So what have you lot got against golfs?!

the focus RS is a good car and adds much needed flair to the range but it's a little ''in your face'' imo when compared to the more subtle R32
the golf is the complete package; performance, reliability, looks and image. image does count for a lot. i could never pull onto the car park in a lime green RS, not unless i was under 25. but maybe that's the point?
Click to expand...

To start with I have no particular affinity with either Ford or VW. Still, your point can be interpreted differently by others. The R32 might be considered too subtle, rightly or wrongly. A "rally rep" image might be the one the owner wants to project.

What im trying to say in a rather crap and rushed manner is that image is simply a perception.
 
cm1179 said:
of course they'd disagree, that's why they spent their hard earned on one

the focus RS is a good car and adds much needed flair to the range but it's a little ''in your face'' imo when compared to the more subtle R32
the golf is the complete package; performance, reliability, looks and image. image does count for a lot. i could never pull onto the car park in a lime green RS, not unless i was under 25. but maybe that's the point?
Click to expand...

So your'e telling me you wouldn't own a lamborghini becuase it's in your face?

Give over mate!

The RS is simply designed the way it is, firstly to continue the broad looks that the RS Team has produced over the years, and also to celebrate the Worl Rally team, hence the green colour. You can get it in blue if you want, doesn't look as "in your face"
 
Robbie G said:
I don't THINK the road noise is reduced, it IS reduced. It's not an opinion, it's a fact. It's been measured in tests.
Click to expand...

What tests are these?

Why does road noise suffice enough to hold your argument about build quality? You've been proven wrong that becuase a car has loud road noise does not make it a good build!!
 
Might be worth someone creating a thread stating their car, and subsequent posters comment on the image projected :)
 
Witor said:
To start with I have no particular affinity with either Ford or VW. Still, your point can be interpreted differently by others. The R32 might be considered too subtle, rightly or wrongly. A "rally rep" image might be the one the owner wants to project.

What im trying to say in a rather crap and rushed manner is that image is simply a perception.
Click to expand...

you summed it up nicely with the phrase ''rally rep''
 
rossk26 said:
So your'e telling me you wouldn't own a lamborghini becuase it's in your face?
Click to expand...

I can honestly belive it after Spie shared his ferrari ownership experience with us (his 599)

He had people stopping alongside him to look at the car, crowds of people gathering whenever he left it in a car park, people stopping, staring and taking photos etc..

Fair enough if you like that sort of attention, i think it would wear thin very quickly, especially if your not the ostentatious type.

For those of us who dream of owning a ferrari or lamborghini, this would probably seem amazing. But as said, once you're there, and just want to enjoy your car without attracting attention, it would wear thin.
 
Here's some stats:

Warranty direct have measured their claims and created and index as an arbitrary way of comparing cars (example link below)
http://www.carpages.co.uk/go.asp?session=3@1@60726@242904@27

In short, the Focus has an index of 62, the Golf 58. As lower is better, the Golf is a better from an actual warranty claim perspective.


JD Power have the following:
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/jd-power-owner-satisfaction-2009/the-winners/240819

The Golf is 24th, the Focus down in 70th.

In short, the Golf really is a bit more reliable, and their owners like them more (probably down to having a nice interior).


So, is that it? Well not quite. Look a little more and you'll find that the Civic (previous shape, they didn't have stats for the newer blobby one) has an index of 30 and on the JD power award (thus for the new shape) has it in 15th.

In other words, both the Focus AND Golf are fairly mediocre in their reliability and are comprehensively bettered by the Japanese equivalent.


With regards to the comments about road noise, here's the only comparison that I could find from a 3rd party group:
http://www.carbuyersinfo.co.uk/Ford Focus vs VW Golf.htm
According to that, the Golf is actually 2db noisier.

Edit, for reference, the Civic is another 1db quieter than the Focus, i.e. 3db quieter than the Golf.
 
Last edited:
rossk26 said:
What tests are these?
Click to expand...

Sound level testers in the cabin, at different speeds. They're published, can't remember where I've seen them but there was a video review of the V vs the VI and they compared the sound levels in the cabin. It was one of those online car magasines.

rossk26 said:
Why does road noise suffice enough to hold your argument about build quality? You've been proven wrong that becuase a car has loud road noise does not make it a good build!!
Click to expand...

I assume you mean low road noise rather than loud. Besides which, I never even said that, so I don't know how I could have been proven wrong. Road noise being a single possible indicator of build quality is not the same as it being the solitary indicator of build quality.
 
Just to add to my post above, the sheer level of belief that their humdrum box is massively better is probably what annoys me the most about Golfs and their buyers. When, as clearly shown by actual facts, they're really really average for reliability AND noise.
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Just to add to my post above, the sheer level of belief that their humdrum box is massively better is probably what annoys me the most about Golfs and their buyers. When, as clearly shown by actual facts, they're really really average for reliability AND noise.
Click to expand...

oh right. that'll be the post that shows it out scoring the focus and also shows a japanse car (an extremely boring one) beating them both?
 
Mr_Sukebe said:
Just to add to my post above, the sheer level of belief that their humdrum box is massively better is probably what annoys me the most about Golfs and their buyers. When, as clearly shown by actual facts, they're really really average for reliability AND noise.
Click to expand...

Read this.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/244996/comfort.html

Be as annoyed as you like, that's just one of many reviews citing the Golf VI's cabin noise as class-leading.

Secondly, the noise levels you quoted refer to the Golf MkV, they've just stuck a picture of the Golf MkVI next to it as they were too lazy to get the right one. I know this because there is no Sport trim level in the Golf MkVI. The MkVI is significantly better than the V with regards to cabin noise.
 
Robbie G - provide evidence to demonstrate the road noise levels in a Golf are class leading. If you cannot I will assume you have just made it up.

Btw: autoexpress opinion wont suffice. You are claiming something to be factually the case remember.
 
cm1179 said:
oh right. that'll be the post that shows it out scoring the focus and also shows a japanse car (an extremely boring one) beating them both?
Click to expand...

And here was I thinking that we were debating actual RELIABILITY, not some subjective view on whether or not we like the car.

Getting reliability out of the way, yes the Civic is clearly better based upon actual facts and statistics.

As or whether they're boring, well that is subjective. Yes I have driven a Golf, and really did think that it was decidedly ordinary (but with a nice interior), whereas I really liked the Civic I tried.

No, I don't own a hatchback at all, so don't call is fanboyism.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom