Author Topic: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries  (Read 3503 times)

Offline Malcyb

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 12
Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« on: 09 June 2021, 14:31 »
Hi,
So I’m a bit closer to being able to get myself a Mk5 or Mk6 than I was in my 1st post a few months ago, and been trawling ads daily. I’m looking for an unmodified car and, if a Mk5, my budget should get me a very good one so will be looking for the best condition and history possible. Got a couple of questions though. Apologies if they’ve been answered elsewhere but couldn’t find answers in a search.
1. My marginal preference, from a driving perspective, would be for a manual rather than DSG, however I’ve driven enough newer DSG-fitted VWs to know it’s good. On a car over 10 years old, I’d be slightly worried that a DSG is more likely to cause me problems than a manual (I’ve read about ECU problems), so thinking that I should play safe and stick to a manual. Is there a consensus for one being much more reliable than the other?
2. Unfortunately even after 4 decades of driving, I’m still rubbish at parking so parking sensors are a must for me. I know that quite a lot of Mk5 and Mk6s don’t have them fitted. If I bought one without them, are they a reasonably straightforward retrofit- making them well integrated and not obviously aftermarket - and very roughly how much should I budget, including professional fitting (my DIY isn’t up to much really)?
Many thanks

Offline jv

  • Administrator
  • Serious forum addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,212
Re: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« Reply #1 on: 09 June 2021, 21:41 »
1 - so you prefer manual and have a concern about DSG reliability - well that's that question already answered!
2 - an example http://vagtec.co.uk/eshop/genuine-vw-oem-retrofit-kit-ops-parking-sensors-rear-golf-6-5k.html
Buy site stuff!
GolfGTI.co.uk - merchandise

Support the forum charity!
Forum Charity

Offline Malcyb

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 12
Re: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« Reply #2 on: 09 June 2021, 22:35 »
1 - so you prefer manual and have a concern about DSG reliability - well that's that question already answered!
2 - an example http://vagtec.co.uk/eshop/genuine-vw-oem-retrofit-kit-ops-parking-sensors-rear-golf-6-5k.html

Re DSG, that doesn’t really answer my question. I’ve only got a marginal preference for manual and would be happy with DSG all other things being equal. I’m just guessing that DSG might be less reliable, not basing that on any evidence, so I was asking the expertise of the forum, I’m finding (not surprisingly) that really good cars are thin on the ground so anything I can do to widen my choice without compromising too much would be good.

Thanks for the parking sensor link... have you a rough idea about fitting costs?

Offline jv

  • Administrator
  • Serious forum addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,212
Re: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« Reply #3 on: 10 June 2021, 08:26 »
Have a look at the link provided, fitting costs are there.

Buy site stuff!
GolfGTI.co.uk - merchandise

Support the forum charity!
Forum Charity

Offline timb02smith

  • Just got here
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Re: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« Reply #4 on: 10 June 2021, 08:51 »
The DSG gearbox has a big question mark over it's reliability and needs regular servicing to be reliable. This may be ill deserved as VW have fitted tens of thousands without problem. I agree it's a great gearbox and enjoyed it in a leased Octavia where if it let go it was someone else's problem. If you find a well serviced one, backed up by proper records I would go for it if that's what you prefer. The manual box has a dual mass flywheel which can also fail and ain't cheap to replace if it lets go so don't think that manual boxes are without inherent cost. As far as parking sensors go find a car with them fitted as standard even if they are rare. The newest mk5 is now eleven years old with the mk6 eight. I would therefore buy the one with the best service records and spec. rather than mk5 or 6, you can find within your budget. Any car can and will break and will cost money to fix so you must at some point bite the bullet and spin the wheel. Until we inherited a mk5 gti I intended to buy a Rangerover and even they can be reliable. Only you can decide what you want. This may not seem helpful however everyone has their own preference and will give you opinions that reinforce their own bias. Take advice but buy the car you want. From your post that's a car with manual box and parking sensors. search just on that and filter all else out. Good luck with the search.

Offline Malcyb

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 12
Re: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« Reply #5 on: 10 June 2021, 08:58 »
Have a look at the link provided, fitting costs are there.

Oops sorry I missed that… thanks

Offline Malcyb

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 12
Re: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« Reply #6 on: 10 June 2021, 09:10 »
The DSG gearbox has a big question mark over it's reliability and needs regular servicing to be reliable. This may be ill deserved as VW have fitted tens of thousands without problem. I agree it's a great gearbox and enjoyed it in a leased Octavia where if it let go it was someone else's problem. If you find a well serviced one, backed up by proper records I would go for it if that's what you prefer. The manual box has a dual mass flywheel which can also fail and ain't cheap to replace if it lets go so don't think that manual boxes are without inherent cost. As far as parking sensors go find a car with them fitted as standard even if they are rare. The newest mk5 is now eleven years old with the mk6 eight. I would therefore buy the one with the best service records and spec. rather than mk5 or 6, you can find within your budget. Any car can and will break and will cost money to fix so you must at some point bite the bullet and spin the wheel. Until we inherited a mk5 gti I intended to buy a Rangerover and even they can be reliable. Only you can decide what you want. This may not seem helpful however everyone has their own preference and will give you opinions that reinforce their own bias. Take advice but buy the car you want. From your post that's a car with manual box and parking sensors. search just on that and filter all else out. Good luck with the search.

Thanks for the advice. I think I’ll include DSGs in my search. It’ll have to be a Mk5 or 6 as I think my chances of getting a *good* Mk7 within my budget are nil.  As I’m looking for a car with the best possible history, and unfortunately there’s no so many of them around, I think I’d be a fool to ignore a car that was brilliant in every way but just happened to have DSG.  I appreciate that getting any car this age is a bit of a gamble - I’m running a 17 year old 150k miles Audi A2 at the moment so I know this well - but I’d like to load the odds as much in my favour as possible. Thanks for pointing out the DMF, I’m aware of the perils of these from my A2…

Offline ajmoir36

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,865
Re: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« Reply #7 on: 28 June 2021, 21:40 »
I think with the mk6 go after 2012 to avoid potential timing chain tensioner issues.
Diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
On Order: Mk8 R, Pure White, Reversing Camera, Harmon Kardon, Heated seats all round.
Gone: Mk7.5 R, 5dr, DSG, Deep Pearl Black, 18” Cadiz, Nav, Winter Pack, Keyless, Dynaudio and Reversing camera.
Gone: Mk7 R, 5dr, DSG, Limestone Grey, 19" Pretoria's, Nav Pro, DCC, Winter Pack, Keyless, Mobile Prep and Reversing Camera.
Gone: Mk6 GTD, 5dr, Manual, Tornado Red, 18" Vancouvers, RCD510 + Dynaudio, heated seats.

Offline willni

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,387
Re: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« Reply #8 on: 29 June 2021, 10:25 »
If it's just a normal GTI you're after, you'll be better off with the mk6. It's just a revised mk5 and the common issues have been addresses eg the roller cam follower. Not to mention mk5's are now out of their rust paint warranty period so front arches and sills which are very common for rust can no longer be addressed.

Rear sensors are a fairly straight forward retrofit, but would a rear camera solve the same problem?

DSG is only as reliable as how it's been serviced aka every 40k.
Mk7.5 GTI - Performance Pack, DSG, Sunroof, Dynaudio, Pro Nav, Vienna Leather, Climate Windscreen & last of the 3 doors....Many Sets of Alloys...

Prev - Mk7.5 White Silver, Vienna Leather, Sunroof, Helix Sub, Many Wheels

Follow my 7.5 build on the forum https://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=287596.msg2638666#new or on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willy_gti7.5pp/

Offline Malcyb

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 12
Re: Mk5 / Mk6 buying queries
« Reply #9 on: 02 July 2021, 07:41 »
So I’ve finally put down a deposit on a 2009 Mk6 GTI DSG, sub 40k mileage with full VW service history. Having an engineer inspection next week for a bit of peace of mind. I am wrestling with what to do about the timing chain issue, having skimmed all 74 pages of the thread. There is no evidence in the paperwork that the tensioner has ever been replaced, so I think I have to assume it hasn’t been. Sorry if I’m going back over old ground but, if I have the block 93 chain stretch check done, and I am fortunate enough to find it’s a good result, is it the consensus view that I still need to get the tensioner, chain, etc, replaced as a precaution? I’d be (reluctantly) prepared to, but not if the evidence suggests it’s not necessary. I know the chain has been known to fail with no (audible) warning, and obviously realise the catastrophic consequences of this, but is this actually likely if there’s minimal evidence of chain stretch? I note that a well-regarded VAG specialist near me (recommended on this forum) offers a free block 93 check, but what would be the point of this if the answer is just that I should replace it unconditionally?