Mk5 Golf big enough for family?

[multi97]

Not sure if this helps, but the dealers are doing good deals with the Passat at the moment.

A DSG Passat Wagon with the 125kw TDI that comes with basically all the bells and whistles (except park assist and Sat Nav) was bought for $47,500. d/a just last week.

I thought that was a pretty good deal.. not sure if you're into the Passat though.

[faisan]

i love my Jetta but i gotta say that the rear headroom is a little tighter than the golf. The hatch shape helps. If you got young kids in he back, this wont be a problem.

[WEDEL.1]

I'm not sure about the numbers, but alot of families grew up with the Volkswagen Beetle, and they sold about 17 Million of those.

Maris

[kryten2001]

Hello, just returned from taking my wife for test in a new GTi DSG. We both loved it, but my wife is concerned it is too small for a family. We have two boys aged 3 & 6 and will probably keep this car for next five years.
Is there any members out there who own a Golf with a family? Do you find the size OK? The cabin appears fairly roomy, but boot is quite small. Wife will be driving it most for school drop off (sometimes 3 kids in back seat), work, shopping etc.
She prefers an Audi A4 Avant (with VW 2.0TDI) which is nice, but more $$, and I loved the GTi. I'm just not sure if I am going too small as our current ride is a Lexus ES300.
Any comment would be much appreciated.

Depends on how old your family is. If you're talking babies, and more than one of them - forget it.... Prams will barely fit..

We had a golf (Mk5 pov pack) and had to sell it for a CX9 (haha yeah, nothing comes bigger than one of those monsters).

That's why I got another golf as quickly as I could...

It's too small for a family, no question. You won't believe how much junk you have to carry around with you when you have kids.

[peterwabbit]

I stepped out of a Discovery 3 years ago into a golf tdi mk5 and I will not look back
today I loaded the family and headed off to the Circus a 250K round trip

a 180cm teenager, his slightly smaller sister and little brother in the rear
they love it and there are no complaints

this car is a frugal commuter 5 days a week with only the drivers seat occupied
on the weekend it is a family car or delivery van it takes a large washing machine easily

goodluck

[maca]

Hello, just returned from taking my wife for test in a new GTi DSG. We both loved it, but my wife is concerned it is too small for a family. We have two boys aged 3 & 6 and will probably keep this car for next five years.
Is there any members out there who own a Golf with a family? Do you find the size OK? The cabin appears fairly roomy, but boot is quite small. Wife will be driving it most for school drop off (sometimes 3 kids in back seat), work, shopping etc.
She prefers an Audi A4 Avant (with VW 2.0TDI) which is nice, but more $$, and I loved the GTi. I'm just not sure if I am going too small as our current ride is a Lexus ES300.
Any comment would be much appreciated.

I'm sorry but if you're coming from such a large Lexus, you're going to struggle with anything smaller than an Octavia. Especially given you have 2 growing children and you definately need the boot space..

[Purgi]

In your position, I'd have a closer look at the Jetta.

I nearly opted for one due to the tardis like boot space but I wasn't quite ready for a FWD turbo (having owned V8's for the last 15 years...)

I find the Golf manageable with a teen in the back and folding down the other seat for additional boot space. A 2nd kid in the back and you'd want to be a master at tetris.

[bmc8bell]

Wow! just checking this forum not 24 hours after my post and 21 responses already! Thanks heaps for your time and suggestions.
I have had a look at the Jetta as an option but visually it doesn't really do it for me (no offence to Jetta owners).
Im glad to hear from ppl with families who own Golf's as it sounds as though it is still feasible. I had looked at the Thule boxes and these seem to be great for the times that we are going away for a weekend. Does anyone know if it is easy to remove/put on a set of roof racks, as I would prefer to just have the racks and box on when needed. Is it a quick/easy job?
It's funny, but I keep on going back to the GTi because it is so nice to drive, looks great, classy etc. It excites me more than other options. I think perhaps my best option is to get the GTi for my wife and I'll get an old dual cab Hilux or similar because I need a ute and this way I can have 5 seats with room in the back for kids gear/luggage. That's the thought at the moment - but things may change. I JUST WANT THAT GTI!

[Creniac]

Jetta Dude, same position as you , I wanted the Golf but opted for the Jetta because of the kids, my boys are 2 and 8 and I love the boot space, it's a cave in there!! I love watching peoples faces when they see the amount of gear I pull out of the boot when on holiday......

[vwevo]

I have recently sold my mk5 golf as it was not big enough for my family (2 kids 2 & 7). Whilst seating room was OK we really struggled with luggage - we go away a lot on weekends and it was a real problem!!
Ended up purchasing as passat as I figured it would be at least a 5yr car and the extra seating and luggage room would be invaluable.

[SilverBug]

We have two kids 9 mths and 7 years. GTI i drive and if we do a day trip great for family. But for midweek school commute, shopping etc....my wife drives a Pajero and we use this if we go away weekend, tow the van, snow etc.....

But for general day to day you can get by with a GTI. Luggage as others have said will be your problem.

I can tell you i much prefer the GTI drive to the Paj even though it is a great family option.

[mark4323]

Well, I've got a GTI and a 'family' and I don't have any problems with luggage. I just put the dogs in the hatch and the luggage on the back seat. Can you do that with kids?

[Satanstoenail]

I JUST WANT THAT GTI!

You should definitely get the GTI and make it work then. Anything else will be disappointing if your heart is with the Golf. They are plenty roomy enough in the cabin and thule box looks like a great option for extra luggage.

[stephen8512]

Wow! just checking this forum not 24 hours after my post and 21 responses already! Thanks heaps for your time and suggestions.
I have had a look at the Jetta as an option but visually it doesn't really do it for me (no offence to Jetta owners).

Visually, yes, I was leaning more towards the Golf GTI myself. However after getting the jetta and seeing some nice examples, im glad I have it....

im absolutely lovin this. same colour as my old euro....





















What a jetta can look like with some visually appealing and tasteful mods

[tdi guy]

We have three daughters 15, 12 and 8, and wife. We find the Golf is fine around town. We did have a v6 Camry but still hired a Tarago for interstate trips, and would again. I didn't want to sacrifice the Golf for 49 weeks of the year for a larger car / bus that we need only a few weeks per year... hiring the Tarago is about $1000 per week, which we find affordable in the general scheme of things.

Still, depends on your preferences...