Considerations for Golf Gti or R , manual or auto ?

[cafe67]

Hi all,

 

One for the brains trust - starting to have a look around a getting another car. 

 

A possible choice is a golf gti or R.

But giving a look around there seems to a a bewildering range of of models and editions 

 

From.what I can gather the "best" models seem to be the 7 or 7.5. And the main difference between the GTI and the R's is the 4wd drive and more speccy motor of the R's.

 

I don't mind getting a manual.or an auto. 

 

Any thoughts or considerations,  models to avoid or things to consider? 

 

I'm.guessing a manual GTI is the least complicated? 

 

Budget let's say around $40k 

 

Cheers Dave 

 

 

Edited July 22, 2024 by cafe67

[mr-happy-pants]

It's a minefield. Good luck.

[betty boop]

hmmm ...

 

 i am a prior gti owner.. a mk6.. came some ways since then

 

the pick for me would be the GTI 40 years it was a special edition piece and packed some lovely tech and was a wonderful drive..

 

the very top asking price is $40k for low km examples...  i think would be able to do much less than that with 30 something 

 

 https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/volkswagen/golf/gti-40-years-badge/hatch-bodystyle/?sort=Price

 

these are very well regarded and will do well for resale as well, standing out of the pack from most GTI. 

 

if looking later models id go latest you can afford

will find mostly DSG autos in later models whcih are very popular.. and manuals getting more and more rare eg 7.5 theres 13 manual on car sales 104 dsg. 

[David A]

The Golf i'd buy would be a MY2019 Mk7.5 Golf R Special Edition with the optional sunroof. That car had a number of special features, incl: a full Akrapovic tintanium exhaust, the brakes and lightweight Pretoria rims from the Europe-only Clubsport S, the 400 watt Dynaudio car audio system standard, and Special Edition badging etc. Here is a write up on the model - https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/volkswagen-golf-r-special-edition-for-australia

 

The market price for pre-owned examples is around $39k + on-roads, so at the top of your price range. I personally prefer the Mk7.5's body shape to the current Golf. And that is the best spec'd Golf R in that series imho.

 

Edited July 22, 2024 by David A

[blakey72]

Hi Dave @cafe67. How do you intend to use it? Normal town/country drives, spirited weekend cruises or track days? Are you wanting that 'drivers car' experience?

Edited August 6, 2024 by blakey72

[cafe67]

8 minutes ago, blakey72 said:

Hi Dave @cafe67. How do you intend to use it? Normal town/country drives, spirited weekend cruises or track days? Are you wanting that 'drivers car' experience?

Hiya 

 

not really commuting anymore, so the odd suburban jaunt and spirited weekend cruises including country runs 

 

dave 

[metal beat]

Get the DSG. The best of both worlds - boy racer or commute.

 

 I owned the 7 series GTI for 5 years.

For the past 4 years the 7.5 R.

 

Both cars zero issues and a pleasure to drive.  

[cafe67]

40 minutes ago, metal beat said:

Get the DSG. The best of both worlds - boy racer or commute.

 

 I owned the 7 series GTI for 5 years.

For the past 4 years the 7.5 R.

 

Both cars zero issues and a pleasure to drive.  

Gotta piccie

[Mendes]

42 minutes ago, metal beat said:

Get the DSG. The best of both worlds - boy racer or commute.

 

 I owned the 7 series GTI for 5 years.

For the past 4 years the 7.5 R.

 

Both cars zero issues and a pleasure to drive.  

Yeah, DSG is very good.

Have had 2 x GTI's an R32 with DSG and now a T Roc R with DSG and a hell of a lot of fun.

Paddle shifting like a boy racer 

[betty boop]

3 hours ago, cafe67 said:

Gotta piccie

 

i could give you a piccie of my old 6 series  minti new on day one  

 

 

 

[betty boop]

3 hours ago, Mendes said:

Yeah, DSG is very good.

 

agree .. the DSG is what made me forget about manual gear boxes.. unless wanting a manual specifically .. cant beat the ..bang bang bang of the DSG changing gears quicker than i ever could

 

other car was a lot of fun in gear changes was the automated manual gear box of the fiat 500.. you could manually blip through  gears like it was a get rag box or something ramming through them ....manually

[blakey72]

I'm also looking at either a Golf GTI or a Polo GTI. I'm actually thinking a V or VI as my budget is only $10-$15k. I did consider an R but from what I've watched and read people say it just makes everything too easy. Not as involved as a GTI.

 

Nothing to do with VW but I test drove a new BMW M340i and that was the feeling I got from that. Super quick in a straight line and off a dig but too controlled. Felt like the car was saying 'sit back and relax, I'll do all the work'. 

 

So what I've heard about the different series Golf GTI's is that V is the best driving experience as far as connection/feedback, VI is just a V upgraded to look slightly better but adds weight, VII/VII.5 is very quick and more up to date however starts to approach on that BMW 340i 'Easy' thing with less feel/feedback and the VIII just isn't as good as the VII's and has a lot annoying about it.

 

I think in your situation I'd go for a VII-VII.5 as they have the power and the refinement. I am probably looking at a decent V as I plan to rebuild the engine and take it on track days. Still considering a Polo GTI too though, One post 2014 with the 1.8T engine. 

[chaddy]

8 minutes ago, blakey72 said:

I'm also looking at either a Golf GTI or a Polo GTI. I'm actually thinking a V or VI as my budget is only $10-$15k. I did consider an R but from what I've watched and read people say it just makes everything too easy. Not as involved as a GTI.

 

Nothing to do with VW but I test drove a new BMW M340i and that was the feeling I got from that. Super quick in a straight line and off a dig but too controlled. Felt like the car was saying 'sit back and relax, I'll do all the work'. 

 

So what I've heard about the different series Golf GTI's is that V is the best driving experience as far as connection/feedback, VI is just a V upgraded to look slightly better but adds weight, VII/VII.5 is very quick and more up to date however starts to approach on that BMW 340i 'Easy' thing with less feel/feedback and the VIII just isn't as good as the VII's and has a lot annoying about it.

 

I think in your situation I'd go for a VII-VII.5 as they have the power and the refinement. I am probably looking at a decent V as I plan to rebuild the engine and take it on track days. Still considering a Polo GTI too though, One post 2014 with the 1.8T engine. 

If buying a Mk5 look for a manual. I still own a Mk5 R32 DSG and the gearboxes at this age could be up for some costly repairs

 

[blakey72]

1 hour ago, chaddy said:

If buying a Mk5 look for a manual. I still own a Mk5 R32 DSG and the gearboxes at this age could be up for some costly repairs

 

Yeah that's another thing I heard, manuals are much more reliable. Thanks for reminding me 

[David A]

2 hours ago, chaddy said:

If buying a Mk5 look for a manual. I still own a Mk5 R32 DSG and the gearboxes at this age could be up for some costly repairs

 

Yeah late model MkV's would be around 15 yo now when parts like the alternator can fail due to age. If the car has been regularly serviced on time and driven with mechanical sympathy, the DSG gearbox should be good for atleast 100k+ miles. The 6 sp DSG requires a periodic oil service, and can have a lot of issues if it isn't properly maintained. Most of the problems with poorly maintained cars and/or cars which have been driven hard or tracked are down to the mechatronics unit which is expensive to replace. Caveat emptor as always.
 

Edited August 23, 2024 by David A

[blakey72]

@chaddy @David A Is it worth stepping up to the MkVI mechanically? I know they improved some interior parts but not really interested in that.

[chaddy]

 Main advantages would be getting a relatively newer car with lower kilometres

I've owned my R32 from new, end of 2007 (MY08). First round of owners were older people that looked after their cars. After 3-4 years when leases started to end the second round of owners were younger often P-platers and the cars were driven harder. I still keep an eye on the forums and many MkVs could be on their 3rd or 4th owners

 

Edited August 24, 2024 by chaddy

[cafe67]

@blakey72 some of the later polo GTi are coming down in price and seem to be good value ?  There’s a couple of nice one (alas here in Perth) that would fit the bill, so you should find something decent where you live.

Edited August 24, 2024 by cafe67

[David A]

4 hours ago, blakey72 said:

@chaddy @David A Is it worth stepping up to the MkVI mechanically? I know they improved some interior parts but not really interested in that.

The MkV and MkVI are closely related. The MkVI got a comprehensive facelift. That means that the underlying tech and basic feel are essentially the same. But obviously the MkV's are going to be 5-6 years older and a bit cheaper, and since you're not interested in the updated interior, that may be the cheaper way to go. I'd just hold out until you find a low km's example which has been factory-serviced on-time, driven with mechanical sympathy, and preferably with no more than 2 owners. As the more owners there are, the harder it is to know if one of the owners was a P Plater who drove the car hard.

Whatever car you decide on, make sure you do your due diligence before purchasing, including enquiring about the past owner(s) and thoroughly checking the service history (and timing of services). And if you're considering buying a privately owned car, it is strongly recommended to get a vehicle inspection done by a Motoring club or VW Dealership, and full VicRoads Car History Report which will cost you about $42.00 which includes stolen, writtten off and finance checks, vin details etc. Another check you can do yourself, is bring a reasonably strong magnet and go around the car checking the panels with the magnet. That way you can see if any panels have had accident damage and had bog repairs. An RACV Inspector told me that.