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I'm considering buying a mk5 GTI but the prices are a little all over the place from £2500-£4000.

From what I can gather the average good one is 75-80k - £3500

What puts me off is there is a lot of talk about gearbox and clutch problems so its pretty much going to need it replaced, yet the prices of the cars are still rather high considering that major fault or so it seems.

So a reconditioned gearbox and clutch realistically might be £700-800? Plus labour could end up being about £1000 bringing the cars total to £4500, which is rather a lot for a car with a reconditioned gearbox and two years motoring away from 100k.

Are GTIs still worth buying? If so, at what price given that it seems almost certain the gearbox/clutch will break. I really like the cars but the gearbox thing and value for money is really putting me off because £4500 is Golf GTI money or even some older s3s..

I was thinking £3k max for a GTI and then money for gearbox kinda thing?

A lot seem overpriced given the gearbox/clutch issue?

I think it all depends what your looking for in the GTI, Comfort, Styling, Performance or Economy etc etc.
I have always been a fan of the styling on the 6N2 GTI and that was the main reason why I bought one. I was fully aware of the problems the car could potentially have but you need to get that out of your head when buying a car, look at the positives and not the negatives.

All cars have their faults at the end of the day and providing you look for a good example GTI you should be fine.
Always check about the gearbox and cambelt tensiors because they are costly jobs to put right but usually people are pretty honest when their selling their GTI's because the gearbox issue is common knowledge.

£3K is a good buget for a GTI and you should find what you want for that money.
If you want a lower mileage car or a better equipped GTI then you might have to spend an extra £500-1000.

Ben,

yes I guess its best to just get what you like and look at the positives of it. Its just a bit off putting

It can be off putting if you worry about it.

Your getting alot of car for £3K though and they are great to drive.

If you want something quicker then go for a Seat Ibiza Cupra R Mk3, their available for £3.5-4K now with 180BHP as standard!

Id go the extra mile and get a lupo gti mate as there nowhere near as much hastle with gearboxes and what not, and being newer ones on the market i rekon thats the route to go i wish i could off insured a lupo but couldnt so settled with the polo gti insted and i have every problem the gti chucks up!

Personaly i wouldnt buy one knowing what i know now mate, But i would never sell it now i have it lol!

The Polo GTI is actually a group higher insurance than the Lupo GTI. Polo is 12 and the Lupo is 11 so insurance would actually be cheaper on the Lupo. The Lupo are a cool little cars but surely their aimed at the female market lol

Ive heard a few horror stories from Lupo owners reference the gearbox too so I would opt for the Polo everytime.
The Lupo's being newer are also around £2K more expensive than a Decent Polo GTI.

Couldn't agree more with above.

Ive had my Polo GTI for about 9months now and it's a great car really is.You get what you pay for as with most things,you can spend £2500 on one or £5000 on one.Obviously in most cases the higher price will be due to low mileage,decent service history etc.All you really have to do is the same as looking at any car,check the usual bits and peices you would normally.Look for the pedal box recall,hopefully the seller will have proof it's been done.If the mileage is racking on check the gearbox has been reconditioned,if not listen for wines on the test drive.Check for a cambelt,tensioner change some of these cars are 10 years old now so look to see two cambelt changes and one possibly due another on others.

Simular sized cars like the 106 GTI & Saxo VTS have trouble with the exact same things yet the Polo has a much higher spec and the build quility is a league above the french.

Edit:Just read your origional post £4500 for and S3 will most certainately not get you a decent one my brother just spent £9000 on his,Golfs are ok but there are thousands on the roads at the moment they personally bore me.Value for money i think you get quite a high spec car for the price these go for,certainately better than buying alot of other cars.

Bradley wrote:Couldn't agree more with above.

Ive had my Polo GTI for about 9months now and it's a great car really is.You get what you pay for as with most things,you can spend £2500 on one or £5000 on one.Obviously in most cases the higher price will be due to low mileage,decent service history etc.All you really have to do is the same as looking at any car,check the usual bits and peices you would normally.Look for the pedal box recall,hopefully the seller will have proof it's been done.If the mileage is racking on check the gearbox has been reconditioned,if not listen for wines on the test drive.Check for a cambelt,tensioner change some of these cars are 10 years old now so look to see two cambelt changes and one possibly due another on others.

Simular sized cars like the 106 GTI & Saxo VTS have trouble with the exact same things yet the Polo has a much higher spec and the build quility is a league above the french.

Edit:Just read your origional post £4500 for and S3 will most certainately not get you a decent one my brother just spent £9000 on his,Golfs are ok but there are thousands on the roads at the moment they personally bore me.Value for money i think you get quite a high spec car for the price these go for,certainately better than buying alot of other cars.

Absolutely Spot on mate

I'll be selling mine the end of next month for around 3.5k. Full leather and has a recon gearbox so you don't have to worry about that