snow on the way. Spiffing. Again, something to deal with if it happens but I cannot be arsed changing the wheels again, may just work from home for a few says!
Weather was finally looking good enough to swap the wheels back over, so I did this at the weekend....then I read that there's more snow on the way. Spiffing. Again, something to deal with if it happens but I cannot be arsed changing the wheels again, may just work from home for a few says!
Small update time; I know previously I'd said I wasn't going to replace the front grill/central fascia, but I decided I would after all. Apart from the small holes from the old number plate surround, it was fairly scratched and pretty sun faded. the rear valance was even worse, so I bit the bullet and bought new parts. So glad I did, it's made a massive difference in the overall appearance of the car.
New front grill fascia on ; looks so cool with no front plate! You can see how dull the lower grill is compared to the new upper part - I've now replaced the lower part too so it matches.
Look at the state of the old rear valance; scratched, stained, faded and a little bit bent. It's a huge area and really brings down the look of the car's rear end.
Difference between old and new
New one fitted! So chuffed with how it looks
Good excuse to give the car a really thorough clean. Would you believe this thing recently hit 140,000 miles?
Always amazes me how many different flecks of colour are in this "grey" paint. Looks fantastic in the sun
New front grill fascia on ; looks so cool with no front plate! You can see how dull the lower grill is compared to the new upper part - I've now replaced the lower part too so it matches.
Look at the state of the old rear valance; scratched, stained, faded and a little bit bent. It's a huge area and really brings down the look of the car's rear end.
Difference between old and new
New one fitted! So chuffed with how it looks
Good excuse to give the car a really thorough clean. Would you believe this thing recently hit 140,000 miles?
Always amazes me how many different flecks of colour are in this "grey" paint. Looks fantastic in the sun
thatguy11 said:
As an 11 year old Golf the mileage is far from low, but I’m really struggling to keep the digits down; I just can’t stop driving it. Think I’ve put nearly 1,000 miles on it in two and a half weeks! The non-linear power delivery is a hoot and full of character, even if the noise is sadly lacking a bit. The grip is great and the steering is very communicative, as well as nicely weighted.
But then when you just want to get to/from work as painlessly as possible, it’s as comfortable and refined as you would need; the seats are supportive, the ride is brilliant and the auto lights and wipers aren’t half bad either (never had either in a car before).
In short, the perfect hot hatch dual personality!
Great thread OP, those pics look they’re the back roads around Gladhouse reservoir? I used to drive/ cycle round there a lot when I lived in Edinburgh. Lovely part of the countryside. But then when you just want to get to/from work as painlessly as possible, it’s as comfortable and refined as you would need; the seats are supportive, the ride is brilliant and the auto lights and wipers aren’t half bad either (never had either in a car before).
In short, the perfect hot hatch dual personality!
Edited by thatguy11 on Monday 31st October 20:44
MDMA . said:
Did you buy new oem front? Looking for a new one myself but they seem to have doubled in price the last 5 years. About £194 + vat at the dealers now.
I only bought the two grill pieces for that very reason, front bumpers for these are pretty expensive and I didn't think it was worth it. Was about £45 for the upper grill since it includes the gloss black section. Lower grill was only £11Edited by MDMA . on Sunday 24th June 22:25
Gilhooligan said:
Great thread OP, those pics look they’re the back roads around Gladhouse reservoir? I used to drive/ cycle round there a lot when I lived in Edinburgh. Lovely part of the countryside.
Yeah that's the place, I live just outside Edinburgh - so many brilliant roads nearby
Nice OP. I've been on the look out for a similar spec mk5 GTi (but with much less miles) in Scotland for a few weeks now with no real success ever since my M135i was nicked.
There seemed quite a few about a couple of years ago (last time I looked, then bought the BMW), but those currently about look like fairly used and abused examples..
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