golf mk4's ?

Oh a good tip for the OP, if you're keener on the Golf than the Focus, have a look at the Seat Toledo. It's a sister car of the Golf (well, Bora, but same thing) and its a Leon with a boot.

Insurance is suprisingly cheap because of its more boring image than the Leon and they're cheaper to buy because they arent as desirable. But they share the same feel as the VWs in terms of quality, decent amount of space too.

Odd reccomendation I know, making it because I owned one at 21 and had no trouble insuring it (1.9TDI) and it was a very reliable car.
 
Ive said this before, and Ill admit its experience on only one car...but my friends 1.8T Golf GTi with 80K or so miles on the clock has an interior which creaks and rattles constantly when driving along. Comparably, my 87K mile Focus is squeak free (apart from one slight rattle around the rear seatbelt which I need to track down and fix).

Like I say, not comprehensive, but it is at least contrary to the overriding view that the MK4 Golf has an interior carved from granite.
 
I have a mk4 GTI and its really dull and boring, its also the slowest car i have ever driven so god knows how the 1.4 feels. The centre console rattles all the time and the gear linkage feels awful. lucky i have a mk2 for my fun so its serves its purpose as a daily hack. Having said that its cost me bugger all to run for the last 6 months but i still hate it.
 
You don't need to drive a 1.4 Golf to know it will be gutless, the same goes for the 1.4 Focus. Yes I have experienced the 1.6 Golf 1st hand and found it not as good to drive as my dads 1.6 Focus which I haven't driven much but it is the better driving car of the two.

I am not in the minority either.
 
It's a reasonable price, although I'll give you 2 guesses why...

If you can cope with the colour then its a good option, although white will always be harder to sell on.
 
TD or TDCi?

The former is quite an old design, a bit sluggish but pulls well enough and relatively bulletproof.

The latter is a good engine, plenty of poke but some common problems
 
I wouldn't touch the diesel. The diesel in the pre facelift models is awful. The TDCI unit in the 51 - onwards mk1.5 is much better.
 
Avoid. TDi is awful.

You'd be better off with the petrol.

961701-2.jpg

Pre Facelift

Ford_Focus.jpg

Facelift.

The Model to go for is the Zetec.

PS. Where are you finding all these white cars? :confused:
 
Janesy B said:
Avoid. TDi is awful.

You'd be better off with the petrol.

The Model to go for is the Zetec.

PS. Where are you finding all these white cars? :confused:
Click to expand...

Zetec is definitely the best value in terms of spec and I think for your budget the diesels arent worth considering as there's always a premium on them.

A black or silver, unmodified 1.6 Zetec is your best bet
 
Don't get the 1.8, it's thirsty and not that quick. Mileage isn't a massive issue, with your budget you'd be looking at 70/80k miles. Make sure the cambelt has been changed, if it hasn't, walk away.

The Zetec has a good spec, Electric Windows and Mirrors, you get the nicest interior trim and aircon too :)
 
If you prefer the styling of the Golf, then why not get one? I did, albeit it was more than the Focus, but then the resell is slightly higher. The 1.6 engines for both are gutless, but as a first car shouldn't matter too much. I prefer the interior of the Golf, but as said above it isn't flawless like the reputation makes out.

If you have to get a Golf 1.4 or 1.6 make sure it's at least an SE. However, everyone on here will convince you to get a Focus :D
 
[TW]Fox;13868875 said:
Hopefully you will feel like a bit of a fool for posting that, as that page tells you NOTHING about the different trim levels of the Mk4 Golf and what each of them gives you and is of limited help to the OP.

Basically, S is bottom of the range, SE is mid spec and adds things like air conditioning.
Click to expand...
:o I posted the wrong link - but I know when to back out.

/backs out
 
CoreKrogoth said:
I have a mk4 GTI and its really dull and boring, its also the slowest car i have ever driven so god knows how the 1.4 feels. The centre console rattles all the time and the gear linkage feels awful. lucky i have a mk2 for my fun so its serves its purpose as a daily hack. Having said that its cost me bugger all to run for the last 6 months but i still hate it.
Click to expand...

If that's a 1.8T GTI then you're priveledged if it's the slowest car you've ever driven :)

Mine has 83K on the clock now and I don't have any console rattles at all.. only squeak I have is by one of the rear seatbelts and I cba to figure out what it is - I just turn the stereo up :)

Agreed about gear linkage, although I got this looked at by a mate and it feels a bit better now. Steering is way too light on these cars too as well IMO but there are worse places you could be - I find it OK for long journeys.
 
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