MK5 Golf GTI - how good is it?

[okgo]

So was chatting to another PH'er the other day about a car that would suit my needs -

- Easily fits a bike or two in the back without having to remove everything (front wheel fine)
- Fits 4 people in relative comfort
- Has some poke
- Goes under the radar - Despite living on a nice street, my neighbors Audi has been keyed!
- Won't lose money hand over fist

I think this car will do that without issue, but just wanted some owner re-assurance and thoughts on how it is to live with? And is the GTI the one to go for?

[tbc]

not a patch on the Mk4

and the Mk6 is better than Mk5 but none are a patch on the Mk4

friend had a 2002 MK4 GTi Anniversary and it is a stonkingly better car than any other Gti

can pick up a good one for around £3-4k and they are kitted out with everything

plus lower suspension, better brakes, BBS alloys

[milfordkong]

I've only had mine a couple of weeks but so far i'm happy with it.

- Easily fits a bike or two in the back without having to remove everything (front wheel fine)

Haven't tried this yet, but it swallowed up a massive flat packed triple wardrobe with relative ease, might be putting the bikes in it this weekend for a trip and i'm pretty confident it will take them sans front wheel.

- Fits 4 people in relative comfort

Definitely, loads of room in the back and the standard front seats are brilliant imo.

- Has some poke

It has some poke, it won't set the world on fire, and it's nowhere as much fun to drive fast as my Clio 200 but that's not why I bought it and it's easier to make rapid progress in with the turbo giving you more accessible power across the range.

- Goes under the radar - Despite living on a nice street, my neighbors Audi has been keyed!

Mine's silver with the 17's and to me very low key indeed, I think a white one with the 18' wheels would probably stand out a lot more but it's never going to win awards for ostentatiousness.

- Won't lose money hand over fist

Not had it long enough, but historically they've held their value exceedingly well compared to direct competitors.

[Luke.]

tbc said:

not a patch on the Mk4

and the Mk6 is better than Mk5 but none are a patch on the Mk4

friend had a 2002 MK4 GTi Anniversary and it is a stonkingly better car than any other Gti

can pick up a good one for around £3-4k and they are kitted out with everything

plus lower suspension, better brakes, BBS alloys

Eh?

[milfordkong]

ps. I can't tell if tbc is joking/trolling or not, but I really do hope so.

[Urban Sports]

tbc said:

not a patch on the Mk4

and the Mk6 is better than Mk5 but none are a patch on the Mk4

friend had a 2002 MK4 GTi Anniversary and it is a stonkingly better car than any other Gti

can pick up a good one for around £3-4k and they are kitted out with everything

plus lower suspension, better brakes, BBS alloys

The MK 4 is probably the worst incarnation of a Golf GTI!

You are messing right? Do I need a parrot?

[ajb85]

Surely there are more inspiring choices than Golfs these days??

[jezzaaa]

tbc said:

not a patch on the Mk4

and the Mk6 is better than Mk5 but none are a patch on the Mk4

friend had a 2002 MK4 GTi Anniversary and it is a stonkingly better car than any other Gti

can pick up a good one for around £3-4k and they are kitted out with everything

plus lower suspension, better brakes, BBS alloys

This goes against most opinion, I think I'm right in saying. I had a Mk4 Gti 1.8T...and then a Mk4 R32. The GTi was a nice car fit and finish wise...but dull. I had hoped the R32 would be a good drive...but it wasn't. Lovely car etc but just never gelled and sold it a few months later for a Boxster. From what I've read/heard, the Mk5 GTi was a good steer and fun to drive.

[okgo]

ajb85 said:

Surely there are more inspiring choices than Golfs these days??

Thanks Milford, sounds promising!

Yes, there are more interesting ways to spend money, but I drive a car once or twice a week, it just has to do what I need it to without issue. I'm also considering a 130i as they seem to be around similar money, but not sure on the boot in these...

[Nicholas Blair]

Mk v was a great car for me - had an Edition 30 job. I'd say one of the best cars I've owned, and I've had a few, but each to their own opinion

Cheers
Nick

[martin mrt]

I think what TBC was implying with the mk4 was build quality and general fit and finish, the mk4 IMO is leagues ahead of the mk5 as far a quality is concerned, however

From a driving point of view, the mk5 is leagues ahead of the mk4, even a basic mk5 Golf is a better drive than a mk4 GTI IMO

OP I think the mk5 GTI would suit your needs fine, just check any potential purchase for rust, when I worked at VW last year we were seeing 2008 cars with rusty wings, And on Saturday i was at a BBQ where I spotted a 55 plate 40k TDi mk5 with rusty wings, boot and bonnet, quite shocking really.

[milfordkong]

I considered the 130i too, and I might have one now if the market wasn't so odd - Similar mileage and age cars seem to have 4k price differences in some cases... There were a few bargains though but I was always a little concerned about any issues and the variable servicing thing too.

I think the seat up capacity is considerably down on the golf but with the rear seats down there might not be much difference?

It felt much quicker than the gti on the drive (probably because it is) and that engine is just awesome. I think I made the right decision for my current circumstances though and can now save my pennies for a M135i

[sjg]

Seats not folding flat in the Golf would annoy the hell out of me. Bases are fixed so they sit at a silly angle.

Octavia vRS worth looking at too - even more room in the back for 4-up duties and will swallow most bikes wheels-on with the seats down, or fit a couple of bikes wheels-off with the back seats up. Even more subtle looks, especially in black/grey/silver rather than race blue. Cheap to start with (especially petrols) so can't imagine it losing more (in absolute terms) than a GTI. Mechanically much shared with the mk5 GTI, including DSG on later ones if you want it.

[rob.e]

I had a mk5 GTi from new and ran it up to 80k miles. Lovely car and I still miss it.

Yes it will fulfil all of your criteria, no problem.

Only other consideration if you regularly want to put 2x bikes in the back, a vRS octavia is the same car mechanically, only with a bigger boot and lower list price.

HTH.


btw - the guy why suggested a mk4 is delusional IMO.

[anonymous-user]

Nicholas Blair said:

Mk v was a great car for me - had an Edition 30 job. I'd say one of the best cars I've owned, and I've had a few, but each to their own opinion

Cheers
Nick

We've got a mk5 GTI and I have to agree, one of the best cars I've owned (I've had a few too )

There does seem to be quite a bit of hatred for them on PH however. My advice would be to read the online reviews of the car. Top Gear car of the year, etc. Or you could just listen to the armchair experts who have probably never sat in one, let alone driven

[anonymous-user]

okgo said:

Goes under the radar - Despite living on a nice street, my neighbors Audi has been keyed!

They do, but unfortunately the back door on ours has been keyed. Doesn't matter what you own these days!!

[graeme4130]

I had a mk 5 DSG 5dr (black, leather, DSG, 18's, sat nav, hids)
It was a good car, bomb proof build and reliably and, as you're looking for, sits under the radar nicely
The DSG box is really very good (as long as you have paddle shift option) and is a genuine alternative to a manual box. You can leave it in auto for cruising around, or use the paddles when pushing on

A few things worth noting ;

18' monza wheels look much better than std 17's, but the 17's ride much better

DSG is great, but look for mechatronic failure and make sure oil is changed at 40k if you want any goodwill out of VW

Performance is ok, but a simple £350 chip mod will make it a much better car with power more suitable to the very capable chassis

I could get three mountain bikes in the back with front wheels off and seats folded down (leather interior is more resistant to damage too)

Servicing is reasonable and you can have intervals on the VAG long life system which can be up to 20k miles IIRC?

Factory sat nav is crap, maps are next to useless. This is standard VAG stuff though as the MMS in my 2007 RS4 avant is not much better and I'd still class as ste

Good fun car though and I'd definitely recommend them to anyone in that market

[okgo]

Thanks all. Sounds promising.

I think I'd steer away from the huge alloys, but the Monza ones look nice on the black car. Not to fussed on leather.

Cheers Tonker, yes still just up the road, will be in touch as and when I think!

Don't like the way the Skoda looks to be honest.

[okgo]

ffs - as if you can get an M3 for the same money....

Although rubbish boot

[nottyash]

Urban Sports said:

tbc said:

not a patch on the Mk4

and the Mk6 is better than Mk5 but none are a patch on the Mk4

friend had a 2002 MK4 GTi Anniversary and it is a stonkingly better car than any other Gti

can pick up a good one for around £3-4k and they are kitted out with everything

plus lower suspension, better brakes, BBS alloys

The MK 4 is probably the worst incarnation of a Golf GTI!

You are messing right? Do I need a parrot?

Ihad a Mk4 GTI turbo, and standard it was a rubbish GTI, remapped it was fast but still not a GTI.
I think TBC is after a bite