Swapping into an older car? 62 plate Focus to 57 plate golf GTI

I don't specifically want a golf, I just want something a bit more involving than what I currently have. I may just get it bluefin'd and see what happens.
 
MissChief said:
I don't specifically want a golf, I just want something a bit more involving than what I currently have. I may just get it bluefin'd and see what happens.
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Golfs are nice, but they are NOT involving to drive. One of the reasons they are "nice" is that the driver is quite heavily detached from feeling any input.

Get something RWD, relatively sporty and learn where it's breaking point is. For reference, I can have more "fun" in my 140BHP MX5 than I can in my 310PS S3. That said, I'd rather commute or go on long motorway jaunts/holidays in the S3.
 
Having gone from a 07 A3 2.0TFSI (same engine and relatively close relation to the Golf) to a Mk3 Focus (albeit the 125bhp 1.0 Ecoboost). I personally find the Focus much more involving to drive (The A3's steering felt as far disconnected from the driver as could be), and the interior feels a lot more modern.
 
paradigm said:
Golfs are nice, but they are NOT involving to drive. One of the reasons they are "nice" is that the driver is quite heavily detached from feeling any input.

Get something RWD, relatively sporty and learn where it's breaking point is. For reference, I can have more "fun" in my 140BHP MX5 than I can in my 310PS S3. That said, I'd rather commute or go on long motorway jaunts/holidays in the S3.
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Sadly I need three seats minimum, occasionally four or five!
 
Armageus said:
Having gone from a 07 A3 2.0TFSI (same engine and relatively close relation to the Golf) to a Mk3 Focus (albeit the 125bhp 1.0 Ecoboost). I personally find the Focus much more involving to drive (The A3's steering felt as far disconnected from the driver as could be), and the interior feels a lot more modern.
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Thankfully that un-involved driving experience doesn't carry over to the Golf GTI though:

The GTI is such a neat and tidy thing to drive. It doesn’t default to safe understeer like too many VW group cars do, but neither is it snappy and spiteful. Like all great hot hatches, it cossets you and welcomes you, allowing you to quickly build confidence, driving it quicker and quicker each time you get in.

The Mk5 Golf GTI relishes a smooth, measured driving style, and it’s unlikely to unearth your inner yob or encourage you to start throwing it around. But as your cornering speeds build, you’ll uncover more and more about a finely balanced chassis that works both axles, rather than just hinging around how much grip its front two tyres have.
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Hot hatches have moved on a lot in terms of firepower and absolute traction, but I’m not sure they’ve moved on with such great strides where pure fun is concerned. And the GTI’s setup is so fine out of the box: unlike the fast Golfs which followed it, there are no adjustable modes or buttons to toggle when you get in. Your only choice is whether the stability control is switched on or off.

It’s a damn good car, but if I were to criticise, it’s one that stops just short of being genuinely thrilling. But until the hardcore GTI Clubsport S arrived this year, that had always been the Golf GTI way: trading the final ten per cent of excitement for proper liveability. And in that regard, this car is sublimely judged.
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Taken from Top Gears review of the mk5 GTI last year as a "bargain hero". https://www.topgear.com/car-news/top-gear-heroes/top-gears-bargain-heroes-mk5-vw-golf-gti
 
Fair point.

How about Evo?

Overall, the mk5 Golf GTI was a car that felt tight and cohesive to drive. Performance was excellent, handling and road-holding were almost peerless in its class and, just like the original GTI, it delivered driver enjoyment in spades. It’s for these very reasons that the mk5 GTI also makes a handy trackday car, which can be something of a double-edged sword. Potential buyers need to check carefully for signs of circuit use as, while this won’t necessarily mean there are problems, it is worth knowing as much of a car’s history as possible. If you want to use it on the track, though, then you’ll be hard-pressed to find more fun from a daily driver.
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RAC?

The fifth generation car adopts a pragmatic tactic in 'benchmarking' the suspension of the Ford Focus - and it works a treat. The body is eighty per cent stiffer than its predecessor and the electro-mechanical steering feel and composed body control are leagues ahead. As a result, Volkswagen have been able to build a hot hatch version that enthusiasts will again want to drive. Once again, with the MKV Golf, Wolfsburg could claim to make the definitive GTI.
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I could quote some more, but the general consesus is that, whilst not 100% thrilling, they are very competent, not like many other VAG motors when it comes to an understeery mess, but plenty good enough to shuffle them down the road with impressive enough results.
 
xs2man said:
Taken from Top Gears review of the mk5 GTI last year as a "bargain hero". https://www.topgear.com/car-news/top-gear-heroes/top-gears-bargain-heroes-mk5-vw-golf-gti
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Not sure I can take their review seriously though when they neglect one of the main reasons for buying a ED30:
The only notable special edition is the Edition 30, which brought a slightly more assertive bodykit and some smart BBS alloy wheels on the outside, and some leathery bits and a comeback for the GTI dimpled gearknob on the inside. These are quite desirable, though don’t cost much more than a comparable base GTI, starting at £7,000.
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True enough. But the point was regarding the handling characteristics of the mk5 Golf GTI, and how it isn't the same as "run of the mill" A3 2.0T.

I'm not sure how much a general Top Gear audience cares about the tuning potential of a certain engine to be fair. But I'm quite sure they might be interested in how it drives generally. So their conclusion here might have some validity, especially as it appears to be backed up throughout the motoring press.
 
Audi cars always seem to have any fun removed, because ze Germans do not like ze fun!

Looking at Focus Mk.2 ST's they don't seem to have three rear seat belts? Not even a lap belt?
 
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xs2man said:
True enough. But the point was regarding the handling characteristics of the mk5 Golf GTI, and how it isn't the same as "run of the mill" A3 2.0T.
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Don't get me wrong, I haven't actually driven a GTI, but I have driven a Golf GTD, an 8P A3 without S-Line suspension, and my 8P A3 that had S-Line suspension. Overall they all felt exceedingly similar, and I can't believe a GTI is going to feel like a completely different car.
 
Armageus said:
Don't get me wrong, I haven't actually driven a GTI, but I have driven a Golf GTD, an 8P A3 without S-Line suspension, and my 8P A3 that had S-Line suspension. Overall they all felt exceedingly similar, and I can't believe a GTI is going to feel like a completely different car.
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It won't.

The media currently heralds the Golf R as "more dynamic" than the S3, but having driven both, they are so closely matched on the road, it makes little difference. On the track the Golf R might show more of an edge, but let's face it, how often are you going to be taking it on track!
 
Rroff said:
Not sure about the budget side but might not be a bad shout - the standard cars are a bit "pedestrian" and gutless
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They were the most powerful FWD hatches around when they came out. How are they now suddenly 'gutless'? Don't get me wrong, I can't stand them and would never recommend one, but the one thing they are not is gutless, especially alongside a Golf GTI or a Focus Zetec-S.
 
[TW]Fox said:
They were the most powerful FWD hatches around when they came out. How are they now suddenly 'gutless'? Don't get me wrong, I can't stand them and would never recommend one, but the one thing they are not is gutless, especially alongside a Golf GTI or a Focus Zetec-S.
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Was talking about the standard spec 3 and 6 models versus the MPS and/or stage 2 tuned versions - the standard spec cars I've found quite boring and power delivery underwhelming while the performance variants are the complete opposite story almost Jekyll and Hyde like.
 
If you've got £6k and looking at 10yr old hot hatches have you not considered what was regarded as the best of that period, the Megane R26 F1? Great chassis, 230bhp, LSD, Brembo 4 pots, Recaros.
 
dale1uk said:
If you've got £6k and looking at 10yr old hot hatches have you not considered what was regarded as the best of that period, the Megane R26 F1? Great chassis, 230bhp, LSD, Brembo 4 pots, Recaros.
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Was just about to post this. Surely this will be the most involving FWD hatch that you can buy at this money?
 
dale1uk said:
If you've got £6k and looking at 10yr old hot hatches have you not considered what was regarded as the best of that period, the Megane R26 F1? Great chassis, 230bhp, LSD, Brembo 4 pots, Recaros.
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tom_nieto said:
Was just about to post this. Surely this will be the most involving FWD hatch that you can buy at this money?
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Ive never really liked the looks. Although the 5 door looks better.
 
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