Golf GTI Mk4 MY0 - 04 Any thoughts?

[hybrid_trooper]

Hey guys. I'm interested if anyone here on this forum own one or have great knowledge about it? I just need some clarification on a couple of things.

I'm interested in getting one but after doing a tonne of research there are mixed oppinions that Golf Mk4 can be either an expensive and unreliable car to keep or a robust and dependalbe vehicle.

Pricing on parts and servicing are a mixed bag as well as some people claim that it will cost the moon while others claim that parts cost the same as any other cars.

Apart from carsales.com, is there any other place I can find a Mk4 with low milage? I've only found one (NSW) that seems to be a nice pick (60,000KM at $18,500 full log book servicing) on the aformentioned site.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Artful-dodgeR]

Boss has a mk4 r32... Much more fun, but breaks all the time and costs an arm + leg to fix.

Ultimately what do you want in a car?

[hybrid_trooper]

Well, I'm looking for something that is efficent and fun in a nutshell.

[Artful-dodgeR]

Efficient and fun... and (given your current choice) around $8-10k? I'm not sure a MK4 GTI is really going to be that economical, yes it will be fun but its a euro car and they are prone to wallet-emptying scenarios when (not if) they break down. Not to mention the whole "car + turbo = money hole" thing. My boss has a MK4 R32 and... well, let's just say he catches the bus more since he bought it.

You have your typical things like rexies, R32/33s, S14s, fozzies, etc. in the turbo camp, which to me fun > efficient

[Jeatalong]

Mk4 GTI is the worse GTI that they have. It's only good if you have the money to chip tune it and to maintain it.

You would be better of getting a nice Golf Mk3 VR6 instead. Or maybe a Polo GTI 9Nwith the same engine as the Mk4 golf, but in a lighter body and chipping that. It would be newer with lower km.

Try the http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/forums/forum.php

[Artful-dodgeR]

But then you'd own a Polo, and that **** ain't cool

[Jeatalong]

When chipped, it's roughly about 147kW in a 1100kg package - and that would be a lot of fun.

Changing the turbo to a K04 model brings it up to about 180kW.

[hybrid_trooper]

Well my budget was initially 20K now possibly blown out to 30K. Keen on a Ford Focus XR5 MY2010. Going to have a look at it this weekend. Apparently its only done 3000 km, I suspect it might be an ex demo.

[Artful-dodgeR]

20-30k?! Many more options!! That puts mk5 gti on the plate, a much more worthy car.

[Jeatalong]

20-30k means in no particular order:
Ford Focus XR5T
Mazda 3 MPS
Golf Mk5 GTI
Golf Mk4 R32
Honda Civic Type R
Volvo C30
Holden Astra VRX

[Artful-dodgeR]

+1 to that list, brilliant collection of hot hatches. Again, I'd stay away from the MK4 though.

[Chucky]

Golf Mk5 GTI

+1 (However I am slightly biased)

[Anon. E. Moose]

Ford Focus XR5 MY2010

/endthread

Freaking amazingly fun car to drive.

[ashman1991]

Can add WRX to that list too.

Also, all wheel, front wheel, or rear wheel drive preferred?

[peber]

Having seen 2 friends experiences with Golf GTI MK5's, I would never buy one.
Both of them have had a heap of problems, which in turn have been expensive to fix.
They are both spending more on maintenance each year than I did when I was taking my car to the track 1-2 times / month!

With the money you have... get an XR5, WRX or maybe the C30. The VXR is loads of fun too, but I think that might be out of your budget (actually a good condition XR5 might be too).