I never knew about the edition 35 until I looked properly at Golf GTI's as my potential next car. I'm not a fan of the newer shapes, and I was tempted by an edition 30 although they do seem quite expensive for an older car, usually on higher mileage. The edition 35 is now looking very like an attractive option
I’m biased....I own the same car! I was weighing up an ED30 or a Mk7 performance.....and then realised this beauty was out there. It essentially is a FWD Golf R. I’m convinced these are going to skyrocket in value due to just how rare they are. And sooooo tunable if that’s your thing....mine is running 325bhp thanks to the genius Niki at R-Tech. Great content as ever Andrew
Glad it's not just me. When I first experienced Mk7 having known every previous generation in detail, I felt a bit uneasy and I am pretty sure I've made videos saying this before. Then this Mk6 came along with some Mk7s that had done a few miles and my suspicions were confirmed. Just as well Mk7 is so good in every other way
@@volkswizard Mk6 Golf is far superior in terms of quality and refinement. The only thing I think the Mk7 has going for it, there is more space and more reliable engines and less road tax to pay
Great Video!! Unfortunately in the states we never got the edition 35. Instead we got the drivers edition , almost identical interior but it was paired with a RNS315. Same Watkins Glen Wheels. Which I have to say are still my favorite VW wheels. Though Pretorias come close.Same EA888 Gen2 as the base mk6 GTI. The First mod I did on my MK6 GTI was a Stage 1 ECU tune and a pair of OEM Golf R Led Tails like the edition 35 has. Over the years I have done additional performance and chassis upgrades . Hope to keep the car for a very long time, still puts a smile on face everyday I drive it.
It is a great car! I had a 2014 drivers edition but had kids and wanted something with a cheaper payment. I had a carbonio intake with a stage 1 tune. Took her to 140 mph once and she still wanted more. Unfortunately I didn't want more of a speeding ticket 😂. I was playing with a corvette and was not super far behind. I now have a 2012 coupe but I miss the gps stereo, leather seats, and adaptive headlights that my drivers edition had. That was a much better touch! I did however buy some watkins glen wheels for my 2012 so I'm pretty happy. One thing though I swore on the collectors certificate it came with that it was also an edition 35 but the drivers edition. I don't have the certificate anymore wish I did. The only thing I kept was the GTI PARKING ONLY sign it came with 😆. Cheers to you ,MK6 fans, and the the creator of this channel!
Loving the heritage vibe of these videos Andrew 😍 a reminder should I need it why I have been driving the previous 3 generations of GTI’s and R’s over the past 15 years - looking forward to the homage to the Mk5, and hopefully the R32 will get a look in. . what an engine, sorely missed 😎
Great informative video. I just think the Mk5 GTI is such a better looking car with the large honeycomb grill. I own a 2006 GTI in tornado red, absolutely love it just a shame they suffer with rust which VW sorted out on the Mk6.
I'd really struggle to choose between a Mk 5 & Mk 6 of it was a GTi - probably the Mk 6, depending on the price difference. Agree with you on the styling (although the Mk 6 is still👌). It's just a shame that the R32 didn't make it into the Mk 6 (that would have been my dream 'must have' car) - I've a Mk 7.5 R estate (which I love), but I'd have to go for the Mk 5 R32, purely for THAT engine...!
@@thejunior9497 aye, that's a good shout. I'm more "into" the idea of an R32 though. The other thing I like about the Mk5 is (& it's a small detail) the electric blue backlighting on the instruments - I had that on my old B6 Passat TDI estate. Doesn't look quite as nice in white.
Hi Andrew, I'm pretty new to your channel and absolutely love your content. I've currently a white 3 door edition 35 which I love. I need to get one of my Watkins glen wheels refurbished bit struggling to find the paint code. Closest I can get is an Audi one. Would you know the correct colour code? Also would you recommend me changing to a Clubsport edition 45, what's the build quality like? Cheers
I own a manual 2013 2dr GTI. I love it. Manual is the only way to drive. I pray I never own an automatic. Same with the plaid interior. Leather is just leather. Plaid is too cool to pass up. Have over 100k on it now and it still drives like new. The interior is also holding up extremely well.
I’ve had a 2012 Mk6 Bluemotion TDI as a daily for the last six years. When we bought it, we’d looked at a Mk7 GTD that wasn’t much more money. The £20 road tax and all the toys on the run-out Mk6 (it has the fantastic 510 stereo) swung it for us but I always wondered if it was the right choice. Watching this, I’ve finally decided that the Mk6 rather than the Mk7 was the right choice. Looking forward to seeing the Mk3 in this anniversary series (we have two of them) and hoping that you can see past the awful press it got when it killed off the Mk2 back in the early nineties. Keep up the great work on the channel. Always a pleasure!
Great video Andrew, thank you. I completely agree about material quality. I’ve got a mk6 2012 Match and a mk7 2014 Match, similar mileage and the 6 is far more substantial feeling inside, nicer materials all round with no hollow flimsy plastic anywhere
I visited VW's Wolfsburg museum back in summer 2012 and they had one of these on display in their main "new cars" area... I still have photos of it here on my phone, a white 5-door with those half-alcantara "35" seats, which did look really well!
I've got a mic. There are the odd complaints about audio but it's not that common these days. Whatever, just spent £200 on some Rode kit so next one should be better.
@@volkswizard Awesome, thanks for responding, I think maybe if you watch on a phone it is ok, but on my TV and sound system its a little muffeled and i had to turn it up to hear you, but then everything else was too loud! Cheers
There are always a few for sale but I just don't think people know much about them so don't look to buy them possibly because magazines eulogise about Mk5 GTI (rightly) and Mk6 is too similar and wasn't the "return to form", it was just a stop gap before the "shutdown reboot" of the new MQB Mk7
I actually own this car was a surprise when I realised the registration was mine lol great video and yes it’s a great car has had many upgrades since this video 😅
Another great ED35 video. Good examples with low mileage now seem to be fetching higher prices than the 7’s. It does seem that they are appreciating. As you said in your other video - a future classic!
I’m my opinion the mark 5 interior is better quality, the driving experience is not that much different between a mk5 and mk6 which makes sense as it has the same underpinnings. There is a difference between the mk5 mk6 and 7.5. The 7.5 is a better car in all respects. I’ve all three. But to be honest I prefer my mk5 R32 which I nearly sold to you a while back! What a unique car that is in terms of its condition! Great video 👍
@@volkswizard thanks for getting back to me ! ALSO, i have an Audi Q5 TFSI Sline Plus 2014 model Auto , 2.0 petrol. Would this classify as a performance engine or not really u less it was an SQ5?
The Mk7‘s tech (DCC, VAQ diff, adaptive cruise/lane assist, CarPlay, adaptive headlights, bigger brakes) really improved it over the Mk6. I do miss the Mk6’a smaller size and higher build quality. We didn’t get cool Mk6 features or models in the USA like DCC and adaptive lights.
Problem is with all that tech comes expense. For example the VAQ diff is probably defective in a lot of Mk7s by now and I've just spent a lot of money having a 7.5 radar aligned after removing the grille. Mk6 does get "bend lighting", is that what you mean by adaptive headlights? Shame that didn't make it to USA as it's cool
@@volkswizard oh wow I never knew the VAQ could stop working on the Mk7. How do you know/fix it? We get the bend lighting in the Mk7 but the US Mk6 lost a lot of features from Europe. I’ve got a 2-door Mk7 GTI Performance with every option; very rare here & the last year of the 2-door.
I'd love to see that too - I've a Mk7.5 R Estate, but I'd love to have a Mk5 R32 - it clearly won't be as good in some ways as the more modern R, but it would sound amazing!
@@BurritoSenor the R is certainly some machine....I have to admit that I'd love an R32, purely for the noise! A large, normally aspirated engine is such a rare thing nowadays
The funny thing is I’m looking for a mk7 GTI and honestly this just seems like much better value for money and I got a feeling this will hold money better
I have a Mk7, I would say the build quality is generally good but it’s a lot more plasticky compared to the Mk6. Also, the road noise is lower on the Mk6 with the sound deadening windscreen and thicker insulation in the wheel well
Brilliant video having owned 4 mk5 gti’s and 1 mk6 gti the mk6 is the better built car especially inside. The mk5 gti interior doesn’t age aswell but the mk5 gti exterior looks better.
Glad you enjoyed in Graeme. The Mk7 to 7.5 wasn't as extensive as Mk5 to 6 but I get your drift. I actually think it's similar to Mk7.5s evolution into Mk8. Same platform but totally reskinned. Some trim bits carried over too (centre console on 6 looks like 5), the boot area too is carried over wholesale which I think is pretty much the case with Mk8. Not sure about Mk7/8 chassis codes though (must try harder!)
@@volkswizard oh, thanks for such a full reply Andrew, wasn't expecting that. I was happy with my 6 GTi, so much I kept it (8 years) for my current 7.5 R (2019). Love the R but being anal, can feel accountants input... bonnet pops when washing which never happened on the 6. Such is life....in everything.👍
im not sure if your question is up to date, but i also own a gti 35 edition, and ive been using "millers oil cfs 5w40 nt" and its proven itself to be one of the best options... it is a bit more expensive and it may be a bit overkill, but if you care about your car, i think there is nothing better .. :) also, if you like to drive this car "harder" definetly look for 5w40 oils, suits this engine better hope i helped you :)
Keep bringing these fantastic VAG videos Andrew. Huge fan of the Gti's. Also don't come across the Golf R Mk6 content and not many on the road either. Hopefully one day can get one on your RU-vid channel. 👍
Having driven a Mk6 GTI dsg and a Mk6 ED35 in manual, I can’t help but feel abit let down, the MK5 undoubtedly is a better drivers car, more involving, the 6 more premium and comfortable. However, the 7 took the game on another level. The only reason you get a ed35 over a 7PP is value and ‘specialness’ imo
In what sense? Quality wise the 6 is massively better and that's what drew a lot of people to VW in the first place. Performance wise no it's not as good but if I want performance and lower quality I'll buy a Focus ST which handles better. Mk7s are getting very creaky at medium to high mileages when Mk6s still exhibit that VW solidity. I work with these cars daily and see a few and Mk6 was the last properly made Golf
@@volkswizard fair enough i was refering to the looks and performance solely as it is in another league especially the tuning potential of the ea888.3 motor...however the quality of the mk7 is still very good in general so i don't think it's an issue for most buyers
@@WaseemKhan-iu4bh I don't think an mk7 looks as good as an mk5 or mk6. It's part of why I went with a 2012 Autobahn Edition, instead of moving to a 7. Everytime I park next to one, it re-affirms my belief that the 6 looks better.
Depends. If it's Japanese, the buyer hasn't test driven it before purchase and the history won't be easy to work out. Plus there may be differences in spec and insurers I am pretty sure will charge a premiun. But the adverts say no rust which has some appeal.
I've seen a few of the Japanese car importers start to bring in cars such as the R36 Passat for a decent price also because its an import the Tax is capped at around £250 per year as opposed to the £550ish for a uk model
Glad you enjoyed it Lee. I actually forgot to sign off but then watched it back and realised what I'd just said was best left as the ending for a bit of poignancy because it is quite a big deal that Mk7 changed so much. Thanks for a nice comment 🙌
@@volkswizard no problem. Still myself more a fan of pre 2016 or older GTI's (Golf or Polo) somehow more character and soul. Newer or brand new each step will be more capable yes you can't hide that but not sure on soul.
Glad you did this video Andrew. I’ve always been curious about the ED35 and would have to agree with you after watching this that it could be a better buy than an early mk7. Especially when compared to a none performance pack mk7.
Thanks Andrew. It really is just the high fuel consumption that makes me not own one of these myself. But I am pretty sure it makes up for that by not leaking coolant or needing a clutch at low mileage like a Mk7 can
@@volkswizard I had the same engine albeit in a higher state of tune in a facelift Scirocco R and it really does drink considering the displacement/power ... my mk7 R is considerably better on fuel
The problem with the timing chains was more the tensioners going bad than the chain itself, I think. The updated tensioners don't have the same problem.
No they sorted it out hence why the Mk7 EA888 is seemingly very reilable. Disappointing they couldn't get it right first time but most were sorted under warranty or goodwill so could be worse
@@volkswizard They didn't get it right second, third or fourth time either! I think the version in my car is the 7th version or something. Also out of my own pocket, no warranty or goodwill :(
future classic for sure ive got a mk6 gti myself that ive owned for about 7 years, not a ed35 im about to sell it, ive been checking the prices on them to gauge the value and even the std mk6 gtis with the right mileage seem to be holding their value quite well, even webuyanycar made an offer of 7k on mine which is a 59 plate :P
Interesting video - particularly interested in the differences you pointed out between the Mk5 & Mk6 (although it's not really an issue for me - things like HiFi/satnav are easily retrofitted to older cars anyway). Also interested in your "take" on quality v the later cars too I'd certainly not pay the same for a Mk5 Ed30 as a Mk6 Ed35 - it's also an interesting comparison with an early Mk7 GTi too.... I'd be inclined to pick the Mk6 myself, as I'm not sure how well older Mk7s have aged. If I wasn't so set on a Mk5 R32 (& had the cash 🤣), I'd be seriously tempted to buy that car from you!
There isn't much in it driving wise and Ed35 being so much newer and not that different in price at same mileage, I'd go Ed35. Ed30 has some authenticity to it and more effort was made but I'd rather have a better driving newer car.
My 2012 Golf 1.4 tsi DSG match with superchip bluefin best car I have ever owned, 6 years and 45,000 miles zero faults or rattles, should have kept it. VW rushed out the mk 7 because they could not afford to build the Mk6 . And the mk 8 is lower quality again.
I have the same car as this with DSG, I don’t like the creaky door seals they do my head in. Same colour as this in Tornado Red. Great car but no leather 😭
The Mk5 was a shock after Mk4 as it looked so cheap inside but was actually a lot better. Mk6 came along and at last we had an interior that looked good though was actually cheaper to make but was still very good.
@@volkswizard I knew the Mk5 was a revelation over the Mk4, as it was over engineered and built properly, so when the mk6 came along they had to make it cheaper in certain areas? I did not know about the engine being an updated Mk5 fsi. The European ed35 interior looked so much smarter and stylish than the black leather we actually got. Btw, what’s happened to all the mk6R’s. There used to be loads and now your lucky if you see 1.
Depends on the car but if it's a good car now it will stay that way if cared for. I couldn't say that for Mk7. I'd say (off the record) that a Mk7 at 50k miles would cost the owner more in maintenance than a Mk6 at 100 over the next 50k
same old same old, at least in the dry it's more fun at lower speeds. I suspect in the wet, without VAQ diff the lack of traction might be a bit frustrating
Never been keen in one, the golf VI is just a restyling exercise from is younger brother. Performance wise just 5 HP and the same torque with exactly the same engine is very poor compared to the ED30. Even in terms of handling this is heavier, they didn't went to town in this generation. Cannot forget that the reference is still the Golf V ED30.
@@volkswizard I understand anyhow I have one with DSG and you drive it ending always with a fresh sensation. I agree the design could feel a bit old but I still like. For me it's an icon of the GTI generation.
Complete nonsense. I've owned both and while there are some things I like better on the mk6,the mk7 handles and stops significantly better and that's the bottom line for me.
The mk4 was probably the best put together Golf GTI but arguably the most boring! The Mk5 was a true turn to form with its sharp chassis and power upgrade! It looks like a GTI should look! The Mk6 is a Mk5.5 in disguise. The Mk7 is probably the best looking Golf GTI as it takes many design cues from the original, especially in 3dr guise. The Mk8 is probably the best drivers GTI since the Mk5 but is it worth the extra premium?
Got to disagree about Mk4 being the best put together. The interior did a good job of fooling you and TDIs were unburstable but my god did they take some upkeep, here goes; MAF sensors water leaks from behind door trims into cabin coil packs door lock mechanisms wiper linkages wiper motors window regulators air con pumps badly attached bonnet release handles scratch prone soft touch plastic rust in roof seams rusty wings clutch pedals breaking brake master cylinders failing clutch slave cylinders failing coolant level sensors cooling fans climate control flap motors rear screenwash pipes seat tilt handles would come off in your hand All that was from memory, there is probably a lot more! All this calmed down with Mk5 (thank god)
I had a PD150 for 14yrs and was pretty bulletproof over the 125k miles covered. All I replaced was the brake light switch, temp sensor, both window regulators, coolant pipe and coil springs. Everything else was serviceable items. If you look at a Mk4’s attention to detail, notably the door hinges, paint and finish, it was a massive upgrade on the Mk3. Everything since has lost some of that quality, which I think Andrew eludes too. The Anniversary and R32 were models that deserve some appreciation in my opinion. However pound for pound a standard Mk5 GTI has to be the best value for money.
I definitely disagree about the Mk7 being the best looking Golf GTI. To me it's one of the worst looking generations. The Mk5 and Mk6 are my favorite styling. I bought an Mk6 DSG Autobahn Edition last month after research and looking over every Golf I saw on the road for months. The 7 just doesn't do anything for me.
I just drove a mk6 and mk7 back to back. I definitely prefer the 6. It looks better, I like the interior better. It felt much more sporty and not so boring and isolated from the road like the 7. The new one's nice, but I'd but the 6. But, it seems vw in general are kinda unreliable junk and expensive. So I probably will pass. I want to get one cuz there's lots to like , but they just seem like trouble.
I don't have much experience of other brands and yes the timing chain issues on Mk6 GTI 210 PS were not good but generally VW are OK and a big benefit is a lot of forums to get info from and a big network of specialists (at least here in the UK) that do a better job that main dealers and for a lot less cash. Also lots of decent used parts available
Yea I heard y’all have better luck in the uk with them. They may be made in Germany as opposed to Mexico or the US which helps. And parts are considerably less money. I do like them We’ll see if I actually get one. I’ve had some Mk 3s back in the 90 s but they weren’t so complicated back then. Now everything involves some electronic sensor or computer or some pricey, vulnerable plastic part that’s prone to failure. Seems like they should be better for such a nice car.
Rather get the mk6 R. Ed30 and the regular mk5 win it for me. The mk6 wasn’t very convincing even though it was built better. The 5 looks better externally!