Slight concern towards mk5 purchase

[Anil]

I need some info please, i planning on selling my mk4 and using the cash as a down payment for a mk5 gt fsi from cargiant. Im an impatient person and once i have my heart set on something i wont stop at nothing to get it, however i went to my brother for advice on a mk5 55plate gt fsi model and what he said is something im trying to avoid, apparently the early mk5 models e.g. 04/54 05/55 plate arent as reliably sound as the later released models, i know golfs are solid motors but obviously nothings perfect as i have experienced with my mk4 and im after a mk5 purely so i know its a long while away til things might go wrong mechanically. Basically im asking if its true that the earlier mk5 models are not as good as my brother suggests. This is really bugging me as the deal is quite good from cargiant and im sure i can bring the price down a bit more.

[cupraowner]

Hi - I think the unreliability issues surrounding the early Mk5's are a bit of a myth - Build quality could be better (e.g plastics) but in truth, I've had my 55 plate GTI for a good few weeks now - and it's been brilliant.

[RedRobin]

....

Sorry but your brother is talking rubbish and also not backing up his opinions with anything specific.

Car manufacturers will revise some details as production continues and some of those revisions are good and some not so good, depending on what you prefer. Example - VW changed the glass tint from blue to green - I much prefer the blue, someone else will prefer the green.

Much as we may criticise and find fault, the German manufacturers offer very well built cars which tend to last.

It's considered wise not to buy any car in its very first year of production - Not because it's rubbish but because the next revisions might iron out initial issues if there are any.

Some will prefer the Mk4 and others prefer the Mk5 - All for a great variety of reasons, but the 2.0T FSI engine is award-winning, literally!

[I have an 05 plate Mk5 GTI with 58,000 miles and sweet as a nut]

[stealthwolf]

This is why I bought a second hand, late model (57-plate) so any issues in theory should already have been ironed out.

[dan_apps]

there are always going to be issues with new cars but they are usually small, anything big usually warrants a recall where the dealer will fix said issue at no cost! thats why we have warranty when we buy a car from new 

[30 Glee]

I'm on my 2nd Mk V, and have had no problems with the cars, and my 1st R32 (sorely missed ) couldn't be blamed for the idiot who drove straight into the rear end.

Go for it.

[LaserBlue]

i think everybody wants a newer car.. but as rr said they make revised editions with minor changes that suit various peoples tastes, and most people dont know the difference expect the 08 on the plate.. (just using 08 as an example)

bottom line is the mk5 golf gti is still the same car regardless of how new it is, only difference is that some people have paid far more for a newer gti like 18-19k when you can have the same car with slightly higher mileage for around 5k less and to be stating a fact vw turbos dont get to the optimum untill around 35-40k and thats a 26yr vw technician who told me that.

it amazes me how much people spend on a vw, i mean come on 19k!! you could get a far better car than the gti for that.. most people are shocked when they ask how much i paid for mine and i say 15k they say im crazy spending that much on a vw, i always respond with the first owner paid 20k for it and sold it 1.5 years later for 15k lol

[Hurdy]

Anil,

Why have you got your heart set on a GT FSI?

I daren't hardly say it but the diesels are much better value, cheaper insurance, go better and are more efficient

 Unless you are getting it at a silly cheap price?

[AlanD]

Anil,

Why have you got your heart set on a GT FSI?

I daren't hardly say it but the diesels are much better value, cheaper insurance, go better and are more efficient

 Unless you are getting it at a silly cheap price?

My thoughts exactly.

[synnea]

Get a GTI!!! There wont be that much difference mpg wise. There are loads of excellent GTI 2nd hand examples out there for good money, especially at the moment.