Own a drivers car but no interest in cars!

[Alfahorn]

This always strikes me as a bit odd.

My friend has a very clean and well cared for 2007 Mk5 Golf GTI 5 door.

She has no interest in cars. She does only a few thousand miles a year preferring to walk or use her push bike.

The car was bought because VW’s are reliable and it was a ‘nice colour’ .

The car gets driven so sedately when what it really needs is a damn good thrashing.

It seems such a shame but there must be others out there who own/drive a car which is interesting to us petrolheads but the owner has little interest in it.

[Alfahorn]

Compared to a Porsche or Caterham then no the Golf GTI isn’t a drivers car. However, it’s marketed as a drivers car by VW and to the masses it’s one of those models perceived to be more likely to be driven by someone interested in cars.

[Alfahorn]

xjay1337 said:

I did expect something like a Lotus coming into the thread

I guess what OP is saying is that it's an "enthusiast" car owned by someone who doesn't know anything or have any interest in cars.

It's more common that you'd think. Especially in the younger car owner community, it's seen as cool to have a modified car or a "enthusiasts" car.

Yes that is my point. The driver is in her 40’s.

[Alfahorn]

scoey1001 said:

Would she be interested in selling it? I'm looking for one at the moment and can't seem to find a good one.

It is a good one and I've got first refusal!

[Alfahorn]

ddom said:

Why do people still til out thee ridiculous statements. The Golf defined, and has been at the top of the pile for hot hatches for years.

Exactly.

For me the MK5 is a modern classic too.

[Alfahorn]

Macron said:

Is she a friend with benefits?

Yes - the benefit being I've got first refusal on the car when she wants to sell it.

[Alfahorn]

aka_kerrly said:

You mean in exactly the same way the Golf GTI mk5 is well regarded by motoring journalists around the world winning various Car of the Year, Best Hot Hatch awards and group tests. Ever consider perhaps that you don't know a lot about a subject so you read a copy of What Car where they say the Golf GTI is their choice, you look in the classifieds an see one in budget & in a colour you like - that's ideal.
,

You nailed it for me.

The Mk5 GTI is a modern classic. In the lineage the best models were mk1, 2, 5 & 7/7.5. However, what makes the 5 stand out is it was a return to form and a very accomplished car. It's now 15 years since it came on the market and as good as the 7 and 7.5 are they are a hell of a lot more expensive.

I do believe it's a drivers car and probably the best in class at the time. I wouldn't compare it to a Lotus, Porsche or whatever else some people have compared it to because they're entirely different. However, the Mk5 GTI is a drivers car and this particular car I've driven and it feels great at a mere 95,000 miles and has been so well looked. There's hardly a mark on it.

To the owner it's just a car although shes really looked after it. To me it's a modern classic and I'd definitely like to have the car when shes ready to part with it. I suspect I'm in for a wait though!