How Does Mark VI GTI Compare with Mark V

[Dubya]

lol Dubya. He was just sick of all the pro-MK6 talk and wanted someone to say some pro-MKV things. Asking for other peoples opinions, not actually saying himself that the MKV is better!

Of course!

But the Mark V GTI (as opposed to Mark VI GTI) does have:

More distinctive and, arguably, smarter nose (allowing neater integration of a wider range of number plate styles);

Neater side skirts that cover the full distance from wheel arch to wheel arch (instead of only partially covering this area);

Neater (recessed) sunroof control knob;

More easily accessible tyre pressure set button (on centre console rather than in glove box);

Fully colour-coded external rear view mirrors with larger and brighter telltale indicators;

Digital speedo that is more accurate than analogue speedo;

More ergonomic exterior door handles;

Protector strips on doors (every little bit helps);

etc, etc . . . the list goes on!

[G-rig]

That's right, I really hate the mk6 door handles, stick out heaps. Wonder if you can retrofit the mk5 ones??

[Corey_R]

But the Mark V GTI (as opposed to Mark VI GTI) does have:

More distinctive and, arguably, smarter nose (allowing neater integration of a wider range of number plate styles);

I, as have many others, disagree. The MKV nose went against the tradition of the GTI by being distinctive rather than just having the red stripe and GTI logo. Plus, in my opinion the standard MK6 nose is much nicer than the standard MKV nose to begin with, regardless of GTI or not.

Neater side skirts that cover the full distance from wheel arch to wheel arch (instead of only partially covering this area);

I think the MKV skirts sucked. They were fine if you were going to paint them, but then they just blended in. So I ripped mine off and replaced them with Oettinger side skirts which were many times better! Being that neither the MKV or MK6 side skirts are 'real skirts' (dropping below the chassis rails) or colour coded, I personally like the 'feature' and look that the MK6 'skirts' create!

Neater (recessed) sunroof control knob;

Yeah, I'll give ya that one. The MKV sunroof knob is both asthetically and functionally better

More easily accessible tyre pressure set button (on centre console rather than in glove box);

No no no... you've got it the wrong way around. The MK6 is better BECAUSE it has SO MANY features and options that the MKV did not! Because of this VW have ran out of buttons available and therefore were forced to move the tyre pressure button to the glovebox! Plus... anyone serious about their car will put nitrogen in the tyres and therefore only use this button once every year or two anyway.

Fully colour-coded external rear view mirrors with larger and brighter telltale indicators;

Um no... The MKV GTI had the lower edge of the mirrors in black too. Sure, there is a higher colour to black ratio on the MKV, but I think you're just splitting hairs

Digital speedo that is more accurate than analogue speedo;

Hey what? The MKV only had a digital speedo if you use the climate control trick which almost no one knows about. The MK6 has a digital speedo in the MFD as standard!

More ergonomic exterior door handles;

lol... um... is there some study that I missed on this one? hehe

Protector strips on doors (every little bit helps);

Yeah I'll give you this one too, as it was one of the things I noticed. Having said that, anyone that is serious about their cars will have 'invisishield' or 3M Paint Protection Film on the spots which are sensitive to chips and the door sills are one of those places which come as part of a package at most good car protection companies. Even the MKV's sills needed some additional film between the edge of the protective strip and the skirt.

etc, etc . . . the list goes on!

As does the MK6's! As a previous MKV GTI owner, I'm still convinced the MK6 GTI is a better car for anyone that doesn't already have a less than 4 y/o MKV GTI

[G-rig]

I, as have many others, disagree. The MKV nose went against the tradition of the GTI by being distinctive rather than just having the red stripe and GTI logo. Plus, in my opinion the standard MK6 nose is much nicer than the standard MKV nose to begin with, regardless of GTI or not.

The Audi's went to the full height grill which is a more modern look and was in at the time (and still looks good IMO). The previous generation Mk1-mk3 Golf's still weren't that pretty anyway, just got a cult following on here.

I think the MKV skirts sucked. They were fine if you were going to paint them, but then they just blended in. So I ripped mine off and replaced them with Oettinger side skirts which were many times better! Being that neither the MKV or MK6 side skirts are 'real skirts' (dropping below the chassis rails) or colour coded, I personally like the 'feature' and look that the MK6 'skirts' create!

They are nice on the R32 being colour coded, and half the body kits you see aren't an improvment they just add a cutout or something on the bottom. Still look good on a MKV unpainted too, some of that plastic care stuff can make them look darker too. Oettinger stuff is very nice but $$$$.. i try not to do many cosmetic mods, but performance based mods.

[triode12]

I, as have many others, disagree. The MKV nose went against the tradition of the GTI by being distinctive rather than just having the red stripe and GTI logo. Plus, in my opinion the standard MK6 nose is much nicer than the standard MKV nose to begin with, regardless of GTI or not.

I think the MKV skirts sucked. They were fine if you were going to paint them, but then they just blended in. So I ripped mine off and replaced them with Oettinger side skirts which were many times better! Being that neither the MKV or MK6 side skirts are 'real skirts' (dropping below the chassis rails) or colour coded, I personally like the 'feature' and look that the MK6 'skirts' create!

Yeah, I'll give ya that one. The MKV sunroof knob is both asthetically and functionally better

No no no... you've got it the wrong way around. The MK6 is better BECAUSE it has SO MANY features and options that the MKV did not! Because of this VW have ran out of buttons available and therefore were forced to move the tyre pressure button to the glovebox! Plus... anyone serious about their car will put nitrogen in the tyres and therefore only use this button once every year or two anyway.

Um no... The MKV GTI had the lower edge of the mirrors in black too. Sure, there is a higher colour to black ratio on the MKV, but I think you're just splitting hairs

Hey what? The MKV only had a digital speedo if you use the climate control trick which almost no one knows about. The MK6 has a digital speedo in the MFD as standard!

lol... um... is there some study that I missed on this one? hehe

Yeah I'll give you this one too, as it was one of the things I noticed. Having said that, anyone that is serious about their cars will have 'invisishield' or 3M Paint Protection Film on the spots which are sensitive to chips and the door sills are one of those places which come as part of a package at most good car protection companies. Even the MKV's sills needed some additional film between the edge of the protective strip and the skirt.

As does the MK6's! As a previous MKV GTI owner, I'm still convinced the MK6 GTI is a better car for anyone that doesn't already have a less than 4 y/o MKV GTI

One the the MkVI lacks (or has lost) is the viceral driving experience of the MkV i.e the fun factor. IMO, the MkVI feels less fun to drive at legal speeds.

Even driving the MkVI at track speeds on that GTI track day, I wasn't as excited with it as I was driving my Pirelli at 80km/hr limit on national park roads on GTGs. IMO All that electronic gimmickary just detracts from the overall driving experience. No amount of convincing/sales pitch by the "instructors" could have swayed my opinion. The MkVI is a nice car, but I would rather have a MkV anyday. As a matter of fact, I just bought a low km 07 MkV GT - for the same money I could have bought a brand new MkVI TSI.

I find it odd that you should like the VI as your current drive (Polo GTI) is even more fun to drive than the MkV.

If fun was the only determining factor in purchasing a car, your Polo GTI would be on top and the MkVI at the bottom of the list of three.

[Corey_R]

half the body kits you see aren't an improvment they just add a cutout or something on the bottom. Oettinger stuff is very nice but $$$$..

Yeah - I really don't like most body kits, but the Oettinger were complete replacements for the front bumper/grill, side skirts and rear lower bumper, so they look very integrated. So much so that only 'Golf' fans and car freaks really noticed. Which is what I went for.

As for Oettinger being expensive... you'd be surprised. They really aren't too much more than some of the VW 'body kits' which are simply just 'tack ons' rather than replacement parts. Many of the VW body kits are $2,500 to $3000. The Oettinger MKV kit is only $4k (or was in August 200. So in my view they're better value than the VW ones

[Dubya]

The XDL should have almost no effect on straight line acceleration unless one wheel starts losing grip whilst the other has full traction. The benefit of XDL is in the corners.

For straight line traction it would be the EDL, no?

[G-rig]

I find it odd that you should like the VI as your current drive (Polo GTI) is even more fun to drive than the MkV.

If fun was the only determining factor in purchasing a car, your Polo GTI would be on top and the MkVI at the bottom of the list of three.

That's what i'm starting to think, better off having something fun that's got a lot of character no matter what speed you're driving at, as you can't use all the power on the roads as it is and would just be more frustrating having something super powerful (and/or lose your license).

My R32 is still a lot of fun with the handling mods i've done and the sound, and you can still get up it without doing stupid speeds. Other cars like the Clio/Megane, Mini's, MX-5's etc are more fun again so it's not always about speed which some people can't understand (any car can speed in a straight line).

The mk5 is less generic and more fun IMO.

As for Oettinger being expensive... you'd be surprised. They really aren't too much more than some of the VW 'body kits' which are simply just 'tack ons' rather than replacement parts. Many of the VW body kits are $2,500 to $3000. The Oettinger MKV kit is only $4k (or was in August 200. So in my view they're better value than the VW ones

I guess I meant any decent body kit will be expensive. If I was to get one though, I'd definitely get Oettinger, looks the best and always very tasteful/OEM looking. Nothing worse than a bad body kit as it looks too tacky.

Colour coding and the front add on lip looks good though, i wouldn't want anything too much more than that:

[Corey_R]

I find it odd that you should like the VI as your current drive (Polo GTI) is even more fun to drive than the MkV.

If fun was the only determining factor in purchasing a car, your Polo GTI would be on top and the MkVI at the bottom of the list of three.

My MKV GTI was an APR Stage 2 with Oettinger bodykit and wheels. Plus it was literally fully optioned (minus the metallic paint since it was red). It was much quicker than my Polo GTI, both in a straight line and around the corners.

It was also much easier to drive, and the torque and power were over a much wider rev range. The Polo GTI has the APR ECU so from a stand still, you put your foot flat to the floor, then quickly start lifting the foot off the floor as you go up from 2500 to 3500 then start putting the foot back flat to the floor, change gear, and repeat. It can get tiring

Don't get me wrong... NOTHING matches the Polo GTI at the price, but, at least my Golf GTI, kills the Polo.

As for the MK6 being less involving to drive than the MKV, I'm not really sure I agree. The MK6 has the XDL which gives it better handling and acceleration through corners. It also is quieter for several reasons. But really there isn't much different mechnically. A bit more power, the same suspension and wheel/tyre sizes, similar weight etc. It just feels slower because it's more refined.... APR ECU fixes that

[triode12]

My MKV GTI was an APR Stage 2 with Oettinger bodykit and wheels. Plus it was literally fully optioned (minus the metallic paint since it was red). It was much quicker than my Polo GTI, both in a straight line and around the corners.

It was also much easier to drive, and the torque and power were over a much wider rev range. The Polo GTI has the APR ECU so from a stand still, you put your foot flat to the floor, then quickly start lifting the foot off the floor as you go up from 2500 to 3500 then start putting the foot back flat to the floor, change gear, and repeat. It can get tiring

Don't get me wrong... NOTHING matches the Polo GTI at the price, but, at least my Golf GTI, kills the Polo.

As for the MK6 being less involving to drive than the MKV, I'm not really sure I agree. The MK6 has the XDL which gives it better handling and acceleration through corners. It also is quieter for several reasons. But really there isn't much different mechnically. A bit more power, the same suspension and wheel/tyre sizes, similar weight etc. It just feels slower because it's more refined.... APR ECU fixes that

Like I and G-rig have mentioned, it isn't about absolute power - it is about fun. If you find changing gears on your Polo's stick shift tiring then I'm not so sure you are getting the point we are trying to put across.

Sure the Polo has less power than both the MkV and VI (and would probably lose both cars on the track stock for stock) but it still outguns them (by a mile) in the fun stakes at legal speeds. It is a fast and nimble little car - and is more faithful to the original Mk I than the MKV and VI.

You can have fun with any car at track speeds even in an old bomb...actually probably more so in an old bomb.

And there are better cars out that have more power and better handling than the MkVI GTI at about the same or lower cost.

My Pirelli has more power than the MkVI GTI (stock vs stock). Even chipped it will still have more power but that isn't the point. What the MkV GTIs have over the MkVI is the driving experience (read fun) at legal (everyday) speeds - not only at track speeds.

The MkVI is a wee bit too refined and I am not the only one that has said so (several others have tried it at track day are politely keeping their opinion to themselves to avoid upsetting MkVI owners). Several magazine and online reviews have also alluded to this fun killing refinement.

IMO - the plot was lost once VW felt it necessary to fit an electronic resonator to pipe the sounds of the engine bay into the cabin of the Mk VI GTI (to replicate the GTI experience). All that refinement have come to nought.