MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: marty77 on December 19, 2012, 07:08:58 am

Title: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 19, 2012, 07:08:58 am
Hi guys got a few questions about a gti I went and had a look at.

The car had dsg and seemed smooth enough from cold in d but when I flicked into manual and pulled away from the lights it seemed to thump into second and third.  Once up to temp in did seem OK but having read the horror stories I wondered if I should walk. 

Also after only a minute or two after starting from cold the fan kicked in which seemed strange to me?  Other than that the wings had a touch of rust that would get sorted and round the lights switch it was a bit tatty.

The car is high specced and other than what is mentioned seems in better condition cosmetically than others I have seen.

Cheers in advance.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: Lone_Par on December 19, 2012, 07:59:54 am
You might be able to get the rust sorted under guarantee from VW. There is a thread on here - use the search. It documents members successes.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 19, 2012, 01:32:12 pm
Yeah I'm not too bothered about the rust as the guy said it would be fixed, the dsg worries me more.  The car is on 44k and is an 07 so should get the dsg service done pronto.  I also reckon it will need belts done too around now?
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: RedRobin on December 19, 2012, 01:37:11 pm
.
Firstly, A Warm Welcome to the forum  :drinking:

Yes, you should definitely get a DSG box of tricks regularly serviced as VW advise.

If you need the support of a VW document re getting your VW dealer to sort out your wings rust free of charge, PM me with you email address.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: Lone_Par on December 19, 2012, 01:38:49 pm
I've got a manual so can't comment on the DSG I'm afraid.

The cam belt and water pump should be done at 4 years or 40k so factor this into the price or get him to do it before you buy. VW do this for £499 fixed price IIRC.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 19, 2012, 02:08:46 pm
Cheers for the offer i may do that if they get arsey.  The car chimed to say it needed a service when i started it and the guy said one would be done before the car was sold but as long as the dsg thump isn't critical i might put a cheeky offer on the condition cambelt and dsg are sorted along with the rust.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: RedRobin on December 19, 2012, 02:51:40 pm
^^^^
A DSG service MUST be done by either a fully approved VW dealership or a workshop (JKM just as an example) who knows exactly what they are doing and has experience - It's important.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 19, 2012, 03:07:40 pm
Its a VW dealer so who knows!  Salesman tried to imply it was because I wasn't revving enough when I changed up and that dsg was for driving quickly and red lining the car....

Looked at a leon cupra too but not sure I could live with the interior compared to the golf.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: RedRobin on December 19, 2012, 03:16:26 pm

Its a VW dealer so who knows!  Salesman tried to imply it was because I wasn't revving enough when I changed up and that dsg was for driving quickly and red lining the car....

Looked at a leon cupra too but not sure I could live with the interior compared to the golf.


....Typical salesman! That's bollox! If you experience any knocking or lumpiness in your DSG it's past the time for its servicing and will potentially be very expensive if it goes belly up.

The Cupra is a nice place to be - It feels very sporty inside. Yes, very plasticky but modern and who wants leather everywhere, but the windscreen rake etc and instrumentation is nice. The Mk5 Golf clocks display is crap. Cupra has K04 turbo I think, and more power tuning potential. It depends what you want.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 19, 2012, 03:50:29 pm
Hmm I will g and have a drive at it and see how it compares to the golf.  I was not impressed with the gti and for the most part dsg. 

Cheers for all the advice guys.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: RedRobin on December 19, 2012, 05:16:48 pm

Hmm I will g and have a drive at it and see how it compares to the golf.


....Ultimately that has to be the only way and the best way to decide when buying a car. The spec etc on paper is all very well but it's how you personally like her feel when you drive her. Rather like choosing a partner - Not all hot looking people are as nice as they look. Mind you, some ugly hotties are also ugly inside - The movie "Shallow Hal" gets it across very well:

Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 19, 2012, 07:43:40 pm
 :grin: Very true!  Well i went for a spin in the Cupra and quickly realised it wasn't for me.  The ride felt far more fidgety than the gti however it was pretty rapid from what i could tell.

Unfortunately as i thought the interior didn't do it for me.  The gti had more of a quality feel and when it comes down to it i prefer the looks of the gti both inside and outside.

So looks like the gti is it, now just need to decide if i take the gamble or hold out for a manual with the same options in my price range.  Again thanks for all the help guys, great forum.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: RedRobin on December 19, 2012, 09:43:48 pm
^^^^
Don't be put off by DSG - You may prefer Manual but DSG offers the best of both worlds, it's far more than just an automatic.

It can be an automatic if you want it to be (D-mode) but like all auto transmissions it will shift gear when it decides and not necessarily when you decide. But D-mode is invaluable for trafiic jam queues and urban crawls etc (or for a wifey/GF who is not really a 'driver').

Driving in M-mode is just like a conventional manual transmission except the shifts are perfect and faster every time without fail (unless the DSG needs servicing!). So, Think Manual and shift as you would do normally. There is a learning curve before it becomes fluid and second nature because there are many other ways of exploiting the DSG shifts.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 20, 2012, 09:41:18 am
I loved the dsg and my wife drives an auto so she would prefer it too.  Most of my driving these days is on the motorway so auto makes sense its just the possible bills and beatings from my wife if it goes wrong!
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: RedRobin on December 20, 2012, 11:21:08 am

I loved the dsg and my wife drives an auto so she would prefer it too.  Most of my driving these days is on the motorway so auto makes sense its just the possible bills and beatings from my wife if it goes wrong!


....IF it goes wrong! - You have to think positive. Any and every car can go wrong irrespective of transmission type. Does your wife like to 'beat you up' or 'bend your ear' at every opportunity? Why would it be your fault? For choosing DSG in spite of her preferring it?
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 20, 2012, 05:43:58 pm
We had a Fabian vrs mk1 that gave us 4 years of trouble free motoring then changed to the mini (her choice) which has been a nightmare, fortunately under warranty.

I think we were spoiled with the Skoda and after what we have been through with the mini we just want something as reliable as possible.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: Tortaruga on December 20, 2012, 05:59:27 pm
^^^ Tell us a few things that went wrong, please. I thought the new Mini was pretty reliable.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 20, 2012, 06:11:44 pm
It started with things like the flat warning light going on 2 mins into any journey despite all tires being perfect.  It wouldn't start 2 weeks after buying it and had to be transported back on a flatbed.

It has also suffered from the dreaded super knock and in just over a year and a half has had the chain, plugs, fuel pump, DSC control unit and tensioner amongst other things replaced under warranty.  It has also been towed back to the garage twice in that time once for the fuel line flying off and pissing fuel everywhere whilst on a duel carraigway.

Its safe to say we have had our fair share of problems with it.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: RedRobin on December 20, 2012, 06:23:15 pm
.
So where are the new Mini's built? It would seem from such disappointing reports, which aren't uncommon, that they aren't built by BMW in Germany!

I saw a Mini Cooper SD parked alongside other cars the other day.... It's HUUUUUGE!! Hardly a Mini.
Title: Re: Few questions from a newb!
Post by: marty77 on December 20, 2012, 06:52:55 pm
Your spot on, although somehow the designers have managed to make it a tight fit inside.  The boot is laughable.  Yip these days they are built in Oxford.  I know folk who have not had any issues with them, I reckon I have a Friday afternoon lemon.

I understand every car has its problems and I am prepared for that but the thought of a bill running the 4 digit category would be nice to avoid.  Think its time to give them another call and see if the will service the box first as part of the deal.