Yea, a decent MK5 TDI will set you back about 5k, i'm wanting to upgrade my MK4 GTTDI to a MK5 but hell, these stupid VW's hold their money....Suppose it will help when selling mine.
As for the insurance, apparently mens will drop by 10% and womens will increase by 25%, dumb thiing to introduce because they will just find other ways to pull our panties down each year.
I've got a MK5 GTTDI had a few problems with it though which apparently have been resolved in the MK6, maybe worth holding out for those to come down to a reasonable price.
Insurance for me was £900 this year (I'm 23) so a 10% drop will be nice, as long as they don't get you elsewhere like you say!
As I mentioned in my post I accept the purchase price is alot higher.
Anyway, what "problems" do you have with your Mk5
Mines at 103k (and in need of a service now) and running fine apart from a a bad judder under full throttle in 5th at about 1750 rpm, but that's only recently started about 500 miles of getting it remapped (many full throttle dumped clutch starts and 2nd gear wheelspins probably cause that).
£2100 to insure, but currently it's about £3400 because I'm paying monthly. If I pay it off though I can settle the debt.
ABS control unit failed, ECR failed, combined total for those to be replaced was £1500 (although I managed to get VW to come down to around £1000 with a free MOT and Air con recharge thrown in too).
Turbo is whining too which is very common on the GTTDIs, I will get it replaced at some point but you're looking at £300 for a second hand unit alone. Repairing the current one is just as much
The problem with these newer cars is that everything is so sealed up and such a bitch to work on you either spend days in the garage doing it yourself, or you pay through the nose to get someone else to do it. To even get to the turbo you have to remove the front subframe, so much effort!
edit: Mine had 30K on the clock when I bought it last year, the electronics problems just happen overnight
Whose mom would ever get such a beast car? Way too much for doing the shopping, etc. Just... why? What for? I love Subarus, but I just can't see my mom driving one.
Left control arm has been replaced today. Got a stronger, aluminium one and a full wash too. Thanks god I had some time to spend on her...
Random pics here: http://toki.kuvat.fi/kuvat/BMW/MyE34/werkonthelady/
Still a lot to do, seems like a neverending story, but I love doing it.
You should have bought an AA warranty. Although not a complete problem solver, it saved me about £140 in cost when my N/S electric window broke on my Ford Focus. The Warranty covered loads of other stuff, inc severe mechanical issues.