choosing a reliable hot hatch (st2, 208gti, scirocco gt tsi)
Discussion
Hello,
A month ago I was looking at Fiesta ST2 and Scirocco 2.0 GT Tsi, however i stumbled upon a 208 Gti which looked really smart and has now thrown me.Theres a few questions I had hopefully anyone with a bit more experience can help. The pug and ford are cheap to insure and tax and are more economical but dont look as good as the VW.
Firstly, I saw a nice 2.0 Scirooco GT Tsi (198bhp) at VW in mansfield that comes with VW Das Welt Auto warranty. Is this warranty worth the paper its written on?? The reason I ask is when I spoke to the salesman with regard to the timing chain and tensioner issue on these VAG engines he speeled off the Das Welt Auto blurb about 12 months warranty, if anything breaks blah blah blah, and if there was an issue with tensioners/chains they would have already been recalled and fixed, so I asked if it had been carried out previously to which he replied no, as its a chain it wouldnt need replacing, I know VW dont want to admit this issue and i have read a few stories about them trying to wriggle out of paying/fixing tensioners when they inevitably go boom as its wear and tear and not a fault(apparently). Obvs i dont want to pay nearly £8k for a car with 70k to then break.
Would the DWA warranty suffice or would it be best to set aside extra cash to have new tensioner fitted, and if so how much?
really like Sciroccos and Octavia VRS but the horror stories seem to be too frequent to be isolated incidents.
Secondly
With regard to the Fiesta ST and 208 Gti. what is the reliability like for both these cars as google doesnt throw up many reliability issues for either (unlike VAG cars and Mini)
I test drove an ST the other week and liked how focused it was on the windy stuff, however the suspension was pretty stiff and uncompromising. I like the look of the Fiesta and how can so many positive reviews be wrong but the 208 is almost £2k cheaper than the similarly specced ST. Is the Fiesta £2k better than the 208?? I like the thought of the 208 as on paper its a bit quicker, suspension is not quite as unforgiving and comes with a whole lot of equipment, I think it looks pretty decent, however its still a peugeot.
I have a budget of max £9k and am struggling to see any ST2's under £8.5k anywhere however the 208 Gti's can be picked up for around £7.5k-£8k with 45k, FSH etc etc.
Should i disregard everything i fear about buying a sporty VAG which is probably a bit classier and befitting someone of my age, or go for the 208GTI or financially stretch myself and go for the Fiesta ST?
I know its a long winded post but i find myself going in circles and am getting fed up looking for cars now!!
A month ago I was looking at Fiesta ST2 and Scirocco 2.0 GT Tsi, however i stumbled upon a 208 Gti which looked really smart and has now thrown me.Theres a few questions I had hopefully anyone with a bit more experience can help. The pug and ford are cheap to insure and tax and are more economical but dont look as good as the VW.
Firstly, I saw a nice 2.0 Scirooco GT Tsi (198bhp) at VW in mansfield that comes with VW Das Welt Auto warranty. Is this warranty worth the paper its written on?? The reason I ask is when I spoke to the salesman with regard to the timing chain and tensioner issue on these VAG engines he speeled off the Das Welt Auto blurb about 12 months warranty, if anything breaks blah blah blah, and if there was an issue with tensioners/chains they would have already been recalled and fixed, so I asked if it had been carried out previously to which he replied no, as its a chain it wouldnt need replacing, I know VW dont want to admit this issue and i have read a few stories about them trying to wriggle out of paying/fixing tensioners when they inevitably go boom as its wear and tear and not a fault(apparently). Obvs i dont want to pay nearly £8k for a car with 70k to then break.
Would the DWA warranty suffice or would it be best to set aside extra cash to have new tensioner fitted, and if so how much?
really like Sciroccos and Octavia VRS but the horror stories seem to be too frequent to be isolated incidents.
Secondly
With regard to the Fiesta ST and 208 Gti. what is the reliability like for both these cars as google doesnt throw up many reliability issues for either (unlike VAG cars and Mini)
I test drove an ST the other week and liked how focused it was on the windy stuff, however the suspension was pretty stiff and uncompromising. I like the look of the Fiesta and how can so many positive reviews be wrong but the 208 is almost £2k cheaper than the similarly specced ST. Is the Fiesta £2k better than the 208?? I like the thought of the 208 as on paper its a bit quicker, suspension is not quite as unforgiving and comes with a whole lot of equipment, I think it looks pretty decent, however its still a peugeot.
I have a budget of max £9k and am struggling to see any ST2's under £8.5k anywhere however the 208 Gti's can be picked up for around £7.5k-£8k with 45k, FSH etc etc.
Should i disregard everything i fear about buying a sporty VAG which is probably a bit classier and befitting someone of my age, or go for the 208GTI or financially stretch myself and go for the Fiesta ST?
I know its a long winded post but i find myself going in circles and am getting fed up looking for cars now!!
I think it's a case of decide what you want first then budget accordingly. To my mind, an ST is a completely different car to a Scirocco GT so if you get the Scirocco but really want the ST, you'll always regret the decision. If the ST is a stretch you could always wait a few months to save up the difference.
If you did go for the 208GTi or the VW, you could always put a 3rd party warranty on it for piece of mind. Just check the small print covers the chain tensioners ie does the car have to have a main dealer FSH to qualify etc.
Oh, and I wouldn't worry about age vs car, I'm 42 and my daily is a Clio 182
If you did go for the 208GTi or the VW, you could always put a 3rd party warranty on it for piece of mind. Just check the small print covers the chain tensioners ie does the car have to have a main dealer FSH to qualify etc.
Oh, and I wouldn't worry about age vs car, I'm 42 and my daily is a Clio 182
If the Scirocco is pre 2011 then I’d avoid unless there is documentation the tensioner has been updated. Cars built after September 2010 had an update; VW released two more tensioner updates in 2012 but I don’t think these were significant. My mk6 GTI has the same engine, is ‘11 plate, done 87000 miles and is running perfectly.
Something a bit more grown up than the other two you mention, I’d be looking at a Focus ST or a Megane RS. They’ll be a lot for fun than a Scirocco/Golf but perhaps not with the “fit and finish” if that’s important.
Something a bit more grown up than the other two you mention, I’d be looking at a Focus ST or a Megane RS. They’ll be a lot for fun than a Scirocco/Golf but perhaps not with the “fit and finish” if that’s important.
The 208GTI is a good car, reliability wise I've sourced a fair few & they've been reliable if you want a fun hot hatch you won't want the VAG items as they're not the most playful.
There's always the last of the line 5 pot Focus ST-3 which will tick a lot of the boxes:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
There's always the last of the line 5 pot Focus ST-3 which will tick a lot of the boxes:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
That's interesting, I've been to see that Scirocco at Mansfield too. I passed in the end:
- It pulled to the left.
- They didn't believe in the pre-tensioner issue when i talked to them about it! Fair enough if there hasn't been a recall, but it means you need another warranty when the 12 months is up or stump up (£400ish) for the tensioner.
- The wheels were less than perfect (kerbing and bubbling). They said they'd sort that before sale, but i'm not convinced without seeing the result.
- Lastly, the way the turbo came on didn't feel quite right - a little hesitant and the boost felt unsteady compared to other 2.0 TSI's I've driven - might be in my head.
It was tempting because it was actually in pretty good condition given it's age and mileage, but given the above points and not rating the salesman or customer service, I walked.
On the reliability subject - i'm sticking with VW as i feel like i know most of their foibles having had them for years, but i don't think that they are any more reliable than the next manufacturer.
- It pulled to the left.
- They didn't believe in the pre-tensioner issue when i talked to them about it! Fair enough if there hasn't been a recall, but it means you need another warranty when the 12 months is up or stump up (£400ish) for the tensioner.
- The wheels were less than perfect (kerbing and bubbling). They said they'd sort that before sale, but i'm not convinced without seeing the result.
- Lastly, the way the turbo came on didn't feel quite right - a little hesitant and the boost felt unsteady compared to other 2.0 TSI's I've driven - might be in my head.
It was tempting because it was actually in pretty good condition given it's age and mileage, but given the above points and not rating the salesman or customer service, I walked.
On the reliability subject - i'm sticking with VW as i feel like i know most of their foibles having had them for years, but i don't think that they are any more reliable than the next manufacturer.
idge said:
- They didn't believe in the pre-tensioner issue when i talked to them about it! Fair enough if there hasn't been a recall, but it means you need another warranty when the 12 months is up or stump up (£400ish) for the tensioner.
That’s very poor service and just ignorant. I’m guessing this is Vertu? I’ve dealt with a main dealer in Yorkshire and the West Midlands and both accepted the issue (the former gave a full breakdown of tensioner revisions). VW haven’t released an official recall so maybe that’s why they deny it but still. Actually it seems the Scirocco you looked at is rated at 200 bhp, in which case it will have the older TFSI engine found in the mk5 GTI. These are belt driven, not chain like the TSI 210 BHP (EA888), and thus DO NOT suffer from any tensioner issue. I guess VW only introduced the newer engine on cars built from 2009.
If you want VAG then I’d go for a mk5 GTI Edition 30.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
RaymondVanDerDon said:
Mine has had a few top mounts and rear brake discs, other than that great car.Carl
jam_up said:
idge said:
- They didn't believe in the pre-tensioner issue when i talked to them about it! Fair enough if there hasn't been a recall, but it means you need another warranty when the 12 months is up or stump up (£400ish) for the tensioner.
That’s very poor service and just ignorant. I’m guessing this is Vertu? I’ve dealt with a main dealer in Yorkshire and the West Midlands and both accepted the issue (the former gave a full breakdown of tensioner revisions). VW haven’t released an official recall so maybe that’s why they deny it but still. Actually it seems the Scirocco you looked at is rated at 200 bhp, in which case it will have the older TFSI engine found in the mk5 GTI. These are belt driven, not chain like the TSI 210 BHP (EA888), and thus DO NOT suffer from any tensioner issue. I guess VW only introduced the newer engine on cars built from 2009.
If you want VAG then I’d go for a mk5 GTI Edition 30.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
It's still the TSI, VW issued it with 200PS briefly (08-09) I think before they upped it to 210 as per the Golf GTI.
jam_up said:
That’s very poor service and just ignorant. I’m guessing this is Vertu? I’ve dealt with a main dealer in Yorkshire and the West Midlands and both accepted the issue (the former gave a full breakdown of tensioner revisions). VW haven’t released an official recall so maybe that’s why they deny it but still.
Actually it seems the Scirocco you looked at is rated at 200 bhp, in which case it will have the older TFSI engine found in the mk5 GTI. These are belt driven, not chain like the TSI 210 BHP (EA888), and thus DO NOT suffer from any tensioner issue. I guess VW only introduced the newer engine on cars built from 2009.
If you want VAG then I’d go for a mk5 GTI Edition 30.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Yeah the guy at vertu basically implied that I was making up the timing issue up, quite dismissive. That golf looks lovely, quite close to me too but a little too high mileage tbh. This one's not too far from me also which looks quite nice, FSH and it's had cambelt done also.Actually it seems the Scirocco you looked at is rated at 200 bhp, in which case it will have the older TFSI engine found in the mk5 GTI. These are belt driven, not chain like the TSI 210 BHP (EA888), and thus DO NOT suffer from any tensioner issue. I guess VW only introduced the newer engine on cars built from 2009.
If you want VAG then I’d go for a mk5 GTI Edition 30.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...
Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.c...
Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated. I'm sort of set on a fiesta st with mountune upgrade now as there's one near my parents for £8.5k.
However I am swayed by the golf GTI which I posted the link to earlier, only thing putting me off its 2007 model so quite old.
Just out of interest I have also seen a 2010 BMW 3.0 325i for sale which looks very nice at £8k. Has anyone had experience of these, know it's a bit off the wall from my original post but I didn't even consider as I thought they would be too thirsty however the figures quote nearly 50mpg for extra urban and nearly 40 for combined, I know it will probably be 5 less but seems good for 0-60 in 6.5 and top of 155 with the comfort of a BMW.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...
Any further thoughts??
However I am swayed by the golf GTI which I posted the link to earlier, only thing putting me off its 2007 model so quite old.
Just out of interest I have also seen a 2010 BMW 3.0 325i for sale which looks very nice at £8k. Has anyone had experience of these, know it's a bit off the wall from my original post but I didn't even consider as I thought they would be too thirsty however the figures quote nearly 50mpg for extra urban and nearly 40 for combined, I know it will probably be 5 less but seems good for 0-60 in 6.5 and top of 155 with the comfort of a BMW.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2018...
Any further thoughts??
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff