How Does Mark VI GTI Compare with Mark V

[Frankenstrat]

Since we're talking aesthetics, it's obviously a personal POV, and for me the MkV GTI grille looks nicer. But that wouldn't put *me* off owning a MkVI GTI.

[Gav23]

You can add me to the Mk6 list. I think the front of the Mk5 looks tacky/cheap.

[AdamD]

Just to change tack slightly, as far as I'm concerned the most worthy changes between the MkV and MkVI have been made to the interior.

My parents both own MkV Golfs, and having spent considerable time driving them, I was most impressed by the welcome improvements in the MkVI interior, in terms of styling, ergonomics, quality of materials and fit/finish. At a casual glance the changes appear subtle, but the more time I spent in a MkVI, the more significant they seemed to me.

From an exterior design perspective, I wasn't a huge fan of the MkVI when it was first released - I thought the car looked fairly bland at the front, too Touareg-like from the rear, and insufficiently different to the MkV from the side. But it's grown on me over time, and I now prefer its more contemporary style. Having said that, I think the V and VI are both great-looking cars in their own right, and every owner's a winner.

[Corey_R]

as far as I'm concerned the most worthy changes between the MkV and MkVI have been made to the interior.

My parents both own MkV Golfs, and having spent considerable time driving them, I was most impressed by the welcome improvements in the MkVI interior, in terms of styling, ergonomics, quality of materials and fit/finish. At a casual glance the changes appear subtle, but the more time I spent in a MkVI, the more significant they seemed to me.

I second that

[Mk6 GTI]

The Mk5 doesnt look bad, but i must say i was never a huge fan of that 'bubble' look. Esp those big headlights. The new one looks more sleek and i actually think it looks more aggressive!

But its a personal thing I guess! Both great cars

[Dubya]

I'm warming to the Mark VI GTI front but would be happier if there were no indent in the front bumper for a large euro number plate. Minor point.

Something I don't believe I mentioned in my OP is the new side skirt which, mysteriously, does not extend the complete length of the car between the wheel arches. On the Mark V it appeared to be a much more substantial piece of skirting and looked, IMO, much neater as it went from wheel arch to wheel arch and did not leave painted bodywork exposed at each end.

Another change for change (or cost's) sake?

[Corey_R]

I'm not really sure that there would've been that much of a cost saving with the new skirt. I think it was just a conscious styling choice. I personally wasn't much of a fan of the MKV side skirts - hence why I replaced mine rather quickly

[Greg Roles]

At first I didn't like the front end of the MK6 at all, and whilst the back looked better, couldn't decide on the jap looking tail lights.

As I see more and more around, I'm warming to it, so much so that I'm starting to get bummed driving an "old" car. Still not enough to make me want to upgrade, but that's a financial decision more than anything. I've taken a leaf from Kryten there, good role model!

My only fear is that the MK6 variants won't be as distinctive as in the MKV, the forthcoming MK6 GT diesel for instance, seems to be a lot like a GTI to me, perhaps too much so!

[Corey_R]

My only fear is that the MK6 variants won't be as distinctive as in the MKV, the forthcoming MK6 GT diesel for instance, seems to be a lot like a GTI to me, perhaps too much so!

The new diesel will be a GTD. And it's literally meant to be a 'diesel GTI'. In UK/Europe it's in the same shared broucher/webpages. It's not a replacement to the MKV's 'GT'.

[Dubya]

I'm not really sure that there would've been that much of a cost saving with the new skirt. I think it was just a conscious styling choice.

Probably, and certainly better than those unconscious styling choices.

I personally wasn't much of a fan of the MKV side skirts - hence why I replaced mine rather quickly

But what about those new ones? A bit ordinary aren't they?

Normally I don't mind short skirts, but this is ridiculous!

[Dubya]

My only fear is that the MK6 variants won't be as distinctive as in the MKV, the forthcoming MK6 GT diesel for instance, seems to be a lot like a GTI to me, perhaps too much so!

You know, the other thing too, Greg, is that with all this discussion about the subtlety of the changes between the Mark V and Mark VI Golfs, it is worth remembering that the changes between Marks III and IV were not that immense either, to the untrained eye, certainly nothing like the leap VW took from Mark IV to V.

In fact, I found it difficult to know whether I was looking at a Mark III or IV until I figured out the different styling cues around the headlights and more contemporary profile of the Mark IV.

I guess it's the case that a lot of VW Group products tend to evolve, rather than depart from, the DNA of their predecessors.

[Corey_R]

Not that I've ever had problems picking which MK a Golf is, even at distance, the MK I and II were also pretty similar in styling.

Having said that, the ONLY exterior panel or items that are shared between the MKV and MK6 are the standard 17" wheels, and the roof panel. Every single other panel and feature has changed. So when you see them side by side, they're really NOT that similar at all!

I'm quite impress with how much they have changed, considering the MK6 was always intended to just be a 'refinement' on the MKV to streamline the production process to return the Golf to profitability.

[Dubya]

Is the rim of the Mark VI GTI steering wheel thinner than the rim of the steering wheel of the Mark V GTI?

[Corey_R]

I haven't got a tape measure out to scientifically check, but the GTI felt about the same to me.
Have you had a drive of a MK6 yet Dubya ?

[Dubya]

I haven't got a tape measure out to scientifically check, but the GTI felt about the same to me.
Have you had a drive of a MK6 yet Dubya ?

I drove a Mark VI GTI yesterday and the steering wheel rim did not feel as thick as the one on the Mark V GTI (although around the thumb grips it felt the same so it was probably just my 'magination and they appear the same in their respective brochures).

However I do not believe that I was imagining significantly improved traction under hard acceleration (courtesy XDL I gather) which probably explains most, if not all, of the 0.3 sec improvement in 0-100km/h time which has dropped from from 7.2 to 6.9 sec.

I noticed that a digital speed readout has been added to the MFD and that it matched the speed indicated on the analogue speedo - so I wonder if they are accurate or if you can still get a more accurate speed reading from the climate control temperature display as, bizarrely, you could on the Mark V.

See here for the different data that may be read from the temperature display on Mark V Golfs and instructions on how to display them:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=10698&highlight=digital+speedo+temperature

While I've longed for a driver's seat with tilt adjustment since I got my GTI, I don't think what seem to be negligible improvements in driving position outweigh the downsides of having a motorised seat (slower to adjust, costlier, more likely to fail, more costly to repair - and no memory which would have made it all worthwhile!). So I will not be coughing up the $600 for that option. A manual tilt function (a la US GTIs) would have sufficed.

Apart from leather, sunroof and metallic paint, the only options that interest me are reversing camera, MDI + cables, rubber boot liner and floor mats. (Oh, I nearly forgot, a bit of rhinoplasty!) Any other must-haves?

Cheers