they compare very closely to the 1.8T, early V5s had the same 150ps power output as the turbo. It was later raised to 170ps. 0-60 and top speed are the same, 0-60 in 8.5sec and 134mph.

 

1.8T 150ps 0-60 8.2sec 134mph
1.8T 180ps 0-60 7.6sec 138mph

V5 150ps 0-60 8.5sec 134mph
V5 170ps 0-60 8.6sec 139mph

Its worth noting that vw quote 0-60 times with half load and half tank of fuel. The 1.8T 150ps` true 0-60 time is 7.3sec

 

2001 i think.

 

I helped a mate buy one the other day and I quite liked it. I owned a 1.8t for a couple of months and hated it. The seats were rock hard, as was the suspension, but it wallowed / body rolled really badly. Good MPG but didn't like it. Both elec windows broke in that time too

The V5 seemed much better built and was as smooth to drive as the 1.8T. Brakes didnt seem that great but I didn't get to give it some stick. It had all the gadgets on this one, cruise control, heated seats etc....

MB

 

I used to own a V plate 150 bhp Golf V5 and the handling was pants. If you get one make sure its got the sports suspension like the 1.8T.
As for the rest of the car, nice interior, nice sounding engine but sooo boring to drive. Sold mine after 11 months and bought a Scoob.
I owned two previous Golfs before it a 1991 GTi 8V and a 1995 GTi 16V. If I was you I would save some money and buy a VR6.

 

The 4 motion sounds nice Moves well too, and 4wd. Coming down in price a bit too...

MB

 

There was a problem with the electric windows which could make them very easy to break into. Not sure if they ever sorted it.

 

Only 1 person in it and 2 drops of fuel to get it to 7.3 seconds eh!
Why not strip out the other seats and see if you can get it under 7 seconds
Why not just by a scoob?

 

My GF and I drove the the 170PS V5 and the 150PS GTI to compare.

Easy way to disinguish betwween the 150PS and 170PS V5 is that the more powerful model has a red V.

Anyway, the V5 engine is heavier than the 1.8T and does plough on a bit. Also the V5 we drove didn't have the sports suspension, and we looked very hard to to find one - never succeeded.

The 2 engines are have very different characteristics - the V5 is very smooth and gets you to the redline with minumum fuss, sounds a bit harsh at the top end. A bit boring though. The 1.8T runs very mild boost and you sense it running out of puff near the redline but torque does come in early. However it is very tall geared so acceleration isn't that manic in the low gears. Also if caught off boost (slow 2nd gear corner) you wait an age to get those revs up to 2500.

The GTI's are more abundent, have the sports suspension, give 31+mpg either on motorway or round town, slightly more nimble and the engine more willing than the V5. The V5 has more toys but the GTI we chose had Recaros as std which is a big bonus to the other seats they now have.

Basically the V5's characteristics are less sporty than the GTI, however the GTI isn't really a GTI if you see what I mean, great allrounder and The GF loves it. Sporty enough, fast enough and a nice place to be during the daily commute - not a true GTI though.

 

Agreed off boost it can catch you out when it finally kicks in.

 

I've had one or two run-ins with Golf V5's in my 172 Cup and old 306 Rallye and they are slow in comparison. No where near as upgradable as the 1.8T engined variant either . Only really a warm hatch in real world terms.

 

Autocar tests of these cars
Gti 1.8T (150bhp)
0-60 8.5
0-100 25.6
Top Speed 131

2.3 V5 (150bhp)
0-60 8.5
0-100 24.3
Top Speed 130

2.3 V5 (170bhp)
0-60 7.4
0-100 20.2
Top Speed 135