Octavia VRS or mk5 Gti 5 door

[gazbutS3]

for practicality the VRS will take some beating, I was really impressed with the interior and boot space on Sy's a couple of years ago when we met at ITG. Tried to convince the misses to get one but she was havin non of it and bought a 1 series , which although its a nice motor has cost her a fortune in faults

[MitchGTI]

I had a 2007 s3 2.0tfsi, mapped ect but the gri was so much more fun but hands down the interior in the s3 wins, i no the gti is a awsome car but the vrs looks more practical im guna try and test drive one over the weekend!!

[rockape]

A3 Sline sportback? Smaller practical mini avant!....only downside is they tend to be more pricey in comparison.

"And if you listen carefully, it sounds just like a Golf".........

...only better!  

Sorry mate couldn't resist that one.

[neil86]

Me too, I'm surprised more Mk5 GTi owners have not stood up for the best all-round car of the last decade! The one which returned the GTi name back to where it belonged; As a brilliant, useable and practical driver's tool. After the mediocrity of the Mk3 and Mk4, It really was a huge relief to a lot of us that VW returned to form. This is Mk5golfGTi.co.uk, after all!

I am thrilled with mine, it puts a smile on my face every time I look at it, drive it, or think about driving it! I'd never buy a Skoda, Seat, or Audi equivalent. The advert sums it all up for me: "And if you listen carefully, it sounds just like a Golf".........

I am not saying they dont drive fantastically just the build qaulity just isnt there for what your paying over the odds compared to vauxhall saab ford etc

[Mk5 GTian]

I am not saying they dont drive fantastically just the build qaulity just isnt there for what your paying over the odds compared to vauxhall saab ford etc
[/quote]

Vauxhall VXR's are all about power, and are too crudely engineered to keep it down on the road, Saab are history, and Fords drive brilliantly (well they did until Rick Parry-Jones retired) but are well below par in terms of quality.

I do agree with you when you start getting above the GTi however. The ED35 and R are far too expensive from new. by the time you spec them up you're in 1 year old Cayman & Boxster territory. I know where I'd put my 35K then! (if I had it!!) 

[vRS_Pagey]

I am not saying they dont drive fantastically just the build qaulity just isnt there for what your paying over the odds compared to vauxhall saab ford etc

Vauxhall VXR's are all about power, and are too crudely engineered to keep it down on the road, Saab are history, and Fords drive brilliantly (well they did until Rick Parry-Jones retired) but are well below par in terms of quality.

I do agree with you when you start getting above the GTi however. The ED35 and R are far too expensive from new. by the time you spec them up you're in 1 year old Cayman & Boxster territory. I know where I'd put my 35K then! (if I had it!!) 

I'd have an R over a Cockster any day! 

[Mk5 GTian]

R Over a boxster? Yeah probably, but over a Cayman R? Probably not if I'm honest.

[micky 32]

Maybe the Skoda's don't have the little finishing touches like the higher end VW's etc but the Octavia is a well built car, built like tanks. Reminds me of the old Vento's how solid they were..

[vRS_Pagey]

Maybe the Skoda's don't have the little finishing touches like the higher end VW's etc but the Octavia is a well built car, built like tanks. Reminds me of the old Vento's how solid they were..

Even better with a K04.......

[martziniuk]

Which reminds me I really must get the rest of my parts ordered 

[vRS_Pagey]

Which reminds me I really must get the rest of my parts ordered 

 

[E30Dom]

Having had both, I would say Mk5 Gti... I found it alot more "boaty"handling wise... Sure the boot is bigger(huge infact), but I bought one when expecting our first child, thinking sporty and practical... wasn't impressed so traded in for an Mk5 R32... which was awesome and still big enough to fit a travel system(huge) pushchair in, and had all the space practicality required(even with the smaller raise floored boot)... Alos did a trip to southampton and brought back tons of boxes full of nursery furniture/cot etc...

Perfect all round family car...

[vRS_Pagey]

Having had both, I would say Mk5 Gti... I found it alot more "boaty"handling wise... Sure the boot is bigger(huge infact), but I bought one when expecting our first child, thinking sporty and practical... wasn't impressed so traded in for an Mk5 R32... which was awesome and still big enough to fit a travel system(huge) pushchair in, and had all the space practicality required(even with the smaller raise floored boot)... Alos did a trip to southampton and brought back tons of boxes full of nursery furniture/cot etc...

Perfect all round family car...

I have to agree with the handling, swmbo's GT on OE suspension handles far better than my vRS on -30mm springs, but I do think if it had uprated dampers it would be better....the HUGE ar5e doesn't help though!

[Hedge]

KW V1's ftw on the vRS 

[E30Dom]

KW V1's ftw on the vRS 

But also ftw on the GTi