Mk5 - Is it worth it??

[lamboman]

OK guys - honest opinions please...

I have been waiting months to get a test drive in a DSG GTI from my local dealer (Bedford) who claims they are sparse. So I want to know:

1. Is it fun to drive?
2. Does it have good build quality?
3. Is it reliable?
4. Is it worth the price tag (given it costs almost 20 times more than my Mk3!)?
5. Would you buy one over a used E46 M3 coupe at the same price?

Thanks

[Phil mcavity]

answer to all those questions is........................ YES  to 1 to 5

 and would i over a bmw thingi,........................   VW all the way

[illyun]

If you have the money, there is no better new car you can buy at that price imho.  I have heard that from several quarters including J Clarkson and car enthusiasts.  Having owned one, I can safely say it is the best car I have ever driven...

[lamboman]

Wow... I'm surprised - I expected Mk5 owners to be a bit more enthusiastic about their cars than this... just 2 responses! If this was an ad for an M3 on the M3 forum the posts would have gone through the roof, thats how passionate they are about their cars...

I guess like my VW dealer said this may well be true: "The Mk5 GTI is not a big enough improvement over the Mk3 to justify the price tag"

[The Doc]

1. Is it fun to drive?

Oh yes

2. Does it have good build quality?

Yes - there are some very minor issues but all in all A1

3. Is it reliable?

100% - never had a breakdown!

4. Is it worth the price tag (given it costs almost 20 times more than my Mk3!)?

YES - see residuals

5. Would you buy one over a used E46 M3 coupe at the same price?

YES - compair running costs!

GTI = W'tee + New = FUN @ 25mpg and not DEAR to run

M3 = No W'tee + Old = Fun @ 15mpg but EXPENSIVE to run & fix!

[lowdown]

1. Is it fun to drive?
Yes.  Fast enough for most situations.

2. Does it have good build quality?
Very good based on my experience.

3. Is it reliable?
Very good based on my experience.

4. Is it worth the price tag (given it costs almost 20 times more than my Mk3!)?
Before I took delivery in April, I thought I was buying an overpriced vehicle, but having spent 8 entertaining months, I now think its very good value.  I paid £15000 for a brand new MK3 in 1996-now that was expensive for a slow, tail happy vehicle!!!!


5. Would you buy one over a used E46 M3 coupe at the same price?
No, the MK5 Golf is brilliant car, you will not be disappointed, and the money is sensible too.

[illyun]

Wow... I'm surprised - I expected Mk5 owners to be a bit more enthusiastic about their cars than this... just 2 responses! If this was an ad for an M3 on the M3 forum the posts would have gone through the roof, thats how passionate they are about their cars...

I guess like my VW dealer said this may well be true: "The Mk5 GTI is not a big enough improvement over the Mk3 to justify the price tag"

Welcome to the forum... most Mk5 owners are too busy driving our cars than posting on internet forums like weedy nerds holed up in a dark, damp (for reasons I wouldn't want to know about) bedrooms.

As for your your VW dealer, most of them don't know what the hell they are talking about... the ONLY reason I go to a dealer is for a new car and the service which maintains the value... but apart from that they can't troubleshoot faults unless a bloody computer tells them whats wrong, they don't know what they are selling half the time and don't even know whats standard and whats an option on their vehicles - rang VW Newport a few weeks ago and they told me that climate control was no longer standard on the Mk5 GTI - prize idiot. 

[illyun]

Hows that for passion? 

[RCUK]

1. Is it fun to drive?
Yes it is ... didnt think so at first as i came out of an integra type r, but as the engine has worn in its improved immensely.

2. Does it have good build quality?
Extremely impressed with it!  I love to criticise where i can, but no probs with mine (though early ones did have a steering rack problem)

3. Is it reliable?
Never even considered that - its such a new car i expect it to start, stop and go without issue.

4. Is it worth the price tag (given it costs almost 20 times more than my Mk3!)?
£15k for a MK3 in 1996 translates to £20,764 @ 3% inflation nowadays - so in fact its about the same as a new MK3.  (Time value of money and all that!)

5. Would you buy one over a used E46 M3 coupe at the same price?
Yep ... i had a look at the M3 when i was changing - yrs warranty was over £1k, insurance was about £1k (Gti is £350!) and if the VANOS goes wrong your looking at selling kidneys to repair it!

HTH!

[lamboman]

Thanks for the reviews guys - I forgot you're all busy outside enjoying these cars!

I'm going to push my local dealer (Vindis Bedford) for a test drive asap - then I will know for sure how good this car really is...