Hello Rob
I don't think we are ever going to resolve whether the Mk6 is 'better' than the Mk5 or not - Most of us here are Mk5 enthusiasts, some of us look for reasons to justify keeping a Mk5, others seek reasons to justify swopping for a Mk6. It's all far easier for those buying a GTI for the first time.
This is completely true. I can happily say that I am unbiased as far as my thoughts on the two go. I have more interest in the Seat Cupra and Audi A4 than I do in the new GTI... (Dont ban me)
But this is the age old story isnt it? When the MK5 was launched the MK4 guys took almost 2 years on the other forum before they would even look at the MK5. And as you said... A lot of MK5 owners are probably very impressed with the MK6 but as you have also said... How does one decide whether a new vehicle is better then its predecessor? Thats why I tend to look at aspects like door seals and quality and all the nitty gritty thngs... When I drove the little TSI I kept closing the sun roof because the noise outside was so intense compared to that of the noise inside. This is a huge step up in comfort levels and is one of the things that I consider a huge step up.
The next thing that I notice is the awards the TSI engines have got. World Engine of the year with the MK6 as world car of the year. The MK5 got similar awards... Pity the FSI engine wasnt so new then else it would probably have also won engine of the year.
We all have our individual likes and dislikes of the Mk6 (and I've posted mine in a long review) and within a year of the Mk5 GTI's launch everybody was saying what a difficult act it would be to follow - So true!!
Agreed. I personally hate that they kept the Monza rims and publicly announced this in the show room today. Yes on paper the MK6 is probably (emphasis on the word "probably") a better car. But in my opinion I dont see why MK5 owners feel the need to justify which car is better. The MK5 is a awesome car and without it the MK6 wouldnt be what it is now.
Our expectations have been for a more obviously different Mk6 and not a Mk5.5
I think this is where the MK6 went wrong. People expected a huge step up like they saw with the MK5 and the MK6 on the design front is as most say a facelift. But I still feel that its the advancements we see on paper (And there are lots of papers) that define the MK6 as more than a facelift.
I would still take a Scirocco though
Mike