GTI MK5 is it really that..

[Nicks]

Hey guys

I'm thinking of buying a Mk5 GTI!

I there anything I should look out for?

is it really quicker than a cooper s works?!

I've a mk4 gti turbo at the mo and i just want more!

[Ben]

Not wanting to speak ill of the marque, i've heard and am led to believe that the MK5 GTI is the worst in its class. The focus ST and Vauxhall Astra VXR are supposed to be better power wise, but would you but a vauxhall? I don't know where the Seat Leon Cupra comes in the list.

I'd go for the 170 TDI my self. You could always do the front end conversion on it.

[Nicks]

Not wanting to speak ill of the marque, i've heard and am led to believe that the MK5 GTI is the worst in its class. The focus ST and Vauxhall Astra VXR are supposed to be better power wise, but would you but a vauxhall? I don't know where the Seat Leon Cupra comes in the list.

I'd go for the 170 TDI my self. You could always do the front end conversion on it.

really...! i thought it was supposed to be the bomb!? looks like the stig is lovin it on top gear...

allow the vauxall..

not sure about the seat probably really nice..

hmm ill have to take em for a spin..

even thought about a cooper s..

[Wazza_G]

Depends on how much money you want to lose in depreciation!

A VW Golf has one of the lowest depreciation levels around for what can only be described as an everyday car, last time I looked it was around the 49-52% mark after 3 years. :approve:

[BuyanythingbutaVW]

We have numerous Mk5 golfs in our company car pool and the it can be said that everyone who has a GTI has a large smile on their faces. However everybody who has a TDI engine have large frowns and are best friends with their local VW garage as their cars are never out of the garage.

I personally think my first ever VW Golf (2.0 TDI) is the worst car I have ever had the mispleasure to own, but maybe I just have higher standards than VW.

If you are feeling flash then go for a GTI, but I would go for a different marque or a MK4 maybe. I would strongly recommend you avoid the TDI's until VW get rid of their engine and put in the Audi engine - I think then the car may have a bit of quality (and reliability).

Hope this helps

Jamie

[Nicks]

Hey Jamie

thats strange because I thought the vw and audi engines were very similiar if not built with the same parts... but I guess it all depends on how they are put together... I do have mk4 gti 1.8T and it is a great car but I just want more power and better handerling.. hope the 2.0t can give this... but also had my eye on a Honda! civic type r 55 plate which looks great i think but I haven't driven one yet.

[Wazza_G]

Sorry BuyanythingbutaVW, but I disagree with you.

I have the 140 TDi, yes it's a bit gruff but I bought the diesel for both economy & performance, it also depreciates far less than a GTi.

Some how I don't see your GTi returning the fuel consumption figures my diesel does and speed isn't everything.

Also a diesel is cheaper to insure. :approve:

[BuyanythingbutaVW]

Wazza G,

Maybe you have just been lucky, but we have 2 Mk5 GTI's in work and the people who have them are happy. Yes they may spend a little more on fuel, but hey so what - the car doesn't break down.

The TDI's (the tight ones amongst us - 7 cars) thought as you do that we would get a good return on a diesel. However my 55 plate 2.0 TDI has never been out of the garage and this is not an exageration. It has had two replacement wheel bearings, new turbo, new fuel pump. two new fuel filters (only meant to be replaced at 60000miles), air intake failure on the engine, partial engine rebuild, wiring loom burnt partially resulting in about 6 electrical items packing in and numerous bits of trim being replaced - everthing under warranty. The car still has problems now and makes a putt putt noise when it has been in traffic and intermitently looses power - great fun on the motorway in the fast lane. VW have told me that it may just be a characteristic of the car, in other words they have no idea what the fault is.

I personally think the car is the worst car I have ever had and my colleagues have all had similar problems. Nobody at work speaks well of the VW TDI engines or build quality.

Yes they are company cars, but they are not thrashed and are main dealer serviced. My car is about 50,000miles and just over two years old and I know already I will be looking at an Audi next time.

Roll on 2009 when I can get rid of it to the auctions.

[a8 tech]

the engine code isnt BKD BY ANY CHANCE.

[Ben]

the engine code isnt BKD BY ANY CHANCE.

eh?:eek:

Mines a BKD. Care to expand there A8?

[a8 tech]

this engine code seems to be the most prone to problems,it depends on the production date of the engine as most bkd suffer from cracked heads and oil/coolant mix from cracked thread hole in the cylinder blocks and the old favorite intake manifold motor.But as i say seems to be only a certain% but mostly this engine code.We used to have bets when the jobs come in which engine code it was thats why it sticks in my mind.

[Ben]

mines an early version then. car 1st registered in Feb 2004 its a 53 reg.

[a8 tech]

first ones had coolant loss from the egr cooler burning up but not the cracked heads or the thread problem.

[BuyanythingbutaVW]

A8 Tech, sorry in the delay but having now looked my engine code is WVW (I think). Any known problems with this batch of engines or is this just a 'Friday afternoon car'?

By the way I have traced the putt putt noise to the clutch. When the noise emanates it stops when the clutch is depressed - not sure what this is but will monitor it.

Many thanks for any help on the engine code, Jamie.

[RichieG]

A8 Tech,

I have a BKD too :( June 2004

The only issue is the intake manifold motor, but got the warning reset by a local VW specialist, and although it came back again, it went after a day or so. I sometimes get a shudder on shutdown, but can't tell anything else - what is the impact of it being dodgy, but not actually triggering the warning light - should I get it replaced anyway?

[RichieG]

A8 Tech, sorry in the delay but having now looked my engine code is WVW (I think). Any known problems with this batch of engines or is this just a 'Friday afternoon car'?

By the way I have traced the putt putt noise to the clutch. When the noise emanates it stops when the clutch is depressed - not sure what this is but will monitor it.

Many thanks for any help on the engine code, Jamie.

WVW is your chassis number not engine code.

[rush]

Wazza G,

Maybe you have just been lucky, but we have 2 Mk5 GTI's in work and the people who have them are happy. Yes they may spend a little more on fuel, but hey so what - the car doesn't break down.

The TDI's (the tight ones amongst us - 7 cars) thought as you do that we would get a good return on a diesel. However my 55 plate 2.0 TDI has never been out of the garage and this is not an exageration. It has had two replacement wheel bearings, new turbo, new fuel pump. two new fuel filters (only meant to be replaced at 60000miles), air intake failure on the engine, partial engine rebuild, wiring loom burnt partially resulting in about 6 electrical items packing in and numerous bits of trim being replaced - everthing under warranty. The car still has problems now and makes a putt putt noise when it has been in traffic and intermitently looses power - great fun on the motorway in the fast lane. VW have told me that it may just be a characteristic of the car, in other words they have no idea what the fault is.

I personally think the car is the worst car I have ever had and my colleagues have all had similar problems. Nobody at work speaks well of the VW TDI engines or build quality.

Yes they are company cars, but they are not thrashed and are main dealer serviced. My car is about 50,000miles and just over two years old and I know already I will be looking at an Audi next time.

Roll on 2009 when I can get rid of it to the auctions.


I HOPE YOU LET US ALL KNOW WHICH AUCTIONS THIS PILE GOES TO SO WE CAN AVOID IT

[Ben]

A8 Tech,

I have a BKD too :( June 2004

The only issue is the intake manifold motor, but got the warning reset by a local VW specialist, and although it came back again, it went after a day or so. I sometimes get a shudder on shutdown, but can't tell anything else - what is the impact of it being dodgy, but not actually triggering the warning light - should I get it replaced anyway?

I had the same problem
http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4028

[MalcQV]

Depends on how much money you want to lose in depreciation!

A VW Golf has one of the lowest depreciation levels around for what can only be described as an everyday car, last time I looked it was around the 49-52% mark after 3 years. :approve:

Mini's have very low depreciation too.

[prolfe]

The A3 TDI 170 Sport is £20,425

The A3 2.0 TFSI Sport is £20,436

The A4 2.0 TFSI SE is £21,491
The A4 TDI 170 S-Line is £22,641

The Leon Cupra is £18,386

The Octavia VRS is £16,400
The Octavia VRS TDI is £17,175

or if you can stretch to the R32 at £24,854

[Wazza_G]

Mini's have very low depreciation too.

How can you depreciate from £0? ;)

[MalcQV]

How can you depreciate from £0? ;)

If you can get a Mini for nothing please let me know.

[Wazza_G]

You find them under "Metal Re-processors" :naughty:

[MalcQV]

You find them under "Metal Re-processors" :naughty:

You don't like "New Minis" then :p

I do ;). I would have a Cooper S (especially the Works) over a Golf GTi. So long as it was not a convertible Cooper S :D.

[Wazza_G]

Now what makes you think that I don't like Minis? ;)