Hi guys,
I have been in to my VW's for the last couple of years and always lusted after the Mk5 GTI. Needless to say that it was all just a pipedream to be admired from a distance.
I started toying with the idea of running a GTi when I started working in the city and no longer needed anything for higher mileage. Spent many hours looking on Pistonheads and Autotrader dream shopping until I had enough cash.
This is how I started my automotive journey...
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_0230_zpsa863ad93.jpg&hash=f8dcbfd7887b7e516561567b5fd09071a884ecb7)
Great little first car and a nice cheap runaround until things started to go wrong and it just seemed like a good excuse to get something a little more upmarket.
So I moved on to this...
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3500_zps447b28ef.jpg&hash=e855e587665dce03cf11811467e44dd9c090fa60)
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3502_zpsfe91605a.jpg&hash=f50301a63a4fc08e0c2f569f0dd0268518b196ae)
The day I picked it up.
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3503_zps2ad3f24c.jpg&hash=9d1ba9e0fc46d43d0d810e287b0a2ec81fd1daf3)
Let's just say that first journey home was an eye opener to the life of performance motoring
![jumping :jumping:](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/Smileys/newsmileys/jumping.gif)
I couldn't stop smiling
![driver :driver:](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/Smileys/newsmileys/driver.gif)
The power gets me everytime. Obviously coming from 60BHP 1.1 to a 2.0l turbo with 200bhp (197 for all those fact junkies who like accuracy) was going to be a bit of a step but I love that I can be cruising at 60mph in 6th and a flex of the big toe and things get very naughty VERY quickly.
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3551_zps111fa26f.jpg&hash=804a184d9cf27b1c4b7abce4c0d1698a654e114c)
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3552_zps3c90a48e.jpg&hash=0901f5e19c60f2ef3472aab76880403538be3e64)
One icy day before I left for work...
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3614_zps6fd31cab.jpg&hash=9938d43a72b920a54406c6d60dcce6d754c2842a)
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3617_zpsd843e7e1.jpg&hash=6f238937624a629feadfc8f44681c8106489a985)
Went for a weekend away and this is what I wake up to...
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3687_zps317ffc37.jpg&hash=8022a88d275bb26d1f1f80d630ff526b95c89194)
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3762_zpse78bb3cd.jpg&hash=b0694713143d4de976e77f431388646308f8aeb4)
Decided to do a little clean.
Results
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3765_zps429a6e73.jpg&hash=594e343263167d6d505b33e4f1dc201848336dae)
![](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fp776%2F87_totallyvacant%2FIMG_3767_zpsc8e8f9e6.jpg&hash=6cd02893a2802bd1db267bb42ad540d67d572572)
It isn't perfect, got stonechipped front bumper but that is to be expected on a 55 plate car if you ask me. Little scuff mark infront of the passenger side rear wheel which has been touched up with a paint pen. Not ideal but little things like this bother me. It's also a fairly basic spec with not a lot ticked other that the more-door.
List of things I want to do first:
Armrest
RCD 510
Wheels refurbed
Paint correction
Highline possibly
Fix tear in rear bench
Then move on to the more elaborate changes:
Remap (not sure who to use yet)
FK Highsport Coilovers (friend uses them on his Jetta, you will probably recognise it if I post some photos of a little shoot that I hope to get done)
Wheels (18s and possibly 3SDM)
Xenons
Anyway that's my car and I love it! Please feel free to comment. I know that everyone has seen a standard black GTI before but I really am in love with it and cherish driving it. If anyone has any suggestions or tips on how to do any of the things I have mentioned above that would be great.
I have been around this site for a long time and it was this that sold me on the idea of the GTI in the first place so I blame you all for the financial ruin that may follow, but also thank you in advance for all the smiles and happy memories that I know I am going to experience over the coming years
![jumping :jumping:](https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/Smileys/newsmileys/jumping.gif)