Focus ST and Golf GTI- why the different buyer demographic
Discussion
My daily drive, a Polo GTI (so slightly OT). Understated, reasonably quick, quality feel (although no doubt no more reliable than a Ford), easier to live with day to day than some other super-mini's and feels a little more grown up and less chavvy - but I am 41. Have never considered anything with a blue oval on the front.
It's a tired cliche but a VW does feel at home anywhere.
Then my Caterham 7 for high days and holidays.
Quite happy with that as a combination.
It's a tired cliche but a VW does feel at home anywhere.
Then my Caterham 7 for high days and holidays.
Quite happy with that as a combination.
jamoor said:
Does anyone actually care? Just buy the car you like the most, Focus is the best drive.
Is it though? I've heard of a lot of people saying it [focus] leans quite a bit, and is nose heavy due to the large engine up front (and lets face it, a 2.5 litre turbocharged lump of pig iron in a small FWD car is bound to be nose heavy).I'd suggest that the Golf probably handles better? OK, so it wont have the same soundtrack (and that is a big draw I'll admit), but otherwise, the Golf is probably the better drive?
Probably because the Golf GTi is more company car friendly?
The Audi TT now has a bit of a thuggish image instead of its old hairdresser image. Thanks it's value and sense of occasion? I know cos I drive one.
My next car? A golf GTi. I would never think of driving a Ford Focus. It's a bit...chav!
The Audi TT now has a bit of a thuggish image instead of its old hairdresser image. Thanks it's value and sense of occasion? I know cos I drive one.
My next car? A golf GTi. I would never think of driving a Ford Focus. It's a bit...chav!
TameRacingDriver said:
jamoor said:
Does anyone actually care? Just buy the car you like the most, Focus is the best drive.
Is it though? I've heard of a lot of people saying it [focus] leans quite a bit, and is nose heavy due to the large engine up front (and lets face it, a 2.5 litre turbocharged lump of pig iron in a small FWD car is bound to be nose heavy).I'd suggest that the Golf probably handles better? OK, so it wont have the same soundtrack (and that is a big draw I'll admit), but otherwise, the Golf is probably the better drive?
That engine is all alloy,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Modular_engine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Gr...
This is the problem, people assume that because it is Ford it must be made of nasty stuff and a VW is made of lightest, taste the difference metals.
As opposed to the actual "Pig Iron" block that the Golf Rocks.
I stress that this is just an anecdote with no scientific study behind it but when I was car shopping for my current Leon Cupra R I was looking at Mk1 Focus RS's too. I chatted to a couple of local RS owners I bumped into in Tesco or the petrol station.
One of the guys I talked to got six years for cocaine dealing a fortnight ago and I'll eat my hat if the other isn't in the same line of work.
On the other hand my doctor drives a Golf GTI.
One of the guys I talked to got six years for cocaine dealing a fortnight ago and I'll eat my hat if the other isn't in the same line of work.
On the other hand my doctor drives a Golf GTI.
StevieB said:
Just wondered why it is that new hot Fords such as the Focus ST seem to be proper "mans, mans" cars straight out of the showroon and introduced to a petrol head home, with its Fast Ford owners club, whereas Golf GTIs seem to be bought by white collar professionals, rather than proper petrol heads, until they become at least 7-10 years old.
I wear a white collar shirt to my professional place of work and have owned my '07 ST from nearly new. Admittedly in grey, not orange.Just couldn't think of anything more bland than a Golf and yet they cost more. At the time I bought mine if I was going to pay extra for a German car my money would've got to a 130i or Z4, not a more expensive, toned down FWD hatch.
rohrl said:
I stress that this is just an anecdote with no scientific study behind it but when I was car shopping for my current Leon Cupra R I was looking at Mk1 Focus RS's too. I chatted to a couple of local RS owners I bumped into in Tesco or the petrol station.
One of the guys I talked to got six years for cocaine dealing a fortnight ago and I'll eat my hat if the other isn't in the same line of work.
On the other hand my doctor drives a Golf GTI.
One of the guys I talked to got six years for cocaine dealing a fortnight ago and I'll eat my hat if the other isn't in the same line of work.
On the other hand my doctor drives a Golf GTI.
Didnt the curly haired porky man on TV have a similar story with why he chose the Golf GTI rather than the Ford Escort RS when he was a yoof? I seem to remember seeing an episode where he was in the pub and was talking about the different demographics which bought such cars and the pub talks of such cars when he was younger. Cant quite remember how old the episode is though.
From experience id take a mk5 gti and a mk1 rs over a st anyday, overly large, poor fuel consumption given the performance and not the kinda image I like, i seem to sway towards the below sweeping generalisation:
rallycross said:
From what I've seen Focus ST tends to be fat headed Essex type blokes, Golf buyer a bit more intelligent with a bit more disposable income (probably). This is a ridiculous generalisation though.
Chortle hornetrider said:
Golf GTi: leather brogues, levi's, oakleys and polo shirt.
Focus ST: shell suit, baseball cap, gold necklace and Nike Air.
/nutshell
This is right. But I still want the shell suit (in bright orange) and a pair of Nike 6.0 to stamp on the pedals with. Plus, the only metric that really matters with a little hot hatch vs. is the engine note and the Focus wins that hands down. Five pot warble >> Four pot dullness.Focus ST: shell suit, baseball cap, gold necklace and Nike Air.
/nutshell
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