My first German: Mk5 Golf GTI
Discussion
Just read the whole thread 
great car. I nearly got one last time I was looking, but ended up with a superchared MINI. It's a lot of fun, but so damn small! Will definitely be getting something bigger next time, and I think the GTI is top running at the moment. It's between that or an Astra VXR or Focus ST really, but I've not driven those two yet. Anyone done so and can compare the 3?
great car. I nearly got one last time I was looking, but ended up with a superchared MINI. It's a lot of fun, but so damn small! Will definitely be getting something bigger next time, and I think the GTI is top running at the moment. It's between that or an Astra VXR or Focus ST really, but I've not driven those two yet. Anyone done so and can compare the 3?Without derailing the op's thread too much, I went from a supercharged Cooper S to a mk 5 GTI and whilst the handling was not as crisp or sharp as the mini, when you grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and pushed on on a twisty A or B Road, it was better than expected. My mini had an lsd which would have had an impact on that perception. The golf felt quicker due to the torque even though the 0-60 times were the same.
kayzee said:
Just read the whole thread great car. I nearly got one last time I was looking, but ended up with a superchared MINI. It's a lot of fun, but so damn small! Will definitely be getting something bigger next time, and I think the GTI is top running at the moment. It's between that or an Astra VXR or Focus ST really, but I've not driven those two yet. Anyone done so and can compare the 3?
I actually test drove a Focus ST, to be honest more just to confirm that I wanted a Golf rather than to seriously consider the Focus. I liked it more than I was expecting to but it did feel bigger and a little more cumbersome than the Golf, and despite the extra 25bhp it didn't really feel any faster but then it was a pretty short test drive and I didn't stretch the car's legs. Plus to my eye the interior is a little too drab (I know the Golf's interior is hardly Bentley-esque, but it's just the one I find a bit nicer to look at.) great car. I nearly got one last time I was looking, but ended up with a superchared MINI. It's a lot of fun, but so damn small! Will definitely be getting something bigger next time, and I think the GTI is top running at the moment. It's between that or an Astra VXR or Focus ST really, but I've not driven those two yet. Anyone done so and can compare the 3?One thing I will say is that it produces a more interesting noise than the GTI due to the 5-cyl engine.
Edited by thatguy11 on Thursday 27th July 16:50
The GTI's just been through an interval service and the car was all ship shape for the most part, save for a few minor things. Namely the rubber beginning to perish on the n/s CV boot and a small leak developing in one of the turbo hoses. I had suspected this anyway as this past week a barely audible hiss has emerged under hard acceleration. There was also a note about the air con possibly needing re-gassing, but it's currently working perfectly so we'll see if it starts going soon. All will be dealt with as soon as AVW Autocentre can squeeze me in.
Since I replaced the battery six months ago the GTI hasn't put a foot wrong, not a bad streak of total reliability for a 12 year old VW! And hey, it's far from low mileage; parts are going to get worn out eventually.
Since I replaced the battery six months ago the GTI hasn't put a foot wrong, not a bad streak of total reliability for a 12 year old VW! And hey, it's far from low mileage; parts are going to get worn out eventually.
Good read this Op and liking your car
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Was close on buying one of these off a mate about 6 yrs ago who had bought it new back in 2008 but it didn't happen in the end. I maybe looking for one again in the near future as I may have to sell my M3 and try to claw some monies back after buying a new money pit house.
I imagine these go pretty well with a remap etc.
Enjoy your GTI Op
.Was close on buying one of these off a mate about 6 yrs ago who had bought it new back in 2008 but it didn't happen in the end. I maybe looking for one again in the near future as I may have to sell my M3 and try to claw some monies back after buying a new money pit house.
I imagine these go pretty well with a remap etc.
Enjoy your GTI Op
Nice car. I originally looked at one of these as my second car but went for the R32 instead due to lack of them on the road and of course the sound. I avg 26 - 32 and was happy with performance. With yours and checking timing chain tension and more it can be done on VAG com which I presume you will be aware. A remap would be good with a intake filter and exhaust prior but I'd not get hung up on figures as a lot of tuners are claiming more than what they come out at so I'd expect a genuine 240ish. Look forward to see any mods you do.
I'm continuing to do small bits and pieces to freshen up the appearance of the car. Swapped out the old whippy aerial with a more modern looking bee-sting unit:
Before
After
I also replaced the gearstick gaiter with a red-stitched one...which proved to be far more trouble than it was worth. Two hours this took me, to replace a bloody gear gaiter! The issue was the leather on the new one was much thicker than the old stuff, which was already an incredibly tight fit with the gaiter housing's plastic clips to begin with...so some minor surgery was needed on the new one to shoehorn it into the fittings. I'm no upholsterer but after much trimming and swearing I made it work.
Before
After
In keeping with the GTI's "red bits" theme I bought this key cover, which is rather tarty
Next I'm considering getting hold of some carbon effect 3M and wrapping some parts of the dash. I've seen this on quite a few GTIs but I'm still undecided whether it just looks a bit naff or not.
Before
After
I also replaced the gearstick gaiter with a red-stitched one...which proved to be far more trouble than it was worth. Two hours this took me, to replace a bloody gear gaiter! The issue was the leather on the new one was much thicker than the old stuff, which was already an incredibly tight fit with the gaiter housing's plastic clips to begin with...so some minor surgery was needed on the new one to shoehorn it into the fittings. I'm no upholsterer but after much trimming and swearing I made it work.
Before
After
In keeping with the GTI's "red bits" theme I bought this key cover, which is rather tarty
Next I'm considering getting hold of some carbon effect 3M and wrapping some parts of the dash. I've seen this on quite a few GTIs but I'm still undecided whether it just looks a bit naff or not.
Edited by thatguy11 on Monday 21st August 16:22
It's amazing what new plates front and back will do to freshen up a car. The old ones were fairly scruffy, plus whoever had mounted the rear plate had done it squint and it was irritating me!
New ones in situ
I'm not a fan of plates with too much text/web addresses underneath the characters, or the EU logo plates, so I went for ones with as little clutter as I could get away with. I also reduced the size of the front plate a little (not the font size, just shaved the excess dead space from the edges. Don't want to risk any fuzz bother!) so it would fit the space a little better. This does reveal the holes which were used for mounting the old numberplate surround, but weirdly they really don't bother me. At least definitely not enough to fork out for a whole new grill unit.
New ones in situ
I'm not a fan of plates with too much text/web addresses underneath the characters, or the EU logo plates, so I went for ones with as little clutter as I could get away with. I also reduced the size of the front plate a little (not the font size, just shaved the excess dead space from the edges. Don't want to risk any fuzz bother!) so it would fit the space a little better. This does reveal the holes which were used for mounting the old numberplate surround, but weirdly they really don't bother me. At least definitely not enough to fork out for a whole new grill unit.
C70R said:
Love the logic of "I want the smallest numberplate possible for the sake of aesthetics, but I'm not bothered about the two bloody great holes in the bumper it exposes." 
In all seriousness, the Mk5 is my second-favourite GTi after the Mk2.
I appreciate it's a little odd reasoning In all seriousness, the Mk5 is my second-favourite GTi after the Mk2.
but in all honesty they don't bother me at all. They're tidily cut, they're symmetrical, and they're not even visible until you're right up closeI haven't used winter tyres for the past couple of years, but during the first snowfall this year the Golf was an absolute chocolate fireguard so I thought I'd best invest in a set. I also wanted to get an extra set of wheels as it's just much easier that way since I can change them myself. The good thing about VAG cars is that there's loads of crossover with bolt sizes, patterns etc. so I wasn't limited to looking at VW wheels. I didn't really care about buying "correct" wheels; they're only winter scrubbers, as long as they look decent, are in good condition and fit properly I'll be happy.
For just £330 I managed to pick up some nearly new Michelin CrossClimate all-season tyres which came on great condition set of Mk2 Audi TT wheels; honestly, they look brand new. The price was a steal considering the tyres alone would have been about £420 new, plus having to buy a set of rims on top of that. The tyres have 6mm tread left and were only used for a few months last winter. They're not exactly the same size as my regular tyres; still 225 section, but are 17" with a 50% aspect ratio rather than the standard 225/18 40 tyre size. Overall they're less than an inch larger in diameter, so it looks absolutely fine and there's no rubbing whatsoever.
Yes I know there's an Audi logo in the centrecap...but the wheels look terrible without them in place. I may address them at some point but to be honest I probably won't bother.
And of course I was victim to the classic winter wheels sod's law. It was -2 degrees when I bought the wheels on Friday, -3 on Saturday when I picked them up, and then Sunday when I fitted them? +8 degrees. Brilliant. Oh well, at least they're on now. Plus they're all-season tyres so it's fine if the temperature creeps up a bit occasionally.
For just £330 I managed to pick up some nearly new Michelin CrossClimate all-season tyres which came on great condition set of Mk2 Audi TT wheels; honestly, they look brand new. The price was a steal considering the tyres alone would have been about £420 new, plus having to buy a set of rims on top of that. The tyres have 6mm tread left and were only used for a few months last winter. They're not exactly the same size as my regular tyres; still 225 section, but are 17" with a 50% aspect ratio rather than the standard 225/18 40 tyre size. Overall they're less than an inch larger in diameter, so it looks absolutely fine and there's no rubbing whatsoever.
Yes I know there's an Audi logo in the centrecap...but the wheels look terrible without them in place. I may address them at some point but to be honest I probably won't bother.
And of course I was victim to the classic winter wheels sod's law. It was -2 degrees when I bought the wheels on Friday, -3 on Saturday when I picked them up, and then Sunday when I fitted them? +8 degrees. Brilliant. Oh well, at least they're on now. Plus they're all-season tyres so it's fine if the temperature creeps up a bit occasionally.
thatguy11 said:
It's amazing what new plates front and back will do to freshen up a car. The old ones were fairly scruffy, plus whoever had mounted the rear plate had done it squint and it was irritating me!
New ones in situ
I'm not a fan of plates with too much text/web addresses underneath the characters, or the EU logo plates, so I went for ones with as little clutter as I could get away with. I also reduced the size of the front plate a little (not the font size, just shaved the excess dead space from the edges. Don't want to risk any fuzz bother!) so it would fit the space a little better. This does reveal the holes which were used for mounting the old numberplate surround, but weirdly they really don't bother me. At least definitely not enough to fork out for a whole new grill unit.
Is the bonnet closed in that pic? I've never noticed the gap between the bonnet and lights before. New ones in situ
I'm not a fan of plates with too much text/web addresses underneath the characters, or the EU logo plates, so I went for ones with as little clutter as I could get away with. I also reduced the size of the front plate a little (not the font size, just shaved the excess dead space from the edges. Don't want to risk any fuzz bother!) so it would fit the space a little better. This does reveal the holes which were used for mounting the old numberplate surround, but weirdly they really don't bother me. At least definitely not enough to fork out for a whole new grill unit.
Plates look good though.
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