Look to buy a Golf Mk5... stuck in the realms of confusion and indecision...

[Nick_dub]

Hey everyone,

I've been lurking on this forum for a while now trying to work out the best golf to buy for around 20k. Iv found lots of from just reading threads, but tbh i always seem to end up with more questions than what i started with! So i've decided to
post on these forums in the hope of some guidance on what to do!

I was originally looking at this car:
2006 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SPORTLINE DSG V Private Cars For Sale in VIC - carsales.com.au

it has a pretty good milage and the sportline option seems to be quite sought after. I wouldn't mind a MFD but hey you
gotta match your budget i guess dont you?
However, after reading this forum a bit iv become nervous about the DSG. I love the idea of it (i never had a manual to
learn on so this is the next best thing), but the whole set up seems to have questionable longevity. I'm a uni student and
buying a car is a massive chunk of my earnings (all of it), so if i bought the car only to have the mechatronics unit fail or
something id have trouble earning the money to fix it any time soon! Plus I want to be able to be still driving this thing
100,000 kms later.

This leaves me with a bit of a conundrum; I want to buy a diesel to keep the running costs down, but i can't drive a
manual, and I'm afraid to buy a DSG incase something terrible happens in the next 7 years...

Any thoughts?

Also are redbook prices at all accurate?
the car iv listed above is worth about 2 grand less according to redbook...

Thanks guys!

[MK5matty]

Well, when deciding on the car just remember to look at its service history and actually make sure all the paperwork for servicing and such is there as well as the log book.

As for DSG, I've had my golf for 2 years and a half, running on 56 000km and have never had any trouble regarding DSG at all, it runs perfectly fine, although my next major service is coming up, but in the end if the car is maintained and driven correctly you shouldn't have any trouble with it, and if there is a manufacturing fault with the DSG down the road, hopefully you have warranty to cover it (??).

If you don't want to take the risks with the DSG because you're worried, Just go along with purchasing a manual car, it'll most likely be cheaper to get the manual car, and give it about 2 weeks and you'll get the hang of the car in manual and won't have any problems at all!

You'll most likely face the most challenges on the first few days of a new manual car (but a newer manual car is a lot easier to learn with than an old) so you'll be right with a manual car if that's what you really want, just take it for spins in a quiet street to get used to the clutch, friction point and just practise taking off normally and on a hill etc.

Also, redbook is more of an indicator for you to look at, just browse around and you might find a cheaper one who knows, all i know is i've found a few GTI's a while back with ~60 000km for about 20


Best of luck

[MK5matty]

I had some browser error and it made a double post, could someone kindly direct me as to how to delete a post cause i can't seem to find it >.< whoops

[Maverick]

I had some browser error and it made a double post, could someone kindly direct me as to how to delete a post cause i can't seem to find it >.< whoops

Click on edit post and click the delete button and follow the next step.

[jazd]

I wouldn't be overly concerned with the DSG. When you test drive it just make sure it isn't doing funny things like jerky take offs, shifting oddly or clunking. Most of the DSG problems are these kind of things, they wont really take you off the road.

That said if you are worried just get the manual. It wont take you long to get the hang of it, its amazing what you can do if forced to Ask a friend to give you a few lessons.

[maxrob200]

I think the OP said that he/she "cannot drive a manual' so maybei t's to do with the type of driving license held rather than not wanting a manual. In this case DSG would be the only option

[jazd]

I think the OP said that he/she "cannot drive a manual' so maybei t's to do with the type of driving license held rather than not wanting a manual. In this case DSG would be the only option

Well I dont know about VIC but in NSW the only licence that would restrict you from driving a manual would be a P1 licence which is only held for a year and cops never check anyway. I guess it would be pretty annoying to go back and redo your P's test if you originally only did it in a auto though.

[stickshift3000]

I was originally looking at this car:
2006 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SPORTLINE DSG V Private Cars For Sale in VIC - carsales.com.au

However, after reading this forum a bit iv become nervous about the DSG.

I would go as far as saying that car is well priced. I doubt it will be for sale for long.

As others have said, you shouldn't be too worried about DSG issues. Most issues show up when the cars are new. You may want to consider that the DSG needs servicing every 60,000 km's, it can be $4-500 alone.

Take it for a test drive and see how it feels!

[Nick_dub]

So I sent off an enquiry and the car has just had it's major service @ 60000 ks, and its apparently all in good shape including the DSG so
thats good to hear.

Yeah regarding the manual license, I'm on my green p's (is that P2s in NSW?), but in VIC you gotta be on a full license to drive a manual
without re-sitting ur test. That being said if I came across a really good manual car it may be worth it...

I'm thinking i'll go check the car out and see how it feels. The only car I've really ever driven is a large station wagon, so either way it's
gonna feel heaps different!

[idaho]

Does it have to be a diesel? If you look at a Sportline Tiptronic or Pacific Tiptronic you have a conventional 6 speed automatic and perhaps the running / servicing costs balance out compared to a TDI DSG.

[idaho]

So I sent off an enquiry and the car has just had it's major service @ 60000 ks, and its apparently all in good shape including the DSG so thats good to hear...

In that case the seller would oviously be happy to show you the service invoice to confirm those details.

[Nick_dub]

Does it have to be a diesel? If you look at a Sportline Tiptronic or Pacific Tiptronic you have a conventional 6 speed automatic and perhaps the running / servicing costs balance out compared to a TDI DSG.

Yeah you have a good point there. Once you take service costs into account the petrol model may not be such a bad idea.

Hmmmm the guy says the car "has been in no major accidents"... i think i know what that means

[TDI DSG]

Have you driven a DSG equipped car yet ?

They are very nice to drive, especially if you drive in a lot of traffic campared to a manual.

If your not set on the Sportline have a look at few Comfortline models. There is very little difference between the two models, but you will get the Comfortline much cheaper than the Sportline you posted a link too. The saving would get you some bigger rims if your looking at the Sportline for that reason.

[hooba]

I have a 2005 DSG 1.9 diesel, never had a problem with the DSG and nothing to indicate that I will have one in the future.

[jessv3]

I think the link posted is a bit over priced. If it was fully optioned up (leather, roof, sat nav) it would be reasonable but low 20's for an 06 2.0tdi with no options? hmm 18k is more realistic, dont forgot its 5yrs old now so even if they had the extended warranty its almost up. For low 20's i would be looking at a GT 2.0tdi or a GTI with slightly higher kms.