Changing from old GTi to new GTi - is it worth it?

Silky V · Post by **Silky V** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:37 am

Welcome!

I would say get the new Golf GTI or have you thought about the MK4 R32?

I think you can pick up a decent MK4 R32 for around Â£15k

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:14 am

Ideally I'd have both. Only driven the Golf and it's amazing overall. The Polo would naturally be not as good but I think it should at least be as good as our GTI's. The new Polo GTI has a nicer interior than the Golf imo and it's quite roomy inside. I'd test drive both then you can decide if the Golf is that good that it's worth taking out a longer loan

shantybeater · Post by **shantybeater** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:56 am

next car for me is going to be a mk4 r32...sex on wheels....love it...look at that if you can insure the bloody thing

Dangerous Dave · Post by **Dangerous Dave** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:13 pm

I was in exactly the same position last year, I had my Polo for over 4 years wouldn't say trouble free however I still miss the car.

The new Polo GTI is just not up to it if you are going to leave it standard, bar the engine the MK5 Polo GTI is better in every respect. However if you look MK7 forum there is some very nicely modded ones there, with a suspension kit and remap I'm sure they are a lot better than they are standard.

The MK5 Golf GTI handles better, brakes are better, the power is smoother and less laggy than the ko3s'd 1.8T in the Polo. As for tunning mods there are now plenty for the 2L TFSI and its more tunable on the standard turbo than the 1.8T can even push slightly more power than the ko4'd 1.8T also. A custom remap with full exhaust and induction kit can get the Golf up into the 280bhp ish area with around 315 lbft of torque and the chassis is well up to taking the extra power.

Its even not that expensive to run I average a pretty constant 31-32mpg and on a long run can hit the low 40s/high 30s (I was very surprised at that myself). Its also not bad on insurance I just paid Â£555 for the year with me at 27 and my girlfriend on it at 22.

garnier · Post by **garnier** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:34 pm

Ever thought about getting a non VW? I had a civic jordan before and it was bulletproof, just a bit light on handling. I've read the Type R and the integ are a lot more responsive. If I had the cash, I'd love an integra. If you're unsure, do the whole 'timewaster tours' and have a test drive of some for sale. Nothing to lose

denzil · Post by **denzil** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:15 pm

hi mate, new to all this, ive just done exactly the same thing, (upgraded from old polo gti to new polo gti)
managed to get a brand spanking new one in candy white for Â£13600, just by hagling with the dealer, thats Â£1400 off list!!
so if i was you id go for the new polo gti, its a superb car and a bit of a head turner, im lovin it!!

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:43 pm

denzil wrote:hi mate, new to all this, ive just done exactly the same thing, (upgraded from old polo gti to new polo gti)
managed to get a brand spanking new one in candy white for Â£13600, just by hagling with the dealer, thats Â£1400 off list!!
so if i was you id go for the new polo gti, its a superb car and a bit of a head turner, im lovin it!!

Out of interest how do you think it compares?

Welcome to the forum btw

denzil · Post by **denzil** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:31 am

hi mouse, thanks for the welcome,
i loved my 6n2 polo gti, but the new one is something else,
i was thinking of buying a fiesta st at first because id read such bad press about the new polo gti, but decided against it and went for the vw.
so glad that i did because it looks so cool in white, and seems quite a bit quicker than the 6n2 gti
i cant believe this car got slated in the press!!!
only thing i miss is the xenons!!!

Toon · Post by **Toon** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:52 pm

garnier wrote:Ever thought about getting a non VW?

denzil wrote:I was thinking of buying a fiesta ST at first

I've actually been looking at the Fiesta ST as an alternative to getting a VW. I really like the look of the ST, and an 06-plate model can be had for around 10k, but from what I've read, Ford seem to be a bit below VW in terms of build quality, reliability, depreciation, etc. I've never owned a Ford (only my Polo, and before that a 306), so I'm just basing that on what I've read.

denzil wrote:only thing i miss is the xenons!

That's something I've been thinking about too. As I've had Xenons for the last 5 years, I expect going back to 'normal' lights would be a very noticeable change. As they're an option on a Golf (and rarely found on the 2nd hand ones I've seen online), and not even available on a Polo/ST, I guess I'll have to do without...

garnier · Post by **garnier** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:24 pm

Lookswise, the new Polo doesn't really do it for me. I think it looks a bit soft and fluffy.

I take back what I said about the looks of the new Polo Gti. I quite like it, and if I could afford it I'd def be thinking about one. They don't look great standard, but neither does the 6N2 Gti. Plus it continues it's Gti heritage, and being a VW should depreciate slowly.

shantybeater · Post by **shantybeater** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 11:59 pm

Fiesta ST is a great option although the depreciation is TERRIBLE...they are around 16k new and with less than a thousand miles on the clock and under a year old you can get one for 10k!

denzil · Post by **denzil** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:34 pm

yeah i think the st is quite reliable, but build quality is not as good as vw,
and resale value is obviously lower, but then again they are cheaper to buy in the first place.
servicing costs are lower aswell with a ford (we all know how expensive vw servicing is) but i think the polo gti is a rare sight on the roads at the moment, so its a bit more exclusive than the st.

womble68 · Post by **womble68** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:42 pm

Please don't listen to the rubbish about MPG that Dangerous Dave suggested re. Mk5 Golf GTI. I've just sold my Mk5 GTI DSG, although it was perfectly acceptable in terms of MPG more realistic is: - 20-25MPG round town, 25-32MPG short to longish trips including Motorways/A-Roads (lower end if you're lashing it, higher end if not so much), and if you're really gentle - i.e. Cruise Control set - 35-36MPG at around 70 MPH. In terms of the car I'd say they're fantastic, well built, etc. but I would definitely warn about getting into tons of debt just to own one (I know I because I'm just getting myself out of it). I'd suggest taking a look at the Polo GTI would be a great idea, but also for similar money you could be looking at Civic Type R (last of the last generation with Red Carpets, Better Mats, Recaro Seats, Momo Steering Wheel, etc), or various other 2nd hand but not particularly old cars - e.g. I turned down a Ibiza Cupra TDI (18K miles) on 04/54 Plate for Â£9500 (still for sale in Euxton nr Chorley), but only because I thought it'd probably be better from my point of view to be totally debt free.
Instead I'm picking up a 2000 Polo GTI, so we're kind of swapping directions

Let us know if you'd like any more info

Dangerous Dave · Post by **Dangerous Dave** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:55 pm

womble68 wrote:Please don't listen to the rubbish about MPG that Dangerous Dave suggested re. Mk5 Golf GTI.

Cheers for the comment, I can't speak for your DSG car however my manual over the last year has averaged 31.3mpg I keep a note every time I fill the car up I have also calibrated the trip computer to read properly with vagcom mines was about 0.5mpg out from the factory. I drive probaly 50/50 town/motorway as I work in the centre of Edinburgh but live in Livingston however I start at 7am so not a lot of traffic. I don't drive it gently either I happily set the cruise at 95 on a quiet M8 in the morning and by the time I reach work its still over 30mpg by the time I've went through the 40s and 30s. A trip up north at 60-70 I got 42mpg.

Maybe you didn't run your car a 98/99ron fuel I noticed a drop in mpg when I filled up with 95ron or the DSG box uses more fuel. Most MK5 GTi members on mk-ivs.net also report over 30mpg even on remapped car, the Evo long term test ml5 also averaged over 30mpg and that saw track use and high speed runs in france aswell as the car being thrashed through tanks of petrol for the test on differences between high octane fuels. So its not rubbish a MK5 GTI can average 31-32mpg its fact.

Toon · Post by **Toon** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:15 pm

I've actually just got back from test driving a Golf GTI at my local VW dealer - it's a very nice car, but the trade-in price that they offered me for my Polo was just too low in my opinion.

2001 (June) Y reg
37,300 miles
Very good condition inside & out (guy at dealership acknowledged this)
Corrosion on alloys (guy at dealership acknowledged all GTI's have it)
Full VW service history
No mods

And the initial trade-in price they offered me against an Â£18k Golf:

Â£3200

I was honestly expecting Â£4k+ for my car, which I don't think is unrealistic, as I did a valuation at whatcar.com for a Polo GTI with 37k miles, and it came back as dealer Â£5175/private Â£4375/part-ex Â£4175/trade Â£3875

They did eventually agree to knock Â£500 off the Golf price, but I thought this was the least they could do as the car is advertised on their website as having a 6-disc CD changer fitted, but when inspecting the car I found that it doesn't actually have one, and I made them aware of their 'mistake'.

Anyway, I said no to the deal, as it's a good grand off my budget overall. Looks like if I want a Golf, I'll just have to save some more money, or sell the Polo privately I guess...