BigAl024

Guys,

After having absolutely nae luck with the Astra 888, I've found a nice golf GTi, which fits my requirements. (Cheaper payments/fuel/Insurance), but still quick.(ish)

Its a silver 05 plate, with 21,000 miles. Full leather interior, and mint condition.

Can anyone give me first hand experience of these cars please? My ma has got a 2.0ltr straight diesel, which is waaaayyy slow, but still nice to drive nevertheless, but thats about it, as far as my knowledge of Golf's goes.

I've seen various reports, comparing the golf versus Focus ST/Astra VXR/LCR. Anyone got any views to share?

Cheers, Al

john banks

Wife's got one, got it after testing Focus ST which looked a bit plasticky externally.

Economical, very easy to live with, great all rounder. Does nothing brilliantly and nothing terribly. Overall a nice compromise. Everything you'd hope a Golf GTI to be. Probably as fast as you need for a road car, but more warm rather than fast.

BigAl024

Thanks John. How well does it get the power down through the front wheels? Is it any good on the B-roads? I'd imagine the ride is quite refined, more comfy that a scoob?

Cheers,

al

Matteeboy

It's a brilliant hot hatch - Focus is slightly quicker but the Golf is much better made and both handle superbly.

Copes with anything from B roads to motorways effortlessly.
Easily chipped too!

MattW

You say your Mum has the 2.0 Tdi and it's slow??? I'd suggest you drive the Gti before you commit.

john banks

Al, the power goes down surprisingly well. The other nice thing is the turbo spool up - very early. Doesn't handle a bumpy B-road well (no recent German car I've driven does) at least on the 18s, but they look a lot nicer than the 17s. Don't expect a Scooby.

BigAl024

Nah, she's got the 2.0 SDi. It is slow. But, a nice, easy car to drive. An very well built. Amazing Mpg too.

BigAl024

I took it for a little test drive, and it seemed to handle the rough surfaces up here well. Even more so than my scoob, which can seem a little harsh at times. And yeah, i was always expecting it to be slower, as I've got a STi at the moment.

I've heard a few things about REVO remaps? Are these generally regarded as best? Also looked up a company called jabbasport. Both seem to offer a package which gives +50bhp/70lbsft, for around 500 quid. Although I dont know how the remaining VW warranty would be affected/voided?

Thanks for everyones help/advice.

Al

john banks

Maybe the Fife B-roads are rougher than the Tayside ones

We insured ours to be chipped but haven't bothered so far, in winter it is about right as it is for FWD.

The Chief

Morego who used to be Brodie Brittain Racing do cheap upgrade packages for them now

matchmaker

If you're in Dundee, Star Performance in Dysart (Kirkcaldy) are the guys to speak to

But the warranty will be void

MooseRacer

Just ordered one of these as my new company car - good mix of pace and refinement for it's class.

I actually thought the one I drove was the most capable of (normal) recent offerings from VAG over typical UK roads - although mine had 17inch wheels which may have helped compared with the 18s.

Not at the forefront in any one area, but as a package they're still up there.

MooseRacer

Oh, and my '89 GTI 16v mk2 has finally died - catastrophic headgasket failure means I sadly won't be in possesion of the best 2 versions of the Golf VW have produced.

jonmyers

Having lasted 18 months with a diesel, I'm now looking at one of these. Anyone tried one with the dsg box? I quite fancy that...

fattb

iTrader: (1)

Ive got a MK5 GTI DSG at the mo which I've had for the last 4 months but soon to be sold

Its a nice car allround not as economical as the dealers would have you believe, but pretty solid in all departments, the 2.0T is really linear picks up from 1700 rpm handles tidily and is nice looking IMHO can't really fault it in any way

But for me thats the issue its just another Golf, at least the focus stands out a bit

If you are coming from a 4WD/RWD car the lack of grip when the conditions aren't perfect will get on your nerves after a while.

Without wanting to sound like Simon Cowell it dosen't have the X- factor

As for the DSG it is very good compared to standard auto/semi-auto boxes, it does have a few annoying quirks when in D such as the delay in pick up from the off, and when you ae travelling on the m-way and you want to go past something it drops down 2 or 3 gears and you end up screaming the **** of it, personally i always use the paddles in M mode problem is you still feel quite uninvolved, apart from that the changes themselves are very fast and smooth you really notice the fact that the next gear is already up to speed when changing so that no momentum is lost, As fort the sport mode i never use it, has it holds on to the gears too long although it is quite cool as it blips the throttle on downshifts (would sound really nice in the R32)

BigAl024

Bitten the bullet. Picking it up on saturday fingers crossed. ;-)

gillyz20let

Try MRC for a remap on anything VAG, they will do a custom map for around £500 specifically written to your car not just a generic map.

Wish

iTrader: (2)

Ive had a MK5 GTI and it was ****.
The Dealers were ****
VW UK were ****

I will never buy another new VW in my life. Say well away.
Ive also had a Focus 2.5 ST Build quality was better, felt better, went better, better dealers ..... Unbelivable fuel consumption

I would buy the ST over the GTI everytime...

BigAl024

Why's that? Sounds like you had a pretty bad time with your Golf. What went wrong?

Christ

Hmmm.... so you were tryong to pass your "****" on to us as "an excellent car with performance to match" ???

https://www.scoobynet.com/private-sa...000-miles.html

Chris

BigAl024

You said you'd never buy a golf/vw again, then you look to buy a A4 estate? was it the dealer rather than the car that put you off?

ChungsterSTI

I have one and I love it.

I might wait for the 400bhp APR conversion instead of just chipping it.

Christ

Me too

Chris

Jonto

I am sure Wish is a trader, i have seen him selling many a car on scoobynet.

Anyway, i have just bought a Mk5 GTi 2.0t, five door with leather and 17's.

Due to my daughter's arrival we needed a bigger car and i looked at everything out there, and i mean everything. Looked at the Focus ST which i was tempted by but 20mpg wasn't an option and i sold the scoob to get away from that. Also looked a new Leon FR (to hard a ride and plastic inside), scoob wagon ppp (gone soft compared to my classic) and an old Leon Cupra R, old being the best discription.

The ride and handling in the Golf are second to non and possibly the best combination i have experienced in a car. The engine is a real gem though, no lag, a nice kick at 4k and a real sweet rasp at the top end. Smooth as you like aswell.

Not many things on the road would get away from a well driven GTI on a b road.

There is loads of space in the back and boot and it's all together a nice place to be, the seats and driving position are spot on, as is the sound system.

Mpg wise i have average 33 and 38 on one trip to work. It's on been run on unleaded at the moment but i shall have a mess around with super unleaded and see how it compares.

I pay 390 fully comp which is 60 more than my ibiza tdi sport.

Christ

The MkV Gti is the first car Ive had that actually does go a LOT better on SUL, particularly V-Power... On previous cars Ive had where people reccomended SUL (Integra R, UK Impreza Turbo etc) it never seemed to make any difference..

Chris

Jonto

may give it a whirl then

Chins

Like others have said it doesnt have the X Factor IMHO. Competent and good at everything except putting a smile on your face. Not a car you would take for a spin for the sheer hell of it. Bought an Astra VXR after it and then a MK2TT with the same 2.0TFSI engine. The Astra shows it how a hot hatch should be and the Audi is leap years ahead for fun.

Great car for the wife and family weekends though. Not for drivers