I'm looking at getting a new car from my Fiesta, as it is too small. I find Mondeo's quite comfy, but a little too big for my needs. Although I do have a soft spot for VW's, as we have owned one for almost as long as I can remember!
So, my questions are:
How comfy is the Golf for a six foot tall (Maybe just over) person? (My knees touch the steering wheel in Fiesta when I brake. How adjustable is the seat?
How much is a T reg 1.6, with 100,000 miles worth? Apparently it's still on the original timing belt, so that'll be due up. Are there any other horrendous costs?
I don't have a spec for it unfortunately, but I know it has air con - would it have r/c/l and other toys? That's the only problem, at least the Mondy would have a CD player, etc.
Also...which engine is better? The 8v or 16v 1.6? Obviously the 8v is cheaper to insure, but less economical apprently. Is this a noticeable difference in economy or just 'on paper'?
I like the low down grunt of 8v's and the revviness of 16v's. I guess the 8v can't be too bad if the 16v was introduced so late (2000)
Also, looking on carsurvey.org there seem to be some right horror stories out there...This is a little unsettling as I don't have vast amounts of cash. Any thoughts on this? How easy are DIY tasks othe Golfs like changing the window motors etc, that seems to be a common fault.
Thanks for any tips.
Tim
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Mk 4 Golf is very roomy for larger people like me. Steering column and wheel are fully adjustable.
Think that the seat specification depends on the model, but the basic set up in an SDi was fine for me 6' plus and 14 stone.
If you like low down grunt go for a diesel.
As for aircon, a source of problems but nice when working.
Only the top end models came with it.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Thanks, this is what I need to know!
Maybe the one I'm looking at is an SE then.
Any idea what to offer for it? I was thinking circa £4000?
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I had a 1.6 Golf in 2000 for a week (hire car) and found it to be a bit underpowered if anything - with a couple of passengers in I just didn't enjoy driving it as it was just too sluggish. Test drove one again in 2003 when I was looking for a new car, along with an Astra and a Focus. I bought the Focus as I thought the car was just so much better to drive and got a better spec'd car for the money.
The build quality of the Golf was pretty good and I know two people who have 4+ year old Golfs (one GTi and a TDi), both without any real problems.
What is your budget?
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I thought as much - they are heavy cars.
But then, i'm sure it will be quicker than my old 1.3 Fiesta! If not as 'peppy' as the 1.25 Fiesta I had for a while.
My budget is roughly £3000 - £4500. Pushing it fine I know, but there are cars out there for that - and not all of them have intergalactic miles!
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Have you driven a Focus? I never even considered it until I had one as a hire car for a day. Was impressed with it - had a 1.6 zetec and it was nippy enough (better than the Golf), it was big enough for 4 big blokes comfortably and had plenty of accessories. And, to my suprise, the build quality had moved on massively from the Escort etc...
Another option is the Honda Civic. The styling in 5 door version isn't to my taste, but the engines are superb (as are the brakes) and it is so big inside you could comfortably have an elephant on the back seat and still be able to squeeze in a rhino!! Oh and they never ever go wrong.
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Have you driven a Focus? I never even considered it until I had one as a hire car for a day. Was impressed with it - had a 1.6 zetec and it was nippy enough (better than the Golf), it was big enough for 4 big blokes comfortably and had plenty of accessories. And, to my suprise, the build quality had moved on massively from the Escort etc... Another option is the Honda Civic. The styling in 5 door version isn't to my taste, but the engines are superb (as are the brakes) and it is so big inside you could comfortably have an elephant on the back seat and still be able to squeeze in a rhino!! Oh and they never ever go wrong.
Heh heh, someones's PC was on the blink there :o)
I'm not too keen on the styling of the Focus, it looks like it was designed with a set square - that's why I prefer the older Mondeos to the new ones, it's got some curves!
The Civic might be worth looking into, I'll see what I can afford...
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Even if you're not going to buy a focus, I'd suggest driving one just as a comparison against the golf.
I wasn't a fan before I drove one, didn't particularly like the look till I drove it and suddenly it started to look better... and then whoops, I bought one - even though I was intent on buying a golf!
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How many mk's of Focus are there now? 3 isn't it? Is there anywhere that has some interior pics? A friends dad has one, it's an '03 reg and the 'futuristic' interior does nothing for me.
What engine would you recommend for reasonable running costs and insurance?
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Stuartli is the one to ask about the 1.6 16v engine, he has one in a Bora IIRC? This is one of the engines that is prone to the coil pack trouble (the 8v doesnt have coil packs)although they have undoubtedly been changed on the age car you want!
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Thanks everyone!!
I've just been looking at the Seat Leon - whoa, talk about toys! And people seem more pleased with them than 'genuine' VW's!!
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Whilst I know you said a Mondeo offered space you didn't need, with your budget you basically get the extra space free anyway - you don't pay for something you don't need.
A T reg, average mileage Mondeo with all the extras is only worth about £2.5k. Your £4.5k would get a mint condition 2001 X reg last of the Mk2's with leather, climate, computer, cruise etc, or even an early Mk3.
Otherwise, have you considered the Seat Leon and Seat Toledo? Basically, a Golf without the badge, so cheaper to buy. Toledo is very good value. You could also consider the VW Bora - a Golf with a boot, so again, better value.
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Has VW fixed this 'feature' on the 1.6 FSI in the Golf V et al ?
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Damn. :-(
I swear VW has lost the plot sometimes.
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golfs from 2000 onwards have a reliability index rating of 19.
is that good or bad!!!
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Damn. :-( I swear VW has lost the plot sometimes.
Is it VW that have lost the plot or is it the people that still buy them ?
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Hi Tim,
My wife and I both had 2000 Golfs. Mine was a 1.6 16v Comfortline (Irish equivalent of UK SE spec. I think). SWMBO's was a peverty-spec 1.4. Our experiences for what they are worth:
- Best thing about SE spec. is the better quality seats - makes a huge difference on a long journey.
- 1.6 16v had to be pushed hard - no low-down torque at all
- Problems we had:
- Rear windscreen washer pipe leaking into interior of roof
- Replacement dashboard (took 3 trips to the dealer to solve) for all sorts of faulty warnings
- Both cars consumed approx. 1 lightbulb per month - mixture of front and rear
- 1.6 consumer 2L of oil in first 3000 miles (settled down afterwards)
- I traded mine for a 2nd 1.9TDI (130) A4 a few months ago - was shocked at how well the 1.6 had held its value - 45% after 4 years and 36K. Dealer had sold it on within a week.
- The dealer is a guy I eas in school with and this made a huge difference to our "VAG experience". A rubbish dealer would have meant that I would never have gone back to a VAG car.
Hope this helps,
D
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dealer makes a huge difference?
when i asked on a golf forum are their any good dealers in my area they must of all just laughed!!!
only replys were their arnt any in britain let alone in lincs!!!!
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Thanks DF,
Sounds like the bulbs blowing and the dashboard problems were related, maybe too high a voltage or voltage spikes. (Faulty voltage regulator?)
Dealers don't worry me a huge amount as I can't afford one with warranty left on it anyway.
What's the 1.9 TDI like? I'd love a diesel, but the way diesel prices are going I can't see there being any benefit soon. :o(
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I think you've hit the nail on the head:
'Dealers don't worry me a huge amount as I can't afford one with warranty left on it anyway.'
I own a 2002 51 reg GT TDI (130), albeit with 109,000 on the clock and I use a local independent garage in Leeds. Labour is £30 per hour, and if it doesn't need doing the guy tells me.
The 1.9TDI is a fantastic car, its not about the fuel economy, but more about the power. Although it is nice to only visit a fuel station twice a week instead of five times a week!
I will be starting a new job on Tuesday, with my commute becoming 220 miles instead of 60, and thats when a diesel comes in useful in terms of being able to travel further on a tank.
I would add that blowing external bulbs, especially rear, does seem quite common. Take a look next time you drive in the dark at just how many relatively new golfs have a rear light out.....
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>>Take a look next time you drive in thedark at just how many relatively new golfs have a rear light out.....
Followed one home last night :-D
Good post BTW, thanks.
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No problem. Glad to be of help.
Let me know if you want any more advice!
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Only if you know of any good independent VAG specialists in Surrey! And also where to get high quality pattern parts.
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Thanks DF, Sounds like the bulbs blowing and the dashboard problems were related, maybe too high a voltage or voltage spikes. (Faulty voltage regulator?) Dealers don't worry me a huge amount as I can't afford one with warranty left on it anyway. What's the 1.9 TDI like? I'd love a diesel, but the way diesel prices are going I can't see there being any benefit soon. :o(
Love the TDI ... I never thought I would say this but I would never go back to petrol.
I went to the dealer with a mind to buy a 1.8T. He had none in stock and he pursuaded me to try the TDI demo. he had. It requires a very different driving style to get the most out of it (loads of stuff on this site about how to change your habits if gettin ginto t diesel for the first time). Much more relaxing drive - just cruise along in 5th or 6th and overtake without changing down ... engine rows along at much lower revs (I find it at its happiest around 2000 rpm).
Ended up buying the demo (had a nice spec. with leather).
Good luck with the Golf,
D
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Thanks! I have some idea, as believe it or not the 1.3 8v in my Fiesta is quite torquey, it's nice not having to rev it too much.
Also, I think i'm going to go for a Seat Leon as well, they're basically the same car!
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I FANCIED A MK 4 GOLF
i understand there nowt like the used to be just another car now,
i did want one but im going to get a hdi picasso next week
diesels hideously over priced,
go to www.carsurvey.org and have alook at the unhappy smiley faces on them, have a look at picasso there isnt one
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Is that because they've only sold about 2 of them? :-P
Sorry, couldn't resist. Not exactly the same type of car as a golf though, and if you use these surveys as a guide, you won't always get the real story.
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smiley faces on them!!
i like it!!
next car i get has got to have at least ten smiley faces on it - thats the way to buy a car
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I've said it several times before on this site but I wouldn't touch a Golf with a bargepole. 1 Mk 3 (2.0 petrol GTi) and 2 Mk 4s (1 TDi 110 and 1 TDi 130) in succession qualify me to state that they're not worth the hype. Mechanically, they're sound but all the electrical faults become depressing after a while. The GTi suffered air con failure, the 110 was a real lemon and ran to 17 separate faults and the 130's wipers failed three times in pouring rain on busy motorways. Not clever! All the dealers did (when I was towed in - embarrassing in a 12 month old car!!!) was change the wiper motor despite my protests that it must be some sort of wiring fault that was causing them to fail. Listen to the advice on the thread and go for a Focus or my 15 years of experience with Vauxhalls suggest you might try an Astra. Very underrated, nicer (petrol) engines, just as well built and FAR more reliable. I now have a "posh Vectra" (i.e. a Saab 93) which is great and, most importantly, reliable.
Finally, I accept that all cars have their fans and those who hate them but you only have to look at all these reliability surveys to prove to yourself that Golfs really aren't that good. And they're distinctly average to drive without the sport suspension pack. By the way, all three of mine were new and I didn't keep any of them past the end of the warranty period.
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