Mk 4 Golf GTi or Bora 4Motion - Help me get into the VeeDub Club

[Gravey]

Hey All,

after spending a number of years driving a variety of ordinary cars and thankfully having someone smash into my problematic N16 Pulsar, I now have the oppurtunity to step into something decent (finally!)

I have about $20k-$25k to spend and have seen a number of nice Mk4 GTi Golf's and 4Motion and V5 Bora's.

So what are people's opinions? I'd like something I could do a few tasteful mods to later down the track but also want something with plenty get up n go whilst it's stock too.

I'll probably have to go to Sydney to get a good deal, but I'm test driving a V5 and a Mk4 GTi this weekend to get a feel for both cars.

TIA!

[phaeton]

For uniqueness go the V5 or 4Motion.
For tunability the GTI 1.8T.

Alot depends on your budget and what you want to spend.

Good Luck and welcome Gravey

[SoVeReIgN]

Ditch the V5 and stick to the 1.8t or V6.

Can get a decent GTI for ~$18k these days!

[Golf Loon]

I`d go GTI, or Polo GTI if you dont need the space and wanna go faster.

[gavs]

List price on a brand new MkV Polo GTi is $26,990.

My advice, buy a slightly used or ex-demo polo GTi, same enigine as MkIV GTi golf but newer and more sorted. Also about the same size as a MkIV....

[jayjay]

or for similar money, you could find a nice a4 1.8t quattro which will very nicely appointed in the interior. lots of options. 20-25k will do that.

[Golf Houso]

or for similar money, you could find a nice a4 1.8t quattro which will very nicely appointed in the interior. lots of options. 20-25k will do that.

Don't you mean a B5 S4, 2.7 TT They're about the money

[geoff_gti]

Welcome Gravey! I upgraded from my N14 SSS to the GTI, love every minute of it

The V6 4motion Boras are an awesome sleeper car, but if you prefer a hatch what about the MkIV R32? As said above, I'd go for either a 1.8T or a V6.

Good luck searching!

[spj]

What about this...

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/...t=gti&trecs=14

P.M if you are interested, price negotiable...

[thekraut]

Yep, golf indeed!

[gareth_oau]

or to throw a spanner in the works, think about a nice Audi S3.

Get a good 8L for $25k and its the best of both GTI (turbo) and Bora (AWD) worlds - with more power (min 154KW), plus better brakes, wheels etc, and a better Recaro leather interior

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/results.aspx?YearFromShort=1643&N=1216+1247+1282+1252+1246+4294967194+4294967179+1643+1678&YearToShort=1678&Nne=15

and a lot rarer than both

[qsilverza]

Yes but you dont have the glorious sound of the VR and I would have to say I see about the same amount of GTI's/V6's/S3's on the road in Melbourne...

But I do agree, the S3 is the best of both if you can afford to have two doors and can afford the extra purchase price.

[anthony]

Go for the Bora V6.
Awesome car,and excellent value for money.

[blue_reality]

Go for the GTI. You can get them for around $15,000 - $17,000 easily and there are heaps of aftermarket options for them. (There are even a few 'ordinary' ones on carsales for $12,000.

If you do have a budget of $20,000 then you could easily get wheels, suspension upgrade and a chip AND the car within that budget.

With a REVO tune that takes the GTI up to 150kw.

This is my car with the basic mods underway. Suspension, chip and front mount is in the next video currently in production.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUnATHMft7o

[Gravey]

Well thanks for the advice guys.
Unfortuantly my need for a car and the Adelaide market has dictated the car I'm going to get more than anything else.
I test drove a stock Mk4 Gti and a V5 Bora and I liked the power and comfort of the Bora a lot more than what the golf had to offer. The clutch in the gti (the only one under 100,000kms for sale in Adelaide that I found) seemed like it wouldnt last a helluva lot longer with some hard driving either. Accelaration from 0-100 seemed very similar in both cars, but the Bora had a lot more power down low and I didnt have to rev its tits off to get some good acceleration.
If I could be bothered going to NSW or Vic then I'd hold out for the V6 Bora or possibly a nicer Golf with leather and sunroof, but I'm getting a good deal on the V5 and I'm sick of travelling 2 hours on public transport to get to work.

Just a couple of things about the V5 - the brakes are brand new and the car has done 77,000km, this seems a bit early to be replacing discs to me??
Is there any common issues with these cars that I should look out for?