Buying advice; Mk5 Golf 1.6 v Rivals
Discussion
I've been looking at my options for a total of under 4.5k including insurance (under 3k on the car) and I've got the list down to 3 main cars (with a few outsiders) I've already made a post and got so much help from people on here but now I'm making a specific one with a short list.
Cars;
Mk5 Golf 1.6 FSI
Mk2 Focus 1.6
Astra H 1.6
The main outsider is the Honda civic 1.6
I'm edging towards the golf but I'm still keeping my options open and looking for advice, comparisons and personal experiences with these cars.
One question I have is in regards to buying the Golf, things to look for etc and main things to check for when viewing it (it's my first car so I have no experience).
Another is about the mileage and age of the car, in my price range it's going to have about 70-80k on the clock is that something I should worry about (I know if it's well maintained it will be find but I mean generally speaking).
Cars;
Mk5 Golf 1.6 FSI
Mk2 Focus 1.6
Astra H 1.6
The main outsider is the Honda civic 1.6
I'm edging towards the golf but I'm still keeping my options open and looking for advice, comparisons and personal experiences with these cars.
One question I have is in regards to buying the Golf, things to look for etc and main things to check for when viewing it (it's my first car so I have no experience).
Another is about the mileage and age of the car, in my price range it's going to have about 70-80k on the clock is that something I should worry about (I know if it's well maintained it will be find but I mean generally speaking).
The one to go for if you can is the 2006 onwards Civic, probably the 1.8 petrol.
SEAT Leon of that era worth a look too.
You won't get much Golf for that money, might just about stretch into a 1.6 FSI Match which would be ok but likely to be leggy.
Wouldn't even bother with the Focus or Astra as they are very mediocre and there's too much abused crap out there
SEAT Leon of that era worth a look too.
You won't get much Golf for that money, might just about stretch into a 1.6 FSI Match which would be ok but likely to be leggy.
Wouldn't even bother with the Focus or Astra as they are very mediocre and there's too much abused crap out there
I agree the golf is very expensive however exterior looks on the golf are miles ahead of other cars mentioned, do you mean the 06 onwards civic or the older model?
I definitely can't stretch to the newer civic it's completely out of my price range. I'll have a look at the Leon but I mostly found it to he out of my range again.
In regards to it being leggy, I reckon for my first car it will feel pretty fast with me not being used to driving at all yet.
I definitely can't stretch to the newer civic it's completely out of my price range. I'll have a look at the Leon but I mostly found it to he out of my range again.
In regards to it being leggy, I reckon for my first car it will feel pretty fast with me not being used to driving at all yet.
This Civic, loads on Autotrader under your budget!
E.g. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
E.g. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Josh93 said:
I agree the golf is very expensive however exterior looks on the golf are miles ahead of other cars mentioned, do you mean the 06 onwards civic or the older model?
I definitely can't stretch to the newer civic it's completely out of my price range. I'll have a look at the Leon but I mostly found it to he out of my range again.
In regards to it being leggy, I reckon for my first car it will feel pretty fast with me not being used to driving at all yet.
Looks don't mean a sI definitely can't stretch to the newer civic it's completely out of my price range. I'll have a look at the Leon but I mostly found it to he out of my range again.
In regards to it being leggy, I reckon for my first car it will feel pretty fast with me not being used to driving at all yet.
t for your first car, can you afford to buy it? Can you afford to run it? Does it work? The rest is irrelevant. If you want a Golf, go for it, but Japanese cars are better to own, by some margin.
If you go for the Focus, there's a huge difference between the standard 1.6 lump (99ps IIRC) and the 1.6 Ti VCT with 115/120/125ps depending on the age of the car. The non-VCT engine feels pretty flat and unresponsive, and slightly coarse, compared with the VCT.
Astra of that age is complete dogste, frankly. Only thing going for it is the 3 door version's looks.
In order...
Focus
Civic
Golf
Everything else
Bicycle
Shanks' pony
Bus
Arsetra
Astra of that age is complete dogs
te, frankly. Only thing going for it is the 3 door version's looks.In order...
Focus
Civic
Golf
Everything else
Bicycle
Shanks' pony
Bus
Arsetra
Josh93 said:
I agree the golf is very expensive however exterior looks on the golf are miles ahead of other cars mentioned, do you mean the 06 onwards civic or the older model?
I definitely can't stretch to the newer civic it's completely out of my price range. I'll have a look at the Leon but I mostly found it to he out of my range again.
In regards to it being leggy, I reckon for my first car it will feel pretty fast with me not being used to driving at all yet.
I think 'leggy' means 'high mileage'.I definitely can't stretch to the newer civic it's completely out of my price range. I'll have a look at the Leon but I mostly found it to he out of my range again.
In regards to it being leggy, I reckon for my first car it will feel pretty fast with me not being used to driving at all yet.
Hmm yeah the resale value of the golf was one of the reason I thought it may be a good idea despite my brain and logic dragging me towards the civic because it will be so much cheaper and a lot lower mileage not to mention I only hear good things about the civic and plenty negative about the other 3.
Within my budget but way over the mileage that I'm interested in really, average of about 140k on those cars, too high in my opinion.
I get that looks aren't so important for a first car but I'm spending a decent amount of money on this I want to like the car I'm buying otherwise I would be looking a simple reliable 1.2L Honda Jazz for example.
Ah yeah I misunderstood leggy, I think you're right, high mileage makes more sense.
Within my budget but way over the mileage that I'm interested in really, average of about 140k on those cars, too high in my opinion.
I get that looks aren't so important for a first car but I'm spending a decent amount of money on this I want to like the car I'm buying otherwise I would be looking a simple reliable 1.2L Honda Jazz for example.
Ah yeah I misunderstood leggy, I think you're right, high mileage makes more sense.
I meant high milage by leggy. Although service history/condition is usually a better way to check.
/Ramble alert!
Years ago when I was a kid infact over the road from where I lived there was this old lady who had a metro. It was in a small garage attached to her house at the bottom of a slanted drive, it was fairly steep. Anyway she rarely went out in it, but when she did she must have held the clutch and the gas down because it would be screaming at high revs for ages whilst she slowly moved up the drive.
So when she sold that car, it would have said been sold as one lady owner, low miles, I doubt she did 5k a year let alone 10. But the clutch would have been knackered, and the engine would have been reved hard from cold every time it was used.
/End Ramble
/Ramble alert!
Years ago when I was a kid infact over the road from where I lived there was this old lady who had a metro. It was in a small garage attached to her house at the bottom of a slanted drive, it was fairly steep. Anyway she rarely went out in it, but when she did she must have held the clutch and the gas down because it would be screaming at high revs for ages whilst she slowly moved up the drive.
So when she sold that car, it would have said been sold as one lady owner, low miles, I doubt she did 5k a year let alone 10. But the clutch would have been knackered, and the engine would have been reved hard from cold every time it was used.
/End Ramble
Josh93 said:
Hmm yeah the resale value of the golf was one of the reason I thought it may be a good idea despite my brain and logic dragging me towards the civic because it will be so much cheaper and a lot lower mileage not to mention I only hear good things about the civic and plenty negative about the other 3.
Within my budget but way over the mileage that I'm interested in really, average of about 140k on those cars, too high in my opinion.
I get that looks aren't so important for a first car but I'm spending a decent amount of money on this I want to like the car I'm buying otherwise I would be looking a simple reliable 1.2L Honda Jazz for example.
Ah yeah I misunderstood leggy, I think you're right, high mileage makes more sense.
A Focus is as well built & reliable as a Golf you'll get more car by buying a Civic or a Focus less miles less hassle & a better spec'd car which will be as good a steer as the Golf & in the case of the Focus a slightly better drivers car.Within my budget but way over the mileage that I'm interested in really, average of about 140k on those cars, too high in my opinion.
I get that looks aren't so important for a first car but I'm spending a decent amount of money on this I want to like the car I'm buying otherwise I would be looking a simple reliable 1.2L Honda Jazz for example.
Ah yeah I misunderstood leggy, I think you're right, high mileage makes more sense.
VW's aren't as reliable as they used to be.
For me it would be:
Focus: good car parts are plentiful (it's your first car) servicing will be reasonable
Civic: good car well thought out lots of tuning potential.
Golf: if you're after the badge then the above lose if you're not & really want a VAG car get the Seat Leon
Very true story there, a big element of luck certainly comes into it, i was considering paying a mechanic to come and view a car and check it over for me before I buy it do you think that's worth doing?
Yeah that's pretty much summed up my dilemma, the focus seems a much better buy and more sensible but I really dislike the look of it. Which Leon were you referring to, the newer or older model? It seems the newer one is out of my price range really.
If I look into civics would you have any guidance on buying one and things to look out for maybe?
Yeah that's pretty much summed up my dilemma, the focus seems a much better buy and more sensible but I really dislike the look of it. Which Leon were you referring to, the newer or older model? It seems the newer one is out of my price range really.
If I look into civics would you have any guidance on buying one and things to look out for maybe?
I'd suggest getting out of the mindset of avoiding high mileage cars. Something that's done for example 100k + and has been well maintained and looked after, is IMO a much better buy than an older car with 50k hard town miles that maybe hasn't been taken care of or serviced. Buy on condition.
Both the 'newer' Leons and Civics are comfortably in your budget, and will lose you less money in depreciation than a low mileage version of the old shapes.
Both the 'newer' Leons and Civics are comfortably in your budget, and will lose you less money in depreciation than a low mileage version of the old shapes.
Josh93 said:
Very true story there, a big element of luck certainly comes into it, i was considering paying a mechanic to come and view a car and check it over for me before I buy it do you think that's worth doing?
Yeah that's pretty much summed up my dilemma, the focus seems a much better buy and more sensible but I really dislike the look of it. Which Leon were you referring to, the newer or older model? It seems the newer one is out of my price range really.
If I look into civics would you have any guidance on buying one and things to look out for maybe?
The Civics don't really go wrong just make sure everything works & it's got FSH Yeah that's pretty much summed up my dilemma, the focus seems a much better buy and more sensible but I really dislike the look of it. Which Leon were you referring to, the newer or older model? It seems the newer one is out of my price range really.
If I look into civics would you have any guidance on buying one and things to look out for maybe?
The Leon is dependent on how much you have to spend
Josh93 said:
I've been looking at my options for a total of under 4.5k including insurance (under 3k on the car) and I've got the list down to 3 main cars (with a few outsiders) I've already made a post and got so much help from people on here but now I'm making a specific one with a short list.
Cars;
Mk5 Golf 1.6 FSI
Mk2 Focus 1.6
Astra H 1.6
The main outsider is the Honda civic 1.6
I'm edging towards the golf but I'm still keeping my options open and looking for advice, comparisons and personal experiences with these cars.
One question I have is in regards to buying the Golf, things to look for etc and main things to check for when viewing it (it's my first car so I have no experience).
Another is about the mileage and age of the car, in my price range it's going to have about 70-80k on the clock is that something I should worry about (I know if it's well maintained it will be find but I mean generally speaking).
What area do you live in?Cars;
Mk5 Golf 1.6 FSI
Mk2 Focus 1.6
Astra H 1.6
The main outsider is the Honda civic 1.6
I'm edging towards the golf but I'm still keeping my options open and looking for advice, comparisons and personal experiences with these cars.
One question I have is in regards to buying the Golf, things to look for etc and main things to check for when viewing it (it's my first car so I have no experience).
Another is about the mileage and age of the car, in my price range it's going to have about 70-80k on the clock is that something I should worry about (I know if it's well maintained it will be find but I mean generally speaking).
Heres your options (ive done it within the bn24 postcode from you
golf mk5 with 80k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Honda civic (1.8 new shape) with 70k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
focus with 80k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
My pick out of those would be the ford focus due to a mix of specification, reliability and mpg
If you decide diesel, go for the golf in a 1.9 variant
golf mk5 with 80k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Honda civic (1.8 new shape) with 70k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
focus with 80k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
My pick out of those would be the ford focus due to a mix of specification, reliability and mpg
If you decide diesel, go for the golf in a 1.9 variant
I'm going to suggest an often-overlooked hatchback.. The Toyota Auris. About as exciting as wallpaper paste but if you get one in T-Spirit trim (they're plentiful) then it'll be more reliable and better-equipped (dual zone climate control, keyless entry and start, etc) than any Astra, Golf, or Focus you can find in the price range. The 130bhp 1.6 is a nice little engine, too.
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