I had a mk7.5 Gti pp but changed it for a TCR and I much prefer it to the GTI performance . I also prefer the look of the TCR it looks more aggressive and purposeful , but what do I know ?
I'd have a GTI TCR over a Performance, subjective opinion/preference is not the point however. The point is which GTI sticks best to the original GTI remit of classy, discrete, comfortable performance and the TCR's "aggressive and purposeful" looks (which as I said I love) work against it as does the Mk8's ride (and in the case of the 8 Clubsport (again a car I love), the decals). To put it in perspective, Mk7 CSS with no back seats and track tyres that are useless in the wet/cold is a total fail in this case! TCR/8/8 CS/7 CSS are great cars and I love them but they aren't really GTIs in the original sense, they've evolved beyond that which is great for us but a GTI should be a lot more low key
@@volkswizard I think you are correct though well half correct… imo having had 9 of them - the one that really retains the original gti feel is the 7.5 gti pp in manual (obv) 😆
The wife had a mk2 16v gti for about 10 years. Looking back that was an excellent car. Totally reliable and well built. We sold it with about 110 k miles on it. She then got a mk 5 r32 for the next 12 years. Another cracking car. Probably not much faster than a gti really but very satisfying to drive and listen to. I don't think it was as agile as her old mk 2 though . We loved the f32 so much I tracked down a low miles r36, which I've still got, about 8 years later. She's now got an up....not the gti unfortunately, but I still enjoy driving it for all the short journeys we do. So I suppose we are vw fans...weve never broken down and they've provided brisk safe and fun motoring....without spending a fortune. Can't ask for much more than that. Excellent video, as usual, Andrew.
Can’t believe it was 17 years ago when a bought a mk5 (new)which I loved and put 70k miles on it in 3 years..today I have the 7.5 which is a great all rounder too..exactly what a gti should be imho.
Happy owner of a GTI mk5 30 Edition. 260k km and the only problems i had with it was 1 thermostat and 1 injector. VERY fun car to drive and relatively easy car to work on repairs/maintenance (which is rare nowadays).
The MK5 has an electric Steering rack and it was VWs 1st and worked brilliantly with briliant feedback which was sadly missing in steering feel of the mk6 to mk8
Owned a mk5 gti, 3 different impreza STI's, gen 1 and gen 2 MPS and a turbod mx5. Even though the mps and imprezas may have been faster, there was something about the mk5 that stood out. the qaulity felt so much better, the car felt more "hot hatch" rather than just a small car thats fast. Looking at buying another in the next few months and i cant wait to get back into the vw scene
Great Video Andrew. :-) Being an edition 30 fan I am a little biased on the mk5. I think the mk5 GTI represents so much value for money, in a retro analogue modern classic package. The base product is dynamically ok, but with a few choice chassis modifications, they can be made to handle so well. I drove back from Hereford from a work assignment yesterday evening back to Wiltshire through some lovely B roads. My little ED30 still feels sublime. I like the non fussy nature of the cabin, without all modern interfaces, like hot hatches of old. They have not aged too badly either. Although sadly they have a reputation for being a bad boy car now. With some of these poor GTI's being so badly modified, and abused the cheaper they get. I have done 40k in my car and she has been incredible and reliable, just regular servicing with the best of everything. For me she is a long term keeper. Keep up the great work sir.
Great car easily the best looking but super detached from the road imo they're just too refined. Mk5 edition 30 is leagues ahead if you're looking for a proper hot hatch imo raw, with plenty of feedback the sense of speed is unmatched. Calm and collected when it needs to be.
@@MikelDog yeah know where you’re coming from there, I came from VR6 Corrados and mk2 gti’s to the 7.5 but love that refined feel as I never hoon it round to hard!
The Mk5 is my favourite GTI for a few reasons; 1. firstly it had the best Advertising campaign for any car ever made with the “Unpimp my ride” series of ads which were absolutely brilliant & genuinely hilarious. 2. The last of the timing belt FSI 2 litre motors may not have been the most powerful, but they’re much more reliable than the Mk 6 (and their well known timing chain tensioner failures) and the earlier motor still respond to tuning really well. Also retrofitted to Mk6 racecars by VW Motorsport so they must have preferred the reliability of FSI’s as well. Yet to encounter a Mk6 owner who hasn’t had timing chain tensioner &/or chain replaced due to problems. 3. That styling & shape is beautiful & still looks good today, particularly the 3 door model with sunroof delete option in Tornado Red. 4. The best ever GTI special edition had to be the Mk5 Pirelli (in yellow) with those beautifully sculpted wheels & the tyre tread upholstery. Too cool. (EDIT; and I forgot the best part, that factory KO4 turbo!) 5. Overall reliability & driving enjoyment of the whole package is fantastic. A well resolved good looking car with good power to weight that can still hold its own almost 20 years on, with great economy & very few known issues. Future classic for sure!
Mk7.5 best GTI. Really takes some beating, it just does everything. Mk5 got the GTI back on track that’s for sure. I’d maybe say the mk5 was the best looking GTI though
100% the best gti ever made, in my opinion anyway! Although I am biased, I've owned 2 regular gtis and 1 ed30. Best hot hatch for the money no doubt about it 👌
Absolutely timeless motor, way ahead of its time, no other comparison. Mines on 130k 2007 DSG stage 2, its had 3 dsg services, many many oil changes as half way on its 2nd service booklet, walnut blased injector refurbed at r tech, oil sump cleaned and every common part changed in one go, peace of mind and not expensive. Been offered about £4k but i wont sell her because its hard to come across a well looked after example that performs exceptionally well like mine, she will be used as a daily. Only thing is that the cam follower wears faster when tuned so got to change it every 10k miles religiously, other than that, phenomenal cars for the money
My 2008.5 looks exactly like the one shown. It does have GTI on the door sills. And hill hold assist in the DSG. The Bi Xenon lights were not cheap. Neither was the Vienna leather. Sat Nav I don't have was $4k in Oz. It's done just under 86,000 kms. Not trouble free. But it is still with me. Cheers Andrew.
I bought my mk5 GTI in 07 I waited for the 5 door because my young boys at that time We loved that car so much Only thing I didn't like was the ice build up at the front corner of the front door bent the door panel on the passenger side... very disappointing
Great video - I always liked the Mk5 & it's one I'd seriously consider now. I've always fancied a Mk5 R33, but the GTi is probably a better car in some ways. Suprised you didn't got for your Mk 8 Clubsport as the best GTi - I love the Mk 7.5 too, (over the 8) , although it's a 7.5 R Estate I run (mainly because I wanted the estate - I'd have probably had a Mk 7.5 GTi pp myself otherwise).
My wife & I have owned 6 GTI’s between us across the years. She drives a 7.5 & me a Mk 5. Both offer so much & to me the best 2 GTI’s we have owned. Great video as always Andrew thank you👏👏
I run a MK5 and a 7.5 Autobahn in the US, both manual. The mk7.5 has a broader range of capability, gaining flexibility through electronics and engineering progress. The bigger performance envelope and build quality with more mpg make it the better car. The Mk5 is just perfectly judged with essentially one setting. I think the gearing and steering of the mk5 and it's more honest simplicity make it the better GTI.
Great video. The suspension looks in good order for the age. I just had to replace my Mk6 rear suspension as the arms had holes in and looked like a rusty shipwreck from the bottom of the ocean.
I loved that video. I really like my TCR but, having bought a Mk5 to keep it company, the older car has really grown on me. It reminds me of the Mk2, not shouty but just sharp and fluid on the road. Such a lovely thing. Plus to my eyes it is the only GTi that quite clearly looks better as a 3 door than a 5 door (and I much prefer 5 doors as a rule).
My mk5 GTI has 70k miles on it. It's pretty much standard apart from Miltek, Rtech stage 1 and better brakes. The only thing I want to do is change the alloys lower it on springs then detail it. I'm slightly worried about is the mechatronics. Three times it's been stuck in 1st with the PRNDS flashing on the dashboard but in space of 2.5 years. It seems to be fine most of the time though. Fantastic cars.
In all honesty, I don’t think one generation is better than another, I think nostalgia plays a lot when we remember a specific year. I’ve had 4 iterations; the golf, rabbit, and two gti,s and of all I remember the 2007 rabbit most fondly
Thanks for another enjoyable video. Love the GTI reviews on the channel. For me, I love my 7.5 GTI performance. Has everything you need. Love the interior which is just the right combination of switches and digital features. The red ambient lighting strips on doors and sills are great at night. Good balance between traditional GTI features and technology. When you wind it up on the twisties, a real fun car. Keep up the good work.
Mk5 edition 30 imo is the best gti ever made. Maintains that raw feeling of the old mk1/2 a combination of the older style power steering and the lack of sound deadening. Yet has all the power of the latest gens, mine is stage 2+ 380bhp 430ftlbs manual at 1280kg. The looks are just iconic and it feels like you are sitting in something special, a few small upgrades like mk7 r or s3 8p brakes, antilift kit etc really add to the cars capability. Yet you could put on the cruise control and it feels refined. Apple CarPlay radio, parking sensors, xenon lights, heated seats. What else do you need? Mk7.5 imo is the best looking gti however when I drove one I couldn't believe how detached I felt from the road. Tried a mk7 r and a mk7 gti pp also , yet 80mph feels like 30mph it's like being in a bubble which I think is far from the meaning of what a gti should be, it's a hot hatch not a 5 series or an E class. Drove a 330d and that felt better which is wrong on so many levels lol theres no doubt the mk7.5 is super capable and great looking!
Cheers Andrew 👍 Thank you for the Mk5 GTI content. You are the reason I bought my Mk5 GTI in the first place. Loving the ownership so far and considering it's 15 years old, it still gets lots of respect and admiring looks on the road.
Thanks Andrew. I had a MK4 and the internal plastics were definitely better than the MK5. That said, I ordered a laser blue dsg 5 door and am still driving it today. 190k on the clock and the engine and dsg are still sweet. Still really enjoy driving the car, and I haven't lost the bottle opener 😉
Oh ESC???? "Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a crash prevention system that intervenes if it detects that a vehicle is about to skid or lose traction. It independently controls the braking of each wheel to correct the vehicle and pull it back into line if it is skidding out of control"
I am picking up a Mark 5 in a few days, it really has grown on me. 2009 White only done 55k km. I think I will only own 2 GTi, one is a m5 and m7.5. Thanks for the review
I mostly agree, but not with all. I bought my DSG in 2005 and in a week I regretted buying the DSG because it it always did what I didn't want it to do. Had some track days with it, and the only thing I can say: boring. It was tuned to 240HP and it ate a pair of front tires in 1,5 hour. On track it did around 16MPG and on another slalom day it was around 8MPG. Of course it was stolen, but It did not cause a lot of heart pain. Before that I had a 307XSI 2.0 and that in fact wasn't less fun than the Golf. Before that I had 106GTI's and those were a completely different league. I hoped the Golf would have had the same driver experience, but: incomparable, fun filtered out. Don't care about 0..60 or top speed, only driving fun.
I sold my mk5 gti in 2013. Since then I've had the Scirocco, an A5, John Cooper Works mini, and spent time in mk7 gti. None of those cars made me love them like the mk5 gti. For me modern cars have lost all the feel and character. The mk7 in particular felt completely soulless to me. Didn't get me going at all. Too refined, lack of steering feel, nothing naughty about it. I specifically remember asking the salesman how to make the steering heavier, he told me I couldn't. Felt like a video game! So overall yes, I'd say the mk5 is the best if all, it treads sensibility and devilment perfectly.
Until recently I was a proud owner of a GTI 7.5 DSG Performance and boy was this car great! Maybe in fact the best GTI of all time, who knows. One thing though was worse that GTI 7.0 - its the lack of DSG farts. but apart from that - 10/10!
I really love the look of the Mk5 GTI. It has lots of character and it really looks good in Red. Great video, as always! Be safe and have fun driving always!
The Edition 30 is my favourite version of the Mk5. It has nicer wheels without the stupid diamond cut Monza wheels and more importantly got rid of the awful black lower part of the rear bumper which I’ve always hated. It’s a shame crusty wings affect so many of these now.
Hello Andrew 4:25 I think that tartan bucket seats is not VW original seats from factory. it’s a mk5 R32 bucket seat rewrap with mk5 GTI tartan, because I’ve collected original golf german brochure, I didn’t see this kind of bucket seat available to mk5 GTI (including edition 30). Greetings from Taiwan！ Lu
Aww Andy just made me miss my 7.5 now. I agree with you 100% for me that car was such a sweet spot of useable power with fun dynamics and not bogged down by 4wd. Currently in an F40 m135i.
Aha! The 7.5 TCR got "tacky boy racer bits". As the most mentionable attribute in comparison? Not bad. Hats off. 😉After having driven numerous Golfs as all day driver (and modified on track) I can say that this TCR represents the GTi spirit (as you define it) more than any other VW car before or after. For me the TCR is the legitimate successor of the 7.0 GTi CS. Which was the one nearest to the original MKI. But who cares what I think...
Interesting your comment at the end re: what you consider to be the best GTI. Just purchased a very late (70 plate) mk7.5 GTI Performance, picking it up on Tuesday. Cannot wait!
My dad had a Mk2 8v GTi when I was a kid in South Africa, fast forward to 2005 and I bought myself a Mk5 DSG and absolutely loved it, sadly that car was taken from me at gun point (One of the most stolen and hi-jacked cars in South Africa) I now live in the UK and have a Mk6 and I absolutely adore it!
Hi guys i have a 08 mk5 gti stage 1(250hp) with a dsg and i have 2 problems…The firt is i feel that the performance is not 250 level and it was when i bought it a year ago ..i changed a DV for the newest revision new maf sensor and nothing has changed..The second problem is with the Dsg box when the car changing down the gears from 5th to 4th and 3rd to 2nd a metalicy clunk is heard from under a car and only doin this with downshifts… thanks for the ansewrs guys😊
I owed a 06 GTI 6 speed. It was the best I've ever driven other than all the unreal interior squeaks and rattles that started almost immediately and the dealer couldn't fix. I wish I had bought the 06 GLI 6 speed. I just drove the MK8 6 speed S model yesterday and must say it was the first to impress me since the MKV. The two big negatives for me were the lack of power in 1st and 2nd gears, it felt held back by the computer. As soon as I hit 3rd or 4th, it had power immediately. The other is the quite complicated infotainment system, even with two knobs on the S model. I suppose you would get used to it after a short while though. The MK8 was truly an enjoyable driving experience for the 20 minutes or so I had it. The previous gen's interiors were definitely better feeling and better looking, but what are ya gonna do?
Great video Andrew. Always hankered for a Mk5, but missed the boat on this and ended up with a Mk7.5 Performance instead and it is a great car! VW have offered me a good deal on it and I am tempted to sell and get the mk5 but your video has made me question this. Tempting though, still want to a Mk5 one day.
It is a great car, but remember they are old, and are probably going to creak and squeak more than a new car does. Apart from that, I've also driven mk7 and mk8 and they all feel so similar!
I’ve got a 2007 mk5 2dr manual and *mechanically* it’s been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned at 33 years of age. I love driving this car, it’s got a stage 1 revo tune on it and has been fantastic. The interior and paint have gone south on it though. I’m at a crossroads whether I want to keep it or not going forward, I’m leaning towards keeping it.
I want to buy a mark 5 GTI with DSG transmission. What are definitely things I should check out before buying? And which model would be the tuning most potential?
Great video Andrew, one of my favourites actually - it really should get more views than this because you’ll struggle to find a higher standard of content quality per given subject on RUclips, or in any form of modern media to be honest. The mk5. Hmm. The mk5 is the Golf model that I have the least level of personal association with (never had one in the family, unlike every other gen). For that I feel as though I sometimes give it a hard time. It wasn’t the best looking or the poshest Golf, not the most reliable, nor the best to drive, or even the most special. The mk6 is a much better car in standard Golf form, prettier too (imo), and the mk4 R32 the more sonorous and better looking of the R32s. And yet: I find myself watching your videos wishing that I was 15 years younger so that I could skip into a VW dealer and put my money into a brand new mk5 Golf GTI. And I say that having ordered a mk8 CS. The mk5 GTI was the car that actually hooked me into Performance VWs; I gasped at the amazing red press GTIs with 2 shiny exhausts, the distinctive Monza alloys, the aggressive grille and ultra cool steering wheel as a 6 year old in my Dad’s car magazines. Broadly, if it wasn’t for the mk5 GTI, then there is no chance that VW would have my order today, and I’ve never even driven one! For that reason, what a car. It dominated it’s era like only the mk1/2 ever have in 45 years of the genre - unfortunately the world has moved on and the Golf GTI will never reach such dizzy social heights again. When you consider the mk4 that it came from, and the GTIs that it bred, it has to be the best. The noughties will always belong to VAG, I just wish that they’d have invented a time machine!
I’ve got 05 MK5 GTI DSG, it doesn’t come with paddle shifts. How easy is it to install them or even buy a steering wheel that has them, do I need to change the module or anything like that?
Will sadly be having to sell my Mk5 GTI in a few months. Black, 3door, manual, tartan cloth seats on 120k. Have owned it since 2018 when it was on 90k and have looked after it meticulously since. Really don’t want to sell but the lack of rear doors is forcing it.
@@ronaldmoses48 I’m not sure yet. It’s difficult to gauge what it’s worth going off what’s on autotrader. I know there’s ones out there with lower miles but I also know mine is in decent condition and been well looked after so won’t be letting it go cheap
I own a mk5 gti dsg l am thinking of selling it to buy a golf R is that a good move? Is the golf R a lot better then the mk5 golf GTI l know it’s a lot more expensive lol any advice would be good. Great video keep them coming love the mk5 gti ones the most thanks 🥂
Mk5 were fantastic. I had one of the first Edition 30 models, ordered in November 2006 and took delivery on 1st March 2007. Candy White, 3 door manual and bi-xenon option. SV07SXG....The car I should never have sold!
Thanks for sharing Peter, you've just reminded about something I wished I'd mentioned in the video, that white was reserved only for the GTI and the last model year for Mk5 when other models like GT Sport could be ordered in it. Symbolic of the effort that went into Mk5 GTI. Also just realised I've not seen a white one for ages for some reason, looks so good as a 3 door with the red trim so visible 😎
Exactly Paul, 7.5 GTI Performance is basically a better Mk5. TCR/Mk8/Mk7 CSS all deviate a bit too far from the original brief even if they are faster or look better etc
Currently on my 3rd mk7 GTI and love it, but mk5 GTI is definitely the car that ‘got away’ - best car I’ve ever driven. Mild stage 1 map and it was just superb in every way
Had mine since new ‘07. Just getting to 100k miles. I love the way the BPY engine and the DSG are so well matched. Always in the right gear to make me smile…and when that turbo gets on the boil…hoo-wee! Perfect for traffic or the open highway. Thinking about the mk8 but, this one just keeps running so well. Maybe the mk9 will get me…
I have owned a manual 2 door Mk5 R32 in shadow blue and a black 5 door DSG Gti with every factory option on it! Including sunroof, xenon’s, leather, nav etc etc, lucky find that one lol Have to say they were both really good cars, although the R32 wasn’t fast enough for the tax bracket it fell into 😂 and the DSG box shat it’s self on the Gti If i had another Mk5 at some point it would have to be a a white 2 door with cloth seats, very hard to find in nice condition though!
In terms of being iconic the mk1 will always be my favourite. I own a mk1 Golf, but it isn't a GTI unfortunately. I owned a mk6 GTI, which I liked until the timing chain decided to unexist itself. I haven't owned one, but I would say that the 7.5 is my favourite in terms of quality and performance.
Thanks Olly, that's very kind. Unfortunately dedicated my life/work/channel to largely 1 or 2 brands is a relatively limited audience but that might change this year fingers crossed 🤞
Another brilliant review - your knowledge and passion for Golf MkV shines through. Am thinking of adding a Mk V GTI car for fun at weekends . Watching this 15 mths after you filmed the video when you were below 40k subs, now up over 50k - well done!
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
I had a mk7.5 Gti pp but changed it for a TCR and I much prefer it to the GTI performance . I also prefer the look of the TCR it looks more aggressive and purposeful , but what do I know ?
I'd have a GTI TCR over a Performance, subjective opinion/preference is not the point however. The point is which GTI sticks best to the original GTI remit of classy, discrete, comfortable performance and the TCR's "aggressive and purposeful" looks (which as I said I love) work against it as does the Mk8's ride (and in the case of the 8 Clubsport (again a car I love), the decals). To put it in perspective, Mk7 CSS with no back seats and track tyres that are useless in the wet/cold is a total fail in this case! TCR/8/8 CS/7 CSS are great cars and I love them but they aren't really GTIs in the original sense, they've evolved beyond that which is great for us but a GTI should be a lot more low key
Are you another tacky boy racer like me? 👍👍👍
@@JM00-v9c Must be
@@Maody66TV we know you’re a proper boy racer 😆😆👍not a wanna be!
@@volkswizard I think you are correct though well half correct… imo having had 9 of them - the one that really retains the original gti feel is the 7.5 gti pp in manual (obv) 😆
The wife had a mk2 16v gti for about 10 years. Looking back that was an excellent car. Totally reliable and well built. We sold it with about 110 k miles on it. She then got a mk 5 r32 for the next 12 years. Another cracking car. Probably not much faster than a gti really but very satisfying to drive and listen to. I don't think it was as agile as her old mk 2 though .
We loved the f32 so much I tracked down a low miles r36, which I've still got, about 8 years later.
She's now got an up....not the gti unfortunately, but I still enjoy driving it for all the short journeys we do.
So I suppose we are vw fans...weve never broken down and they've provided brisk safe and fun motoring....without spending a fortune. Can't ask for much more than that.
Excellent video, as usual, Andrew.
Can’t believe it was 17 years ago when a bought a mk5 (new)which I loved and put 70k miles on it in 3 years..today I have the 7.5 which is a great all rounder too..exactly what a gti should be imho.
That’s me brother!
Did 225000km the mk5
Now got 60000km on the 7.5.
Happy owner of a GTI mk5 30 Edition. 260k km and the only problems i had with it was 1 thermostat and 1 injector. VERY fun car to drive and relatively easy car to work on repairs/maintenance (which is rare nowadays).
Had an injector go on my gti after 14 years , cost was 750 euro here in Ireland
11:55 I preferred the cambelt era TFSI engines, although the belt had to be changed at 80k - at least they didn't fail prematurely
The MK5 has an electric Steering rack and it was VWs 1st and worked brilliantly with briliant feedback which was sadly missing in steering feel of the mk6 to mk8
Yeah, that brilliant feedback from a single wheel polishing the road...
Owned a mk5 gti, 3 different impreza STI's, gen 1 and gen 2 MPS and a turbod mx5. Even though the mps and imprezas may have been faster, there was something about the mk5 that stood out. the qaulity felt so much better, the car felt more "hot hatch" rather than just a small car thats fast. Looking at buying another in the next few months and i cant wait to get back into the vw scene
Great Video Andrew. :-) Being an edition 30 fan I am a little biased on the mk5. I think the mk5 GTI represents so much value for money, in a retro analogue modern classic package. The base product is dynamically ok, but with a few choice chassis modifications, they can be made to handle so well. I drove back from Hereford from a work assignment yesterday evening back to Wiltshire through some lovely B roads. My little ED30 still feels sublime. I like the non fussy nature of the cabin, without all modern interfaces, like hot hatches of old. They have not aged too badly either. Although sadly they have a reputation for being a bad boy car now. With some of these poor GTI's being so badly modified, and abused the cheaper they get. I have done 40k in my car and she has been incredible and reliable, just regular servicing with the best of everything. For me she is a long term keeper. Keep up the great work sir.
What handling mods have you done? I'm thinking of getting an anti lift kit and racling line springs after I upgrade the brakes
Mines a Mk7.5 GTi Performance, manual, 3 door. End of discussion 😁
Lovely!!!! Best car
@@JM00-v9c thanks! Lovely Atlantic blue metallic too
@@bikersparky 💙💙
Great car easily the best looking but super detached from the road imo they're just too refined. Mk5 edition 30 is leagues ahead if you're looking for a proper hot hatch imo raw, with plenty of feedback the sense of speed is unmatched. Calm and collected when it needs to be.
@@MikelDog yeah know where you’re coming from there, I came from VR6 Corrados and mk2 gti’s to the 7.5 but love that refined feel as I never hoon it round to hard!
7.5 pp is the right choice in my book, but what gti do you put in 2nd place? For me the mk5 is in 2nd but I do admit I haven't driven a mk8 gti yet.
The most comprehensive and thorough channel I’ve found for a car I’m looking into right now😊
I have owned a mk5 gti for 7 years and am thinking of a newer gti but really struggling with being able to sell and let go. I really love this car
Don't forget the bottle opener that was a centre piece in the cup holder
The Mk5 is my favourite GTI for a few reasons;
1. firstly it had the best Advertising campaign for any car ever made with the “Unpimp my ride” series of ads which were absolutely brilliant & genuinely hilarious.
2. The last of the timing belt FSI 2 litre motors may not have been the most powerful, but they’re much more reliable than the Mk 6 (and their well known timing chain tensioner failures) and the earlier motor still respond to tuning really well. Also retrofitted to Mk6 racecars by VW Motorsport so they must have preferred the reliability of FSI’s as well. Yet to encounter a Mk6 owner who hasn’t had timing chain tensioner &/or chain replaced due to problems.
3. That styling & shape is beautiful & still looks good today, particularly the 3 door model with sunroof delete option in Tornado Red.
4. The best ever GTI special edition had to be the Mk5 Pirelli (in yellow) with those beautifully sculpted wheels & the tyre tread upholstery. Too cool. (EDIT; and I forgot the best part, that factory KO4 turbo!)
5. Overall reliability & driving enjoyment of the whole package is fantastic. A well resolved good looking car with good power to weight that can still hold its own almost 20 years on, with great economy & very few known issues. Future classic for sure!
And the crispest, smoothest shift 6 speed manual gearbox that any car had ever been fitted with back in the early 2000’s that still feels great today.
Mk7.5 best GTI. Really takes some beating, it just does everything. Mk5 got the GTI back on track that’s for sure. I’d maybe say the mk5 was the best looking GTI though
I recently got my first golf gti (mk5) and its awesome daily.
Looks really good in tornado red - my favourite GTI colour :)
100% the best gti ever made, in my opinion anyway! Although I am biased, I've owned 2 regular gtis and 1 ed30. Best hot hatch for the money no doubt about it 👌
Absolutely timeless motor, way ahead of its time, no other comparison. Mines on 130k 2007 DSG stage 2, its had 3 dsg services, many many oil changes as half way on its 2nd service booklet, walnut blased injector refurbed at r tech, oil sump cleaned and every common part changed in one go, peace of mind and not expensive. Been offered about £4k but i wont sell her because its hard to come across a well looked after example that performs exceptionally well like mine, she will be used as a daily. Only thing is that the cam follower wears faster when tuned so got to change it every 10k miles religiously, other than that, phenomenal cars for the money
Great video
Miss my MK5 GTI, always a fun drive
Sold for a more family friendly MK7 TSI when the children appeared
My 2008.5 looks exactly like the one shown. It does have GTI on the door sills. And hill hold assist in the DSG. The Bi Xenon lights were not cheap. Neither was the Vienna leather. Sat Nav I don't have was $4k in Oz. It's done just under 86,000 kms. Not trouble free. But it is still with me. Cheers Andrew.
I bought my mk5 GTI in 07 I waited for the 5 door because my young boys at that time
We loved that car so much
Only thing I didn't like was the ice build up at the front corner of the front door bent the door panel on the passenger side... very disappointing
Great video - I always liked the Mk5 & it's one I'd seriously consider now. I've always fancied a Mk5 R33, but the GTi is probably a better car in some ways.
Suprised you didn't got for your Mk 8 Clubsport as the best GTi - I love the Mk 7.5 too, (over the 8) , although it's a 7.5 R Estate I run (mainly because I wanted the estate - I'd have probably had a Mk 7.5 GTi pp myself otherwise).
My wife & I have owned 6 GTI’s between us across the years. She drives a 7.5 & me a Mk 5. Both offer so much & to me the best 2 GTI’s we have owned. Great video as always Andrew thank you👏👏
17:00 You could put a "Wavetrac Diff" to plant the power to the floor and avoid torque-steer...and gain far better traction....
I run a MK5 and a 7.5 Autobahn in the US, both manual. The mk7.5 has a broader range of capability, gaining flexibility through electronics and engineering progress. The bigger performance envelope and build quality with more mpg make it the better car.
The Mk5 is just perfectly judged with essentially one setting. I think the gearing and steering of the mk5 and it's more honest simplicity make it the better GTI.
Mk7.5 GTI Performance DSG wins! Yay 🤣
i had an 81 gti
, the best little beast. you will not change my mind
i now have a late mk5, with a chain drive tsi dsg....superfun torquey little 2door
Great video. The suspension looks in good order for the age. I just had to replace my Mk6 rear suspension as the arms had holes in and looked like a rusty shipwreck from the bottom of the ocean.
I loved that video. I really like my TCR but, having bought a Mk5 to keep it company, the older car has really grown on me. It reminds me of the Mk2, not shouty but just sharp and fluid on the road. Such a lovely thing. Plus to my eyes it is the only GTi that quite clearly looks better as a 3 door than a 5 door (and I much prefer 5 doors as a rule).
Glad I made the right choice! Just brought last week mk 7.5 Gti performance and I love it!
My mk5 GTI has 70k miles on it. It's pretty much standard apart from Miltek, Rtech stage 1 and better brakes. The only thing I want to do is change the alloys lower it on springs then detail it. I'm slightly worried about is the mechatronics. Three times it's been stuck in 1st with the PRNDS flashing on the dashboard but in space of 2.5 years. It seems to be fine most of the time though. Fantastic cars.
Why does my mk5 have projector style xenon type headlights? They look nothing like the one in the video
I love all of them would never have anything different than a golf I love them.
In all honesty, I don’t think one generation is better than another, I think nostalgia plays a lot when we remember a specific year. I’ve had 4 iterations; the golf, rabbit, and two gti,s and of all I remember the 2007 rabbit most fondly
I had a 2006 Mk 5 GTI in Red, have to say it was one of the best cars I have owned. I still have the Brochure for it too.
I have a 1983 Mk1 Golf and I still have the Brochure for it. So whats your point?
Thanks for another enjoyable video. Love the GTI reviews on the channel. For me, I love my 7.5 GTI performance. Has everything you need. Love the interior which is just the right combination of switches and digital features. The red ambient lighting strips on doors and sills are great at night. Good balance between traditional GTI features and technology. When you wind it up on the twisties, a real fun car. Keep up the good work.
Mk5 edition 30 imo is the best gti ever made. Maintains that raw feeling of the old mk1/2 a combination of the older style power steering and the lack of sound deadening. Yet has all the power of the latest gens, mine is stage 2+ 380bhp 430ftlbs manual at 1280kg. The looks are just iconic and it feels like you are sitting in something special, a few small upgrades like mk7 r or s3 8p brakes, antilift kit etc really add to the cars capability. Yet you could put on the cruise control and it feels refined. Apple CarPlay radio, parking sensors, xenon lights, heated seats. What else do you need? Mk7.5 imo is the best looking gti however when I drove one I couldn't believe how detached I felt from the road. Tried a mk7 r and a mk7 gti pp also , yet 80mph feels like 30mph it's like being in a bubble which I think is far from the meaning of what a gti should be, it's a hot hatch not a 5 series or an E class. Drove a 330d and that felt better which is wrong on so many levels lol theres no doubt the mk7.5 is super capable and great looking!
Cheers Andrew 👍 Thank you for the Mk5 GTI content. You are the reason I bought my Mk5 GTI in the first place. Loving the ownership so far and considering it's 15 years old, it still gets lots of respect and admiring looks on the road.
Thanks Andrew. I had a MK4 and the internal plastics were definitely better than the MK5. That said, I ordered a laser blue dsg 5 door and am still driving it today. 190k on the clock and the engine and dsg are still sweet. Still really enjoy driving the car, and I haven't lost the bottle opener 😉
Cars for me that are for Collection are the mk3 jetta vr6 and the mk5 r32 ...my opinion 😊
Oh ESC???? "Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a crash prevention system that intervenes if it detects that a vehicle is about to skid or lose traction. It independently controls the braking of each wheel to correct the vehicle and pull it back into line if it is skidding out of control"
I had a edition 30 for a few years. What a car. I’d still go for an edition 30 now!
Me and my 06 coupe sure think so 😄 155k miles on it and running great!
I had two MK5s I wish I kept one of them by far one of the best Golfs I have had.
No cruise control? Fog light? Tool kit?
High Pressure Fuel Pump Cam Follower is a big issue on these. Premature wear destroys the cam.
I am picking up a Mark 5 in a few days, it really has grown on me. 2009 White only done 55k km. I think I will only own 2 GTi, one is a m5 and m7.5. Thanks for the review
I always thought the mk5 gti was peak golf until they did the mk7 clubsport s .....
Great video as always Andrew.
Engine cover befits a GTI, unlike the unsightly one on the Mk8.
Totally agree Tony
I mostly agree, but not with all.
I bought my DSG in 2005 and in a week I regretted buying the DSG because it it always did what I didn't want it to do. Had some track days with it, and the only thing I can say: boring. It was tuned to 240HP and it ate a pair of front tires in 1,5 hour. On track it did around 16MPG and on another slalom day it was around 8MPG. Of course it was stolen, but It did not cause a lot of heart pain.
Before that I had a 307XSI 2.0 and that in fact wasn't less fun than the Golf.
Before that I had 106GTI's and those were a completely different league. I hoped the Golf would have had the same driver experience, but: incomparable, fun filtered out. Don't care about 0..60 or top speed, only driving fun.
That little 106Gti was like driving a scalded rat 😆 Point n squirt and it went like a mini rocket 👍
I sold my mk5 gti in 2013. Since then I've had the Scirocco, an A5, John Cooper Works mini, and spent time in mk7 gti. None of those cars made me love them like the mk5 gti. For me modern cars have lost all the feel and character. The mk7 in particular felt completely soulless to me. Didn't get me going at all. Too refined, lack of steering feel, nothing naughty about it. I specifically remember asking the salesman how to make the steering heavier, he told me I couldn't. Felt like a video game! So overall yes, I'd say the mk5 is the best if all, it treads sensibility and devilment perfectly.
thoughts on the pirelli version?
Just a different interior and some trim difference if I remember correctly quite rare though like the addidas version
@@deeeeeeeench1209 The Pirelli has some engine updates I think particularly the High Pressure Fuel pump cam drive is a later version.
Got a mk5gti 07 plate. Drives like new. Love it
Nice one, that’s a very special car
Until recently I was a proud owner of a GTI 7.5 DSG Performance and boy was this car great! Maybe in fact the best GTI of all time, who knows. One thing though was worse that GTI 7.0 - its the lack of DSG farts. but apart from that - 10/10!
YES YES YES YES YES
Best GTI ever
This chariot is pure love
I really love the look of the Mk5 GTI. It has lots of character and it really looks good in Red. Great video, as always! Be safe and have fun driving always!
The Edition 30 is my favourite version of the Mk5. It has nicer wheels without the stupid diamond cut Monza wheels and more importantly got rid of the awful black lower part of the rear bumper which I’ve always hated. It’s a shame crusty wings affect so many of these now.
I have had 4 mk5 gti’s all manual. Definitely one of my favourite cars of all time
I loved watching this Andrew, thanks again for sharing this with us, I'm still loving my mk7 GTI PP 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Watching this has made me not want to sell my Mk5
Is the Carwow drag race vid still on RUclips, I can't find it?
The video I made or the actual CarWow one with the drag race in it?
@@volkswizard Either one would be great, just wanted to see the race as I have a 7.5PP!
Hello Andrew
4:25 I think that tartan bucket seats is not VW original seats from factory. it’s a mk5 R32 bucket seat rewrap with mk5 GTI tartan, because I’ve collected original golf german brochure, I didn’t see this kind of bucket seat available to mk5 GTI (including edition 30).
Greetings from Taiwan！
Lu
I did research that and it does appear they were factory option
www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=111857.0
They were an option in the UK. A friend of ours also had them fitted with the tartan. At the time he didn't realise how rare they were.
Aww Andy just made me miss my 7.5 now. I agree with you 100% for me that car was such a sweet spot of useable power with fun dynamics and not bogged down by 4wd. Currently in an F40 m135i.
Aha! The 7.5 TCR got "tacky boy racer bits". As the most mentionable attribute in comparison? Not bad. Hats off. 😉After having driven numerous Golfs as all day driver (and modified on track) I can say that this TCR represents the GTi spirit (as you define it) more than any other VW car before or after. For me the TCR is the legitimate successor of the 7.0 GTi CS. Which was the one nearest to the original MKI. But who cares what I think...
👍👏
@@JM00-v9c 🙏🙏
Interesting your comment at the end re: what you consider to be the best GTI.
Just purchased a very late (70 plate) mk7.5 GTI Performance, picking it up on Tuesday. Cannot wait!
My dad had a Mk2 8v GTi when I was a kid in South Africa, fast forward to 2005 and I bought myself a Mk5 DSG and absolutely loved it, sadly that car was taken from me at gun point (One of the most stolen and hi-jacked cars in South Africa)
I now live in the UK and have a Mk6 and I absolutely adore it!
I fell in love with the GTI in late 2006. I was getting my Jetta and there was a red 2 door on the lot. I finally got my own GTI 13 years later!
Hi guys i have a 08 mk5 gti stage 1(250hp) with a dsg and i have 2 problems…The firt is i feel that the performance is not 250 level and it was when i bought it a year ago ..i changed a DV for the newest revision new maf sensor and nothing has changed..The second problem is with the Dsg box when the car changing down the gears from 5th to 4th and 3rd to 2nd a metalicy clunk is heard from under a car and only doin this with downshifts… thanks for the ansewrs guys😊
I owed a 06 GTI 6 speed. It was the best I've ever driven other than all the unreal interior squeaks and rattles that started almost immediately and the dealer couldn't fix. I wish I had bought the 06 GLI 6 speed. I just drove the MK8 6 speed S model yesterday and must say it was the first to impress me since the MKV. The two big negatives for me were the lack of power in 1st and 2nd gears, it felt held back by the computer. As soon as I hit 3rd or 4th, it had power immediately. The other is the quite complicated infotainment system, even with two knobs on the S model. I suppose you would get used to it after a short while though. The MK8 was truly an enjoyable driving experience for the 20 minutes or so I had it. The previous gen's interiors were definitely better feeling and better looking, but what are ya gonna do?
Love my Mk5 Edition 30. Although new golf GTIs are faster, I personally don’t think they are as much fun!
Agreed!
Great video Andrew. Always hankered for a Mk5, but missed the boat on this and ended up with a Mk7.5 Performance instead and it is a great car! VW have offered me a good deal on it and I am tempted to sell and get the mk5 but your video has made me question this. Tempting though, still want to a Mk5 one day.
It is a great car, but remember they are old, and are probably going to creak and squeak more than a new car does. Apart from that, I've also driven mk7 and mk8 and they all feel so similar!
They went back to 16v because they couldn't fit the direct injection hole with 5v per cylinder unfortunately
I have one. So yes.
Timing belt 5 years or 80k? Always thought 5 years and 60k?
I’ve got a 2007 mk5 2dr manual and *mechanically* it’s been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned at 33 years of age. I love driving this car, it’s got a stage 1 revo tune on it and has been fantastic. The interior and paint have gone south on it though. I’m at a crossroads whether I want to keep it or not going forward, I’m leaning towards keeping it.
I want to buy a mark 5 GTI with DSG transmission.
What are definitely things I should check out before buying?
And which model would be the tuning most potential?
55 reg axx engine?
Great video Andrew, one of my favourites actually - it really should get more views than this because you’ll struggle to find a higher standard of content quality per given subject on RUclips, or in any form of modern media to be honest.
The mk5. Hmm. The mk5 is the Golf model that I have the least level of personal association with (never had one in the family, unlike every other gen). For that I feel as though I sometimes give it a hard time. It wasn’t the best looking or the poshest Golf, not the most reliable, nor the best to drive, or even the most special. The mk6 is a much better car in standard Golf form, prettier too (imo), and the mk4 R32 the more sonorous and better looking of the R32s.
And yet:
I find myself watching your videos wishing that I was 15 years younger so that I could skip into a VW dealer and put my money into a brand new mk5 Golf GTI. And I say that having ordered a mk8 CS. The mk5 GTI was the car that actually hooked me into Performance VWs; I gasped at the amazing red press GTIs with 2 shiny exhausts, the distinctive Monza alloys, the aggressive grille and ultra cool steering wheel as a 6 year old in my Dad’s car magazines.
Broadly, if it wasn’t for the mk5 GTI, then there is no chance that VW would have my order today, and I’ve never even driven one! For that reason, what a car. It dominated it’s era like only the mk1/2 ever have in 45 years of the genre - unfortunately the world has moved on and the Golf GTI will never reach such dizzy social heights again. When you consider the mk4 that it came from, and the GTIs that it bred, it has to be the best. The noughties will always belong to VAG, I just wish that they’d have invented a time machine!
I’ve got 05 MK5 GTI DSG, it doesn’t come with paddle shifts. How easy is it to install them or even buy a steering wheel that has them, do I need to change the module or anything like that?
Will sadly be having to sell my Mk5 GTI in a few months. Black, 3door, manual, tartan cloth seats on 120k. Have owned it since 2018 when it was on 90k and have looked after it meticulously since. Really don’t want to sell but the lack of rear doors is forcing it.
How much is your golf going for😊
@@ronaldmoses48 I’m not sure yet. It’s difficult to gauge what it’s worth going off what’s on autotrader. I know there’s ones out there with lower miles but I also know mine is in decent condition and been well looked after so won’t be letting it go cheap
I own a mk5 gti dsg l am thinking of selling it to buy a golf R is that a good move? Is the golf R a lot better then the mk5 golf GTI l know it’s a lot more expensive lol any advice would be good. Great video keep them coming love the mk5 gti ones the most thanks 🥂
Mk5 were fantastic. I had one of the first Edition 30 models, ordered in November 2006 and took delivery on 1st March 2007. Candy White, 3 door manual and bi-xenon option. SV07SXG....The car I should never have sold!
Thanks for sharing Peter, you've just reminded about something I wished I'd mentioned in the video, that white was reserved only for the GTI and the last model year for Mk5 when other models like GT Sport could be ordered in it. Symbolic of the effort that went into Mk5 GTI. Also just realised I've not seen a white one for ages for some reason, looks so good as a 3 door with the red trim so visible 😎
Best gen, vw peaked here for quality, they got cheaper made, after much more plastic. Love my jetta enough to make it my profile pic, mk 5 btw.
Brilliant Video Andrew, great watch and cheers for the climate control shortcut... I didn't realise lol
It was a pleasure Steve, thanks for commenting/watching 👍
Were the mudflaps from the factory? I don’t have them on mine mk5 and I would love to have them.
beautiful cars ! I should have kept my 🖤 Ed30 and not sold to you hahah 😆😆
Had a brand new 05 place Mk 5 and loved it, but my TCR is frankly light years ahead.
Very MK4 I've been in GTi , Jetta , Golf whatever.... they all smelled like crayons
Certainly a milestone but not the best and it shouldn’t be, I’d be disappointed to learn the gti hadn’t progressed 👍
you ever owned a mk5 gti?
@@raiNofchAosFPS
Mk1, x2 mk2 ‘s, mk3 and a mk5 all gti’s, mk5 is mapped by r tech, still have it 👍
@@GIXXERUKX sweet have a mk5 gti myself and love it!
Exactly Paul, 7.5 GTI Performance is basically a better Mk5. TCR/Mk8/Mk7 CSS all deviate a bit too far from the original brief even if they are faster or look better etc
I certainly hope not! 😳 I collect my Mk8 GTI tomorrow morning! 🥰
Nice weather for it. Mk8 is best GTI 'for me' but objectively looking at GTI remit, it's not Mk8 or Mk5 but Mk5 is probably closer
Briefly owned a ropey MK5 GTI manual with bad paint, worn interior and no ac. Was still fun to drive.
Currently on my 3rd mk7 GTI and love it, but mk5 GTI is definitely the car that ‘got away’ - best car I’ve ever driven.
Mild stage 1 map and it was just superb in every way
Had mine since new ‘07. Just getting to 100k miles. I love the way the BPY engine and the DSG are so well matched. Always in the right gear to make me smile…and when that turbo gets on the boil…hoo-wee! Perfect for traffic or the open highway. Thinking about the mk8 but, this one just keeps running so well. Maybe the mk9 will get me…
The 18" Monza's had painted black inserts as well as the diamond cut face.
The inserts were light grey on the 18inch on the Mk5, black on the Mk6 GTI
Monza shadow 👍
All I can say is I'm now looking for a Mk5 GTi, so I guess your video worked 👍
I have owned a manual 2 door Mk5 R32 in shadow blue and a black 5 door DSG Gti with every factory option on it! Including sunroof, xenon’s, leather, nav etc etc, lucky find that one lol
Have to say they were both really good cars, although the R32 wasn’t fast enough for the tax bracket it fell into 😂 and the DSG box shat it’s self on the Gti
If i had another Mk5 at some point it would have to be a a white 2 door with cloth seats, very hard to find in nice condition though!
In terms of being iconic the mk1 will always be my favourite. I own a mk1 Golf, but it isn't a GTI unfortunately.
I owned a mk6 GTI, which I liked until the timing chain decided to unexist itself. I haven't owned one, but I would say that the 7.5 is my favourite in terms of quality and performance.
Love your reviews! Can’t believe you don’t have more subs.
Thanks Olly, that's very kind. Unfortunately dedicated my life/work/channel to largely 1 or 2 brands is a relatively limited audience but that might change this year fingers crossed 🤞
Recently purchased a Mk5 GTI pirelli, it's such a good car for the money!
Another brilliant review - your knowledge and passion for Golf MkV shines through. Am thinking of adding a Mk V GTI car for fun at weekends . Watching this 15 mths after you filmed the video when you were below 40k subs, now up over 50k - well done!