VW Golf Review (2005 to date)

Quick Summary

Used prices have remained firmer than a Tory home secretary although there won't be many GTI owners who have regretted their purchase. There's not too far you can go wrong as long as you track down a well looked after car. I'll have a three-door with DSG. In white please.

Overall:

Models Covered:(3/5dr hatchback 2.0T FSI [GTI])

BLOWN IDOL

No hot hatch carries with it as great a pedigree as Volkswagen's Golf GTI. This is the car that popularised the whole pocket rocket phenomenon and counting the number of models that ripped off Volkswagen's GTI badge will run you almost into treble figures. The thing is, the original hasn't always been the best. The MkI car was great and the 16v version of the MkII GTI wasn't half bad but in the intervening years, the GTI lost its way. With the MK V car, it was back at the top of its game and demand has been frenzied. Here's how to track down a decent used example.
Used VW Golf for sale

History of the Golf

Few who attended Volkswagen's stand at the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show would have any inkling of the significance that the Golf Sport study would eventually have. Sold in Germany as the GTI in 1976, Volkswagen UK began importing it in left hand drive guise in 1977. It was still a very basic car, with metal bumpers and an interior that was extremely stark. Volkswagen's idea of a refinement was a push button radio with one speaker. Nobody really caught on to the genius behind the car until 1979 when right hand drive versions became available. Fast forward a quarter of a century and we have a very different proposition. 112bhp has swelled to 197bhp and, even more tellingly, weight has gone up enormously. It's illuminating to look at how the power- to-weight ratios have altered across the generations with the MkV managing 150bhp per ton, compared with 110bhp per ton for the MkIV and 133bhp per ton for the final 1.8-litre version of the MKI GTI. The fact that the MkV is the quickest and most able GTI to date underscores the public perception that Volkswagen had once again got serious about making the GTI the car the rest had to beat. The Golf Estate showed up in the summer of 2007.
Used VW Golf for sale

VW Golf Road Test

The sole powerplant on offer is no asthmatic wheezer. The engine powering the GTI is a turbocharged version of VW's 2.0-litre FSI petrol engine, fettled to produce a hefty 200PS – around 197bhp in old money. Drive is directed to the front wheels in classic GTI style, and there's a six-speed manual as standard or the excellent DSG twin-clutch transmission available as an option. Owners can expect to accomplish the sprint to 60mph in around 6.5 seconds in a DSG-equipped car and look forward to a top speed that knocks on the door of 150mph. A combined fuel economy figure of around 36mpg means that the Golf won't cost a fortune to run either. It's not noticeably cheap to buy used, however, although residuals look set to remain healthy for the foreseeable future. The DSG 'box is a real piece of work. First seen in the Audi TT 3.2 V6 coupe, it's based around a sequential manual transmission but utilises an ingenious twin clutch system to ensure creamy smoothness. Engage first gear and the gearbox will pre-engage second gear in advance, the second clutch engaging as soon as you flick up to slot instantly into second gear. This means a seamless flow of power. The electronics predict what gear you're about to engage, depending on whether you're accelerating or braking and the result is astonishing, making every other gearbox feel distinctly clunky. The other option is to slip it into 'D' and drive it like a normal automatic. Even in this mode it's butter smooth and makes other attempts at sequential manual systems such as Ferrari's F1 and BMW's SMG appear decidedly yester-tech. The GTI's engine is special too. Fuel Stratified Injection is a system that promises the twin benefits of more power and better economy. A high-pressure fuel line mounted on the side of the cylinder head, often dubbed the 'common rail', injects fuel straight into the combustion chamber. The shape of the pistons and the clever working of a set of valves make the air 'tumble', thus creating more efficient combustion. One criticism levelled at the two previous generation Golfs was that although the cars offered a ride and refinement package that was hard to beat, they never really offered the sort of infectious handling that many rivals could boast. The fifth generation car adopts a pragmatic tactic in 'benchmarking' the suspension of the Ford Focus - and it works a treat. The body is eighty per cent stiffer than its predecessor and the electro-mechanical steering feel and composed body control are leagues ahead. As a result, Volkswagen have been able to build a hot hatch version that enthusiasts will again want to drive. Once again, with the MKV Golf, Wolfsburg could claim to make the definitive GTI.
Used VW Golf for sale

Buying a VW Golf

Only one real issue has yet arisen and that's an oil pump bolt fault on early GTIs that has now been fixed under recall. Other than that, there's little to report. Keep a look out for cars that have been flogged by corporate users and ensure that servicing has been attended to diligently. Otherwise the MkV GTI has a strong reputation for reliability. If the car has been equipped with the optional DSG paddle-shift gearchange, check that all ratios engage smoothly and cleanly, especially reverse. DSG problems are a very costly fix.Corrosion is rare on a Golf, which speaks volumes for Volkswagen's rustproofing methods and the quality of the steel it uses. A GTI with rust should scream "badly repaired accident damage" at you. Steer well clear, as a warped chassis will likely have caused misaligned panels and the subsequent corrosion. As strong as the Golf's allure is, it's also worth checking out related Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon models which may offer better value for a given budget. Don't stretch to a tired GTI over these cars as they're also very talented.
Used VW Golf for sale

VW Golf Typical Pricing

The £500 difference from new between three-door and five-door GTI models has now been largely absorbed by the used markets so both three and five-door variants cost much the same. Opening price for a typically average mileage GTI on a 54 plate is around £15,000 with some higher mileage cars (not uncommon for a model that has been popular with fleet car user/choosers) coming in at just over £14,000. Insurance for the GTI doesn't come cheap, the car being rated at Group 17.
Used VW Golf for sale

VW Golf Parts

(approx based on a 2004 Golf 2.0TFSI GTI ex Vat) A clutch assembly will be around £145 and an alternator should be close to £195. Brake pads front and rear are about £65 and £55 respectively.
Used VW Golf for sale