Perfect CS40...

[Watts]

and when transporting not so agile elderly relatives who struggle - or find it impossible - to get into the back of a three door car

Very true but there are some positives here, like when my mum was in the back of mine (3 door) trying to get out, nearly did it before falling bum first back into the rear footwell I really wish I'd had a smart phone to record it on

[monkeyhanger]

I am of a certain age where I was brought up on 3 door hot hatches.  There was no such thing as a 5 door hot hatch back in the day, so I am firmly in the 3 door camp.  I just can't see 5 doors as a sporty profile.  Same as these new fangled taxi engined GTD stylee "hot hatches".  Again, back in the day there was no such thing as a hot taxi engined car.  Dinosaur, I am.

The Golf GTI has been available in 5 doors right from its very beginnings in the MK1. Small cars do suit 3 doors better. Back in the MK2 Golf days, a lot of its hot hatch competition was smaller again - the likes of the Renault 5 GT Turbo and Peugeot 205 GTI. The Astra GTE and XR3i were the same class size, but still small compared to the current Golf/Astra/Focus.

3 doors on a medium to large size car now is a PITA with wider cars and parking spaces not betting any bigger (the worst I have come across being my Boss' A5). I do my utmost not to park next to a 3 door car, as its doors are likely to clatter my car when the occupants get out.

First and foremost, a hot hatch is practical, and 3 doors are pretty impractical these days due to the width/parking issue.

The Golf isn't small any more, it looks just as good in 5 doors as 3 doors.

Nowt wrong with hot diesels either, now they are actually hot rather than being a 70hp naturally aspirated clattery lump with a trim upgrade. Many people love the effortless torque of a high powered diesel and still having great fuel economy.

[TurboTrev]

I've never seen a Mk1 Gti although they seem to have existed?

[Yusee]

And another thing- there’s no difference in kerb weight between 3 and 5 door variants in the mk7, I think previous generations the 5 door was a little heavier.
So the 5 door looks better, better for young and old passengers, easier to park and get out of and better??/ just as good to drive.
So we’re all agreed then, 5 door is best. 

[Jim_mk7.5]

3 door looks ok. But 5 doors is the reason they sell so many Golfs... so no point hating the 5 door as if it wasn’t for that existing they wouldn’t be making any Golfs, let alone performance versions!

Here’s a snap shot of the split of all hatchback Golfs currently for sale on Autotrader. Almost 90% are 5 door.

[monkeyhanger]

3 door looks ok. But 5 doors is the reason they sell so many Golfs... so no point hating the 5 door as if it wasn’t for that existing they wouldn’t be making any Golfs, let alone performance versions!

Here’s a snap shot of the split of all hatchback Golfs currently for sale on Autotrader. Almost 90% are 5 door.

And that's why VW and all the other manufacturers are dropping 3 door variants for many cars to make things more efficient. MK5 and 6, the 3 door variant used to be somewhere in the region of 30Kg lighter.

[Watts]

And another thing- there’s no difference in kerb weight between 3 and 5 door variants in the mk7, I think previous generations the 5 door was a little heavier.
So the 5 door looks better, better for young and old passengers, easier to park and get out of and better??/ just as good to drive.
So we’re all agreed then, 5 door is best. 

No way Jose! 3 door all the way

3 door looks ok. But 5 doors is the reason they sell so many Golfs... so no point hating the 5 door as if it wasn’t for that existing they wouldn’t be making any Golfs, let alone performance versions!

Here’s a snap shot of the split of all hatchback Golfs currently for sale on Autotrader. Almost 90% are 5 door.

Not as big a split if you just look at MK7/7.5 GTIs - 105 3 dr vs 372 5 dr But it is always likely to be this way as admittedly most buyers probably need a practical car but want it to be sporting too so a GTI fits the bill in 5 dr. I've always been a coupe kind of person from my first car so I'm predisposed towards 2/3 dr, always preferred the look. Not sure where I'd go if I get another new car and there's no 3 dr Golf available. Having said that I didn't take to the new centre dash design of the 7.5 I had last week so if the MK8 expands on that then it might not be for me regardless of the door options available.

[Snoopy]

The Golf GTI has been available in 5 doors right from its very beginnings in the MK1. Small cars do suit 3 doors better. Back in the MK2 Golf days, a lot of its hot hatch competition was smaller again

Just for the record no the mk1 wasnt, mk2 was though.

[monkeyhanger]

The Golf GTI has been available in 5 doors right from its very beginnings in the MK1. Small cars do suit 3 doors better. Back in the MK2 Golf days, a lot of its hot hatch competition was smaller again

Just for the record no the mk1 wasnt, mk2 was though.

You may be right, for the UK market. It was available in LHD:-

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C996376

[Snoopy]

The Golf GTI has been available in 5 doors right from its very beginnings in the MK1. Small cars do suit 3 doors better. Back in the MK2 Golf days, a lot of its hot hatch competition was smaller again

Just for the record no the mk1 wasnt, mk2 was though.

You may be right, for the UK market. It was available in LHD:-

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C996376

Ill not coment on the car linked to but i do recognise the model the interior is the same as  i may check at some point if this one is discussed on the mk1oc site and see if my suspicions right.