ScoobyJawa

Need to chop in my Z4 for something more suited to my work and I think I've whittled it down to either of these. Both would be used and around 12k.

Not interested in the Megane or Astra.

Thought it would be good to get some comments from people who've driven both and see what their thoughts are?

Cheers
Neil

Rokerlad

Golf is the best allrounder in the class and will have better economy. The Focus will be slightly quicker . Not sure you'd get a manual let alone a DSG Mk V GTI for £12k mind and if you can, they won't be very tidy examples.

MooseRacer

I've had my (remapped ) GTI for just over a year now and it's a great little car. If you believe the car mags then the Golf is the best ownership proposition in the class - it's very good at everything but gets pipped in certain areas by rivals.

Not driven a Focus ST but I'm sure it's every bit as much fun.

300bhp/ton

Have driven neither, but prefer the ST. Golf not for me.

However, as mentioned in another thread I'd probably look at a Mazda 6 MPS. 2.3 turbo engine, 4 doors.

Just looked on autotrader and you could get a 2006 saloon, loaded with 37k on the clock for £11,000
Mazda 6 MPS v Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec D | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | evo

Dream Weaver

Golf will be better built, but the ST is more fun and quick once remapped.

As above, the Mazda MPS are good, I was looking at the Mazda 3 MPS before the ST but was put off by the extortionate tax on them, top band from 2010 so £430 or 455 a year or something, ST will be £310 a year.

stilover

Personally, I'd go for the Golf GTI.

Looks classier, better built, better fuel economy. You can always get it chipped.

If I was in the market for a FWD hatch, it'd be the Golf every time.

Don't think you'd get a GTI DSG for £12k though. More like £15k.
They'll always hold there value more than a Focus ST, so pay more now, get more back later.

ScoobyJawa

Seen them with the DSG for 12-13

I am swayed towards the Ford though as more for the money, too many things were options on the golf.........

stilover

Remember to ask, ST1, ST2 or ST3.

ST1's were bare minimum, so will be cheaper. ST2's seem to be the most popular.

300bhp/ton

What's the difference between them?

stilover

Can't remember the spec sheets off hand, but the ST1 was basic spec ie basic stereo etc

ST2 came with more toys, while the ST3 came with leather seats and a couple more toys over the ST2 including a better stereo still.

Think the ST1 was priced at £16,995.

All had the same power/handling though

markymark34

this was the exact dilema i had about a year ago. Had 4 test drives in each.

I was a little underwhelmed with the golf. Im sure its a great car but the interior is a little sparse and it doesnt sound great. On the plus side it will hold its value better and has better economy. handling is good for a fwd car but it just wasnt quick enough to get me excited.

I was ready to hate the focus (as its a ford!) until i drove it and was amazed. It feels like a bigger car than the golf and the interior is great (st-3 has leather) and it makes a great noise! On the minus side it will probably loose more money (although they are cheaper to begin with) and they do like a drink. You'll get 23-25mpg being realistic vrs 30ish out of the gti. Not sure youll get a good gti for 12k but you will get a mint ST for that money.

The 5 pot engine in the focus is great! loads of punch from low down.

I would go for an ST2 or the 3 as you get a bit more kit and it will probably sell better later down the line.

Also drove the mazda 3 mps and thought it was good value (half leather, bose sound system) but it looks so dull compared to the ST.

havent driven a mazda 6 mps but the 3 returns about 22mpg so i would imagine the 6 is in the same ball park as the STI which was why she had to go in the first place.

Mark

By the way i ended up buying a m3 but the golf and ST were around the 15k mark then.

MooseRacer

Stats say it's not much slower than an ST and the engine note is (admittedly tuned by engineers) good for a 4-pot

Golf makes peak torque at something silly like 1800-5000rpm so plenty of lowdown shove there too

Good choice


Focus has more kit, a great soundtrack (and associated fuel costs), has the edge when it comes to on the limit (not for public roads) handling, comes in ridiculous colour schemes (complete with chav stripes).

If it was my money it would go to the Golf....the crap economy of the ST made me discount it as a company hack.

ScoobyJawa

Not too worried about economy as I claim all my business mileage for whatever reason, even to the office, back

I'm off to see a Golf and an ST-3 tomorrow so we'll see how I get on

Thanks for all the comments so far!

Matty WRX

howdy - former golf owner....

i had a mk5 gti with DSG. it lasted all of 10 months!! the drivers seat felt offset during long drives and although we has DSG on our old A3 3.2 i never liked it in the golf. it also rattled and felt loose on wet roads. then the auto headlights were a real pain!! they has a mind of there own. the dealer sucked and i'll not go back to VW!! nice leather seats though....

good luck and have fun...

Tony MY03WRX

Lots of info on the ST here Board Message

I have a face lift ST2, fire away if you have questions....its my 4th ST....

BOBBY G

Get the Civic Type R

Best car ever!

ScoobyJawa

Type R? No chance - gutless rev monster and the new one is poo lol

Well I now have an Electric Blue ST-3 sat on my drive Just wasn't feeling the golf but loved the drive in the ST, also seemed to me to have more low down grunt

zip106

Crikey.
From wondering what to get to actually getting it in 24 hrs... nice one

stilover

How much was it at the end of the day then?
Year?
Miles?

hades

Well as I've just recently got a GTi, you can probably guess what I'm going to say . . . However, pulls very happily and hard from about 1500rpm, solid, quality feel, nice leather etc, got 38mpg on a normal motorway run and it's not even run in yet, just feels much classier than a Focus to my mind. Throw in leather (now), dual zone climate, auto everything and you don't need many options (we just went with ipod socket and multifunction steering wheel). Only had it for 400 miles so far, but seems great to me.

MooseRacer

Crikey, no hanging around!

Shame you rushed the decision and got the wrong one

Enjoy

Matty WRX

Nice work mate, and a decent motor IMO.

Oh i had a CTR before my GTI and the A3 3.2. hated that as well lol..

enjoy your motor

markymark34

Nice one!
You made the right choice!

enjoy

ScoobyJawa

and lol!

Its a Blue 5-door ST-3 (with dual zone digital climate) with 29k miles on a 2006 06 plate for less than 12k Bargain!

ScoobyDoo555

I'm in the same boat, and one of the potential decidin factors is the VED rate. Due to the Focus being a 2.5 thirsty bugger, it's (MUCH) higher than the Golf, so running costs lean towards a safer route with Golf.....

Dan

SPIDERWRX

i did look at getting a ST, but ford have sold tons of them, its a lovely car, but its going to drop in value like a stone... when it 4/5 years old (like scoobys) the vw gti's seen to do a lot better.

just my 2p

ericsti

I'd go for neither one as I like the VXR or as they call it over here the opel OPC. Lovely looking car. Have you looked at these as an Option?

If I had to fo for one of the two though I think it would be the Focus ST for looks alone but again if it was a ford I had to buy it would defo be the RS focus especially as you said the ST won't hold it's value to well.

Dream Weaver

Who really cares about residual value, welcome to the club

Now get onto ebay or focusstoc.com and buy yourself a Dreamscience Stratagem, paid £340 for mine, plugged it in and laughed my head off at how ridiculously quick the ST now is with 271bhp and 330 ft/lbs.

IwantAscoob

Driven the ST what a blast, Nice sound, Pulls like a train, Golf's are ****e so boring and drab looking don't matter how fast they are they look cack.

If you want build quality get a bm or audi, I just don't see what people see in ****e golf's.

RLE

iTrader: (2)

what tax band do these fall in now Dream?