mk5 R32 pictures in today's AutoExpress

[jv]

Reckons 255bhp, possible debut at the Frankfurt motor show in Sept '05 and UK sales early '06. Lots of guess work in the article but good to see even if they are only 'concept' pictures

[marcus123]

cheers for that jv,

im not to sure in the styling of the mk5 tho.

i dont think it looks as nice as a mk4 r32.

what do yall think?

[gibby]

Hmmm, not sure myself, prefer to make a real judgement when I see one in the flesh, is it me or are modern cars all looking the same these days ? I did like the mk5 at first but I'm still a bit undecided after seeing a few around. Maybe I just like mk1s too much  

[tobz.]

I was flicking through some old copies of the golf yesterday and they had some pics of the mk5 gti in last decembers issue, glad to see they have colour coded the side skirts and bottom section of the front bumper now.
I think they knocked the nail on the head in terms of its styling overall a bit peugeot 207, quite honda civic from the front and very alfa romeo from the side. Not too sure about it just yet, all looks a bit too generic these days.

[Mixologist]

Im not to sure, still undecided about the mk5 all together, have to see this one on the flesh  first!

Hasnt quite got the look of the mk4 r32, it doesnt say, "im gonna shoot past ya before you realise it"

[JMallows]

Don't like it all i'm afraid. However, i don't really lik anything newer than MK2 so....

I wa chatting to an ownr last night in the car park, he said its a better car than the mark 3 by a long way, but he's not sure about the mark 2 as he's not owned one. So far the only thing he said he felt was sub standard was the boot catch, which i have to agree with, it does feel a bit cheap.

[Martz]

I am one of those people thats anti modern (although I did enjoy my A3 when I had her). I just like the classic good looks of the MK2 and the handling it provides (sure she could do with more power, but she is 14 years old now). I had the A3 and the Golf for about 4 months, using both on a regular basis. I had to lose one and it suprised my other half how easily I chose which one to let go.

As for the MK5 Golf - 10 a penny. You see one, you see em all. Pugs, Audi, VW, Toyota, Ford - all the same these days, there is no clear definition on a car.

(apart from the City Golf in South Africa which is a MK1 with a 1.8T engine as standard for around ?8k or so )

[jte]

I agree, although mk2s look dated because of evolution they are probably the last distinctive golf.  I drive and like a mk3 but in terms of looks it certainly is a bit puddingy and much less well defined than the earlier golfs.

I think VW had a great opportunity with the MK5 in terms of brand, funding, reputation etc to produce a really great car, going someway back to the qualities of the mk1 but obviously in a 21 century package,  however unfortunately they decided to play very safe and have produced a very average car that sits alongside vauxhalls, peugeots, toyotas etc in a bland bunch of dullness.

It's quite painfull to say but the only really innovative forward thinking cars in the recent past have been the Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris, Fiat Multipla and a few others.

Which is a shame because VW could have produced a superb Golf if they had the guts.

[tobz.]

"It's quite painfull to say but the only really innovative forward thinking cars in the recent past have been the Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris, Fiat Multipla and a few others."

No major suprise then that VW spent loads of money developing a new multilink rear suspension for the mk5 which could have come straight from the ford focus.

[Dizzie]

"the fastest ever golf"

ahem

"the fastest ever golf VW made in the factory"