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Author Topic: Looking at buying a GTi  (Read 2540 times)

Offline jcm76

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Looking at buying a GTi
« on: December 21, 2009, 02:22:35 pm »
Hi everyone,

My first post on here so hello to all!

After owning three MK4 GTi Turbos, a MK4 Golf 150 GT TDi, a MK1 TT 225 Quattro Roadster and I'm currently on my third Audi A4.... I'm thinking it is time to return back to the only car I've truly loved driving - A Golf GTI!

Being 33 I'm really looking to make that transition to an Auto as I'm getting board driving manuals so the DSG seems the right choice. The MK5 GTi's seems to have come down to start around the 10k mark which is great so come the new year I'm going to start looking. However, I have a few questions I would love some input on..

DSG - Are they any good? I'm guessing the residuals will be less as the majority will want manual when I come to sell?

Power - My current Audi A4 is a 1.8T 190 S-line with a REVO stage 1 bringing it to around 230bhp - which is great. However, not being a quattro the power is useless in the damp... As I can't afford an R32 - there seems little point going for more power on the standard GTi as again, it is only 2WD?

Alloys - There seems to be so many variants out there, however the new R32 ones and the Edition30 alloys are my favorite. I guess both these still go for big money on ebay? Are there any decent copies out there?





Offline Aparoon

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2009, 02:30:50 pm »
Dsg is awesome! I personally won't be buying another manual. The gti is front wheel drive and i would've thought in standard form it will be as quick as your revo a4 due to the weight! Much quicker with a map :jumpmove:
Edition 30 DSG, Revo 2+,BSH Intake, Autotech hpfp, Blueflame TBE,  Eibach Sportlines, Speedline Turini's GONE

Offline NB07

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2009, 02:39:34 pm »
yep DSG is great  :happy2:

GTIs handle really well even mapped ones lots of ED30's (including mine) running over 300bhp throught the front wheels   :driver:


Pescara's (ED30 wheels) come up on ebay quite often, keep you eyes peeled normally around £500 or less. Or have a look at PW Motorsprot website as he sells BBS and the VZ's are very similar nice wheel...

http://www.pwmotorsport.com/  :happy2:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BBS-VZ-033-A3-S3-TT-Golf-MK5-GTi-R32-Eos-NEW_W0QQitemZ310165987743QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET?hash=item483755619f#ht_538wt_941

« Last Edit: December 21, 2009, 02:43:28 pm by NB07 »
Black Edition 30 DSG - Gone but not forgotten!

Offline Poverty

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2009, 02:49:48 pm »
The b6/7 fwd audi chassis is sh*t, so was the mk4 gti.

The mk5 golf will lay down 250hp in the dry with no real drama at all.

Offline jcm76

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2009, 04:47:47 pm »
The b6/7 fwd audi chassis is sh*t, so was the mk4 gti.

The mk5 golf will lay down 250hp in the dry with no real drama at all.

what about in the wet?
Also, what bhp can be achieved from the standard gti - and for what cost?

Offline NB07

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2009, 05:07:39 pm »
the wet is fine, depends on the tyres. revo map is 500+ vat but is the favoured map round these parts due to the adjustability.

its the snow thats the problem!! ive just had my car set to low boost settings the last few days though so traction isnt to bad on the icy/snowy roads round here.  :xmassmiley:

Black Edition 30 DSG - Gone but not forgotten!

Offline neg

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2009, 10:22:35 pm »
Just a remap on the standard GTI - about 240bhp realisticly, stage2/stage2+ and you could see 260bhp.

DSG is an awesome bit of kit, you'll never go back to a 'normal' automatic again.  Remember its not an automatic box, its actually a manual box with a fancy changer!

Offline Poverty

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2009, 10:28:50 pm »
The b6/7 fwd audi chassis is sh*t, so was the mk4 gti.

The mk5 golf will lay down 250hp in the dry with no real drama at all.

what about in the wet?
Also, what bhp can be achieved from the standard gti - and for what cost?

wet in the summer isnt too bad. If its wet and cold, I struggle, but im running around 340hp, so forgot what its like with my std 240hp.

Offline jcm76

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2009, 09:11:42 am »
340hp - in a front wheel drive car.. I guess this is my point - that sounds pointless.. Can you actually get the power down? Just imagine how much fun that power would be in a quattro S3!

What has to be done to reach that kind of power - I'm guessing new turbos and intercoolers?

My local VAG specialist told me great results can me achieved with just a REVO stage 1, a new exhaust and a different fuel pump. Can anyone confirm this and what power return you would be likely to get.. Sorry for all the questions, I'm trying to decide what car to get next and as much as I want a GTi I'm worried I will create something un-drivable!

Offline neg

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2009, 09:26:42 am »
It really depends on how far you want to go - keep it stage1 if your bothered about puttin too much through the front wheels.

If you do decide on Revo then you could invest in a SelectPlus switch and tone down the power when needed.

Just because the power is there doesnt mean you have to use it all the time, its the drivers choice...

Offline Felix

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2009, 09:47:54 am »
Hi mate - go for a drive in a mk5 gti and then decide if you want to mod or not - its very good as standard and quicker than the VAG figures suggest - although it could handle more power! As has been mentioned, the mk4 chassis is pap (owned mk4 150 petrol & deisel modded) and I could not believe how much better the mk5 was when I first drove one (that goes for a mk1 S3 as well). Realy made up for all those years in the wilderness after the mk1/2.  Good luck.
300hp Mk5 Golf GTi Edition 30

Offline john_o

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2009, 10:13:33 am »
the limits of FWD cars are being rewritten all the time.
the mk5 handles it well

DSG is a preferred option, commands resale value but expensive if it goes wrong
(so on high mileage GTI's its probably a negative not a positive resale thing)
as neg says its way better than automatic and can now have the software that controls it remapped.
you need to try both a manual and DSG mk5  :happy2:

you may wish to consider the ED30/Pirelli as it comes with the K04 turbo , so as std its quicker and the potential for remap gains is even better.
Nowt wrong with a remapped K03 (std GTI) anyway, can be just as good.

with good map/tyres , the mk5 handles up to 300bhp quite easily in the dry.
wet , well its more down to your ability to modulate your right foot.

I would suggest staying away from 'copy' wheels unless you can verify strength and weight.
(often they weigh a ton and will blunt the GTI's handling traits!)
Choice is wide and varied , just take your time and trawl the endless mk5 based info  :signLOL:

good luck  :happy2:
Red ED35 5dr DSG
DEFI boost guage / RTech Stg1 Engine/DSG / PPMk7 front brakes
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Offline Gene Hunt

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #12 on: December 22, 2009, 05:34:58 pm »
I was going to get a set of replica BBS ch for my 05 GTI as i'm not a  monza fan. Managed to get a set of genuine edition 30 alloys in the end.  :happy2:
ED35. Standard factory condition.

Offline jcm76

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Re: Looking at buying a GTi
« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2010, 02:11:09 pm »
Most of the 18'' Monza alloys I've been looking at on potential cars have been pretty scuffed, how much does it cost to refurb a set of these? Also, are there any good replicas out there?