LG John

Hmmm, one of my workmates just went out for a test drive in the new golf and we all pilled out to have a sniff around. I have to say I don’t think it’s as good as the outgoing model in many regards. It’s adopted the raked 307 look, which as always spoils the look and shape of any vehicle, but it was the interior that surprised me. It had some very sharp boxy astra/vectra like lines and some strange detailing and design. The plastics – especially the main dash ones – also looked and felt cheaper than those on the outgoing model. No idea how it drives or anything like that but it just seems to have lost its ‘class’. Perhaps it was deliberate to help distance the A3 from the golf, which I feel, was a problem last time around. IMHO only a mug would have paid the extra for the Audi badge. Any thoughts

NACRO

I covered this exact topic about a month ago, took one for a test drive and was not impressed. Build quality was down, plastics felt cheap and the much vaunted new rear setup did not improve handling to the level of the old Focus. Still to much body roll, not enough power and overpriced. One day people are going to wake up to the VAG group rip-off and start buying Skoda's instead- may as well go for the cheapest as they are all based on the same platform. Roll on the new Golf MKV based Octavia.

Tiggs

my brother was looking but has gone for the cupra 150 tdi....£££'s cheaper and now with a cool (ish) image.

T

class_A

They should drop the "Golf" name, like Ford did with Escort. It's not the same car anymore, just a generic 307 Eurobox.

VW (not VAG) are trading on their name at the minute. Not the best in class, not as classy as Audi, as fun as Seat or as good value as Skoda.

DarkForce

I'd say it does feel like the money has been taken out of the interior quality, thats for sure. It's a shame they haven't adjusted the price to reflect it! However there is a lot more room in the back and the boot compared to the Mk4. It still is way too expensive for what it is. I know that come resale time though it'll be worth a hell of a lot more than a equivilent Focus. The bizarre thing is that its only hundreds of pounds which seperate the new Golf from the new Audi A3.

Having been in them both I know which i'd rather have. The Audi is much nicer to sit in and drive.

Chris

logiclee

And IMHO only a mug would buy the VW. The highest rated VAG "Golf" is the Octavia.

Lee

Tiggs

disagree with the above.....stick your head out of "car land"....most of the public know audi is posher than VW but VW is still quite nice...they also know what a skoda is!

fatherpierre

It's nothing special but will still sell loads.

I'd rather have a focus - at least they handle.

civictyper

VW have definately lost the plot with the Golf IMO. Having said that were the only good Golf's Mk's 1 and 2 ?? If so then maybe VW were just lucky as they've gone downhill since Mk2.

I always thought the old Golf was a class leader in many respects but everyone else seems to have passed them by these days in terms of practicality, pace, handling, reliability and ownership. Even their own Cupra R wipes the floor with the Golf and is far better looking. The R32 seems to be the best model by far but does a family hatch really need a 3.2L engine ??

Honda have got it spot on with their 'OK' advert. Probably the most used word today and what sums up the Golf to a 'T'. Probably why it's so popular too as most folks these days aspire to 'OK' and 'mediocre' in fear of wandering too far into either extremity.

logiclee

It's most of the public percieve the VW and Audi to be better.

That's what I was saying. The Mugs will buy the Audi and VW.

The highest rated Golf clone in the JD power/ Top Gear survey was the Octavia.
Out of 137 cars surveyed, Octavia 3rd, Auidi A3 52nd, Golf 106th

In Germany's biggest reliability study the most reliable Golf clone was the Octavia.

Lee

workshy_fopp

320 views of this page and only 23 votes. I think the answer is no-one really gives a t0ss about the Golf one way or the other, at least until they bring out one with a Big Engine.
We all know their marketing niche and it's more of the same, business as usual. I've got an Audi meself

workshy_fopp

Logiclee - I'm not disputing your evidence about the reliability surveys, but they're kind of subjective, i.e. lots of skoda owners cars didn't break down, they're chuffed, exceeds expectations so they fill in the JD survey. Audi owners gel holding clip breaks off, he's outraged, does not meet expectation, fills in form! Nothing breaks on 10,000 Honda Civics, doesn't exceed expectations, they don't fill in the form.

logiclee

What you say is true for the custmer satisfaction surveys such as JD Power where expectations play a part. That's probably why Merc fair very poorly. It's still very good to keep your customers happy, Subaru marketed on their JD Power success for years.

The pure reliability surveys don't rely on owners expectations though, the Germany one is run by the TUV standards board I think. Interestingly the Ford Focus was the most reliable car in Gemany a couple of years ago.

I'll try and find the website again.

Cheers
Lee

prana

I know one thing. I know people who buy high end VW's like the V6 4motion, who will never see gravel, never go pass 130kmh and never hammer in round corners enough to worry about its abilities. Yet, things like Window Regulators, rattles, Yaw Cntrl sensors continue to fail on the dubs.

People do buy WRX's/200sx's and fang them around like their neighbours wifes and they still come down with less issues. The German engineering has done nothing for the reliability of the new dubs.

flatfourburble

I've heard that the new golf is not selling well!! Went to have a look at the golf this weekend didn't look all that special, salesman was very keen to do a deal there and then on a new golf, so maybe they are having trouble selling them! Drop the price by a few grand and people might be interested but £18k? for the diesel 140bhp is abit steep

captaincar

I totally disagree. The car is a nice runner. I test drove one myself this weekend and I think you're missing the point. The car has a great power to it, is a smooth ride and is worth every cent. That's why salesmen aere trying to deals on it because they know it's a quality machine. Good fuel consumption and quite clearly Flatfourburble you know nothing about what really matters!

LG John

"That's why salesmen aere trying to deals on it because they know it's a quality machine" - its very unlikely that is the reason they are doing deals! BWM salesmen know they are selling a quality product and for that very reason are tighter than a ducks butt!

SiPie

Hilarious

Find me one bit of logic in the above statement

PS You aren't the chancellor of the exchequer by any chance... if your economic sense is as good as that ?

captaincar

What I mean is that the guys (salesmen) I saw at the weekend are looking to promote the car by offering deals (which if sales go up it's in their own interests) because they believe that as the car is a good buy,they'll encourage further interest and profits (and make more sales at a cheaper price but making more overall profits). The sales are going really well there it seems. Hence, the deals. (The same principle applies to mobile phones!)

On the other hand I may have been taken in a touch!! I do think it's a great car though. Just make sure you find the best deal for you.

flatfourburble

No I don't supose I do!

Though I did not comment on the cars performance more at the pricing of it, As said before the Seat Leon 150 is a btter looking car and also quicker.

Skoda's are better too......................just the badge that sells the V'Dub