ScoobyDoo555

In all fairness, I think that John's car has been a lemon (with all due respect to him!) - not to say that there are reports of dodgy cars, but he has had some bad fortune with that car.

I, on the other hand, after moving from Audi, have found my mk5 gti fantastic.

FWIW John,

Have you thought to try the 'Rocco R? I accept that you're probably going to be cautious about the mk6 gti R.....

Just food for thought.

Dan

john banks

All the faults I've had are well known faults though, it just seems that I've had them all.

Tempted by some Audis as they do look nice and there are good engine choices and FWD or quattro, some suggest they use better parts. For example the resistor failure in the fans that means our AC only works when the car is moving at a decent speed instead uses PWM control on Audis.

Looked at a Mondeo yesterday, the trim is just a bit naff compared to what I expected. Things like the centre console that feel a bit hard and cheap in the Golf but at least stay put and generally don't rattle too much, move a good centimetre when you wiggle them in a Mondeo.

Dare we risk an Audi? The dealers are widely known to be up their own bottoms. But DSG, a tuneful engine and adjustable dampers could all be good.

We both like the looks of the Rocco, just fear the reliability.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Well, I sold the Scooby yesterday (sad day....) - just waiting for my private plate to come off the car before the new owner drives it away.

After lots of pondering I'm going for the Mk5 GTi - probably a 05 plate with 50k miles (seem to be around the £11k mark).

Need to see what the 3 door is like getting in the back though as I'll be taking the kids out and in most days with the nursery run.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

John - I was thinking about the DSG option for the Golf - but I've read that it can be jerky in first gear/low speed/start-stop traffic and can kick down during high speed motorway driving when you don't want it to. Have you driven a DSG car - worth getting in your opinion?

Cheers
Richard.

john banks

I liked it on an 09 Passat 2.0 TDI. No jerking there.

Mat ed30

Well if you need any help or info just ask us lot on
www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php

SPEN555

After working for a major Plc with lots of company cars in particular Golfs and Passats I would say John's Golf reliability is pretty much to be expected.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

I'm best trying one out.

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Thanks - I'll get registered

john banks

SPEN555, did you have many Audis on the fleet and were they noticeably more or less reliable? Any thoughts on BMW and Ford reliability recently?

the_boy

John, how about buying my BMW 130i M Sport

3 litre, 265bhp as standard
0-60 in 6 seconds
Currently averages 27.7mpg

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

If the MKV Golf GTi's suspension doesn't suit him (I thought they were quite cushy when compared to Imprezas ) I doubt a 130i will impress either. RWD too.

I'm thinking Merc C class. Although reliabilty and RWD are again the main concerns.

SPEN555

Not really they were too tight for Audis. More Senior management only got access to such marques. One who was a senior manager swopped his estate 3 Series for an A4 estate because he found it unbearably uncomfortable! He was more than happy with it and do not recall him having problems.

The VW problems were just frightening. My colleague had a proper lemon Passat. I was on the phone to him as he was driving (handsfree) and his windscreen wipers just started for no reason whatsover The same car had a push button handbrake and that would apply itself at random! Several ECU swops later did not resolve the gremlins.

T-uk

nothing that is sporty will give a nice ride imo . lower and firmer suspension with big alloys will look sexy and be nice for the odd time you plant the right foot for a few bends but then you catch up on the traffic flow and wonder what the point is , or at least I do .

my old MY00 UK has been in the garage on axle strands for 3+ years now , with coilovers and a few other mods . fully working just needs a mot but I just can't be bothered with it now . I just feel that unless you go for something dull with deep sidewalls it will always be a rough ride so your as well in a 4x4 if economy is not the biggest concern , especially when the OP lives in the sticks . def worth a demo imo even if it is just to rule them out .

john banks

Some do have a much better compromise though, 997 turbo and M5 both on 19" non runflats had a great ride with electronically adjustable dampers. I've not driven a 5 series on the run flats, but many of the reviews noted that the M5 had a better ride quality than any other 5 series. Job's Focus RS had a good ride too.

I might get a run in a Land Rover, but I really think it is more you than me, far too big and heavy IMHO. A good quality medium sized car should surely be able to have just as good ride and refinement as a massive 4x4 with huge unsprung weight? But not wanting RWD does restrict choice massively, but there must be something of good quality and good ride/handling balance that is not RWD and doesn't weight 2 1/2 tons?

The wife does like good steering feel and the pointiness you can only get with something that is relatively light.

The Golf's suspension is a horrible compromise though. I find it less comfortable than either my Evo or GTR, there is something just not right about the way it rides, clearly not setup for UK roads. Despite the firm ride it has a lot of body roll.

Eyjafjallajokull

A low miles used Legacy Spec B is a fine car, they are also cheap enough to buy to fund an LPG conversion. Or failing that a Forester- not sure if the 2.5 turbo unit is suited to a conversion but the H6 in the legacy is.

http://www.environmentallyfriendlymo...g2_itemId=1352


Will be more reliable than your MKV- I thought our GTi was pretty crap as well in terms of it's build quality and overall reliability. They are also pretty good to drive offering a supple ride yet entertaining handling. Should be ideal for your intended use.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

really? The current model?

I've never been in one (yet), but I was following a new RS (in lurid green) down the (badly repaired/potholed) high street yesturday and the thing was bouncing like a pogo stick. It didn't look happy either way.

One thing believe it or not I think attributes hugely to ride comfort is the seats. If the seats have firm base cushioning, it can make the ride of a softly damped/sprung car seem hard, if its got poor side bolsters as well (like a 3 series SE with standard seats), then it throws the passengers about as well transmitting all the potholes to their backsides.

As much as I hate them; a Range Rover Sport or a Disco3 does ride very nicely. But I wouldn't dream of owning one without a cast iron warranty. Seriously, look in the engine bay in one then ask; how the hell do I get a spanner in there? Not nice vehicles to work on on par with the VAG v6//v10 diesels (don't talk to me about alternators on Pheaton V10 TDIs); great when they work, pain in the **** when they go wrong.

john banks

It had astonishing compliance in that you could go over bumps that would feel like they would damage the GTI. The ride on a mainly smooth A-road also felt better than the GTI despite 19 vs 18" wheels. Ford just do suspension so much better than VAG I think.

Matteeboy

That's why VW nicked Ford's Focus suspension/chassis engineer for the mk5. Sounds like they failed!

john banks

The RS goes up a bumpy road near me with the same feeling of composure as a Jaguar XJ.

Matteeboy

John - I do wonder if you have a duffer? The mk5 GTi won loads of tests, has been praised no end and still seems to be the hot hatch of choice for many. Not driven one but only heard good things.

I do wonder if the mk4 150PD I tested (at a main dealer, 21k miles) was a duffer too - it was utterly diabolical yet owners really rave about them. Bias or bad luck?!

ScoobyNoobie

I really think a used Impreza hatch or legacy 2.0TD will take some beating.
I've only test driven them, and not had to live with either.

But when ruling out the rwd and the 1/3 series size your only really left with VW or audi in that class.

The impreza an leggy are well spec'd as standard with heated seats, cruise control, 6cd changer(i think), and climate control.
All that with a good dose of torque and 4wd it's worth a test drive at least i'd say.
I only drove brand new ones, and all the owners say after 10-20,000 on them they really start to come alive.

john banks

The way it drives is identical to the dealer demo car.

VW have done very clever advertising over the years to portray a facade of reliability. I just hate the smug adverts when the car is so rubbish.

My colleague has a recent 2.0 Legacy and her husband has the 3.0. They like them for reliability, snow, and dog carrying, but I get the impression they are still a bit agricultural compared to the premium alternatives like BMW/Audi/Mercedes.

ScoobyNoobie

The interior finish isn't as good as the premiums you've mentioned.
But then, In ireland at least, your not paying premium prices for them.

ScoobyDoo555

Well I can only speak from my own experience, but my GTI is fantastic.
No squeaks, rattles, broken trim, failing components, erratic operations.

The *only* think that has gone wrong in 12 months of ownership is a rear wiper motor - the wiper ecu (!) is a known fault where the wiper just comes on at ignition. Sorted under warranty.
The finish is OK - slightly below the Audi standard, but certainly not worth premium over the 4-rings.

I find the car focused and whilst it's not the quickest car I've had (modded Scoobs, Audi S4 and a few others), as an all-rounder I can't fault it.

The reliability does seem to be an issue (as some have stated), but I can't say I've had any major problems.
There are known issues, but I've avoided such problems. The MAIN problem I had was the dealers - akin Alfa dealers, but under the guise of competence!! LOL!!

My reason for posting this?

The Golf seems to be coming under a lot of flack on this board, and imho, wrongly so. I totally accept that some owners will have problems, like ANY other car. For those who are after one, go and drive it - make up your mind. It's all about opinions

Personally, I'm intrigued how the Golf (and a £15K car at that) is being compared suspension-wise to a Nissan GTR....
NOT a slur, John, I'm genuinely interested, as I'm failing to see how comparisons can be drawn from cars with £50K price difference.

(and for those saying, I'm whinging - damn right!! Of course I'm going to defend a car a really like and own!! You'd do the same )

Dan

Mat ed30

Well said my ed30 is awesome and as u say u can't compare it to a 50k car

john banks

I've been looking at some of the coked up inlet valves on FSI engines, not at all pretty.

I'm comparing it to a £3k used Mondeo which knocks it into a cocked hat for steering feel, compliance and ground covering ability on a bumpy B-road.

Starting to reconsider RWD cars and keeping the wheel sizes sensible to allow reasonably sensible winter tyres. LS460 looks a lot nicer than the 400 or 430, V8 has a bit more guts and will have proper build, refinement and ride quality. Just the wife to convince, but she is more up for it than an SUV, Legacy or Impreza.

This thread will probably turn out as weird as my 335i vs GTR thread.

hades

Likewise, I'm more than happy with my Mk5 GTi, it hasn't missed a beat in 2 years motoring either. We find the ride very comfy, but perhaps that's as we've got the standard 17" wheels rather than the 18s; I do seem to remember that we preferred it on 17s and so did most mags who did a straight comparison. But like a lot of things, ride comfort is subjective and what some people like, others won't.

You get bad ones of every make - my brother had a mini cooper that lunched 2 steering racks, a clutch, a gearbox, 2 seats and countless other parts in 3 months from new. I know people who've had big problems with BMWs, Mercedes etc. Up until 3 or 4 months back, the answer would be "if you want something reliable, get a Toyota", but look at their brakes, accelerator pedals etc all of a sudden. Sometimes you're just unlucky. VWs aren't at the top of the reliability surveys (generally the Jap manufacturers tend to to be), but they're nowhere near the bottom either. That doesn't mean that a bad experience with any car isn't likely to put you off the marque for a while.

As for similar alternatives, well other VAG group items in all directions (Skoda, Seat, Audi) - either with a TSi petrol or 2.0 TDi - all give slightly different variations on the same theme, but you may prefer the ride/handling balance on some others - but would you be happy with a Seat/Skoda? Focus/Volvo (lumped together as they're the same chassis etc), Megane, Astra, Alfa, all decent enough but not really more premium or on average more reliable.

Probably the most reliable suitable alternative IMHO at a similar size would be the Civic CDTi (CTR has no torque as you no doubt know!); my brother's had one as a company car for some time, and has been increasingly impressed with all aspects the longer he's had it. Not fast, but claims 8.6 to 60 and >250lbft torque so should be enough. A little bit left-field perhaps but personally I'd consider one ahead of a Focus or similar.

hades

Double Post

ScoobyDoo555

Could argue about #3 piston on the scoob - not pretty
The GTR that cost a fortune to repair the bonnet after a shunt..


But that's tit for tat

I am genuinely interested in how to compare to the GTR - I've respected your opinions as over the years, you've come across as someone who knows his onions BUT could you quite possibly concede that in this case the VW experience has really done a turn on you. Which is a shame.

Either way, I hope you (both) end up with a car you're happy with and get the reliability you desire

Dan