Thoughts on my MkV Golf GTI

60 Replies

I’ve now owned my Volkswagen MkV Golf GTI for 6 months (purchased July 2005), so I thought I’d write a bit about the experience. Some of this content has been written by me on various forums previously, but here it is in an updated form:

It’s a Shadow Blue 5 door, with DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox), leather, Monza 18 inch alloys, xenon headlights, winter pack, multifunction wheel, parking sensors, folding & dimming mirrors, rear side airbags, Highline display, and an arm rest. My previous car was a Honda Civic Type-R, which was great, but I wanted something with a bigger range of abilities than the Civic as my next car.

The main cars I considered were the Mercedes SLK 350 and Porsche Boxster (both too expensive once you add options), Nissan 350Z (quite hard work to drive, and felt slower than it actually was), Subaru Impreza or Mitsubishi Evo (too hardcore), Audi A3 Sportback (the dealer was very unhelpful), and the Golf GTI.

First the negatives:

  • The standard stereo doesn’t sound like anything special
  • One or two of the plastic parts are poorly finished
  • I find that I don’t make much use of the arm rest – I just can’t get comfortable with it
  • DSG takes some getting used to – if you don’t quite get the accelerator position right in D mode, it either doesn’t drop a gear when you wanted it to, or it drops two gears instead of one. I’m getting tuned into this though, and the paddles are there to let you take control when you want
  • DSG does sometimes let the car roll back a little on steep hills, but it’s not a big problem, and I think I’m used to it now
  • Sport mode on the DSG box takes no prisoners. It’s great if you’ve got a quiet road to yourself, but otherwise it’s not that useful. A “brisk mode” between D and S would have been nice
  • The steering is not quite as “quick” as the Civic. The steering wheel needs to be turned a little more to get the same effect as the Civic. Not a big deal, but I would prefer the steering to be that little bit quicker. On the other hand, the Civic had a “dead spot” around straight ahead, and there’s no such issue with the GTI
  • The DSG box is so smooth that I sometimes lose track of what gear I’m in. I miss being able to tell what gear I’m just from the engine noise, or flicking my hand across to the gearstick, as I could in my Civic
  • The engine sounds a bit rough up to about 1500rpm, and a bit breathless over about 6000rpm. I miss the extra kick of the Civic’s VTEC mode
  • The GTI definitely feels slower at high speeds than the Civic. I think that it’s actually just as fast, but it just doesn’t have the sense of occasion that the Civic had when driving hard. It’s easier to accidently speed in the GTI than it was in the Civic
  • The speedometer and fuel gauge are not as readable as the ones in the Civic were. They look much better, but I can’t just quickly glance at the speedometer to check if I’m keeping to 30mph. With the fuel meter, it doesn’t matter as you have option to put the range up on the Highline display, but there’s no such option for the speed. This is a very minor point, but it would have been a nice feature
  • The auto windscreen wipers work very well, but there’s a bit of an issue with the auto lights. If you leave them on and drive under a bridge, they come on. People in front must be wondering why I’ve just turned on my headlights on a sunny day? They work much better if you turn them on and off manually, but let it automatically decide between the headlights and sidelights when it’s on
  • My car is Shadow Blue, which I absolutely love. However, it shows the dirt terribly. Significantly worse than my black Civic, which I had thought was pretty bad. Steel Grey or Reflex Silver are probably the colours to get if you hate washing your car. Despite this issue, I would still spec Shadow Blue if I was ordering the car again

Right, on to the good points:

  • The engine between 1500 and 6000rpm is wonderful. It may not have the top end kick of cars like the Civic, but there’s just huge amounts of smooth power available all the time. It also seems to be bit better on fuel than the Civic, and with a larger tank and the range meter in the Highline display, it can comfortably go a lot further between visits to the petrol station
  • The DSG gearbox is lovely to live with day to day. Whilst I’d prefer a very good manual box (such as the one in the Civic) on a fast, quiet road, the DSG is so much better the rest of the time. Coming from the Civic’s great gearbox, I still have no regrets about buying the Golf with DSG. I doubt I would buy a manual again, unless I was buying a trackday car
  • Sport mode is very useful in tight spots. It’s great to know that the car will nail those gearchanges for you. This also applies in Drive mode in a busy city centre. It’s one less thing to be concerned about. Probably makes driving 5% easier, but in tight spots, you can really notice the lighter workload. I’d be very surprised if the DSG box doesn’t contribute to the safety of the car in some small way
  • The interior is very nice. The leather seats are comfy, I like the red lights at night, and the blue instrument dials work for me. It also comes with a pretty decent set of standard equipment, and good options. It feels like they spent several times as much on the interior as they did on the Civic. Very similar to my father’s Audi A4 SE in feel, but the GTI has more toys
  • I really like the look of the GTI – “discreet performance” sums it up for me. Anyone who knows cars will recognise it and appreciate the little touches, but it doesn’t stand out in the way that cars like the Astra VXR, Impreza, and Evo do. Nothing wrong with standing out, but the GTI pretty much suits my taste perfectly
  • Unlike many other hot hatchbacks, the GTI is available with 5 doors, which makes it fantastically practical
  • I like the parking sensors. I’m not the best at parking, and the rear visibility of the GTI is not great. I can’t name a particular occasion where they saved my paint work, but I do find them reassuring
  • There are lots of hooks in the boot for shopping bags. Sounds like such a silly thing, but they’re so useful when shopping
  • The xenon lights and autodimming mirrors are wonderful. When driving on a cold, dark night, having climate, heated seats, DSG gearbox, ESP and tyre pressure monitor for safety, and autodimming mirrors and xenon lights, is very appealing
  • The fan-like spray of the windscreen washers is very good. Much better than the normal washer jets of most cars. Gives very even coverage of the screen, and doesn’t seem to use much washer fluid
  • It’s very very easy to drive. No silly turning circle like the Civic. This car is so painless to own. Lots of performance, yet it’s very relaxing to cruise around in

As an an overall package, this car has very few rivals.

  • Mk V Golf R32 – Wasn’t available when I ordered. The engine is supposed to sound great, and 4×4 would be good to have, but I’m not a fan of the extra cost and heavier fuel consumption. But the main issue is that it’s supposed to be slightly heavier to drive, and I really don’t like what they did with the styling. Still, I’m sure it would be a lovely car to own
  • BMW 130i – fantastic engine, but more expensive, and a lot less space than the GTI
  • BMW 330i Auto Touring – Ticks almost all the same boxes of performance and practicality, but it costs almost £10K more when specced up
  • Audi A3 Sportback – Very similar to the GTI. Just depends which interior, suspension setup etc you prefer. Slight worry about depreciation with the 3.2 though
  • Skoda Octavia vRS – no DSG available, and I prefer the styling of the GTI. It’s still a very nice car though, and I’d prefer one to a Mondeo ST220 or equivalent
  • Ford Focus ST – Wasn’t available when I ordered, but this is the really tough one. Don’t like the styling as much as the GTI, and no DSG, but the engine is apparently very good. Also, it can be had with 5 doors and lots of kit, and the price (in the UK) is exceptionally competitive. I suspect that very good though the GTI is, it can’t quite justify the price difference with the Focus
  • Cars like the Astra VXR, Civic Type-R, and Clio 182 are at least as quick, and are significantly cheaper, but I don’t think they have anything like the breadth of talent that the MkV Golf GTI has

In summary, whilst I still have a soft spot for the Civic, there’s no way I’d swap back. Performance, practicality and comfort seem to be similar to a BMW 330i Tourer with Auto and all the toys, but for a lot less money.

At the time of ordering, the BMW 130i, Ford Focus ST, Octavia vRS and Golf R32 weren’t available. All of these would be contenders if I was looking now, but I suspect only the Focus (which is cracking value) could really tempt me away from the GTI.

60 thoughts on “Thoughts on my MkV Golf GTI”

  1. Jonathan

    How great could this site be if the reviews were even half as well written as this one. Your review should be required reading for anyone who wants to post a review to your site!

  2. Steven Post author

    Thanks Jonathan,

    I hear what you’re saying about the reviews on Carsurvey.org. There are some really long and detailed reviews on there, but they are the exception.

    Unfortunately my review took about two hours to write and check over, and it’s probably unlikely that many people are willing to spend that much time writing a review.

  3. sanj

    I sold my Boxster S to own one. Of course I have two children now, but I don’t regret it. Be careful if you have Monza II alloys as I’ve buckled mine! A great car.

  4. Steven Post author

    Hi Sanj,

    I agree about the alloys – I’m absolutely paranoid about mine. No major damage yet, but doubtless I’ll catch a kerb sooner or later.

  5. Albert310

    Great review, Steven!

    Your review has made the waiting for me more difficult because I’ve ordered almost the same car (shadow blue, pure beige leather, all options), which will be delivered this March 2006.

    My testdrive was a similar experience, what a great car to drive!!

  6. Steven Post author

    Thanks Albert, it’s definitely worth the wait. I’ve now had mine over 6 months, and I’m still very impressed.

  9. Steven Post author

    Very nice Albert. Shadow Blue looks great when it’s clean. I’ll be glad when the summer arrives though, as shows the dirt very quickly in the winter.

    The beige leather looks good (I’ve got the grey leather).

    All you have to do now is run it in.

  11. Steven Post author

    Thanks for the advice Albert,

    One great feature with the GTI is that the wheels are very easy to clean. It’s the rear end of the GTi where all the dirt collects for some reason, so opening the rear hatch when it hasn’t been washed recently, is often less than pleasant.

  12. Albert310

    You’re right, Steven,

    Hatchbacks and stationwagons have that nasty habit of collecting all the dirt they can find on the backside. Using the rear wiper will even scratch your window eventually when the dirt is there. Washing frequently is the only remedy.
    I agree with you that dirt shows rapid on this magnificent color!!
    Some pictures to enjoy:
    http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e84/Albert310/GTIAa.jpg
    http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e84/Albert310/cockpit1.jpg
    http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e84/Albert310/front2.jpg

  13. Steven Post author

    Nice shots Albert. The red brake calipers and the red strip around the grille make for a great contrast with the Shadow Blue, don’t they?

    Would definitely have to consider beige leather if I was buying a GTI again. I dismissed it out of hand when I ordered my car, but from looking at your photos, it does seem to make the interior seem much less dark place to be.

  14. Ben

    where’d you get your GTI?, I’m planning on buying one in CA and I haven’t found one with parking sensors or auto headlamps.

  15. Steven Post author

    Hi Ben,

    I live in England, so the options offered are probably different from those available in California.

    The auto headlamps are standard on the UK spec GTI, and the rear parking sensors were a Volkswagen optional extra.

  18. Jason

    Stumbled across your site by accident (searched for GTI pics on google images) I completely agree with you about the Golf’s main competitors. I just ordered a silver mk5 GTI last week and now anxiously waiting delivery. The dealer provided no options in HKG because it was already fully loaded. Got a free set of 18″ alloys too. I originally wanted black but was afraid of scratch marks and higher insurance premiums. Silver is less agressive and easier to keep clean.

    I’m just wondering how is the reliability of the car? I’ve heard from people the car suffers from rattles here and there and the stereo is rubbish. (Mine has the RCD300, R32 has the 500) Being a Camry owner before, I’m guessing the ride is a lot firmer but its just a matter of getting use to?

    Have you tried launch control? I know it doesn’t exist yet in North America.

    Thanks for the review!

  19. Steven Post author

    Hi Jason,

    Silver is definitely a good choice if you want it stay looking clean.

    I’ve had no problems with mechanical reliability, but there are a few minor rattles on the inside.

    The RCD300 stereo isn’t great. It’s very ordinary for what is supposed to be a premium model.

    The ride is firm, but is much more compliant than my old CIvic Type-R. It’s more confortable than most hot hatches I’ve been in, but it’s probably going to be significantly more firm than a Camry. On smooth roads it’s fine, but you will definitely notice any potholes you run over.

    I haven’t tried out the launch control yet. UK cars are supposed to have it, but it does seem to be an unofficial feature, so I’ve stayed away from it, in case it causes any problems. I’m more interested in using the car’s fantastic mid-range performance, than trying to see how fast it is from a standing start. I suspect the car will be a bit of a handful if you max it out in first gear – there’s an awful lot of lowdown torque that comes in very low down the rev range.

  20. Lionel Morada [LA]

    Well I love EVERYTHING about my MKV GTI, except the traction from a dead stop. But other than that, the car is GREAT! I slapped on some 19 inch TSW to match the color of my car. Slapped on a reiger kit, and a couple of engine mods, as well as a chip. For any MKV owners I truly recommend a nice lip kit!!! It will truly bring out a different look to the car! TRUST ME!

  21. Lionel Morada [LA]

    Please don’t take this the wrong way, but to the guy with the Civic Type R. The reason why it doesnt feel as fast on top speeds as your Type R is because the GTI is built much better than the Civic Type R. Meaning you have better control of the vehicle when you’re going over 100 and it’s not struggling to reach high end speeds. I mean the mkv gti isn’t the BEST car in the world but for its price I think it’s great!!! Specially mine! 😛

  22. Albert310

    Steven, still enjoying the ride in this superb machine??
    I forgot to tell you my car has been chipped to 235 bhp and 350 Nm the day I purchased it. I recommend you to do this too!! The car will be so much faster!!

    Two months ago I changed the standard alloys for 18″ Detroits.
    See the difference:
    Standard: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e84/Albert310/Indiana.jpg
    Detroit: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e84/Albert310/Detroit.jpg
    It’s become more agressive, I like it and I kept the standard alloys for this winter (with ContiWinterContact).

  23. Steven Post author

    Hi Albert,

    Good to hear from you again.

    Yes, I’m still enjoying my GTI, and have no immediate plans to replace it. Maybe a fully loaded BMW 335i or 335d in two or three years (used), but they’re the only cars I can think of that might improve on the GTI experience.

    I haven’t chipped my car yet, although it is something that I often consider. There are lots of companies out their offering remaps, but I haven’t yet found anyone reasonably near to me that I’d want to use. Lots of tuner seem to offer quite aggressive remaps (250-260bhp), but I’d probably want something more like your remap, that would preserve the character of the car, and stay within the limits of the DSG gearbox.

    You can definitely see the difference between the 17″ and 18″ wheels. I went for the 18″ Monzas (the name for the Detroits in the UK), and have no regrets.

  25. Steven Post author

    Hi Albert,

    Thanks for the link. I just had a look at that site, and it does look like the sort of remap I’d be looking for.

    There is a UK company offering that remap, so it’s a viable option for me. With winter coming on, I’m not looking for a remap right now, but I’ll probably seriously consider it in the Spring.

  26. Alex

    I am very interested in buying a GTI but i don’t know about the fuel consumption. I read about the GTI that it has an averege of 8l /100km, is that true ? Whats the fuel consumption when you accelerate it from the stoplight, please mail me a detailed explanation to babanovac16@yahoo.com

  28. Steven Post author

    Alex,

    Fuel consumption seems to vary quite a lot between different GTIs. I’m getting about 10l/100km, but that includes quite a lot of driving in heavy traffic. 8l/100km would be achievable on a motorway/freeway though.

    No “fast” toy for me. I’m in the UK, and that campaign wasn’t run here.

  29. Andrew

    Do you really think that the DSG can only handle 235 hosepower? Because if that is so, than I would go with the 6 speed maual. I’m planning on having about 325 horsepower on motor, and I will need a transmission that can handle the power.

  30. Steven Post author

    Andrew,

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen a definitive figure of how much power the DSG box can handle. And anyway, it’s the torque that will cause the problems, not the power.

    However, tuners in the UK were originally offering restricted remaps for DSG cars, to play it safe. Volkswagen and Audi don’t offer any cars with this DSG box with more than 247bhp. The new Audi S3 with the uprated (265bhp) version of the GTI engine doesn’t have DSG as an option.

    With all that in mind, I’d personally stay under 250bhp with a DSG box, and certainly wouldn’t consider 325bhp. If I wanted that much power, I’d be looking at something like a BMW 335i or a Subaru Impreza, not a GTI.

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  32. Jonny

    I’m in the process of choosing between a gti or an A3. Your interior seats how much are they and what are they called?. They don’t have them as an option on any of the downloadable brocheres or on the online gti configurator.
    Loved your review, swaying more towards the gti now!
    I’d be geting the a3 2.0 tfsi s line. It works out only about £2500 more exspensive than the gti but the golf has no leather interior specified which would bring them closer.
    If you have any advice it would be a big help because i’m struggling to make a decision.

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  35. Jarrod

    Good review! I’ve been researching GTIs all night, and this is the best I’ve found so far. I drove a friends GTI, and think the handling is way UNDERRATED. Reviews I’ve read all say the handling isn’t very “quick” or “responsive”, yet when I drove this car, I must say I was impressed with the steering (and I was owning an S2000 at the time.) I’ve also heard many stories, about GTIs keeping up, if not overtaking STIs.

    The GTI sounds like a great car, and it looks mean and sexy at the same time……..but I really can’t escape the bad reviews of reliability. My first turbo car was a Mitsu Galant VR4, and it had MANY MANY problems. Ergo, I’m somewhat wary of I4 Turbo platform.

    I’ve been into Hondas, and JDM cars in general, for a while. This is the first German car I’ve ever seriously considered. But I’m still trying to find the reassurance that it’s worth leaving the virtually immortal Honda……

  36. Steven Post author

    Thanks Jarrod,

    I’ve had my GTI for over 2 years now, and haven’t had any reliability problems, despite remapping it a few months ago. I definitely prefer it to my old Civic Type-R, and I’ve got no plans to replace it any time soon.

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  38. Don

    Excellent, quality review, Steven.

    A couple points, though:

    I’d much rather have a true manual. You get used to rowing the gears yourself, and I’ve found that driving a car with an automated manual (an ’03 Infiniti G35), especially with an amazing engine, eventually leads to not using said auto-manual at all. You just stick with the full automatic mode.

    As for the R32, I think you’ll be happy you didn’t get it, as I’ve read repeatedly in reviews that it’s too heavy and isn’t as tossable as the GTI.

    Again, excellent review.

  39. Steven Post author

    Thanks Don,

    You’re right about leaving the car in full automatic most of the time. I go through phases where I drive using the paddles, but the car is usually left in fully automatic mode (D).

    Manuals are definitely more fun to drive on quiet roads, but given that traffic seems to be increasing everywhere, I’d probably go for some kind of auto again when I change cars.

    No regrets about the R32 (for the reasons you gave), but if it wasn’t for the huge cost to make the change, I’d be tempted by the forthcoming Audi TTS; all the nice bits from the GTI, but with more power, 4WD, and clever magnetic suspension.

  40. Toby

    I bought a 3dr DSG (grey). What I wanted to know is if you find the engine is a tiny bit rough when idling – not bad and probably wouldn’t have noticed if my Honda Jazz wasn’t so quiet you sometimes wonder if the engine is running – is this normal for a GTi or should I have it tuned?

  41. Steven Post author

    Yes, it’s the same with my GTI, and I think it’s normal. The engine sounds a bit like a diesel on tickover, and I think it’s probably because it has direct injection (AKA FSI), which is more typically found in diesels.

  42. Steve

    Steve,

    Nice review – you should do it for living!

    I am looking a 55 plate 5dr DSG tomorrow after taking one for a test drive recently and was blow away by the whole package. Not had a grin like that since my Lotus Elise!

    Can you provide some feedback on the Fuel economy that you have averaged when on a motorway run (steady 80 mph) as this car will be used instead of a Co car?

    I am not expecting diesel figures and would hope for 35mpg on a run and 20ish when having a bit of fun!!

    Cheers

  43. Steven Post author

    Thanks Steve,

    I don’t do much pure motorway driving, but I get about 26-27mpg on my usual mix of town and dual carriageway roads. Last time I did a long motorway run, I got about 32mpg. Depending on how you drive, the MPG can be quite variable, so 35mpg should be possible if you drive with economy in mind.

    I’ve had my car for over 3 years now, and I’ve no plans to replace it. It hasn’t put a foot wrong, and nothing this side of BMW 335i Tourer can compete with it for sheer breath of ability.

  48. David

    Looks like I should have got one of these earlier! We have a black 5 door manual on order. Have you used super unleaded fuel or regular 95? It has been mentioned elsewhere they don’t like regular unleaded.

    Thanks

  49. Steven Post author

    I use Shell V-Power in my car. It’s only ever had half a tank of regular 95, and that was because of fuel shortages. It seemed to run fine on that mix, although I took care not to drive it very hard.

    For me, given it’s a relatively high performance car, has had a remap (Bluefin to 240bhp), and I don’t do many miles, running it on 95 seems like a false economy.

  50. Alan

    Hi there, great review !

    I’ve had a GTi for 3 weeks now in tornado red, wasn’t sure about the colour until i went and saw it in the flesh !… With the 18 inch monza’s and the xenons, vienna leather and winter pack I couldnt ask for a better car….

    I thought the engine feels a little gruff when pulling away under 1500 rpm-ish. But after that it pulls very well and accelerates away from alot of cars. It’s the manual I have, I did want the DSG but couldn’t find the right spec for budget I had.

    I was thinking of getting the Superchips Blu-fin to boost it up to 240bhp, what sort of a difference does this make? Im not an overly fast driver but like the odd toe-to-the-floor action when a nice straight opens up !

    Oh and yesterday I clipped a kerb on the nearside front, absolutely gutted, as the alloys are diamond cut and polished and heavily laquered. The face of one of the spokes looks a mess and after reading about the process to get it fixed im worried about getting it done right….

    Anyway, great car and really kicks the arse of the golf gti mk4 1.8t and the audi tt 225 1.8t’s that i have owned. 🙂

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