Access to the rear in a 3 door GTI

[mcmaddy]

I just think the proportions of the 5 door are slightly better than the 3 door. Not many cars around that the 5 door still looks great in.

[monkeyhanger]

This GTD is my first 5 door i've bought in 7 new VWs, it always surprises me just how handy those 2 back doors are, and sometimes the massive doors of a 3 door variant are a real pain in a busy car park with narrow spaces.

It is one of the few cars that looks good in both variants (without having to look like an estate e.g. A3)

[Mr Savage]

3 door all the way.  A 5 door GTI just looks completely wrong.

The Golf GTI has always been known as the most rounded family hatchback money can buy including it's great level of practicality.

So how can a 5 door GTI look "completely wrong"?

I've had 3 doors and I've had 5 doors. I would never buy a 3 door again because everytime you go to give someone a lift you have to kick your passenger out (probably in the rain if you're in the UK too).

Let's see the benefits of 5 doors;

-Smaller sized doors for narrow car parks.
-Passengers can easily get in your car.
-You can put things on the back seats of your car easier if your boots full.
-You don't have to constantly slide your chair back and forth everytime a passenger wants to get in.
-Your rear passengers don't have to wait for the front passengers to get out the car before they can get out.
-Higher resale value if you decide to sell the car in the future.

Benefits of 3 door;

-Weighs a little more but doesn't affect performance figures.
-Apparantly looks a little better (I personally don't think it makes any difference to how good the car looks)
-Costs a bit less.

I'd take the 5 door everyday. I've lost count of how useful those back doors have been. Oh and I'm in my mid 20's so also a young lad with no kids!

[caprigreen]

I have a 4 bed house" just in case" we have family or friends who want to stay over.. rarely happens ... same with needing 5 doors. So to sum up if your popular and like giving people a lift go for the 5 door. If your are like me and have bought the car for you ... 3 door   

[CraigW]

5-door is far more practical vs 3-door which is far more sleek - it's that simple 

[p3asa]

Don't forget 3 door requires you to be supple to reach that all evasive seat belt 

[caprigreen]

Either one a winner 

[mjh_056]

Think this is a very important question myself as once decided on it you have to then live with it for how long have the car.

My previous 2 cars were 3 Door Audi and chosen as we all do, for the love of the lines of the 3 Door, but second time around the complete hassle of passengers getting in and out drove me to complete frustration and next car had to be a 5 Door!

It was bad enough when family were getting in and out and they all female and tallest is 5ft 6in but friends was worse given the wide selection of height and sizes.

Problem at the times was the Audi Sportback looks like an estate but this is when the MK7 Golf stepped in, which has truly great lines in the 5 Door guise.

Not regretted moving to 5 Door one bit as its transformed an ongoing frustration into a non issue and the car still turns heads.

If you carry passengers regularly and most of friends are of decent height and size then go for 5 door you will not regret it.

If its just you and another most of the time, then the 3 Door is your option.

[dubber36]

5 doors look much better proportionately as well as being practically superior.

The Golf is a big car these days, so needs the extra doors to look right. It's a different story with the Mk2, which is tiny by comparison and suits the 3 door profile.

[passant]

Personally I think 3 door looks far better. . .

Don't get a 5 door just because you pick you friends up and you cba getting out of the car for 5 seconds