MK V Golf GTi Alternatives

Jimbob 83

So some of you may remember me making a thread afew months back about getting something comfortable and mildly sporty for a guy in his late 20's and i have my heart set on the Golf GTi mk V as it ticks all my boxes for

• Comfort
• Fuel efficiency
• Looks decent
• Usable power
• Resale value

But i was driving home today and i saw a Mazda 6 Sports model and it looked like quite the sleeper (if a little big for 1 person to be spinning around in) and it got me wondering before i tie myself down to a 4 year car loan what else is out there in the pricerange of a late 06 early 07 Golf GTi 9+k


Bear in mind it has to tick the above boxes and i will be keeping it 4-5 years so it has to be easy to live with. Amaze me Boardies !!

Deson

Mondeo ST or Accord Euro R?

SEAN_DUB

Skoda Octavia Vrs. Same engine as the Golf but you would get more for your money. Plus the diesel version is very economical along with plenty of power. Also the Audi S3 might be a bit pricey but definately more unique!!!!

Jimbob 83

Sure was hoping for abit of peoples personal experience with owning a decently powered 2ish litre engined car, would like to keep it at 2 litre though and no higher for tax reasons and car still needs to be capable of 30ish mpg as im not made of money, nice suggestions though sofar

P.S. Don't fancy a MK II Skoda Octavia tbh as i think they are ugly and i have driven one for over 5 years so want a change.

Deson

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Sure was hoping for abit of peoples personal experience with owning a decently powered 2ish litre engined car, would like to keep it at 2 litre though and no higher for tax reasons and car still needs to be capable of 30ish mpg as im not made of money, nice suggestions though sofar

P.S. Don't fancy a MK II Skoda Octavia tbh as i think they are ugly and i have driven one for over 5 years so want a change.

Focus ST170? My son drives one, they look decent enough and he hasn't had much trouble with it

Jimbob 83

Deson wrote: »

Focus ST170? My son drives one, they look decent enough and he hasn't had much trouble with it

Yea considered one but really want a 05+ car as i will be keeping it for 4 years and i think the newer versiona re 2.5 litre or so, i remember rave reviews about the ST170's handling though when it came out 1st.

rocky

Mazda 3 MPS 2.3 litre http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda3/2.3-turb/5513324542311310/advert?channel=CARS

Leon FR - You should be able to get an 08 for the price of an 07 GTI

320 E92?

Jimbob 83

All great suggestions, before i test drive as many of them as i can would be great if anyone who owned any of these currently or in the past could tell what they are like to live with

bazz26

Mazda 6 MPS:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3126451

One of the lad here has one, cannot remember his name though. I'd doubt you will get 30ish mpg from it though unless you drive it like a granny which defeats the purpose of this type of car.

Jimbob 83

bazz26 wrote: »

Mazda 6 MPS:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3126451

One of the lad here has one, cannot remember his name though. I'd doubt you will get 30ish mpg from it though unless you drive it like a granny which defeats the purpose of this type of car.

Was one of these i was behind on way home from work, nice looking bus but not too flash

bazz26

Yep, a real sleeper and if that car is genuine then it is alot of car for the money.

Jimbob 83

The Mazda 6 MPS has always had me wondering since i saw it on top gear, like 260 bhp madza reliability leather recaro seats 4 wheel drive and looks like a respectable saloon, auld lad would be dead proud i finally got sense too and picked a jap saloon as he always admired the 6 even though he is a die hard Avensis man since 00 and is on his 7th one starting next month lol, 2.3 would be a killer on tax surely though and the fuel economy ?

My heart screams yes but my head screams noooooooooo

gollywog

That is one beautiful set of wheels... What mpg would be realistic from it tho??

gollywog

That is one beautiful set of wheels... What mpg would be realistic from it tho??

Jimbob 83

Apparently 29 mpg if driven carefully average, Golf gets almost 41 mpg

It really turned my ehad today when iw as behind it at a juction i was like "eh that 6 has a nice spoiler and darker than normal back light and then it dawned that it was the 260bhp 4WD version" was a /werenotworthy moment (car geek)

scrawnyass

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

So some of you may remember me making a thread afew months back about getting something comfortable and mildly sporty for a guy in his late 20's and i have my heart set on the Golf GTi mk V as it ticks all my boxes for

• Comfort
• Fuel efficiency
• Looks decent
• Usable power
• Resale value

But i was driving home today and i saw a Mazda 6 Sports model and it looked like quite the sleeper (if a little big for 1 person to be spinning around in) and it got me wondering before i tie myself down to a 4 year car loan what else is out there in the pricerange of a late 06 early 07 Golf GTi 9+k


Bear in mind it has to tick the above boxes and i will be keeping it 4-5 years so it has to be easy to live with. Amaze me Boardies !!

Go with your aul heart.Golf Gti mark 5 is a beautiful machine.Lots of VW haters on this site.;)

Chris_Heilong

I would have that Mazda in a heartbeat if it was a 2l.

gollywog

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

I would have that Mazda in a heartbeat if it was a 2l.

+ 1

Kev.

Go for the Golf,you wont be sorry

jesus_thats_gre

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

So some of you may remember me making a thread afew months back about getting something comfortable and mildly sporty for a guy in his late 20's and i have my heart set on the Golf GTi mk V as it ticks all my boxes for

• Comfort
• Fuel efficiency
• Looks decent
• Usable power
• Resale value

But i was driving home today and i saw a Mazda 6 Sports model and it looked like quite the sleeper (if a little big for 1 person to be spinning around in) and it got me wondering before i tie myself down to a 4 year car loan what else is out there in the pricerange of a late 06 early 07 Golf GTi 9+k


Bear in mind it has to tick the above boxes and i will be keeping it 4-5 years so it has to be easy to live with. Amaze me Boardies !!

Bought one for that very reason Absolutely delighted with it too.

Jimbob 83

1 last question before i head off to bed as i have work, is it worth going to the UK to save afew euros ?

I would mainly do this not for the major money saving but for the amount of choice it would present me with compared to here in Ireland

166man

OP There aren't that many other cars that fit your criteria unless you looked at a fast Renault or something. I have a feeling the Golf GTI would be your best bet but it's no harm to ask for more suggestions.

scrawnyass

Kev. wrote: »

Go for the Golf,you wont be sorry

For sure.I have a TDI golf and its a dream car.Ive driven the Gti(class) and the R32 (outrageous).VW do seriously good cars.:).

Henry Ford III

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Apparently 29 mpg if driven carefully average, Golf gets almost 41 mpg ...

You won't get even close to those figures in real life.

Mazda 6 MPS might do 25mpg. Golf GTI not far north of 30mpg.

Tea 1000

I'd say you'll get close to the 30mpg out of the Mazda, but not a sniff of 40mpg from the Golf, more like around 32 or 33mpg.
The Golf GTi really is an excellent car, but the Mazda 6 MPS is a lot better, and a lot quicker.
Tax for the GTi is around €650, tax for the MPS is around €270 more, thanks to the pr!cks increasing the cc based tax even further.
I know you ruled out the Focus ST based on engine size, but really, €400 a year more on tax isn't that daft for a car that is also better than the GTi.

mad muffin

If you are in your late 20's make sure you can insure/afford to insure some of these cars.

I came over from the UK in my late 20's with an '88 8v golf gti and insurers wanted €5000+ to insure it :eek:

I had to sell it

Anan1

mad muffin wrote: »

If you are in your late 20's make sure you can insure/afford to insure some of these cars.

I came over from the UK in my late 20's with an '88 8v golf gti and insurers wanted €5000+ to insure it :eek:

I had to sell it

You must have been a very bold boy - I insured an '89 GTI 16v here at 27 for £1000 comp.

mad muffin

Anan1 wrote: »

You must have been a very bold boy - I insured an '89 GTI 16v here at 27 for £1000 comp.

Not that I'm aware of. Not so much as a parking fine in the last 12 years.

When I moved to the UK from Perth Western Australia I handed in my Aussie licence for a UK one and effectively lost 8 years of driving as I had to start from year one.

Moved to Ireland two years later, so as far as the insurers were concerned I only had my licence for two years.

Maybe that had something to do with it.

I was in a similar position just before Christmas and I bought the Golf Gti and I couldn't be happier with my decision. None of the alternatives could tick all the boxes in the way the Golf could and I also think its the best looking and has the best interior especially the seats they are excellent and I really take note as I have a bad back, also the tartan cloth is beautiful.

You wont see anywere near 40mpg though, but it will be better than any of its rivals.

mad muffin

OSI wrote: »

Jaysus, dunno what you did to get that price. I pay sub €1,000 to insure a MkV GTI and I'm 24.

This was back in '02 so maybe things have improved since then.

ShadowHearth

It's a lOng shot, but what about newish shaped subaru impresa wrx? ( not modded ones )

It would be a 2.0 turbo engine with enough poke. 4 door saloon and if not skangerased they can look very tidy and neutral. Should be in your price range too.

Henry Ford III

Interesting to note the OP's requirements:-

"So some of you may remember me making a thread afew months back about getting something comfortable and mildly sporty for a guy in his late 20's and i have my heart set on the Golf GTi mk V as it ticks all my boxes for

Comfort
Fuel efficiency
Looks decent
Usable power
Resale value"

Mildly sporty, but comfortable, and fuel efficient being the top of the list. Points directly to a Golf GTI really.

mad muffin

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Interesting to note the OP's requirements:-

"So some of you may remember me making a thread afew months back about getting something comfortable and mildly sporty for a guy in his late 20's and i have my heart set on the Golf GTi mk V as it ticks all my boxes for

Comfort
Fuel efficiency
Looks decent
Usable power
Resale value"

Mildly sporty, but comfortable, and fuel efficient being the top of the list. Points directly to a Golf GTI really.

Or the SEAT Leon FR perhaps?

Jimbob 83

mad muffin wrote: »

Or the SEAT Leon FR perhaps?

Leon would have to be 06-07 too and that generation are very very ugly imo

Thanks for all your imput btw guys exactly what i was hoping for, as for insurance once it's under 1500 for the 1st year im not too bothered as im sick of my (75 bhp when it was new) Octavia with an arse the size of leitrim

John_Rambo

The Mk V Golf GTi is a phenomenal car. Best all round car I have ever driven. Quick as fook, spacious, comfy, stylish, doesn't look mad and handles like a dream on the twisties. You won't regret it if you go for one.

Jimbob 83

Cool was talking to my boss today who bought a 05 diesel 3 series beemer in the UK afew years ago i think i will go that route too when the time comes if not for price mainly for more choice of vehicles, thanks guys

Brianer17

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Cool was talking to my boss today who bought a 05 diesel 3 series beemer in the UK afew years ago i think i will go that route too when the time comes if not for price mainly for more choice of vehicles, thanks guys

Hi,

I own a 2.0 gt tdi golf mk 5 great car unbelievable power for a diesel and 50mpg+

Strongly recommend it.

Jimbob 83

The Hunt continues (private buying eek)

Brianer17

<SNIP>

Jimbob 83

Heart set on a GTI tbh

Alanstrainor

Brianer17 wrote: »

<SNIP>

You can't advertise here man.

stevosjc

I know you have your heart set on a GTI but have you considered an Astra OPC?

I was in the same position as you about 3 years ago and I test drove Mark V GTI, Scirocco, Focus ST, Civic Type R. All 2008 models. Then I test drove a 2007 OPC and was very impressed. A little while later I was offered a 2008 Astra OPC Nurgburgring edition and as soon as I drove it, I knew I had to have it. 240 bhp and only a 2 litre for tax. The Nurburgring has a very nice spec but isn't exactly a sleeper car like the MPS. 240bhp through the front wheels does cause quite a bit of torque steer and the MPG isn't great but I can't recommend them highly enough.

If you haven't driven one yet then I would recommend taking one out before buying the GTI.

pred racer

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Heart set on a GTI tbh

Test drive a 159 before you make up you mind!

Jimbob 83

pred racer wrote: »

Test drive a 159 before you make up you mind!

Would ya stop

Killinator

Was convinced to buy a GTI MKV just before Christmas, its always able to get a smile off me, and the jackie seats, oh God the jackie seats:D

Jimbob 83

I will test drive afew cars over the next few weeks but i can't see anything else getting my interest, remapped GTI should do nicely

pred racer

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Would ya stop

I did.......and i bought one:D

MuppetCheck

pred racer wrote: »

I did.......and i bought one:D

Completely different cars. There isn't a comparison between them. One will most likely be a diesel or asmatic petrol of a similar capacity while the other has a nice 2 litre petrol turbo petrol. I can't see any the usual Irish model 159s attracting the attention of a potential purchaser away from a hot hatch.

The 159 is a hidden gem in my opinion, but it's not a hot hatch.

Jimbob 83

I want a small fun car as it's just me 90% of the time even the octavia is too big with its fat arse tbh, stage 1 remap and it becomes a decent a slightly more economical option imo close to the r32 in most area's

pred racer

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Completely different cars. There isn't a comparison between them. One will most likely be a diesel or asmatic petrol of a similar capacity while the other has a nice 2 litre petrol turbo petrol. I can't see any the usual Irish model 159s attracting the attention of a potential purchaser away from a hot hatch.

The 159 is a hidden gem in my opinion, but it's not a hot hatch.

Agree completely, but read the original post again;)

MuppetCheck

pred racer wrote: »

Agree completely, but read the original post again;)

I fail to see how it's sufficiently different to the Mazda mentioned bar being much better looking:)