[scottyGTi]

golf or focus

alright guys need some logical advice got about 9500 to spend on a tdi??? really love the golfs amd boras (130 being really nice) anyways near me theres a garage its got a 03 plate ford focus TDCI in silver, 3 doors etc for 9695 with only 16000 miles on it.......

..... and he's got 2 golf gt tdi's a 115 (2001 model in silver, single cd) and a 130 (2002 in black with anthracitre trim, multi changer) both are 3 doors and ahve full VAG history. the 115 has 59,000 miles on it and the 130 has 71,000 on it and are both up for ?8995....

i have the feeling that the focus in 4 years time with 80k on it will only be worth about ?3k where as the golf will have near to 140k on it and probably worth the same???

the thing is the focus is only 600 more and is practically a new car and the golfs have already done a fair few miles so i put it to you lot what would you do in this situation.

being im on a mk4 site im expecting a land side vote but still any info will be greatly appreciated?!?!?

which would you go for???????

scott

 

[hornetrider]

I would look a little farther than my local garage for the right car! []

You're right though, on here you will always get people recommending Golfs/Boras. I found when shopping for mine dealers were asking for silly money, saying "VAG diesels go forever, so the mileage doesn't matter"... yeah, until I'm trading in you plonker! I bought mine privately and for the same money got a motor with less than half the mileage than those that were on dealers forecourts....

 

[Richard W]

Trying to be impartial.....

From a completely standard car point of view - the Focus is a more dynamic drive, the Golf however feels better built, has better residuals, has much more tuning/modding potential and a better image - the classless 'quality' car if you like.

I'd agree and look a bit further afield, a good 130 could be had for that budget and as you've found there are other much newer cars that you could buy for the same money - question is what do you really want from it, quality feel or a recent plate.....?

 

[hnergiz]

how about This one or This one and This one

There are some deals to be had but the diesels will always demand a premium. In terms of which one to go for I would say drive both and decide for yourself as you will get a very biased view on here[]

I have driven both and while I liked the ford i just felt it wasnt as punchy and as torquey as the VW.

 

[scottyGTi]

hmmmm hnergiz as youve just there are better ones to be had.... ive drove a 130 bora and was very impressed with it...!!! loveley car id imagine the golf will be just the same!!

as for the focus... its the residual value im looking at... most vw golfs gti's on 91 plates in good condition fetch ?1500 - 3000. dont see many escorts Xr3is for that money do ya??? most are bargain basement with good ones fetching around ?800. I just think that the golf being a performance diesel will be a much sort after car that the focus in years to come regardless of mileage??? what ya think???

 

[sammyboy]

Problem with the Focus for me is that the diesel engine was low power and less tuneable otherwise I'd be on MKII Focii.co.uk right now.

Had a few Focii (alan partridge stylee!)and they were far better handling than the MKIV but who could live with TDCI115 power, not me for sure.

 

[hnergiz]

I totally agree with what your saying and I know which one I would buy if it was my money. I think if you drove a golf PD130 it will probably feel quicker than the bora as it doesnt have the overhang at the rear. I chose the bora because I think it looked better IMO and it drove just as well.

The Golf will always be the more desirable car as the engines are one of the best diesel engines in the world and it has the image which the focus falls very short of IMO. And as Sammyboys says there is more tuning potential if you were to go down this route.

By the way those cars wont be that far from you as I conducted the search from cambridge.

If you decide you want the golf, take your time finding the right car and dont rush into it as the right car will eventually pop up.

 

[scottyGTi]

i clearly feel the VW is much better and i am a VW FAN!!! but when it's your own ?10k and golfs with 16,000 miles on the clock fetch a hefty premium way above this budget you cant help looking at alternatives with lower milegages...even if they be a ford

 

[craigGSI]

the TDCI engine is pretty pokey for the 115bhp stated and IIRC they can be tuned upto about 150bhp

the TDCI sport is the one with the full ST170 kit on it and does look not bad

but it is down to build quality and re-sale value later on and the VW golf wins hands down

 

[gt_redeye]

I agree with craig.

Also if you tuned a 115 focus to 150 I cant imagine the engine lasting very long!

 

[MattC3156]

Having driven both cars I have to say I prefer the PD engine. The PD seems to have a much smoother power delivery and also the rev range seems to be better.

Personally I'd go for a Golf and keep looking round for a decent one!

 

[benjie]

Ford's, by design, fall apart. Driven 3 before getting my Golf, and it feels like it's brand new compared to the Ford's even though it's done a ton of miles. Agree with MattC3156 - look around!!

 

[tdiconvert]

Quote: posted by hornetrider on 27/01/2005 15:22:09

I found when shopping for mine dealers were asking for silly money, saying "VAG diesels go forever, so the mileage doesn't matter"...

Yeah, after numerous MAF sensors, AC compressor, clutch, ARB bushes, rear axle bushes, discs, window mountings etc etc!! []

 

[matt747]

All 3 cars are overpriced; The Focus should be @?8500, the 115TDI should be ?7900 and the 130TDI ?8500. My company runs @40 Focus TDCIs as pool cars and I've driven a few; they are rubbish. Overlooking the Ford quality(that interior must have cost at least 10p) the performance is nothing like as good as the Golfs I've driven and varies widely from one car to another. Note they don't have traction control so driving in the wet gets interesting. The Focus does handle well and imo this is a major problem with 115/130TDI Golfs. The handling is to soft; far too much body roll in bends. Having said that I'd always go for the Golf; 150TDI probably a bit too expensive but a 130TDI with the sports pack would be best buy imo..such as this one:

2001/51 Reg VOLKSWAGEN Golf 1.9 GT TDI 130 3 Doors,Manual 6 speed,Diesel 55000 miles Metallic silver. ABS Adjustable steering column Climate control Computer Elec mirrors Elec windows Immobiliser airbags Power steering Remote locking 6 CD changer Sports seats Traction control Alloy wheels. full VW Service History. New break blocks/discs fitted in November. MOT until November/taxed until May. 55000 miles. ?9000.

Tel: 01724 761092 or 077304 87433

 

[cmgreen]

Focus is made by Ford aint it???

Don think theres a contest between VW and Ford, just remember Self Humiliationers buy fords!!!!!

 

[j40hnw]

Dagenham Dustbins after BHP mods become very unreliable no matter what engine you have.

I would stay German and go with the VW. IMO

 

[fatbob]

It's a good question to ask, and snobbery aside, i think the focus is a very capable car.

I do think it does depends on a what you want to do with it in the longer term as the resdiuals / longer term reliability have implications.

The advice to take your time and have a look around is a good one. And remember, the stealers are chancers!

 

[HardeepG]

Had a focus as a company car for a while, and absolutely loved it. The mk2 focus is so much better than the mk1. Handling is bloody amazing in the focus for a standard car, much better than a standard golf.

Saying that, when it came to spending my own money, i'd rather have a VW, even if the mk4 aint built as well as the older veedubs.

I think vw are resting on their laurels, much in the same way new mercs aren't a patch on the old ones. Someone said to me 'from being built like no other car, to being built like all other cars.'

Get the pd130....decent enough car with a good payback when it comes to sell

 

[UK Paul]

Some more info from the buyer ScottyGTi may be useful....

Is this to be a beater car, or your main car..might help to know this?

As a price example, Today my Father -in-law is selling his Focus Ghia TDCi, 17,000 miles Jan. 2002, 12months MOT, 12 months TAX & new front tyres, alloys, climate, all elec. windows etc, etc for ?8K (OVNO)...but its the saloon...which makes it always cheaper to buy than the hatch & as you haven't ruled saloons out it could pay you to do a wider search on all variants?

This was a ?16000 car...truly amazing...

 

[scottyGTi]

uk paul... need a main car and a beater in some respects. I do over 300 miles a week and want to save money by going diesel.... not worried about mileage on the car but am hoping for less than 80k and under 4 years old. At the same time it will be my only car and i want it to look nice and i plan to own it for a few years and want a good resale value... although i like the focus ive always been a golf fan!!!

i suppose if you look that the focus already has dropped 5k from its list price in a year and a half, where as the golf is creaping on 4 years yet still is demanding high prices where ever you look! what will the focus be worth after 4 years with 71k on the clock........

5k, 4k??????? reasonable prices you think!!! where as the golf with 110k will im sure be worth the same possibly more and definately be in more demand in a resale value with buyers!!!

scott