3doors vs 5doors

[starsky]

Had my 3 door GTI now for 20 months and my daughter is nearly 2 years old so I am well experienced in this matter and had a similar dilemma.

What I can advise is my gti is the main family car and the 3 door has been fine so far. To be honest the front seat slides quite far forward giving you plenty of room to get the child in or out. Also when your strapping them in you dont get wet as your actually standing in the rear of the car.

However there is a drawback, older they get, heavier they get and it is starting to show. I am now thinking of a 5 door but cant justify spending the extra money for one when it is the same car just with two extra doors.

One thing that I would advise is that if your using it to transport kids, make sure you get leather seats as they are so easy to wipe clean when the spill milk in the back.

If the car is right for you and its 3 door just go for it but if your going to keep it over 2 years get a 5 door.

[arletty69]

5 door any day!  Apart from all the obvious advantages IMHO I think the 5 door looks more the business!

[Ed30DSG]

If the car is right for you and its 3 door just go for it but if your going to keep it over 2 years get a 5 door.

What sort of advice is that? What difference does it make if you plan on keeping it for 2 years?

I've got 2 older kids (3 & 7 yo) and they are both fine with a 3-door - they can both operate the front seat latch without a problem.

I agree that for younger kids the 5 door is the way to go, but if you have a new family you probably want a bigger car than the Golf to get all the stuff in that young children, especialy babies need, as a full size pushchair fills most of the boot up.

HTH

[starsky]

If the car is right for you and its 3 door just go for it but if your going to keep it over 2 years get a 5 door.

What sort of advice is that? What difference does it make if you plan on keeping it for 2 years?

HTH

  Jees soz pal! What I am trying to say is that I have found it ok so far with a 3 door but now the little one is coming up to 2 years old its getting more difficult to get her in the back. So what I meant was that if your planning on only keeping the car 2 years then its not really a problem. Sorry but my kid cant use the latch yet, only 21 month! Hopefully when she is old enough to use the latch herself it might be easier, OK!

[ChrisbGTI72]

Thanks to ALL of you for the great advice.

Going by the majority I think 5 doors is the way to go, so therefore I should just wait and be patient (2 things I'm not that good at) for the right spec GTI to come along 

I agree that 3 doors is a better looking car, I used to have 2 3dr Golf GTI's (Mk3 & Mk4) before I got into Audi TT's, but practicality is my main requirement now. As for going bigger than a Golf, I really hope it doesn't come to that as I just don't think I'm going to get as much enjoyment from driving an Audi A4 Avant or BMW 3 series Touring?

There seems to be quite a few GTI's out there, but with such varying specs, mileages and prices! I'm after the following....

must haves....
5 Doors
Black
Full Leather
18'' Monza II's
Average mileage
DSG

would also like....
sunroof
Xenons
Sat Nav

up to £15,000

I have looked at a couple, but none have been totally my spec or have just not been cared for. My 2.5yr old TT was immaculate when I sold it and I would like to find a Golf in a similar condition. I do have time on my side as I do have my wife's VW Lupo to drive around in, but after years of enjoyable driving in quick cars my street cred is decreasing very quickly!!

Thanks again guys. The search goes on.

I'm currently searching...
Autotrader
Pistonheads
VW Used Car Locator


any others you'd recommend?

[smartypants]

Its your choice really - on aesthetics and price. I don't have kids, but my mother managed with us three kids with a 3 door escort for when we were growing up and she's only 4ft11!

So I wouldnt decide on a 5-dr purely because you have kids, sure it might be a bit easier.. but nothing you cant handle. Parents these days are just pussys

3-dr looks nicer, and if you say they are cheaper - then thats another positive!

Loads of room in the 3-dr and if grown men can get in and out of the back with ease, then children would be even easier. Go with your head though.

The plus side in buying a Golf GTI is that it will hold its value very well (most over the year have actually risen in price), so if you find with a 3-dr and it doesnt work for you - sell it and buy a 5-dr

[duffy78]

A 3 door will be fine for one child. I used to have a 3 door mkIV golf V5 and it was never a problem getting the little tyke in and out of the back seat.

But, if you're thinking about having another one within 3 - 4 years then i'd be looking at a 5 door. when our second came along it wasnt long before my wife couldnt reach back in the 3 door to lift and then fasten our first child in.

Where are you located mate?

I'll be putting my 5 door up for sale as soon as i can find a touran to the spec i want (we're having another)

it ticks all your boxes apart from its laser blue, not black.

[bertmort8]

i got a 5 door and its great if you have a kid.

i borrowed my mums 3 door astra when she went on holiday and its a right pain in the arse. and having a new born wil be tougher as the baby has to be facing backwards for like a year or so.

[arletty69]

Anybody else share my opinion that the 5 door is a better looking car?

[ub7rm]

Anybody else share my opinion that the 5 door is a better looking car?

As a 5 door owner I would have to say.... no 

They are better looking but (obviously) not quite as practical but more than that I really hate the fact that my fiancee's polo is a 3 door and the doors even on that are fecking big and you have to be a lot more carefull about opening the doors in car parks and the like.