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2008/9 Golf vs 1 series

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Nimrod172

Original Poster

3 posts

86 months

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Wednesday 21st November 2018

Hello all!

Looking for some trusty advice! I currently have a 2006 Astra SRi 1.8 which has served me well for 3 years its done 123000 miles and starting to hit the pan!

I drive around 3000 miles a month! My commute is around 110 miles (3/4times a week) most of it on motorway outside my commute im within London. so ideally looking for a diesel to be better on fuel costs?

My budget is 5k have been looking at either 1.9Tdi golf or 118d from around 50k miles. really looking for reliability the Astra had lots of niggly problems and want something solid!

Thanks for your help!

SteBrown91

2,942 posts

150 months

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[news]

Wednesday 21st November 2018

If possible I would stretch another 1k and get a good 59/10 mk6 2.0 tdi golf. The engine is faster, more reliable, more refined and the interior is much nicer too

DrFeelAverage

83 posts

108 months

[report]

[news]

Wednesday 21st November 2018

I had an 08 Golf 1.9 as my first car. Nice enough steer. It never wanted for anything and always did about 50-55mpg whatever driving style.

I had to get rid of it however when the engine failed catastrophically, blowing a hole in the block at 103k. This was right after a service too. I sold it to someone at my local garage who repaired and MOT'd it again.

nunpuncher

3,609 posts

146 months

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[news]

Wednesday 21st November 2018

The N47 engine that would be in an 08/09 118d isn't exactly the pinnacle of reliability.

stevekoz

574 posts

183 months

[report]

[news]

Wednesday 21st November 2018

The N47 issue is with the timing chain and effects all 4pot BMW's, 118d, 120d and 123d i believe.

Found at the back of the engine, hidden away, difficult to get to. Its an engine out job and can include clutch, fly etc. etc. Its a big job. I wouldn't say it would specifically put me off a car but as above, its not the most reliable.

Can i ask why you've narrowed down your criteria to those 2 marks - there are many other options i think available for your budget that could cope with the miles.

Alfa Romeo Guilietta - a good steer and the diesel lump is fairly reliable. Good strong prices at the moment so you get a newer car with a bit more kit/design that is modern(er) (not a word)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Seat Leon PD150 or Seat Ibiza PD150 are pretty good and whilst VAG offer something a little different to the Golf -

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Volvo c30 - nicely different to most on the market. Like the design and a decent car with good reliability and driveability. Lot more poke than the VAG and still do around 40mpg in 2.4 guise and you won't see many of them around compared to golfs etc.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mk3 Mondeo st tdci -

Nice big comfortable. Great at eating miles. I had one of these from Ford at a little over 12 months old just after they came out as a replacement to my impreza as a nice big comfy safe family saloon.

The first trip we did was to Aberdeen (from b'ham). One full tank of vpower diesel and it did it on less than 1 tank of fuel as i remember, well over 55mpg on that trip and to suggest it was all under 70mph is a no, it really was that good on diesel. You can get them well under your £5k budget. Drives very nicely and handles pretty well too. Very little depreciation left in that car and fairly reliable really. You could do far worse.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

the PH stable response -

BMW 330d

I'd personally go for the e46 330d over the e9x versions but i like the design better and i think its aged better. They are a great car. Had the estate. Well over 40mpg on a long trip and quick for a diesel. Plus it just sounded less tractor like. Reliable too. Servicing costs are relatively low as were parts. Went through tyres a bit but it was fun to drive and being rwd it would.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Just a few to mull over and worth considering outside of your two original choices.

ZX10R NIN

29,811 posts

146 months

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Wednesday 21st November 2018

Mr Tidy

28,591 posts

148 months

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Thursday 22nd November 2018

Just a thought on the BMW options - there was a "Quality Enhancement" programme a couple of years ago.

Which basically meant that BMW would pay to repair cam-chain failures on N47 engines!

If you found one that had already had that work done it could be a good buy.

I had a pre-registered 123d for over 6 years and 81K miles and apart from the cam-chain issues it must have been the best 4 cylinder diesel available at the time! I sold mine before BMW starting paying to fix them, but 201 bhp was pretty entertaining and mine averaged 48.7 mpg on the OBC.

If you look at a BMW E46 study the wheel-arches very carefully - most are crusty now! I know the later E9* models don't look as good, but then again they don't rot as much either.

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