Worth swapping 3 year old Ibiza for a 9 year old Golf?
Discussion
I'm looking at getting a car with a bit more driver legroom than my Ibiza FR and wouldn't mind a bit more power.
I have found myself looking at 05 Golf GTI's and 05 Audi A3 2.0 T S-Line.
Both are similar price with low mileage, worth just a bit more than what most places are offering for mine P/X.
Is it a stupid idea selling up for a car that's 6 years older, almost double the tax and does about 10MPG less, also the chance of many parts needing replacing compared to my 3 year old car with 12k on it.
Or is it worth it for a Golf GTI?
I have found myself looking at 05 Golf GTI's and 05 Audi A3 2.0 T S-Line.
Both are similar price with low mileage, worth just a bit more than what most places are offering for mine P/X.
Is it a stupid idea selling up for a car that's 6 years older, almost double the tax and does about 10MPG less, also the chance of many parts needing replacing compared to my 3 year old car with 12k on it.
Or is it worth it for a Golf GTI?
Well just over 18mths ago I swapped a sensible low miles 3yr old Citroen C5 for a 10yr old Alfa 156 with 150k recorded. Never gave a thought to it's age once driving and that 18mths with the Alfa until very recently was some of the best motoring ever.
So if you fancy it no reason not to.
So if you fancy it no reason not to.
the-photographer said:
What is your budget? i.e. can you get a good condition one (although I didn't find much in the sales area)?
Theres one in group stock the same as my local VW dealer and its 05 Golf GTI 5 door DSG, 42k miles and 1 owner. VW approved used for £8k.I went in today to see if they will bring it over but they won't and its about 200 miles away, still going to ring them and get some figures and more details though.
Seems like a reasonable price seeing you get a proper 1 year VW warranty with it as well.
Go for it!
I went from a 4-year old Ibiza to a 5-year old Leon and then an 8-year old Golf GTI with no regrets. I did have a nearly new Audi A1 in between but that doesn't really count since I didn't pay for it. Doing those swaps hasn't cost me anything and I'm convinced the GTI I'm driving now is actually worth more than the Ibiza would have been had I kept it.
Of the 3 I found the Leon was in the worst condition. It had done pretty much the same mileage as the Ibiza but spent its life used around town ferrying kids about so the interior and bodywork were very abused. The GTI is on 98k now but it still feels fresh inside and drives well. Doesn't feel older than the Leon as they are both from the same generation. The Ibiza felt a bit newer but I found it built to a cheap standard and mechanically a bit basic.
MKV GTI is an excellent all round car and hard to fault in any particular area. Mine is the DSG which I find suits it very nicely and completes the package. This thread from the start of the year is well worth a read - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I went from a 4-year old Ibiza to a 5-year old Leon and then an 8-year old Golf GTI with no regrets. I did have a nearly new Audi A1 in between but that doesn't really count since I didn't pay for it. Doing those swaps hasn't cost me anything and I'm convinced the GTI I'm driving now is actually worth more than the Ibiza would have been had I kept it.
Of the 3 I found the Leon was in the worst condition. It had done pretty much the same mileage as the Ibiza but spent its life used around town ferrying kids about so the interior and bodywork were very abused. The GTI is on 98k now but it still feels fresh inside and drives well. Doesn't feel older than the Leon as they are both from the same generation. The Ibiza felt a bit newer but I found it built to a cheap standard and mechanically a bit basic.
MKV GTI is an excellent all round car and hard to fault in any particular area. Mine is the DSG which I find suits it very nicely and completes the package. This thread from the start of the year is well worth a read - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I've had older cars in the past, but have more recently been in newer ones - before getting an older (for me) 2008 Golf R32.
If you understand that you *will* need to deal with niggles and imperfections that wouldn't be acceptable on a new car, then go for it.
Have a read of my Garage entries, as I've also had an A3 2.0T quattro in the past.
If you understand that you *will* need to deal with niggles and imperfections that wouldn't be acceptable on a new car, then go for it.
Have a read of my Garage entries, as I've also had an A3 2.0T quattro in the past.
Edited by Basil Hume on Monday 4th August 20:59
TonyTony said:
the-photographer said:
What is your budget? i.e. can you get a good condition one (although I didn't find much in the sales area)?
Theres one in group stock the same as my local VW dealer and its 05 Golf GTI 5 door DSG, 42k miles and 1 owner. VW approved used for £8k.I went in today to see if they will bring it over but they won't and its about 200 miles away, still going to ring them and get some figures and more details though.
Seems like a reasonable price seeing you get a proper 1 year VW warranty with it as well.
I would still see it or get many pics because it still could have been used as a kids taxi/shopping trolley i.e. poor interior, rough wheels.
A good one should look like
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
this on the inside.
Edited by the-photographer on Tuesday 5th August 07:31
Basil Hume said:
If you understand that you *will* need to deal with niggles and imperfections that wouldn't be acceptable on a new car, then go for it.
Yes that's a very valid point. Its easy to spend loads tidying up something older, then realise that same money would have actually covered the PCP payments/ depreciation on something brand new! TonyTony said:
Going a bit O/T from my original post, but as well at looking at cars close to the value of mine I'v looked at a few new cars with warranty etc.
Bit of a random choice but a GT86 and a New RS Clio 200T, think I'm tipping back towards a new car!
Normal GT86 is a bit weak IMO. Its lack of a turbo seems odd and its not as quick as a Golf GTI. Haven't tried the Clio but that might have the same legroom issues as the Ibiza?Bit of a random choice but a GT86 and a New RS Clio 200T, think I'm tipping back towards a new car!
va1o said:
Normal GT86 is a bit weak IMO. Its lack of a turbo seems odd and its not as quick as a Golf GTI. Haven't tried the Clio but that might have the same legroom issues as the Ibiza?
Yes it does seem a bit underpowered and its an auto one I'm looking at so its even slower 0-62 than the manual.I've not been in an RS Clio yet but I've sat in the normal version of it and the driver room is actually really big, there's definitely more leg reach and space from the steering wheel than the Ibiza.
Every time I get in my Ibiza I feel like somebody's pulled the seat forward!
Just drove an auto GT86, it did feel noticeably slower than my car but it did have 2 passengers in it so that would of added a bit of weight to it.
Its the first rear wheel I've driven and it did feel good to drive, the steering is weighted just right and you can feel it round the corners, unlike my car where its going numb all the time.
Its the first rear wheel I've driven and it did feel good to drive, the steering is weighted just right and you can feel it round the corners, unlike my car where its going numb all the time.
Un abused ones are hard to find, not sure if i'm allowed to post this here or not though.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
va1o said:
Very nice choice, you can't go wrong with that engine/ gearbox combo 
What year is it, I'm guessing its quite a new one if FR+ trim? The facelift Leon feels a bit fresher compared to the Mk5 Golf.
Its a 12 plate with about 10k miles on it. The only one on autotrader I think and they are few and far between!! What year is it, I'm guessing its quite a new one if FR+ trim? The facelift Leon feels a bit fresher compared to the Mk5 Golf.
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