VW Golf - Advice Please

[heisthegaffer]

Hi all

Looking to get the missus a golf but need some info about the engines and economy in general.

Firstly, she drives to work 3 miles away and back for lunch before returning to work i.e 4 journeys of 3 miles each. Plus a few longer journeys at the weekend etc and we may use this car for holidays.

I would prefer a diesel for the economy and in particular these longer trips but is it worth the extra cost of buying the car plus cost per litre?

If we go down the diesel route what are the differences in the engines? There are loads of SDI's about, are they good engines? Budget is around £6k odd.

If going for petrol, are the 1.6s okay on the motorway or do they struggle? I know they're not going to be performance cars, this is not why we're buying one but at the same time we don't want to be struggling on the motorway.

Finally, anything to look out for when we buy one. as i said budget is £6k odd and we're looking for as low milage as possible.

Thanks

[The Nur]

Should be able to pick up a new fox for £6k, I'm sure someone will be along shortly to tell you where from.

I would tell you but its something I read on here so am unsure where/who is running the offer

edited for speeeelung errors

Edited by The Nur on Tuesday 6th July 13:12

[littleandy0410]

Not worth buying a diesel for a 3 mile trip- it won't get warm enough to be economical.

In fact, buy her a bloody push bike!

[LeoSayer]

I wouldn't buy a diesel for such short journeys. Diesels give fantastic economy when run for long periods but for such short journeys a petrol will probably be better.

Look at the 1.4TSI, more torque than the 1.6.

[goffahsez]

Personally I'd recommend the 1.6 petrol, as I'd say the 3mile commute doesn't warrant a diesel, IMO obviously!
I'd sat the 1.6 may take longer getting up to speed but ploding along the motorway would be fine!

[ManOpener]

Don't get a diesel for short journeys. It will never get hot enough for the particulate filter to clean itself, which will mean a breakdown and a costly repair bill after a very short milage (probably)

[the-photographer]

For £6k your probably going to be limited to the 1.6 petrol anyway.

Do not consider the SDI.

However modern Polo's have grown-up, so you may want to try one for space, loads of 1.4's around.

[HellDiver]

How about an A3 S-Line? Think of the imagine.

Seriously, though, get her the petrol. A diesel won't even start to warm up, or charge the battery enough in winter if she's doing that sort of driving. A petrol might even get the heater going by the time she gets half way down the road.

I do a 1.1 mile commute, and the petrol Mondeo can have it's heater working before I hit work. My previous diesel Lancer and diesel Astra both took 10 miles of my previous 25 mile commute to get the heater working in cold weather.

Edited by HellDiver on Tuesday 6th July 13:50

[Deva Link]

HellDiver said:

My previous diesel Lancer and diesel Astra both took 10 miles of my previous 25 mile commute to get the heater working in cold weather.

I agree with the general comments that the journey is far too short to use a diesel.

However, pretty well all diesels have electric boosters (for the engine coolant) now and some have warm air heaters. I drove a Merc A Class courtesy car and the heater was almost as quick as turning a hair dryer on. These things often don't work though until the car is being driven (and the alternator is going some) so what just doesn't work with any modern diesel is just leaving it idling to warm up.

I can't imagine the battery charge would last long though if all that was being deployed 4 times per day in the winter and the car was only run for 3 miles.

[convert]

Well, the Wife has a 9 year old A2 1.4Tdi. We've had it for 4 years.

Her usual commute is 1.5 miles to work and 1.5 back, with the odd shopping trip thrown in.

All the serious mileage is done in my company Golf.


We've just had to replace the (original) battery on her car.

As for the heater warming up, well the A2 has a Webasto Diesel fired heater that kicks in below 5 deg C.

The car gives us 50+ mpg, and the only issues we've had with it are a couple of broken coil springs due to the crap roads in the people's republic of SY.


Having said that the A2 is a very light car, and it does warm up quickly.

My diseasel Golf (MkV 1.9Tdi 105bhp) takes a little longer to warm up, but when the wife uses it to 'commute' (when I take the TVR) she still manages around 40mpg, although I usually get about 50mpg out of it.

I'd say the best thing to do is go and take your wife to test drive a few, see which she prefers.

[off_again]

Dont go for an SDI - thats the non-turbo one and cheap but nasty. They are way better than they used to be, but will feel gutless, slow and sluggish. Economy isnt much better either, so you dont really gain too much there.

Also the comments on the diesel not warming up are valid too. Probably wont be too much in it with MPG, but in Winter its going to struggle to get warm in the mornings as diesels take a long time to warm up in general. Maybe a smaller engined petrol model a better bet?

[unpc]

3 miles is too short for a trip for a petrol let alone a diesel on a regular basis. Unless it gets the chance to get fully up to temperature you're likely to be creating a whole load of trouble later. As has been said get her a bike or failing that a scooter.

[heisthegaffer]

Thanks for all of the replies. I'll a) suggest a bike b) avoid the sdi which sounds awful and c) aim for a smaller engined petrol, prob the 1.6

I know people have mentioned a VW Fox (admittedly tongue-in-cheek) but frankly I think they're revolting. I'd rather spend a bit more on a panda 100hp but in any case this class is a bit small for our needs.

Thanks again people

[off_again]

Isnt the Fox made in South America? Mexico or Brazil or something? Not exactly well known for building a car well though, so maybe stick to something thats made in Europe and preferably Germany....

[bazking69]

Given the mileages mentioned I'd go out with the intention of looking at petrol engined cars.

[neil_bolton]

For christs sake don't buy an SDI. You should be able to get a TDI, if you must get a Golf.

Take a look at Skoda and Seats too don't forget.

[randomman]

As said previously may as well get the petrol, 1.4TFSI being pick of the small engined bunch.

• Clears throat*

DO NOT GET THE SDI!!!!11

That engine is so bad that it should have been put down at birth.

IIRC it was designed to run on Brazillian grade (read 50% sewage) diesel.

[MrLou]

Diesel doesn't make sense for that kind of mileage if you ask me.

You pay more for the car so any cost saving on fuel is eaten up.

If you go for a turbo diesel (and I have to echo the 'Don't buy an SDI') there is more to go wrong than with a non-turbo petrol.

I reckon the nicest, petrol engined, Golf, Polo, Civic, Jazz or Yaris I could find locally for the budget would be how I'd shop.

Good luck.

[catman]

Not sure how old a 1.6 golf would be for your budget, but the older ones had a weak point in the final drive, which could wreck the transmission.

That was on the Mk4, so may have been cured on the later models.

Tim

[Matt UK]

ManOpener said:

Don't get a diesel for short journeys. It will never get hot enough for the particulate filter to clean itself, which will mean a breakdown and a costly repair bill after a very short milage (probably)

Yup, my missus had a dci megane used for short journeys and it f*cked up in a spectacular four-figure fashion!