classic Subaru Si

other half wants one of these, been looking at 2005 2006 models. Anyone had experience with them? I know they aint going to be rapid, due to the weight, but still a nice looking car none the less. Anything I should look out for apart from the obvious crash damage/servicing/ etc... Cheers

ScoobyDoo555

Just sold my mk5 over the Summer. TBH, I had mine for 3.5 years and it came as a bit of a shock when I sold it as I didn't realise how long I'd had it. Testament to how good my Golf was tbh. Only changed it for another German car (from Stuttgart )

The only thing to have gone "wrong" was a stone chipped wind-screen (!) and a wayward rear wiper (known fault)

It was cheap to run and service. Build quality on mine anyway, was very good. There are some stinkers out there though - the fabled VW-reliability can be a bit of a myth!

Mine lugged band kit and family stuff everywhere - and wasn't that slow. 200bhp and fwd isn't to be sniffed at. What really made if for me was the handling - I thought it handled very well.

I would get yourself over to www.mk5golfgti.co.uk - a really nice community for the Golf.

Things to look out for - usual stuff. Fluids, bushes, tracking, belts & pumps being done. Exhaust.
Cloth interiors can wear on the bolsters, and the leather isn't too brilliant either.

RNS510 satnav is desirable but still sounds rubbish. R32 seats are rare as rocking horse whatsit too.

Other desirables include the Winter Pack (heated seats etc), and Lux Pack 1 & 2 (iirc)

Both 17" & 18" Monzas can suffer from white worm corrosion (also happens on the VW rear badge).
Ride is better on 17", but the 18s look nicer.

That's all I can think of right now!

classic Subaru Si

Many thanks for that mate. Yeah I've heard VW build isn't what it used to be (had a mk1 GTI and a sportline which were bomb proof!) I've noticed the seats too, cloth versions seem to get quite a bit of wear on the bolsters, and leather looks a little saggy on the ones I've seen. Ideally want a 3 door, but they are hard to find with decent miles on them, and also she wants black or white, which narrows it down even more so. Cheers for the info, I'll have a look on that website and see what the score is! Cheers!

classic Subaru Si

Oh forgot to ask, whats the DSG like??

ScoobyDoo555

Problematic.

Do a search for "mechatronic" - basically a VERY expensive fix.

classic Subaru Si

Yeah, think I'll stick to manual, even the new ones seem to suffer with the DSG, and at 2 grand just for the unit, I don't think I'll take the risk. What's the tez band on these, hoping its not the 400+ per year... Got offered an 08 3dr in candy white with 30k on the clock, winter pack, full leather 18" monza's 1 owner fsh etc... Wants 11k for it. bit more than what I wanted to pay really, but its bloody nice.

ScoobyDoo555

Can't remember what the tax is (the new owner's problem!! )

MooseRacer

I ran an 07 gti for 3 years as a company car. Had it's fair share of niggles - side airbag failure, aircon condenser failure plus a few others I can't remember. Usually I'm itching to change my car by the end of the 3 years but would have happily kept the Golf despite it's issues.

Quick enough, fun handling and did most things really well.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

i borrowed one for a few weeks a couple of years ago, i thought it was an excellent car.
it was a manual version but found it a far better hot hatch than the civic type r i owned a while back.

classic Subaru Si

I think that settles it then, heard nothing but good things about them to be honest. Thanks for the info chaps!