Focus or Golf?

Agent_matt · 18 Jun 2007 at 16:18

Im looking for a car between £5,500 and £6,000 and have decided that a Golf or Focus looks like the best bet but can anyone tell me which is best for the following:

a) Fuel economy (cheaper = better)
b) Insurance group (based on both similar performance) (edit-IGNORE THIS QUESTION)
c) Best equipped for the same money (Air con/CD player/fancy wheels etc)
d) Providing the most fun

Failing that, is anyone able to offer any recommendations of other cars of similar size/price.

Booner! · 18 Jun 2007 at 16:27

I was in the same catagory at one point..

I went out to buy a Focus and went home in a golf

Personal opinion mind you... cause I am sure you can get just about the same spec and more in a Focus than a Golf.

I have a 1.6SE 16v Golf in Metallic black and paid around £5500 for it in Jan

A.) I get 38mpg - but with Aircon and 18" Alloys...
B.) Insurance group 5 IIRC
C.) I got Air Con, Cd Player + 6 CD changer, Cupholders, 16" Alloys, 28,000 miles on the clock and some other *Goodies*
D.) I found the golf more fun...but as I said this is personal preference, you really need to drive both cars, the Focus felt like a Bus to me, but it still looked nice.

Thats coming from a Golf owner's point of view.

[TW]Fox · 18 Jun 2007 at 16:29

Golf is fat, lardy, fake prestige hatch for wives to look posh outside Hampshire health clubs. Focus drives better, costs less to buy, is more reliable, but doesn't have as solid an interior.

NarChaDBaueR · 18 Jun 2007 at 16:31

theres been a big focus on hampshire recently! do a lot of people come from around hampshire then?!"?!?!

Dr_Evil · 18 Jun 2007 at 16:31

Focus! Good value for money.

Septh · 18 Jun 2007 at 16:39

NarChaDBaueR said:
theres been a big focus on hampshire recently! do a lot of people come from around hampshire then?!"?!?!

I come from Hampshire!!

Abyss · 18 Jun 2007 at 16:40

Both are good solid cars, but for their price point the Focus offers better value for money.

Tom|Nbk · 18 Jun 2007 at 16:45

[TW]Fox said:
Golf is fat, lardy, fake prestige hatch for wives to look posh outside Hampshire health clubs. Focus drives better, costs less to buy, is more reliable, but doesn't have as solid an interior.

PMSL. Straight to the point I like it.

The Running Man · 18 Jun 2007 at 16:56

[TW]Fox said:
Golf is fat, lardy, fake prestige hatch for wives to look posh outside Hampshire health clubs. Focus drives better, costs less to buy, is more reliable, but doesn't have as solid an interior.

if by fat and lardy you mean - the 5 door focus weighs more than the 5 door Golf.. (1.6 vs 1.6...)

if by "drive better" you mean very similar. is questionablly more "reliable" i cant prove this either way tbh, but anecdotally i know my mate had to spend a bit on his focus on things like wheel bearings (on an 01/02 plate car...) before his engine finally siezed up...

L1J · 18 Jun 2007 at 17:05

Driven both (Golf 1.6, Focus 1.8), the Focus is the better "drivers car" out of the two. Much more fun and involving to throw around corners.

Booner! · 18 Jun 2007 at 17:06

[TW]Fox said:
Golf is fat, lardy, fake prestige hatch for wives to look posh outside Hampshire health clubs.

As per usual I strongly disagree with your OPINION (not really a point)

How does that look like a Lardy wife's car? Its heavier.. but not fat?

Focus drives better, costs less to buy, is more reliable, but doesn't have as solid an interior.

I enjoyed the drive of the Golf tbh, but the focus handled nicely. I agree the Focus is also reliable and the interior is OK for what you spend.

Both are good cars

Wayn0r · 18 Jun 2007 at 17:33

imo, the only reason the focus feels more like a drivers car is because its just about to fall apart

im biased, strongly, but i put up with fox's outlandish statements because i enjoy the comments he gets

i drove a focus rs before the r32. totally different i know, probably a lot more refined than the cars your looking at. but my above statement still stands. the golf is much better put together than the focus. at speed the golf is quiet, and steady whereas the rs was very twitchy and iffy on the road. probably something to do with the LSD.

If everybody listened to fox we'd all have bmw's or mondeos, so i suggest you go and try them for yourself

[TW]Fox · 18 Jun 2007 at 17:45

Wayn0rs golf doesnt count becuase its lard is cancelled out by the enormous great engine in it

Wayn0r · 18 Jun 2007 at 17:53

Abyss · 18 Jun 2007 at 18:09

L1J said:
Driven both (Golf 1.6, Focus 1.8), the Focus is the better "drivers car" out of the two. Much more fun and involving to throw around corners.

Similar. I drove the Focus 2.0L and Golf 2.0L GTI (yes the dog slow one). I preferred the handling of the Focus.

Luke · 18 Jun 2007 at 18:24

Seat Leon?

Lopéz · 18 Jun 2007 at 18:28

Golf left me cold. Focus quite nice for a new car. Focus the better drivers car for sure.

MrSix · 18 Jun 2007 at 19:01

I chose a Golf because I prefer their looks and the interior is a much nicer place to be than a Focus'.

Beware though, my Golf is the 1.6S 8v model and so far i've had to replace the gearbox, sunroof motor and I'm in the process of fitting the new window regulator clips to replace the old plastic ones for new metal ones due to mine snapping and dropping the window in to the door frame!

They're lovely cars if you just want something nice to sit in and cruise around, but if you're after a sporty hatch, neither are to be fair.

[TW]Fox · 18 Jun 2007 at 19:31

I would say the Focus is a definate candidate for a good Sporty hatch.

Goody_GTI · 18 Jun 2007 at 19:52

Golf all the way, a focus may feel like more of a drivers car, but spend about 4.5k on a 1.8T golf and get it mapped and it will put more of a grin on your face than any focus ever will.