Mk2 Focus or Mk5 Golf as a shed

[Wildfire]

So we came back from holiday to find that my gf’s 1.6 2003 Civic we use as a shed / shopping car had bee T-Boned and written off.

Long story short I got some cash as the guy who hit it left a note and we’re looking to replace it.

So far it’s coming down to a 2006+ Focus or a MK5 Golf TDI.

Back in 2007-10 my office had the Focus’s as office pool cars and whilst they never set the world alight they were solid and weathered through being pool cars very well. I don’t really know of any issues.

However the OH really fancies a Golf. But they do seem to have issues like the DMF, door locks and AC Compressors.

Any advice of views would be greatly appreciated.

The car will live on the street and the OH isn’t the best at car care. We’re looking at shed money.

[TooMany2cvs]

Just buy whichever comes up locally first and looks good nick and value.

[Shakermaker]

At shed money I don't think there will be much to choose between them.

The problems with either of them are just as likely to crop up/not crop up, so which you buy is ultimately going to come down to the condition you find them in on the day.

Good service history, decent conditon, and then whichever one you feel more comfortable in.

Of the two, I would choose the Focus, because I can never get comfortable in a Golf of that era.

[Xcore]

The interiors of that generation ford are horrific and the switch gear is just nasty compared to a vw. My mk2 focus st rotted pretty bad surprisingly

[Al U]

I have had both of these. A 2007 MK5 1.9 TDI and a 2005 MK2 Titanium 2.0 TDCI. I did 96000 miles in 4 years in the golf and around 30000 miles in 1.5 years in the Focus. I sold the Focus to my sister which she is still using happily.

The golf is probably the better car in every area apart from handling. That said the handling is not that much worse in the Golf to be a clear cut reason to get the Focus.

With both cars spec is important. With the golf the Match is the sweet spot probably and with the Focus the Titanium was the least I could put up with. If you have any specific questions about one versus the other let me know.

[tedman]

Having owned both a Mk5 1.6 FSI S and a Mk2 1.6 Ghia, I would say the Golf felt a nicer drive. The Focus does handle a little better, but not really noticeable. Then again the Golf starting having problems with the gearbox towards the end.

It'll come down to spec and condition! The Focus will have better spec for a lower price. The Sony stereo is also not bad on the better models.

With the Ford though, make sure you avoid the 1.6 TDCi engine... plenty of reported issues of turbos going pop.

[zedx19]

Xcore said:

The interiors of that generation ford are horrific and the switch gear is just nasty compared to a vw. My mk2 focus st rotted pretty bad surprisingly

Very surprising, it'll only rot bad if it's been badly repaired...

I've had 3 mk2 Focus', 2 PFL 1.8 TDCI and my current FL ST. Rot has not been an issue on any of them, the PFL interior is pretty grim though, the FL interior is fine and well screwed together. The interior on my ST is certainly a much nicer place to sit then the 2007 Golf GTi a friend has. Both my TDCI's were company cars and got to 140k each without any major problems, split boost hose on one the only fault. Nothing fell off, nothing rattled.

TBH though, for shedding about, just buy whatever you find local. Both are good everyday cars.

[DrFeelAverage]

I had an '08 Mk5 1.9 TDI as my first car and while I did do a happy 33k in it, I also ended up stranded on a dual carriageway at 1am with a hole in the engine block. I very sensibly replaced it with another Golf diesel.

[Wildfire]

Thanks all. I’ll be having a look around and hoping to view each.

[steve-5snwi]

Go for the Focus, just make sure the bonnet opens, front arms and rear trailing arm bushes are the weak points, Golfs don't fare as well, gearboxes, clutches, engine coking if petrol and coil packs, brake calipers seize too. The 2.0 tdi is best avoided, if you want diesel then find a 1.9