Mk 5 GTI or similar?

Ivefoundgod

Tried to search for a recent thread on the Mark 5 GTI but couldn't find one. Am considering buying a hot hatch, budget between 5-7k ideally though would consider a little over that. Thought the Mark 5 would be got for this price but any decent looking examples seem to be asking for closer to 10k and that's for 06 and 07s, seems way too much for me or is there a market for it?

Would consider alternatives if anyone has any recommendations but would prefer to keep engine size at 2litre max. Has to be practical enough hence me looking for a golf. Thanks.

Tea 1000

Leon Cupra?

bazz26

Opel Astra OPC:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/opel-astra-opc-240bhp-nct-tax-low-miles/9613616?offset=3
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/opel-astra-opc/9680742?offset=6

Skoda Octavia vRS:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-vrs-200bhp/9714401?offset=5

Ivefoundgod

Like the VRS but find the interior very poor, I already have a GTC Astra which looks wise is too similar to an OPC for me, thanks for suggestions though.

kay 9

Type r maybe? Needs to be screaming though to get the most out of it. The megane 225 is a nice drive but don't know much about its reliability but it would be different. Not a vag fan lol

brownacid

Focus st? Can probably pick up a very decent mk1 or at least a decent mk 2

Ivefoundgod

Would love one but it'd kill me to pay a grand in tax, will look into it though, never thought of them thanks.

Irishcrx

The Alfa 147 GTA is a 3.2 I know, but it is an anti christ of a car if your looking for a sporting hatchback.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201505223699320/sort/default/engine-size-cars/3l_to_3-9l/model/147/make/alfa_romeo/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/channel/cars/postcode/ll651dq/radius/1500/advert-type/featured-listing/dealer-id/478709/usedcars

Ivefoundgod

Never even heard of that one, looks amazing. 3.2 litre tax is too much for me though, would prefer to have the engine size at 2.0.

Has anyone any experience of the Mini Cooper S? GTIs seem a little dearer than similar coopers though I'm wondering what's kinda price a nice example would be? Same for the GTI, the ones on done deal etc seem overpriced.

Irishcrx

That's the market for the Golf , IMO they are overpriced for what you get, but they are in demand so people pay it. Good car but there's better out there for the money I think.

bazz26

The Focus ST can be bought far cheaper. The extra fuel and tax costs will probably mitigate the difference in price between that and a GTi. The sound and feel from the 5 cylinder engine is an added bonus.

vectra

'03 Mk4 gti?

commited

Recently spent ages looking for one of these in decent nick at a decent spec and gave up and bought a BMW!

However, my tips:
Buy on condition & history - there are a lot of dogs out there. I also look for receipts and decent tyres fitted as indications of care.
Drive DSG & manual - decide which you prefer, I thought DSG was superb.
They carry mileage well so should always feel "tight" and not rattle
After a lot of idealising, the only spec option I decided was a must have was aircon - lots of Irish cars out there without it. Cruise control can be added for €135. I found the non-leather more comfortable bizarrely.
Watch out for clocked cars
VW value servicing isn't bad value either

My experience is that you need to be patient but for the price, I decided to swallow the tax and go for an e92 as it's overall a superior car.

Ivefoundgod

commited wrote: »

Recently spent ages looking for one of these in decent nick at a decent spec and gave up and bought a BMW!

However, my tips:
Buy on condition & history - there are a lot of dogs out there. I also look for receipts and decent tyres fitted as indications of care.
Drive DSG & manual - decide which you prefer, I thought DSG was superb.
They carry mileage well so should always feel "tight" and not rattle
After a lot of idealising, the only spec option I decided was a must have was aircon - lots of Irish cars out there without it. Cruise control can be added for €135. I found the non-leather more comfortable bizarrely.
Watch out for clocked cars
VW value servicing isn't bad value either

My experience is that you need to be patient but for the price, I decided to swallow the tax and go for an e92 as it's overall a superior car.

Thanks for this, great tips. Out of interest, how much did the E92 set you back? If I thought I could get one of them for a similar price I definitely would.

Gumbo

Ivefoundgod wrote: »

Thanks for this, great tips. Out of interest, how much did the E92 set you back? If I thought I could get one of them for a similar price I definitely would.

I doubt you'll get an E92 for 5-7k tbh.

Ivefoundgod

kceire wrote: »

I doubt you'll get an E92 for 5-7k tbh.

Ah yeah of course not but for a car like that I'd stretch the budget, just wouldn't do it for a 05 or 06 GTI.

Gavman84

I wouldn't rule the ST out just because of tax. They are lovely cars and I think it's worth it for the 5 cyclinder growl. Then again I'm biased! Lot less common than a GTI also.

commited

Ivefoundgod wrote: »

Thanks for this, great tips. Out of interest, how much did the E92 set you back? If I thought I could get one of them for a similar price I definitely would.

It is possible to get a nice e92 for <€8k. It's a buyers market out there for anything over 2.0, so I offset the extra tax by paying less for the car in the first place. Definitely happy with my decision when I compared against the Mk5 GTI market.

Looks like a decent value 325i:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2007-bmw-325i-coupe-black-quick-sale/9715269?offset=9

330d with i-drive:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-330d/9456563?offset=15

Cheap tax 325i:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-3-series-325i-se/9687436?offset=25
(bear in mind it would take you 5 years to realise the tax savings but the car may have marginally better resale value)

If you're willing to consider saloons:
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2006-bmw-3-series-330-d-e90-tipperary-fpa-201514232322173

They're great cars. Don't buy without FSH unless the car is so cheap it makes no difference. I wanted i-drive and it's great but I wouldn't pass up a good car just because it didn't have it.

I never looked at or considered 4 cylinder e92 so no idea on the market.

vectra

I know the guy that owns this car.
Would be well cared for while in he has it.

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-320d-coupe/9664505

kay 9

Again I say I'm not a vag fan lol but those e92s do look very nice indeed. Would consider one myself.

Timooo_23

Toyota corolla t sport, the facelift version can be got for around the 4-5k mark. Like the type r, rev the living daylights off it to get power out, but unlike the ep3 type r; its a lot more comfortable for daily driving, better on fuel and cheaper on tax and insurance. I've had 2 I liked them so much.

Ivefoundgod

Any thoughts on any of these? Still undecided but think a nice GTI is my preference.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-golf-2-0-fsi-gti-hi-spec-nct/9840091?offset=5

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-golf-2-0-litre-petrol/9791217?offset=20

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-golf-2-0-litre-petrol/8689795?offset=5

commited

First one looks good, if a little expensive. I avoided the third one as no aircon. It's been for sale for ages.