GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: pat1967 on 24 April 2006, 10:54

Title: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: pat1967 on 24 April 2006, 10:54: Hi everyone, just joined, thinking about buying a new golf gti in the near future. loads questions for you guys, hope you can help me out. Which is better 3 or 5 door, I really like the 3 door look, but got couple of kids!......only just convinced the wife that we can manage with smaller car( current car V6 mondeo) Just wondering what everyone else thought, can you manage with 3 door and kids( age 9 and 4) or best to go to a 5 door.......or get rid of the kids!!!?? thanks
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: illyun on 24 April 2006, 12:09: Keep the kids - get rid of the wife and then you can have any car you want :laugh: Just joking (in case the missus is reading, because then you'ill be banned from this forum :grin: Seriously though, it really depends on your tolerance threshold. I have a toddler and have bought a 3-door, but with 2 older children I would think a 3-door, although managable, would not be ideal even though the Golf does have ample space to sit. Then it would depend on how much you all like the car to tolerate the slightly increased inflexibilty that a 3-door brings.
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: illyun on 24 April 2006, 12:17: Best thing to do is find a 3-door demonstrator and get a 2 hour test drive - one hour with the family and the other on your own :)
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: cartmell on 24 April 2006, 12:52: I went for the 5 door. It is a bit of hassle getting the kids in the back with a 3 door. The missus has a mini and its pain getting my 4yr old in the back. Its even worse when they want to climb everywhere with muddy shoes :cry:

Gotta admit the 3 door looks better but I know the novelty would wear off pretty soon when getting the kids in and out of the back. Yo9u just gotta try the 3 door.
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: lowdown on 24 April 2006, 17:40: The 3 dr Golf has pretty good for access to the back seats.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â The only way to check is to try it.

However, it's not just getting in and out that is the difference.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â The 5 dr obviously has its own opening windows and feels much more light and airy in the back.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â So better for passengers.(They can honk out of the window if your driving gets too much :sick:)

In terms of performance, the 5dr is slightly heavier, but I can't imagine its noticeable.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â You will have just as much fun in a 5 as a 3 :smiley:

If the kids are getting in and out on a daily basis, I would go for 5.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â If it's only at weekends then you might get away with 3, but I'm sure the wife will prefer 5.

Definitely a case for try before you buy, and you don't even need a GTi model to test that.

My gut feeling is go for 5.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Best of both worlds-practicality & performance.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â (as Mr Clarkson commented last year)
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: The Doc on 24 April 2006, 22:07: Get a 5 door!

We never go out in my car with people in the back!
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: pat1967 on 25 April 2006, 10:47: Thanks for the comments, did consider getting getting rid of the wife and kids, but you got to look at the bigger picture......washing, ironing and cooking!!....as much as I like the 3 door, think it has got to be a 5 door.
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: illyun on 25 April 2006, 11:17: I think you are probably making the right choice in opting for the 5-door... specs sometimes sound nice in theory, but that feel-good factor quickly evaporates when reality and every day driving sinks inÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â :wink:Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â A bit like buying a white GTI and then finding out that its a bugger to sell.
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: rega3 on 25 April 2006, 18:50: Like yourself I have two kids, both requiring child seats. I went for the five door, its a must plus some would have you believe they are easier to sell when the time comes............?
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: deanpoli on 03 July 2006, 13:34: does this mean no one thinks the 5 door is a good looking? i think it look alright.
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: The Doc on 03 July 2006, 15:35: "alright" is not the same as perfect!

I like 5 door golfs but I love 3 door golfs - that simple!

But I'd still go for 5 doors for use with kids!

(http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/4613/dsc026655ba.jpg)

(http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4230/dsc0288431ck.jpg)
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: Rhyso on 03 July 2006, 15:47: also depends on the colour too

eg 3dr White GTI looks stunning; don't think the same coudl be said for the 5 door version!

Steel Grey looks great in the 5 door mold - jammy g!t down the road got one :tongue:
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: The Doc on 03 July 2006, 15:55: So's my missus in her GT TDi

(http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/6195/dsc0290520sd.jpg)
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: deanpoli on 03 July 2006, 18:19: yeah that does look good in the steel grey,Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â any pics of a GTi sittin on 18's in a 5 door?
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: The Doc on 03 July 2006, 19:43: 5 door Caddys look good too!!!

(http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/5084/cars3l7ma.jpg)
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: Matt555 on 04 July 2006, 11:03: 3 door all the way........... And if someone doesn't want to climb into the back they can walk :grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: csi_basel on 04 July 2006, 13:17: When I got my GTI DSG recently I was also thinking about getting 5 doors, but the car was a 3 door.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â Now i'm glad its a 3 door, it just looks better.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â

Thanks Doc, for the picture of the black 3 door with the 18" Detroit alloys.Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â My car looks exactly the same and I was waiting until I had cleaned it before taking a picÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â :cool:

Cheers
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: The Doc on 04 July 2006, 19:32: :wink:
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: deanpoli on 21 July 2006, 17:08: well ive ordered a three door, and was wondering how easy it is getting people in and out of a three door? does anyone here have pics of the seat tilted and pushed forward?
would be interesting to see how much space there is.
Title: Re: new boy.......3 or 5 door
Post by: The Doc on 23 July 2006, 10:10: They look great but I thnk that given the choice most would go for the 3 door over the 5 door for looks alone.

The 5 door is far more practical though!