First post! Looking to buy a Mk5 GTi and some related questions

[Robbie G]

First of all hi  .

I have ~£12k to spend and I was considering Audi S3s and Golf GTis. I've settled for a Golf hence I'm here seeking your advice. I'm looking for a second hand 5dr DSG (preferably in blue), and I am struggling with two things:

- whether now is a good time to buy or whether I'd be better off waiting for the new GTi and saving until it's released for a decent deposit (will have to be a very decent deposit I imagine )
- what options are considered requirements

The first one, I appreciate, is hard to answer definitively since nobody really knows whether the Mk6 GTi will be any good or not, but I'm asking for your best assessment based on the current market, second hand prices etc. The current list of options I have down as requirements are:

- DSG
- Xenons
- leather seats

What other options should I be looking at? Many thanks for any answers as well as any other tips you feel like flinging my way.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Welcome to the forum. 

The Mk6 GTI - unless you are going to be a cash buyer, then you will seriously get stung with the finance - so probably best avoided.

Re the Mk5:  yes, factory Xenons really are worth the extra.

DSG is superb, but down to personal preference - but I you do find a 2nd hand DSG, it MUST have a specific DSG service at 4years or 40k miles.  If there is no proof of this service (and the car is either near, or overdue) - then walk away.

Leather, again, personal preference.  But weather leather or cloth, check the front seat bolsters for wear.

The standard audio is pants.  Most would go for the factory fit sat nav, or an aftermarket head unit.

Service history - a GTI really should NOT be on the LongLife regime - T&D servicing is the best way to care for the GTI.

Alloys, the larger 18" Monza II alloys are more sought after than the standard 17"s - and were quite a bargain when factory fitted.  But they can suffer badly with corrosion (do a search in the Mk5 section for 'white worm') and are difficult to correctly repair.  The white worm can also affect the wheel centre caps, and also the VW badge in the tailgate release.

Lift the boot carpet and check the spare wheel well for signs of water ingress - the Mk5 can suffer in this area.

Check for 'clunky' steering - there is a sticky thread in the maintenance + info sub-section of this forum.

Oh, and be prepared to feed it only Tesco 99 or Shell V Power.

HTH

[Robbie G]

Great post and yes very helpful, thanks. Looking forward to some nice 2.0T power under my right foot as myself and the wife are fed up of being sensible commuters (Polo and Fiesta  :embarassed:). Though my journey to work is only 5 minutes each way we're wanting something that will be a blast at the weekends when visiting friends, driving to the coast etc.

I've driven a friend's Golf with the DSG box and loved it, as the semi-automatic option is still there if you need some control. Just a bit fed up of manual clutching in traffic really.

Thanks again for the tips and I will look out for all of the above when shopping.

[Edition30]

Welcome to the forums!!

From experience of buying a brand new car I would definately say buy second hand, the value you lose is just not worth it. My car was £22.5k back in July and I would be pushing to get £17k for it now. Unless money is no object and you can laugh 5-6k away then go for the newer MK6.

My money would without a doubt go into a MK5, afterall its a buyers market at the moment. Also like TT mentioned look out for the Monza II wheels they finish the GTi off a treat as does the SatNav.

[CHRIS-M07GTI]

Hi Robbie,

Have a look at my golf,in the for sale section.

Have just took some photo's of car and will upload them when i get 5 mins,prob over the weekend.

Chris M.

[TomB]

Hello and welcome!

I'm new to the MK5, I only picked it up 3 weeks ago, and I do the same driving as you, nice to have a plaything, isn't it!

I set out for a blue GTI with leather, sunroof and nav and ended up with red, fabric, no sunroof and a basic HU, but I got it for a very good price.  I did look at a few with leather and found them all to be pretty knackered, even at 40k.  I wasn't a fan of the fabric, but I love it now.  My car has 55k on it and they still look like new.

Mine has Xenons, and to be honest I'm not that impressed by them.  Its my first car with xenons and I don't know what all the fuss is about.  I don't like the headlight washers spraying with the windscreen washers as it soaks the front and side of the car, and sure they're brighter, but they don't go much further than halogens (I have a 06 Caddy for work with halogens and I can see just as much), however the blue colour is pretty cool, as is the auto function and come home lights...great touches!

As for DSG, I have a soft spot for autos, but I've heard a few bad stories and I've heard the cost of a replacement unit, so I chose a manual.

I wouldn't go for a MK6, the MK5 had much more time at the factory, the MK6s are simplified versions which go out in half the time.  Sounds like they're gonna fall to bits, or the quality's dropped.

[stealthwolf]

Can't comment on DSG but Xenon looks the nuts and I wished I'd ordered it. Leather seats - some will be worn but it should indicate how heavily the car was used.

I'd also look for highline. Makes it easier if you want to retrofit a multi-function steering wheel or a VW bluetooth handsfree kit.

[ifti]

I just hate the way leather stretches and crinkles etc. Is there anything you can regularly apply to stop that and keep them looking new??
TBH if the ED30 had cloth seats I'd still be looking for one - not so keen on leather for the simple fact that it wrinkles and starts to look old quicker.

[Cass]

Given your budget, don't even consider a Mk VI. You'll be waiting months and there willl be no discount, period. You'll also pay at least twice as much

Plenty of Mk V's for sale, especially privately. IMHO, go for a low mileage 56 car onwards with a full dealer service history (VW stamps in service book and Time and Distance servicing regime - don't consider Long Life ), dark metallic, 18" Monza II's, Xenons and Sat Nav if you can. Leather is a personal preference but Interlagos cloth with Winter Pack (includes heated front seats does it for me - warm in winter and not hot in summer like leather - also more durable).

Get the best spec you can and remember it's a buyers market, but one note of caution..............................................

The Mk V is now affordable to alot of people, as the Mk III and Mk IV were previously. Make sure you source it well and check it out fully. Alot of modded cars out there but if this is your first Mk V don't get stung by a tired and thrashed car - go to a dealer and test drive a good, low mileage Mk V, that should be your benchmark to sort a good one. Don't impulse buy - be prepared to travel if necessary but do your research, and get the car you want in the colour and spec you want - get it right first time. The Mk V is a proper GTI and a pleasure to own and drive

Cass   

[DanoGTI]

I just hate the way leather stretches and crinkles etc. Is there anything you can regularly apply to stop that and keep them looking new??
TBH if the ED30 had cloth seats I'd still be looking for one - not so keen on leather for the simple fact that it wrinkles and starts to look old quicker.

I use this stuff on my Audi. The car is 11 years old - the seats look bran new due to this stuff. It's not cheap, but it's worth it.
http://www.liquidleather.com/

Dan