fn2 or mk5 gti
Discussion
Looking for opinions on the fn2 and mk5 gti. Looking for a hot hatch with a decent load space for around 5k. After doing research I have narrowed it down to these 2, but not driven either of them yet. My only worries is golf reliability and the supposed crashy ride in the fn2. Any real world conparisons and advice would be great.
Owned an FN2 for 16 months. Yeah it's a pretty crashy ride especially on the 19" Rage's. I think they look a lot better than the 18's. However if you run 18''s and get some Eibach springs it's supposed to improve the ride a bit.
The engine is great, but it's expensive if you want more power. With the GTI you'd get more gains from a few hundred quid remap than you would on the Honda. The only thing I've done to mine is put a HKS induction kit on, which sounds the nuts.
The engine is great, but it's expensive if you want more power. With the GTI you'd get more gains from a few hundred quid remap than you would on the Honda. The only thing I've done to mine is put a HKS induction kit on, which sounds the nuts.
Out of those two it'd be the FN2 & a set of springs but in all honesty (& a bit of bias as one of these is what I bought) it would be a Focus in ST-3 form.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Having owned both in various states of tune GTI ED 30 just shy of 300hp and the FN2 with nearly 400hp thanks to a SC setup, I’d have an FN2 again any day over the GTI.
The FN2 definitely has more sense of occasion about it and far more rewarding just be prepared to have your pants pulled down by anything FI during traffic light GP’s if that your thing get the GTI.
The FN2 definitely has more sense of occasion about it and far more rewarding just be prepared to have your pants pulled down by anything FI during traffic light GP’s if that your thing get the GTI.
duggyfresh said:
Thanks mate, I thought about the st but cracked liners and drive shaft failing put me off, or I am worrying about it too much? Might have to drive one too.
Had mine for nearly two years ruining over 300bhp, my friend bought it off me & hasn't had a single problem, the Liner issue affected tuned cars it's very rare for a standard one to fail, also the driveshaft (mainly on tuned ones) issue is very overhyped & can affect any car putting out big bhp. The clutch isn't the strongest but most replace it with an RS spec one & that's that issue taken care of.I'd say test drive one.
duggyfresh said:
So I have just found a st on here near me, but the seller has only owned it for a couple of months and this is putting me off, do other people agree on this?
People sell cars for all kinds of reasons so it is impossible to say without more info.Re the Civic v the Focus, they are very different cars.
The Civic needs to be driven hard to extract any kind of decent performance from it ( ie rev the nuts of it) whereas the Focus is much more relaxed and torquey.
The Civic has great seats, looks are a bit marmite but the ride is absolutely, completely, unequivocally unacceptable.
Handling is OK but drive it on anything less than billiard table smooth tarmac and it is awful.
Hit a pothole and you may shatter your spine.
The Focus is more of a grand tourer - much softer and a bit wallowy in comparison.
Whatever you opt for factor in a suspension upgrade on either.
Personally ( and having owned both ) I'd take the Focus.
It's easier to live with day to day.
I prefer torque and the 5 cylinder warble over working hard all the time.
Plus you get a turbo gauge.
And everyone loves turbo gauges
Edited by Red 4 on Monday 11th February 00:52
Not driven a mk5 but as an fn2 owner for over 2 years I'd say you would definitely not have any regrets buying a Type r.
Still absolutely love driving mine and and could easily have it as a daily (i commute by train to work)
I find it comfortable and surprisingly good economically as i regularly achieve about 28mpg which is mainly urban driving. Also maybe a bit biased but i think it looks much better than most hatches from that era!
Still absolutely love driving mine and and could easily have it as a daily (i commute by train to work)
I find it comfortable and surprisingly good economically as i regularly achieve about 28mpg which is mainly urban driving. Also maybe a bit biased but i think it looks much better than most hatches from that era!
I owned a FN2. If you are tall the A pillars are a massive blind spot.
I like my seat fairly upright so getting inpast the seat bolster meant often I smacked my head on the A pillar.
Let someone into the rear and you lose your seat setting everytime.
Fn2 suffers from a cabin water leak.
In standard form it's slow. You at least need a tune which makes the VTEC kick in earlier which is £400?
Over variations of road surfaces on NSL's the rear can skip etc due to its basic rear suspension.
Now they are being bought alot by budget owners so be expected to go through a few when viewing.
Pity as it's a good looking car.
I like my seat fairly upright so getting inpast the seat bolster meant often I smacked my head on the A pillar.
Let someone into the rear and you lose your seat setting everytime.
Fn2 suffers from a cabin water leak.
In standard form it's slow. You at least need a tune which makes the VTEC kick in earlier which is £400?
Over variations of road surfaces on NSL's the rear can skip etc due to its basic rear suspension.
Now they are being bought alot by budget owners so be expected to go through a few when viewing.
Pity as it's a good looking car.
Sa Calobra said:
I owned a FN2. If you are tall the A pillars are a massive blind spot.
I like my seat fairly upright so getting inpast the seat bolster meant often I smacked my head on the A pillar.
Let someone into the rear and you lose your seat setting everytime.
Fn2 suffers from a cabin water leak.
In standard form it's slow. You at least need a tune which makes the VTEC kick in earlier which is £400?
Over variations of road surfaces on NSL's the rear can skip etc due to its basic rear suspension.
Now they are being bought alot by budget owners so be expected to go through a few when viewing.
Pity as it's a good looking car.
I’m 6’3 and never banged my head once. Loads of room in the cabin.I like my seat fairly upright so getting inpast the seat bolster meant often I smacked my head on the A pillar.
Let someone into the rear and you lose your seat setting everytime.
Fn2 suffers from a cabin water leak.
In standard form it's slow. You at least need a tune which makes the VTEC kick in earlier which is £400?
Over variations of road surfaces on NSL's the rear can skip etc due to its basic rear suspension.
Now they are being bought alot by budget owners so be expected to go through a few when viewing.
Pity as it's a good looking car.
Not sure what you’re comparing it against, but in standard form it’s not slow at all. Working the engine is no chore thanks the fantastic 6 speed box.
Again, never experienced the ‘rear skipping’ as you describe. And I regularly drove it hard on bumpy B roads.
Your comment about budget owners applies to all its peers too... mk5 gti, Focus ST included. The FN2 is more reliable than both of them though, so is more likely to stand up to neglectful maintenance.
So you've discounted the GTI?
As an all rounder the GTI is probably one of the best cars you can buy.
As above Type R more hardcore and no doubt enjoyable on the right roads but can you live with it day to day?
ST expensive to run (probably 10 mpg down on the GTI) but great Volvo derived engine and tuneable.
As an all rounder the GTI is probably one of the best cars you can buy.
As above Type R more hardcore and no doubt enjoyable on the right roads but can you live with it day to day?
ST expensive to run (probably 10 mpg down on the GTI) but great Volvo derived engine and tuneable.
I averaged 25-27mpg with my ST & that seems to be the ballpark figure for these I have friends that have/had MK5's & they're average (with a similar driving style to me) seemed to be 29-31mpg running cost wise including fuel the difference was £280 more for the ST over the two years but out of the box the ST for me was the better drivers car obviously the R26 was better than both but I didn't like the look of them.
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