So what have you lot got against golfs?!

Who would have thunk it!

.

Hmm. I paid £2250 on the basis it was due a cambelt. It's "cost money" but predominantly through choice. Not because it really does break every 5 mins, like I say - clutch pedal and clutch itself have gone. So you can choose from the following if it's a dud or if I'm just playing it safe by sorting stuff for peace of mind in terms of general maintenance.

This is what I've had done and costs since I've had it, I've not added the 295 quid on for flywheel, clutch, slave cylinder and labour as it's not been done yet but:

Basic underside inspection and try free caliper up in Aug/Sep 09 - £5
New car mats in Sept 09 - £20.90
Custom stealth back box in Sept 09 - £30
VW Owners Manuals in Sept 09 - £16.50
Black rear view mirror (instead of cream) in Sept 09 - £0
New clutch pedal and mounting hardware in Nov 09 - £28.90
Labour to SDW Automotive to fit new clutch pedal in Nov 09 - £20
Labour to SB Auto's to check brakes/light grinding noise in Nov 09 - £5
G12 coolant from VW in Dec 09 - £16.38
SB Auto's at 131027 miles for cambelt kit, hydraulic tensioner, waterpump, thermostat & seals, coolant flush, aux belt, fuel filter, labour in Dec 09 - £300
SB Auto's custom back box fitting cost in Dec 09 - £20
MK5 Golf rear wiper blade in Jan 10 - £6.64
NGK platinum spark plugs (PFR6Q) in Jan 10 - £24.12
5L Quantum Platinum 5w/40 fully synth oil, 1L top up, sump nut & seal, oil filter, air filter in Jan 10 - £46.27
Labour for service at SB Autos on 08/02/10 at 132509 miles in Feb 10 - £25

So it's cost money but mainly my choice to spend.

Whats your take on it, out of interest?
 
There seems to be a universal hared of them on these forums! Was just wondering why. Apparently they're sluggish and a bit dull, but surely that's just a poor choice of engine? I'm sure they're no more sluggish than any other car in their class.

I've only driven a few cars in my life, so haven't got much experience to draw on! But my dad picked up a 2008 1.4 TSI a while ago. I drove it recently and it was comfortable, felt pretty quick, solid interior and comfortable (noise wise) cruising along a motorway. I thought that was pretty impressive considering I drive a '99 1.4 polo which is alright around town but gives me a headache above 60! Whilst I appreciate my dads golf is apparently the better choice to make in the range, I wouldn't be unhappy with a lesser powered model if it still means you get to cruise around in that level of comfort, because that's what most people want in a car, no?

DISCUSS!

Its not golfs, its all vw's.
 
can i just ask a few things?

are focus owners/fans saying the build quality in a focus is on a par with a golf or that it is better when you compare the difference in price?

are people saying they don't believe road noise levels are an indicator of build quality?

is someone saying the focus interior isn't plastic?
 
can i just ask a few things?

are focus owners/fans saying the build quality in a focus is on a par with a golf or that it is better when you compare the difference in price?

are people saying they don't believe road noise levels are an indicator of build quality?

is someone saying the focus interior isn't plastic?

The build quality one is an interesting question, depends upon whether you believe that build quality equates to a nicely done interior that doesn't rattle, or something that doesn't break down. They're most definitely not the same thing.
As for road noise, stuff enough sound deadening into anything and it'll be a lot quieter. What are you trying to get at?
 
As for road noise, stuff enough sound deadening into anything and it'll be a lot quieter. What are you trying to get at?

which obviously comes at a price

the vw golf (imo) is one of the best built and reliable cars there is, i think a lot of people in the motoring world (clarkson, like or loathe him has often quoted ''you want a hatchback - you buy a golf'') and thus (imo) has 5 star build quality. the focus has 4 star build quality in comparison.
 
which obviously comes at a price

the vw golf (imo) is one of the best built and reliable cars there is, i think a lot of people in the motoring world (clarkson, like or loathe him has often quoted ''you want a hatchback - you buy a golf'') and thus (imo) has 5 star build quality. the focus has 4 star build quality in comparison.

This made me LOL!
If your'e going by clarkson's words, it may be noted that his wife drives a Ford Focus, which he mentions frequently, and he always refers to the focus as the best in the range!

But are we going to take his word? or are we going to take the majority of the publics word, when the focus is the best selling hatch?

Best build and reliable cars there is? tut tut, this will open a huge can of worms!
 
As for road noise, stuff enough sound deadening into anything and it'll be a lot quieter. What are you trying to get at?

Yeah, 'cause it's that simple. Just stuff in a few old towels and that'll do the trick. You have to do it properly with high quality damping materials. Doing this improves the quality of the construction i.e. build quality.

[TW]Fox;16075196 said:
Then ask him to explain perceived and actual quality to you.

Successfully reducing road noise, requires an improved level of actual build quality. If it was just perceived, then it wouldn't actually reduce road noise, would it.

We'll just have to remain in disagreement as to the definition of build quality.

But are we going to take his word? or are we going to take the majority of the publics word, when the focus is the best selling hatch?

It's the best selling because it provides value for money at a popular price point, not because it's the best hatch.
 
It's the best selling because it provides value for money at a popular price point, not because it's the best hatch.

If its value for money, then the likes of C4, Megane would be the best selling hatch.

Its the fact that overall the Focus is the best car in the range. Price, quality, reliability, running cost, and the enjoyment of driving the focus.

All VW offers is a long heritage of the name 'Golf', and that there has been some pretty good GTi's in the past.
I honestly think if the golf was priced the same as the focus then there would be no competition and the golf would win.

But why would people pay more for a perceived better branded car, when infact its neither inferior nor in any way better value for money than the focus.
 
If its value for money, then the likes of C4, Megane would be the best selling hatch.

Value for money is not the same as the cheapest. Those two you mention are French and many people including myself shudder at the very thought of owning a French car, as they were often unreliable in the past. This may no longer be reality, but it is at least proof that perception does matter in the car market.

Personally when I sit in a Focus, it feels horrible and cheap due to the thinner doors, harder plastics, rattly dash etc. That's where the value lay for me and that's why I didnt have one, even though a Golf is more expensive. If I'd been stretched for cash, then I may have been forced into purchasing a Focus, but I'm bloody glad I wasn't, as they're crap.
 
If I'd been stretched for cash, then I may have been forced into purchasing a Focus, but I'm bloody glad I wasn't, as they're crap.

I'm sorry but this simply isn't true, whilst the Golf may be better built and imho a nicer place to sit the Focus is still a much better drive.
 
If I'd been stretched for cash, then I may have been forced into purchasing a Focus, but I'm bloody glad I wasn't, as they're crap.

Im glad you had the extra 2 grand for erm..... heavier doors and more sound proofing which gives you the feeling that your golf is expensive!!!

Fair enough your opinion is that the focus is crap. But in reality, it's not, you can say its bought becuase its cheap and what not, but the fact of the matter is, it comes out top on any poll and any car magazine.

For me there is nothing the golf has over the focus. At the moment they are the most boring looking cars exterior wise, and the interior on both cars are also bland, unless you top spec the GTi or ST. And when you do that youve spent 26k on a golf and 21k on the ST. Why should you pay 5 grand more for nothing?
 
both focus and golf are good.. its just a personal preference.. im a VAG fan i would take golf over focus any time.. but this does not make focus CRAP because its clearly not
 
Successfully reducing road noise, requires an improved level of actual build quality.

So my Citroen Xantia was well built?

Presumably you think a Golf GTI on the optional 18's is not well built? The road noise in it is quite intrusive. The road noise in an Audi TT is even more intrusive, are you now going to argue that isnt well built either?

If it was just perceived, then it wouldn't actually reduce road noise, would it.

You completely miss the point. Perceived quality are attributes of a car that make you think its well built - things like damped grab handles, the thud the door makes when it closes, how good the dashboard plastics are, etc. If it feels well built, it has high perceived quality - ie, your perception is that it is a quality car.

Actual build quality is different to this and is mostly something you cannot see and is measured in trips back to the dealers to have bits fixed.

It is usually the case that German cars score very highly in perceived quality and are average at actual build quality. I am not being anti Golf here, I'd lump BMW in with this as well. Our cars FEEL well built but that doesn't neccesarily mean they are. A Toyota Avensis for example will give less trouble.

But its perceived quality that most people will buy a car based on and its perceived quality that most average consumers will use to judge the overall quality of a car.

If this isn't something you feel you can understand, fair enough. But that doesnt make it wrong.
 
the Focus is still a much better drive.

Sorry which models are you comparing here? The GT Golf I drove was a much better drive than the equivalent Zetec-S Focus I drove. If you're talking about GTi vs. ST, I can't comment.

Im glad you had the extra 2 grand for erm..... heavier doors and more sound proofing which gives you the feeling that your golf is expensive!!!

No, the extra £2k got me a DSG gearbox, better residuals, and the engine of the year, as well as a much nicer interior.
 
Back
Top Bottom