How stiff / uncomfortable is the GTI?

[kolf]

Hi folks,
I'm bored of under-powered, soft, wobbly, boring, designed-to-meet-emissions-regulations typical cars and I want something a bit more...entertaining. I'm looking to buy something like a used Golf GTI Mk5 or a Focus ST Mk2.
I'm not from UK, I'm from an eastern-european country and such cars are pretty rare around here, it's a bit difficult to test-drive one unless you're really determined to buy it, which isn't the case for me quite yet.

But since I also have a wife and a 3 year old kid, the car should also be not too noisy, not too stiff, able to take a bit of stop-n-go traffic without making your left foot hurt (yes, I'm targeting a manual gearbox and I'd need the clutch to allow me to drive soft and slow, not just full-on and full-off  ).

How does your GTI MkV compare to other "regular" cars you have driven, specifically the suspension stiffness and interior noise?

My first car was a Ford Focus Mk2 1.6 petrol which was fun to drive but underpowered and had lots of rattles in the cabin.
Then I had a kid so I traded it for a larger Ford Mondeo Mk3 1.8 petrol which is also reasonably good to drive (I've driven much worse cars) but still a bit soft and lazy, underpowered, quite well built (no squeaks or rattles at 7 years old), steering is a bit too heavy at low speeds, the extra space and large rear doors were great to have while the kid was younger. The wife is very pleased with the comfort of the Mondeo but I get frustrated by the lack of power and by the lag with which it sometimes reacts to quick inputs...

[sprout99]

ride is very compliant

Octavia VRS was really hard in comparison

[kolf]

Ok, thanks.
What wheel size do you use?

[sprout99]

Ok, thanks.
What wheel size do you use?

we're on 18"s

we've been to Central germany in car and was a real pleasure to be truthful

good cruiser that's at home on twisty B roads too

[ron bagley]

Would agree with Sprout. One of the things the Mk5 was praised for was it's fun factor but not at the expense of a decent everyday ride. Equally at home bombing round B roads as well as in town in traffic.

[Marlowe]

As a comparitor, if it helps, I moved up to the gti from a a mk7 (52 plate) Celica.

Compared to that I'm living in the lap of luxury. You still feel the road, but the whole ride is a lot smoother and less harsh than my former boneshaker. I've found it to be a very comfortable cruiser (which the Celica most definitely wasn't - 3+ hour drives in the Celica would cause some pretty nice aches in my legs and a stiff cocyx), without little body-roll in corners.

As a comparitor, last year I drove to the Nurburgring with friends (10 hour drive - 5 hours each side of the ferry), and I was the only driver who didn't seem to require medical attention at each rest stop. I also taken mine around the Nordschleife tailing my friend's MK2 MR2 Turbo, and found that while it perhaps wasn't as much fun on the track as my friend's 240bhp rwd coupe, the car remained sure-footed and had only minor body roll even when entering corners at entirely non-sensible speeds.

Hope that helps.

[Ed30DSG]

The GTi is stiffer than most cars I've driven on OEM suspension. The ride is fidgety compared to something like an Audi A4 and whilst it doesn't crash over pot holes there isn't much compliance. I'm afraid that's a consequence of having a sorted chassis straight from the factory.

I've got an A5 now on 19's with Eibach springs on OEM sport dampers and the ride comfort is much better.

Having said all that, my 2 kids never complained once in the back of the Golf, no travel sickness, just the occasional Clarkson impression ...


I do miss the seats in the GTi though - they were so supportive and comfy at the same time, with no aches or pains on long journeys.

[Jimp]

The mk5 GTI is pretty comfortable imo, but I still find it comfortable on very stiff coilovers so your mileage may vary 

[mrDMH]

I slept in my GTI last night, it was f**king horrible!

[Gene Hunt.]

I slept in my GTI last night, it was f**king horrible!

.........don't you have a bed then?