Thinking of buying a Mk5 GTI or ED30

[mazza]

Hi everyone,

I have had a few Golfs in the past, 3 mk2 gtis and a mk4 so always had a soft spot for them, im currently driving a BMW e39 M5 which i love and is definately the best car ive had in every way apart from the fuel consumption which is not too bad on a run around 29mpg but around town etc i get a max of 20mpg.

Have been reading about how the MK5 is a proper gti after the mk2 and would like to ask any other members out there who have made the change from a bmw M car or similar what their thoughts were after changing, obviously i understand i will have a lot less power etc and the 2 cars arent comparable as such.

I could keep my M but with fuel costs and maintenance im not sure i would like or want to drive it daily.

Thanks

[M5 London]

Yo Mazza,

I have an E39 M5  !

You'll love the MK5 GTi, trust me !

It holds its own !  Feels solid and robust, and its an engaging drive !  Remind you of anything ?? 

[mazza]

Hey M5London!  What you doing over here LOL

Didnt realize you drive one even after reading your posts over at the bmw5 forum!

So your saying i wont miss my M as much?  Ive had it for just over 2 years now and it still feels as if i got it last week.  The thing i feel with the Golf is that it will be easier to live with as a daily regarding costs.  I will miss the sound of the V8 and i havent even got the H&S back boxes on yet!

I havent test driven one yet so will have to and cant decide between the 3 door or 5 door, i like the 3 door as it goes with the sporty hatch image

Will i be happy with a standard gti over the ED30?  I supose i can go for stage 2 but will that cost me as much as an ED30 in the end?

Black or Gunmetal? decisions hey!

[Black9]

I've not owned an M5 but I can give u some advice on both normal gti & edition 30 as I own both atm. Personally I'd be looking for a high spec ed30, DSG or manual. Whatever u prefer. A normal gti will get around 240-250 from a stage 1 map & an ed30 with get around 280-300. Mines made 303bhp & 327lb/ft with REVO stage 1 & blueflame turbo back exhaust.

U won't regret buying a golf, I can't imagine a stage 2 edition 30 being any slower than an e39 m5 either, just won't sound as good lol

[mazza]

Thanks for the advice!

Cheers Jase, its a very nice car you have there    I would be looking to spend around 7k max as thats what i would prob get from selling mine.

 I also prefer the manual, never liked paddle shift even after driving a Ferarri 430 on a track day but im sure its very pratical in traffic!

M5London how does your golf ride on the 18" Monzas?  Ive heard they are harsher than 17s, how does the ride compare to the M5? Cheers

[M5 London]

Hey M5London!  What you doing over here LOL

Didnt realize you drive one even after reading your posts over at the bmw5 forum!

So your saying i wont miss my M as much?  Ive had it for just over 2 years now and it still feels as if i got it last week.  The thing i feel with the Golf is that it will be easier to live with as a daily regarding costs.  I will miss the sound of the V8 and i havent even got the H&S back boxes on yet!

I havent test driven one yet so will have to and cant decide between the 3 door or 5 door, i like the 3 door as it goes with the sporty hatch image

Will i be happy with a standard gti over the ED30?  I supose i can go for stage 2 but will that cost me as much as an ED30 in the end?

Black or Gunmetal? decisions hey!

Yes I have on these too, but its for my Lady really.  She drives it daily to and from work and some shortish Motorway trips !  I take it out for a blat quite often though, and I really love it ! 

My daily driver M5 is pretty powerful,  but I am always pleasantly surprised how quick the Golf feels.  Its got DSG and flies up and down the gearbox so well....I quite like the DSG box actually.

For me the ride is not too bad at all with the 18" Monzas.  I think they way they look on the Golf, means you should take compromise in ride quality over the 17" wheels (although I haven't driven one with 17").  They just make the car look amazing !  Ride vs the M5 is a tough one, as I have uprated the suspension on the M5, but again for me I don't getting out of the Golf thinking, wow that was a harsh ride !

I haven't driven the ED30 either so can't really comment.  Seems to be sweet though !

As you know the E39 M5 is pretty special. If there is anyway you can hang onto it and get the Golf for more of the daily duty then great ! If not then you could do a LOT LOT worse than a decent MK5 GTi.  Also working on the Golf is like child's play if you have ever done much work on the M5. 

Feel free to drop in and drive my MK5 any time mate !

[jase666]

No probs - Thanks for looking Mazza!

Goodluck with the search!

[mazza]

Thanks guys!

I dont think i can afford 2 cars atm so will have to decide if i keep the M or change for the GTI, i could always get an M again in a few years as there are still a few nice ones around.  Anyone here thinking of a swap?

[prp74]

I've recently changed from an e60 530d m sport to the gti and have to say, love it!

The gti hasn't got all the options as the BMW or the same power, but enjoy driving it more. To be honest after the mk5 will probably go for the mk6 or mk7 in a few years.

[gobbleplease]

Yip I've had an e30 M3, e36 M3 Evo and e46 M3 ! And 3 mk5 golfs now - 1x gti and 2x edition 30s
They are great cars! Tbh if I'm not driving a vw it's a BMW !
The mk5 is dynamically the best of all the GTis IMO, my favourite though is still the mk2 but then again the only car over a Mk2 gti I'd want to own is a 4.0 GT3 RS

Coming from the m5 I'd recommend an edition 30 over the GTI and maybe do a few mods. once modded there is not much out there that that will touch them I know it sounds hard to believe but the in gear times these produce outdo Audi RS4s and M3s - seriously a different car to an M car, I'm not saying better but I find them a lot lighter on there feet and more fun on the back roads with it 

[mazza]

The cheapest ED30 ive seen is around 9k but i dont want dsg, at the moment i can afford around 7k max and then i think if i go up to 9k im in the bmw 335i price bracket.  Do you think i could buy a standard gti and spend around 2k on mods and have the same power as and ED30?

I know your probably thinking just go test drive one which i will but how do they feel at higher speeds?

[Black9]

A normal GTi will feel no less of a car at speed than an edition30 as they have the same chassis & suspension. Only Differance is a stronger engine and larger turbo. With 2K I'd imagine u can get around 270-280 bhp & around 300lb/ft of torque.

My gti is for sale in the sale section. Have a look. Has all the main problem parts replaced and is a high spec manual car too. It's also the best colour, tornado red lol...

[gobbleplease]

The 335i has a brilliant engine but woeful chassis, I just couldn't get on with My e90 it was so floppy and crap ! when the rear went, the inside tyre just spun up and really affected the way you would expect it to drive if I remember correctly the e9X chassis has been softend up to the max to compensate for run flats the spring and dampers are wrong, to compensate for a useless skinny 13mm ARB which was fitted in the first place to give the rear end more grip as the springs and dampers are set up for run flats and to compensate for not having a diff !
To set the e90 chassis up correctly you'll need about £4k, very disapponting car I found ! Sold mine after a year.


Having had both the eddy and gti, I'd really say wait a year and aget the eddy a 500 squid remap gets you 300bhp on the eddy where as the gti you'll need a spend of roughly £2500 for 280bhp. even though there is a gap in horses between the cars I felt that a stage 2+ gti went better than the stage 1 eddy, it's when you do the same mods on the eddy that you would on the gti that the eddy really does become very very rapid -  even still as far as I know the quickest modified FWD hot hatch you can buy that still uses the oem turbo. And this includes your 400 bhp focus RSes.

As said though handling wise they are the same, it's up to you depending on how far you go modification wise ?
If you like doing a bit and having something very fast it has to be the eddy, if your looking for a good fun hatch and would be happy with just doing a few bits and bobs go for the gti ! Bearing in mind though at present you have a 400bhp car !
Defo get a test drive of one first though remember at the moment you do own the best M5 ever built !

Oooops forgot to mention standard gti mpg 33mpg modified 37mpg over 40mpg easily on a run
Edition 30 standard 27mpg modified 29mpg approaching 40mpg on a run
All based on my average driving over a period of time

Cheers Bry

[mazza]

Cheers Bry!  Very nice info there, Its good to know that mpg also improves with a remap!

It looks like i will prob go for the standard over the edy, i cant see myself spending 9-10k on a golf when my M cost me 6k!  I would feel more comfortable spending around 6k and then doing a few mods over time so the cost will not be outright.  I might even keep my M for a few months after buying the golf just so im sure ive done the right thing, my bank balance should be healthier too 

I have driven a e90 325i and its a nice car, solid, easy to drive and gets around 35mpg average but i just wasnt excited driving it.

Ive decided i want the golf in black and in manual with cloth interior so thats a start, i would like the Monza 2 alloys too but wouldnt mind if it came with 17" wheels. 

[gobbleplease]

Ahh sounds like my first golf Mk5 GTI !!

Good choice, you loose a bit on power but you still get 90% of the fun factor with the GTI ! you can always convert to the edition 30s bigger turbo in the future anyway.

Heres a linky to my old Black Mk5 gti

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,11022.msg169013.html#msg169013