MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: WESTU123 on February 08, 2012, 09:26:57 pm
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right guys had a standard mk5 gti in work today doing some work to it took it a test drive
and was shocked at how well it drove and how much i enjoyed driving a standard one for a change
ie no non ress milltek,lowered etc
so the delima is i keep thinking to maself have a wasted mine by modding it :confused:
what do we all think
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if you enjoy modding it its your car do what you want if it makes you happy and you enjoy it :smiley: you can always go back to stock if you wanted
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Having only just started modding mine from standard, I find myself loving the car all over again, I must admit I was getting a little bored with the standard model, now I find myself looking forward to taking her out. Don't get me wrong the standard car is great, but IMHO a modded version is how it should of come from the factory :evilgrin:
These are only my thoughts, I'm sure there are others who will disagree :smiley:
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Mine's standard so I wonder what it's like to drive a remap etc.
I think the handling is good so your modded ones must be something else
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dont get me wrong i love how my car goes etc but was just seing a standard out the box one made
me think i remember mines was like that dnt knw if i miss it
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What sort of hp do you run at the mo then?
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330
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Flipping heck - mine would be slow for you then!?!
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I have found that with cars in the past and put it down to modifying the car too much - and basically losing the cars character :surprised:
My plan with the GTI is to use subtle enhancements where required, rather than try to turn it into a hard core track machine (or a focus RS wannabe). :happy2:
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I think its all about trying to enhance the characteristics of the car rather than trying to alter the whole characteristics of the car.
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Standard all the way for me.Love the way VW made the ED30 straight from the factory :happy2:
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Ive modified my 2.0tfsi and now have just put it almost back to standard. I now run with the oe pcv and engine cover rather than a catch can and intake. I am getting a bcs exhaust and keeping the autotech hpfp fitted. I chose bcs mainly because they make excellent exhausts and will appear stock once fitted. Plus its not in your face loud and makes a nice sporty note. I dont want massive horse power but i want to make it more driveable. I think there are times when you can have too much power and it does ruin the cars characteristic. Makes them undriveable on the road. If I want to go back to standard map I can reinstall my oe map and the car will be back to almost 197bhp, so I have that flexibility if I so choose.
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Standard all the way!!!
What does everyone get horny about when looking at a mk1 or mk2 golf?!?
The fact that it's 100% standard and unmolested :) and if they are not they spend a fortune taking all the bits off it and going back to standard... there's bits and pieces I don't like about my mk5, like the black bottom of the rear bumper and black skirts.. But there's still something I love about owning a 100% factory car
Mind you factory mods and retro fits are cool but I like mine exactly how it left the dealer (standard with 18s)
Mind you saying that my other car is a 306 gti6 which has been completely stripped and is awaiting a roll cage and in the future either throttle bodies or a super charger and that was 100% factory when I bought it lol
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its your car so do what you want. if you think something needs improving most things are easy to sort on these and you can then get the car to feel more how you want it.
a remap will transform the car, isn't expensive and won't hurt the car in any way. definitely worth doing no matter how or where you drive.
the standard gear change is crap so a nice OEM audi TT short shifter tightens things up nice but keeps it OEM VAG parts. takes 20 mins to fit and is the best mod i have done to my car as i hated the standard throw. felt worse than my van but now its good.
A nice cat back exhaust will look nicer but if you go for a resonated it will sound no different. Non-resonated is still quiet, not boomy at all and just makes it sound and look a lot nicer.
i wouldn't be putting body kits or daft stereos in a gti but subtle little mods which are easy to take off transform a car and if its what you enjoy then wheres the problem.
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I seriously doubt ANYONE buys a car and says "yup this car is perfect in every way, i couldnt think of ANYTHING i would change"
Theres always little niggly things that can be improved to make the car how you want it (such as short shift, lowering springs to sharpen it up a bit etc). If you end up getting bodykits, roll cages, new or stripped out interiors etc then chances are, youve bought the wrong car. . .
Subtle "enhancements" FTW :happy2:
Worst thing you can do is go over the top chasing amazing handling & big power, before you know it the car is nothing like the car you bought (seems similar to the OP's experience).
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I must admit Ive probably modded every previous car ive owned in one way or another, but with the Mk5 Ive just felt no need to. I had my last 2 cars remapped (A3 1.8T Quattro and S3) and yeah the difference in power is very noticable but I soon got used to the difference and started thinking "right, what next?" Im determined to fight the 'modders bug' and keep it standard.
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I bought mine as standard modded it to stage 2+, sold all the bits just before christmas and went back to standard as i thought about selling. Found out what they were worth now which is a lot less than i paid for mine so thought bugger it and started buying all the bits back again. I am going to go a little further this time though. I changed the suspension to coilies which i thought were quite harsh but when putting stock suspension back on i was really surprised at how harsh stock is. Modding all the way for me
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dnt get me wrong i havnt went mad with the car fitted xenons, r32 brakes, full milltek ,itg kit and a remap etc
but i keep looking at pics of it standard and go i loved it then mmm
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I personally think the mk5 is a bit soft for a hot hatch in standard trim, but to be fair thats what the golf is all about, everyday usability. Great thing about the golf is that it does mod very well and has a great scene IMO. It's obviously up to you what you do with your car but if yours is modded I think you would soon get bored of stock.
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What he said.
I think Clarkson coined the 'All Cars to All Men' phrase and, like him or loathe him, I think it best describes the Mk5 GTI. Its not a sportscar, but its not an average hatchback, its not that expensive to run but not particularly cheap either. It looks great, its not not mega quick but quick enough for an average petrol head, you can use it like a normal car, you could take it to a trackday (within reason), great build quality etc etc. Back in the 70s this was effectively what the Mk1 did and the Mk2 (some would say) improved upon later on. The Mk3 and Mk4 IMO lost this overall balance.
I'm no stranger to modifying cars, but for now I'm happy with the all-rounder my car is. If I wanted more power and comprimises for a particular style of driving, I'd have probably bought an M3. That said, I'd love to have a go in a Stage 1 Mk5 to feel the difference that lots have talked about and I wouldn't rule it out in future.
Ultimately people will have a preferred 'balance' of standard v mods and that diversity is what makes me enjoy using the forum. :happy2: