Hi,
Just recently taken delivery of a MK5 Gti and thought I would like to share with you a few things about it, please forgive my meandering thoughts.
I like to keep a "fun" car in the garage as well as more sensible tools, so this replaces a mini cooper s. It is faster than the mini but doesn't feel it. There was a much more raw feeling when you slung the mini down a bumpy road that you were actually quite surprised to have made it to the end in one piece. The Golf is very much more composed so that point to point it would definitely beat the mini. (still haven't absolutely decided if that is a plus or a minus, kind of depends what mood I am in).
The build quality is very good, I hate doors that clank rather than thud when shut and have bought cars before almost entirely on that point.
I bought black which (as any black car) is a pig to keep clean. It looks good when it is though and I love the way the brakes calipers show up.
I'm not totally convinced about the look of the car, I bought a 5 door (I expect when I move it on there will be a larger market) and it doesn't give me that "oooh thats mine" feeling when I walk towards it.
I also opted for the DSG gearbox which is superb, I would put it against any auto I have ever driven. Being a gadget freak I went for steering wheel paddles and would tell anyone to save the £550 (or there abouts) they cost, they are totally unnecessary other than to tell people you have a car with flappy paddles.
Listening to other peoples dealer issues I was quite surprised. The dealer I used (Stanwell Boston) was superb especially the salesman (Gary) I would highly recommend them / him, I felt I was buying a car from an enthusiast. I had never owned a VW, in fact never even driven a MK5 golf and he sold it to me on the back of his own test drive (and he was right).
To sum the car up I sometimes think it was too much money for what is essentially a family hatchback especially when I look what else I could have for the money second hand. However then I look at the sum of the parts and what it actually does and I cannot think of another car that can do so much as competently with so little compromise.
Anyway enough of my rambling.
Adrian