MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: D. Diddy on January 10, 2012, 10:55:16 pm

Title: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: D. Diddy on January 10, 2012, 10:55:16 pm
What would be the best manufactured reg year to buy a car since? 06/56 onwards?
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Beddie on January 10, 2012, 10:56:02 pm
2012 on account it would be the newest?
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: D. Diddy on January 10, 2012, 11:00:29 pm
Ha, yeah sorry! However i meant the MK5 as this is the 'MK5 GTI' website! Now that's two of us stating the obvious ;-)
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Top Cat on January 10, 2012, 11:02:29 pm
Your question wasn't obvious though. Are you asking if VW had an off year.  :chicken:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: D. Diddy on January 10, 2012, 11:06:04 pm
Yeah because i heard they had to recall certain models for the coil pack change but was unsure of which year??
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Beddie on January 10, 2012, 11:07:42 pm
Coilpack recall was pre mid 2007 iirc?
As for the MK5 i'd go for as late as possible within your budget, push the boat out and get a 2009 Pirelli...  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Top Cat on January 10, 2012, 11:09:41 pm
You can just take your car into any dealer and give them the details and they will tell you if it is on the recall list. so it makes no difference buying a car that might have the dodgy coil packs.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: E30Dom on January 10, 2012, 11:10:12 pm
Yeah but older cars are built with tired/worn tooling... :-p
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Top Cat on January 10, 2012, 11:10:52 pm
Yeah but older cars are built with tired/worn tooling... :-p

What?
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: D. Diddy on January 10, 2012, 11:16:16 pm
Okay wicked thanks! But if you were me and wanted to purchase a mk5 GTI, what year manufactured would you opt for? Without obviously getting the most recent (58 plate) as I'm spending £10k maximum. . . . .
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Top Cat on January 10, 2012, 11:21:20 pm
There is no discernible difference between year models. You just need to go for a car that has a full service record and the optional extras you would like. Keep an eye out for the cambelt service which is the fourth, if this hasn't been done, or is due you need to be aware that it is quite expensive.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: D. Diddy on January 10, 2012, 11:25:32 pm
Thanks alot, i really appreciate your advice! I don't mean to bore you but is there anything else inparticular that i should look out for?
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Beddie on January 10, 2012, 11:25:55 pm
There is no discernible difference between year models. You just need to go for a car that has a full service record and the optional extras you would like. Keep an eye out for the cambelt service which is the fourth, if this hasn't been done, or is due you need to be aware that it is quite expensive.  :happy2:

^^ This  :happy2:

Condition and history for me is more important than age, get the best car that suits your spec 'wish list' and dont be afraid to haggle if it's above your budget, it's a buyers market out there!  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Beddie on January 10, 2012, 11:28:58 pm
Thanks alot, i really appreciate your advice! I don't mean to bore you but is there anything else inparticular that i should look out for?

A good solid VW service history, cambelt change at 60K/4 years if applicable, DSG service at 40K if you end with a DSG version..
Check for rust on the front and rear arches and sill ends..
Accident damage or repainting as you would with any car..
Check air con works correctly with no noises from the compressor, check ESP light is not permanently illuminated (ABS pump fault)
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Top Cat on January 10, 2012, 11:32:15 pm
Thanks alot, i really appreciate your advice! I don't mean to bore you but is there anything else inparticular that i should look out for?

The air- con unit has been known to fail, and is expensive to replace, so make sure it works. If you plump for a DSG gearbox make sure it is smooth when operating. They have a mechatronics unit which again is costly to fix.
The best advice would be to spend a week on here first researching, this will give a good idea of the best spec and also a lot of cars are known to our members so when you find one you like the look of you can post it up on here and maybe get a history and some pearls of wisdom on suitability.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: rich83 on January 10, 2012, 11:34:36 pm
My 2005 MK5 had less rattles than my 2007 GTI.  :stupid:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Beddie on January 10, 2012, 11:37:18 pm
My 2005 MK5 had less rattles than my 2007 GTI.  :stupid:
I've said it before and i'll say it again.. you couldnt hear the rattles over the taxi engine....  :grin:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: rich83 on January 10, 2012, 11:38:28 pm
My 2005 MK5 had less rattles than my 2007 GTI.  :stupid:
I've said it before and i'll say it again.. you couldnt hear the rattles over the taxi engine....  :grin:

 :signLOL:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: D. Diddy on January 10, 2012, 11:42:10 pm
Thanks alot TOP CAT and BEDDIE! Awesome advice! Yeah that's why i made myself a member on here before i buy one, (now i've got the funds) to give myself a pre concieved idea of what to look out for! Thanks for your time!  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: stealthwolf on January 10, 2012, 11:55:41 pm
The early models (04-) had better features eg blue tinted windows, no roof antenna but later models had more revisions as well as cost cutting measures.

In all honesty, as TC has said, go for a well-maintained car. I'd rather go for say an 05 car that was impeccably looked after than an 08 that hadn't been looked after.
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: RENNTAG on January 11, 2012, 11:55:24 am
I would look at service history rather than age. Best to take a few out for test drives. I have a 56 plate GTI and took out a similar age ED30 (cant remember what plate) and it drove terribly conpaired on to mine, so decided to stick with my GTI. and the Ed30 had done about 30,000 miles less than mine
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: reflex11 on January 11, 2012, 12:40:13 pm
my car ticked every box when I bought it, they had it from NEW.. so I was the second owner.. full service history etc etc loads of optional extras added aswell
it took me nearly 4-6 months to find the right car.. even though it is giving me some problems now.. I will get it sorted
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: Gene Hunt on January 11, 2012, 01:50:16 pm
The early models (04-) had better features eg blue tinted windows, no roof antenna but later models had more revisions as well as cost cutting measures.

In all honesty, as TC has said, go for a well-maintained car. I'd rather go for say an 05 car that was impeccably looked after than an 08 that hadn't been looked after.
.........as above went from an 05 which had the cool blue tinted glass extra alloy trim & no roof antenna. Loved it & then went to an 08 ED 30. Which again is a great car just wish it had the blue tinted glass. :sad1:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: brookesb32 on January 13, 2012, 07:56:52 am
Mine must be a bit of a half breed, as I have blue tints but has the roof aerial, it's a nov 55 plate. Get a few rattles, mainly the drivers door but solid apart from that  :happy2:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: john87 on January 13, 2012, 10:01:51 am
I went for an 08 plate as in previous experience, I've bought early model cars (8th generation civic) and suffered the slings and arrows of early teething problems.

On the other hand, I'm not exactly ecstatic that it has 8 speakers instead of the original 10, and no blue tinted glass  :confused:
Title: Re: Best manufactured year to purchase????????
Post by: driver rider on January 14, 2012, 06:23:23 pm
According to autocar who did a buyers guide for the mark 5 GTI the later models are has less issues to contend with.  However I'm of the opinion that you should buy a car based on its condition.  Sorry thats not really much help.