How Does Mark VI GTI Compare with Mark V

[elisiX]

I think they're now displayed in the RCD/RNS unit.

As the MKV didn't have a standard unit like this, they needed the extra small displays.

[pologti18t]

I didn't notice the difference in colour between the two - so subtle the change was.
What I didn't like was the deletion of the Climate control LCD screens in the MKVI - feels like costs were cut somewhere.

Not really that subtle to me. The new grey is darker and "warmer" than the grey in the old MkV.

The A/C status changes appear on the headunit which is a major step up on the headunit in the MKV GTI. The current settings like temp also light up around the temp dials.

[tofo17]

Ok, I'm not comparing apples with apples but the difference between my 2006 MkV Jetta (TFSI built in Mexico) and MY10 MkVI Golf (118TSI built in Germany) interiors is huge. The materials in the MkVI are higher quality (soft touch), the instrument cluster is neater, the steering wheel is thicker, the steering wheel controls are nicer and easier to use, the power window switches are on the same horizontal line as the other major controls the highline MFD is better and the indicator/wiper stalks have a nicer feel to use. I've not had rattle problems in either but certainly the MkVI is quieter/more refined. I know it's silly but the "thunk" when closing the doors is much more satisfying. The MkV is the wifes daily drive, APR Stage II and all, and she loves it but she thinks the Golf is a cut above.

I know some of the above have become standard in newer Jettas.

On the negative side? Lining the door pockets with carpet was a good idea but what moron decided leaving the slot at the back open so that objects could go under the armrest area, that is essentially inaccessible, was a good idea? The MkV door pocket storage is better/more useful.
The MkV also has vents that have a central "notch" so you know when they are horizontally in the middle. The MkVI vents look nice but adjusting them side to side just doesn't feel as nice or precise... picky I know, but this annoys me on a daily basis.

My 2cents.

[G-rig]

I have a Polo GTI + APR. Its extremely hard to launch fast. Too much power too soon

The Golf GTI is a much nicer car to drive at any speed. I would take a Golf GTI over the Polo any day if price wasn't a factor.

As for the interior of the MKV over the MKVI. The MKVI is much classier. The quality is superior and the interior colour has moved a few shades darker (and classier) over the MKV. Just look at the standard cloth in the MKVI GTI. It is darker than the MKV.

Even if a polo seems more fun it I agree it isn't better. Having more power/torque while being composed is also a good quality that comes with the Golf and other euro cars. As you get older most people lean towards luxury over boy racer type cars.

I also thought the R32 interior was nicer than the GTI mk5 but very similar, which was disappointing compared to the S3 interior which i loved the first time i saw it. For the price the VW interiors weren't up to the same standard as their audi cousins, and the rattles and quirks of the MK5 make the car but also annoying considering how much you're spending.

I've had cars with black interiors and they attract more dust, but it's just whatever is in style at the time (just like stereo equipment going from black to silver to black again etc).

[Corey_R]

If you are referring to the surge of power in 2nd, I got used to it after 5mins of driving - It is all a matter of control.That surge is what is so attractive about the Polo GTI. Power in the range where you really need it for city driving - nimble and quick enough to change lanes in fast moving traffic.

Dude... do you have a standard Polo GTI, or an APR Polo GTI?
Surge of power in 2nd gear?? WTF, it has a surge of power in ALL the gears, lol. The ECU makes a big difference.

A few people who have driven my car have done "bunny hop style take offs" in 1st gear. They're not actually bunny hopping of course, it's just that the throttle is so sensitive and it takes off so fast in 1st that they then pull their foot off, get thrown forward and their foot goes back on th pedal, so the car takes off again extremely quick, which makes their foot come off again, and repeat etc, lol.

I have a Polo GTI + APR. Its extremely hard to launch fast. Too much power too soon

The Golf GTI is a much nicer car to drive at any speed. I would take a Golf GTI over the Polo any day if price wasn't a factor.

Yep, I agree. Don't get me wrong:
1) The APR ECU in the Polo GTI is awesome. I thoroughly recommend it
2) But yeah, the Golf GTI is a much nicer car which can be both FUN and COMFORTABLE/REFINED, hence I'd take a Golf GTI with an APR ECU any day if price wasn't a factor.

Then turn off the APR tune. It doesn't need it IMO - it is fun enough w/o the tune. If I were to mod a stock one, I'd go for suspension upgrades first.

I didn't notice the difference in colour between the two - so subtle the change was.
What I didn't like was the deletion of the Climate control LCD screens in the MKVI - feels like costs were cut somewhere.

Oh, the Polo GTI without the APR ECU is too boring compared to the Golf GTI Stage 2 which I came from... definitely not as 'fun'. (I guess that means you do have a stock Polo GTI).

As for the change in Aircon systems... I too thought that the new version was a cost cutting exercise until I actually used the new version, and now I like it. As others have said, the head units displays are now much better and the climate control displays its information there. It's a nicer setup than on the MKV.

[triode12]

Even if a polo seems more fun it I agree it isn't better. Having more power/torque while being composed is also a good quality that comes with the Golf and other euro cars. As you get older most people lean towards luxury over boy racer type cars.

I also thought the R32 interior was nicer than the GTI mk5 but very similar, which was disappointing compared to the S3 interior which i loved the first time i saw it. For the price the VW interiors weren't up to the same standard as their audi cousins, and the rattles and quirks of the MK5 make the car but also annoying considering how much you're spending.

I've had cars with black interiors and they attract more dust, but it's just whatever is in style at the time (just like stereo equipment going from black to silver to black again etc).

I agree the interior quality of the Polo isn't flash - but heaps better than the Japanese equivalents. e.g. Colt Ralliart. Equal to the older german made fiesta. The new SA made fiesta's interior is shockingly bad - the new demo I tried had trim that was falling apart.

The stability is fine for everyday driving, but it could do with a suspension upgrade for twisties. That is about it really - the "fun" factor comes from the fact that the Polo GTI is a zippy and chuckable little car. You feel like you are one with the car - I don't have to think twice about whether I can merge into fast moving traffic. Something that the Golf GTI isn't as good at or any car bigger than a polo/colt/fiesta.

It all depends on what you prefer I suppose, I prefer a nimble car that I can zip in and out of traffic of - where every drive is a spirited one. The Golf is ok - better than a sedan but not as good as the Polo.

[triode12]

Dude... do you have a standard Polo GTI, or an APR Polo GTI?
Surge of power in 2nd gear?? WTF, it has a surge of power in ALL the gears, lol. The ECU makes a big difference.

A few people who have driven my car have done "bunny hop style take offs" in 1st gear. They're not actually bunny hopping of course, it's just that the throttle is so sensitive and it takes off so fast in 1st that they then pull their foot off, get thrown forward and their foot goes back on th pedal, so the car takes off again extremely quick, which makes their foot come off again, and repeat etc, lol.



Yep, I agree. Don't get me wrong:
1) The APR ECU in the Polo GTI is awesome. I thoroughly recommend it
2) But yeah, the Golf GTI is a much nicer car which can be both FUN and COMFORTABLE/REFINED, hence I'd take a Golf GTI with an APR ECU any day if price wasn't a factor.



Oh, the Polo GTI without the APR ECU is too boring compared to the Golf GTI Stage 2 which I came from... definitely not as 'fun'. (I guess that means you do have a stock Polo GTI).

As for the change in Aircon systems... I too thought that the new version was a cost cutting exercise until I actually used the new version, and now I like it. As others have said, the head units displays are now much better and the climate control displays its information there. It's a nicer setup than on the MKV.

I didn't bunnyhop the car. Just took off in second gear from standing start as a test - it had enough torque to do so. The only problem I had with the car was finding reverse - not used to the European stickshift config.

Having driven a stickshift for > 25 years, it is now second nature to find the biting point of the clutch and ease in the throttle. Only newbies bunnyhop cars or have trouble with sensitive throttles/accelerators. The Polo GTI is easy to drive.

Like I said in the previous post, I prefer to not to have too much refinement at the expense of the driving experience.

[Corey_R]

@triode12 - I think you're just coming from different places.

There is only 150kg diff between the Polo GTI and MKV Golf GTI, and the Golf has better suspension, chassis, drivetrain and a better power to weight ratio. So it's zippier than a stock Polo GTI by standard, it just may not feel as zippy because of the better refinement.
By the time you have a stage II upgrade on the Golf, it even feels WAAAAAY zippier than the Polo GTI. Plus the Golf is just as chuckable, given it's wider tyres with lower profile (especially on the 18"s) and better suspension/chassis/drivetrain etc.

As for your comments about how the Polo is easier to merge etc, I disagree. The Golf GTI has better power to weight, and the power is much more readily accessible, especially in lower revs (which you'd probably be in during an unexpected/emergency merge) and there is only 30cm difference in the lengths of the cars, which is only a 7.6% difference. So that's not going to make much of a difference in regular merging!

But anyway... we're very off topic here. So lets just agree to disagree

Edit: And btw, you miss-read my last post re the 'bunny hopping'. No one has had issues using the clutch or changing gears... it's not that at all, which is why it's obvious to myself and pologti18t that you're coming from a different place. It was sensitivity of the throttle and how lively the chassis is in throwing the unsuspecting driver back and forth which was producing a bunny-hop-like situation - even though it was just regular in gear (albeit 1st gear) acceleration.

[Craig67]

Just to add my 2c worth, in the last 4 weeks i purchased a Pirelli.

My partner and i looked long and hard at the new mk 6 v the outgoing mk5. It was a split decision when we were looking, as she who must be obeyed thought the interior of the MK6 was much more appealing than the mk5 whilst i thought the exterior of the mk5 was mor appealing.

In the end we found a pirelli at the right price and decided that it was a car we could both live with.

Apperance is always going to be subjective, but i do like the fact the the front of the mk5 GTI was distingtive from the rest of the range.

[Dubya]

Apperance is always going to be subjective, but i do like the fact the the front of the mk5 GTI was distingtive from the rest of the range.

Quite right, Craig67, however I bet Mark V GTI owners will receive more compliments about the appearance of the front of their cars than will Mark VI GTI owners.

The Mark V GTI front is strikingly more aggressive and distinctive and, to my eye, much more appealing, and against which the Mark VI GTI front end looks, even now, so . . . pedestrian.

Apart from loving our Mark V, my wife cites the less distinctive front (and rear) end on the new GTI as the main reason for not wanting to update. She thinks the Mark VI looks a lot more generic (Japanesey). But we will update eventually . . . hopefully after VAG has attended to that ridiculous number plate holder (and maybe even removed the oversized number plate indent on the front bumper (though I strongly doubt that)).

I mean, who could not love the distinctive and aggressive look of the Mark V GTI (above) with its neat little number plate blending so nicely into the front bumper instead of dominating the front - how obscene!