OK I've investigated the 323 ci and I can't afford a good one and can't really afford to run it properly either - So I need something a bit flash with a bit of poke (sub 9s 0-60). Have so-far come up with Golf GTI 1.8 / 2.0 and Pug 206 2.0se cc - like the practicality of the Golf & wide image / love the fun + sportyness of the cc. I don't want anything too ordinary (ford, Vaux), more than 4-5 years old, or a Type-r!
I have read many many shocking write-ups of both the mark 4 Golf and the CC re build quality & reliability but the cc seems to come off far worse - I really don't want a car that is a lot of hassle - my Fiesta had nothing go wrong in 5 years from new(apart from I have now knackered the engine but that's my fault) and this has suited me perfectly.
For my 10k I would like to buy from a main stealership & get a car with no more than 35k. I also have no kids so space isn't an issue. My questions: is the Golf far superior to the cc / is the cc really as bad as people make out? And any info or opinions to help me choose between these 2 very cool looking and different cars would be appreciated.
Thanks, Ben
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The cc is nice to look at, but IMHO not a great drive and pretty inpractical.
The golf is fine, if a little bland - even in GTi version.
Have you looked at some of the sportier Alfa's as they are good fun to drive (although reliability is not always their strong point).
The Lotus Elise is loads of fun - inpractical, but if you're after a great drive then could be a good choice. Although if you're going to be travelling long distances in it regularly, it probably isn't the car for you.
The older version Astra coupe's were good fun to drive (especially the turbo) and something like a Focus ST170 again has good performance and is more practical than some of the others mention.
A little more info on how you drive, your average journey (ie motorway or a roads etc), are you looking for 2, 4 or 5 seats, hard top only... etc etc
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2001 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.0 WRX 4WD 4dr Saloon,
Petrol, 28,000 miles, . Dark blue Mica. FSSH, one previous owner. Absolutely standard factory spec.The right car, the right colour, the right mileage and the right price!! All usual features including PAS, airbags,remote central locking, alarm/immobiliser, ABS, electric windows, electric mirrors. Tax and MOT. Superb condition and priced to sell quickly. £9,000.
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The Golf is a good car, although the Mk4 is not the fun car the mk 1 & 2 versions were. The Mk 4 is a bit more "grown up", bigger, heavier, more comfortable etc. Still worth checking out though, especially if you want relatively hassle-free motoring.
You really need to look at the 1.8T or the TDi, or even a V5 170bhp.
Have you considered a Golf without the VW badge - i.e. the SEAT Leon?
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I ran a 99/S Golf 1.8T GTI for about a year as a company car. When I got it, it was a year old with 48k miles on the clock and I think I put about another 12k miles on it in the time I had it.
Never had any trouble with the car, the 1.8 turbo engine had plenty of mid-range punch, and the fantastic Recaro seats made it a very comfortable motorway car, and I got 35-40mpg on steady motorway runs which is not bad for a heavy-ish turbo hatchback.
My one reservation would be over maintenance and repair costs - my car only needed one service in the time I had it, but I never saw the actual invoices as it was a company car...
Would definitely recommend the Golf over the 206CC. I've not had any experience of the CC, but I've read too many reliability/satisfaction surveys criticising the unreliable roof mechanism. Have you taken a test drive in a 206?? The driving position might rule it out for you. I sat in a hatchback 206 recently and found the driving position awkward - the pedals are too far over to the left.
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golf would be my choice but i have one so it would be?
had some electrical problems a few years back but should(being the word)be sortid now!
all you will get on here is everybody plugging every car but the ones you ask about!!!!golfs are still sought after cars no matter what the anti vw brigade say?
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I like golfs - don't get me wrong. But just feel that for the type of car he's asking about, the golf probably isn't the best to drive when looking for a bit of oomph.
Golf's have their upsides, good residuals, well built, generally pretty reliable from the people I know who have them, but just a little bland from a performance perspective.
If I was going to buy a golf, I'd opt for one of the GT PDi (PDi or TDi? can never remember). A friend has the 150bhp MkIV version and it seems vastly more powerful than either of the GTIs. And he still returns about 45mpg.. which annoys me!
Forget the Peugeot tho, it's just not a very good car, no matter how clever the roof is.
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Wow thanks for all the responses - basically, my present car is a FIesta 1.3i x reg and I've just got a pay rise so have got a loan to buy some new wheels. I drive 22 miles each way to work & back every day on the M1 and M25. Sadly I am a bit of a poser and looks & badge matter to me - after my Fiesta, I doubt the 2.0 litre cc would feel bad in any way, anything over 120 bhp would be like a F1 car to me! Imprezza = too boy racer and Seat just doesn't cut it in the brand stakes for me even though it is identical to the Golf. I know that's sad btw. How about the Volvo c70, that's quite understated...? And is the cc really that bad?
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If its image you are after, the 206cc is a bit, a bit, well, err Girly? Hairdressers car?
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Got there before me RF...
A think an MGTF or an MX-5 has a lot more cred than a 206cc. The volvo C70 is quite nice - but see the discussion on the 406 coupe... seems that people really like them (myself included).
Do you want a coupe/saloon/drop top/hatchback?
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I guess I'm after something that will make me look stylish!!! I'm not up for an estate or saloon so coupes cabs and quality hatches like A3's it is... I'd say VW has some cache over say a Ford - they are much nicer to sit in than a Focus IMO. What impact will the sad collapse of Rover have on getting MG bits? and is the c70 expensive to run? that's what put me off the 323.
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Ditch your brand snobbery and get the Leon Cupra. You know its identical to the Golf.
I'd understand brand snobbery if your choice was BMW or Merc or a Seat, but it isn't. You are looking at a VW. It is NOT a prestige car. It is NOT a posh brand. People will NOT think you are Mr Big for driving one. It's name directly translates to 'Peoples Car'.
With that out of the way, go and test drive a Seat Leon Cupra. There is no badge kudos to be had with a Golf.
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You don't want anything to ordinary though would consider a Peugeot!! The 206cc is not very sporty and is, as has been said, rather girly.
The MK IV Golf is not very sporty unless you go for a 4 Motion, if you want a VW a Bora might be a better bet. The Leon is based in the Golf though is more fun to drive. Agree with the comment about the Astra, a 2.2 SRi is a quick car with good handling, likewise a Focus is great to drive.
Clio Sport 172/182?
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There is no badge kudos to be had with a Golf.
used prices dont seem to agree with you!!
people still see the seat,skoda's as a poor mans vw?
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Wantone is spot on. The Seat Leon is an excellent car (the Cupra model is one of HJ's favourites, I believe) but you will always have a harder time selling a Leon than a Golf. Unfair maybe, but that's public prejudices for you. Brand image takes a long time to build.
Don't listen to Mondeo drivers telling you what's cool and what isn't! For 10k, you've made a sensible decision that you can't go for serious image-boosters (BMW etc) as they're going to kill you on maintenance costs, so the next best thing is to go for something reasonably sporty with a bit of feel-good factor like the cars you have suggested.
I'm a Fiesta driver at the moment like you perleman, but I ran a Golf GTI a few years ago and if I didn't have to park my car overnight on the mean streets of inner London, I'd get another Golf like a shot. The main appeal of a Golf is that it is one of the few cars that is almost classless - like a Mini or a Land Rover. Get a well-maintained Mk4 GTI (or a TDI if fuel economy is important to you) and you won't go far wrong.
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Following my earlier comment on Golfs being classless, read Jeremy Clarkson's recent review of the Golf Mk5. Near the end of the review, he says:
"As is the way with the old Golf, this new one is never caught out socially, or on the road. It works outside the best restaurant in town and it works when it?s minus seven. It works if you?re a Guardian reader and it works if you take The Times. It?s not chav. It?s not bling. And with prices starting at less than £20,000 it?s not that expensive, either."
(h*************.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12529-1415320_1,00.html)
This is the whole appeal of the Golf GTI, and is part of the reason why it continues to hold its value well, in spite of its well-documented dynamic shortcomings compared with the Clio 172/182 or Civic Type-R.
I'm not for a moment suggesting that the Mk4 Golf GTI is the best car in its class in dynamic terms, but as a sporty sub-10k used buy, it's practical and reliable and makes a lot of sense.
Eulogy over!
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Just looking round at a couple of things just to see what else you might like..
Vauxhall Astra Coupe (know you said you don't like but...)
www.cargiant.co.uk/cars/search3.asp?Id=240042
Audi A3
www.cargiant.co.uk/cars/search3.asp?Id=238958
or what about this pocket rocket
www.cargiant.co.uk/cars/search3.asp?Id=231539
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