Please help decide! mrk 4 or 5?

[The Bishmeister]

Ok cheers mate.

So, looks like ill go for a mrk 4 Golf GT TDi but will have to know decide on whether I get a 130pd or a 150pd!

[a8 tech]

I would drive both first but the lag isnt that bad and i rember whem mark 5 came out and i road tested it at pdi and was quite disapointed with the performance compared to the mark 4 150,so i still fix a few 150s for family as i now work for audi and not vw and i still love em.Did you get hold of chip and spin as they are pretty clued up.If you look at auto trader mark 4 150 is holding its money better than mark 5 gt tdi.Its a shame they stopped the 150(emiisions regulations)for the mark 5 as that would have been a great car like the gti tfsi,are you not tempted by the gti as iam(mrs a8 doesnt let me spend money)Good luck and doent just take my opinnion as iam sure the mark 5 brigade will be after me now

[ini]

The 130 has the standard side mount intercooler, and the 150 has a pretty effective front mount intercooler, which will help keep you on the power much longer.

[Col]

Just to add my 2p....

Out of the 1.9's, the 150 seems to be the least reliable. You read lots and lots of reports of cam wear.

A well mapped 130 will only be about 10bhp short of a mapped 150 anyway, without the issues.

[The Bishmeister]

So hard to decide!!!!

I really dont know what to do :0/

[a8 tech]

BUY A VRS OCTY there great and cheaper so the fuel cost will balance out.

[BuyanythingbutaVW]

Whatever you decide make sure it is a Mk4 Golf TDI. I have a MK5 GT TDI 140 and it is terrible. It has been in VW garage's more times then it has been on the road. The car has done 42,000 and is almost two years old, but has an endless list of faults including failed engine parts, blown turbo, wheel bearing replacements and much, much more.

The car has had a fault for nearly all its life in the fact that the engine appears to 'die' when driving along at a set speed say 70mph. Hard to explain, but it is like the car has a constant force stopping the car accelerating and the car also has a very clunky gear box. Oh also the car makes a putt - putt - putt noise when it has been over ten miles plus and driven over 50mph - sounds like air escaping from somewhere. All these problems are unresolved by the dealer and basically they haven't got a clue. The good news is that it is a company car and I know one day I will get to swap it.

So to conclude - As A8 Tech said, buy a MK4 and do not touch a MK5 unless you want to get to know your dealer very well.

[a8 tech]

Yes another happy mark 5 owner,buy a skoda or golf mark 5 gti or come over to the dark side AUDI but again steer clear of the 2.0 tdi soon to be superseeded with the new a4 engine.

[Ben]

I have a mk 5 gt tdi on a 53 plate. No issues now or before i had it. Best car ever.

[Ben]

With 18 years a8 is knowledgable and this i don't dispute. Now then, if the mk5 is as bad as a8 says, why have vw sold so many? Why aren't there more posts on here reporting problems? No manufacturer is ever going to make a bullit proof car, there will always be those cars that fail. Ties are far more issues with the mk4, turt look through the forum, they are getting old now and beginning to wear out, the mk5 is still new ish and will be good for a while yet. I wonder how many mk5's a8 has seen which don't have a problem, probably faq more than those that do have problems. The 2.0 140 gt tdi will senat up to 190 ish which is a bit better than the mk4's. I still think you need to think bish.