MK5 Golf or Audi A3?
Discussion
My dad has a bit of money and has finally decided to replace his knackered fifteen year old 209,000 mk3 golf, as the prospect of another MOT might be a bit much for the poor old thing without a fair bit of work doing. He works hard my dad, and so I think he deserves to splash out on a new motor. The golf has performed many years of sterling service, as solid and reliable a car as I have ever known and it has given me a lot more respect for the MK3 shape as I was never keen on them before. It will be sad to see it go to be honest... 
And so the straight choice for around seven grand is between those two. Die hard VAG fan here so you can suggest other cars if you like but they won't register. He wants a medium sized hatchback with five doors and an engine size around 1.6/1,8 and it will definitely be an A3 or a MK5 golf. He said he may possibly consider a diesel, are they any good? Sorry if this sounds a bit stubborn but that's my dad for you....
There's plenty of examples of each I see for sale within that price range. What experiences have you had with reliability, fuel economy, practicality etc? We both think the A3 looks better. Sorry to ramble on a bit but thanks for reading, and please do share your thoughts....
And so the straight choice for around seven grand is between those two. Die hard VAG fan here so you can suggest other cars if you like but they won't register. He wants a medium sized hatchback with five doors and an engine size around 1.6/1,8 and it will definitely be an A3 or a MK5 golf. He said he may possibly consider a diesel, are they any good? Sorry if this sounds a bit stubborn but that's my dad for you....
There's plenty of examples of each I see for sale within that price range. What experiences have you had with reliability, fuel economy, practicality etc? We both think the A3 looks better. Sorry to ramble on a bit but thanks for reading, and please do share your thoughts....
MondeoMan1981 said:
Skoda Octavia / Seat Leon
So much more for the money.
Buying a Golf or A3 is a bit like buying the Tesco Finest stuff. It looks better outside, but deep down, probably isnt better enough to justify the price tag.
How much is the budget ?
7k or so, and I see where you're coming from. But he's had two golfs and before that a vw camper. It's a loyalty thing I guess. A family friend had an A3 and he was really impressed by it, hence it being the other choice. I very much doubt any other car is even on the radar to be honest.....So much more for the money.
Buying a Golf or A3 is a bit like buying the Tesco Finest stuff. It looks better outside, but deep down, probably isnt better enough to justify the price tag.
How much is the budget ?
Having been in both I would say there is very little differance between the two, apart from the a3 has a slightly nicer interior and a slightly nicer ride, although its barely notiable.
The 1.6 petrol golf is a bit faster to 60, in diesel form they are basically the same.
I would just buy which ever he can get the most for his money from (Golf I would expect)
The 1.6 petrol golf is a bit faster to 60, in diesel form they are basically the same.
I would just buy which ever he can get the most for his money from (Golf I would expect)
£7k will get him a much better Golf than A3 as An Audi of the same vintage will cost a large amount more so I would go for the Golf.
I've had lots of these Golfs mk5's around that price and the one that is the best value is the 2.0 Fsi GT. They dont seem to have much of a following hence great value;
Decent to drive, very econmical for a 2.0 will see 40 mpg on the motorway but with 150 bhp, 6 speed they are decent to drive. Good spec usually with cruise, dual zone climate.
Alternatively a 2.0 GT Tdi 140 will cost about £1500 more for the same age/spec/milage 2.0 Gt Fsi. You'd have to do an awfull lot of miles to justify the extra cost of the diesel over the petrol.
There is also the 1.9 Tdi which still costs fair more used than a 2.0 Fsi but that enginefeels very old in the mk5 there is a lot of noise/vibration transmitted into the car and not nice to use.
The other Golf is the 1.6 Fsi with 115 bhp and superb MPG, the 2.0 Fsi seems to fetch less than the 1.6, but these engines (1.6 BLF) have issues that can be rather expensive to fix so if he is keeping it long term better off with the 2.0. (1.6 issues with noisy timing chains, engine lights coming on due to inlet manifold flaps, and problems with injectors and sensors (very high pressure fuel system on these).
Fsi = fuel stratified injection (or F***ng Stupid Idea when you have to fix one!)
I've had lots of these Golfs mk5's around that price and the one that is the best value is the 2.0 Fsi GT. They dont seem to have much of a following hence great value;
Decent to drive, very econmical for a 2.0 will see 40 mpg on the motorway but with 150 bhp, 6 speed they are decent to drive. Good spec usually with cruise, dual zone climate.
Alternatively a 2.0 GT Tdi 140 will cost about £1500 more for the same age/spec/milage 2.0 Gt Fsi. You'd have to do an awfull lot of miles to justify the extra cost of the diesel over the petrol.
There is also the 1.9 Tdi which still costs fair more used than a 2.0 Fsi but that enginefeels very old in the mk5 there is a lot of noise/vibration transmitted into the car and not nice to use.
The other Golf is the 1.6 Fsi with 115 bhp and superb MPG, the 2.0 Fsi seems to fetch less than the 1.6, but these engines (1.6 BLF) have issues that can be rather expensive to fix so if he is keeping it long term better off with the 2.0. (1.6 issues with noisy timing chains, engine lights coming on due to inlet manifold flaps, and problems with injectors and sensors (very high pressure fuel system on these).
Fsi = fuel stratified injection (or F***ng Stupid Idea when you have to fix one!)
Edited by rallycross on Saturday 23 April 18:44
Edited by rallycross on Saturday 23 April 20:03
You will get more Golf for your money but you would get even more Octavia / Leon which are the same car underneath.
I went looking for a MK5 last year and realised for the same as a 54-plate 2.0GTTDi I could get an 06/07 Plate 2.0TDi Octavia with more toys and more room, despite them being the same car.
I went looking for a MK5 last year and realised for the same as a 54-plate 2.0GTTDi I could get an 06/07 Plate 2.0TDi Octavia with more toys and more room, despite them being the same car.
Agree with most the other comments, although the A3 is a nicer car for the same money you'd be looking at a worse example.
£7k is enough for a 2006 Golf 1.4 TSI Sport, that's the one I'd go for. Or a Golf Plus, you get more for your money with them as they are less popular.
ambuletz said:
squeeze afew more grand out and go for the petrol 1.4 TSI?
£7k is enough for a 2006 Golf 1.4 TSI Sport, that's the one I'd go for. Or a Golf Plus, you get more for your money with them as they are less popular.I still miss my mark 5 1.6FSi. First car I ever bought. Aside from the cat disintegrating after 36k miles it was solid as a rock. The 1.6 felt a bit strangled at times and seemed a bit noisy to me at motorway speeds, but the MPG was reasonable and the SE had plenty of kit on. Cruise control, automatic wipers/headlights, etc. I paid around £5990 for a 2004 with ~33k miles on.
He'd be much better off spending half that much on a really nice Mark 4 Golf or original shape A3. They had better, long lasting interiors and he clearly isn't worried about driving dynamics anyway.
Also they will both feel miles newer / posher than his current Mark 3 so spending 7k for the sake of it doesn't seem worth it at all - especially for the shape of Golf which went down in the quality stakes...
Also they will both feel miles newer / posher than his current Mark 3 so spending 7k for the sake of it doesn't seem worth it at all - especially for the shape of Golf which went down in the quality stakes...
Rob_F said:
He'd be much better off spending half that much on a really nice Mark 4 Golf or original shape A3. They had better, long lasting interiors and he clearly isn't worried about driving dynamics anyway.
Also they will both feel miles newer / posher than his current Mark 3 so spending 7k for the sake of it doesn't seem worth it at all - especially for the shape of Golf which went down in the quality stakes...
Hmmm maybe. He'd maybe consider an A3 of that age, but he isn't keen on the MK4 shape and from what I gather they aren't as reliable as a vw should be.... Doesn't have to be 7k, just depends what we find I guess......Also they will both feel miles newer / posher than his current Mark 3 so spending 7k for the sake of it doesn't seem worth it at all - especially for the shape of Golf which went down in the quality stakes...
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