Golf vs Focus
- Thread starter Chives
- Start date
The cloth Golf GTi seats are terrible, one of the worst I've ever seen in a 'current' car. The Focus ST (mk2 facelift) I drove had a very nice interior I though, not as well put together as the Golf and used more plastics and I didn't think it was bad at all. The Golf was well put together but a bit boring and bland for me, I think I prefered the Focus.
Cars were a 09 Focus ST against a 58 Golf GTi.
Cars were a 09 Focus ST against a 58 Golf GTi.
Permabanned
- Joined
- 25 Oct 2004
- Posts
- 9,078
Standard Focus has a horrible plasticy steering wheel, the ST has a very confortible soft leather one.
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Jan 2009
- Posts
- 4,325
I'd have a golf personally, much less boring car, much better looking and more likely to be superior build quality.
Fords just tend to be uber practical, bit of a laugh but theres nothing to them really, it's a bit of a suburban family car.
Fords just tend to be uber practical, bit of a laugh but theres nothing to them really, it's a bit of a suburban family car.
What pictures do not show however is the quality of each. The VAG offering is better in more ways than that picture can possibly show. Its always been the case and pretty much why i do not like the feeling of most Fords much.
A better comparison:
That's a facelift focus, but the only difference that I can see if the CF centre console, and the display in the centre of the dials.
Focus wins hands down for me, although the Golf did have a slightly tidier feel to it.
I agree with Robbie, hence why I went for a Focus, especially when you bring price into the equation.
That's a facelift focus, but the only difference that I can see if the CF centre console, and the display in the centre of the dials.
Focus wins hands down for me, although the Golf did have a slightly tidier feel to it.
I agree with Robbie, hence why I went for a Focus, especially when you bring price into the equation.
Last edited:
Caporegime
- Joined
- 13 May 2003
- Posts
- 34,593
- Location
- Warwickshire
^ If you went for the Focus, you disagree with me not agree 
.
I honestly don't get the comments about the Golf being dull. Neither dash is hugely exciting, but then do you want your dashboard to look like someone from Buck Rogers has designed it on a bad acid trip (cough Honda cough) or for it to look and feel classy and refined? For the, the latter. How exciting can a family hatchback be anyway? It's like saying you want your living room to be exciting and it's boring because it looks smart. Most people's living rooms (with any taste) would go for a tasteful subtle look rather than garish bits of bling and bells and whistles everywhere.
.I honestly don't get the comments about the Golf being dull. Neither dash is hugely exciting, but then do you want your dashboard to look like someone from Buck Rogers has designed it on a bad acid trip (cough Honda cough) or for it to look and feel classy and refined? For the, the latter. How exciting can a family hatchback be anyway? It's like saying you want your living room to be exciting and it's boring because it looks smart. Most people's living rooms (with any taste
) would go for a tasteful subtle look rather than garish bits of bling and bells and whistles everywhere.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2006
- Posts
- 3,697
Strange one a 58 plate Golf GTI would have came with a full leather interior as standard ?
100% didn't have leather so might have been a late registration or maybe my mind is playing tricks on me?
Sorry, I misread it, your comments on handling threw me as I was of the opinion that Golfs handled better.
Its not just an exciting dashboard, I just feel the Focus feels like a better place to be - but part of it is that the Focus interior reminds you that you're sat in a hot hatch, and being that it was only the hot hatches that I was interested in, this was a definite plus for me.
Its not just an exciting dashboard, I just feel the Focus feels like a better place to be - but part of it is that the Focus interior reminds you that you're sat in a hot hatch, and being that it was only the hot hatches that I was interested in, this was a definite plus for me.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 13 May 2003
- Posts
- 34,593
- Location
- Warwickshire
No it wouldn't?
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2006
- Posts
- 3,697
For the last two years of the Mk5 Golf the GTI and GT came with full heated leather as standard.
The Edition 30 had a half leather interior with the tartan inserts.
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2006
- Posts
- 3,697
I agree with you the GTI ever so slightly handles better than the ST, I found the lightler front end of the GTI made it change directions quicker and helped it feel more pointy in the corners.
Its a tougher one on the interior I didn't think the STs was bad but when you have the sat nav and highline instrument cluster in the Golf it is not a bad looking dash. The steering wheel and gear lever also felt better in the Golf, the engine/exhaust note of the ST is much better however which helps with the hot hatch feel. Second hand the ST does over better value for money especially the ST3 if you can live with the fuel consumption.
I have to say that I also think the Focus (and most of the Ford range for that matter) seem to have centre consoles made from re-cycled Aiwa stereo plastic. However they drive, they're not nice on the inside.
For all that, if you buy new, there's a BIG difference in what you can pay. Check this site:
http://www.uk-car-discount.co.uk/new-volkswagen/golf.html
I've linked to a Golf 1.6D, which can be bought with a £1500 discount. The same Focus can be had with a £5k discount. That's quite a big difference in initial costs.
For all that, if you buy new, there's a BIG difference in what you can pay. Check this site:
http://www.uk-car-discount.co.uk/new-volkswagen/golf.html
I've linked to a Golf 1.6D, which can be bought with a £1500 discount. The same Focus can be had with a £5k discount. That's quite a big difference in initial costs.
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2006
- Posts
- 3,697
Someone was taking pills at VW when they came up with the MK6 pricing they upped the price before the vat change and with the vat change the prices are just mental 25.5k for a DSG Golf GTI is crazy. Then for the final laugh they decided to price the R20 more than a S3.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 13 May 2003
- Posts
- 34,593
- Location
- Warwickshire
But what I mean is - you could still have specced tartan, so what's strange about it? Not everyone likes leather.
ghop said:but still prefer them to the ultra-bland golf
What's bland about them though? Every time I've seen that comment, the person making the comment has provided zero tangible clear substance as to what supposedly makes it so much more bland than any other family hatchback. To me it's less bland, as I can worry less about the laughable interior falling apart and concentrate more on driving it.
The cheapest, most basic spec Focus is almost £18,000! And it will be worth about 2p in 5 years time
The cheapest, most basic spec Golf is almost £15,000, with a similarly powered model (5% more power, 6 instead of 5 gears) costing £16,000.
And the Golf has vastly better residual values and will look significantly less tatty with age.
No contest.