new boy.......3 or 5 door

[pat1967]

Hi everyone, just joined, thinking about buying a new golf gti in the near future. loads questions for you guys, hope you can help me out. Which is better 3 or 5 door, I really like the 3 door look, but got couple of kids!......only just convinced the wife that we can manage with smaller car( current car V6 mondeo) Just wondering what everyone else thought, can you manage with 3 door and kids( age 9 and 4) or best to go to a 5 door.......or get rid of the kids!!!?? thanks

[illyun]

Keep the kids - get rid of the wife and then you can have any car you want   Just joking (in case the missus is reading, because then you'ill be banned from this forum    Seriously though, it really depends on your tolerance threshold.  I have a toddler and have bought a 3-door, but with 2 older children I would think a 3-door, although managable, would not be ideal even though the Golf does have ample space to sit.  Then it would depend on how much you all like the car to tolerate the slightly increased inflexibilty that a 3-door brings.

[illyun]

Best thing to do is find a 3-door demonstrator and get a 2 hour test drive - one hour with the family and the other on your own

[cartmell]

I went for the 5 door.  It is a bit of hassle getting the kids in the back with a 3 door.  The missus has a mini and its pain getting my 4yr old in the back.  Its even worse when they want to climb everywhere with muddy shoes

Gotta admit the 3 door looks better but I know the novelty would wear off pretty soon when getting the kids in and out of the back.  Yo9u just gotta try the 3 door.

 

[lowdown]

The 3 dr Golf has pretty good for access to the back seats.  The only way to check is to try it.

However, it's not just getting in and out that is the difference.  The 5 dr obviously has its own opening windows and feels much more light and airy in the back.  So better for passengers.(They can honk out of the window if your driving gets too much )

In terms of performance, the 5dr is slightly heavier, but I can't imagine its noticeable.  You will have just as much fun in a 5 as a 3

If the kids are getting in and out on a daily basis, I would go for 5.  If it's only at weekends then you might get away with 3, but I'm sure the wife will prefer 5.

Definitely a case for try before you buy, and you don't even need a GTi model to test that.

My gut feeling is go for 5.  Best of both worlds-practicality & performance.  (as Mr Clarkson commented last year)

[The Doc]

Get a 5 door!

We never go out in my car with people in the back!

[pat1967]

Thanks for the comments, did consider getting getting rid of the wife and kids, but you got to look at the bigger picture......washing, ironing and cooking!!....as much as I like the 3 door, think it has got to be a 5 door.

[illyun]

I think you are probably making the right choice in opting for the 5-door... specs sometimes sound nice in theory, but that feel-good factor quickly evaporates when reality and every day driving sinks in  :wink:   A bit like buying a white GTI and then finding out that its a bugger to sell.

[rega3]

Like yourself I have two kids, both requiring child seats. I went for the five door, its a must plus some would have you believe they are easier to sell when the time comes............?

[deanpoli]

does this mean no one thinks the 5 door is a good looking? i think it look alright.