Mk6 GTI or Mk5 GTI Pirelli

[windyzz]

Let me add you one more thing. In MK5 you can get quite a few bargain, where the MK 6 GTi price may reach to a point where luxury car tax applied.

[Lukey13]

Thanks for the tips so far.

At this stage I've only driven a Mk5 R32 and a Mk6 103TDI with full sports kit, in the absence of any local GTIs.

Loved the R32 and disliked the turbo lag in the TDI. I hope the Pirelli doesn't have as much lag as that did!

One thing that's swaying me towards the Pirelli is getting to 230kw with an ECU chip, as opposed to 188kw with the standard GTI with an ECU chip. Although I need to research more on how these cars manage such power figures with FWD.

I'm not so keen on stretching the budget for an Audi S3, however I'd feel far more confident in 230kw going through AWD.

The pricing is a fair point. Some that I've found so far include:
R32 for $55k drive-away
Pirelli for mid $40ks drive-away
Audi S3 for $63k drive-away

And I'm guessing that a 2 door Mk6 GTI manual with leather, 18" wheels and sunroof would be around mid $40s drive away.

[gregozedobe]

You probably won't get too many dealers willing to discount Mk 6 GTIs until supply catches up to demand (unless you are eligible for the fleet/corporate discount). That took a long time when the Mk V GTI first came to Oz.

VW TDIs typically need around 1,800 rpm before they get going properly (some a bit sooner, some later), but once you learn how to drive within the power band they can be quite enjoyable to drive (some people really like the "surge of steam" when they come on boost).

[DaveToyostar]

Go the Pirelli, I just picked up mine 18 days ago. I picked this over the R32.

Much more fun then the R32.

MK6 GTI seems too over priced for nothing more then a minor update.

Down side of the Pirelli is no Manual option, which I would have taken over the DSG if it was availible and if you are going new there is not too many if any 4 doors availible.

Where are you located? Where are you looking to buy from?

[triode12]

I'd recommend a Pirelli - but then I am biased (I've got one).

IMBO, the Golf V looks better than the VI. The front of the V looks more aggressive. The V's back too is a lot nicer than the VI - which looks pedestrian.

There are only 400 examples of the Pirelli in Australia. All of the Pirellis have come out of the Wolfsburg plant. The VI GTI will be "a dime a dozen" in a couple of years (every man and his dog will own one) and may not be 'Made in Germany'.

The exhaust note of the V is real while the one on the VI is fake. VW lowered the cabin NVH levels of the VI so much that they had to put in an electronic resonator to replicate the sound of the engine (how cracked up is that?)

There are currently great deals on the Pirelli, why let yourself be raped by the stealers for being first in the neighbourhood to own a MkVI (unless you are into that sort of thing)?

Cons of getting a Pirelli:
Turbo lag - this can be overcome with a tune.
Losing your licence because you'll want to plant it everytime.
Having to live in the dog house bec your misses gets jealous every time some SYT crossing the road smiles at you while you are behind the wheel of your rellie - this while your misses is in the car with you(trust me it has happened to me a couple of times already).
P-platers in their rice racers wanting to shut you down at the lights which leads to point 2 and why point 1 is a good idea (but not really necessary).

[Lukey13]

Good points so far, thanks.

It sounds as though the performance of the Pirelli is strong compared to the regular GTI - which is a major plus for me.

However, the fact that the new Mk6 GTI is indeed so quiet that a resonator goes into the cabin to increase engine noise actually appeals to me somewhat as I love a quiet car in which the only thing you can hear is a sweet engine note (even if it is a subdued one).

Another thing I've thought of is that the Mk6 has the new "electronic diff" at the front which would probably do a better job of putting power down in corners - especially with a modified ECU. Although I suppose I'll be limited to something around 180kw with the Mk6 as opposed to 230kw with the Pirelli and it's stronger internals and larger S3 turbo.

Can anyone comment on how the silver Pirelli looks in the metal? I had my eyes set on that special dark blue colour, but the silver may be more practical after coming from a black car which attracts scratches and weekly cleaning.

[triode12]

Good points so far, thanks.

It sounds as though the performance of the Pirelli is strong compared to the regular GTI - which is a major plus for me.

However, the fact that the new Mk6 GTI is indeed so quiet that a resonator goes into the cabin to increase engine noise actually appeals to me somewhat as I love a quiet car in which the only thing you can hear is a sweet engine note (even if it is a subdued one).

Another thing I've thought of is that the Mk6 has the new "electronic diff" at the front which would probably do a better job of putting power down in corners - especially with a modified ECU. Although I suppose I'll be limited to something around 180kw with the Mk6 as opposed to 230kw with the Pirelli and it's stronger internals and larger S3 turbo.

Can anyone comment on how the silver Pirelli looks in the metal? I had my eyes set on that special dark blue colour, but the silver may be more practical after coming from a black car which attracts scratches and weekly cleaning.

The V isn't that noisy esp when compared to other brands, as a matter of fact it is on par or quieter than them. I had a Civic sport before the rellie and it was just as quiet/noisy in the cabin. It is just that the VI is almost tomb like inside (not a good thing as you really want to hear what is happening around you too e.g. screeching tires of a car about to hit you)

The silver is not bad (my second choice of colour) but all Vs except the black have a goatee.