bit of advice on a MK5 GTI

[dTEA]

Take the arms off, shot blast the surface rust away and paint them. Hey presto no rust. If you're really that worried about surface rust in the future, then give everything a coating of waxoyl.

And then a good coat of underseal

[_WILL_]

Tbh I don't think it looks to bad and certainly nothing a weekends work couldn't sort out.  I would be tempted to get it tidied up and under sealed, just for peace of mind.  As others have said, get out and enjoy the car! 

[Saint Steve]

Was this car a Import by any chance..

Looks like it might be , there was a large batch of mk5 Gti's that were imports, and were corroded to hell, due to them being stored at the dockside abroad for months.

Lack of use and salty atmospheric conditions looks like this might be one of these cars??

Long shot, hopefully the O.P might know about its history?

[Chowgar1]

cheers fellas the garage is going to clean it up and seal and after seeing it back up on the ramps realised that its not the end of the world... pretty glad as I really love the car got a nice spec with full leather MFSW winter pack and sat nav... really didnt want to have to start the search again... pretty sure its not an import just spent too much time near the coast...

thanks for all the advice...

[dTEA]

Good result and hope you enjoy it