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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: athol on 07 July 2009, 16:37

Title: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: athol on 07 July 2009, 16:37

Hello All

After a year and a bit away from Golfs (I had a MkV GTi then and Ed30) - i have now decided to get back into them. Times have changed for me and i'm able to dump the Jeep that I bought (stupidly) as i was renovating a house and needed a car i didn't care about.

Anyway i can buy either a black MkV Pirelli with all the toys in manual or a new MkVI with not much above standard.

I'm drawn to the "old" car as the spec is awesome and iloved my previous 2 but i'm concerned that the new model will depreciate less and be more of sensible buy financially. Although it doesn't look as nice (the new one), the interior is a little better than the adjustable damper settings are nice too.

Please help! What would you do?
(oh, i know i've posted in the MkV section but honest opinions would be useful)
Ta
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Horney on 07 July 2009, 16:38
Pirelli is better looking, better spec'd and faster. No brainer unless you're desperate for a new plate and the presitige of a brand spanking new model.

nick
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: sambo on 07 July 2009, 16:39
Whats the cost of both and what reg would the pirelli be on?   :smiley:

Sam
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Rhyso on 07 July 2009, 16:40
the more i see the Pirelli the more it grows on me

if its fully loaded i'd go for the Pirelli; re-sale should be pretty strong so if you get the itch you can change for a MK6 when prices aren't so silly
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: dubcruiser on 07 July 2009, 16:54
Pirelli for me... The fact its so limited just adds to the appeal and should hold its money well in the future  :wink:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Alexander on 07 July 2009, 17:55
Pirelli for me but at the end of the day its your choice :wink:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: athol on 07 July 2009, 17:58
They're both around the 22k mark. The Pirelli is a 58 plate with sat nav, multi cd, multi wheel, park sensors, sun glass, auto dim mirrors and the new one would be the standard car as with the options it's about £27K and that's too much.

I think Pirelli too and only the possible worse depreciation makes me think of the new one. My first MKV was around 3 months after they came out and  i lost £2000 in a year and 12,ooo miles. Good value! I'm worried that the Pirelli will drop too quickly and make me wish i'd gone for the new one.

How many Pirellis are there in the UK? I assume they've now stopped making them?
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: bacillus on 07 July 2009, 18:01
There are far fewer Pirellis' than ED30s in the UK and yes production has stopped.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: R32UK on 07 July 2009, 18:21
Drive them both and then decide! :laugh:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Exonian on 07 July 2009, 18:55
It is a difficult call at the moment for sure. I've been to a couple of VW dealers now to price up a new mk5.5 mk6 GTI and have been surprised to see late mk5s with massive 'run out model' specs for very similar money to the new model. All the sales people are running about doing scrappage deals on Polos and I wonder how much actual interest the new model has had. When the mk5 was launched it was so popular there were big waiting lists and depreciation was slow. Now the economic climate is very different and to try and bolster up the prices of the 'new' GTI VW seem to be making them in very limited numbers from reading between the lines of what the sales execs I've spoken to have said. They also told me that late mk5s are flying out the doors at the moment, probably because to most people the cars are so similar (excluding VWKev on the mk6 forum) and the mk5 offers so much more for your money at present.
The telling time will come in about 12 months when there are a few more mk6s available to see whether they will command the same level of depreciation proof motoring that the mk5 had for the first couple of years.
I reckon that a Pirelli or ED30 with a full spec would hold it's value very well but I'm not so sure that paying the prices a lot of dealers are asking at the moment would be sound financial sense as they are preying on the limited availabilty of decent cars either new or second hand. A better deal right now may be to get an cheaper older (say 07 plate) GTI and wait until prices have settled down to normal a bit.
New Polos on the other hand are very popular and it is extremely fortunate for VW that the scrappage deal was announced at the same time as the old Polo model run out model deals were getting underway. Bad time to be selling a late model Polo though!!!
Take it from me as someone who's been driving Golf GTIs on and off for 23 years, the mk6 doesn't drive much differently to a 200bhp mk5 GTI and despite the claims that it's quieter than the mk5, the mk6 shows up the rattles far more as it's so well sound insulated. One I drove rattled quite badly from a rear door and somewhere in the boot/back seat area on undulating, but not badly surfaced roads.
The mk6 is ahead but not by much and the R model will probably use only a very slightly modified Pirelli engine anyway.
Just my tuppence worth.........
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Saint Steve on 07 July 2009, 19:43
a figure of around 220 pirelli's have been sold in the uk.

My oppinion is also , the Pirelli , no question. Great spec and very rare.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Chris MKV on 07 July 2009, 20:47
We got our black pirelli just after they anounced the 'new' model golf and I am still very happy that we did that rather than wait for the Mk6. :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

Now been driving it since september and still only ever seen ours and the one we test drove.

I would have thought you should eb able to get a deal where your real depreciation would be less!
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: athol on 07 July 2009, 20:58

I have driven both today. The Pirelli i knew as i had an ED30. The new car was very much more Audi to me. In fact i mentioned to the sales guy that it felt more A3 3.2 quattro than Golf GTI. I tried the dampers and quite like the sport mode but one side of me also thinks that a GTI shouldn't need fancy dampers. It should work in all every day conditions straight out the box.

Dunno but so far  i'm more Pirelli than MK6.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Hurdy on 07 July 2009, 23:41
They sent just over 230 Pirelli's to the UK :wink:

Future rare classic if kept long enough.

The Pirelli gets my vote, but I can see that if a similar thread in the MKVI section was put up, the MKVI GTI would get the nod  :tongue:

They are a defensive lot in the MKVI section from what I've seen so far, again, just like us MKV'ers were when it came out over the MKIV.....and on that occasion we were right too :wink: :grin:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: No Golf Clubs at all on 08 July 2009, 06:04
Get the pirelli and get recaro seats fitted, then use the originals as garden furniture. Soz peeps but yellow stitching and that tyre tread pattern looks gash IMHO. But etto and all that.....
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Exonian on 08 July 2009, 06:13
The yellow stitching is a bit of a question mark for me but I love the tyre tread seats!!! It adds a bit of (unique) character. I think it is a bit of rare German sense of humour like when they stuck a golf ball gearknob in the mk1........
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: R32UK on 08 July 2009, 07:41
As rare as the pirelli is its not to everyones taste. As for keeping it as a future classic... its all well and good in theory but if its your daily driver then you will do well to keep it as a "future classic".

Cars are to be used not to put on a mantle and looked at.. imo the MK6 seems much higher quality than the MK5 and was suprise how nice it drove compared to the outgoing model.

I dont think residuals or banking on future resale prospect is the correct route to chose when buying a new car. A newer model will also nearly always be worth more than the older one... get out there and drive them both!!  :nerd:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: jaydubveedub on 08 July 2009, 07:51
If you're worried about depreciation, then £22k is probably not the best price point to be buying a MK5.

Either way, any Golf GTI in the right spec won't lose too much money if you look after it, so just go for the car that you like the most. If you spend too long working out the financial side of it you may end up doing something silly and coming away with a Polo Bowelmotion. Sorry, Bluemotion.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: ifti on 08 July 2009, 09:13
100% Pirelli
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: FamilyDub on 08 July 2009, 10:04
I really like the Pirelli edition over the MKVI.. apart from those seats  :sick:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Wayne on 08 July 2009, 10:21
Pirelli ftw
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Egbutt Wash on 08 July 2009, 10:49
I never buy a car in it's first year of production.
The Mk6 owners are reporting faults already, it might be wisest to go for the Pirelli.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: R32UK on 08 July 2009, 11:08
I never buy a car in it's first year of production.
The Mk6 owners are reporting faults already, it might be wisest to go for the Pirelli.

What faults would they be??
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Egbutt Wash on 08 July 2009, 11:29
eg Gravity...

Had an electrical failure - all lights which suddenly dissappeared they worked intermittently but no fault found on the plug in gadget.  Central Electronics unit might have been the problem.  Hate it when faults disappear.


Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: andrewl on 08 July 2009, 11:39
got an edition 30 same car but with awful seats, i personally would rather have an edition 30 but its your choice mate. Pirrelli as stated very rare and will probaly hold its money well.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: jaydubveedub on 08 July 2009, 11:51
I never buy a car in it's first year of production.
The Mk6 owners are reporting faults already, it might be wisest to go for the Pirelli.

This is not uncommon for new models, although the MK5 GTI apparently wasn't too bad. The initial UK launch cars had hardly any faults/issues on them, despite the torrent of abuse they received in the hands of journalists.

When I spoke to my mate (VW technician) about buying a MK5 GTI his opinion was to go for it because it's pretty much bullet proof if you look after it. In contrast the B6 Passat was an absolute dog when it was launched and it had endless electrical gremlins.

The best cars (IMO) to buy are usually the ones near the end of their life-cycle. By then the manufacturers will have seen (and sorted) most issues that can occur in terms of build issues and weak points.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: R32UK on 08 July 2009, 12:08
eg Gravity...

Had an electrical failure - all lights which suddenly dissappeared they worked intermittently but no fault found on the plug in gadget.  Central Electronics unit might have been the problem.  Hate it when faults disappear.




Any others?? or was that the only fault?
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: bobotheclown on 08 July 2009, 15:42
Pirelli, just because it's got all the toys. the RNS-510 is an awesome piece of kit.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: smartypants on 08 July 2009, 21:15
Get a fully loaded BMW 335i coupe instead :D


Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: ub7rm on 08 July 2009, 21:20
When I took my Mk5 in for a service the service manager said they rarely saw them in for repair work.  Especially for engine related issues.  Just thought I'd throw that in there...
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: R32UK on 09 July 2009, 16:51
When I took my Mk5 in for a service the service manager said they rarely saw them in for repair work.  Especially for engine related issues.  Just thought I'd throw that in there...

Engines are generally hassel free, as I havent hear of many issues certainly on here. Its all the other bits and incompetent dealers you have to worry about :embarassed:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: FamilyDub on 10 July 2009, 10:44
Did the OP ever tell us their decision...?  :nerd:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: GTiPirelli on 10 July 2009, 10:51
Pirelli every time for me - obviously  :grin:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: davegixer on 10 July 2009, 11:05
Get the Pirelli, keep it for a year or so then get a 6 month old Mk6 when someone else has taken some of the depretation hit and all (if any) of the teething problems are resolved.

Nice decision to be making though!  :cool:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: bobotheclown on 10 July 2009, 13:58
I still think the rear light clusters of the mk6 look a bit vauxhall and anonymous. much prefere the rear look of the mk5. I can spot a mk5 on the motorway from 100 yards.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: smartypants on 10 July 2009, 14:09
The rear is very US looking. And certainly don't like the twin exhaust arrangement.

But warming to the front, although it has a bit of Fiat Multipla about it :D

Still MK5 every single day... get the Pirelli!
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: dubcruiser on 10 July 2009, 17:16
The rear look like a small Toureg... I prefer the rear of the Mk6 to the Mk5. I never liked the black plastic on the rear bumber of the Mk5. Just my opinion though  :wink:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: smartypants on 10 July 2009, 19:21
Thats the mark of a GTI though! :)
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: T_J_G on 10 July 2009, 19:35
Mk6 over the Pirelli as I really dont like the Pirelli, looks a bit cheap to me.
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: TurboTrev on 10 July 2009, 20:03
I'm pretty sure there are still one or two Pirellis available new for around £20k if you search....
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Exonian on 10 July 2009, 20:27
All of the Pirellis I've seen on the VW webby are around the £22k mark. Mind you they have full spec, however in a few years time I doubt they'd allow much for the RNS and other gadgets in your part ex price. Not seen any around the £20k mark for a good few weeks now (admittedly I haven't looked that hard) and every time I go into my local stealer they predictably start trying to shove a mk6 down my neck. Not that I've got much of a problem with that apart from the ££££££££!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: Real Thing on 13 July 2009, 00:50
Got My Pirelli for sale in the classifieds
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=121780.0
Title: Re: Pirelli or Mk6 GTI - have to make my mind up today
Post by: stealthwolf on 13 July 2009, 22:13
As stated above, Pirelli - partly because of toys, partly because of elitism (as stated, 230 pirellis versus 2300 ED30s), but also because of POWER! (230 in the pirelli against 210 in the MK6).

Pirelli, just because it's got all the toys. the RNS-510 is an awesome piece of kit.
OP said it had satnav - but there's the MFD2 as well as the RNS510. It's likely to be the former, given the cost of the RNS.


The rear look like a small Toureg... I prefer the rear of the Mk6 to the Mk5. I never liked the black plastic on the rear bumber of the Mk5. Just my opinion though  :wink:
The mk5 'plastic' is body-coloured on the edition 30 and pirelli editions, so you won't have that plastic trim.