Maybe London and the S.E isn't the preferred area for this new Golf but I consider myself lucky if I espy one of these cars per week in the area where I live.

I did drive down to Eastbourne and back last week and on the journey back, I saw one approaching fast, in my rear view mirror. It was in Silver like mine and it overtook but I managed, despite the volume of traffic, to keep reasonably close to it but having someone in the car, who wasn't keen on 'racing' I wasn't allowed to overtake one or two cars that had filled the gap in front of me in order to get behind it.

I'm getting used to the relative blandness of the design and indeed will have mine shortly and so it's tough titty really - just have to get used to it, I suppose.

 Yes, but the MK V is a far better car, both dynamically and design wise than the MK IV ever was.

When I was in the market for a new car some years ago, the MK IV had just come out but I did not like the design or the look of that funereal, rather cramped interior. Having said that, I realise that my new MK 6's interior is darker than I would have liked, to be honest and a wee bit too blingy.

 I used to have a MKIV tdi(Best carI have owned until this new Golf) and while working overseas's had one of the first MKV Golfs as a rental car. I found that the quality of the finish of the interior was so much poorer, indeed the whole car felt substandard after the MKIV - on one particularly hot day all the door seal came unstuck for example -  that I gave it a miss when getting my next car(Moving over to another well known german brand).It was only when the MKVI came out that again considered the golf as I again felt they had got back to quality of interior I needed. I know the drive of the MKV was an improvement of the MKIV but most of my journies are motorway based where you do not notice this as much. As I remember most reviews at the time of the change from MKIV to MKV tended to agree with my experience. If the MKV is so much better than the MKVI why are you changing, any cost you might have to pay on repairs for a older car will be more that offset by the depreciation you are going to have on your new car.

 there's quite a lot round here - I think the car needs bigger alloys though as the standard ones on non-GT models look lost IMO

 I've seen a fair number arround here (just north of london), but from my understanding some of the hire car companies have started using them.

IMO the design is better than the MK5 in some ways and worse in others. It certainly looks  a lot nicer from the front and the interior is leauges ahead, but I'm still not convinced about the looks b-pillar back, and the rather vulgar bodykit of the GTI.

ETA, there one parked outside here right now Steel Grey SE with fogs a bit like the ones in my signature

elidag:

 I used to have a MKIV tdi(Best carI have owned until this new Golf) and while working overseas's had one of the first MKV Golfs as a rental car. I found that the quality of the finish of the interior was so much poorer, indeed the whole car felt substandard after the MKIV - on one particularly hot day all the door seal came unstuck for example -  that I gave it a miss when getting my next car(Moving over to another well known german brand).It was only when the MKVI came out that again considered the golf as I again felt they had got back to quality of interior I needed. I know the drive of the MKV was an improvement of the MKIV but most of my journies are motorway based where you do not notice this as much. As I remember most reviews at the time of the change from MKIV to MKV tended to agree with my experience. If the MKV is so much better than the MKVI why are you changing, any cost you might have to pay on repairs for a older car will be more that offset by the depreciation you are going to have on your new car.

 

Why am I changing? Don't know really. Yes I do. In pure terms of time, at the end of this year, my present car will be 5 years old and I don't like to keep on having MOT's.
I can see that if I kept my car, I'd new a new set of tyres, disc pads, cambelt, battery and exhaust (probably) and other unforeseen things and I  can't be bothered with it all, at my age. With the new car I'll have a 3 year warranty again.
More to point, however, I can afford to, as I haven't got that many outlets for my savings and so why not?

I also like the idea of a more torquey engine although I've been very pleased with my 1.6FSI engine and its economy.

So there you have my answer. Change for change sakes. Nice new motor, nice new smell, nice torquey even more economical engine and more toys to play with.

QED.

Hardly seen any tbh

 I think there are a few reasons why there aren't many around. One being obviously the infamous 'credit crunch' which has really hit new car sales from all angles and marques. Another being the scrappage deals which will pull in many punters who can only afford Polo and Fox sized cars which are enjoying a bit of a sales boom.

Another reason may be the plain Jane looks which won't tempt that many mk5 buyers owing to the next reason - it ain't cheap!!!

I did seriously consider getting one as my first ever brand new car (in 23 years of driving) but the more I think about it the more I'm swayed toward the SEAT Leon. I can put up with the cheaper interior to save £4k+

As said though, there are plenty being snapped up by rental companies and lease companies who will be pulled in by the half decent expected resale prices and the fact that it's a Golf. Considering the amount of time the car has been available though I've seen very few around myself. Mind you I may well have passed quite a few more and not even noticed them..........

 It certainly was not as cheap as I had expected, when I placed my order in Feb this year. By the time I had added on the necessary steering wheel in order to get audio control plus Hi-line computer, sunroof, reversing sensors and metallic paint, it was well over 18 grand!! Let's hope it has been worth it when I take delivey at the end of July.

marvin:

 It certainly wan't as cheap as I had expected, when I placed my order in Feb this year. By the time I had added on the necessary steering wheel in order to get audio control plus Hi-line computer, sunroof, reversing sensors and metallic paint, it was well over 18 grand!! Let's hope it has been worth it when I take delivey at the end of July.

that is a lot of money for a mid-range model, when you consider that you would have got a better deal on one of the last mk5 match models.

I had a leaflet from the VW dealer where I take mine for servicing saying that I should buy a new golf now to avoid the 3% price increase which will take effect from September

Anyway enjoy the car when it arrives

Eddie-NL:

marvin:

 It certainly wan't as cheap as I had expected, when I placed my order in Feb this year. By the time I had added on the necessary steering wheel in order to get audio control plus Hi-line computer, sunroof, reversing sensors and metallic paint, it was well over 18 grand!! Let's hope it has been worth it when I take delivey at the end of July.

 

 that is a lot of money for a mid-range model, when you consider that you would have got a better deal on one of the last mk5 match models.

I had a leaflet from the VW dealer where I take mine for servicing saying that I should buy a new golf now to avoid the 3% price increase which will take effect from September

Anyway enjoy the car when it arrives

Mid range, yes, but i would not want to pay any more for a Golf or any other car, come to that. There are many folk here, presumably not necessarily paying for their own cars, who are speccing Golfs upto £25k which I think is ludicrous.

The 'SE' is reasonably speccd. although the omission of that steering wheel is a grotesque misjudgement on VW's behalf. I'm only specifying parking sensors because at my age and with my stiff neck and quite short-sightedness I find judging parking distances a trifle irksome, to say the least.

 There are quite a few MK 6 Golfs here in Peterborough, but at the moment they all look pretty much the same, for example they dont have bodyside mouldings and at least the MK 5 GT Sport  had a black front centre section which gave it some identity. Still not sure why VW insist that some of their cars only need one reversing light when many cheaper and older cars like my daughters Clio and previous Saxo managed 2 reversing lights & 2 foglights

However I do like the look of the front which looks like the new Scirrocco

marvin:

Mid range, yes, but i would not want to pay any more for a Golf or any other car, come to that. There are many folk here, presumably not necessarily paying for their own cars, who are speccing Golfs upto £25k which I think is ludicrous.

The 'SE' is reasonably speccd. although the omission of that steering wheel is a grotesque misjudgement on VW's behalf. I'm only specifying parking sensors because at my age and with my stiff neck and quite short-sightedness I find judging parking distances a trifle irksome, to say the least.

Yes I am one of those people who spec a golf upto £25K - got for less with discount - , however for work I do between 30,000 and 40,000 miles and spend many hours in the car so I get a lot more value (per mile/hour) out of it and the extras than people who do not spec up the car but only do 6000 or 7000 miles and leave the car sat on the drive/street deprecating most of it life. Any modern car can easily last 7/8 years and 100000 miles with out major trouble so is not changing every 4/5 years with under 50000 miles on the clock just as ludicrous.

BeezerDiesel:

 but the more I think about it the more I'm swayed toward the SEAT Leon. I can put up with the cheaper interior to save £4k+

That was my thought as well Andy, but regretted it from the moment I picked the SEAT Leon up. Thought to myself same chassis, switch gear etc cant be that diff from the Golf..but they're miles apart, I know you can argue the prices are as well but its not in the same league and the £ in your pocket imo didnt outweigh the difference, cheap and tacky interior, rattly, noisy, rusting in the first 6 months (tailgate hinges), the list goes on, the SEAT standard starts the minute your handed only one remote fob and continues in that vein - taking away the torque of the 2.0tdi and the exterior look it failed for me on every other level.

The amount of posts I've read about badge snobbery and all you're getting different from the leon is VW badge kudous at a premium is nonesense. 

elidag:

marvin:

Mid range, yes, but i would not want to pay any more for a Golf or any other car, come to that. There are many folk here, presumably not necessarily paying for their own cars, who are speccing Golfs upto £25k which I think is ludicrous.

The 'SE' is reasonably speccd. although the omission of that steering wheel is a grotesque misjudgement on VW's behalf. I'm only specifying parking sensors because at my age and with my stiff neck and quite short-sightedness I find judging parking distances a trifle irksome, to say the least.

 

Yes I am one of those people who spec a golf upto £25K - got for less with discount - , however for work I do between 30,000 and 40,000 miles and spend many hours in the car so I get a lot more value (per mile/hour) out of it and the extras than people who do not spec up the car but only do 6000 or 7000 miles and leave the car sat on the drive/street deprecating most of it life. Any modern car can easily last 7/8 years and 100000 miles with out major trouble so is not changing every 4/5 years with under 50000 miles on the clock just as ludicrous.

 

Touché. Yes, I'm acting in a ludicrous manner, according to your reasoning

elidag:

marvin:

Mid range, yes, but i would not want to pay any more for a Golf or any other car, come to that. There are many folk here, presumably not necessarily paying for their own cars, who are speccing Golfs upto £25k which I think is ludicrous.

The 'SE' is reasonably speccd. although the omission of that steering wheel is a grotesque misjudgement on VW's behalf. I'm only specifying parking sensors because at my age and with my stiff neck and quite short-sightedness I find judging parking distances a trifle irksome, to say the least.

 

Yes I am one of those people who spec a golf upto £25K - got for less with discount - , however for work I do between 30,000 and 40,000 miles and spend many hours in the car so I get a lot more value (per mile/hour) out of it and the extras than people who do not spec up the car but only do 6000 or 7000 miles and leave the car sat on the drive/street deprecating most of it life. Any modern car can easily last 7/8 years and 100000 miles with out major trouble so is not changing every 4/5 years with under 50000 miles on the clock just as ludicrous.

 

Touché. Yes, I'm acting in a ludicrous manner, according to your reasoning

In Berkshire/Oxfordshire i see them everyday, seen afew mk6 gti's around too.

Andy L:

BeezerDiesel:

 but the more I think about it the more I'm swayed toward the SEAT Leon. I can put up with the cheaper interior to save £4k+

That was my thought as well Andy, but regretted it from the moment I picked the SEAT Leon up. Thought to myself same chassis, switch gear etc cant be that diff from the Golf..but they're miles apart, I know you can argue the prices are as well but its not in the same league and the £ in your pocket imo didnt outweigh the difference, cheap and tacky interior, rattly, noisy, rusting in the first 6 months (tailgate hinges), the list goes on, the SEAT standard starts the minute your handed only one remote fob and continues in that vein - taking away the torque of the 2.0tdi and the exterior look it failed for me on every other level.

The amount of posts I've read about badge snobbery and all you're getting different from the leon is VW badge kudous at a premium is nonesense. 

Still can't get over how expensive Golfs have become though. Fine if it's a company car but for us mere mortals who earn less in a lifetime than some footballers do in a week it's a bit grating to have to pay these sort of sums. I had promised myself that I'd buy my first ever new car in 23 years of driving when the 'new' GTI was released. When I saw the price list I decided my 4 year old (and very similar) one would do just fine or I'd go back to SEAT. It's not just the stumping up of the initial purchase price, it's also the thought of potential depreciation if potential customers vote with their wallets and go elsewhere. Maybe VW know a few things that I don't. Hope so.

marvin:

 Maybe London and the S.E isn't the preferred area for this new Golf but I consider myself lucky if I espy one of these cars per week in the area where I live.

It's funny you should say that. Over the past few weeks I cannot believe the number of Mk6 golfs there are in Central Scotland. I mean it ain't a cheap car by any matter of means but the number of them lately has been quite staggering.

What I haven't seen is the latest facelifted Skoda Octavia on the roads. If they had their Mr Sensible heads on, most people would take the Octavia over the Golf, especially the latest version as it's almost identical inside with the same engines, it's more practical and much cheaper to buy. And I wouldn't say it's any more ugly because the mk6 ain't no looker.

Have also seen more Passat CC's of late - those were very rare over the past year. Perhaps the real-world asking price is more realistic now.

 Good point about the Passat CC, that seems to have become a spectacular sales flop so maybe you're right and the pricing has finally been sorted. Lovely looking car but.......

I posted a few days ago that I'd hardly seen any mk6s on the roads of Devon but yesterday I saw 3, possibly 4 (may have been the same one twice!). One looked okay, a Diesel GT with twin pipes and 18s in black. The others could have been Nissans or Toyotas they were that forgettable. Not seen a GTI on the road yet.

 I see the same amount or maybe more MKVI then MKV in Rugby

eyeamsparticus:

It's funny you should say that. Over the past few weeks I cannot believe the number of Mk6 golfs there are in Central Scotland. I mean it ain't a cheap car by any matter of means but the number of them lately has been quite staggering.

Yeah but I get the feeling the vast majority are all hire cars (Hertz, Avis and Enterprise have them IIRC) and dealer demonstraters/ courtesy cars.

eyeamsparticus:

What I haven't seen is the latest facelifted Skoda Octavia on the roads. If they had their Mr Sensible heads on, most people would take the Octavia over the Golf, especially the latest version as it's almost identical inside with the same engines, it's more practical and much cheaper to buy. And I wouldn't say it's any more ugly because the mk6 ain't no looker..

Agree, but the new Octavia has barely been out long (only a matter of weeks) and I think a lot of people wouldnt even consider a Skoda simply because of the badge, wheras VW is seen as almost premium these days.

BeezerDiesel:

 Good point about the Passat CC, that seems to have become a spectacular sales flop so maybe you're right and the pricing has finally been sorted. Lovely looking car but.......

It may end up like the Golf Plus did and be exceptionally cheap as a nearly new buy.

I have seen a reasonable number here in SW London, though a lot of them seem to belong to Streetcar...