Another 'What Car?' Golf 1.4
Discussion
I'm 17 soon to be 18 and a keen petrol(piston)head. I passed my test as soon as I could and have been driving my sisters Ford Ka 1.3 since.
I going to get my own car in august when i've got 1 years driving experience and no claims (insurance with privilege so get NCB even though second driver).
I'm want a slightly bigger car and i'm leaning toward a 1.4 Mk5 golf. My dad this I should get a fiesta because its better to drive but I am mainly going to be going on weekend trips etc so want a more 'solid' german car. Also the interior of the golf seems so much better, as do the prices oddly. I can't get insured on anything above a 1.6 and a 1.6 is £300 more on insurance than 1.4 so it it worth the cost for a slightly more powerful car?
So the questions are...
Is a Mk5 Golf 1.4 a sensible choice for a 18 year old?
Is a Golf better than a fiesta?
Is a 1.6 worth £300 more on insurance than a 1.4?
Do you have any other suggestions?
Any advice etc. would be greatly appreciated.
I going to get my own car in august when i've got 1 years driving experience and no claims (insurance with privilege so get NCB even though second driver).
I'm want a slightly bigger car and i'm leaning toward a 1.4 Mk5 golf. My dad this I should get a fiesta because its better to drive but I am mainly going to be going on weekend trips etc so want a more 'solid' german car. Also the interior of the golf seems so much better, as do the prices oddly. I can't get insured on anything above a 1.6 and a 1.6 is £300 more on insurance than 1.4 so it it worth the cost for a slightly more powerful car?
So the questions are...
Is a Mk5 Golf 1.4 a sensible choice for a 18 year old?
Is a Golf better than a fiesta?
Is a 1.6 worth £300 more on insurance than a 1.4?
Do you have any other suggestions?
Any advice etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Hi mate,
A fiesta would undoubtedly be a more involving drive.
Maybe test drive a few cars and see what you like. I haven't driven one myself but I can imagine a 1.4 Golf being very frustrating to drive.
Have a look on parkers at the insurance group section, should give you an idea of what cars you will get a reasonable quote on.
My suggestion is a focus, good luck!
A fiesta would undoubtedly be a more involving drive.
Maybe test drive a few cars and see what you like. I haven't driven one myself but I can imagine a 1.4 Golf being very frustrating to drive.
Have a look on parkers at the insurance group section, should give you an idea of what cars you will get a reasonable quote on.
My suggestion is a focus, good luck!
1.4 or 1.6 Fiesta.
The German stuff will be more expensive to service, and more expensive to repair if/when it needs it.
That, and the 1.4 Golf is a bit like giving a hamster a washing machine drum rather than the small plastic wheel. It'll move, but you'll need a team of scientists to establish whether it is doing so.
Alternatively - do what I did when I was 18 - buy one of these (this was mine):
The German stuff will be more expensive to service, and more expensive to repair if/when it needs it.
That, and the 1.4 Golf is a bit like giving a hamster a washing machine drum rather than the small plastic wheel. It'll move, but you'll need a team of scientists to establish whether it is doing so.
Alternatively - do what I did when I was 18 - buy one of these (this was mine):
kamilb1998 said:
My old XJ will cost me less to insure, at 17, than any of my mates on things like Fiestas and Clios. Though it is a very left field choice for someone who's 17.
Amazing, but I bet the other running costs more than swallowed the insurance saving!!Depending on the OP's intended usage a diesel may be a better option - they seem to always be cheaper to insure than petrol versions of the same car.
Greggyboy said:
My suggestion is a focus, good luck!
Focus is a good shout, will be sure to have a look at them too. Thanks a lot.Metty53 said:
1.4 mk5 Golfs are slooow and thirsty. You'd be much better off with a 1.6 or better still a 1.9 tdi.
Yeah, i feared the 1.4 wouldn't have a good reputation, thanks for letting me know. I haven't really considered diesels, will have a look. Thanks.TheVole said:
1.4 or 1.6 Fiesta.
The German stuff will be more expensive to service, and more expensive to repair if/when it needs it.
That, and the 1.4 Golf is a bit like giving a hamster a washing machine drum rather than the small plastic wheel. It'll move, but you'll need a team of scientists to establish whether it is doing so.
Alternatively - do what I did when I was 18 - buy one of these (this was mine):
MX5's are great but I will be going away for weekends etc with mates so want a 5 seater. Interesting what is being said about the 1.4 golf. Thanks a lot for the info.The German stuff will be more expensive to service, and more expensive to repair if/when it needs it.
That, and the 1.4 Golf is a bit like giving a hamster a washing machine drum rather than the small plastic wheel. It'll move, but you'll need a team of scientists to establish whether it is doing so.
Alternatively - do what I did when I was 18 - buy one of these (this was mine):
samj2014 said:
Think outside the box a bit - anything with a VW badge is going to cost a fortune for a youngster to insure. As is a fiesta, corsa etc. - anything you see boy racers rolling about in.
Yeah, its difficult because of the need for a 1.6 or less. Thanks for the help.Mr Tidy said:
Depending on the OP's intended usage a diesel may be a better option - they seem to always be cheaper to insure than petrol versions of the same car.
I live in north london but want to use the car to go places for weekends etc, but I also go into town quite a bit so I don't know if a diesel would be any good. approx 6/7000 miles a year.andy118run said:
One of my neighbours who looks about 17 or 18 has a VW Bora 1.9 TDI. Before that he had an ancient VW Scirocco which was a D reg.
As mentioned, think outside the box, run a few quotes for old Volvos, Mercs, maybe even a Saab and see what luck you have.
Thanks for the suggestions will certainly have a look! As mentioned, think outside the box, run a few quotes for old Volvos, Mercs, maybe even a Saab and see what luck you have.
Greggyboy said:
Definitely wouldn't bother with a diesel for that sort of mileage.
Engine size isn't the only thing that bumps up your insurance quotes.
Don't rush into anything and have a good look around.
Yeah thats what i thought about diesels for my milage, got until august to have a look so will explore all my options. Engine size isn't the only thing that bumps up your insurance quotes.
Don't rush into anything and have a good look around.
d3llams said:
I was looking around at insurance quotes and thinking outside the box seems to work, something like a 2.0 Volvo S60 was cheaper to insure than a 1.6 Focus. A Land Rover Defender are also cheap to insure as you can get it with the NFU.
Just been looking at S60's they seem decent, havent had a look at defenders yet though. Sorry if this is a stupid question but what do you mean by 'NFU'? bangerturner said:
Don't get too hung up on the 1.6 thing, listen to what others are saying and get some quotes on some more unusual cars, you may be surprised.
My dad's got a 1.4 MK5 Golf and while it's OK when you get it up to speed you could measure the 0-60 time with a sundial
Haha ok maybe i'll leave the 1.4 then, will certainly think outside the box and try some other cars. Thanks a lot.My dad's got a 1.4 MK5 Golf and while it's OK when you get it up to speed you could measure the 0-60 time with a sundial
My first car was a 1.4 Skoda Fabia - handled well enough, wasn't super fast, but then it's fine for a first car, and the skoda badge means cheap insurance.
A year later I now have a Skoda Octavia 1.9 tdi (110bhp) which I've managed to insure for a reasonable amount because:
A. It's a Skoda
B. It's a diesel.
I was looking up quotes the other day and MX5s seem to be fairly cheap to insure too. Get a mk1 1.6, should be good.
A year later I now have a Skoda Octavia 1.9 tdi (110bhp) which I've managed to insure for a reasonable amount because:
A. It's a Skoda
B. It's a diesel.
I was looking up quotes the other day and MX5s seem to be fairly cheap to insure too. Get a mk1 1.6, should be good.
my mate got a 1.4 mk4 golf as his first car, the only things I can remember about it are it was red and the seats were ok
It was horribly slow, handled badly and looked bland
There is far nicer out there, honestly do yourself a favour and get something else
ETA: Just realised you said mk5, I guess you can just ignore the above haha
It was horribly slow, handled badly and looked bland
There is far nicer out there, honestly do yourself a favour and get something else
ETA: Just realised you said mk5, I guess you can just ignore the above haha
So in your first sentence you announce you're a devout petrol head, only to contradict yourself by asking what sensible car you should buy?! Madness!
Your first car(s) need to be what you want, what you enjoy and the best you can afford to own, maintain and insure. My first cars were practical enough, whilst still being the object I desired and could afford.
You will reach a point in life where your situation will dictate what cars are practical and this may limit your choice somewhat, but right now the only determining factor is affordability.
What I'm saying is, in reflection of the above posts, we all have a vague idea of how much a dull-as-dishwater 1.4 Golf costs and, collectively we could come up with a thousand better ways we (also petrol heads) could spend your money.
Stay tuned for many more responses telling you why you shouldn't still be considering that Golf.
Your first car(s) need to be what you want, what you enjoy and the best you can afford to own, maintain and insure. My first cars were practical enough, whilst still being the object I desired and could afford.
You will reach a point in life where your situation will dictate what cars are practical and this may limit your choice somewhat, but right now the only determining factor is affordability.
What I'm saying is, in reflection of the above posts, we all have a vague idea of how much a dull-as-dishwater 1.4 Golf costs and, collectively we could come up with a thousand better ways we (also petrol heads) could spend your money.
Stay tuned for many more responses telling you why you shouldn't still be considering that Golf.
Yup. A 1.4 Golf will be dire in virtually every respect, and you'll be paying "scene tax" to have a car which won't go up a hill.
As has been said, think outside the box. Grandad cars are awesome in this respect, as something that is almost never driven by 18 year olds is almost never crashed by 18 year olds. That's what drives the insurance policy weighting. It may not be the same thing as your mates drive, but then being cool was never about doing the same thing everyone else does. Take a look at Rovers (not MGs), Volvos (as mentioned), Kias, Hyundais, and boring Toyotas.
I know some companies do restrict new drivers to a 1.6, which seems a bit daft; what with turbocharging and hybrids, capacity is almost irrelevant (F1 cars only have 1.6 engines this year!). Try shopping around a bit more, you'll find other companies won't be quite so restrictive.
As has been said, think outside the box. Grandad cars are awesome in this respect, as something that is almost never driven by 18 year olds is almost never crashed by 18 year olds. That's what drives the insurance policy weighting. It may not be the same thing as your mates drive, but then being cool was never about doing the same thing everyone else does. Take a look at Rovers (not MGs), Volvos (as mentioned), Kias, Hyundais, and boring Toyotas.
I know some companies do restrict new drivers to a 1.6, which seems a bit daft; what with turbocharging and hybrids, capacity is almost irrelevant (F1 cars only have 1.6 engines this year!). Try shopping around a bit more, you'll find other companies won't be quite so restrictive.
The NFU is National Farming Union there financial division NFU Mutual offer insurance for members, as far as i am aware anybody can become a member. They are usually cheaper for insurance on cars like the Defender. You can also take an extra test with them, which brings insurance down 30%.
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